Chapter 41

Paul drove immediately to the bar. He did not know how he was able to arrive here. He just knew that he was standing in front of the bar, looking for Allen. What is he doing? He did not know. He just knew that he had to do it. Just then, someone tapped him from behind. He turned and then, Allen was standing beside him. For a second, he almost called "Joanna!" But he stopped.
"You..why are you here again?" Allen asked.
Paul swallowed a gulp. "Allen, please become Joanna" Paul said.
Allen stood in front of Paul. Trying to process what was happening right now. She had not recovered from the shock of seeing him in front of her workplace and he was asking her to do what? Become another person? Allen had to admit she did not even know what he meant by those words. What did he mean by become Joanna? She does not even know who that person is! She thought that he was joking or trying to play a prank on her but the look on the man's face told her that he was dead serious.
But Allen has no idea what he is talking about! How on Earth is she supposed to just become another person? Does things like that even happen? What is going on right now? Looks like she will have to ask him what he means. "What exactly are you talking about? I have to admit it to you I have no idea what you are talking about! How am I supposed to just become another person? Someone that I don't know? Please explain what you mean to me " Allen said.
Paul looked at her and saw that she was utterly confused. He was so excited just now that he just blurted out what he had on his mind. She doesn't know Joanna, she has no idea what has just happened and so she won't be able to understand what was going on. But he really did not have a choice. If it was up to him, he did not want to do this to her too. She still has her own life to live. But right now, Joanna's career was at stake. Once people find out that she is missing, they are definitely going to use it to attack her. He can't let that happen.
And so he came here to take a gamble and ask Allen to do something really crazy for him. It did not make any sense, but he still had no choice. Since the both of them looks completely alike, people won't be able to tell the difference right? And so, as Paul left the house, he already made a decision. He is going to have Allen pretend to be someone that she is not, for the sake of Joanna's career. Once he finds her, everything will go back to normal. As long as it goes according to his plan, nothing will go wrong right?
"Remember the first time that we met? Remember that I was with a woman right? And I immediately came to find you right? Well the thing is, I wasn't lying then and I did not make a mistake. You look exactly like someone. No, in fact it's the same. I really don't believe that such concidences could exist but it's the same! It's completely the same! I told you that the person is not around remember? That's because I don't want you to get suspicious or try to find this person. It's only going to cause trouble. Actually, this person is not abroad. The person that you look like, is the woman that I was with Joanna Anderson" Paul said to Allen. .
He felt that if he is going to convince her to agree to this crazy idea of his then he would have to give her some truth. She had to know what was going on. "Well, something happened to her. Right now, she is about to get married. But she doesn't want to do it. Actually, it's an arranged marriage. Her Uncle is forcing her to get married to some man but Joanna doesn't want to do it. So she ran away. But running away is only going to make things even more difficult. Her career is at stake here. If people find out she is going to lose everything. Joanna is my friend. I can't watch the career that she spent so much time on building her destroyed. So please Allen, please help me. You look a lot like her. No one will know the difference. It's just for a short while. Until we find Joanna" Paul said.
For a second, Allen forgot to close her mouth. She could not believe what she was hearing. So she really does look exactly like someone. According to him, it's exactly the same. And that person is his friend. And now he wants her to pretend to be that person until he finds her? To save his friend, he is going to sacrifice her? And she is just supposed to agree to something like this? Allen was angry because of this stupid idea of his, but perhaps what was worse was the hurt that she was feeling.
Not because he was asking her to pretend to be someone, no it wasn't that. It was because she could not stop thinking about the few times that he was nice to her. Was it because she looked like someone else? If it's really true that she looks like someone else then does he see that person's face when he looks at her? Has she become a shadow of someone? Allen really wanted to know. "What? Pretend to be someone? This is fraud. I'm really sorry but I can't do something like that. No matter what, I can't pretend to be someone I'm not" Allen said.
. Paul was surprised. He just gave her a detailed explanation. He did not expect to be rejected like this. But actually, to be sincere, from a point of view, he could understand her. Asking someone to give up thier life, and take on the life of someone else, it was a really selfish thing to do. No matter what, she still has her own lives. Her own friends. And her own family. Paul instantly thought of something. Family! He suddenly has an idea. Allen will do anything to help her grandmother right? He felt bad for using her situation like this but he did not have a choice.
