Zenia's POV
Mommy and I were heading over to Jasmine and Evan's house. Jasmine was putting together a small engagement celebration, and, of course, mom and I were invited. I was excited, apart from the celebration, because I knew I would see him there as well.
I wore a fitted white dress that flowed down to my ankles like a waterfall with a respectable split that stopped just above my knees. I had flat ironed my hair and did loose wave curls to the sides. I completed the look with a simple gold necklace and bracelets. I looked beautiful, but I couldn't outshine my sister. This was her glowing moment, and she looked stunning.
She also wore a white dress, which hugged her in all the right places. The pregnancy had worked extra magic for her body. Her boobs were bigger and her hips were wider, which meant her ass popped out too. Evan must really be loving himself. Jasmine was everything. Her hair was styled in a high bun and her makeup was flawless.
"You made it." She embraced me with a hug. "And I have a bone to pick with you."
I broke the hug. "Did I do something wrong?"
"We'll speak later on. My guests are arriving. Come have a drink."
She pulled me towards the kitchen. A large table was covered with all different types and colors of wines, champagnes and other sparking beverages.
"Help yourself."
She filled a glass for herself and walked back out to the living room where everyone was beginning to mingle with each other.
I scanned the drinks-- so much to choose from. I decided to pour myself a glass of chilled rose wine. I only had it once at a club with some of my college friends, when we celebrated our completion of college, and I loved it.
"That's not a drink." A voice startled me and arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me backwards gently onto his chest. I knew it was him. His scent hit my nostrils immediately afterwards as I got comfortable against his hard impressive chest.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine." I turned around and looked into his beautiful pair of grey eyes.
He gave a cute smile and kissed my forehead. "You look stunning, like you're the one getting married."
I laughed heartily. Me and marriage?
"Shouldn't we be joining everyone else out there in the living room?" I pulled away from his hug and sipped on my glass of wine.
EJ and I were friends with each other ever since we'd met at a diner. I was walking by when Evan saw me and called me over to their table. I met EJ that day, but it was cut short when Evan's friend appeared to be rude. EJ then found me on Facebook, and we took off from there, but I wasn't rushing into a committed relationship with him. We were just friends. I hadn't even told my sister about us.
I took his hand and walked towards the living room. I released his hand once we spotted everyone. I sat down next to my mother, and EJ sat down with his on the opposite side of us.
Evan and Jasmine stood up in the middle of the room and announced their engagement. I already knew about it, but I got happy all over again. Jasmine deserved to be happy, and they deserved each other.
Everyone clapped and cheered for them and hugged them with congratulations once the announcement was over. Evan raised his son and handed him over to one of his maids for the rest of the night. Everyone filed outside onto the huge yard, where the real party was being held.
Music flowed through the surroundings and my body. I removed my heels and began dancing to the beats of the song "Wobble Wobble" by V.I.C.
I looked around as I danced. Jasmine was dancing with her husband-to-be. The first Mrs. Hollen was dancing with the first Mr. Hollen. Mom was talking to one of Evan's chef. And everyone else was paired off with someone.
EJ was texting on his phone; I approached him.
"Hey!"
The music was louder than my voice, but he heard me. He put his phone away and turned towards me.
"Where are your shoes?" He looked down at my feet, arching his eyebrows and throwing on a smile. "Are you stripping for me already?"
"Don't get cocky EJ. I was dancing, and I can't dance with my heels on."
"Okay. Lets dance then." He pulled me closer to the music system and pulled me against his chest again.
I tried stepping back a bit but that only made his hold on me tightened more.
After the song was finished, I pulled away from him and found my shoes.
"I'm taking this drink over to my sister." I excused myself, and cursed myself mentally, as I walked over to Jasmine and Evan.
Why was I suddenly jealous when EJ wasn't paying me any attention, but I pushed him away the moment I could? What is wrong with me?
"Hey." Jasmine noticed me first.
"Hey, Zen," said Evan.
