"I was worried that your photograph might be misleading - you never can be sure - however, I see you are perfect for the job."

"What exactly is the job", demurred Alice feeling things were going too fast. He didn't seem to be taking into account that she might turn the job down.

"All will become clear in a moment."

He reached over and pressed a button. Alice heard the door at the end of the room open. She followed the sound of the noise with her eyes whilst keeping a close eye on the Eastern gentleman to her side.

She was reassured to see it was a woman who had been summoned.

And was dumfounded to see her double standing in front of her. Same height, short, fair, curly hair - even the slope of the shoulders was the same. Only the clothes were different. Whereas Alice wore a trouser suit from a popular national chain store she had bought earlier that week, the other woman wore a beautiful silk dress that seemed straight out of a Parisian Haute Couture boutique.

Her hand shake was as soft and yielding as her husband's. Her voice had the same slight accent, cultured and schooled. Like him, she moved like a person who was used to being at the centre of other people's attention and being watched. She exuded a charm and a complete confidence that life would always be on her terms because that was the natural order of things.

"I think she'll do don't you?"

"Absolutely ideal - Shareef - send her through to me when you've had your discussion".

Then she was gone. She moved with a bird like assurance, effortlessly and swiftly covering the distance to the large door at the end or the room.

Shareef turned to Alice. His brown eyes focussed like a hurricane on hers.

"Will you take the job?"

"What job?"

"The obvious job - to be my wife's double. We have to attend some social functions."

"You said there could be some danger?"

"There could be - but not a lot - we have body guards and there is always other security, even sometimes secret police from your government."

"And why can't your wife go to these functions?"

"My wife suffers from some high blood pressure and nervousness. These functions are not good for her because they tire her, she doesn't enjoy them and the normal dangers of being in the public eye that go with our position are not so good for her nervous condition."

"If you are in agreement, I will give you a list of dates and times and all you have to do is attend the event and make small talk. You will be paid £200 per engagement."

Alice thought to herself the money was very good for a few hours socialising. She would normally jump at an offer like that. Inside she was saying "Yes, Yes." To her surprise, outwardly and seemingly in the distance, a different Alice seemed to be taking charge.

"£1,000 an engagement and I will speak to your wife so I am briefed on things I should know."

"That is a lot just for attending a social engagement!" Shareef's eyes flashed momentarily with annoyance."

"You must have advertised very widely to find me," responded Alice slowly. "There can't be many perfect doubles for your wife, even though she looks very English - so it seems to me I have the supply and you the demand. Perhaps I should ask £2,000?" Although her pulse was absolutely racing and her heart pounding in her chest, her outward appearance was cool.

"Shareef's eyes flashed again and he wriggled in his chair indecisively. Then he shrugged and smiled.

"You drive a hard bargain, my dear, I will get the employment papers drawn up. You will receive them in the post later this week. Our first engagement is next Friday lunch time."

Alice returned his smile, levelly.

"I had better go in and see your wife to be briefed then."

As she laid out the dinner table in readiness of her husband returning, Alice looked around at the home that had seemed so smart only 12 hours earlier. Neatly dusted, polished and with nothing out of place, it seemed drab when compared to then sumptuousness of Shareef's mansion. Even the paper she had been given to make notes on when she spoke to the man's wife was gold crested. Then with a tiny shrug of her shoulders, she went upstairs to change into a dress in readiness for her husband.

---------------------

Three weeks later, the social engagements were almost routine. Alice had got over the splendid sumptuousness, the constant attention from waiters, waitresses and doormen and the nerves she felt at first remembering the minutiae of social chit chat 'in character'.

Indeed much of the time spent working was quite boring and she often found herself drifting into her own thoughts as yet another important personage tried to impress her.

She had no illusions. What they really wanted to do was impress Shaareef who, it seemed, was quite an important person politically and socially in their jet set world.

Shareef was always immaculately correct, his hazel eyes would flash with amusement as she recounted the latest rumour entrusted to her care as messenger.

Occasionally, but only now and then, when an overweight, middle aged and greasy man would stand too close to her, she would quietly explain:

"My husband is very strict with me you know!"

The stout fellows breathing would increase then Alice would smile sweetly.

"He requires me to tell him about everyone that talks to me and everything they say! Now what was that you said again? I'm sure I misheard."

It never failed to have the desired affect. Only if the man was even more influential, richer and than Shareef, would she have to call Shareef to rescue her and he would do this quickly and with his usual charm, eyes flashing with an easy smile as he recounted an anecdote to defuse the situation.

Indeed Alice had insisted that it was written into the contract that she would not be exposed to any compromising domestic situations.

"I am not really your wife, I am happily married and intend to stay that way. It's just as well to make that clear at the outset."

Shareef did not like her laying down then law. Women from his country relied on subtle persuasion. Even his wife who had been brought up in the East although her parents were from England followed these rules. Alice wasn't from their land - she laid it on then line. Shareef had not liked that. Briefly, his face had contorted in anger and surprise.

A ruthlessness showed itself and then, in a flash, was gone with a casual "of course, my dear." Alice remembered and pondered the exchange but came to no conclusion. He was a man typical of his breed, she thought. He just liked to get his own way and dismissed the matter.

Several weeks later, they were outward bound on a short flight from London to Jersey for an afternoon meeting and evening function. He had the inside seat and she the window through which she had been watching the puffy white mass of cotton wool clouds billowing below.

Shareef focussed on his beautifully manicured hands which he splayed out in front of him almost touching the seat ahead of the small private jet.

"I need to brief you on some matters for this evening, my dear. There is a man you will meet (very well connected) who used to know my wife before we were married. You will need to be careful or he may see through our 'little arrangement'.

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