Zac's POV I wasn't really dipping the whole situation until my call with Emily. Shockingly, I realised how interwoven everyone was. I walked into the middle of it all, feeling like an analyst who'd done a very good job of studying how to wreck everything from the inside, but somehow, I've been caught up between it all. As much as I wanted to pay no mind to Emily's questions, I wasn't sure there were things I could put past Zyna. “Got home safely?” I asked Zyna immediately she picked my call. “I'm a big girl, I can handle myself. You know it's too dangerous for you to be calling me at this time.” Her voice was as low as it could be. “Yeah, I know, I'm sorry about that. Uhm, I need to see you soon.” I said. “Oh, my gosh.” She sounded animated, “did I lay it on you that good?” She asked me. “No, no.” It broke a piece of my heart to disappoint her, but that's how life goes. “There's just something I'd love us to discuss.” I tried not to make myself sound as serious as pos
Zac’s POV “I'm honoured you agreed to do this with me.” I said as soon as she picked the video call. We'd decided to make it a video call, because those were harder to tap in to, seeing as we were still really involved with the police. “Yeah, yeah. You're just gonna have to overlook my untidy space and my swollen eyes.” She sighed. “You're still as pretty as ever, Emily.” I said to her, She turned her face away, though she didn't look it, I knew it meant a lot to her. “And your hair too.” I chuckled. I only just realised that she'd worn a wig the last time we saw. Her hair was cut low. “It was annoying me.” She explained, in an undertone. “I respect that. ” I said, clearing my throat. Small talk was over. We needed to start talking about why we were there. “Emily, believe me or not, it only just occurred to me yesterday, that Damon's wife was Zyna, FROM groomers, YOUR own Zyna!” With the same enthusiasm I still felt. “That's slow. You've been working for her hu
Damon's POV Life lately has been a little more like a soap opera. The soap opera where a guy slowly loses his family, his friends and the respect of his workers. I saw it in all their eyes. As a matter of fact, strangle, the only person that tried hard not to rub it in was Zac, strangely. Since Adrian had gone cold turkey on me, he's the closest thing I’ve had to a friend. “Wake up!” I tapped Zyna. She'd just come back from her lover, a few hours ago. I felt so irritated touching her skin. Everyone in the palace knew what was going on, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they start to spread the gossip. For that reason, my team and I had to enforce permanent employment for all the house staff. “What is going on?” She asked as she turned on her side. “We need to talk!” I said, trying to make my voice as low as possible. Low, but audible. “About?” She asked, stirring. “Whatever the hell you have going on.” I said. “Damon, it's 5am in the morning. I n
Emily's POV “Why would you do that?!” I challenged Adrian. “Do what?” He asked, throwing the last piece of whatever he was chewing into his mouth. “Don't you think we need to talk?” “I do, but this is obviously not the time to remind me.” I said. “Are you mad at me?” He asked me. “Yes. I am, very.” I answered. And he didn't look apologetic. Not for anything, ending my call, or scaring me so bad. “You know?” He started, “that's funny, cause I'm mad at you too.” “That's a you issue.” I said. I was beyond pissed. I picked my laptop up and headed for the living room. “Oh wow!” He exclaimed. “Emily?” He called out, following me. “Do you think you'd ever grow out of this, and maybe we'll get to that phase where we can confront our situations like adults?” He asked me. “Oh, great question. If you are at ‘that phase’, and you had to stay away from me for two full days, before confronting ‘our’ situation, my answer is no.” I stated clearly. “One more thing. Feel
Zyna’s POVNo matter how hard I tried to force myself, I could sleep anymore. If I thought I couldn't hate Damon anymore than I already did, I was sorely mistaken.He sank into a deeper place than hell, on my charts. I stood in front of my dressing mirror, admiring how much my stomach had begun to pop. I smiled as I rubbed the gentle bump, knowing that I'd never be able to work that one out. Not in seven months at least. “Can I talk to you about earlier?” I asked, entering his room without knocking. “What do you think?” He asked, looking up from some paperwork sprawled all over the table. “I think yes.” I replied, sitting at the foot of his bed. “Go ahead then I doubt I have any more options.” He said. “It's your world, Damon. You always have options. In fact, you create options.” I scoffed. “One thing you're right about, finally.” He smiled. “I'm not gonna be able to remain in this prison for the whole of my pregnancy. My doctor says I need to be active if I'm
Adrian's POV I knew she was keeping something away from me, and my guts rarely ever lie. Coupled with the fact that I heard bits and pieces of the last part of their conversation. I only backed out cause I didn't know who she was talking to, and I didn't want them to know me either. “Emily, we have to be honest with each other.” I looked her in the eye. “How would you feel if roles were reversed and I gave you info in bits and pieces, and half truths?” I asked her. “Adrian, the same breath in which you make me feel like the most precious thing in the world, is the same with which you make me look like a scum.” Her hands fell to her sides, and she looked away. “No man could ever make you feel that way, Emily. And you know I'd never do that, not intentionally at least.” I argued. “Well, that's the thing, Adrian. You never want to do things, you just do them.” She sighed and got up. “Emily, can we please have a conversation that you're not trying to run from?” I asked her
Zac’s POV The new week came round fast. It felt like all I did was just blink. Zyna was unreachable and never came to see me, which was quite unusual. But I took solace in the fact that she had a crazy husband who could demand for her to do anything at any time. It was not the same for Emily though. Our call was cut abruptly, and she lived too freaking far away for me to rush down. I tried not to be weird with Damon at the office. “Have you heard from Emily? Or from anyone there really?”Damon asked as I entered, before even I greeted him, “No, I haven't, sir.” I answered him, I feared that something had gone wrong. “That's funny to me,” Damon started, he got up from his chair, came around and pulled the chair opposite, I was a bit scared, anxious, ‘has he been looking through Zyna’s other phone?’, I asked myself. “How is it funny sir?” I asked, a bit nervous, but I tried to hide it from him. “I take it that you haven't read your news feed this morning?” He smirked
Emily's POV “What the fuck?!” I yelled at Adrian. “Watch your tone, Emily!” He raised his voice at me. Adrian had never spoken to me that way. The last three week In Malta had been nothing but pure bliss even though I was dragged like a criminal from sleep. We'd gone to bed that night pissed at each other, I didn't even know that Adrian slept at mines. I woke up the next morning, rather, I was woken up the next morning to get a few essentials because ‘the plane was leaving soon’. I thought it was crazy, and I hate for him to control me, but I could not overlook the effort he put into it. I also crossed my heart, hoping that something would happen. Something of any kind that would make life better for me. Fast forward to three weeks after… My email was full, my mailbox was full, and this was all because Adrian suggested we get a different phone so we don't get caught up in the life we left behind. “How is it my fault for wanting to give you a good time?” He asked, with
Emily's POV “What are you doing here?” I asked him, stunned. “I'll shout, call for security. Why are you here! But it was locked from outside! Get out!” I searched frantically for my purse with pepper spray, but I remembered that I left it in Damon's office. “You heard I was out of the hospital huh?!” “Emily, please calm down.” Zac begged. Around his eyes were circles far darker than Adrian's. “What the hell are you doing in here?!” I asked him again. “Have you forgotten that I work here, Emily?” He replied, trying to calm me down. “No, I haven't. But you have a lot to explain to the authorities, not me, and I'll make that more if you do not get out of here right now!” I screamed. “Please lower your voice.” He begged. Then I remembered that Damon was waiting outside for me. He could probably make out a few noises, but nothing enough to barge in. “Damon is outside, if you do not get out right now, I'll scream his name.” I threatened. “How would I Emily? you kn
Damon's POV “That was rough.” I said as Adrian left us both. But she didn't look like she wanted to talk about it. “Shall we go out, somewhere different?” I offered. “Where do you have in mind?” Emily asked. “I was going to let you pick that.” I said. “Haven't been in one since Freda died, well, except for those meetings you organised to scream at my lawyers and I.” She said. “Emily, everyone was acting out, I admit, but things were, and still are, rough.” I tried reasoning with her, “I wish all those didn't happen, but I've been through more than you can imagine.” “Damon, that's no excuse.” She said, “Nothing is ever an excuse enough for you to treat me the way you did. You were nasty, very nasty. And you knew I was mourning.” “I agree, Emily. I'm dropping the charges, I said that already. And I'll do whatever you want.” I begged. She looked at me skeptically, and looked out. I heard her give a deep sigh, and I knew that it couldn't mean something good.
