The Picture-Perfect Stand-In Chapter 1

I run a side hustle selling my photos online for people to use as fake profiles for online dating.

For an extra fee, I even offer custom voice messages and video calls.

Everything was going smoothly until one of my regular clients messaged me:

[I'll pay you $15,000 if you meet up with him in person for me. You can keep whatever gifts he buys you, too.]

Just as I was about to reject the offer, a photo of her 'online boyfriend' popped up on my screen.

It was my absolute worst enemy.

I stared at the screen, my face completely blank: [Are you telling me you've been using my photos and videos to date him?]

* * *

[Then you're definitely being scammed, girl,] I replied earnestly.

[Impossible,] she insisted. [He's transferred me so much money. This is definitely the notoriously wealthy Sterling family heir.]

Me: "..."

I saved the photo of Arthur Sterling she sent me and ran a quick reverse image search. It was a generic paparazzi shot that gossip blogs had recycled a million times.

I sent her the screenshot of the search results.

She remained completely unfazed. [We've been working together for so long, why would I lie to you? My online boyfriend is 100% the Sterling heir.]

I let out an exhausted sigh.

Knowing the young master Arthur Sterling, his real-life romantic entanglements were already enough to drive him insane. Why would he have the time or energy for a fake online relationship?

And especially... using my photos and videos. Forget falling in love with me through a screen; if he actually saw them, he'd probably throw up.

I typed back to the client: [When he looks at my photos, what exactly does he say?]

[He says I'm gorgeous! I mean, you are genuinely beautiful,] she paused, then added, [I even used your custom voice memo packages! Every time I send one, he transfers me $8,000!]

Mother of God.

If Arthur Sterling ever heard that sickly-sweet, high-pitched "baby voice" I put on for those recordings... he'd probably lose his appetite for three days straight.

That confirmed it. The guy on the other end was absolutely, categorically not Arthur Sterling!

Thinking about this, I went back and reviewed all the photos and videos I had sold to this client.

The photos were standard, pretty selfies.

But the videos...

Lots of tight mini-skirts paired with cat-ear filters.

...It's fine. The guy wasn't Arthur anyway.

The client continued to beg me: [Please, babe, do me this one favor! I promise it's completely safe! I already told him I'm not ready for any physical contact yet. And the meeting spot is a super crowded mall downtown.]

When I didn't reply immediately, she sent another frantic message: [If you really don't want to stay, just show your face for one minute and leave! If you don't, he'll realize I've been catfishing him, and I won't be able to milk him for any more cash!]

A few seconds later, my bank app notified me of a $45,000 transfer.

My fingers, which were hovering over the keyboard to type a rejection, froze.

Then again...

If this guy had the absolute audacity to use Arthur Sterling's photo for online dating, how did he have the guts to meet up in person? Wasn't he terrified of being exposed as a fraud?

This girl might be able to pay me to act as her stand-in, but absolutely no one on earth could order Arthur Sterling around.

Perfect. I'll go see exactly what kind of freak this imposter is!

I deleted my drafted rejection text.

[Fine.]

Looking at it objectively, this client was incredibly generous.

Tsk. I bet the real Arthur Sterling isn't even this generous.

Terrified I'd back out, she quickly forwarded several screenshots of her chat history with the fake Arthur.

It was an endless stream of Hubby kiss kiss and I only love my hubby.

The chat was flooded with reaction stickers of cute kittens spinning, happy kittens, and whining kittens.

Me: "..."

The fake Arthur's replies were incredibly consistent:

[Baby, you're so beautiful.]

Transfer received.

[Baby, you're so cute.]

Transfer received.

...

Transfer received.

Transfer received.

Transfer received.

My god. This guy was a walking ATM.

The client quickly dropped a location pin. [It's at this mall.]

I clicked on it.

Oh, wow.

The actual Sterling heir really did frequent this exact mall. It was very close to one of his family's estates.

Maybe I should...

I pulled up Arthur Sterling's contact in my phone.

Is there any chance I could arrange for the imposter to run face-first into the real Arthur Sterling? That would scare him to death!

Uh.

I forgot. Arthur blocked my number.

I silently locked my phone.