Page 89 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

"Who's that?"

After another few moments of intense silence as she examined the two photos, she finally turned to me, a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

"I think you aren't the only one currently undercover at Insight Ink," she said.

"Excuse me? What?"

She handed both phones over to me. "Take a look at these two photos and see if you see what I see."

The picture of Dee was still on my phone, but Nana had adjusted it to zoom in on her, cropping out Mona. Next, I looked at Nana's cell and saw that photo of a dark-haired woman, an inkling of familiarity swirling through me.

At first glance, these women had nothing in common. Where Dee's hair was shoulder length and blonde, the other had long dark waves.

"Who is this?" I started to ask. But then it dawned on me. This was Annalise Stratton, the very woman I'd seen tonight outside the Astoria Club. And I was no expert on dresses, but it looked like the same black number she'd been wearing. "Is this from tonight?"

"It is," she said, smug satisfaction lacing her voice.

My eyes darted between the two photos, Nana's words ringing in my head about me not being the only one undercover, my heart starting to race as I played that old game of spot the difference.

But the thing was, besides the hair and glasses that Dee occasionally wore, there was no difference. Same height. Same frame. Same cute nose. Same eyes. Same heart-shaped face.

"What the fuck? This can't be real. This... this..."

"Watch your mouth, young man."

"Sorry, Nana. I'm just in shock. Because this can't be real. You think Cordelia Dole is actually Annalise Stratton? Is this a joke?"

"I don't think so, dear. I saw this photo from tonight, some anniversary party, and she caught my eye. I never forget a face, and I just knew I knew her, if that makes sense."

"Nothing about this makes any sense. She can't be the same person. Why? Just why would she even do something like that?"

Her delicate shoulders lifted in a shrug. "I don't know. I hadn't thought that far yet. But maybe she just wanted to be someone else for a change, walk in someone else's shoes that doesn't have the last name Stratton."

Stunned, I sat there looking out the window, wondering if this could indeed be true. What were the fucking odds of two people going undercover at the same time at the same company and being asked to work together?

I had to call her, to set this thing straight. It couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Swiping the picture away, I found her number, ready to confront her, but Nana's cool hand on my arm stopped me.

"It's pretty late, Maxie. Maybe it's best to wait until morning to talk to her."

I looked at the time. Almost midnight.

Fuck.

"I'll let that one go," Nana said, making me realize I'd sworn out loud.

Something completely out of character.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this way, like I was going to lose it, like my mind was spinning out of control and I was teetering on the edge of reason. Not even when what's her name had broken off our engagement.

That had made me pissed more than anything.

But this?

My whole world had imploded, making me question every single thing that had ever happened between Cordelia-slash-Annalise—Annalise Stratton?—and me.

And then I remembered how much she hated me, the real me, making me rack my brain as to why. What had I ever done to Annalise Stratton?

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