na'

the contract, and signed away

first thing they did

itely,

assian Grey's private security detail. He had a blank expression, onl

he moment I tried putting my phone in my purse,

new one once you're inside," he said bl

where,

d talk to my brother once in a wh

his palm stretched out. I handed the phone over to him and he s

The windows were tinted so dark I couldn't see a thing. M

felt more lik

as being swallowed by something enormous and ancient. The w

a secluded estate, in a remot

cus said, steppi

e do you do when you've

, every breath, echoed. I glanced up ahead and saw a woman in a crisp suit waitin

cus said. "Head of

place was

a said, already turning and walking ins

llo to

echoed, follow

on walking like a damn robot, exp

soothing cream, and the wardrobe already filled with designer pieces in Camila Grey's size which,

der. No log

ila's speech patterns, her favourite wine, pictures of her friends, t

ordings of her voice. It was like I was studyi

of Camila. We looked... so sim

r and makeup, I could pass for her in a dim room or a distracte

erent in her expression that wa

my reflection in the vanity mirror. The sa

one of us

ra's voice said from the

lin

*

ly since I arrived at

ating the names of Camila's college frie

nd different here. No on

s up,

wouldn't

refers ja

like Camila. Speak like C

into bed at midnight, with my mind buzzing with name

members, and Cassian's schedule. I was quizzed consta

r. Apparently, Camila had dark che

d rubbing whitening cream on my skin. My posture was adjust

rena had insisted. "Just co

I was vanishin

s. They told me my darker skin tone would be explained to the pu

looked at my skin, I would have to remind myself that it

ing, sipping her espresso while I picked at toast. "Cassian's a

ng?" I asked, referring t

eadable. "Your job is to stay in character. Be g

s, but I couldn't. I needed the

tayed perfect, doing eve

was driven to

th wrought iron gates. It had a private road that twisted

ently falling, light but steady. The sound of the light rain drop

y nerves as the car slowed to

ened, I already knew I w

wer. Iron gates taller than some buildings, fountains that probably never stopped flowi

, in tabloids, in rumours whispered by customers in

a thunderstorm is beautiful.

ifying,

entrance, stepping

n drop can be heard right now if it fell in here

th me as they walked past. They moved like ghosts. It

acking against the floor made me

ian

s pants pockets, a glass of something dark in his left ha

like a second skin. His short black hair was

Didn't smile. He just stood there studying

t of the female population in London fa

uilt empires

d the coma

it came, was l

're

I

explain. Just walked past

y t

*

t night wa

ersation. Just the quiet scrape of cutlery and t

grey eyes were already on me

warmth? Or at least a little bit of curiosity. B

the second course

touched w

s speaking to me. "I... I know. Camila p

h that same blank and li

," he

. As if he wasn't checking for accuracy. He w

d barely

aking and cold all at once. Marble floors. Grand staircases. Pai

cause they've treated me like shit so far. The room I was given w

to the bed, to

wn. Forty-

d and got comfortable, ready to

me, I heard a knock. The sound

from the

utched the sheets of the bed as though i

ivate courtyard and it was four storie

came again. Three s

looked out slowly, expecting a ju

d to the outside of the window. I leaned in

being