8: To be the perfect Ms Wilson

"When I turn the lights out, when I close my eyes, reality overcomes me, I'm living a lie."

~Avril Lavigne

Four days later

"By now I hope you've known the faces of all those in the file I brought because you will be associated with them these three weeks you will be replacing me. Since there are the weeks before my wedding, there are a few people you need to know because they are important, others you can just excuse yourself by blaming it on the stress of running around and making preparation for the wedding." when she finishes, she's already down the stairs and walking towards me.

Anna hasn't always been present during my training in the last few days, some days I had to follow videos tapes which she made talking about fashion, work and her life and also handwritten instructions, but I persisted in learning, not for her, but myself because that's all I've got at the end of the day.

I notice a bag in her hand and she immediately stretches it out to me and I wordlessly collect it and I peep inside to see a pair of four-inch stilettos and I scowl before looking at her. "You're telling me that you never wear flip-flop or sneakers, sandals, jelly, or even ballerina?" In other words, my legs have been through hell these past days and at this point, I won't be surprised if they decide to give up on me.

She frowns at me like I just told her to kiss my ass, "I own a fashion line, Quynn you can't expect me to show up in sandals and ballerina, I am a brand and you have to do what I do get it?"

Oh, wow Ms Nasty.

I bring out the stilettos from the bag and set them down on the floor and slip my legs into them before standing up straight with my back pushed forward just like Anna's. My legs which seemed weak before immediately regain strength. Anna and I are the same height.

"The pictures are upstairs, follow me," she instructs and turns her heels around before walking upstairs.

I gingerly make my way up the stair after her, careful so I don't trip and fall and after what felt like a thousand years, I finally reached the top and I enter into the training room where Anna is, in front of her desk with her palms resting on it.

"To be the perfect Ms Wilson, these are some of the people you need to know about and I believe you've been acquainting yourself with their faces and who they are."

She picks up a picture and gives it to me, I remain spent as I stare at Eli Wilson in my hand. The man whose image has hunted me for a while now and not in a good way and after a moment of being silent, she raises a brow, informing me that she's waiting for my reply.

"That is Eli Wilson, your fiancé," I answer and I shift my eyes from the man wearing dark glasses in the picture with blue eyes and curly hair, to Anna.

She begins to speaks, "This picture was taken over a year ago a few weeks after we met and he's a bit different from this now. Since his accident, he withdrew from the spotlight and avoided cameras as much as possible. This was the only picture he permitted me to take of him." She says, a little emotion crossing her face.

"Then why did he let you take the picture?" I ask, handing it back to her but she shakes her head and pushes my hand back to me.

"It was the day we began dating almost a year ago and that was what I wanted."

Their relationship sounded perfect at first but in the last four days, I've learnt that it isn't— not completely.

Eli and Anna met over a year ago, they only started dating about a year ago and two months after that, Eli underwent eye surgery. Since the success of the eye surgery, he completely devoted himself to his work and research because he wanted to help others like him Anna's A&W clothing line was also lunching so they decided to devote to their work. Eli asked Anna to marry him two months ago, after spending three weeks away on a business trip and that according to Anna was her happiest day. After the engagement, he made time out last month and took her to meet his family over dinner where she Jumai, Eli's mother and Elizabeth, Eli's grandmother for the first time. Anna realized that they didn't like her over much at the family dinner at Jumai mansion. Eli's mom's disapproval was the most obvious one, which is the reason why some of the rules in her #31 rules book were made.

Staying over on weekends was an idea they both agreed on so that they can get to know each other better, but that hasn't worked out well either. Anna was busy with wedding planning and work while Eli with his project and research.

It is safe to say the only time they really had were the two months they dated before Eli's surgery.

"What about this?" She asks, raising another picture.

"This is Elizabeth Wilson, Eli's grandmother," I answer, staring at the fair, pretty woman probably in her seventies with lots of grey hair and a pale blue.

"We've visited her last week and she is welcoming but can be," Anna explains before setting the picture aside and then bring another picture of a woman in her mid-fifties having a striking resemblance to Elizabeth and also features.

"This is Jumai Wilson, Eli's mother and Elizabeth daughter," I reply and she nods.

"She is very protective of Eli and can also be intrusive, the last time I saw her we had a big fall out, so I don't think she would be your biggest fan, she believes the only reason I'm with Eli is to manipulate and use him. She highly disapproves of our relationship, Eli insists we get along and you have to try only when the need arises," she explains and I nod my head.

She proceeds to ask me about the rest nine important people in her life and I answer every one of them correctly and she looked impressed in the end.

.

Last day of training...

.

Today is the day that I haven't been waiting for but it's the day that is meant to happen one way or another so better to move along with it. I place the files and documents Anna had given me a week ago on the dining table and await Anna Wilson's arrival.

