Chapter 9 Same Face, Two different People
Daten took a moment to gather his thoughts. “She was an animal lover, fond of birds in particular. We would go bird–watching during the weekends. Probably Jia would ask you about this too. But above all, she is loving yet courageous, though not very vocal. She listened more than she talked. You should remember that when you are with Jia.”
Andrea let out a disappointed sigh, absorbing everything. “Okay,” she spoke after some time. “I will try my best.”
Daren beamed at her on a small but encouraging beach. “That is all that I require of you.”
He led her back to the staircase and stopped just before the front doors. “We’ll do it step by step,” he assured her. “You don’t have to meet any standards of excellence. Just… fit in for the
time being.”
Andrea nodded, already forming a plan in her head on how to accomplish what lay ahead of her. When she stepped out into the sun, dressed as instructed, she understood that her life was going to be about equidistant walking: who she was, and who she had to be.
And her balance couldn’t be shaken.
Daren gazed at Andrea, who was standing in the door frame clearly crushed with what she was supposed to do. He noticed how she was hesitant, the lack of certainty in her eyes and how he clearly knew that it was not lying that was the hardest part of this whole setup, it was living as Sonia, composedly and intricately.
“Daren, there’s something else you should know,” He began, his tone gentle, but serious. Andrea looked away from him, waiting. “Sonia… Sonia had a slight British accent. Sometimes it was more noticeable than others, but she spent the majority of her childhood in Britain prior to graduating from Harvard. It manifests itself when she is upset or anxious or even at times in specific words. If that is gone, Jia will most certainly know.”
With that, Andrea blinked, her anxiety now growing once again. “A British accent?” she echoed, her voice tight.
Daren agreed with a nod. “Her mum’s actually British. To put it simply, Sonia spent most of her years in London before heading to the US for her University education. That was Harvard for her, but that part of her was never really eradicated. That’s something I would advise you to understand especially in the presence of Jia.”
Andrea’s mind was now running a marathon. She had not only to shoulder the responsibility of being someone she had never come in contact with but mimic a voice that was foreign to her? The probability of her enacting it was up in the skies.
“Wait, so… how thick is this accent? Am I supposed to come off like as if I just flew in from the London city or what…?” she half–jokingly asked but curious as well.
Daren smiled a little and knew she was uncomfortable. “It’s not that strong. As I said, it only comes out in certain words and if she gets emotional. But it’s there. I can assist you in it if you
want to.”
Andrea closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was still easy to believe that she would manage this. Everybody and everything was becoming more and more complicated every minute. ” Alright, so she’s had a British accent, is fond of peanut butter which I am not a fan of being around and also likes to watch birds. Is there anything else?”
Daren leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms, regarding her for a moment. “Sonia was… still. Not shy exactly, but she would hardly speak unless there was something worth saying. The rest of the time she listened, watched and thought. And that is something you have to remember. Jia and the rest will not expect you to be loud, but rather contemplative.”
Andrea nodded slowly as if trying to take in all the information. “So, she is quiet and observant, and will have a bit of a British accent,” she summarized as though readying herself mentally.
“Precisely,” Daren replied, comforting her with his expression. “And one more thing Sonia has always been a very generous person. Person who put others before her self irrespective of how tough things could get. It is what made her who she was. Which is why you need to unearth that side of yourself and this too shall pass.”
Andrea felt sympathy in Daren’s voice when he talked about Sonia, almost sadness. He had tried to communicate that he still loved her very much in spite of everything. And here she was herself playing Sonia.
“Andrea, you know this is a great deal,” Daren added after a moment. “I, however, will not ask you to do this if I did not think you were capable of doing so.”
Andrea exhaled sharply and raked her fingers through her hair, the reality of what she had consented to dawning on her finally. “I just… I don’t want to screw it up. If Jia gets suspicious if anyone gets suspicious- it will be the end of everything.”
“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” Daren said with conviction. “I will walk with you throughout this. And if anything feels strange, we will change it. But for now, it is critical that you find out everything there is to Sonia. You may not have to overnight become her, but certainly, you will need to arm yourself.”
Andrea nodded again, the death of reassurance slowly metamorphosing into the birth of determination. She was doing it for her family for her mother. There were a lot of risks involved, but there was no turning back now.
“I’ll work on the accent,” she said, almost to herself. “And I will learn about her, her preferences, what she does not like. Whatever works.”
Daren’s smile was warm and gentle. “That’s the right attitude.”
Andrea surprised him by giving a small smile back although her brain was still in chaos. She had to be Sonia in every single sense of the word her speech her movements her interests. It was going to be the most difficult task she had ever faced.
However, as she exited Daren’s abode that day, she inwardly resolved: she would go to whatever lengths to defend her kin, even it would mean elimination of her own self in the long run. Mid evening that day, Daren was in his study, burdened by the choice he had made. The fireplace was successfully keeping the unpleasant draughts at bay, making dancing shadows onto the walls from the fire’s light. In the background, the monotonous sound of a clock, its hands incessantly moving also broke the stillness. He was very much aware that he was doing something that was more or less dangerous but in his mind there was no other option. While he was lost staring at the fire, lost in his own thoughts, the knocking of the door snapped him back to reality. “Come in,” he instructed, his tone resolute, though his body felt fatigued.
The creaky door opened and in walked Marcus, the lawyer, his expression as grave as ever. He clutched a briefcase that he seemed to always have with him. Daren raised his head, fully aware of the purpose of Marcus‘ presence.
“I didn’t expect you back this fast,” Daren said, reclining on the chair.
Marcus shut the door and marched forward until he stood before Daren’s desk. He set the briefcase he was carrying on the floor but did not attempt to open it. He only locked his hands and stared daggers at Daren.
“I came back for a reason, and that is to ask you,” In a calm and collected tone, Marcus said. “Do you believe this will actually work? This plan of fooling the Maxwell family with… this? Andrea playing Sonia?”
Daren let out a groan as he massaged his temples. He surmised that such a talk would arise, nevertheless, it did not ease him. ” I am afraid so, Marcus. I do. We have to go to extreme lengths and pull this off weighing all factors short of failure. Andrea is our golden ticket in sealing the deal once and for all.
It is as if the Maxwell family has become obstinate the moment Sonia vanished, and they will not agree on anything unless Sonia or a person that satisfies them to be Sonia is in the picture again.
Marcus thinned his gaze. “So you’re using her then? You are using Andrea to get what you want?”
Daren straightened his back, and his face became stony. “No, I’m not using her,” he said in a voice filled with irritation. “This isn’t just about the merger. It’s about getting to the bottom of why it went wrong so badly, why did they lose Sonia. Andrea’s involvement will give us the leverage we need, yes, but she’s not simply a piece on the board. She is helping me to solve this conundrum. She understands what is at ris
