Chapter Five

It has been a week now since Chloe has taken over Athena's body, and things have gone as smoothly as she could hope. Margaret has helped her around the house, learning the names of the staff and where everything is. During this time, Chloe was hoping that some memories would arise from Athena's former life, but none of the rooms she enters seem to hold much meaning to her.

Or her case might be a lost cause.

She hasn't given up hope yet, Dr. Carlson telling her that it takes people months, sometimes years to fully regain their memory. Until it has been at least a few months, she isn't ready to give up trying, but doesn't want to push herself to forget Chloe's memories.

So far, she has managed to change Athena's entire wardrobe and learn the ins and outs of the main house, as well as contact her manager Lisa and tell her that she is awake and recovering well, hoping to receive some work soon so she can learn her role as a model and that aspect of her new life.

Other than that, she has been enjoying her leisure life under the guise of recovering, even though she feels better than she ever has, including her previous life. The chef seems to understand the strict diet that Athena kept herself on, but after a little bit of changes, he is now making bountiful amount of food, while still maintaining a healthy diet to keep her figure small and fit.

A few changes have already made their way to the main house, starting with the meal menu and her own wardrobe, ditching all the very outdated and kid-style clothing she seemed to have. It's clear the kind of image and style that Athena built her fame off of; the cute and sweet style, which works for an 18-year-old maybe, but not someone who is now entering adulthood and needs to be seen and taken a little more seriously.

On the list of minor things to tend too, recreating her image in society is her next task, and reinventing her wardrobe is a good step towards that. Long gone are the frilly miniskirts and bedazzled shirts, she has traded them all out for tight fitting jeans and low-cut tops, along with strappy heels, wedges, and sandals instead of sneakers and high-tops.

She even went to the cellphone store and got the upgraded phone that supposedly every other big-name celebrity in the city is using, even if it isn't the greatest tech wise, it takes great selfies, which is all a celebrity or influencer cares about.

In terms of her father and his mistress, they have remained quiet for the week, with her father coming home periodically throughout the week to make his presence known, but still obvious that he is sneaking off to see Alexia and her daughter.

Margaret has already caught him trying to rifle through the study, but the documents Chloe took from Mr. Collins are already safely hidden in a location her father can never get to.

The locker provided for her at the university. The only people who have the combination and legal access to the locker, is the school and herself. Unless there is any immediate danger to her life or she is killed, someone like her father has no reason to ever enter her locker, and she doubts someone as smart as him would think to look there.

The only person she has to keep an eye out for, is her half-sister Stella. She has yet to meet her and see what kind of person she is, and what she might be capable of. From what she has heard from Margaret, she doesn't seem like the brightest person, but many people can fake that to get what they want. If she needs to play the victim, Chloe doesn't put it past her that she won't.

Stella Madden wants everything that Athena has, and thinks for some twisted reason, that it should all belong to her anyway, even though it was their father who abandoned her to become rich on his own. Nothing in reality should belong to Stella, and if there is anyone, she should be angry at and want revenge from, it should be her father, for leaving her mother for another woman and starting a family with her, instead of trying to become wealthy with her and her mother by his side.

But that blame is too hard to put, and won't yield the results she wants, which are very similar to what Chloe wanted in her former life. The only difference between the two, is that Chloe was willing to work for that luxury, whereas Stella is fit on trying to steal it from someone else.

As if having a sixth sense, Chloe's new phone goes off, having imported all the contacts from Athena's phone and giving them their own nickname so Chloe can remember and figure out who they are a little better. Thankfully this time, she knows the person calling, her manager Lisa.

"Hey Lisa, what's up?"

"Sorry to call you on a weekend so early, I hope you're sitting down."

Her tone is dark and her voice is rushed, not good signs.

"Has something happened?" she asks.

"I'm not sure, but something is about to happen. Okay, okay, let me take a few deep breaths...alright, I was on my way to your agent's office to see if there is any new projects or contracts available for you, but I stopped at the front door when I saw your half-sister walking in the door-"

"What? Are you sure it was her?" Chloe exclaims into the phone, already on her feet and heading to her walk-in closet to prepare and outfit to go out.

