Chapter 1 London pov

London

"I need you."

Three words. 

Eight letters.

Three little words that when uttered by the right person, had the power to drag me across the planet. The right person in this case was my twin sister Cathleen. We had been close once upon a time. Those words had been tossed out at any slight inconvenience. Back then when we were still a unit. 

I hadn't heard those words from her in years. And why would I? What would successful, beautiful, straight-laced, independent, has-her-shit-together Cathleen Albright ever need me for? 

"I'm not sure this is a good idea." I sighed into the phone after listening to my sister explain how she had had to make an emergency business trip but also had to be present for an important dinner with some friends. "We haven't done a twin switch in years. Nobody will believe it." 

I heard her clacking away on her laptop. "We're spitting images of each other. Identical twins. You do remember that, right?"

I bit back my retort. I didn't want to fight with her and I knew pointing out that we hadn't seen each other in over a year and the time before that had been an awkward family dinner where we had exchanged stilted greetings would make her clam up faster than I could say Jack. I didn't know exactly what had gone wrong between us. I missed my twin though. 

"Your friends are a bunch of rich-"

"London." She warned.

I rolled my eyes. "When I inevitably use the salad fork for desert, I'll be escorted out by security and our cover will be blown."

She tsked like I was being ridiculous. I wasn't. While Cath had set out to conquer the business world and was high up the corporate ladder and still ascending, I was -well- not. I didn't dine at five star restaurants with meals on the menu I couldn't pronounce let alone afford. I didn't even have clothes nice enough to get me through the doors of the places she ate in. We were so different regardless of the same physical features we shared. 

"Nobody will blow our cover as long as you don't mess this up." She said in a tone that suggested that she couldn't believe I wouldn't mess this up. "Go to my apartment, I left a green dress on the bed, shoes at the foot of the bed. Make up is on the bedside table with a purse. My doorman will be expecting you."

"Cathl-"

"He'll give you the key card that gives you access to my floor. 2945 to unlock the door. Apartment 46" she continued like I hadn't even spoken. 

"Cath-"

"It's simple really. Won't take more than an hour off your night. Show up, sit in a corner and ignore everybody. Smile a little. Drink a little. Make your excuses and leave. Any questions?"

"Yes."

"London-"

"Oh, shut up for a second Cath. I've been trying to draw attention to the fact that I don't know where the fuck your apartment is."

"Oh." She went silent for a second. We lived in the same city. She had lived here for ten years and me for six and the fact that I didn't know where she lived was the biggest evidence of how far apart we had fallen. "I'll send you the address. Oh and London?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't curse."

Three hours later I was staring at myself in the full length mirror in Cath's bedroom. I had spent a full thirty minutes gawking at her apartment. It was on the top floor of a high rise building and was one of the only two apartments on the freaking floor. It was a little bit too impersonal for my taste, and looked barely lived in. There were no pictures on the wall or personal nick nacks anywhere. In fact, the only room that had any sign of life was the home office. 

The apartment was done up in stark white and blacks. I itched with the urge to dirty it up a bit. But nobody could deny that it was prime real estate. The floor to ceiling windows encompassing the whole place revealed stunning views of the city's nighttime skyline. 

My phone chirped, notifying me that my Uber had arrived. I gave myself a final cursory glance. The outfit I had on had transformed me into my sister. The green wrap dress fit. But I imagined it would look much better if it clung a little more to my figure. It also hit an inch past my knee. In my opinion, it was too demure by half and I would never be caught wearing this. I bet it cost as much as a week's meal. 

Grabbing the black coat that hung by the front door, I left the apartment. The elevator whisked me down to the tastefully decorated foyer. The doorman gave me a small nod as I passed by him and I had to wonder if he knew I wasn't Cathleen. My walking step could have given me away. I made a mental note to change from my normal long strides to the unhurried glide of my sister. 

As the Uber pulled away from the curb, I had a moment of panic that everything wouldn't go according to plan. I pushed the thought away. Cath was right, it would take a maximum of three hours and then I'll be back in my bed and in my clothes. Then maybe Cath would be so grateful that we'd start hanging out and rekindling our relationship. I snorted. Maybe pigs would fly too.

The restaurant was one of those places I had always stared at from afar. Even looking at it now made my bank account wince and take cover. Cath had left me her card like she knew I wouldn't be able to pay for my dinner, and she was right. I was of course going to take advantage and order myself a large pizza afterwards. 

I didn't know exactly what I was expecting as I stepped inside. Chandeliers, intimate lighting, round tables with pristine table covers, waiters in tail coats and people in expensive clothes drinking champagne. But it definitely wasn't a darkened room with a single table dead center. Candlelights flickered from random corners partially illuminating the room. Illuminating it enough that I could see a man standing by the table. 

I walked forward like in a trance till I was standing a foot away from the table. 

"Cath." He smiled.

Suddenly the chandelier just above us came on and at the same time, the man dropped to his knee in front of me.

Oh fuck..

I stopped breathing. 

Not just because of how off plan the night was going, but also because the man kneeling before me was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Or maybe in the world. Thick, dark, wavy hair that was a little too long brushed against his collar. His eyes were a green-gold-brown that both invited you to never look away and to avoid eye contact. High cheekbones and a shaven jawline that could cut glass with how sharp it was. I stood around five foot eight and the heels I had on added another four inches to my height, but he had still towered over me. Wide shoulders and a trim body enveloped by a dark suit and white shirt. 

He was the picture of perfection. 

And I had no idea who the fuck he was.

"-will you marry me?" The words snapped me back into the present and I blinked, noticing for the first time the ring he was holding out. The diamond set into the ring was simple and princess cut. It caught the light and seemed to sparkle. I almost blurted out a joke of how much I could huck it for. 

"Y-yes." I whispered. 

With a pleased smile, he slid the ring unto my finger and then rose to his feet. A second later, I was pressed into his hard body and his mouth was on mine. I was going to give my sister hell for this. She had better be looking forward to a lifetime in my debt for this. 

"So I was thinking, since you took that leave at work, this would be the perfect time to go on a mini-vacation. I put in for a leave too. Just you and I. One week in our own private bubble." 

"W-what? You- ah- but what about- uhm. I'm not packed." I managed. 

This situation was quickly getting out of control. It was going from zit on my face on picture day to the fall of Rome in seconds flat, and I was thiiiis close to letting out a deranged laughter.

He shot me an apologetic little smile that had no right to be so cute on him. "I did a thing."

"A- a thing? What thing?" 

"I had Jules pack a few things for you and get your passport too. So you have no excuse." He said. "We've both been so busy with work and you've just recovered from the flu. We barely get to see each other and I just got you to agree to spend the rest of your life with me. I kind of want my brand new fiancee all to myself right now. We both need some down time and I know you Cathleen, if I don't practically bully you into this, you'll never slow down enough to relax."

"Oh."

He kissed me again. Just a little brush of lips that had my toes curling in my shoes. 

"Say yes." He implored, gaze intent on me. I couldn't say no to this man. I was weak. 

"Yes." 

Forget owing me for the rest of her life, I was going to murder my sister.