3.

Zed trailed kisses down her neck making her moan his name out loud. She run her fingers down his torso. With his abs on display, he looked like adonis.

"It's time for you to wake up, Freya ."His hot breath fanned her neck, making her hair stand.

"But I don't want to; I want to stay in bed with you." "Freya replied as the voice became louder and no longer sounded like Zed's.

" Wake up!" Her alarm went off, giving her a start.

She slammed her hand against the alarm clock, instantly muting it.

Why am I dreaming about Zed?

Do I have feelings for him? Freya thought to herself as she got out of bed.

No way, Zed likes Soraya, not me.

And for the record I'm not falling for Zed. She convinced herself as she stepped into the shower.

“Ma?" Zed called as he entered the hospital. He had to travel to see his mother, who had been admitted to the hospital. She had sprained her ankle and elbow two days before. She slipped on the stairs and fell, spraining her right hand in the process.

"You didn't need to come, baby." She stated seeing him.

"I did Ma, Jess called to tell me what had happened, and I had to take the train to Jamesburg borough to see you Ma." He explained.

"How about work?” The middle-aged woman inquired.

"I explained it to my boss, and she understood."" He explained.

"Excuse me, Ma, I have to pick this all."" He walked out, surprised that Soraya had called him.

“Soraya." He said as he answered the phone.

"How's your mother?" She inquired, rubbing her temples.

"She's fine." He responded anticipating a question from her.

So, um, I need you to return the next day; I can't keep driving myself to work; I'm the boss; I need to be driven; that's why you were hired. So you're returning on Sunday, no questions asked. See you later." She hung up the phone.

How could she be both heartless and seductive? His mind played tricks on him, causing him to shake off the thought.

"Does your boss want you in Jersey City?" His mother inquired.

"On Sunday, yes." He exhaled a sigh.

"It's fine, baby; I'm being released today."She stroked his shoulder.

His father died of lung cancer two years prior. He was a strong and happy man even in his illness. He never deprived them of anything. Zed has been caring for his mother as well as his twin sisters, Jessica and Jackie.

Jackie was in New York City studying music, while Jess was in Jamesburg borough with her mother, where she had opened a hairdressing salon and was doing well.

"OK, Mom,” Zed chimed in.

"Did Zed show up today?"Freya inquired of her secretary.

"Not at all, ma'am." She spoke up.

“Okay." She responded.

Was he still upset with me because I laughed at him?

It was merely a joke. She was thinking to herself.

"... Stop scrolling through your I*******m feed and start eating." Soraya's maid, Betty, told her daughter Nayla.

"Ma, I'm not hungry."" She shot back.

"I can hear your stomach churning. Watching all of those feeds will make you wish you were like them or in their class. Some are fake ass bitches, so study hard, finish your course, and hope you get a better job." Her mother advised her.

"What about Soraya's?" Nayla inquired unexpectedly.

"Do you think she'd hire her maid's daughter to work in her father's business?" Betty inquired, her brow furrowed.

"Fly higher, and stop believing everything you see on I*******m." Have faith in yourself." She told her to keep going with her work.

“Thanks, Ma, you're the best!" Nayla said after washing her bowl in the sink and then walking off to her room.

She really needed those words of encouragement from someone. She was having a hard time both at home and school and needed some motivation to be able to push harder, not realizing that her motivation was right under her nose!

Her mom had been the strongest person she knew, she was strong and had been able to endure some things that Nayla herself wouldn't be willing to endure for anything in the world.

~

~

“Hello? Is anybody home? Ma ? Sis? " Jackie called as she entered the house. She had heard of her mother's injury and had returned home to see her. She had missed her family and hadn't seen them in a very long time.

“Jackie?" Zed remarked as soon as he saw her from the kitchen.

“Zed?" Running to give him a hug, she called in the same voice.

"How's school? I miss you." He enquired as their mother ascended the stairs carrying a cane.

“It's fine and entertaining." She responded by walking towards her mother and hugging her.

"Did you dye your hair gold?" Her mother enquired.

"Yeah, mom, I liked the color and decided to dye; I even need to revamp my locks before going back."" Looking around, she asked her mother if she could see her twin.

"Jess is at the saloon,” Zed told her as she rushed out the door to see her. She had missed her twin, and she desperately needed her locks washed and restyled.

She decided to walk there because it was only a short distance from their house.

“ Oh my gosh! Look who we have here?!” Jess screamed hugging her twin. She’d missed her best friend so bad. She was glad she got to pursue her dreams but she missed her.

“ I can see you changed the color of your locks aye?” she teased nudging her playfully.

“ Yeah, anyway I want to restyle my locks,” she announced sitting in the seat in front of her sister. Her locks needed some retwisting since they had overgrown.

“ I’ll do that, just cause you are my last customer for the day,” she responded laughing as she got her tools ready to work on her sister's hair.

At least I would have some company until she leaves for school. Jess thought to herself.