"I'm more than sure, I stuck around to see if it really was her, and she went straight to the front desk and said she had an appointment with your agent, Mrs. Janet! I knew she was trying to make a name for herself in society, but I didn't think she would go as far as to use the same agent as you. She really is trying too hard to be just like you," Lisa grunts into the phone, taking a few more deep breaths.

"I don't think she is trying to be like me, I think she wants to be me. I wouldn't put it past Stella to try and remove my name from high society altogether and make sure she takes all my work and fame with her. Hold on, I'm getting ready and heading over right away. It's time Mrs. Janet and I talk, anyway." She hangs up and runs around the closet until she finds a pair of jeans and hoodie, yanking everything on and grabbing a pair of slip-ons to run out the door, stopping in the front door bathroom to make sure her appearance is fit enough to at least be seen out in public, knowing there is always a chance of someone getting a picture of her.

She informs Margaret that she is going out and isn't taking a driver, grabbing one of the many sets of car keys by the front and running out to the garage. She presses the alert button on the set of keys and locates the car they belong to before racing off. She looks in her phone for her notes, having taken down all the locations Athena had saved in her phone and maps, getting the address of her agent's office and speeding off.

She knows she won't be able to get there before Stella meets with Mrs. Janet, but she can at least get there soon enough after to make sure that Stella doesn't do any permanent damage to her image and relationship with her agent.

Lisa is still waiting outside when she pulls up front, biting her nails and looking like she might pull out her own hair. Chloe has quickly come to realize that Lisa is a very anxious and easily unnerved person, meaning minor inconveniences like this seem like major disasters, and reacting to them as such.

She takes a few seconds to calm her down before running inside, just in time for Stella to be leaving Mrs. Janet's office and coming down the hall with a triumphant smirk on her face.

"Well, isn't this a surprise. I show up to speak with Mrs. Janet, and you're suddenly here," she says, strutting towards Chloe with a fake air of confidence. Chloe can tell she is just putting on an act but knows deep down that she has no authority or influence compared to Athena, but she doesn't want everyone else knowing that.

She takes a second to look over Stella, meeting her for the first time and not just seeing her in pictures her father secretly kept around his room. She has the same vibrant green eyes as Athena that they inherited from their father, but her skin seems to be a lot lighter than Athena's and not just because of their fake tans, which Chloe stopped applying to herself like Athena did, but still seems darker than Stella. Her hark is slightly darker as well, coming out dirty blonde rather than Athena's golden blonde hair that she got from her mother.

Other than that, Stella needs a decent amount of make-up to make her facial features pop and her cheeks and chin seem narrower and more defined, unlike Athena's natural beauty and already angled face and chiseled cheekbones. She also seems to lack the curves and physique that Athena possesses, making her so successful in her career as a model.

Chloe can see why Stella is so jealous of Athena. Not only is she living the life Stella thinks should belong to her, a life full of fame and wealth, she also has an envious appearance.

"Is it weird for me to visit my agent? I just woke up from a coma last week, I still have a career I need to tend too. Which reminds me, you haven't come to see me at all sister, yet you have time to come here?" Chloe sneers, but covers it up with a sweet smile.

Stella takes step back, caught off-guard by Athena's sudden attack, probably used to her being submissive like before. This is the new and improved Athena, and she has a lot coming to her if she thinks Chloe is going to lie down and roll over like Athena did before.

The people around them pick up on their conversation and start whispering viciously, starting the first step of Chloe's plan when she eventually ran into Stella, not thinking it would be so soon, but always hoping it would be a public occurrence like now. The more people, the quicker and more accurate gossip will spread, causing the slow downfall of Stella's reputation, before she has a chance to make her debut into society.

"No one had informed me that you woke up, my mother and have haven't been able to receive any news on you or our family, I have relied on our father to tell me everything. Does he know you're awake?" Stella asks, lowering her eyes and pouting slightly, to seem more vulnerable and innocent than she is.

Chloe fights the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes, my father is well aware that I am awake, he has been by several times this week to make sure I am alright and recovering well. But I forgive him for not telling you, it must have slipped his mind, I know you and your mother don't have much communication with us anymore, but I thank you for your concern now."