"Hey guys. Congratulations, again, I can't wait for the wedding."
"And, guess what?"
"What? You know guessing things correctly isn't my strong suit."
We laughed.
"I'm making you my maid of honor," Jasmine said into my ear.
I threw on a smile and hugged her again and handed her a glass of wine. She drank it in one gulp and went back to dancing with Evan.
__________
I went indoors to use the bathroom and freshen up. I closed the door behind me, urinated, washed my hands and retouched my makeup.On my way out, I was pushed back inside.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you."
"I think I know when someone is trying to avoid me, Zenia."
"Well, EJ, it's a party. I was just enjoying myself."
"Why you can't enjoy yourself in my presence?"
"I'm not having this conversation in here."
"Good. Because I didn't come in here to talk."
He leaned in closer to me and pulled me into him. My heart raced rapidly as his lips got closer and closer to mine. I turned my head slightly to the left, so his lips connected to my cheek instead.
"You don't want to kiss me?"
We had never had sex or even kissed. We only hugged every time we linked up.
"We're in a bathroom." I made an excuse.
He looked around. "Evan's got lots of rooms in this house. Lets go to one."
"No, EJ, no."
I knew where that might lead, and I wasn't about to let myself go down that road. I saw what Jasmine went through with his brother, and I didn't want something like that happening to me as well. Although she and Evan were together, things might not work out like that for me.
"Zenia, I don't want to have sex with you. I just want us to talk and have some time together. I haven't seen you since three weeks ago."
We hadn't seen each other in a few weeks, but we video chatted almost everyday.
Doesn't that count?
A knock on the bathroom door startled us.
"Who's in there? I need to use the bathroom!"
It was EJ's mother, and she was about to see us in the washroom together if she came in here.
Zenia's POV"Shhh. She'll go away," he whispered in my ear and pulled me against his steel chest again."Stop it, EJ!" I said in a loud whisper, pulling away from him before rushing my palms up and down my dress, adjusting and smoothing it."Hello?" Mrs. Hollen said again, and another knock followed outside the door."I'M IN HERE!" I yelled."Zenia, is that you?""Yes, Mrs. Hollen, and I'll be in here for a while." My face flushed with embarrassment, but I would have literally said anything to prevent her from waiting outside that door."Okay, sweetie. I'll just use another one."I heard the sound of her heels clicking on the polished marble as she walked away. I heaved a long sigh and slide down against the bathroom door as EJ lightly chuckled, as if the situation had been an amusement show to him."It's not funny, EJ. What if you hadn't locked the door and she had walked in on us?" 
Zenia's POV"EJ was always so adorable," I caught Madison say as I got closer to them, "and he's so funny."The hell?!Jasmine's eyes landed on me as I stood next to her. She was standing opposite EJ and Madison with Evan on her right, so I stood on her left."Oh, Zenia, this is Madison. My most favorite person in the world."Most favorite person?"Madison, this is Zenia."Just Zenia?"Hi," Madison greeted, extending a hand to me while the other one was still placed on the arm of EJ."Hi," I answered back with a weak smile, shaking her hand while the dark voice was screaming "break her hand" at the back of my head."It's so nice to finally meet you, Zenia. I've heard so much about you, and I was so excited to finally meet you, and now I have. I'm thrilled." She sounded like she had been planning on saying that her whole life."Oh, I wish I could say the same,
Zenia's POVMonday came with an excruciating headache and a terrible hangover. I managed to pull myself up from the bed and crawl into the shower. I turned the water temperature all the way up, and I took a hot bath from my Brazilian waves to my toes.I blow-dried my hair -- I paid for it so that makes it mine -- then applied lotion to my chocolate skin. I slipped into a mini dress, which was tight at the top and showed a teasing bit of cleavage. I had no one to impress today, but I didn't want to look as terrible as the way I was feeling.Too much wine.After completing a light makeup application and placing my digital notepad into my backpack, I headed to the kitchen."Good morning, Ma." I greeted my mother when I saw her at the stove."Hey, sweetie. How are you?""I feel terrible.""That's because you had too much to drink. Here." She handed me a bottle of water and another drink in a tiny g
