The Con Artist

Sara's POV

Who didn't know Elysia's court?

I had been here twice under different aliases and I had walked with an air of confidence like I owned the place. Well, back then, I had Frank Tower's credit card.

But now, I scruffled behind Pat, fighting to keep my act, while my eyes roamed around the room already looking for the perfect ten outfits from the lines of rack that held nothing but the best

I have been here before so I knew exactly where I was going.

Pat was speaking to the sales manager when I walked to the exclusive lounge. I knew I shouldn't be doing it. But I couldn't help it. A con artist never refuses an opportunity. Not one that came with this packaging.

Carlos, with all his menace, might just be a cloud with a silver lining.

A black gown caught my attention, its fabric shimmering like midnight. Beside it was the price tag. That was not my problem.

I never check.

I plucked it from the hanger, draping it over my body, imagining how it would hug my curves.

"No...no," the sales manager said the moment she saw me, her voice cutting through my reverie. She rushed towards me with Pat standing and gawking incredulously. "You can't touch that."

I tightened my grip on the how, flaring with a deviance that didn't suit Irene.. "Why?" I demanded.

I didn't need to be timid before Pat. Only Carlos Alvarez deserved that.

"I have been given a blank cheque to get whatever I want." I thrust the gown towards her. "You think I am not worth it?"

I unclasped it before she could say anything and the gown fell on the ground. It hit the floor with a soft thud.

A thousand dollars sound..

Two shrieks echoed. Pat's gasp and the manager's cry. The sales manager rushed to retrieve the gown but I stepped on it, ripping it.

"Irene!" Pat's voice was sharp, her eyes wide with horror.

"What have you done?!" the manager wailed, clutching the ruined dress.

I faced Pat who was watching the scene, teary eyes and beyond appalled.

"You said it, didn't you?" I snapped at her. "I'm the face of Carlos Alvarez. How dare she treat me this way?"

She shook her head with trembling voice. "That dress is worth thousands of dollars, Irene. You can't abuse the boss's generosity."

That was why she was stuck in a mini skirt and an automated voice at her age because of her lack of ambition, thinking Carlos was doing the best for her.

Blah blah blah...

I would have made enough money to own a private yacht if I had been her.

I rolled my eyes and pointed at the gown that was now resting on the sales manager's hand as she talked to security on the phone.

"That doesn't count," I said, unfazed. "I'll begin my picking if you don't mind."

I saw her face turn pale. Had she thought I was some saint? For someone who worked for Carlos Alvarez, she should be accustomed to cruelty.

Why pretend?

I moved to the cloth rack and was reaching for another dress when I heard a male voice.

"Ma'am," it said.

I ignored it. That was surely the security man she was calling.

But when I felt his hand against my back, I became enraged.

"How dare you?!" I demanded, seething.

Evelyn was dying to come to the surface. I wanted so badly to tell them off about how I was a billionaire disguised in poor clothing and...

Stick to the plot, Sara. Please.

This was going to be too hard.

"I did nothing wrong," I added, my voice dropping. The police man who had been taken aback by my outburst suddenly grew courage.

""You were reported for damaging a dress." he said.

I scoffed. "That's not what happened -"

"I'm sorry ma'am. But you'll have to leave."

Who would believe a lady in faded jeans?

I bit my lips and stared at him defiantly. "I'll be back."

The ride back to Alvarez's estate was quiet. Pat kept stealing glances at me with palpable judgement. She must have misjudged me initially

They always did.

Well, at least, I wouldn't be getting any more advice from her.

But as soon as we arrived, her mouth became a running faucet without control as she spilled everything to Carlos Alvarez. She was in the next room. But I could hear everything from the hall.

"...made a mess of a dress worth hundreds of dollars. We're lucky that they aren't demanding payment."

I heard fist slapping a desk and my heart lurched.

Okay.

Maybe I had gone way too far.

Did I forget that I was working for Carlos Alvarez? The Carlos Alvarez that had a snipper trained on me as I walked into his domain?

My throat suddenly became dry and I strained my ears to hear what he wanted to say.

Anything.

But nothing.

Then I heard his voice. Calm but angry. He was on a call. I didn't have the courage to move closer to the office to hear what he was saying. My heart was racing. Today could as well be my last day alive.

And my twins? Who would take care of them?

I bit my lips to stop the tears and my hands from trembling

Calm down, Sara. You've got this.

But I've got nothing but trouble. A very big trouble at that.

I had secured a job I didn't want and somehow found a way to provoke my boss a few hours later. And not just any boss.

Carlos Alvarez.

I reached for my phone. Maybe I should let Sean know that I wasn't returning back and he had to swear to me that he would take care of my twins and keep them away from their father.

Or maybe, it would be best if he knew. He would take care of them. But he had to promise. No step mother.

How the hell was I going to arrange all that right now? Thomas Grey didn't even know I had twins for him.

My life is pretty messed up, I know.

I fumbled for my phone, trying to find Sean's contact. Where the hell was it?

I stopped.

Take a deep breath, Sara.

Carlos was still on the call and I had no idea if it was a call for my execution. But I had time. Time to arrange for my departure.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply.

My eyes flew to the phone screen and I found his name. I had forgotten I hadn't saved his name as Sean in my state of anxiety.

My relationship with Sean - it was difficult to define. But right now, he identified as my babe.

I was about to hit call when footsteps echoed from the office. Heavy, deliberate. Carlos was coming for me.