C3 3

The sun shines into my bedroom and I reluctantly open my eyes. It's early. I'm startled to find a hand on my chest, and I turn my head in a panic.

Sterling's shirt is unbuttoned, revealing his perfectly formed chest muscles. The sun shines on his face through the window and accentuates his beautiful face.

I raise my hand to touch his eyelashes, but then pull my hand back and place it on his hand. I lift his hand quietly, trying to get out of his embrace. I don't want what happened last night to be real, and I need to hide.

Sterling holds me closer. He's awake. He laughs quietly at me. I don't know what to do, so I lie there and pretend to be asleep. A few minutes later, Sterling gets out of bed. He pulls the blanket over me as if he's tucking me in and leaves the bedroom. Outside I hear him tell Becca not to wake me.

I wait a few more minutes before I get out of the bed. I slip out of the room with my slippers and clothes in my arms, like some common adulteress.

Sterling isn't in the living room or the kitchen, so I assume he's in his own room or bathroom. I sit at the dining table, a bit confused as to why I can't remember what happened last night.

Gabriel enters the apartment and sits beside me at the table. He sets down a stack of paperwork and tells me Sterling needs to look over some documents. Becca greets him and goes into the kitchen to prepare us some breakfast.

Gabriel smiles at me after Becca is gone and says, "How are you, Victoria?"

"I'm okay," I tell him. I'm too shaken to return the question, but he doesn't seem to mind.

The sound of Sterling humming comes from the main bathroom.

"Just okay?" Gabriel says. "You seem a little better than that."

His eyes wander to my chest and I realize that my top is unbuttoned and is revealing a bit more than just cleavage. I blush and close my blouse.

Sterling emerges from the bathroom wearing a blazer. He's always dressed so formally, no matter what the occasion is, even if it's just breakfast in his own apartment. He looks at me and Gabriel.

"What's going on?" he asks.

In an awkward moment, Gabriel and I both shrug at the same time and say "Nothing" together.

My stomach growls and I say, "Sit down, Sterling. Becca is almost ready with breakfast."

But I stand and make my way into the bathroom to pull myself together and to make sure there aren't any more surprises like the one I gave Gabriel.

I come back a few minutes later, more presentable, and sit across from Gabriel with Sterling at the head of the table. Becca has made steak and eggs for breakfast, and I stare hungrily at my plate. I pick up my knife and fork and blush a bit. I've never really gotten the hang of a knife and fork, and I make a fool of myself as I try to cut a piece.

"Here, give it to me," Sterling says. He takes my plate before I can respond and he cuts my steak into bite-sized pieces. I thank him when he gives it back, and I enjoy the meal silently as Sterling and Gabriel discuss the papers that Gabriel brought him.

Later that day, Sterling and Gabriel are still talking, still doing paperwork. I feel restless, and there isn't much to do in Sterling's apartment. I can't watch TV because they're using the living room. I walk around the apartment and find a vase full of flowers, and I move them around, matching the colors together in concentric circles. I hear Gabriel and Sterling talk nearby. I don't understand what they're talking about. It's all business.

I make some tea and wait for the kettle to whistle. When the water is hot, I pour three cups and bring two of them to Sterling and Gabriel. They both look at me and smile and thank me. I get my own cup and move to the other end of the room to let them continue their business, but Gabriel calls me back.

"Victoria, we need to talk," he says, sipping at his tea. He drinks it without cream or sugar, and that's oddly charming. Sitting next to him, Sterling stirs in three spoonfuls of sugar. I don't know why this bothers me.

I come to the sofa and sit beside them. "What is it?" I ask.

"You're going to be moving back to Sterling's home with him."

I stare at Sterling in surprise, but he stands up and walks to look out the window over the city.

"I thought this was his home," I say to Gabriel. "Why do I have to go with him?"

Sterling turns from the window. "You remember our arrangement, don't you?"

"Yes, but I wasn't aware of all the terms when I signed the contract. You're just using me to get back at Percy for some reason, and I'm not okay with that."

Sterling laughs. "Oh no, Percy is...he's only a small part of all this. I have bigger fish to fry, as they say. When all this is over, Victoria, I promise your reward will more than replace anything you would have lost."

