Disclaimer: I'm not V.C. Andrew's ghostwriter because if i were, i wouldn't be writing these stories that won't make me richer in any shape, way, or form =)

AN: '...' means thoughts... have i reminded u enough yet? :)





When I told Arden about it, he was somewhat less ecstatic that I thought he would be. "You're working as a secretary for Michael?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I see."

Then we discussed other things. He offered me no congratulations or joyous words. There were no other interpretation for his actions except that he didn't like my occupation, not even a little bit. I even wondered if he was jealous of me and Michael like I was envious of him and Racheile.

We were talking about whether we should go out to dinner when a dressed-up papa walked in. "Audrina, Arden, don't expect me for supper. I'm going out with Clarria."

"Clarria?"

Papa straightened his tie and moved closer to a mirror to inspect if his wrinkles had gotten any worse than last time. "Yes, I met her while I was at a barbershop."

I put on a big smile, something that had gotten perfected over time. "That's swell. I do hope that your date turns out well."

He turned around to face me. "Is there a grey hair? Cause I swear, I saw one and I was about to pick it out when I didn't see it anymore."

"Papa?"

"Oh yes. It's not a date. We're just meeting for dinner." Distracted, he moved into another room with a better mirror. I could imagine his murmurings about how he hated aging.

Arden got up and gazed out the window, bored with the scenery. "What do you think Clarria looks like?"

I voiced my views without requiring a pause to think. "A beautiful middle- aged lady with short curly hair. She'll always compliment papa and they'll figure out what each other is wearing before every party. Clarria will need glasses but she won't wear them simply because they make her look like a librarian."

My husband laughed at me. "I asked for her appearances, not her life story." I aimed the famous look that all women had at Arden. Deciding to do the smart thing, he continued on with the game I started.

Coughing nervously, he waved his hands in the air and said, "Well, I think that she's some ancient woman who will have a crane and she WANTS to wear her glasses because they cover her hideous age spots. She will have already married 5 rich men in the days where she still looked like the girl who was voted 'most beautiful' in her high school. Each of her husbands has 'mysteriously' died, each leaving her their fortunes of zillions and millions of dollars. Alas, her days of man-hunting are over and she only wants to settle down. Unfortunately, your father is playing the same role and is only dating her to get access to her zillions and millions of dollars." Arden looked shocked at what kind of story he had just thought up out of nowhere.

I laid my index finger on my cheek. "Now, that is what I called over done."

Nonetheless, we were both wrong. We were introduced to Clarria as soon as we got home from dinner. We was strolling in the front doors, tired, when papa's voice called out to us. "Arden, Audrina, come into the living room for a second. I want you two to meet my future wife."

I gaped at Arden, horrified. How could you possibly get married after only one date? No matter how much chemistry the two had, this sort of thing didn't happen in the twentieth century. Arden took hold of my hands and we tried to support each other as we started walking to where the two people sat. I was numb, my mind thinking of all the reasons to why he or Clarria would want to get married so early in the relationship. I didn't want to think about the real motive anymore when I saw who Clarria resembled.

"Damian! You didn't tell me how beautiful your daughter is!," the lady stated without a touch of horror in her expression. How ironic, it was almost like she was complimenting herself. In front of me, was a female that was so identical to what I looked like, it was as if we were long lost twins.

My papa glanced at his fiancee with adoration. "Yes, but your beauty will never be matched."

Clarria faced papa. "Unless it's compared to you, my heart." And then in an afterthought, "or your daughter's."

Frozen, I was still thinking the inescapable; how akin my future stepmother and I appeared. What was stranger was the fact that she didn't seem to take notice of it! Had my papa already shown her pictures of me or were her manners too impeccable to make a comment on it?

I wanted to puke with absolute abandonment. It would have helped if Clarria was middle-aged but she was only at the most, about 6 years older than me. Finally, Arden took command for the both of us and tugged at my hand because all I could do was keep my piercing eyes on her.

