I nodded politely at the waiter as he drops my order of Americano and bagel on the table before me. When he left to attend to the other customers, I reached for my phone just in time to see a call come in.
I sucked an annoyed air through my teeth.
This was not the best time for a call. And not especially from Zed. Why was he even calling me now? Last time I heard from him was months ago—after he almost got me into trouble. A trouble that almost cost me my head. The thought of declining his call occurred to me but I stopped myself before I could press the red button. Knowing Zed too well, he was going to call ceaselessly and ruin my plans if I didn't pick up now.
I swiped across the green button.
'Can we talk later? I'm busy." I said immediately, cutting in before he even said a word.
He snickered and I bit my tongue from cussing.
'Is that how you talk to your favorite brother whom you haven't seen for almost a year now."
'You are not my brother, Zed. I've warned you to stop saying shit like that." I discerned a young couple who walked in, arms around each other. I hope they don't turn out like Ryan and Kelly.
He laughed again.
'Yea, but the streets practically made us family, huh?"
I ran a hand through my messy bun and stop immediately so I wouldn't ruin a look I had taken all time and effort to create.
'Listen, Zed. I gotta go…"
'I've got a job for you, Kenzie. Fucking big shot."
I scoffed.
'I'm never taking any offers from you ever again, Zed. Remember last time? Last time I did, I almost lost my head in a gunfight, man." Just the thought of it gave me chills.
'Come on, Kenzie. At least you didn't get hit…"
'Hit? Is this supposed to make me feel better? A bullet missed my head by barely an inch, dude. I was indoors suffering from the trauma for almost a month."
'Listen, I promise this wouldn't be anything like that. This would change your life…"
'Does it involve elites' families and CEOs and blackmails?"
'Uh…well, you see…"
'You hesitated, Zed. That means I'm right."
'This one is different. It is that one big shot you've…
'I'm going to hang up on you now. And please don't call back. I'm in the middle of something really important. Bye." I ended the call before he had the chance to protest.
I didn't allow my thoughts to linger on Zed and immediately turned on my phone's cam mode and tucked my earpiece to my ears. I hoped I didn't miss any of the juicy parts of Ryan and his secret lover or I swear to God, I will be the end of Zed.
The camera took a few excruciating seconds to load and as soon as it did, I was grateful I had positioned the cameras to the larger parts of Ryan's suit where my view wouldn't get tampered with. From the obscure position of the camera was Steph pressed to the wall and Ryan towering above her and I was lucky to be on time to see them talking. I pressed the record button.
'I can't do that." Steph was talking, her voice low and uncertain.
'You can. I'll take care of everything. You know I would."
Steph sucked in a breath and breaks their standing position. She goes to sit on the edge of the bed, half of her butt covering the camera. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
Oh, come on.
'I love my husband, Ryan. I can't leave him."
Crap. She was married too.
'And I'm sure you love your wife, too."
Ryan paced around the room and stopped a few seconds later.
'Why are you doing this, Steph?"
'What am I doing?" She sounded confused and lost.
'Why do you keep choosing that jerk over me every single chance you have?" His tone was a little raised and rage was evident in his voice.
'Are we going to talk about this again?" She motioned with flying hands.
'Yes! Bloody, yes! Steph. We are going to keep talking about this until you change your mind!"
'Ryan, please…" She seemed to surrender now.
'First, you chose to marry him even though you knew I was clearly interested in you. Now, you're still going to turn a blind eye to everything we've been through together and stick to that loser?"
'He is not a loser. He is my husband."
'A husband who cannot even get you pregnant because he has a problem with his dick!"
Steph sprung off the bed and I heaved in relief at the full access my camera had now. She picked her bag from the bed.
'You know what? I think this is a mistake. Sleeping with you behind our partners' back, believing we were doing the right thing…"
'Steph..." His voice sounded deadly and harsh and unlike the man from earlier.
'I am never going to leave my husband for anyone. Not even you. I love him and I will always stand by him no matter what."
'Don't you fucking say that." His transition from a sweet man to an angry jealous lover was terrifying to watch.
Nice segue, Ryan.
'You know what I keep wondering, Ryan? Is why you want this? Why? At least I have a reason for cheating on my husband. But, what about you? What is your own reason for cheating on your perfect little angel, hm? Is it love, lust, or a crazy obsession?"
Ryan's quiet engulfed the room and his face remained as stoic and hard.
'Goodbye, Ryan. Don't contact me ever again." She began to walk past him and towards the door but Ryan's quick hands dragged her gently back, pinning her to the wall, the same way I had seen them when the video started.
'Let go of me, Ryan." She didn't spare him a smile.
And Ryan didn't lose his grip and instead, reached for a glass of water beside them on the table.
'You shouldn't have said that, sweetheart. You dare break my heart without even as much as a flinch, huh?" He caressed the cup of water in his hands and the awkwardness of the scene caused my heart to beat in a scary way. Suspense began to build around me and the tension doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon.
'Let go. You're hurting me."
Ryan chuckled cynically at her words.
'In another life, never say those words to someone with a crazy ass scary obsession for you. You don't want to end up like you would now."
And what followed next was the beginning of my run-and-hide games.