She Wants to Be Me Chapter 2

Company policy stated that only full-time employees could get reimbursed for rides home after working overtime. Our office was notorious for late nights. Hailey lived in the same direction as me, but her place was closer. Since I had to take a car anyway, I’d often give her a lift if we finished late.

To her credit, Hailey was always considerate. Whether I called a car or hailed a cab, she’d handle the receipt and give it to me, making sure it was no trouble on my end.

And so, just like before, she had called a car and asked me to join.

But as soon as I got in, I knew something was wrong with the driver. His eyes would go vacant for a moment, then snap into a wide, intense stare. His mouth moved silently, as if he were muttering to himself.

What sent a real chill down my spine was the way he kept watching us in the rearview mirror.

I wanted to tell him to keep his eyes on the road, but it was late, the streets were empty, and he was clearly unstable. I didn't dare start a conflict. My plan was to get out with Hailey at her stop and then call another car for myself.

It wasn't long before he started talking to us.

"Life's not fair, is it? I work my ass off every single day, and you women just sit in an office, all dolled up, making easy money. I swear to God, I just want to die and be reborn as one of you." His tone turned aggressive. "Hey! You work in the Apex Tower, a place like that… your salaries must be huge, right?"

His words were laced with resentment. I remembered a rule I'd read online: when dealing with someone unstable, you de-escalate. You never, ever flaunt your good fortune. So, I started complaining.

"You have no idea, sir. We're just contract workers. I make maybe twenty-eight hundred a month, and even then, my boss acts like he's overpaying us. He makes us work overtime for free and yells at us constantly. Honestly, I envy you. You're your own boss, working for yourself. That's real freedom."

His expression softened slightly. He nodded at me in the mirror. "Huh. Guess it's not easy for anyone."

As he spoke, his eyes fell on my wrist.

My heart leaped into my throat. It had been hot in the office, so I'd pushed up my sleeves, revealing a new bracelet I'd bought.

The driver's eyes narrowed. "That's a nice bracelet. Must've cost a fortune."

Stay calm, I told myself. Don't let him see you're scared.

I casually flicked my wrist. "This old thing? Looks flashy, right? It was a 9.99 knockoff from some website."

This time, the tension in his face completely dissolved. The hostility in his eyes faded.

Just then, Hailey chimed in.

"Oh, Ivy, I remember that bracelet! It's the new one from Cartier, right? The 18-karat gold one that costs over sixty thousand? You're so rich!"

As her words hung in the air, the driver's jaw clenched so hard the muscles in his cheeks bulged.

Hailey, seemingly oblivious, continued to sing my praises to him.

"Our Ivy here has it all! Master's degree from a top university, six-figure salary! Her parents are both professors, and she has a childhood sweetheart who adores her. The biggest hardship she's ever faced was probably a bitter iced Americano!"

"That's enough!" I yelled, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

With every word Hailey spoke, the driver's gaze grew more menacing. He looked at me as if I had murdered his entire family, as if he wanted to tear me limb from limb right then and there.

The car was approaching Hailey's apartment complex. I threw the door open, ready to bolt.

But Hailey, in a sudden fit of madness, shoved me back inside.

"I know you think you're better than everyone, but you don't have to yell at me! So I hitched a ride with you, what's the big deal? I won't do it again, okay?!"

She slammed the door shut.

At the same instant, I heard the click of the central locks.

In the rearview mirror, the driver's face was a mask of pure, unadulterated rage.

"Goddamn it, I can't stand you people born with a silver spoon in your mouth!"

He stomped on the accelerator, and the car shot forward.

A few minutes later, it smashed through the guardrail on the mountain road and plunged off the cliff.

With a deafening roar, I saw my own body being blown to pieces.