A Million Lies Between Us Novel – Natasha Beep…Beep…Beep. My alarm goes off like it’s personally offended by my existence. “Arghhh!” I groan and slap the nightstand, searching for my phone. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumble, squinting at the screen. 6:00 a.m. I can’t believe it’s morning already. I need to pick up a client at the airport by 7:00 a.m. and then resume work at the store by 9:00 a.m. “Thirty minutes is enough to get ready.” I sigh, throwing the phone onto the bed. That leaves me with another thirty minutes of sleep. I flop back down, ready to fall back asleep, when I hear something crash in the living room.
My eyes snap open. I jolt upright, heart pounding. Another sound. A low murmur. Then something that definitely sounds like… a moan. Wait. What? I sit up slowly, my pulse kicking up. Natalie isn’t home. She went clubbing last night and probably crashed at some guy’s place. Which means… someone’s in the house. I grab the first thing I see…a lamp… and creep toward the door. My heart’s pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. “Okay,” I whisper to myself. “Intruder dies today.” The noises get louder as I inch down the hallway. A rhythmic thump. Breathless laughter. I tighten my grip on the lamp, swing around the corner… And freeze. “Yeah, right there. Go harder, baby. Yes…yes…yes… I’m going to cum.” Oh my God. It takes my brain a full three seconds to process what I’m seeing. Natalie. Totally naked. On the couch. With Gabe. Her boyfriend. “Seriously?!” They both jerk, but only for a second. Then Gabe just smirks like he’s in some terrible movie. “Morning, Natasha,” he says, voice lazy. I blink. “Are you…” I stutter. “Are you seriously doing this right now?” Natalie laughs, not even covering herself properly. “Relax, you’re acting like you’ve never seen two adults have sex before.” Actually, I haven’t. “In the living room?!” I gesture wildly. “At six in the morning?!” Gabe stretches, completely shameless. “Didn’t know you were home.” Where else would I be, dummy? I wish I had the courage to say the words in my head. For peace’s sake, I swallow it. “Well, I am.
Surprise.” Natalie rolls her eyes, snatching the throw blanket from the armrest and wrapping it around herself. “You’re overreacting.” “You’re naked!” I shoot back. “And disrespectful!” “Ugh, take a chill pill. You sound like my mom,” she says. “And you sound like someone who needs to move out! What is your problem? For how long do I have to keep up with your nonsense? Huh?” Gabe chuckles under his breath. “Wow, I can get you laid too if it pisses you off that much.” I glare at him. “Say another word and I swear I’ll throw this lamp at you.” He grins. “Kinda like the feisty side.” “Try me,” I say flatly. Natalie sighs. “You seriously need to chill, Tash. It’s not that deep.” I stare at the couch, the mess, the blanket, and the audacity and pinch the bridge of my nose. I’m gradually losing my mind, and if I don’t do something about it, it might be the end of me. “It’s deep enough,” I mutter, walking away.
Hi, my name is Natasha, and this is my life. Living with my twin sister has been a hell of a ride. Natalie is… a lot. Loud. Reckless. Beautiful in that effortless, movie-star way that makes people stop mid-sentence. And she knows it. She breezes through life like rules don’t apply to her, and somehow, they never seem to. Me? I’m the opposite. Quiet. Organized. The one who cleans up the mess and apologizes to the neighbors when she throws parties on a Tuesday night. What can I say? She helps to pay Sasha’s hospital bills, and sometimes, my NGO.
Thanks to her ridiculous but rich boyfriend. Natalie always says I was born to make her life easier. Sometimes I think she actually believes it. She manipulates, sweet-talks, guilt-trips…whatever works. And of all the things she does, the one I hate most is the twin swap. Pretending to be her! It used to be a game when we were kids. Now, it just feels like losing pieces of myself one lie at a time. “Hey…” “What?” I snap. I don’t expect her to jog up after me, the blanket still wrapped around her like a toga. “Don’t walk away; I need to talk to you.” “I’m already traumatized for the day, Talie. Save it.” She ignores that, as usual. “Okay, so…tiny favor.” I stop walking. “No.” “You haven’t even heard what it is!” “I don’t need to. The answer is no.” She pouts, clasping her hands together dramatically. “Please, Tash. This one’s important.” I cross my arms. “So was that couch’s dignity, but that didn’t stop you.” Natalie groans. “Come on, I’m serious this time.
It’s just one interview.” “Interview?” I repeat, bewildered. Talie is trying to get a job? Unbelievable. “Tasha!” She groans. “Okay. What interview?” She grins like she’s just been waiting for me to ask. “Vireon Global Industries”. I blink. “VGI? That VGI? The world-dominating, multibillion-dollar tech empire?” “Yep.” She lifts her chin proudly. “They called me yesterday. I have an interview today.” I narrow my eyes. “And let me guess, you want me to go instead.” Her smile widens. “You catch on fast.” “Absolutely not.” “Please, Tash!” She grabs my arm. “This is huge. VGI is like… the company of all companies. They run everything: technology, biotech, energy, and defense. Over a million employees across eighty countries. Do you know how big that is?” “I do,” I say dryly. “Which is why they’re not looking for someone who can’t even wake up before noon.” “Exactly why I need you!” she blurts. I stare at her, deadpan. “You’ve officially lost your mind.” “I haven’t!” she insists. “Look, Gabe’s friend got me the application slot, but if they actually talk to me, I’ll blow it. You’re smart, responsible, professional…you’re literally everything they want. Just pretend to be me for an hour. Please.” “You meant to say, it’s been my dream ever since to work at VGI.” Honestly, I don’t understand why Natalie is always interested in everything I want.
