The next morning arrived with a vengeance, sunlight streaming through gaps in the curtains Alex had forgotten to close. He groaned, rolling over to bury his face in a pillow that probably cost more than his old car.
'Note to self,' he thought blearily, 'find out if Jason Rivers is allergic to hangovers.'
As if on cue, a notification pinged in his mind:
[Hangover Relief Skill Available - 500 Cashback Points]
Alex snorted. "Nice try," he muttered. "But if I had that point, I'm saving those points for something more useful. Like maybe a 'How to Be a Porn Star Without Dying of Embarrassment' skill."
The doorbell's chime echoed through the house, making Alex wince. Right. Sarah was coming over. He glanced at the clock and swore softly. It was already past 10 AM.
Stumbling out of bed, he caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror and froze. Jason Rivers' body was... well, it was something else. Toned abs, sculpted arms, and other assets that Alex quickly averted his eyes from. It still felt weird looking at his now new body.
'No wonder this guy's a star,' he thought, a mix of awe and mortification washing over him. 'I feel like I should apologize to him for inhabiting this body.'
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time. Alex cursed, grabbing a robe from the back of the door and cinching it tightly.
"Coming!" he called, wincing at how rough his voice sounded.
He made it downstairs just as Sarah was fishing out her own set of keys. She looked up as he opened the door, her professional smile faltering for a moment as she took in his disheveled state.
"Rough night?" she asked, an eyebrow arched.
Alex ran a hand through his hair, acutely aware of how he must look – and smell. "You could say that. Sorry, I overslept."
Sarah's expression softened. "It's fine. You're still recovering." She brushed past him into the house, the scent of her perfume momentarily overwhelming his senses. "I brought breakfast," she added, holding up a paper bag that smelled divine.
"You're a lifesaver," Alex said with feeling, following her to the kitchen.
As Sarah busied herself unpacking what looked like gourmet pastries and fruit, Alex found himself studying her. The way she moved around Jason's kitchen with easy familiarity, the glances she kept stealing when she thought he wasn't looking... It all pointed to a level of intimacy that went beyond a typical boss-employee relationship.
'Did they have a thing?' he wondered. 'And if they did, am I supposed to... continue it?'
The thought sent a jolt of panic through him. He'd never been great with women in his own life, let alone navigating the potential minefield of Jason Rivers' love life.
"Earth to Jason," Sarah's voice cut through his thoughts. She was holding out a cup of coffee, concern etched on her face. "You okay? You looked like you were a million miles away."
Alex accepted the coffee gratefully. "Sorry, just... still getting my bearings, I guess." He took a sip, surprised to find it prepared exactly how he liked it. Well, how Alex Turner liked it. Did Jason Rivers take his coffee the same way?
Sarah nodded sympathetically. "That's understandable. A lot's happened." She hesitated, then added softly, "I was really worried about you, you know."
There was a weight to her words that made Alex's heart skip a beat. He looked up, meeting her eyes, and for a moment, the air between them seemed charged with unspoken things.
'Say something, idiot,' he thought frantically. 'Something Jason would say.'
"I, uh... I'm sorry I worried you," he managed, wincing internally at how lame it sounded.
But Sarah's smile was warm, almost tender. "It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're okay."
The moment stretched, and Alex found himself leaning in slightly, drawn by some instinct he couldn't quite name. Was this what Jason would do? Was he supposed to kiss her?
Just as he was about to do something he'd probably regret, Sarah cleared her throat and stepped back. "We should eat before everything gets cold," she said briskly, the professional mask sliding back into place.
Alex nodded, equal parts relieved and disappointed. "Right, yeah. Good idea."
As they settled at the kitchen island with their feast, Alex decided to broach the subject that had been nagging at him since the previous night.
"Hey, Sarah? Something weird happened yesterday after you left."
She looked up, alarm flashing across her face. "Weird how?"
Alex hesitated, not wanting to sound paranoid. "I thought I saw someone outside. A woman, looking in through the window. And then I got a strange text from an unknown number."
Sarah's fork clattered to her plate. "What? Why didn't you call me immediately?"
"I... I wasn't sure if it was real," Alex admitted. "I'd had a bit to drink, and with everything that's happened..."
Sarah was already pulling out her phone. "Description. Now."
Alex blinked, taken aback by her sudden intensity. "Uh, blonde, I think. Couldn't see much else. Look, it's probably nothing—"
"It's not nothing," Sarah cut him off. "Jason, after what happened in Manhattan, we can't be too careful."
A chill ran down Alex's spine. Right. The poisoning. The reason he – Jason – had been in a coma in the first place.
Sarah was speaking rapidly into her phone, arranging for additional security and a sweep of the property. When she hung up, her face was grim.
"I'm so sorry, Jason. I should have thought of this sooner. We'll have a security detail here within the hour, and I'm going to stay until they arrive."
Alex nodded, a lump forming in his throat. The reality of Jason Rivers' life – his life now – was starting to sink in. "Thanks, Sarah. I appreciate it."
She reached across the island, squeezing his hand. "Hey. It's going to be okay. We'll figure this out together, alright?"
The warmth of her touch sent a jolt through Alex, and he found himself squeezing back. "Together," he echoed, managing a small smile.
As Sarah went back to her breakfast, Alex's mind raced. The cashback system and now potential threats to his safety... What had he gotten himself into?
'One thing at a time, Turner,' he thought. 'First step: don't starve to death in this ridiculously expensive house.'
"Hey, Sarah?" he ventured. "I was thinking maybe we could go grocery shopping today? The fridge is looking pretty bare."
Sarah looked up, surprise evident on her face. "You want to go grocery shopping? Yourself?"
Alex backpedaled, realizing he might have just said something very un-Jason-like. "I mean, if you think it's safe. I just thought... maybe it'd be good to get out for a bit?"
To his relief, Sarah's expression softened into a smile. "Actually, that might not be a bad idea. Once the security team is here, we could make a quick trip. It'd be good for you to get some fresh air."
An hour later, with two burly security guards stationed outside the house, Alex found himself in the passenger seat of Sarah's car, heading to what she assured him was a "discreet" grocery store that catered to celebrities.
As they drove, Alex couldn't help but marvel at how different everything looked from this perspective. People on the sidewalks seemed to instinctively turn their heads as the car passed, as if sensing a celebrity in their midst.
"So," Sarah said, breaking the comfortable silence, "any requests? Chef Mariano left a meal plan, but we can deviate a bit if you're craving anything specific."
Alex blinked. "Chef Mariano?"
Sarah shot him a concerned glance. "Your personal chef? The one who's been with you for the past three years?"
'Shit,' Alex thought. 'Of course Jason Rivers has a personal chef. Probably a personal trainer and a dog walker too.'
"Right, of course," he said quickly. "Sorry, still a bit fuzzy on some details. Uh, whatever he recommends is fine."
Sarah nodded, but Alex didn't miss the way her brow furrowed slightly. He'd have to be more careful. Every interaction was a potential minefield, a chance to reveal that he wasn't really Jason Rivers.
As they pulled into the parking lot of what looked like the fanciest grocery store Alex had ever seen, Sarah turned to him with a serious expression.
"Jason, before we go in, I need to know – are you sure you're up for this? If it gets overwhelming, just say the word and we'll leave, okay?"
Alex nodded, touched by her concern. "I'll be fine. But thanks, Sarah. Really."
She smiled, and for a moment, Alex found himself lost in the warmth of her gaze. There was something there, something beyond professional concern, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
The moment was broken by a tap on the window. One of the security guards was there, looking impatient.
"Show time," Sarah muttered, her professional mask sliding back into place.
As they entered the store, Alex was struck by how... normal it all seemed. Sure, the products were fancier and the prices made him want to weep, but it was still recognizably a grocery store.
That is, until people started noticing them.
It began with whispers and stolen glances. Then a brave teenager approached, stammering out a request for a selfie. Before Alex knew what was happening, Sarah had smoothly intercepted, explaining that Mr. Rivers was still recovering and wasn't up for photos today.
"Is this... normal?" Alex whispered as they moved down the aisles, Sarah efficiently filling their cart with items from Chef Mariano's list.
Sarah nodded. "More or less. Usually, you're a bit more... gregarious about it." She hesitated, then added, "You really don't remember any of this, do you?"
There was a note of worry in her voice that made Alex's stomach clench. He was walking a tightrope, and one wrong move could send him plummeting.
"It's coming back in pieces," he lied, hating himself for it. "I'm sure it'll all click soon."
Sarah nodded, but Alex could see the doubt in her eyes. He needed to change the subject, fast.
"Hey, uh, how much is all this going to cost?" he asked, gesturing to their rapidly filling cart. "I should probably reimburse you, right?"
Sarah's eyebrows shot up. "Reimburse me? Jason, what are you talking about?"
Alex backpedaled, realizing he'd made another misstep. "I just meant... you know, for taking care of everything while I was... away."
Sarah's expression softened. "Jason, that's my job. You don't need to reimburse me for anything. And even if you did..." She trailed off, a flicker of something – worry? guilt? – crossing her face.
"Even if I did, what?" Alex pressed, sensing he was on the edge of uncovering something important.
Sarah shook her head. "Nothing. It's not important right now. Let's just focus on getting you back on your feet, okay?"
As they made their way to the checkout, Alex's mind was whirling. There was definitely something going on with Jason's finances, something Sarah was trying to keep from him. But why?
The cashier's voice cut through his thoughts. "That'll be $527.43, Mr. Rivers."
Alex choked. Over five hundred dollars for groceries? What the hell kind of life had he stumbled into?
Before he could react, Sarah smoothly handed over a sleek black credit card. "It's on the corporate account," she murmured to Alex. "Don't worry about it."
But Alex was worrying. He was worrying a lot. Because as they left the store, bags loaded into the trunk by an eager employee, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of a very deep, very dangerous rabbit hole.
As they drove home, the Manhattan sun beating down on the car, Alex found himself stealing glances at Sarah. She was competent, caring, and undeniably attractive. But she was also hiding something. And in this new life he'd found himself in, secrets seemed to be the most valuable currency of all.
'Welcome to Hollywood, Turner,' he thought wryly. 'Where the food is overpriced, the people are beautiful, and everyone's got something to hide.'
Little did he know, his own secrets were about to become the hottest commodity in town.