There had been no sign of Anthony since Kayla returned home in the evening. Although she was certain that he might be in his bedroom. The disturbing thoughts didn’t stop to linger — while having dinner, while in the shower, and there she was in her study with diverted focus. Kayla stood up and paced, frustrated. She scratched her hair, disheveling it, then kept her hands akimbo as she paced. It wasn’t supposed to be. It was strange how she worried herself sick because of an enemy. To her surprise, she couldn’t fight the feelings of sympathy toward him?Kayla submitted to the impulse that drove her to check on him and hurried towards Anthony’s bedroom, only to halt at the door when she realized she couldn’t input the biometric lock. Supposing she knew the pin, would she have walked into his room to see him? No, she shook her head. He was an enemy for Christ’s sake. She stepped back to her bedroom, forcing down the hesitation that nearly made her wait at Anthony’s door.Kayla turned ove
“Dr. Spencer, I need you to quit smiling and tell me what calls for the sudden session today?” Spencer suddenly gave him a Skype call there in his office, distracting him from his work. The old doctor had been smiling since he picked the call, and it was pissing Anthony off, yet he remained in his calm. “Get your skates on, Spencer, I’ve got an appointment by twelve.”“Have you gone through the mails I sent you last night?” “I’m too busy to go through my private email, so it’s clear I didn’t. What about it?”“It was your father’s research book, which I sent you. And the good news is… we found the cure at last.” Spencer gave a big grin.Anthony froze, gazing at Spencer. Did he hear Spencer correctly? Or was this a dream? It was sudden, unexpected, and unbelievable. He wasn’t sure whether to be glad or full of questions. He hadn’t dreamed for four years. Was his first dream after four years aiming to prank him with his longings? He tilted his head down questioningly, his brow raised. “
Kayla rose at five o’clock to prep and freeze Sledge’s food, not forgetting her many morning routines. Soon as she stepped out of the kitchen after the preparation, Anthony walked in to get lemonade. He was about going for a jog.Anthony was pouring himself a glass of lemonade from the jug on the countertop when the phone next to him rang. It was Kayla’s phone. He had no intent to check who it was. But inadvertently, he glimpsed at the caller. The caller's name held his attention for a brief moment. William Shithole was the name of the caller. Judging from the offensive name she gave the caller, Anthony realized it must be someone she had issues with. It wasn’t his business, so he ignored.The phone rang for the third time when he was imbibing the lemonade. He drew rigid; he tumbled into something. William Shithole. Did she mean William Dale? Setting down the glass of lemonade on the counter, he took the phone and picked up, waiting for the caller to speak.‘Kayla, are you there?’Ant
A minute didn't pass without Kayla chewing over the birthmark she'd spotted under Anthony's arm. She seldom focused during her meeting. The memory often waltzed in to distract her. As if the thoughts were inescapable. Somehow she wished Clinton would come alive again, but a strong fear laid beneath her desire— a fear she was yet to ferret out the cause. Certainly, she wouldn't wish that Clinton was Anthony by any chance. That schmuck could never be Clinton. Clinton was dead.She leaned her elbows over the office table and buried her head in her hands, puffing a long sigh. She took her phone, writing every similarity noticed between Anthony and Clinton. Afterward she sent them to Nora, who called her in a jiffy.“Birthmark under his arm, Clinton's piano lyrics, Sledge, abbreviation and so on. Wow, I think I'm tongue-tied, Kayla. But at least I'm sure a dead person can't live again.”“I think I'm sliding out of my mind, Nora. Anthony's starting to seem more than just an imposter. That b
Kayla downed a half glass of wine. She could not tell why, but the fear that Anthony would catch her just deepened and crushed her like garlic in a mortar. The restaurant was cold, yet she was burning. She downed another glass of wine. Why was the feeling getting stronger?“Relax, Kayla, will you?” Corey crooned.Kayla nodded, took a breath, yet Corey now locking his eyes behind her and looking all tensed tightened the knot in her stomach. She was going to ask what he was staring at when he said, “You’ve got a company.”Before Kayla could turn around, the seat beside her got occupied. Anthony? Kayla’s heart jolted and tumbled down her stomach, thrumming violently. Nearly, she was shivering. She folded her hands beneath the table. Repeatedly, she gulped one hard lump down. Corey promised her, didn’t he?“I hope I’m not late, sweetheart?” was the first thing he said when he sat down, and then his fingers were fiddling with her hair as if he enjoyed the silky feel of it. Anthony half-expe
Kayla absorbed the depression and pain evoked by the punishment and sprang back to her normal state. Knowing she wouldn't be getting her freedom threw her into another level of depression, but knowing she'd be with Sledge strengthened kept her easygoing. She knelt in the foyer, watching Sledge eat. Sledge had grown up. She also did well to increase his meal size.The sensor chimed. It was him. He’d returned from the pool. There wasn't a trace of fear in her, there was only pent-up rage. It had been like that since the ruthless punishment —rage and loath. Her eyes tailed him as he walked past her. She was just about looking away when she whipped her head back to him and knitted her brow as confusion rushed in.It wasn't the tattoos on his back… it was a birthmark on his lower back, near his butt, as his swim shorts was drenched and sagged from the water. Clinton had that birthmark on that same spot.Kayla dismissed Qynville accountants, who came to report the firm transactions for the
The massive living room frolicked in the calm night. Lots of excitement, plenty of guests chatting over refreshments. Kayla’s eyes picked out some faces she found familiar, faces from her alma mater, and she’d only waved at them. She spotted Sonia and a group of guests she recognized were her friends and acquaintances from the university. They beckoned her over and she approached. They exchanged greetings and embraces soon as she got there.“Congratulations once again, Sonia,” Kayla said, holding out a big gift box to Sonia, who took it and asked her babysitter to keep it.“Where’s your husband, Kayla?” a female acquaintance asked.“Yeah, where’s Mr. Handsome? He’s the reason I did the whole nine yards to look hot tonight.” That was Imani with her silly comment.“Hold on, Kayla, is Anthony outside or…” Sonia waved a dismissal hand. “You know what I’m trying to ask.”Kayla’s face clouded over; as a result, her friends made distasteful faces as they awaited her disappointing response. S
That piano song. Kayla's lids fluttered until her eyes drew open. That was C&K. The song brought back a memory of her childhood, when she and Clinton had planned to use the song on their wedding day. She slowly sat up and shut her eyes for a wee moment. Strong emotions that roused tears usually followed remembering Clinton. That morning, she could absorb the rush of emotion, despite her wedding was rather A&K.She ran her hand over her face and sighed tiredly. What was this drive to go down there? Was it because the imposter wasn't getting the song right? Whichever impulsion it was, it succeeded in driving her to the living room.Standing on the step, she gazed down at him, digesting that strong nervousness and hatred she felt around him. She couldn't repress it all, yet she approached with slow steps that displayed hesitation. She stood beside the piano, anxious about speaking with the man, who acted like he hadn't sensed her presence. Humph, she didn't expect less.“How do you know t