CHAPTER ONE

  "Damn it!" Rella Cortés  swore for what seemed like the hundredth time in just an hour. She was picking up Cindy's bad language without her realising.

The whole engagement party was driving her insane. She was never a fan of such pump parties but it was two days before her other half Cindy's wedding and Rella was expected to be there, not only that but she found herself in such a situation she could've avoided. Her hands shook, her stomach was in knots and she was breaking out in cold sweat. She was never a mastermind in anything much less deception and lying always made her want to haul her guts out.

  She took deep calming breaths, inhaling and exhaling afraid she might start to hyperventilate.

Calm down Rella, it's only for tonight nobody has to know. She assured herself.

After she was calm enough, Rella sighed. 

  "Rella how did you get into this mess again? Oh yes because you can't say no to Cindy that's why. You're such an idiot you know that?" In a tone that was half-chiding and half-miserable, she addressed her reflection on the mirror in the washroom of her family's restaurant, Gourmet Cortés.

  She reached down unto the marble counter top and retrieved the lipstick that had slipped out of her hand. Right now, she's in Cindy's shimmering blue dress and sparkling diamonds, her makeup was as identical as it could be and if she didn't know herself better, she would've fallen for her own sham and believed she was Cindy. Why did she have to fall for Cindy's theatrics over and over again? All it took was a little of her signature water works and Rella gave in.

  After all that's happened in their earlier years right from grade school to high school you'd think Rella would've learnt her lesson by now but she was still as feeble minded, a big softie when it came to her twin.

  The dress was too fitting, and its plunging neckline left nothing to be imagined.

It was outrageous!

It outlined every supple curve down to the tiniest detail—curves Rella had no idea were there until this moment and she would never be caught dead dressed in such slutty outfit. 

  Except she wasn't Rella right now but Cindy. 

She had never devoted such attention to herself before, not even the society had anything to say about her because Cindy had always been in the spotlight and well she, Rella always faded away into the background and she didn't mind that at all for she hated the attention.

  Rella made some final touches to her makeup, her golden tresses which would've been straighter if she was herself right now were a tumbling wave of curls around her shoulders just like Cindy's.

  An hour ago the party had been in full swing.

  Her mom had called it an intimate dinner with family and a few friends but apparently a few friends meant the entire Manhattan high society. Of course that hadn't surprised Rella, it wouldn't be the first time Evie Cortés had gone overboard when it came to her parties. Only thing missing was the media. Even though there were a handful of them camping outside the restaurant hoping to get first scoop on what was termed engagement of the year seeing as Cindy was the media's darling and Stefan Diamond was their heartthrob. 

  She grabbed Cindy's dark clutch from the dresser and made for the door.

  Cindy had lasted a good thirty minutes at the party after which she disappeared. Evie Cortés had been so restless she had to ask Rella to bring her sister back to the party before she does anything crazy and Rella had found Cindy tearing out of the restaurant like she had a swarm of bees chasing her. 

  "Please don't tell anyone Rella." Her twin had implored.

  "What are you up to now huh?" 

  Rella had expected an explanation but instead she only got a promise. For one, Cindy had been nervous as hell and Rella was tempted to press further but before she got another word out Cindy said, "Rose needs me right now. Her water broke.''

  "So call her husband or boyfriend!'' 

  ''She doesn't have a husband or boyfriend and her family disowned her.''

  ''Cindy, no woman in her right mind would leave her own engagement party after being here a few minutes.What about the party?"

  "Well about that, I'll need you to do me a favour." And she quickly rattled off the idea.

  "No. You have got to be kidding." Rella shock her head in stern disapproval.

  "Please Rella you're the only one I trust to help me with this."

  "Absolutely not.  I will not be dragged into your affairs especially when I know it's bound to be a disaster. Why don't you give me her address and I'll go and assist her instead." Rella suggested.

  "No!" Cindy's protest came a bit strong it surprised Rella. "It'll only be for a few hours I promise I'll be back before the end of the party."

  "How can I pretend to be you at your own party this is absurd."

  "No it's not, you've done it so many times before." Cindy pointed.

  "That was different you were not getting married in two days!" 

Things hadn't turned out the way Rella had imagined and she caved in.

  "I sure hope I don't regret this."

  She was regretting it the moment she stepped out of the washroom. Rella couldn't help but think of all the guests out there and her thoughts inadvertently revert to Cindy's fiancé—Stefan Diamond—the CEO of the vast Diamond hotels and resort empire.

Rella felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine at the thought of him.

  He was as intimidating as he was sophisticated with an air of enigma around him. No man had ever made her as flustered as she was each time he was close or when she thought of him. 

But one thing she's clear about is the fact that she did not like him. 

  Rella had met him three weeks ago and had learned about the proposal. She had been reeling from the aftermath of her break up with Ryan but Stefan had come as a shock to her.  Cindy was rebellious and impulsive while Rella seemed so reserved at some point she had been dubbed a wallflower. It was no surprise at all that Cindy would get a match like Stefan Diamond and there was no doubt at all that the two were smitten with each other Cindy had all but purred like a slick kitten when she told Rella, "he's so hot I feel like I'm going to die whenever I look at him!" Then she had dramatically fanned herself.

  Rella had been wary of him right from the very first day, there was something about him she couldn't quite put her finger on but she knew he was dangerous— not like  a serial killer or anything of the sort— he just seemed to discomfit her every time.  He was sinfully gorgeous, she would give him that. With his aristocratic face; his firmly set jaw, his cobalt blue eyes that were cold and calculating always having a certain glint of mischief in them. He was intimidating enough without having to throw in his massive built and broad shoulders which only made her dislike him even more. All of these features cemented her belief that Stefan Diamond was every bit the arrogant, too-rich-i-can-get-whatever-i-want just like the rest of the Manhattan billionaire playboys she detested. And she could not believe he was getting married to her sister. 

  While Rella could never measure up to her twin's air of cool sophistication, she was more than content with being only in the background. Even when they were still teenagers, Cindy easily outshone her and she had been the shy little Rella. 

  She scanned the crowd for Stefan and only felt her nerves flaring uncontrollably. What if he realises she wasn't Cindy? And what if she messes up everything? The questions only made bile rise up from the pit of her stomach to her throat before she swallowed nervously and tried furtively to calm her exploding nerves.

  Rella relaxed a bit when she saw no sign of Stefan and decided warily that she needed some fresh air. She wobbled uneasily as she threw the French doors open and let out a whoosh of breath. At least she would have time to gain her composure back before she face him she told herself. She had just closed her eyes and was beginning to enjoy the feel of the balmy air on her skin when he spoke, "I thought I may have to call the cops to make you come to your own party." Rella stuck one foot against the other and she found herself losing her balance. She flung out her arms in a desperate attempt to keep herself from falling. Her ankle had twisted in a wrong angle.

Large pair of arms caught her at the last minute, wounding around her protectively.

  "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

  Rella almost couldn't move and speech had evaded her and it's not because she was hurt but the thought of Stefan Diamond wrapping her in his embrace was more than she had bargained for, he had caught her off guard. She'd never expected him to be on the balcony of all places.