The thrill of the masquerade had faded, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease. Back in her apartment, Alex stared at the blinking cursor on her laptop screen. Ava Sanders, the immaculately crafted persona, felt less like a glamorous disguise and more like a looming impostor.
"Okay," Alex muttered to herself, taking a deep breath. "Let's build Ava a life."
Gone were the days of leisurely browsing luxury real estate listings. Now, Alex was on a mission to populate the digital world with Ava Sanders' existence. She meticulously crafted a website showcasing a portfolio of fictitious properties – opulent mansions, sprawling estates, and yes, even the mythical Greek island. Each listing boasted high-resolution photos (carefully sourced from stock photography websites) and detailed descriptions that exuded an air of exclusivity.
"Looks good, right? Alex asked Ben, who sat beside her, peering over her shoulder. Professional, sophisticated. Exactly what a billionaire realtor would have.
Ben nodded, impressed. Yeah, this is seriously impressive work. You even managed to snag a fake client testimonial from a random CEO you found online.
Alex chuckled. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, who's going to check with some random tech company CEO anyway?
Building a website was just the first step. Social media profiles, complete with carefully curated posts about luxury properties and philanthropic events, were next. Alex even went as far as creating fake articles about Ava's "accolades" in the real estate industry, planting them on obscure news websites.
"This is getting a little… elaborate," Ben remarked, watching Alex Photoshop a picture of Ava (actually a heavily edited photo of herself) attending a charity gala.
Elaborate, maybe, Alex admitted, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. But necessary. The more real Ava Sanders seems, the less likely Ethan is to suspect anything.
The constant need to maintain the Ava persona, however, began to take its toll. Gone were the days of spontaneous coffee dates with friends and carefree weekend plans. Every interaction, every online post, had to be carefully filtered through the lens of Ava Sanders.
One afternoon, while meeting a potential client (a real one this time, thankfully), Alex's phone buzzed. It was an email notification – an invitation to a private viewing of a penthouse Ethan Ryder was interested in.
A jolt of excitement shot through her. This was it – her chance to get closer to Ethan, to see if the facade of Ava Sanders could grant her access to his world. But the excitement was quickly overshadowed by a wave of anxiety.
"Hey, everything alright?" the client asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.
"Oh, yeah, fine," Alex stammered, forcing a smile. "Just a… personal matter."
Back in her apartment, rehearsing for the upcoming meeting became an obsession. She practiced her sales pitch in front of the mirror, running different scenarios in her head. What if he asks about her experience? What if he wants to see references?
"Relax, Alex, Ben said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You know your stuff. You've practically memorized the blueprints for every luxury property in the city.
Alex took a deep breath. It's not the real estate part that worries me. It's Ethan. What if he sees through Ava? What if he discovers who I really am?"
"Then you improvise, Ben said with a reassuring smile. "You're good at that, remember? Just think of it like playing a part in a play. You're Ava Sanders, the brilliant, enigmatic realtor. Now go out there and own it.
The day of the meeting arrived, and Alex, transformed into Ava, walked into the opulent lobby of the high-rise building with a carefully practiced air of confidence. She greeted the building manager, a man who seemed more impressed by her designer suit than her business card.
"Mr. Ryder is expecting you, Ms. Sanders, the manager said, leading her towards a private elevator.
As the elevator doors opened onto a private rooftop terrace, Alex's breath hitched. There, overlooking the city skyline, stood Ethan Pierce. He was even more captivating in person, his sharp features and piercing blue eyes radiating an aura of power.
"Ava Sanders," Ethan said, extending a hand. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Ryder, Alex replied, meeting his gaze. Her voice, however, felt a touch too high-pitched, a telltale sign of her mounting nervousness.
The tour of the penthouse was a blur. Ethan barely spoke, his gaze flickering between Alex and the spectacular views. Alex, however, forced herself to launch into a detailed spiel about the property highlighting the custom-designed infinity pool overlooking the cityscape, the private rooftop observatory perfect for stargazing, and the state-of-the-art security system that could rival Fort Knox," Alex finished, hoping her enthusiasm wasn't coming across as overly theatrical.
Ethan remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Impressive," he finally said, his voice a low rumble. "Ava, you certainly know how to showcase a property."
A flicker of relief washed over Alex. She'd managed to deliver the pitch without stumbling over her words. Now came the harder part – keeping the conversation flowing naturally.
Have you given much thought to the type of property you're looking for, Mr. Ryder? she asked, hoping to elicit some personal details.
Ethan leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the glittering city scape. "Seclusion is paramount," he said finally. "A place far from the prying eyes of the public."
Intrigue sparked in Alex's eyes. This could be her chance. Seclusion, you say? Perhaps I have something that might interest you then. She paused dramatically, waiting for the right moment to introduce the mythical Greek island.
"Intriguing," Ethan replied, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Do tell."
Alex took a deep breath, launching into her carefully crafted narrative about the island. She described the pristine beaches, the lush vegetation, and the rumored geothermal spa, all the while gauging Ethan's reaction.
His initial skepticism slowly gave way to a flicker of interest. He peppered her with questions – about security measures, accessibility, and most importantly, the price tag. With each question, Alex felt the web of her deception grow tighter.
"This sounds…extraordinary, Ava," Ethan said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "But acquiring a private island is no small feat. I'd need to see some concrete evidence before I consider such a proposition.
Alex's heart hammered against her ribs. She hadn't anticipated this. Of course, Mr. Pierce," she said, trying to sound calm. "However, acquiring such a property requires the utmost discretion. There are certain…confidentiality agreements involved.
"Discretion is precisely what I value, Ethan replied, his gaze locking with hers. "Tell you what, Ava. Why don't you send me a detailed proposal outlining this island and its…unique features?
"A proposal, Alex echoed, trying to buy some time. "Absolutely, Mr. Ryder. But as I mentioned, the information is highly sensitive. Perhaps we could discuss a secure way to share the details?"
Ethan's smile turned enigmatic. Let's leave the details for another time, Ava. However, I'm certainly intrigued by this island of yours. Consider this a preliminary inquiry. If the proposal lives up to the hype, I might just be interested.
Disappointment washed over Alex. She hadn't gotten the definitive answer she'd hoped for, but at least she'd planted a seed. I appreciate your interest, Mr. Ryder, she said, extending her hand. "I look forward to hearing from you."
The handshake felt electric, a charged undercurrent running between them. As the elevator doors closed, taking her back down to the lobby, Alex couldn't help but let out a shaky breath. Walking out of the building, the weight of her deception pressed down on her. Ava Sanders had gotten her closer to Ethan, but at what cost? And was she prepared to take the web of lies even further?