009

WINNIE

I was convinced that I had stopped breathing at that moment. It took everything within me to still the tremor in my hands.

“I can see you already having fun with your new husband” he spat the last two words with so much venom that I had to wonder if they were truly related. It was baffling that his own brother could detest him this much. His eyes raked over my body not so subtly and his eyes instantly darkened with hunger. I closed my eyes and shuddered internally for a brief moment.

The smirk fell away from his face and the heat in his gaze was instantly replaced with a cold, empty look. His eyes rested on my cleavage for a brief moment and I crossed my hands consciously over them before his gaze was returned back to me.

“Anything so far? Any useful information?” He raised an eyebrow at me expectantly.

I hesitated for a brief second because I still had no idea what he and Sofia had planned. I also couldn't have him knowing that I was an imposter, I would die early and I couldn't have that. If I wanted to survive here, I was going to need to get a hang of what was happening. Fast.

“None that I know of. He didn't spend last night with me. He was so disgusted that he couldn't even touch me” I feigned exasperation.

It wasn't totally the truth but it was believable. Russo’s brows furrowed in frustration. It was obvious that he was buying the story.

“Then seduce him you bimbo. I know the only thing you're good for is giving a good fuck. You need to prove it to him” he snapped. I paused, trying to battle with my irritation. I didn't want to have that kind of reputation.

I was more than a ‘good fuck’.

I was beyond that even but Russo didn't need to know that for now. A retort wouldn't be advisable in this situation.

“Alright” I swallowed whatever profanity that was on the tip of my tongue and I looked at me with helpless eyes.

“I'll try again tonight” I said in an attempt to placate him. I knew that I wouldn't. I couldn't stomach the thought of a strange man and a suspected killer touching me. But that wasn't what you were thinking last night. I discarded the thought immediately and my thought reverted back to Russo who was staring at me like I was dinner.

“I have to get dressed on time. Roman's expecting by ten” I chuckled nervously. He was already beginning to enter into the room.

“I'm sure we still have a bit of time left before -” he was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I turned and my shoulders sagged with relief when I slotted the maid from yesterday. Right on time.

I could almost hug her.

“I was sent to help you get ready on time Miss. Should I begin running the bath?” She said as she looked between me and Russo in confusion.

“Yes please” I said almost immediately.

This was the perfect cue to escape and the maid just provided it.

“I have to go. Remember. Breakfast by ten” I shot the door without waiting for a reply. Thankfully he didn't attempt to argue. He didn't persist either.

I leaned against the door sighing heavily with exhaustion and relief. I closed my eyes to regain composure for a brief second and when I opened them. I caught the maid staring at me inquisitively. I frowned, wondering if I had done something wrong.

“Is there a problem?” I asked softly, furrowing my brows in confusion.

“I know” she said calmly. I stared at her blankly waiting for her to explain what she meant further. Her words were accompanied by silence, making tension to linger between the both of us.

“You know what?” I decided to ask.

“I know you're not Sofia” she said bluntly. My heart dropped. I was fucked.

Words were jumbled up all together on the tip of my tongue and I had no idea what I could possibly say to defend myself or deny the accusation.

“What are you talking about?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“I know you're not Sofia. She would have made my life a living misery this morning already. You're too nice. Giving me the night off. Telling me not to pressure myself at work. It was what gave you away” she said.

The corners of her lips tilted up into a small smile and I paused in surprise. It was almost as if she was almost…. Happy? Should I be worried that I had been caught by someone almost too soon?

“And when I looked at you this morning. I wondered how your eyes were suddenly grey instead of blue?” She narrowed her eyes on me. I froze. My contacts! I had forgot to put them back on! My chest was already beginning to well with panic.

“Don't worry. You can calm down. I don't intend to snitch. Sofia was a bitch anyways. She made everyone life a living hell. But at the same time you're going to have to tell me who you are” she said.

Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she looked at me. I wondered if I should be relieved. I wondered if it was okay to trust her. But then, I realized that I didn't exactly have a lot of options right now. I was going to have to believe her when she said she wouldn't snitch.

I sighed and I headed to the bed to settle down. I didn't trust my feet to hold me up at the moment.

“My name is Winnie. I'm uncle Elliot’s niece” I muttered the last statement with bitter resentment. I watched as her eyes widened.

“Uncle Elliot. The daughter of the Cornwell's? I- I thought you were dead. Uncle Elliot said you were” she said, her face pale with surprise.

“Uncle Elliot is nothing but a lying piece of shit. Of course he would say I was dead. After he killed my parents and had me shipped off to prison” I spat with disgust.

At this point, I couldn't disguise the hatred that I felt. All it took was for his name to come up and I was already suffocating within a turmoil of emotions. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

The fact that he was healthy and alive and going about like everything was normal deepened whatever resentment I harboured towards him. I hated his guts.

“He did what?” Lydia looked like she was about to choke on her saliva.

“H-how are you here instead of Sofia?” She asked. I paused. She already knew too much but what was the point of folding back whatever information that I had.

She was my only chance at not being killed. If she decided to expose me then I was finished. Trisha too.

“Sofia's mother broke me out of prison. Apparently she couldn't stomach that her daughter was going to marry your boss. Said he was a murderer” I said.

“She forced me to take her place instead. Considering the fact that I'm not more than a prison inmate now. I didn't exactly have a lot of options plus they're holding my best friend captive too. If I step out of line. They're going to kill her and in probably going to be next” I said.

“Killer? Roman?” She frowned. The confusion was evident on her face as she stared at me.

“Didn't he kill his first wife? They were talking about it when I was at Lucrezia’s place”

“Roman didn't kill his first wife. She was murdered. Yes. But he wasn't the one that killed her. He loved her too much” she said. She looked almost certain that I was almost tempted to believe her but at the same time, I couldn't be sure about Roman yet. Life has thought me the hard way that it was a mistake to trust people. If my own family could hurt me. Then why not a stranger.

“You don't know that for sure” I said. I had already perceived him as someone was very capable and intentional about murder. Letting my guard down would be way too risky.

“How could you possibly know that he didn't do it?” I said.

“Because I was in the house when his wife was murdered. He was in the study and I could overhear him having an argument with someone when he sent me to get him some coffee” she said. It was suddenly too difficult to breathe. I didn't know what to think.

There was no word to describe how I was feeling. Doubt, uncertainty, fear? The emotions pummelling through me were intense. I didn't know know what to do now that I was confused. I was too afraid to bring my guard down.

“He had no choice but to marry Sofia. He wasn't too keen on the idea of marrying her. I was surprised he went through with it” she muttered. I didn't know how best to reply to that. I wondered if he knew that Sofia had been cheating on him with his brother.

I wasn't totally safe yet. If Russo made good on his threat and showed Roman whatever video he had, I would be done for, considering the fact that I was pretending to be her. It didn't make any of this less easy.

“You need to hurry up and have your bath. You need to be down before ten. He won't appreciate you being late” she gently pulled me and pushed me softly towards the direction of the bathroom.

“Wait” I turned around to look at her in confusion. My heart was racing.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I said. I had no idea why she was doing this or why she made the decision to believe me.

She looked down as she twisted her fingers nervously.

“Not so many people are kind to me. You were” She said and I was filled with sympathy.

“It would be advisable to wear your contacts immediately after” she said.

Before I could respond, the slam of the door reverberated through the room. My heart dropped. A very furious Roman stood in the doorway.