My spouse managed in a strangled tone, "Congratulations. We're both tired so we're going to our room now." He had to practically pull me out of my trance.

Stumbling along the stairs, Arden ushered me up, hissing, "What has gotten into your father? This is insane! This is wrong in every single way!" I remained silent. "Why are you quiet? Aren't you as outraged as me? Don't you care at all?"

How could I help but care? He was my papa and Clarria was my future stepmother! I was concerned to the extent of wanting to spit on the two lovebirds' faces! They were so oblivious to everything but each other that they hadn't even noted our forced exit. But what could I do? If I told papa just what I thought about his future wife, he'd just become enraged and even more determined to get married.

***

When I started work the next day, I was completely distracted. "Audrina, type this up for me." I continued staring out in space when Michael slapped the paperwork on the desk and repeated, "Type this up for me."

"Huh?"

He sighed and said the obvious. "Your brain isn't here, is it?"

"Sorry."

"What's wrong?"

I looked away from him, humiliated over my parent's actions. I could just predict how he would react. Since Michael was so polite, he would pretend that it was normal. But then, his thoughts would be poking fun at my family. He would believe my dad molested me when I was younger and he was getting over it by getting engaged to someone who looked like me. Michael would think papa did it so he could relieve his feelings through Clarria. This was not the case. I hadn't slept the entire night. In the dark, I had dissected my papa's personality. There were bags under my eyes to show for it but I had come up with my own theory.

My papa had done the unspeakable because he wanted the first Audrina back. I had shamed him by not loving him and understanding him as much as I did before I was raped by those awful boys. This was where Clarria came in. She would be the first Audrina that he had only experienced for a few blissful years. She would worship him and put papa up high on a pedestal; just where he desired to be put.

Instead, I told Michael nothing. He could never comprehend my complex life. I explained with a simple, "Nothing's wrong. You should go back to work now. I'll get this typed up soon."

Michael blinked and there was a perplexing silence before he said, "Alright, I won't be nosey." Noisily, he went back into his office and slammed the door shut. It was only the first day of work and I had already made my boss angry at me.

I quickly got to the task that he had set before me. I had taken a typing class during my school days but I had forgotten some of the skills. Oh well, at least it looked like I was working hard. I didn't want to give Michael more reasons to fire me. Now, not only was this new employment letting Sylvia have some time to herself but it was was also distracting me from Clarria. There was no doubt in my mind that if I saw the two of them kissing, I would hurl.

During the next few hours before I was free to go home, I was loaded with work. Apparently, I was required to do my job and those of the old secretary. She had quit and left many chores that needed to be done. No one had completed them in her absence because they all expected to hire the new secretary soon enough. I was so busy that I didn't even have time for lunch. Too bad for me.

"Do you need a drive home?"

Michael. Pushing hair away from my worried eyes, I frowned. Was it already time to go home and face my look alike and my papa? Were the clocks so against me that they had to rush time along so fast the minute I wasn't looking? "Arden's picking me up. Anyway, thanks for the offer."

"No problem." He went back into his office. Since Michael was the bank manager, he was expected to be the last one here so he could lock up and set the security alarm appropriately.

I prepared everything that I needed to do at home and put on my coat. Carrying the necessary items, I walked outside and stood huddled in a corner. In less than a minute, the awful scent of car exhaust pronounced Arden's arrival. Before I had left for work, we had planned our schedules so they matched perfectly. It was no surprise that he had come so soon. I almost wished we didn't. Sighing, I thought to myself, 'Here's another thing where I'm a freak in. Where as, many people ached with the need to go home, I want to stay at my workplace forever.'

"So, how was your first day at the job?," he asked while I climbed into the sedan and closed the door.

"Anything that helps me pretend that Clarria is just a figment of my imagination is a good thing so... I guess it went great."

"I hear you. I feel the exact same. It scares me that my stepmother in law and my wife look as if they were sisters."





Author's Note:

I tried to make this longer but I couldn't :-/. Oh well. Please review. I'm not updating until I get at least one for this chapter. =P