Zenia's POV
I felt better. I confessed and I immediately felt better. The truth had been buried inside of me and had been eating at me like a cancer for far too long.
I got dressed. I went to the do the thing I loved doing the very most-- work at my boutique. I got started on my sister's wedding dress designs as I hummed along to Rihanna's "Russian Roulette".
Ashley came busting through the doors in tears and looking a wreck.
I leaped at the sight of her. I had never seen her in such a nasty condition before. I went over to my best friend immediately.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" I asked in deep concern, pulling her into my arms for a comforting hug.
"It's... It's... Alex!" she sobbed.
"What did Alex do?" I feared her response. If Alex had broken Ashley's heart so quickly, there would be a very serious problem.
"He....he..... he said he doesn't believe in long terms relationship. He... doesn't want to be
Zenia's POV"Zenia! Zenia, sweetie get in the car.""LEAVE ME ALONE, EJ!" I yelled as I walked along the sidewalk and he drove alongside me in the street in his stupid Audi, matching my pace.How many cars does he own?"Zenia, you're being stubborn. I want to talk to you.""Well I don't want to talk to you!""Damn it!" I heard him yell, and, the next thing I knew, I was upside down hanging from his shoulders."EJ, put me down!" I protested but it fell on deaf ears. I was placed in the car and he quickly fastened my seat belt."Is everything alright over here?" a voice asked as EJ got back in the driver's seat."Yes, officer.""Are you alright, ma'am?" he asked me with concern.He must be thinking EJ is kidnapping me."Yes officer, I'm fine.""Are you sure?""Yes, she's sure," EJ butted in.He eyed EJ and his face quickly became friendlier.&n
Ethan Junior's POV"Mr. Alexander, we'd be more than thrilled to have you as an investor at HT," I said as I shook hands firmly with Mr. Alexander, Vice President of Global and Base Technology."Thank you," he said back kindly.I wasn't afraid of showing my father and my big brother that I was very much capable of getting investors, sealing deals and handling proposals. As a Hollen, it's requirement to be brave, strong-headed and focused.As the party slowly whined down, I went to get myself a glass a water. I bumped into Madison."Hey EJ," she began.I glared at her, remembering that little stunt she pulled this morning with Zenia."Hey Mads," I answered dryly. I tried searching the crowd for Zenia."I have something I need to tell you. It's about Zenia."My blood instantly came to a boil. Madison was my childhood, and she had been my friend all my life, but I was not about to let her drive a
Zenia's POVI had not left the party. Instead, I was inside EJ's bedroom awaiting for him. I was not about to be crumbled and shattered when he hadn't heard my side of the story.I knew he was angry, his eyes said it all, but I needed to stand my ground, swallow up my fears, and be true to myself and him.I sat at the edge of his bed, looking around his bedroom in satisfaction. Everything was neatly arranged and in order-- not a T-shirt on the bed or a book laying on the floor.His bed felt so comfortable beneath me, I couldn't help it but lay myself back."What are you doing in here?"I flung myself up and saw his angry grey eyes staring at me. "I need to talk to you.""Well, I don't wanna talk to you so you can leave.""I'm not going anywhere until you hear me out.""Zenia, I'm really not in a mood for this. I don't want to hear you out.""You will listen to me! You will stand there and listen to everyth
Ethan Junior's POVI fucking hate Mondays.I cursed obscenities underneath my breath for the entire morning in my office.Miscarriage. Won't be able to have another baby.My cellphone rang for the umpteenth time and I saw it was her, I smashed it against the wall.I had spent the rest of the weekend in my bedroom, moping around like a little bitch while everyone else was happy and satisfied with their lives.I wouldn't be able to have another chance of fathering my children with the woman I was falling madly for.Angry tears slipped out of my eyes, and I threw myself on the three-seat leather couch in the office.A knock came on the door and someone walked in. I knew, just by the scent of the aroma, it was my brother. I pulled myself upwards and sat up."Didn't slept last night?" he asked, taking a seat across from me. "What's going on with you, EJ?"I heaved a long frustrated sigh
Zenia's POVHis words stung. They stung like a swarm of bees attacking with their stingers because you've destroyed their beehive.I silently cried as I got into a cab and took out my phone to message my sister through my pouring tears and tormenting chest pain.Me: Can you plz come over. I need u.Big Sister: Where r u now?Me: Cab. Omw home.Big Sister: OK. I'll see u soon.I placed my palm on the security scanner before walking in the door. I flopped down on the chair, wiping away the tears that kept on coming. My chest ached as if a ton of weight was pressing against it. My breath shortened, and I thought I was in a horror movie being suffocated by the killer with a pillow over my face.My lips quivered and I anxiously stared at the door, waiting for it to burst open and reveal my sister. She was the only person who actually knew how to comfort me.Jasmine arrived ten minutes later. She rus
Zenia's POV"It's EJ."My heart raced around my chest. I hadn't heard his voice in over a week. My head was telling me to hang up, but my heart was curious to hear what he had to say."What is it?" I asked in a tone that would definitely make him realize I wasn't so excited for his sudden phone call."Can we talk?""About?" I was keeping it as short as possible."Us."My heart spread wings and some butterflies danced around in my stomach."We're done, remember?" I recalled his words, ignoring my flying heart and the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.There was a long pause from his end, and I was certain he was thinking deeply about the next thing to say."Zeni...""Goodbye EJ." I hung up.I couldn't forget the hurtful words he said to me when I took the liberty of going to his office to have a face-to-face conversation like grown people. He was so disresp
Zenia's POVEJ made a slow approach towards Anton, and I knew what was coming. With the temper he possessed, and the tension coming from him, it was going to get ugly very quickly.I rushed between them before he got too close to a startled Anton."Why are you here?" I asked, trying to direct his attention to me instead."I asked you who's this guy?" His dark grey eyes locked onto Anton."This is my new friend," I answered."I'm Anton." Anton held out his hand to EJ, who only looked at him as if he had the Ebola virus. After a few seconds, Anton pulled his hand back without a returned handshake."Why's this dude here with you?" EJ's eyes shifted over to me."We got caught in the rain so--""And so what? His house doesn't have a roof? Why do you have him up here with you? Oh, so that's why you couldn't answer your phone, huh? You were busy with entertaining this guy, Zeni
Ethan Junior's POV"Don't do this. Just, please, sit back in your seat, and lets continue our dinner."My brother placed a firm grip on my shoulder, stopping me in my path and putting an end to the flaming temper. I had intended to release on that guy.I went back to my seat, scrapping the chair on the floor as I pulled myself up to the table. My temper slowly decreased as I stabbed my fork into the bed of vegetables in front of me."Are you okay EJ?" Mom asked."I'm good Mom."Mom had wanted us to have a family dinner ever since the beginning of summer. But everyone always seemed too busy.Dad was being Dad-- always had something to do. Evan was the same old Evan, CEO of Hollen Tower, and always used that as an excuse to get away from family bonding. Jasmine was busy planning her wedding and being a mom, but tonight my mom had managed to capture us all and drag us to this restaurant for a family dinner.
Four Years LaterZenia's POV"Zenobia, please slow down baby," I called after my daughter as she playfully raced through the open park with her cousins Jevan, Jase and Jada.Zenobia was an energetic little thing, a tomboy at best, and although she arrived three weeks earlier than expected, she was a healthy bouncing baby girl who was full of life. She brought delight everywhere she went and, everyday, she made it a new learning experience for me.She loved her three adorable cousins and, at times, I had to take her over to their house so she could have sleepovers and extra fun with them.Ashley, Alex and Madison were her godparents, and they loved her dearly.Believe it or not, Madison started dating Jack. They'd been going out for over two years and she was in love with him. Rumor had it that Jack was about to pop the question very soon.Ashley and Alex, well, they were Ashley and Alex but with a li
Ethan Junior's POVZenia and I got into the car and drove to my parents' house. Mom had requested us for dinner. It was always like Mom to request her family's presence and catch up on our lives since we were apart.Evan, Jasmine and Jevan had already arrived when we got there. I led Zenia to the dinning room area."EJ, Zenia. You made it," Mom greeted us and pulled us into her arms."Hi Mom.""Hello, Mrs. Hollen.""Call me Emma, sweetie," Mom gestured to Zenia.We gathered around the table and began dinner. Dad started talking about his 'school days' and what he did after graduating from high school. According to him, he got high for the first time.After laughing and airing out some secrets, one of my father's security guards kindly interrupted us."Sir, ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a gentleman at the gate to see Mrs. Hollen.""Who is he?" my mother asked. 
Zenia's POV"Does it look like I'm joking?" his voice asked before I heard the gun shot.I flew out of my sleep with traces of sweat forming on my forehead. Ever since I arrived back home, I had been having terrible nightmares every night about what I'd been put through when I was in England.I got out of bed, fearing that I'd have another nightmare if I tried to go back to sleep. I walked towards the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.I poured myself a glass and looked up at the wall clock. It was 3:30 a.m. Finishing my glass of water, I rinsed my cup out and went back to the bedroom, where I stayed awake for the remainder of the early hours of the morning.At daylight, I took a shower and got dressed in a comfortable dress. I brushed my hair back and applied my makeup. I stared at the rings on my fingers. The promise ring and the engagement ring."He's not always going to be there to save you, Zenia!" Anton's voice played
Ethan Junior's POVI waited in the waiting area as the doctors tended to Zenia. She had passed out from exhaustion the moment Evan got her inside the car.Dad hugged me around my shoulder while I looked at my hands. The hands I used to beat Anton's face in with his gun. He had crossed a line he shouldn't have ever dared to cross.And what a surprise it had been for Evan when he discovered Jessica, his ex-girlfriend from high school, had been in on this as well. She was cuffed and sent off to jail-- both her and Maria-- and their accomplice, a guy by the name of Larry.Anton was admitted to the hospital to nurse his facial wounds before going to jail.Anastasia, Dad's IT Hacker, met up with us at the hospital. It turned out that Mr. McCalister knew nothing about his son's kidnapping scheme and plots, so he was let off the hook. She promised to keep an eye on him though.Two hours later, a doctor met us in the hallway.&
Zenia's POVIt was dark out."Get up, Zenia!" Madison commanded."Why are you even helping me, Madison?" I didn't trust her. As far as I knew, Madison had been nothing but trouble since the day we first met."I'll explain everything to you later, but we need to move. Come on, get up." She circled her arm around my neck and held me up."How far again Madison? I think I'm going to pass out.""We just have to keep moving. The van is parked up ahead."We started on our feet again.Finally, we arrived in a clearing and we spotted where a black Range Rover was parked. Madison helped me get in the passenger's seat and she got behind the wheel."Don't even turn that key Madison!" Anton appeared in front of the van."Seat belt Zenia," Madison whispered. I fastened my seat belt very quickly."Madison! I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you don't do what I say!" Anton warned.
Zenia's POVMy body ached. My hands were bound. I was certain that the rope had caused bruises on the skin because it hurt there too. My eyes strained in the darkness, trying to look at the blood that was soaking through my pants from the bullet wound.Why me? Why would he do this to me?I looked around. Pitch black darkness surrounded me and I felt like I was slipping away into it. I needed to get out of here, but I had no idea where I was.I was in a room. Tied up to a chair. Beaten. And had a hole in my leg.The lights suddenly turned on, blinding me for a moment, and two figures made their way towards me."Aww, is the little ZenZen giving up on life already?" one asked with a disguised voice and a Vendetta mask concealing their face.But, by the body structures, butt and breasts, I knew they were women. A man wouldn't possess such a things unless he was fully batting for the other team."Who are
Ethan Junior's POVWith the time difference, we arrived at 9:00 p.m at night. I wanted to head directly to Anton's father's mansion since Dad had located their address, but Evan had told me to stay in my hotel room for the balance of the night and begin first thing the following day.I didn't want to wait.I wanted blood.Blood for hurting the woman I still carried feelings for and carrying a baby. My baby. I was certain."If you don't calm down your anger will get the best of you, and you will let everything blow up in our faces before we even get to Zenia. People cannot know we're here EJ!" Evan yelled when I punched a hole in the wall."What if that was Jasmine? What if she was exactly in Zenia's position while carrying the twins? Would you be sitting still Evan?"I was boiling over with rage, like a tsunami making its way to land. I didn't want to wait; I wanted to find Anton and beat him until h
Ethan Junior's POV"Evan! Something is wrong with Zenia!" Jasmine called out as she came into the living room where Evan and I were looking at another movie while eating hot Buffalo Wild Wings.By the mention of Zenia's name I froze and grew alarmed."What do you mean?" Evan asked."Well, she called me but when I answered, she wasn't speaking; instead, I heard scuffling noises in the background. I tried calling her back but it's going to voicemail." She sat down between us with creased eyebrows. She called Zenia again and, just as she said, it went straight to voicemail."Evan, something is wrong.""Baby, these things happen. Could be the call connection is dropping.""Evan, I have a terrible feeling that something is wrong with my sister. It's not like Zenia to call me then send the call to voicemail when I'm trying to call her back.""You said you heard scuffling noises?" I asked.
Zenia's POVI was searching for my cellphone but, everywhere I looked, it wasn't in sight.Where did I put it?While I searched my suitcases, a knock came on the bedroom door."Come in," I gestured."Hey, what are you looking for?""My cellphone. I left it somewhere in here before I fell asleep.""Are you sure?""Of course I'm sure Anton. And what was all that with your father? Why did you just blurt out my pregnancy like that and claim the baby as your own? We never spoke about that, so why would you do that?"I was somewhat angry that he did so without my knowing."I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step out of line." He apologized."Well, you did, and I know you usually don't see eye-to-eye with your father, but you can't use me as a pawn to get on his nerves. The baby is EJ's, and not yours, so you shouldn't have said that to your father. What will he think of me when he fi