POV - Zuri:
One of the perks of being a detective's daughter was coming in handy. Yes, my mother, Sandy, ran a detective agency called ′Eyes Spies,′ I have decided to call my mom and hire her officially.
"Mom, I want to hire you officially to get information on two Lylas."
When it came to business, Mom showed no mercy. Not even for her own daughter.
"Sorry, I do not mix personal life with business. Anything else, daughter?"
"Mom, that is why I want to officially hire your service."
"What kind of mother would I be if I charged my own daughter for taking services from her mother?"
"Then do it as a mother's duty," I exclaimed.
"How could you expect me to betray my business?"
How can she be so impossible at times? I still juggle until now.
I scoffed, "Are you not betraying your daughter...RIGHT. NOW... with your exuses? Why are you being so unreasonable?"
"Dear daughter, I am not being unreasonable nor betraying you. I am just giving you a chance to do your own homework." My mother took a deep breath. "After all, a busy mind will help you stay away from depression." And she hung up the call on me just like that.
The next day, I woke up at my usual time—10 a.m., which had become my "morning" ever since Asher stopped coming home at night. My entire routine had shifted around his absence, 'Dull and Slow.'
I finished my morning routine, gave my maids the task for the day, and then went to the underground parking garage, where my car had stood untouched for months.
These past five months, I was so focused on craving Asher's attention, hoping he would walk through the door any minute, any evening, that I had spend evenings dressed up, cooking his favourite meals, hoping to ignite excitement between us. But every night, my makeup and clothes remained untouched by his warmth, and the food went cold.
Before long, I realised I was stuck at home all day, which continued for weeks and months. Looking back now, I realised I had been on the verge of a depression. "I hate you, Asher, for this." I want to blame him and not me....
My memories from the past had given me a wake-up call. I slipped into my BMW and headed to Jersey City.
When Asher and I married, he shared his digital calendar with me so that I would always know his plans. Probably to avoid questions about his whereabouts. In the years that followed, I had barely looked at it, but last night, I remembered it. And I will use it to my advantage.
I gave my keys to the valley parking. And entered the hotel Hyatt Regency to its city-view restaurant, which is on the highest floor.
According to Asher's calendar, he would be here for lunch at 1 p.m., and the location was clear: Hyatt Regency.
It was easy to find.
But as the clock ticked past 1 p.m. and drifted into 3 p.m., there was still no sign of him. I had been sitting in a corner, hoping he wouldn't notice me even if he walked by.
My plan today was simple: I would see how Lyla looked, take a photo, and follow her from afar. Maybe even follow her back to her place. It meant not being home for one or two days.
Whether I was home or not, Asher wouldn't know. He never checked in on me. He stopped calling me. He stopped asking me what I was doing in his absence. And it makes me angry thinking how our beautiful relationship changed into a silent void.
The thought hit me harder. My eyes grew misty, and a dull ache formed in my chest. I forced the thought away, taking a steadying breath.
'This isn't the time to be weak. I need to stay strong.'
But the idea of them heading to the same hotel made my stomach churn. 'They would be sharing the same room, right?'
An icy sensation twisted in my gut. My hands began to tremble as disturbing images flooded my mind.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
The voice pulled me back from the nightmare playing out in my head. Startled, I looked up.
What I saw made my heart stop for a second. Red-blond hair length til neck neatly combed back. Rectangle face, strong jaw line, prominent cheekbones, green expressive eyes, straight nose, well-defined lips, slightly pale tone, mature and masculine appearance. Standing before me was a man who looked similar to my ex-Kevin.
They looked almost identical. If they would stand beside each other one. One might think they are definitely brothers born out of the same mother.
He spoke again, "I am sorry, but all the tables are full, and I am starving. When I saw you sitting alone, I dared to approach you to give you company, and plus, I could get to eat my favourite dish. May I sit here?" He politely pleaded. However, instead of focusing on hearing him out, my mind and heart raced to my ex's memories, and without realising it, I said yes.
He stretched his arm for a handshake, "Hi, I am Kevin Dell."
*
The last thing I remembered was sitting in my car as I pushed the speed to its limits on the highway.
Everything before that was a blur, but one word echoed in my mind: Kevin.
When I heard his name, something inside me snapped, and I bolted out of the restaurant without paying the bill.
Now, as the adrenaline faded and reality set in, I realised what I had done. I left without paying my bill.
The hotel staff could easily track me down through CCTV cameras. My license plate and face. What if they report it to the police. And what if Asher found out...?
My grip on the steering wheel tightened and frustration bubbled up inside me.
Why wasn't anything going my way? And who was that guy? How could he look so much like Kevin? And why did he have the same name as my ex?
My thoughts raced in a tangle of confusion. Two Lylas, now two Kevins—what was this, some cruel game of doubles? Would both Lylas look alike, too?