(Lexi’s POV)
Luna made me more anxious as she followed me while I paced worriedly in the living room. I glanced at the time, wanting to scream at my twin sister. She promised me she would hurry back as soon as she got money from Aunt Becky, our mother’s sister and the only living relative we knew.
We were in our last year of high school when our father, an underground mining operator, died in an accident at work. Some of my father’s coworkers and friends encouraged our mother to sue the company, but she did not push through with it because, first off, she was pregnant, and second, she was in her ninth month of pregnancy. Instead, Mom accepted the little amount she got from the company and used it to start again.
Lexa was horrified by her decision, but she explained that she was only being practical, not wanting us to starve and not to stop studying. But Dad seemed sad in heaven without our mother, and just three months after his death, Mom died of hypothermia when a strong typhoon hit our area. Aliyah was barely three months old, and we had nothing left because the river near our house overflowed, taking everything, every memory of our parents and family.
After a week in the evacuation center, Aunt Becky came and took us home, but nothing came for free. Lexa and I had to work, study, and take care of Aliyah. At most times, Lexa would just want to give up studying, but whenever we talked about our parents’ dreams for us, that pushed us again to finish what we had started. When we reached the age of eighteen, we ran away from Aunt Becky after she attempted to sell me online to a foreigner, and when she failed, she tried to sell Aliyah to a tourist couple.
We struggled in life, but Lexa, older than me by five minutes, was good at almost everything. She would take care of Aliyah in the morning, go to school in the afternoon, and sing in the bar at night. I would attend school in the morning, work in a fast-food chain in the afternoon, and I would be the one to look after our baby sister.
Despite having different personalities, Lexa taught me to mirror her as she learned to be me. She said it was for emergency purposes, and it became beneficial for both of us when she got sick and had a sore throat she couldn’t sing for a week. Instead of taking care of Aliyah, I pretended to be her and sang at the bar at night.
It was easier for us to work and study when Aliyah started attending preschool, but she stopped attending classes when she complained about her eyes. She struggled with her eyesight, and one day, we found her crying because she couldn’t see anymore.
Lexa and I graduated from college, pursuing our parents’ dreams for us, and now, we have to work hard for Aliyah’s dream to see again. When the doctor told us about the possible expenses for her operation, my twin sister and I realized that even if we sold our souls now, it would still be impossible to get the amount in a short period.
Luna purred, jumping to the window. When the door opened, I almost cried, seeing Lexa rushing to me.
“How’s Aliyah?” she asked worriedly and walked to the bedroom not to check on her but to wrap her body with the blanket. “Let’s go. We’ll bring her to the hospital.”
The plan was to bring our seven-year-old sister to the hospital because of her raging fever, but we didn’t have enough money, so she told me she would go to Aunt Becky for help.
“Did you get money?” I asked, grabbing my bag and following her to the door. A taxi was waiting for us. “Lexa?” I called when she didn’t answer.
“Yes,” she answered impatiently. “Open the door. Aliyah’s not a baby anymore. God, she’s heavy.”
I opened the door for her, but before I closed it, I made sure Luna and Monalisa were inside. I didn’t want to look for them later if they got out. I plopped inside the taxi and listened to her as she directed the driver for direction.
The driver brought us to the nearest private hospital. It was small, but the fact that it was private meant we still needed to pay money. Yet I followed Lexa to the emergency room, and when they suggested Aliyah should be confined, she agreed immediately.
“Lexa, didn’t you hear what the nurse said? We have to pay for the down payment,” I reminded her, but she only nodded, eyeing our little sister looking pale and shivering on the bed. “Lexa?”
“We have a lot of money, Lexi,” she said, pushing me her purse.
When I opened it, I swallowed hard as I saw the cash inside. The big amount of money was screaming at me, and as I counted them, it was equivalent to a half year of my pay working in a fast food restaurant. Slowly, I turned my head to her.
“Lexa, where did you get the money?” I asked, now nervous because I was sure Aunt Becky would not give her that enormous amount.
She smiled sadly at me. “I sold my soul to the devil, Lexi.” Her attempt at cracking a joke didn’t make me laugh.
“Not funny, Lex. Where did you get the money?” I asked anxiously.
She stood up and hugged me. “From singing, Lexi.” She sniffled. “I couldn’t get money from Aunt Becky, so I had to beg Tony to give me a job tonight, and he brought me to this party to sing. I told him about Aliyah, and you know the guy liked me, right?”
I nodded, and now both of us were crying.
“So, he paid me and gave me a bonus because the party was full of rich people, and I sang really well tonight.” She was crying as she explained.
I rubbed her back and pressed my lips to suppress the sob coming out of my mouth. I let myself cry in silence while I listened to my sister’s cry. I knew there was something more to her story, but I couldn't bring it up now.
