Con

CHAPTER 19

Ella’s POV

As I entered the dimly lit bar, the slap mark Quring on my cheek, I spotted my friend Trevie at the far end of the counter, starting the drinking without me. When he caught sight of me, he waved with a grin, loading cheerful and apparently not noticing the mark on my face,

“Hey,” I grested, sliding into the seat next to him.

Trevis glanced up, and that’s when I saw the shook registering on his face. “What happened to you?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just a little olsunderstanding.”

“Who did 117” Trevis asked, concern lacing his voice as he leaned in closer.

Thesitated, remaining quiet. The bartender approached me, asking for my order. “I’ll have a whiskey neat.”

“Coming right up,” the bartender replied, quickly preparing my drink.

Trevis continued to look at me curiously. He could tell at once that something was up, and he seemed to stifle his amusement at the way I was reacting.

I sighed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “Long story.”

Trevis couldn’t contain his laughter any longer, and it echoed in the quiet bar. After a moment, he composed himself and said, “Well? Want to talk about it?”

Shaking my head, I was glad when the bartender handed me the drink. I quickly took a long qulp, actually appreciating the warm, burning sensation of the liquid as it went down my throat

“Come on, this can’t be another woman you cheated on in France!” he joked, chuckling. “You’ve only been here a short while. And aren’t you still married, man?”

I knew that Trevis had gotten angry at me for getting married without telling him. After all, we went a long way back. We grew up together, and studied in the same high school, until he went off to study in France after graduation. We weren’t always close, because I was pretty aloof back then,

Trevis, on the other hand, was always a bit envious of me when we were young, always following me around. So over time, we started hanging out more and our

band became strong

Of course I apologized to him already for that, explaining how the marriage happened fat and I didn’t have time to tell everyone. It hadn’t been a big celebration, anyway. In fact, it was sudden.

Hey, Elijah, it’s fine, Trevis said, probably noticing my bad mood. He knew I wouldn’t spill it out just like that. I wasn’t the type. But it seemed he could read me well, because he mentioned Sophia right after. “Don’t tell me you’ve been fighting with

our wife? What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Let’s forget about it.”

Trevis shrugged. I really wanted him to drop it already.

“I remember when we were young kids, it was only Sabrina who could instantly sense this mood of yours.” Trevis brought up. I stiffened at the mention of my childhood best friend.

He continued, “She really had a knack for calming you down and making you feel good again, right? You guys are absolutely connected! It was insane.”

“Yeah,” was all I said. But suddenly, memories from the past flashed in my mind. Sabrina Baker and I had been very close, and even at a young age, I loved her with all my heart. But then, one day, she went missing. I was devastated, and I had spent. years searching for her along with her brother Chris – to no avail. Eventually, I just had to get on with my life.

“Wait, I just remembered…” Trevis abruptly said. “I met this girl today and I was thinking how she looked so familiar. Our design studio had a presentation earlier, and when this girl showed me her portfolio and I got to talk to her for a while, I realized she reminds me so much of Sabrina!”

was surprised, but I didn’t think much of it. “There’s a lot of girls who look like

Sabrina *

“Yes, but this one has a striking resemblance. I’m telling you! Maybe you should. as one of our interns.”

come with me to my studio, because I plan to accept heu Maybe you should

Sure, I’m in Paris, anyway. How’s business here?”

“Great!” he replied enthusiastically. “My studio’s been doing well and gaining popularity here. So when you go back to the US, I’m hoping we can work on a partnership. I’ll provide the designs for some of your projects.”

“Sure, I’d like that. We’re actually coming up with a European–inspired development.

soon.

“That’s good. I actually met another American real estate developer during our exhibit at the Goldwell Institute of Art today and

“Wait, you were at the Goldwell Institute of Art?” I cut him off incredulously.

“Yes, why?”

“Uh, nothing, really,” I answered at once, not wanting to reveal my concerns to Trevis But knowing that Sophia went to that school, I got all excited. Perhaps Trevis could be my ticket to visiting her there or “chancing upon her” within the campus. “That’s a really famous art school here, so it sounded famillar.”

“Yes, it is. Many of our in–house designers graduated from there. You really should visit the studio soon. And besides, I want you to meet that girl I’m telling you about.”

Since he mentioned her again, my thoughts shifted back to Sabrina. I haven’t been thinking about her for a long time now, ever since I’d gotten married and then almost divorced. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to meet anyone who resembled her.

But what if it’s really her this time? a small voice whispered in my head.

I finished off my drink with one gulp. Then turning to Trevis, I leaned forward and asked, “What’s her name?”

“Julia Stanford. Have you heard of her?”