She knows very well that Stella hasn't shown any concern, and that her father has gone to see them in person many times in the past, and in the past week alone. But Stella and her mother haven't been announced as Julian Rose's official family yet, and if they are revealed to be related to him now, it would be a scandal. Stella would be seen as an illegitimate child and her mother a mistress and homewrecker.

He needs to introduce them properly, when he has enough wealth and influence that no one will ever talk negatively about him or tarnish his new family, as well as question their roots to Julian and his former life.

Chloe plans to make sure he never gains that wealth and influence, therefore making sure Stella and her mother are never accepted into the family to squander her mother and her family's hard-earned work.

"Yes, I'm very happy to see you doing so well. I was hoping you would be returning to work soon, I have always admired your work and aspire to be just like big sister one day."

Big sister?

It is known to Chloe and everyone who is aware of Stella and her mother, that Stella is older than Athena. Why is she referring to her as big sister? She doesn't expect people to believe that Stella is younger than Athena? Although they aren't far in age and their appearance doesn't show who is older than the other, it is still obvious in some ways that Athena is at least a couple years younger than Stella.

Athena still suffers from slight acne break-outs, which she is able to carefully and quickly care for due to buying the top-quality facial products, but it doesn't stop her young body from producing and causing the break outs, showing that she is still very close to being considered a young teen. Whereas Stella's face is completely clear of any blemishes and is clear that she hasn't and doesn't suffer from any break outs.

On top of that, most people who know Stella and Athena, also know their ages. Athena is someone very known to society, and Stella has already started to try and make a name for herself on social media. She can't hide her true birth from society, at least not forever.

Chloe decides to ignore it, instead choosing to offer a naïve smile to Stella and patting her hand in comfort and admiration.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a last-minute meeting with Mrs. Janet for a very promising project. We should definitely make plans to meet up for coffee soon and catch up, leave your schedule with my manager outside and I'll call you with a day I'm available," Chloe says, tossing her half-sister a peace sign before wandering down the hall.

She wanted to make sure that Stella is reminded of her wealth and power, mentioning her manager and busy schedule, and how Stella will always have to go through someone else to get to Athena, since they will never be on the same level as each other, at least while Chloe and Athena are still combined.

Chloe already has a hatred for girls like Stella, the ones who would rather try and steal the hard work of others, rather than work for it herself and make her own name and influence in the world. She is nothing more than a shadow, and that is what she is going to stay.

***

Chloe knocks once on Mrs. Janet's door before walking in, a determined look on her face. She isn't only there to talk business and Mrs. Janet's calm and expected face tells her she already knows that.

"I assume you saw Stella leaving just a moment ago? Can I also assume that's why you're here?" she asks, sounding rather distant and irritated.

"I had sent Lisa to visit you just moments prior to Stella visiting, to see if you had any new projects for me, since I feel I have recovered enough to return to work. However, she was stopped at the front door when she saw Stella walk in, and called me right away. You can rightly assume I rushed over here to see why my half-sister was here to meet with my agent."

Mrs. Janet cocks a brow at her. "Is it a crime to take on new clients, Miss Rose? I am not exclusive to you, I do work with other people, models as well."

She has a valid point, but they both know very well that Stella wasn't her as just a potential client. She wants to steal all the good potential work from Athena and make a bigger name for herself in her place, knowing that Mrs. Janet has been around long enough to get the best and most exclusive work available.

"I understand that, but you also made it clear that you won't work with clients that might interfere with other clients, and as you know, my family doesn't currently have a good standing with Miss Madden and hers. Don't you think this could cause future conflicts and interference with our work, if you were to provide both of us with work in the same department?"

Mrs. Janet seems to think this over a little, but her expression doesn't waiver.

"Stella brought that up in our meeting, she said she understands that you have been my client for a long time and therefore we have a stronger relationship than she and I do, which can potentially affect my decision on future work. But she said she is also willing to take amateur work in other departments, such as acting and catwalks, since she does have a bit, more height compared to you."

Once again, Chloe finds herself in a corner. It's almost as if Stella expected her to say all of this and has made sure to cover her ass for all of it. She isn't just trying to go after Athena's modelling career like she thought, she is trying to make a bigger name for herself in every department she can get her hands on, knowing that Athena has been trying to break out of her minor modelling image herself.