I stare at my tea and wish I had added more sugar. "I need to think about it."

"For how long?" Sterling asks.

"How long can you give me?"

Sterling shrugs. "Three days. Then we'll be heading back to my house in Kingston."

I shake my head in confusion. "What is all this about, anyway?"

Sterling comes back to the sofa and pats Gabriel on the shoulder. "Can you give us a minute, Gabe?"

Gabriel nods and leaves us alone in the living room. Sterling stares at the vase of flowers that I was playing with earlier.

"I need a solid answer," I tell him. "No more riddles. Please."

"I need you to help me figure something out."

"Is it about Laura?" I ask.

"Yes." Sterling looks straight at me. There is no lie in his eyes or any secrets.

"Why me?"

"Because you look like her," he says. "It's uncanny how much you look like her…" His voice trails off as his eyes scan me all over.

"So, everything since meeting in front of the shop on the street," I say, "it was all part of your plan? You saw me and knew I'd be perfect for your plan because I look like Laura. Did you know about Percy and me?"

He shook his head. "I didn't know about that until later. I have to admit, it's a strange coincidence."

I set my tea down and frown at him. "What if I refuse to help anymore?"

"I won't force you." Sterling sifts through the pile of documents Gabriel brought and takes out a sheet of paper and a plane ticket to Kingston with my name on it. The paper is a marriage certificate, already notarized by Gabriel himself and stamped with the official state seal. All that's missing is my own signature beside Sterling's. "It's your choice," he says. He hands me a pen.

I can hear that street artist outside, playing his guitar and singing.

I need someone beside me

In everything I do

You know I love you

I always will

I don't want to be taken advantage of. I don't want to be used like a tool or a weapon or a trophy or a key to some secret lock that keeps Sterling from whatever it is he wants.

But I'm also tired of not being appreciated, not being loved, being underestimated. Percy never loved me. He may never have even respected me. At least Sterling sees some kind of potential in me, something that he hasn't been able to articulate fully in my presence. I don't know what he sees, but I know he sees something.

And that's why I sign the marriage certificate.

I set the pen down and look up at Sterling. "Just tell me one thing."

He raises his eyebrows at me. Suddenly the signed certificate seems like a third person in the room. "What is it?" he asks me.

"Do you still love Laura?"

A slight laugh escapes his nose, like a sharp exhale. "Do you love Gabriel?" he asks me.

I wasn't expecting that. I don't know how to respond, so I just stare.

"We're done, then." Sterling puts the certificate back in the pile of papers and hands me my ticket. "Let Becca know if you need anything for the trip. Clothes, or whatever."

He leaves, taking the documents with him. I make some more tea and listen to the guitarist sing. I can't hear him well enough to understand the lyrics.

Three days later we pull up in a limo to a mansion. I can't help but gape with my mouth open as I try to take it all in. The manor is so huge that it won't all fit into my vision at once.

Outside, beside the large front double doors, several people stand and wait for the limo to park. Someone opens the car door for us from outside, and Sterling exits first, then takes my hand and helps me out.

The greeting crowd is all smiles, and Sterling hugs a few of them and exchanges greetings. My mind is racing and filled with so many thoughts and emotions that I barely understand when Sterling introduces me to his family.

Victoria Bellegarde. That's my name now. This is my family. This is my house. These are my servants.

One of the women there to greet us has short blonde hair and is wearing a suit. She extends a hand in greeting and I take it.

"Lovely to meet you, Vicky," she says. I haven't been called Vicky since high school, and it makes me smile. "I'm Paula."

Standing beside Paula is a man dressed just as smartly as Sterling and the rest of them, though his shrewd handsomeness puts me off a bit. Something about him is so familiar, and it takes me too long to realize that this is the man who saw me and Percy on the balcony at the party last week.

He holds out his hand to shake mine. "Vincent. Sorry we weren't able to meet formally at the party earlier."

I smile at him. "Well, it's great to meet you now."

Paula says to Sterling, "I thought you were kidding when you said you'd gotten married."

"Why would I joke about that, Paula?"