Since she brought herself into my life a week ago my life has completely become a mess. I can barely sleep, or drink, or even think. I no longer go for my morning runs which helped clear my head and all I was consumed with was being her perfect replacement.

I am already dressed and ready for today in a simple blue jean trouser and black shirt. "You're going to do this, Quynn. You dated Ade for six years, nothing can be worse than that. But you survived, this is just three weeks, you've got this." I stare at my self in the mirror trying to juggle up words of encouragement.

I don't know how dating a man for six years is the same as impersonating someone for three while, but okay.

I sigh and walk over to the couch and settle on it and half an hour and no sign of Anna I knew she was waiting for me to come downstairs as I did a few days ago. I walk back into the room grab my hoodie, the file containing the contract, the rules book, and other documents on the table before heading out of my apartment.

Paula would probably be keeping more eye on me, and though she paid a harmless visit yesterday, I told her to stay away from me. I only did that for her safety and the last thing I want is for her to see Anna and me together, or for Anna to see her around me and place her on the target list. Anna told me she had eyes on me on every turn and also on Luke whom I had a soft spot for. Yesterday she threatened to have Luke killed if I ever tried to double-crossed her and I knew she meant it.

If there was anything I learnt this past week, it was that the side Anna showed to Eli the few moments she spent with him was completely different from who she really was, she didn't even have to tell me that, I learnt from listening to how she talked about Eli and how she talked about others. To an extent, I sympathize with Eli who is going to say I do to her in four weeks' time.

I spot the black Mercedes Benz that belongs to Anna, park at a corner and I make my way over to it. I tap on the window and the glass is wind down.

"Are you going to open up or do you plan to leave me standing outside?" I demand and a second later, the door opens and I enter into the car.

I notice that Anna is a bit moody and it wasn't any of my business, but after a long while of driving over to the penthouse and she doesn't offer to blindfold me, I open my mouth to ask. "Do I need to know about what happened to you?"

Just like always, she greets me with silence and I inwardly slap myself in the face for even bothering to ask.

She opened her bag and gave it to me and I put the document inside it. "I hope you took everything that is of value to you in that apartment because you won't be going back there until you're done."

I nod my head but in truth, there was nothing to take. I didn't have anything that belonged to my late parent and even if I did, I wouldn't have taken them. The only thing I would have taken was my headphone, but I didn't want Anna biting my head off.

Not very long after we pull up at the penthouse and I am about to get down from the car when Anna snaps, "The driver always opens the door." She reminds me and this is the fourth time in two days. I withdraw my hand from the door pad and remain my position. After the driver opens the door for Anna, she gets down and he walks over to my side and opens the door and I get down as well.

We enter into the penthouse and she explains how today is going to go from the beginning which includes our training down to the end which is when Gabriel the driver comes to pick me up.

She then disclosed that she had a huge fight with Eli this morning and it wasn't good because they had never fallen out since they've been together. The reason for this fight was because Eli informed her that his mother had a prenuptial agreement made which would be part of the legal papers to be signed on their wedding day. That didn't sound good and Anna didn't take it well either which caused them to fall out and they said things that they shouldn't. And she told me every detail of it.

I asked her if the plan was still in motion and with determined eyes, she replied yes.

...

"So this is where we say goodbyes." She hands me her Samsung SGH-T100 as well as the diamond ring she has on. "Do not lose this," she warns with a very serious eye.

We are standing outside the penthouse at 6:45 pm Anna is currently wearing a black jean trouser and white long sleeve with a few buttons undone. Her curly blond hair is now in a ponytail making her look beautiful even though she is wearing less makeup than usual. I am currently wearing the clothes she wore earlier which is a red gown and a white veil covering my shoulder. My hair is in the same neat bun hers was then and I am now wearing the dark shade which she always loves to wear and the yellow bag she stepped into the room with. I have full makeup on courtesy of the makeup lessons Anna took me through till I could apply it on myself. I now have red lipstick on my somewhat full lips. Standing outside now, anyone who sees me would say one thing, 'that's Anna Wilson'.

"It has my official line number; I and everyone else can reach you on this line. I will call you every two days, but you are never to call me. I believe that after the training we've had throughout last week as well as your natural skill, you can handle yourself in any situation. And never forget the most important rule, do not get caught."

I nod my head, the important rule was the 31st rule on the list of dos and don'ts that I've been given in the last seven days that Anna started moulding me into her very own image. Yes, I have memorized those #31 rules and I can quote them like the scriptures, "Got it, for both of our sakes, I won't."

It really for my sake though, there is so much at stake that I can't afford to get caught.

"Think about the next three weeks as a break into the life of grace and glamour."

And here you are, running away from all that.

After saying that, she walks away to the black Mercedes Benz waiting for her and I watch as it drives off out.