Right now, he has to save Joanna's career. Once he finds her, he would figure out what to do and how to break her free from that Marriage. But right now, the real Joanna is not here. He can't do anything. He can only think of ways to keep her career safe until she comes back. "Please Allen think about it. Please it's only the chance that I have to save my friend's career. She really put a lot into her career. I can't watch it be destroyed like this. Let's have a deal. For six months, just six months, pretend to be her. You'll get paid for it, enough to live off for the rest of your life. You still have to save your grandma right?" Paul asked.
Allen felt angry. She did not believe that this man was doing something like this. The impression that she had of him had slightly just gotten better but everything just came crashing down. She did not know what to think of him anymore. Because he took her to the hospital yesterday and now knows about the condition of her grandmother he is trying to use that as a leverage to get what he wants? Is this the kind of person that he was ultimately? She was really sad and disappointed. But what could she do? The World is like this.
But still no matter what, she still has her pride. She can't let herself be insulted like this. She doesn't have money she she is definitely in need for a large amount to save her grandmother's life but impersonating someone and commiting fraud? Isn't that a crime? It's not something that she wants to do! "I did not know that you are this kind of a person. I guess I was the fool for thinking too much. I already told you yesterday. My situation is my problem and I will take care of it. Don't try to force me" Allen said.
Paul looked at her. She was angry now. Paul was starting to get frustrated. He really hated this idea too. Having someone who looks like Joanna, taking over her life and being her, thinking about it now it was definitely going to be uncomfortable, but he did not have a choice! But actually, to be sincere, from a point of view, he could understand her. Asking someone to give up thier life, and take on the life of someone else, it was a really selfish thing to do. No matter what, she still has her own lives. Her own friends. And her own family.
But for Paul, the most important person has always been Joanna. He felt bad for this Allen but she is not Joanna. She definitely can't be Joanna. So no matter what he would definitely put Joanna above everyone else. He has to save her career right now. He wanted to do that more than anything. "I know that you are angry but I really don't have a choice. Joanna, she really put in a lot of efforts for her career. Think about your grandmother's health, she can't hold up for much longer, she......" Paul did not get to finish before he was completely ignored.
Allen turned and started to walk away from Paul. She is poor, her grandmother is in the hospital hanging on the thin line of life and death. She did not see things getting better. Right now, she was barely earning enough to pay for the hospital room, but she definitely can't do something like this! Allen would be lying if she said that she was not tempted when he first offered to pay her. Wasn't she ready to do anything for the money before? But no matter what, she still has her dignity!
And for some reason, she wanted to keep her dignity in front of this man. No matter what, she did not want to be looked down on by him. And so she completely ignored him and went inside. Immediately she went inside, she received a call from the hospital. It was her grandmother again, Allen sighed. Why is the universe doing this to her?
Meanwhile, Paul was still outside. He already decided that he won't be giving up. He is going to do everything to make sure that Allen agrees to this. He has to save Joanna's career by all means.
Allen could not stop worrying about her grandmother so she decided to take a break from her work and go to the hospital to see her grandmother. But her boss refused to let her go. Allen felt that this man was really mean to her for some reason! He did not like her at all! Allen did not want to worry about who liked her or not so she kept begging him. He still refused. Allen has no choice. She has to work while worrying about her grandmother so much.
Allen went to serve a couple, but maybe because she was so worried, she kept making mistakes. And to make matters worse for her, the guy that came with his girlfriend kept flirting with her! Joanna did not realize it though. But that did not mean that the girlfriend did not know. She could clearly see what her boyfriend was doing! But she could not get angry with him. She could not turn her attention to the poot waitress Joanna. And besides, the girlfriend felt like Joanna was doing it on purpose, playing hard to get to get her boyfriend's attention.
The woman was upset. Her boyfriend was playing with another girl in front of her and this girl was enjoying it! She could not take it anymore. She got up and slapped Joanna hard across the face. "B*tch, what do you think you are doing right now!"
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira