Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 24

~ philip ~

"Looks like you're the one needing another session."

I was at the bar with Damon after coming from the boutique. I still can't wrap around my head the fact that I just met Grazie's doppelganger and asked her on a date to top that.

"I just saw Grazhiella."

Halos mabuga ni Damon ang iniinom nito. "Are you high buddy?"

"You have seen Marceline right?" Tanong ko rito.

He nodded. "Pretty woman. Why?"

"She looks like Grazhiella, Damon. I thought she was alive there for one second."

Damon's features softened. He knew this topic was sensitive to me. "Philip, many people can look so much alike these days."

I opened up one of the pictures I have of Grazie. I showed it to Damon.

"Tell me they don't look alike."

Damon looked closely. He even squinted his eyes even if he didn't have any eye problems.

"I would say yes if that won't make you think you'll pursue her just because she looks like Grazhiella. They look similar, bud. That doesn't mean Grazhiella's alive."

"I just asked her to be my Valentine's Ball date."

"You fucker."

I drank all of my liquor before asking for another. "I need to sort this out."

"Philip, look. I think Marceline is a great woman. Please don't settle with her just because she looks like Grazhiella. No one wants to live under the guise of somebody."

"Who can help me with this?"

Damon exhaled as if he was finding me hopeless already. "Winter might. But don't tell me I told you so."

"She hasn't even agreed to the date, Damon."

"I know her, kinda. She looks like a woman who doesn't date for fun. Her friends are Luna, Tabi, and Amara who are all married and are working here. I assume she's planning to settle down too. So if you pull her in this..." he waved his hands in the air "whatever this is, don't make her live like Grazhiella. Or don't treat her like how you would treat Grazhiella."

I nodded. "I know...I know. Fuck. How is this happening? Am I crazy?"

"You are starting to sound like one. Maybe talking to Winter will help."

After our drinking session ended abruptly thanks to me, I shoot up a message to Winter and a few minutes later I am at the security office.

"What can I do for you, Philip?"

I paced in front of his table. "Have you had any experience with a doppelganger?"

His eyes looked dead straight at me. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?"

"I wish, Winter." Lumapit ako rito at pinakita ang litrato ni Grazhiella rito.

"What's Marceline doing on your phone?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "That's not Marceline. It's Grazhiella, my girlfriend. She died ten years ago."

He grabbed my phone and checked the timestamp. "No shit." He looked at me. "And this is what you came here for?"

I nodded. "I initially thought it was Grazhiella when I saw her today at the boutique. I know people may look similar nowadays but their resemblance is very uncanny. I think I'm going crazy."