Prologue

Holding my small suitcase in my hand, my heart is pounding fast in my chest. 'You got this, Aiko Suzuki. You got this.' Or should I start calling myself Sakura Nakamura?

God, what have I gotten myself into? Hopefully, it will all be worth it.

My hands tremble as I knock on the door to Sakura's apartment, where I will be staying for a month. Hopefully. But I know I can't leave until she comes back.

She told me to come to her house at exactly 7 pm in the evening. And here I am. My heart is in my hands as I patiently wait for someone to open the door for me.

My paranoid self keeps imagining about what would happen if Sakura's boyfriend, William Thompson, figures out I am not his girl. I mean, he must know her very well for him to consider dating her, right?

I don't get a chance to answer myself because the door opens and a smiling Sakura is standing on the other side of the door. As expected, her side dude is right next to her.

"Aiko Suzuki, you're here," she says with a big grin on her face.

I don't see the need to answer that, but I do. "Yes. I am."

"Good, because I will be leaving in a few minutes with my baby, and William will be coming to see me... Well, you, at 9 pm. So you have to get ready," she says while kissing her lover shamelessly and lustfully.

I watch them make out in front of me uncomfortably. I mean, can't they wait until they're alone?

After an entire minute of me looking away and waiting for them to finish their make out session, Sakura invites me inside her apartment. And it is beautiful. Everything is white from the walls, tiles, couch, carpet, curtains, to all the furniture in the living room and everywhere I can see.

She barely gives me time to admire everything as sits me down on the couch and her friend, whose name I keep forgetting, but I think it goes something like Antonio, gives me a contract to sign.

I was already told about the contract, and it says I get paid half right now, and the rest after the job. That half of the money will all go to my brother's hospital fees as I wait for the rest so he can finally get the surgery he needs.

I smile at the thought and quickly sign my part before giving it to Sakura. I see she has already signed hers, though.

With a smirk on her face, Sakura sits next to me. Everything about this lady screams super model from the moment I met her, which I wasn't wrong about because she is a well known model who has walked all the runways I can name. From Victoria's secret, Paris fashion week, you name it. She is so beautiful, I am almost surprised that she looks like me.

Before she can say what's on her mind, I immediately say, "I haven't met William yet. Maybe you should show me his photo so I can be sure it's him when I see him." I feel like that's important, especially since he is coming here soon. I should know what he looks like, right?

When Sakura hears that, she chuckles. "I don't have any photos of him. I wouldn't have kept them either way. But don't worry, you'll know him when you see him. He is coming at exactly 9 and he is too obsessed with me to miss. So you'll meet him then."

I am not sure why but her tone and words makes me very uncomfortable. Maybe it's because she sounds like she doesn't care about that man at all. Of course she doesn't. Why else would she be going away with her lover for an entire month? Or why else would she have a lover in the first place?

I feel so sorry for William, despite not knowing him. Why can't Sakura just break up with him if she doesn't love him enough to stay faithful? But then again, if she did, she wouldn't be giving me this job that I need so desperately.

"Okay. I understand." That's all I say as I wait for her instructions.

Sakura nods at me and clears her throat. Shifting in her seat and sitting straight with a serious look on her face, she says to me, "Good. Now, here are the instructions you need to follow while I am away. Make sure you don't miss any of them. Do you understand?"

I nod immediately.

Sakura seems pleased at that. She turns to look at Antonio who gives her a signal nod, then she turns to me. "Okay, first, you will stay here for the entire month, everyday. This is my apartment so you pretending to be me means you will have to stay here.

"Second, you will have to dress like me. I have a bunch of clothes that I have set aside that you have to wear. You are not allowed to wear your own clothes, there is no way I will be seen wearing such cheap clothes. So I bought you two suitcases full of expensive clothes, shoes, and jewelry from the highest fashion houses and brands. If they don't fit you, lose weight. I am a model, I can't be fat."

Wow, okay! I don't say anything and let her continue.

"Third, you will be using my phone to communicate with William. Some friends might try to reach you too but you can ignore them if you wish. Your priority is William and William alone. All you have to do is make sure he doesn't break up with me. So I am giving you one of my phones that doesn't have work people calling. Just close friends and family.

"Forth, William thinks I went for a throat surgery, or something. I made up a lie about me getting operated on, whose effects would be my voice sounding different for a while until I heal completely. So don't worry about you sounding different. He won't suspect a thing. But do at least try to sound like me, even just a little bit.

"Fifth, I William loves me so much and would do anything for me. So you can take advantage of this to get gifts from him. Don't worry, they will be yours and I won't ask you for them. You can have him get you a puppy, a new phone, even a car for all I care. Enjoy them, and even ask for more if you wish. Because that will be you behaving like me. I always demand for things from him and he always gives them to me."

That doesn't sit right with me, but I don't comment anything just keep listening.

"Lastly, this is strictly business so I don't expect you to fall in love with my boyfriend. And don't even dare try to sleep with him. I know you already told me you would never do that, but I want to be a hundred percent sure you won't. I don't care if he tries to touch you because he thinks you're me. That's my man so you better make excuses and not open your legs for him, do you understand?"

I wasn't planning on sleeping with William or falling in love with him so I don't even understand why Sakura feels the need to warn me against it.

"I will never do that, Sakura. You don't have to worry," I say calmly.

She looks pleased when she hears that. "Good. Good to hear."

She then gets up from her seat and walks over to Antonio, who secures her next to him by wrapping his arm around her.

"Our flight is in 40 minutes, so we have to go. Do you have any questions for me?" Sakura asks as she gives me her phone. It should be the one she wants me to use during this month.

"No, not really. If I have anything to ask, I'll call you to ask."

Sakura nods at that and turns to Antonio with a look on her face and seems to tell him that she is done.

With Antonio grabbing their two suitcases, Sakura throws her apartment keys at me that I catch before it hits my face. Before walking out the door, she says, "William is coming at 9. Be ready for him and keep him entertained until he leaves, just like I taught you. I'll call you first thing tomorrow morning to check on you. Bye."

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