69| Like Mother, Like Daughter?

After dressing up in a tea pink body-con dress and styling her hair in soft curls, Zoey asked the driver to drop her at Travis' house. It was Sunday and Rose was the one who opened the door for her.

"Miss. Zoey." She said to welcome her in.

"Hey Rose. Is Travis ready?" She asked after entering inside, her heels clicking on the floor. "Or is he having a meltdown?"

"Um..." Rose trailed off. "I think you should see for yourself."

Hearing this, Zoey blew out her breath and hopped towards the stairs. Climbing the stairs, she reached Travis's room and entered inside without knocking.

Just like she had expected, Travis was a nervous mess. He had his three suits laid down in front of him and he was pacing to and fro, a thin layer of sweat covering his forehead.

"I can't decide what to wear." Travis said, shifting his attention to her. His eyes widened as he took in her outfit. The silk dress hugged her curves and seeing her in this dress was hard for him, literally. "Wow, look at you." He said.

"Why thank you," she smirked and then observed all three suits with a calculative gaze. There was a black one, a grey one and a brown one. She knew Travis would look hot in whatever he would wear but for the time being, she had to help him decide one.

"What about this black one?" She asked.

"It has a rip in the shoulder area." Travis pouted.

Sighing, Zoey picked up the grey one. "I love grey." She said.

"So do I but... I just, I really want to impress your Mom because your Dad already hates me." Travis said.

Zoey shook her head in disappointment at his words. "First of all, my Dad doesn't hate you. It's me that he hates. Second, my Mom is a big flirt. You don't have to worry about her not liking you."

Nodding, Travis picked up the suit and put it in front of him. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes. Now go." Zoey groaned and pushed him out of the room towards the bathroom.

Once she was alone in his room, she sat down on his bed and looked around herself. She didn't understand how he lived here without being claustrophobic. The room was too small for a teenager. Travis' life was hard but she hardly hears him complain about his parents, unlike her own whiny self. It was moments like these that makes her feel she doesn't deserve being with someone like him.

Lost in these thoughts, she didn't realize when Travis walked in and stood in front of him. His sight broke her trance and she assessed him from head to toe. The suit hugged him, making him look taller and more elegant than before. Such outfit suited his classically beautiful features and made him look drool-worthy.

"Right now, I am having some unholy thoughts that involves you, me and this bed." She said and Travis flushed at this.

"You are impossible." He said as he leaned down and caged her in between his arms. Their eyes locked together while a mischievous smile played on their faces. Zoey was the one who broke their staring competition and pulled Travis in for a kiss by wrapping her arms around his neck.

•••••••••••

"We are late, all because of you." Travis accused her while her driver drove them to the hotel where her mother was staying.

"Really? And you are such an innocent angel. Should I remind you exactly what you did to me back in the room?" Zoey raised her eyebrows.

"But you started it." Travis replied.

"Don't panic. It's not school. We can be late." Zoey replied, looking out of the car.

Once they finally reached the hotel, the receptionist guided them to the elevator. They reached the suite her mother had texted her and then knocked on the door.

Zoey angled her neck to stare at Travis who was shifting on his feet nervously. Smiling, she scooted closer to him and laced her fingers with his long ones. This caused his shoulder to relax and he released a sigh.

After few seconds, the door opened and her mother welcomed them with a wide smile. She was wearing a short blue spaghetti strap dress that was a little too scandalous for a woman of her age. Behind her was standing a tall guy with a lean, muscular body and black silky curls.

"And this must be the Murad you were talking about." Zoey plastered a fake smile on her face.

"The one and only." Layla lifted herself with her toes and kissed him on lips briefly.

Layla led both of them inside the suite. They entered the sophisticatedly decorated living area that was connected to a huge balcony through a glass door. The place looked luxurious and expensive. Her mother belonged to a rich family, Zoey's grandfather was loaded and Layla was their only child. Money was never an issue for her.

A table for four was set in the middle of the balcony. Zoey and Travis sat on one side of it and Murad and Layla on the other.

"You both look so good. Specially you Travis, you are a handsome young man." She said and Travis' cheeks grew hotter.

"Thanks." Travis said and then added. "You look absolutely radiating as well."

"Why, thank you." She replied and Zoey rolled her eyes.

Ignoring her mother, she turned her attention to Murad. "So Murad, how did you meet my mother?" She asked.

"We met in a club." He replied in his thick accent.

"Wow. That's the dream." Zoey commented sarcastically under her breath.