"Let me see it, then." Paula smiles at me with an excited look in her eyes and it takes me a moment to realize she meant my ring.

I remove my gloves and reveal the enormous diamond on my finger. Paula and Vincent gasp at the sight of it. I feel out of place, on the spot, embarrassed, but I don't show it.

I'm not sure how everyone is related, and I feel too awkward to ask just now. The servants bring us into the house. It's even bigger on the inside, and my mind can't take how beautiful and elegant and expensive everything is.

One of the butlers takes us upstairs and shows us our room. The bed is enormous and looks very comfortable. The closet and wardrobe are big enough to be bedrooms themselves, and they're filled with clothes for both me and Sterling.

That evening, a servant knocks on our door and I open it. She's a girl younger than I am, holding up a beautiful gown.

"Miss Paula would like you to wear this to dinner tonight in an hour."

I take the dress and am surprised at how light it is. "Thank you. What's your name?"

She appears startled, as if the question was out of place. "My name is Lydia. Can I get you anything else?"

"No. Thank you, Lydia." I smile and shut the door.

Sterling is laying on the bed, his eyes on his phone. "You should have asked her to help you get dressed."

"I don't need help putting on a dress."

Sterling dresses and leaves me alone in the room to join the others for dinner. It's only five minutes to the hour and I need to get down there, but I can't get my zipper all the way up. I struggle and force it, and my hair gets stuck.

"Ow, ow, ow," I say as I try my best to get the hair out of the zipper. But it's jammed now, with my hair tangled hopelessly in the zipper, and there's nothing I can do.

I waddle to the bedroom door. I can't turn my head and I'm stuck looking at an upward angle. If I move my head it pulls at my hair. I force the door open and hope that there's a servant out there.

"Hello? Anyone? Lydia? I need help…"

I hear someone come up behind me, and I feel tugging at the zipper and in my hair. Relief washes over me as my hair comes loose and I feel the zipper rise up my back and fasten at the top of the dress. I sigh and turn around.

Percy grins at me, and my blood freezes.

"Why the hell are you here?" I hiss at him. Suddenly I feel dirty now that he's touched me and my hair.

Percy just laughs and says, "You're still as clumsy as ever." He pushes me up against the wall and whispers in my ear, "Has Sterling needed to cut your steak for you yet?"

"Let me go," I whisper. "I'll call out for help."

Percy looks deep into my eyes and I feel him put something into my hand. He straightens, fixes his crooked tie, and turns to leave.

"Victoria," he says.

I feel that I'm blushing. I don't answer him.

"I don't think I can let you go," he says.

"Please go," I say. And he does go.

I go back into my bedroom and look at my hair in the mirror to make sure it's okay. It's a little messed up in the back, but I brush it down and it seems fine.

In the mirror I see the reflection of the bedroom window and the balcony outside. Someone is standing there, and I gasp and spin around to see Vincent climbing through into the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Sorry," he said, straightening his blazer and closing the window. "I heard you call out. I wasn't spying, I promise."

I frown. "Did you hear everything?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to tell anyone?"

"Would you want me to?"

I rub my face with my hands and exhale in frustration as I smudge my mascara. I turn to the mirror and fix it with my fingers. "I'm sorry," I tell Vincent's reflection. "I'm just...so nervous."

"This isn't exactly a relaxing place." Vincent makes his way to the bedroom door and holds it open. "I'll meet you down there, I guess." He looks at the dress I'm wearing. "Did someone want you to wear that?"

I look down at myself. "Yeah, Paula sent it up to me. Why? Is it ugly? I can't always tell with expensive clothes."

"No, it's beautiful, it's just…" He bites his lip and stops himself. "I'll see you at dinner." He closes the door behind him.

Suddenly I feel that I'm not meant to be wearing this dress, that wearing it might send someone a message of some kind. I don't understand the high class variety of court intrigue. I was never meant for this kind of world because little things like this go over my head.

The clock in the bedroom chimes. It's five, time for dinner. I can't change, I'm already late. I pray to whoever is listening that my wearing this dress won't have any consequences at dinner, and I make my way to the dining room.