SERENDIPITY

Chapter 4

LAYLA

‘Why are you at your desk during lunch hour?’ Ivy said as she walked into the office I shared with five other people.

‘I think I will skip lunch today, Ivy’ I said with nonchalance. ‘I will eat something when I get home’.

‘No, that’s not acceptable’, Ivy said while she shook her head. ‘I’m going to the new Italian restaurant that just opened a few weeks ago, and I am not going without you, it’s a thirty-minute drive from here’ she said, spinning her car keys with her index finger.

‘Is that your car key? Did your dad give it back to you? I said, bombarding her with questions.

‘Yes, it is my car key. Dad gave it back to me on one condition. I will tell you over lunch, so let’s go’ she said with a smile in her voice.

Ivy parked outside the restaurant, just right behind a black Audi. I could recognize it due to the four interlocking rings and I wondered who owned it. The restaurant was a little bit packed due to the lunch hour. A lot of men and women in business attire found a spot to sit. Luckily for me, it was by the window, so I could see the passersby, people who came in and out of the bookstore opposite the restaurant. I could also see Ivy’s Porshe and the black Audi.

We were given the menu. I was confused about what to order, as I wasn’t much a fan of Italian dishes. It seemed the waitress had seen the confused look on my face when she said ‘would you like me to recommend something for you?’. I looked up from the menu to see her smiling at me, ‘that would be so kind of you to do that’ I said.

I had the Orecchiette with broccoli and sausage which the waitress had recommended. The cheese melted as soon as it entered my mouth.

‘Tell me, what made your dad change his mind about giving you your keys back?’ I said.

‘Okay, that’s part of the reason I asked that we have lunch together’ she said with a weird look on her face. ‘I kinda made a deal with my dad, he said if I were to go on a date this weekend, he would give me back my car key’

‘That’s cool! I guess you agreed, hence, that’s why you have your key’, I said.

‘I actually have a plan which is why I agreed’ she said, sitting more upright. By this time, we were done with our food. ‘The plan is for you to go on the date instead of me, you are going to pretend to be me’ I didn’t let her finish before I cut her short.

‘What the hell, Ivy?’ I said," You are one of the Junior Associates in one of the top law firms in Los Angeles and you want me to impersonate you. Think about it, girl.

‘It wouldn’t be a problem, you just need to play and dress the part, that’s all.’ She said.

‘No, I can’t.’ I said.’ I do not want your father’s trouble.’

‘Layla, there’s no trouble looming’. She said, ‘I will pay you, I am not trying to ridicule you or anything, but I know you need the money, besides you don’t accept things from me, so let’s just see this as a job, please?’

‘I actually need money to sort my rent, including my mum’s hospital bills’, I thought.

‘It’s just a date, nothing trivial’, I thought.

‘Okay, when is the date?’ I asked, thinking if I wouldn’t regret my decision.

‘Yay! It’s this weekend. She said excitedly.

I kept looking out the window and the thought of me regretting my decision kept creeping into my mind, I noticed a man in a navy blue suit going into the driver’s seat of the Audi parked outside. He was about 6 feet 4 inches tall, had black hair, that’s all I could make out from the angle I was sitting, and I only had a view of his back.

‘Thank you for doing this for me, Layla’. Ivy said, ‘Let’s start going then.’

Later that night, Ivy dropped me off at home. I dialed my mum’s phone. She picked upon the first ring.

‘Hello darling’. She said weakly over the phone. ‘How have you been?’

‘Hi mum, are you okay? You sound so…shallow’ I said, trying to hold back the tears.

‘I am good, just a little bit tired’. She said.

‘How are you keeping?’ I asked. ‘I’d send you some money by the weekend for your drugs and some groceries.

‘Thank you, hun.’ She said. ‘I don’t want you worrying about me, I will be fine.’

‘Has Uncle Warren been coming to check in on you?’ I asked.

‘Yes, he came by yesterday.’ She said. ‘How’s work? Have you been eating properly?’

‘Yes, I have’ I lied, so I wouldn’t have to add to her worries. ‘I have to go now mum’, I said, as I heard footsteps on the porch and hung up the call.

Someone was trying to open the door forcefully out front. I tried to peek through the peephole to see who was at the door. It was KJ, my housemate. I opened the door with my own keys from inside, only for me to be met by a drunk KJ. He was barely able to stand properly, I had to swing his arm over my shoulder for me to carry him inside the house. He reeked of beer. I tried to ask him where his keys were, but I couldn’t make out his words due to the incoherency in his speech. I saw a bulge in his pocket and reached into it, I felt the keys and inserted them into the keyhole. I had never been to his room since I moved here, I had no business snooping around and, also, he liked to keep to himself. I helped him to his bed, took off his boots, covered him with the green blankets on his bed. I went back to the kitchen to get a cup of water to put by his bedside table in case he woke up thirsty in the middle of the night. I silently closed the door.

Behind me and headed straight to my room.