This means in the future, Mrs. Janet will continue to give Athena all the best and exclusive modelling gigs, but will help Stella make a name for herself everywhere else, whether they be small gigs or not, it will help diversify her fame and possibly earn her a bigger paycheck than what Athena is already making now.

For the moment, there isn't much Chloe can do. Mrs. Janet is by far the best agent in the business, anyone else wouldn't look twice at her with her current image and status, so getting a new agent unrelated to Stella is out of the question. Even if she does find a new and possibly better agent, Chloe knows the only reason Mrs. Janet agreed to see Stella to begin with, is because she is related to Athena.

Sitting in front of Mrs. Janet's scrutinizing gaze isn't helping her think, she has to return home and think of a better plan to make sure Stella doesn't ruin her reputation and gain a bigger one herself.

"Well, I'm just glad to see she is getting out there and trying, I have always tried to convince her that she has the looks and talents to make it big. I know someone like Mrs. Janet will definitely help her achieve her goals," Chloe says and flashes her a sweet smile to once again cover up her true intentions. If she starts letting people see how truly bad her relationship is with Stella, they will forever question her motives and what she says.

She needs to make sure that people trust her and her word, so that when the time comes to reveal Stella and her mother, no one has the opportunity to question her sincerity.

"Anyway, you said you were looking to get back into work? That's wonderful to hear, I have tons of work I think you will be interested in. Would you like to discuss it here, or have me send it to you through email and you can look it over and give me a call at another time?" Mrs. Janet asks and turns her computer towards Chloe, revealing a long list of names and information.

"You can just have it sent to me, I'll look over it with Lisa and see what gigs I'm able to take on. I'll give you a call when I've decided to take on a gig, thanks again Mrs. Janet."

She keeps her smile on her face until she is in the car, letting it drop along with her head against the steering wheel. She regrets not taking a driver now, wanting nothing more than to sit in the back and think about the new obstacle standing in her way. Turning on the car, she decides to look for a nearby coffee shop, taking the free time to explore the new world she has landed herself in and at the very least, locate her local coffee shop.

Thankful for technology, she searches in her phone for the nearest coffee shop and navigates her maps towards it, driving at a moderate speed so she can think over her new options.

Stella has already made contact with her agent and pretty much landed herself as a client, which means it is only a matter of time before she gets her hands on even mediocre work and makes a small stand in society. Chloe has to keep her eye on Stella, but she can't forget about her father and his slippery hands trying to get on as many documents and assets as he can.

He is going to keep trying on his own until he feels he cannot find them, then he will turn to someone else for help. The concern then, will be who he turns to and what they are capable of. If he turns to someone like Stella, there is a small chance she might put together that Chloe has the documents, but she doubts she is smart enough to put together where.

If it's someone who has experience and an expertise in this area, then she has no idea what to expect. She can breathe easy that he will at least never get his hands on her mother's original will, having told Mr. Collins to take that out of his office as well and put it somewhere safe, but still legal for him to keep that her father would never suspect, and hopefully can't access.

She stops her shop when her phone dings, letting her know that she is close to her destination and should pay attention to her surroundings. She locates the small coffee shop along the strip and parks on the side of the street across from it, the other side being too crowded for her to even try and fit safely.

Inside isn't as crowded or busy thankfully, allowing her to order a small coffee and muffin quickly. Grabbing her items, she is lost in thought once again on all the new issues she now faces, and the previous issues she has been trying to solve. She never expected her new and lavished life to come with so many complications, even more than the ones she had in her former life.

Though these problems don't surround financial concerns like her former life, they are just as stressful as them.

Trying to wrap her head around her swirling thoughts, she doesn't notice when a vehicle rips around the corner and onto the clear street, just as she takes a step into it, most of her frame hidden by the cars crowding the side.

In the last second, the driver honks their horn loudly and catches her attention, but she has no time to react and merely shuts her eyes and awaits an impact that never comes. When she opens her eyes, the cars bumper is touching her knees, not even a hair-lengths width away from her. If they had stopped just a second later, she would have been done for.

Her new life she has worked so hard for the past week, gone just as quickly as her former life had ended. Suddenly and unexpectantly.

The thought is enough to cause her to pass out, just as a tall and dark stranger comes running towards her, catching her frail body before it hits the ground.