Chapter 1: Everly

"Will this really work?" I asked for the hundredth time. I was really starting to doubt this plan more and more with every passing minute.

"Yes, it will work just fine," my friend and roommate, Ava, answered. "Let me get the shoes, then you'll be ready to go!" she said as she walked into her closet.

"What if your father gets to know about all of this? Wouldn't he be mad?" I said pulling down the dress, which was somehow shorter than when it was on the hanger.

"Hear me out," Ava said, coming out of the closet with a box in her hand, "I understand you're worried, but Dad should've seen it coming. Despite already knowing about my relationship with James, he continues to arrange these stupid meetings like they'll magically change my mind one day. Now sit and try these babies on; I got them just for you." She pushed me down on the bed and bent down in front of me.

Honestly, I still couldn't wrap my head around her plan. It was perhaps one of the biggest cliches I'd ever heard of or been a part of. I was aware that Ava hated attending the meetings with men her father arranged for her so much that she always messed them up on purpose, and it was obvious her father knew all about this. Then why would he still continue arranging them? It wasn't really going to change anything. But whatever, at least now I know where she gets her stubborn streak from.

Anyway, that was not something I should be worrying about because this time I'd be the one messing up the arrangement. Yeah, I, Everly Elizabeth Mason, would pretend to be Ava Smith, heir to the Smith&Smith conglomerate for a day. It sounded just as crazy as it was. I don't even know why I agreed to all this, but I do remember a lot of tears being involved. Anyhow, I would've agreed despite the plan being almost entirely full of loopholes and maybe bound to fail just a little bit; the probability of this plan succeeding was nil in my opinion. But I couldn't say no because it was the first thing Ava had asked of me.

When I had first come to this city, I had to live in a dingy apartment in a shady neighborhood because there was some trouble processing my scholarship, and it was the only place I could afford with the money I had saved up from working god knows how many part-time jobs.

And despite the saved money, I was still running on a tight budget, so I had no other option but to take up a part-time job here too until the financial processes on my college's end were completed.

Fortunately, I hit gold on the first job interview for a barista at an insanely high-end cafe catering to the cream layer of the society. And this was where I first met Ava, a regular at the cafe.

We had a few conversations here and there while I took her order or exchanged the basic pleasantries, but none of them involved anything personal, so it was a shock when she approached me about this little apartment where I decided how much rent I wanted to pay. I was convinced she was some sort of scammer—I mean, she did have the charming personality and unbelievably good looks; she fit the category to a tee—or why else would a customer ask their barista to be their roommate. But the other employees at the cafe said otherwise and described her as someone rather quirky and a little too outgoing, giving out huge tips. The last part I agreed on too.

Anyhow, with practically no countless options lined my way, I took my chances and agreed to take a look at her so called little apartment.

I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't ready to have my suspicions broken and apologize for judging her way too soon, but my belief in her being a scammer only strengthened when I saw her 'little apartment'.

Contrary to the description, the place was huge and something I could definitely not afford. And I had only told her that when she grabbed my wrist and started blurting out her entire life. I actually thought she was having some sort of breakdown.

And that was it for me. No matter how short on money I was, there was no way in hell I was going to live with such a person. So I pulled, trying to free myself, but she only held on tighter. I really believed that would be my last day. But then she started at how overprotective her parents were when it came to her, and the only way she could live by herself was if she could find herself a roommate.

Then she talked about how she knew that I was her destined roommate from the moment she saw me. She talked about a lot of other stuff that I don't really remember or understand with all her sniffing and crying. Anyway, the rest is history. I shifted that very day, and we've been living together ever since.

Ava helped me out when I needed it most without asking for anything in return. She even let me decide how much rent I wanted to pay and was fine even if I didn't pay any after learning about my financial situation. She had been nothing but good to me all this time, and I owed her this much.

So, over the week, Ava taught me everything from how to act like a social elite down to what I'd be saying to the guy. And from what I had gathered from all the practice sessions, the guy was a total fraud, planning to marry Ava and get his hands on her fortune, which was downright pathetic and disgusting and made me furious. So, this entire act was sort of personal to me too.

"There you go. Now you're ready." Ava clapped and straightened herself. "Come on," she said, and helped me up because there was no way I would've gotten up on my own in those ridiculously high heels.

"How am I supposed to walk in these?" I exclaimed, "I'll break a bone or two before I even make it there. And I look really weird. Can't I just go there in my regular clothes? That ought to throw him off even better." I pulled at the dress again, and Ava slapped my hand away.

"Everly, stop doing that. And no, you can't because the restaurant has a dress code. Also, no, you don't look weird; it's just your first time dressing up, and you're not used to it yet. Give it some time, and trust me when I say you look stunning." She turned me to face the mirror and smiled, "Take a good look at yourself and let it settle in."

Well, to her credit, I did look different. I had never, in my twenty-three years of life, worn anything like this. For starters, I never really cared or rather had the luxury to care about how I looked until I started college here in the city, and even then, neither was I really confident about my appearance nor did I have the additional money to actively work on it. And now I looked stunning? Ava was the stunning one here; she was the one who made heads turn with her toned, curvaceous body and long legs and hair that never had a bad day. I, on the other hand, was short, and my hair was a mood of its own; in my personal opinion, I thought I looked like a potato. But Ava always said otherwise and said I'd see it too one day. So, fingers crossed, I hoped the day would come sooner rather than later.

"Okay now, let's go over everything once more. You'll be meeting Colt Parker at the restaurant. Just walk up to the host and he'll guide—"

"Yes, yes, I remember everything," I said, cutting her off, "I should get going now if I don't want to be late." Ava opened her mouth, but I raised my hand and shook my head, "No, I don't intend on being fashionably late. I just want to get over with this."

Ava nodded and pulled me into a hug, "You have no idea what this means to me. Thank you so much, Everly." She squeezed me tighter, and I knew she was about to start crying. The ever crybaby.

"Hey, now come on. It's not like I'm doing it for you; I'm doing this for my future godchildren." I said, making Ava chuckle, and she pulled back.

"No, but seriously, I love you, Everly. And be a bitch like I taught you, not your usual angel self." She said and kissed my cheek.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll be sure to rip him to shreds as you told me." I said, and Ava hugged me again, Okay, now that's enough. I really need to get going, woman. Let me go." And she did, but not before giving me a tight squeeze.