When the nurse returned, she gave Lexa the form to sign, and they began to move Aliyah to her room. It was almost midnight, and while our sister was asleep, we stayed for a while in the lobby, just outside the wardroom.
She turned to me when my stomach betrayed me. “Aliyah’s asleep. Want to grab some food?”
I nodded. “I haven’t eaten lunch and dinner,” I told her as we stood up. “Lex,” I called her as we walked to the nearby cafeteria.
“Hmm?” she mumbled, rubbing her belly.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
She looked at me and smiled. “Yeah! I met interesting people tonight at the party, and while singing, I couldn’t help but ask why they have so much while we struggle?”
I nodded, understanding her. “Do you remember Angela Mars?” She and her husband spoke in one of our seminars last year.
“Yeah. I saw her at the party, too. She asked me about you.”
“I applied as a sales clerk, and she sat on the panel interview. I told her I also do some music lessons, and she asked me if I could spare my weekend because she thinks her kids were interested to learn the piano.”
She smirked. “Why would she ask you when they can have great teachers in music school?” She leaned on my shoulder. “No offense, Lexi, but why?”
“I know, but she explained her children are smart but beginners in music. She wanted to know how serious they were before enrolling them in a music school,” I answered and smiled, remembering how different Angela Mars was from the other wealthy people I met.
“And…” Lexa raised her head and looked at me.
“I have to meet her tomorrow,” I shook my head and glanced at the time on the wall clock in the cafeteria. “In a few hours. I know you haven’t had a good sleep, but would it be okay if you stayed with Aliyah for a while? I would just meet her and then go back here immediately.”
“I have nothing to do here while Aliyah’s asleep, Lexi, so it’s okay. I’ll also catch up on some sleep because I promised Tony to sing tomorrow night at the bar.”
“Aren’t you going to look for a job?” I shook my head, realizing my point was not correct. “I mean, you could leave your job at the bar and maybe work during the daytime.”
She grinned at me. “You’re not the only one waiting for the chance, dear Lexi. I applied and just waiting for the owners to come back. I heard they’re on vacation and will call me when they get back. The last time I talked to Ms. Anya, she said they need a music teacher, so I’m crossing my fingers, Lexi, hoping to get the job.”
“Let’s celebrate,” I teased her.
Lexa chuckled. “Let’s have burgers and fries, then.”
“Can we upgrade them large?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Of course. Tonight, we both deserved an upgrade. Even just for tonight,” she smiled, but there was sadness in her smile.
Lexa must have forgotten we were identical twins, and I could feel and read her emotions easily as if I was reading mine, and I knew that tonight something had happened to her.
(Lexi’s POV)‘I sold my soul to the devil.’ I remembered what Lexa told me last night. My heart broke, imagining my twin sister desperate to seek money for our Aliyah. How exactly did she sell her soul? It was a question I wanted to bring up last night, but Mr. Gorgeous-But-Rude just answered my question now.Fighting my tears, I took my wallet, but when I opened it, the cash I had reminded me it was enough for my fare to return to the hospital; otherwise, I would have to walk. I have never been so embarrassed in my whole life, but I couldn’t call my sister to clear her name because the moment I agreed with her to pay the down payment, I considered myself an accomplice to her crime.“How much did she get from you?” I asked again, but my voice was lower, almost not audible. I raised my head, meeting his eyes, but I wanted to jump back whenever he glared at me.“Why don’t you ask her? If you really have a twin, call her,” he gave me his phone, and it took me a few seconds to take it,
(Lexi’s POV)I imagined a small eating place, but when we arrived, it was a fine dining restaurant, and I immediately recognized the two Michelin stars. I almost couldn’t enter the door because if it was one of Frank’s pranks, I have no money to pay for his lavish choice.It was not a date, but he led me to the far corner of the dining area, and the waiter came in a hurry to get our order as soon as we sat.“The usual, Ivan,” he said, smiling at him.He nodded and left us.I didn’t see the ‘usual’ menu, not even the menu card. If only I had known this was his plan, I should have just lied about having food allergies, like eating any kind of food gave me allergies.“This is not a date, right?” My eyes were wide as I looked at Frank, sitting across from me.He shook his head. “If this is a date, I will not bring you here and let my brother torture me twenty-four hours.”I made a quick look at the restaurant and leaned my head forward. “You own this restaurant?”He shook his head. “My br
(Lexi’s POV)We returned to the office just in time for my appointment with Angela. Frank led me to the couch and told me to wait for Catherine to call me, then he returned to his table to work. I took my cell phone and checked Lexa’s messages. I didn’t hear her call, but I replied to her message that I would return to the hospital as soon as possible.Catherine went out of Sky’s office. “Lexi, you can come inside now. Good luck!”“Good luck!” Frank glanced and winked at me.My cheeks turned apple red, and I didn’t know why I felt nervous when Angela and I would only talk about the children’s music lessons. When I entered the large private office, my eyes looked for Angela immediately, but she wasn’t around.“Please, take a seat, Lexi,” Sky said, gesturing me to sit on the chair in front of his table. “My children’s nanny called, and she couldn’t stop my girls in their little argument, so Angela had to go home for a while to check on them. She said she’ll call you later, and maybe she
