Back in Alex apartment, she stared at the blinking cursor on her laptop screen. Ava Sandra, 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 Sandra's 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 Sarah, who sat beside her, peering over her shoulder. Professional, sophisticated. Exactly what a billionaire realtor would have.
Sarah 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," Sarah 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 Sandra 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 Sandra.
One afternoon,Alex phone suddenly buzzed, shattering the calm atmosphere of the meeting.
An email notification flashed on her screen - an invitation to a private viewing of a luxurious penthouse.
Alex's eyes widened as she scanned the email.
"Sarah", I have a bit of a situation," Alex whispered, trying to maintain a composed demeanor. "I just received an invitation to a private viewing of the penthouse, but..."
Sarah's eyes narrowed, her voice low. "But isn't that the one Ethan Ryder is interested in?"
Alex nodded, her eyes still fixed on the email. "Exactly. I can't view it with this client, not when Ethan has already expressed interest. It wouldn't be right."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "Definitely not. You'll have to decline."
Alex quickly typed a response on her phone, her thumbs flying across the keyboard.
"Dear Mr Caleb, thank you for the invitation, but I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the private viewing. I have a prior commitment."
She hit send
"Done. I'll make sure to discuss alternative options with them."
Sarah nodded, and they steered the conversation back to the meeting agenda.
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, Sarah said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You know your stuff. You've practically memorized the blueprints for every luxury property in the city.
Mmmm, Alex murmured. 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, Sarah 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 Sandra, 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. Sandra, 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," 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.
After a whirlwind tour to the penthouse. 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.
"Do tell.
Alex, 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.
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,"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.
Alex felt disappointed. 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."