Chapter 4 I didn't have a choice!

FOUR

AVA's POV

As soon as I heard the landlord's booming voice, I knew exactly what was going on.

"Mrs.Miller, I was wondering if you have the rent for this month," the landlord said, his tone polite but firm.

Mom's voice was strained as she replied, "I'm sorry, we don't have it right now. But we'll have it soon, I promise."

The landlord's face hardened. "I've heard that before, Mrs. Miller.I can't keep giving you extensions. I have bills to pay too."

Mom's face fell. "Please, just bear with us a little longer. We're doing everything we can to get the money together."

The landlord sighed and narrowed his eyes at her."I thought you had an actress for a daughter,where is she? Doesn't she get paid?"

"Mr Rodriguez, I'd have your money soon," Mom said with a tight lipped smile ignoring his comment.

"Better have it in two days." He said,an edge to his voice."Or else I would have kick you out.I don't tolerate tardiness and you know it.You owe two months,make it snappy."

I waited until the landlord left before turning to Mom.

"Why haven't we even paid the rent yet?" I asked, my voice low.

Mom sighed and sat down next to me on the couch. "Your dad used the money to gamble again," she said, her voice heavy with disappointment.

My face twisted in a frown. "What the heck? Even the rent money? Why don't you say anything?"

"Ava,my words have no effect on him. You should know that I have tried my best,"

I rolled my eyes and gave an exasperated sigh."This has to stop. But for now, what do we do?"

"The ball is in your court,Ava. My shop isn't even doing well currently so we only have one choice. Agree to Ashton's request.You've gotta help us,"

I looked at Mom and she looked at me intently waiting for a response.

I didn't know what to say.

Well I could move out and have them sort their issues by themselves but where was I supposed to go?

Back to Dallas where I had no home or job?

What about my dreams of a fashion designer?

What about Brett? Oh how I dreaded telling him.

How was I to keep up with pretending to be Olivia?

My mind raced and Mom was still staring at me hopefully.

Somebody kill me now.

Ah,fuck it. How hard could it be?

I was Ava Miller, I was always gonna find a way around things.

"Mom,I need to step out to clear my head a little," I rose to my feet."I'll be back much later"

And with that,I calmly slid out the door.

I was on my way to Brett's house.

It was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do but I had to face it head on.

Brett answered the door,his full and soft lips curling into a smile on seeing me.

His blonde hair was slightly tousled and wet. It was evident he just took a shower cause he smelled of honey and his aftershave.

With his jawline well defined,face clean shaven, nose upturned and straight,a lean build with broad shoulders and toned arms, he was a really good looking man.

He hugged me tight and I caught a whiff of his glorious scent."Hey, babe.What's up?" he asked, his voice warm.

I took a step inside, feeling nervous. "Can we talk?" I asked, my voice shaking a little.

He nodded and led me to the living room, where we sat down on the couch. He seemed to be the only one around because the house was very quiet.

"Where is everybody?" I asked .

"The girls are at the hospital with Mom. I just got back from there," he replied me.

I nodded and then took a deep breath before speaking.

"I... I am going to sign a contract with Ashton," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Brett's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Ashton? The Ashton Knight? And what contract?" he asked.

I nodded, feeling tears prickling at the corners of my eyes that I was trying so hard to suppress."Yeah. He offered to one year marriage contract and in return he would forget about Olivia's debts,take down her leaked tape and also help with some money. Mom said there was no other way and I had to impersonate my twin. So,I had to agree to it,"

His expression darkened,his bright blue eyes staring hard at me. "What do you mean, 'had to'?" he demanded. "You're my girlfriend, Ava. You should have talked to me about this first."

I felt my own anger flaring up. "I didn't have a choice, Brett. You know how tight money is for my family right now. I couldn't do anything else,"

He shook his head, looking frustrated. "This is ridiculous. You're my girlfriend, and I shouldn't have to share you with anyone else.What do you mean you need to impersonate your twin and get married to some other man you don't know? Have you gone nuts?"

"I'm really sorry but I've come to the conclusion that I have to do what is best for my family." I looked away. His gaze was killing me.

"Look at me Ava," he tilted my chin to face him."Are you fucking with me? Have you gone totally crazy?"

I stood up,raising my voice"Look I have no other choice okay! The landlord was at our house today threatening to kick us out. And there is Ashton's money pending. What am I supposed to do? I am sorry and I really didn't mean to hurt you,"

Brett stood up too, his expression still angry. "You did not mean to hurt me? You should have thought about that before you agreed to a stupid contract."

I felt my own anger boiling over. "You know what? Maybe I should have. But I didn't, and now I have to deal with the consequences. I don't need you to make me feel worse about it"

"So what?" He waved his arms about in the air."You are just gonna go ahead to be some stranger's wife while you are dating me? Just like that? You're gonna throw all we have away?"

My eyebrows were furrowed and I was getting more agitated by the second."You sound as if this is easy for me. I am in such a tight space right now and I'm losing my fucking mind!Do you know how much pressure my family is putting on me now?"

"Ava,you can't do this," he held me by the arm looking at me intently."You won't do this,"

I scoffed and broke free from him."You got four hundred thousand dollars lying somewhere around that I could pay Ashton back?"

"It isn't even your debt to pay for goodness sake!" He said,his voice tinged with frustration."It is your sister's. You are not Olivia! You are Ava!"

"But now I have got to be Olivia don't you get it!" I said in a strangled voice."This isn't easy for me just so you know. But I have to do this so try to understand me."

"Why does it have to be you? You need to try to reach Olivia," he continued,lips pressed into a thin line.

"That's exactly what I have been trying to do since I got here but she is completely unreachable.And there is no other person to fill in for her except me. You really have to understand Brett," I felt my voice breaking.

He looked at me,pain,hurt and anger visible in his eyes. It broke me to see him like that but there was nothing I could do at this point.

"I understand if you can't accept this at once so I'm gonna leave you alone for now," I was speaking again as I clutched my purse under my arm,getting ready to leave."I'm really sorry babe. I love you,and nothing would ever change that I promise you,"

I swallowed hard when he looked at me and said nothing. I slowly started walking away and he didn't utter a single word.

Was this the end of it for us? Hot tears started streaming my face and I tried so hard to wipe them away with my palm as I stepped out of the house shutting the door behind me.

My heart was hurting so much and I couldn't take it.

I had to go to an abandoned park to cry my eyes out for a while before finally heading home when I no longer had the energy to cry anymore.

"I would be signing the contract, Mom," I announced in a low tone the moment I stepped foot into the house. Mom let her fork drop noisily on her plate and rushed over to me from the dining table with a broad smile on her face.

She was hugging me and I didn't even hug her back.

"My goodness,thank you darling," she was beaming and kissed my cheek. Clapping excitedly she said,"Finally! All my worries are going away soon. Thank you Ava,you're such a wonderful daughter,"

I was too tired to even roll my eyes. Oh now she knew I was a wonderful daughter.

"What you need, is a makeover,"

I frowned at her."Don't I already look good like this?"

"Oh no no no, you and Olivia are identical twins but to make it believable,you both need to have the same style," Mom shook her head as she held my shoulders tenderly."We would start first into changing your hair to hers. You'd have to dress the way she dresses,put on her kind of makeup.."

"Mom,stop," I cut her short.

I wasn't trading my beautiful brown hair for anything in the world. Also, I loved mild makeup and just being very simple.

"I am acting as Olivia now so she has to be like me. I am keeping my hair. We'd just say I opted for something new. I wanted a new look? A new feel?"

Mom looked disappointed but didn't bother me anymore. "But we aren't saying no to the clothes are we?"

"Whatever," I sighed deeply.

She looked excited again."I would fill you in on all the details of every other thing you need to know okay?"

I gave a stiff nod. Had I just committed the biggest mistake of my life?