"The devil once said to the damsel,'You look ravishing' "
"Are you alright?" Ema asked the dumbstruck man.
"I think we've met before. Have we?"
Who was this man? Was he trying to flirt or something? Ema wondered.
"I don't think we've met before. I spent all of my life In the village."
"Oh," Rodriguez uttered, still displaced.
"Pardon me, I have to go."
The man then walked off. Ema thought it was quite odd.
"Did I do anything wrong?"
"No." Mr. Contreras replied," just drop that there."
Ema dropped the heavy merchandise she was carrying and proceeded outside.
The man had messed with her and the name Adriana was stuck inside her head.
Did she have a lookalike?
Her Dad joined her soon after to get more wood. He saw how disturbed Ema was and asked,
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, Dad. Just a bit unsettled. Your boss was all over be like he saw a ghost. Do you know why?"
"Nope but why are you so worried?"
"I don't know. Maybe I just need to-"
"You know Ema, if you want to get the makeup your mother sent you, you can go."
That was something she needed. To be far away from this place.
"You're right but the way you said it, it sounds like you think I'm lazy."
"I didn't say that." Her father chuckled, "You can go, I'll be alright."
"Ok but I don't know anywhere here, I'm stuck with you."
"Well we'll just be would with what we are doing and I'll personally take you there."
"Ok."
Ema picked up a bundle of the treated wood and advanced it to the shed.
***
"No! This can't be happening." Rodriguez swept all on his table off in frustration.
"It can't be her. I finished her. She could just be her lookalike. Yes."
Rodriguez collapsed to his office chair staring out. He could still see the girl.
She was agile like a man and went back and forth the shed.
Her features were just like Adriana. The short hair, the round face, and those observant eyes.
Could God be put of models to recreate the same haunting face?
The door creaked open and the secretary came in.
"Mrs. Tocci is here to see you." She said.
This is disastrous! Of all times.
"Let her In."
The woman highlighted and the door opened once again.
"Miranda, What a wonderful surprise. Where is Nathan?"
It would be disastrous if Nathan saw her-lookalike.
"I told the maid to take him to the mall. You said I needed to relax."
Rodriguez exhaled. That was good. The meds might be working wonders but he had to play it safe.
"So why are you here? Is it about Nathan?"
"No. It's actually about the company."
That was interesting.
"What about it?"
"Well since Nathan is—not getting better. I was thinking maybe we'll start the process of making your CEO. I know you are still restricted to being Co-CEO."
Rodriguez could almost dance around the room like a simple village girl.
This was it!
"That's not necessary. It's like you believe he won't get better."
Yes, he was that a snake.
"I insist on Rodriguez. You've been so helpful in this trying times and it's not that I don't believe Nathan would get better. If he does get better. He'll take the role."
"Oh Really?"
A new plan had come up. A terrible one.
***
The truck highlighted In from of the spectacular castle called a mall.
Ema stepped out from the cream-ish old truck, gaping at the large building that set beyond the sidewalk, towering over her as if attempting to intimidate her. The cream coating of the paint shined as the sun beat down on it, causing Ema to have to squint just to know how tall it went.
Uniquely twisted fencing kept the building enclosed, neatly trimmed hedges surrounded the building. The roof was peaked, slanting down at an angle.
As she stepped onto the sidewalk, Ema noticed a marble fountain sitting towards the right side of the driveway. An angel holding a flower was perched on top, looking up towards the sky. Water spurted from its other hand, which lay gently out in front of it as if waiting for someone to take it in return. The water fell gently towards the crystal blue pool beneath it, causing ripples to form and wave out until they were no more.
It was taunting to think of going In alone.
"Are you coming with me Dad?"
"Nope." Her father nodded otherwise, "You can have the spotlight."
Guess it's just me.
Inside the shopping mall was architecture the schools and hospitals I knew could only dream of.
The ceiling was domed higher than any cathedral and made of the most beautiful glass.
The walkways flowed like tributaries to the main rivers of people, not a sharp angle to be seen. It smelt like heaven in a hand-basket and the floor shined like the surface of a lake at sunrise. In the background was music to soothe, gentle flowing notes to take the shopper's cares far away.
In a world so chaotic it in order. In a world of pollution and desecration, it is clean perfection in bubble-wrap.
Mannequins and clothes, all the clothes that could make you a kleptomaniac.
"Now where was the makeup section?"
It was sure going to be far from here. Ema was going to explore.
The dress section was a sight to behold.
Gowns! Shirts and skirts of all sizes.
"Hey!" A joyous shriek resonated where she was.
A woman came up to her. Ebony skinned and looked between thirty-five to forty. She was dressed in a leopard skin gown, knee-length that showed meat.
Ema could have sworn she had seen her before.
"I'm sorry, Do I know you?"
"Forgetful you. What's your name again? Riana?"
"My name is Ema."
The woman stared oddly at Ema for a bit before continuing.
"I saw your husband. He was acting all drunk. What did you give him?"
This was all getting weird. Ema was regretting coming to the city. People seemed to mistaken her for someone else. Making two in one day.
"My husband?"
"Yes. He's just down the shoe section."
Really?
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Email walked to the shoe section wondering why she was even taking this step.
Was it just curiosity?
The shoe section was big and she might not even know who he was.
She kept on walking down a straight line at the shoe line, taking brief stares at the men she passed by.
None of them seemed to make a ruckus about who they thought she was.
It's time you gave up.
It was of no use. Ema turned back. She was here for a reason and she was making her innocent Dad wait. She would just get the makeup and leave and stop worrying if she had a lookalike.
But then someone said that name.
"Adriana!"
So someone like that existed.
Ema turned back to see the most gorgeous man. Wheat haired and packed, it was a common phenomenon in the village but there was something different in this man,
He was odd and 'very' indeed.