(Finn’s POV)Lexa! Lexi!I should have known it from a person who was born with a twin. I was too mad at Lexa and stupid to realize they were two different people. Just like my nieces, it wasn’t easy to see the difference at first glance. Besides, when I met Lexa, it was not well lit on the rooftop, but somehow, I was caught with a need and her charm, binding me in her spell that I believed in her magic.Last night, I spent many hours deciding if I should call Lexa, but every time I asked myself for a good reason why I would do it, I could not think of a valid reason for doing so. I let Lexi use my cellphone yesterday, not because I wanted to catch her if she were lying to me, but I did it because if she weren’t that person I was hoping to see again, I would be able to get her number.I squinted as I stared at the hot woman singing on the bar’s small stage. She was singing beautifully that I never imagined I would get enchanted by a woman like this. If I knew she was so desperate to g
(Finn’s POV) “They seemed not happy that you are leaving the band,” I said, noticing the man on the drums following us with his eyes. I opened the door for her, and when we got out, she stopped, closed her eyes, and raised her head, breathing out in relief. Lexa was quiet for a few seconds, only breathing in and out. She opened her eyes and looked at me. “Don’t worry about them, Finn. They’re happy for me, going home early for the first time, not just glad going out with a handsome man with me.” She chuckled. “They’re like my family, Finn, and for years of singing with them, they had always protected me like their little sister,” she explained. “Of course,” I opened the passenger door at the back of my car, letting her in before I got in. “To the hospital,” I said to Jimmy, who nodded quietly and started the car. Our ride to our destination was not long, so starting a conversation would not be wise. I waited patiently as I had already instructed Jimmy to stop the car at the café i
(Lexi’s POV)It was as if I would be sent to a lion’s den.I took a deep breath before entering the elevator to Sky Mars’ office to see Catherine or Frank, then report to Finn Mars. After my twin sister's news last night, I had to convince myself many times that everything would be fine.Lexa must be crazy, announcing to me last night that she and Finn were an official couple but must be kept secret in public. When I asked her for a reason, she told me it was her who begged him, and as she explained, I understood and agreed with her.“Lexi, Finn’s your boss, and he’s a billionaire,” she emphasized as we talked in the empty hallway before I went home.“Are we thinking the same way?” I asked her, wanting to know if she was having doubts about Finn’s feelings for her.One corner of her mouth lifted, and she scoffed at me. “Why would a billionaire whom we have just met fall for me? We started on the wrong foot, Lexi, and because of that, he almost sent you to prison.”“I know,” I said, lo
(Lexi’s POV)“But why?” I asked curiously.A little gossip for my sister would not hurt them anyway. I still need to protect her even from my boss.“Finn’s not Sky.” She sighed. “Finn’s a nice man… a good brother, a good son, and best at his job, but a bit wet behind the ears when it comes to relationships. He’s like his children, loves to play around, except for Colonel.”I nodded, showing Catherine I understood, wanting to ask her if his children have different mothers since he has many girlfriends. I bit my bottom lip because it was something I forgot to ask Lexa last night if she knew that Finn had children.“Don’t worry, Catherine,” I smiled at her, putting my hand on top of hers on my forearm. “Even if he’s the last man on earth, I won’t fall for him,” I said, then knitted my eyebrows and laughed. “I guess I would probably change my mind if he were the last man on earth, right? I’ll get my name enlisted.”I wondered if Lexa would love to share him with me if Finn would be the la
(Finn’s POV)“I’m Lexi, your secretary.”Her words were an ice bucket thrown at my head that woke me up, stopping me from kissing her. I cleared my throat and looked closer at her.“Are you okay? Did Colonel hurt you?” I glanced at my dog. However, I doubted if my St. Bernard dog would do such a thing. He was now calm, lying on the floor and looking bored at us. I must have disappointed him by taking away his new playmate, still in my arms.“It -” Lexi pointed at the dog, which raised its head and wagged its tail.“He,” I corrected. All my pet dogs were my children, who were never an ‘it’ to me but important family members.She closed her eyes for a brief second and looked at Colonel, shaking her head as she cried in silence.“Lexi,” I called her name, wanting us to be free from our still awkward position.It seemed my body was not cooperating with my heart, screaming that she was not Lexa. Even my head on top of my body could not convince the head below that she was my secretary, a d