Chapter 4 A blessing in disguise

Vanessa's POV

"Oh my goodness! Girl, I used to think I was the crazy one, but you're on a whole other level," Cassie says, laughing so hard that her cucumber mask starts to slip off.

I laugh along, shaking my head. "It's not like I planned it, Cass. I just... found myself stuck in the situation."

Cassie sits cross-legged on the couch, one eyebrow arched. "So, what are you going to do now?" she asks, balancing her laptop on her knees.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "Honestly? I don't know. The lies are piling up, and I'm terrified I'll get caught. I don't even want to think about the consequences."

Cassie studies me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she leans forward, curiosity lighting up her face. "What's his name again?"

"Richard," I say, my mind scrambling for the rest. "Uh... Richard McCarthy."

Her fingers fly across her keyboard, nails clicking as she types. Then she freezes, her eyes widening as her jaw drops. "Oh. My. Gosh." She spins the laptop toward me, pointing at the screen. "He's huge! Richard McCarthy is the billionaire CEO of Ricotech. Like, Wall Street royalty or something." She grabs my shoulders, shaking me like I've just won the lottery. "Girl, you've hit the jackpot!"

I give her a deadpan look. "Cassie, you're ridiculous."

She rolls her eyes and waves her hand dramatically. "Call me ridiculous if you want, but this is your golden ticket. Do you have any idea what kind of life this man can give you? No more struggling, Nessa. You could take care of your siblings and make all your dreams come true."

"By pretending to be someone I'm not?" I ask, guilt already gnawing at me. "That's so wrong, Cass."

"Just for now!" she pleads, leaning closer. "You can tell him the truth later, once he gets to know the real you."

I shake my head, firm in my stance. "Relationships built on lies don't last. That's not who I am."

Cassie lets out a long sigh but doesn't argue. Instead, she stares at Richard's picture on her laptop, her expression softening. "God, he's so freaking handsome," she murmurs, practically drooling.

I smile despite myself, his face flashing in my mind. "Okay, I'll give you that. He's ridiculously good-looking."

Before I can say more, my phone buzzes on the table. I glance at it, and my stomach flips when I see the caller ID.

"It's him," I whisper, my eyes wide.

"Speak of the devil!" Cassie grins.

"No, speak of the angel," I correct her, my voice shaky.

"Pick it up already!" she hisses, scooting so close I can feel her breath on my ear.

With trembling fingers, I swipe to answer. "Hello?" I say, my voice softer than I intended.

"Hello, beautiful," comes Richard's deep, smooth voice, and my heart skips a beat.

"Hi, Richie," I say, my lips curving into a smile.

"Thanks for coming yesterday. I appreciate it," he says warmly.

"You're welcome," I reply, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

There's a pause, and then he clears his throat. "I know it's sudden, but I wanted to ask if you'd do me a favour. My sister is hosting a party tomorrow night to celebrate the grand opening of her new fashion house. Would you be my date?"

I blink, caught off guard. "Oh..."

"Please, Jane," he says, his voice so sincere it makes my heart ache. "I'd love for you to come with me."

Cassie is practically vibrating next to me, mouthing, Say yes! over and over.

"Are you there, Jane?" Richard asked, his tone was a bit hesitant.

"Yes!" I blurt out, my voice louder than I intended. "Yes, I'll go with you."

He exhales, and I can hear the relief in his voice. "Thank you, Jane. I'll send my chauffeur to pick you up tomorrow at seven."

"Okay," I say, my nerves bubbling under the surface. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, beautiful," he says, and the call ends.

Cassie lets out a squeal and leaps off the couch, doing a little victory dance. "Yes! This is HUGE!"

I groan, rubbing my temples. "Cassie, you don't understand. I have no idea what I've just gotten myself into."

She grins and pulls me into a hug. "Relax! You've got this. We just need to focus on tomorrow."

I shake my head, anxiety clawing at me. "I can't go, Cass. I'm not who he thinks I am. And even if I wanted to, I don't have anything to wear to a party like that. Can you imagine the kind of people who'll be there?"

Cassie snorts and strides to her wardrobe, yanking it open. "Nonsense. We'll fix that. Mark bought me these dresses, and they're perfect for you." She pulls out a glittering gown and tosses it onto the bed. "Tomorrow, I'll give you a full makeover. Trust me, you'll be the belle of the ball."

Her confidence makes me tear up. Cassie has always been my ride-or-die. "You're amazing, Cass. What would I do without you?"

She winks, pulling me into another hug. "Probably stress yourself into a coma. Now, let's get you ready to show the world just how incredible you are."

As I stare at the stunning dress on the bed, I can't help but think about how strange life is. One missed date with my ex led to this.

"Cass," I say softly, smiling through my tears, "I guess it's true what they say-every disappointment is a blessing in disguise."

She laughs, squeezing my hand. "And, babe, this is only the beginning."

"Cassie ", I say, with a teary face." I don't want to fall in love again . I'm afraid ".

"It's alright, girl. Just do this for fun ", Cassie wraps her hand around me.