Adrian's POV “Come on guys, don't stop your little love play on my account.” I said to Damon and Emily. I can't believe that was the girl that just left me a few minutes ago at the hospital. “Why are you here?” Damon, who's supposed to be my friend, asked. “Am I trespassing?” I chuckled. “No, no. Come on, come on.” He said, standing up and giving me his seat. I took it. Not only because I wanted to prove that he was younger, stronger, and less smarter than me, but because I was also beginning to feel slightly light headed. “Thank you.” I smiled at him, “and hello!” I acknowledged Emily. “What are you doing?” Emily asked. “Don't you think I should be asking you that? I mean, I just met your hands on another man's chest, in his office. It didn't look like it's business yall were transacting.” I replied to her. “Well, you have no right to. Seeing as we are over.” She said, crossing her arms over her chest. I thought I heard a chuckle escape Damon's lips. “Ca
Damon's POV “I'm surprised that you came here first.” I said as Emily took her seat. The way my heart leapt when I saw her made me feel a little ashamed. “Don't be. You're the reason I am in town anyway.” She replied. She didn't look too strong, but she definitely had more colour than I saw on her when I visited her at the hospital. “Do you miss being here?” I asked, looking to kick off on small talk. “It's all bad memories. How could I?” She replied quickly, “besides, that's not why I'm here.” Emily cleared her throat and crossed her legs. “Pray tell, then, sweetie.” I gave up on the small talk. “Are you still suing me?” She asked, after staring in my eyes for over a minute, unblinking. “I should be.” I replied. “That's not an answer though. You have every right to, but are you still doing it?” She asked again. “My team would want me to.” I replied. “Stop evading the question.” Emily looked at me. “Then, really, what do you want me to say? You come i
Adrian's POV “What happened?” I asked, looking around. It was all white walls and smelled like antiseptic. “Welcome back.” Emily said, smiling at me. I thought I was in heaven, but she wouldn't be in a hospital gown if I was. “Hey you.” I smiled back. My memory was vague and pieced, but I knew I didn't fall asleep on good terms with her. “Dr Marcus says you worked up a storm when you arrived.” She said, “I'm sorry. I just needed to see you.” I explained. “I'm surprised.” She said, looking away from me. “Don't be, Emily. I promise you, I'd never be that stupid again.” I said weakly. “Careful.” She remarked while I tried to get up. Only then did I see the drip that'd been connected to my body. “What happened?” I asked her. “Short or long version of it?” She replied, smiling. “Uhm, the latter. I'd love to hear your voice for much longer.” I answered. “I guess I'll be speaking till I run out of batteries then, and I know that it won't be long.” She
Adrian's POV “I think your woman just got wheeled into our hospital.” Marcus, a mutual friend between Damon and I texted. I heard the phone chime over an hour ago, but I was too mad, seething at her doorstep to check it. It seemed she'd grown a lot of wings. I know what I did was off putting, but I didn't expect her to leave town and get hosted by Damon, or that Zac guy. The thought of anyone's body on hers made me see red. “What?!” I texted immediately. I couldn't believe it. That can't be possible. She was fine when I left her earlier in the morning. I checked the time, and it was about sixteen minutes past 2AM.The roads were dark and quiet, it was just me, on her front porch. I raced back into the car, did a careless reverse that could have cost me the very expensive aesthetic of my cars’ behind, and even Emily's flowers. “She's in the ER. Gotta go.” He replied, I read the text on my dashboard since I was screen sharing . “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I yelled at myself.
Zac's POV “Do you want to talk about that?” I asked Emily. Since Damon walked out my door, she'd been painfully quiet. The air was still stiff and even a pin drop would count as noise. “Does it sound like something I want to talk about, Zac?” She sniffed, wiping her eyes. “No, it doesn't.” I said, “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to poke around.” “It's not your fault.” She replied softly, “My whole life is a sore spot of late. It seems like it's too much drama to be just me, you know? Do you ever feel that way? That you have an alter ego that somehow contributes to the mess you've made of yourself?” “Emily, I do not mean to spite you with this, but my life is not anywhere near the chaos you're in. I have my own drama, trust me, but all the damage done are things I can account for.” I said. “Hmm.” She nodded, nervously toying with her hair. “Emily, talk to me.” I prodded. “I'm not gonna sit here and act like I'm not afraid of what is going on in your mind. Shit happened,
Damon's POV “I'm listening.” I said, gently egging Emily to continue with her story. I stared at Zac because there was no other person to look at. I couldn't tell how I felt about Emily, and even Zac for that matter, but with Zac, it was more defined. We still had to work together, so regardless, until I decide to do away with him, corporately or literally, we're stuck. “Can I get that drink?” She ignored me and looked at Zac. “Are you sure?” He asked, coming closer to her. “Zac, my heart is beating too fast,” She said. As I watched their little play, my patience wore thin. But it was a price to pay for knowing the truth about something. I sat there as Zac fetched a drink from who knows where. He poured her a glass and returned to where he'd been standing. “This is a part of my past I'd never spoken to anyone about.” Emily said, burying her head in her hands. “I'm not just anyone, Emily.” I said, checking her. “You can't just be anyone.” She said sarcastica
Emily's POV Like I said, every single time I thought I was low and had hit rock bottom, life discovered a newer ‘low’ for me. “Do you really have to be here, Damon?” I asked Damon. Just when I started nurturing the thought of being cozy and tucked in for the night, on Zac's couch of course, Damon decided to rear his ugly head. “Why don't you keep that question for your backstabbing boyfriend and let me talk to my employee?” Damon's tone carried every bit of intended sarcasm. “Don't speak to me like that.” I shut him up. I'd had enough of men telling me what to do for a lifetime. “That's true. I should not be speaking to you at all, without my lawyers present.” Damon smirked, knowing he'd hit the right spot. I bit my inner cheeks to keep my tears at bay. Just like when I'd been married to the monster, I had to hide my tears, cause I'm pretty sure he gets off on seeing me sad. “Good evening, Damon.” Zac greeted, emerging from the room. He had a duvet and two pillows