FALSE IDENTITY

6

    The sunshine coming in shyly through thesee-through curtain was as soothing as soft, warm fingers against Joanna'ssilky, dreamful cheeks. Sleepy, she opened one eye, "praying that the light she felt to be just one of her illusions. She would have done anything to be night again. Slowly she opened the other heavy eye too. The unknown surrounded her. She remained still, looking around. Where was she?

The room was sunk in deep silence. On a chair there were some shiny clothes thrown over. A wave of pain chased her sleep away, and she woke up immediately when she remembered where she was and why she was there. She rested up on one elbow and saw a pillow fall down on the floor. She looked at herself and felt somehow indecent, since she had slept without wearing a nightgown. Blushing heavily, she lazily stepped out of the bed.

It had been a night of surprises, starting with the revelation of her own ability to defend herself, up to the foolish decision of accepting to enter the men's game. In the light of cold reasoning, she forced herself to take into consideration the possibility that her strong intention of learning more about Nick have seriously affected her judgement. She was not genuinely convinced of his quality as a person and maybe she had not accepted the hoax, she would never know. She felt her heart aching when she saw the clothes she had worn the evening before. Immediately she also realized something else: she had no other clothes to change and no way was she going to wear those vulgar clothes again.

She took a bath and wrapped in a towel, she started looking into the wardrobe in the room. Seeing it was full only with men's clothes, she had to be content with a simple shirt. When the cold and silky fabric touched her skin with a delicate swish, some warmth she had never experienced before invaded her entire body. Dizzy, she bent her head sideways to feel the texture of the fabric on her delicate cheek. She felt vulnerable when the strong and slightly pinching smell filled her nostrils, flooding her with new sensations. Angry at her own weakness and the striking power with which a man perfume could win her over, she pulled up and walked aimlessly around the room, until she woke up studying herself in front of the mirror on the dressing table. If it were to be honest, she had to admit: it was not just a simple odor. It was the most distinct and dashing men perfume she had ever smelled and which brimmed over effortlessly with utmost masculinity.

She shook her head wanting to chase away the reverie of her romancing. She glanced forward. Her blonde hair with red reflections had nothing spectacular; on the contrary, it was more of a disadvantage for her since she could be easily recognized. Her green eyes, though too big in her opinion, remained the most acceptable part of her face. Her nose was straight and delicate, but what she disliked most in her was her mouth, too full to be considered beautiful. The studying of the face ended when she lowered her eyes towards the large shirt, with rolled-up sleeves, which was trying to replace her previous clothes. A chill made her startle. How would she go downstairs and meet the men dressed like that? Yet, rather than wearing again those gaudy clothes, she preferred the shirt.

She stepped slowly on the soft carpet, her toes going deep in its fullness, and the fuzz tickled her soles. She smiled with pleasure, and her thoughts continued to torment her into coming up with plans to easily put up with the insanely risky adventure she got herself into.

She was on the last step when Ross and Will caught sight of her and they remained silent.

Joanna was whispering something and then she would slowly mention God's name, and then she would whisper again.

Nick was just coming out of his office when he came face to face with the two men who were staring with their eyes popping out of their sockets. He rolled up his eyes, guessing the reason of their bewilderment. Most certainly, the vulgar, short skirt was enhancing now, in broad day light, her nakedness even more. His stomach got caught like in a furious claw. His friends were too weak to let themselves so easily impressed, and this slut was terribly wrong if she thought she could use her charms on them. Furiously he mumbled something to his friends, and then he suddenly turned around to lecture to the girl.