"We bonded instantly because we both love to travel." Layla grinned.

They were busy talking when the door knocked. Murad opened the door and let the waiters enter inside, holding different dishes in their hands. There was pasta, steak, rice and many other unnecessary things. It looked like her mother had ordered the whole menu just to impress them.

While the waiters served food, Zoey leaned towards Travis and whispered, "Don't worry. I'll try my best not to grow up into her."

Travis smiled at this. "She is not that bad."

"She is horrible." Zoey commented and Travis shrugged. "I hope now you understand why I am like this."

"I like you like this." Travis muttered back.

"Aww, look at both of you whispering. Ah, young love." Layla commented and started serving food in her plate.

"I think you managed quite well to find a young man for you as well." Zoey taunted. "How old are you, Murad?"

"I am 26 but ten years age difference is nothing for me." Murad leaned closer to kiss Layla's cheeks.

"Ten years?" Zoey smiled at how effortlessly her mother had lied. "Um... Yeah, you are right." She eyed her mother from the corner of her eyes.

Zoey hated that she had to act like she was okay with them. Her mother left Sam and her to suffer alone. Her leaving changed his Dad into a person who only cares about his business. She ruined her family for her own enjoyment and now she was sitting in front of her, bragging about her romantic endeavours.

"How is Richard?" She asked.

"Just how you left him." Zoey replied.

"Did he find someone?" Layla asked.

"No. You made sure he never trust a woman again." Zoey commented.

Travis was silently listening to Zoey's passive aggressive remarks. He knew she was hurt but she was trying to mask her feelings with taunts and sarcasm. So he extended his hand under the table and put in on her thigh. He rubbed it in comforting manner and Zoey visibly relaxed due to his action.

The rest of the dinner was just as awkward. Once the room service picked up all the leftovers and cleaned the table, Layla said, "Murad. Go show Travis around. Let me spend few minutes with my daughter."

Travis hesitantly agreed and left, leaving both of them behind. Both mother and daughter kept looking at each other, the latter with a subtle hint of guilt on her face and the former unapologetically.

"I know I hurt you." Layla started.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I have moved on." Zoey smiled dryly.

"You clearly haven't." Her mother said. "You hate me for leaving, don't you?"

"I'd rather not say anything." Zoey replied.

"You don't have to." Layla responded. "But you have to understand Zoey, I was in love. I couldn't see a future with your Dad and everyday became a torture for me. I couldn't live that life anymore."

"So you chose a life without us. I understand." Zoey said.

Layla exhaled loudly and then continued, "Travis is amazing. I am happy you have someone like him in your life."

"Thanks. He makes me happy." Zoey smiled and this time, the smile was genuine.

"I am sure he does." Layla said. "I didn't just invite you here for dinner. I have something important to say to you."

"What? Are you getting married?" Zoey asked.

"No." She said. "But I am moving to Milan with Murad. His parents live there in Italy."

"Good for you." Zoey said.

"I want to ask you something, Zoey, and I want you to give it some thought." Layla said in serious voice and Zoey felt uneasy all of sudden. "Would you like to spend a year with us there?"

"What?" Zoey choked on the air.

"I know you want to open up a boutique. Milan is the fashion capital of the world. You can find a mentor there. Murad has many connections in the fashion world." Layla said.

"How can you even ask that? I have a life here. A family, friends, Travis." Zoey glared at her.

"I know. And everything will be the same whenever you return. Besides, there is a thing called long distance relationship." Layla proposed.

"Not for someone like me who already has commitment issues." Zoey said. "Thanks to you guys."

"Think about it, Zoey. I fell in love with your father when I was your age. I left many opportunities for him and I started hating him for that. There was a time when I couldn't imagine a life without him and look at us now. We can't even exist in the same room." Layla said.

"No, Travis is nothing like Dad. And I am nothing like you. I won't regret it." Zoey fought back.

"Think about it. Talk to Travis. Don't make any rash decision. I'll wait for your answer." She said calmly.

"It's a no." Zoey snarled.

"I'll ask you again next week. Please, think about it." Layla repeated.

Zoey felt her anger peak. Her mother really had the courage to ask her to move when for once, Zoey was really happy. She stood up angrily and picked up her handbag. "There is nothing to think about." She growled.

Saying this, she stormed out of the balcony and sighed in relief when she found Travis entering the suite with Murad. "Let's go." She gripped his arm and tugged him along.

"But what happened?" Travis asked in confusion.

"Nothing. Just let's go." She said.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

ZOEY'S DRESS