Forget that we’re things and might have similar interests; this is getting annoying. “Yeah. That makes it easier, doesn’t it?” I shake my head. “No. I’m done being your stunt double.” She softens her voice. “Natasha, please. Just this once. I swear it’s the last time.” She’s said that before. I sigh, staring at her hopeful face, my face, technically, and the tiny ache in my chest grows heavier. Because every time I say yes, I lose another part of myself. And every time I say no, I somehow end up saying yes anyway. “I just don’t get it,” I say finally, rubbing my temples. “Even if you pass the interview, how exactly do you plan to keep the job? They’ll find out you’re not me eventually.” Natalie waves a dismissive hand. “Details, details. I’ll figure it out.” “You’ll figure it out?” I repeat, staring at her. “This isn’t one of your clubs or acting gigs, Talie. This is Vireon Global Industries. They don’t do ‘figure it out’. They do background checks, verification, real work.” She smirks, like I’m the one who doesn’t get it. “Which is why you’re perfect for this. You’ll make a great first impression, ace the interview, and then…” I frown. “Then what?” She grins, eyes glittering with something that makes my stomach twist. “Then the real fun begins.” Welcome Home, Mr. Prodigal Keith The second my boots hit the floor of LAX, I remember why I hate flying. Too many people, too many cameras, and too many fake smiles.
That’s what happens when you decide to be a son of the richest family in town. I didn’t ask for it; I was born into it. Maybe I don’t hate it too. Still, Los Angeles looks the same. Loud, bright, and full of people pretending to like you. It’s nothing like Switzerland. Maybe because only a few people care about my identity over there. “Keith Miller, ladies and gentlemen,” a familiar voice calls. “Back from the dead.” Just from the voice, I know who the hell that was. I turn just in time to see Rodriguez barreling through the crowd, waving like an idiot. He’s wearing shades indoors, because of course he is, and a grin that could sell trouble. Why is he the one picking me up from the airport? I thought Grandpa said Dad already got me an assistant. Whatever. He slaps my shoulder hard. “Man, look at you! The prodigal son returns.” “Missed you too,” I mutter, dragging my luggage as he throws an arm around me. “Tell me, are you my newly assigned assistant?” “Do you mind if I take the job?” Rodriguez teases. “Of course, I do.” I snap, even though I know he’s only joking. He responds with a scoff. “Your assistant is in the car. I asked him to stay behind. There’s no way I’m sharing this moment with anyone.” He grins wide, and I can already tell this “moment” means trouble. I narrow my eyes. “Are you obsessed with me or something?” Rodriguez laughs, pushing his shades up his nose. “Obsessed? Please.
I do fine chicks with huge behinds, not men.” “Tragic,” I mutter, but I can’t help the small smirk tugging at my mouth. Actually, Rodriguez has been my reckless, loyal constant since childhood, always finding a way back into my life, no matter the distance, chaos, or our family alliance. “You know,” I say, glancing at him as we walk toward the exit, “for someone who claims he’s busy, you’ve spent half your life tracking me down.” He grins. “What can I say? You attract drama, and I like front-row seats.” “Glad to know I’m your entertainment.” “Glad to be entertained.” As we make our way toward the exit, I can feel it… eyes. A lot of them. Women, mostly. Some whispering, some not even pretending to hide it. Rodriguez chuckles under his breath. “You’ve been back five minutes, and half the airport’s already ovulating.” I shoot him a glare. “You’re disgusting.” “Honest,” he corrects. “Also, don’t act like you don’t notice.” “I don’t.” He smirks. “Still pretending to be the saint, huh? Tell me, have you finally got yourself disvirgined yet?” I groan. “Not this again.” “Oh, it’s always this again,” he says, grinning wider. “Last I remember, you were saving it for that sweet junior terrorist. Don’t tell me the great Keith Miller still hasn’t moved on from Little Miss Heartbreaker. What’s her name again? Natasha…Natalie… I don’t know.” I shoot him a warning look. “She didn’t break my heart.” “Right! She only spiked your drink… with ginger.” Yeah, she did. And I almost lost my life to that allergic reaction.
I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her. “Drop it.” “Fine, fine,” he says, raising his hands in surrender. “But you better not skip the welcome party I’m throwing for you. I already texted the guys, booked the rooftop bar, and I swear…” he points a finger at me… “I’ll make sure you don’t go home pure this time.” “Rod. I slept with Elena, remember?” He frowns. “That doesn’t count. You were drunk…you don’t even know if you actually did it.” Right! But she said I did it; I guess that counts. “I woke up naked in her bed.” I groan the words. “Bullshit!” He counters. “That’s your business anyway. The welcome party? Non-negotiable. You show up, or I drag you there myself.” I sigh, half amused, half annoyed. “Fine.” “That’s my boy.” He taps my shoulder continuously. “Gross.” I shrug his hand off.