Ethan Junior's POV"You're really making me feel bad right now, Madison. I honestly forgot it's your birthday."I'm a terrible friend.Madison had come over to remind me it was her nineteenth birthday today. I had completely forgotten about it and I felt bad."That's okay. You can make up for it by buying me a dress and taking me out to dinner later on tonight."She had an amazing smile. I wasn't about to reject her and make her feel bad on her special day."That I can do." I went upstairs and got my car keys to my black Mercedes-Benz."MOM! DAD! I'm heading downtown with Mads." I called to my parents as we went out the door.I couldn't wait for my twenty first birthday, when I'd be given my own house, make my own rules, and come home at whatever time I liked."You know where you're taking me?" Madison asked as I drove downtown."Yes. I'm taking you to ZENIA'S.""ZENIA'S
Zenia's POVWe landed the two magazines Monday afternoon. Ashley and I were in the best of moods for the remainder of the day."I have an idea. We need to celebrate this! A guy I've been stalking is throwing a house party tonight for one of his friends. We can go if we want to.""No, Ashley. I'm not about to go to a party on a Monday night. We got work in the morning, girl.""Oh, please, Zen. It would be fun, and we need to celebrate this.""No! We can celebrate this weekend.""The excitement will be gone by then. We need to do this now, plus, I'm dying to see Alex. He's so damn fine!"She was holding onto me like a kid begging for a lollipop at the supermarket."Okay, fine! We'll go, but for three hours, tops!""Sure, sure, sure. Be ready by eight!"It was the end of the day. Ashley had already left. I locked up, armed the security system, turned off the lights and central ai
Zenia's POVThe following morning, as I was about to leave for the boutique, I spotted my mother in the doorway talking with a guy.Must be someone else in the building, I assumed.I walked up to them."Morning, Ma." She turned to me and gave me a sad look. "What's wrong?""Good morning, Zenia," her melancholy voice spoke."What's wrong?" I asked, studying the man's face."Zenia, this is your father."My brain did a 360-degree turn in my head and my blood came to a boil very quickly."My what?" I asked, still struck at what she just said to me.It can't be."Hello, Zenia," he finally spoke up."Dude, don't you dare open your mouth and mention my fucking name again! Why are you even here?" I was not about to control my anger."Zenia," my mom had a pleading voice and look on her face."Mom! Why is he here?""He came to
Zenia's POVI was steaming from my ears, and drinking three bottles of water wasn't enough to cool me down.The bloody nerve of my pathetic father! Showing up after all these years like he had done no wrong! Asking for forgiveness? Forgiveness my ass!My cellphone started going off with text messages from Jasmine and Ashley.Jasmine was checking in, and Ashely reported that she wasn't feeling well today so she wouldn't be in.I was looking forward to someone to vent my frustrations to, but, once again, I was all alone.I turned on the computer and began looking at funny YouTube videos-- something to brighten my mood.The bell above the door chimed indicating someone had walked in. My eyes shifted from the computer to the door way."Good morning, sweetie.""Sup EJ?""Well, is that anyway to greet your future husband?""EJ, I really don't have time for this. Why are you are?"&nb
Ethan Junior's POVAfter listening to all the teasing from Alex, we went back over to the girls. We drank, ate, talked and played cards. I wanted our moments to always be like this-- double dates: Alex and Ashley, Zenia and me.And maybe, one day, Jack and Madison?It wasn't a secret that I was falling for Zenia. My friends saw it, and everyone around could tell she had an impact on my soul. I couldn't keep my hands to myself whenever I was around her. My lips craved hers and I always longed to hiss her and hold her in my arms.But, for some reason, she just wouldn't take me out of the friend-zone and become official with me.I wasn't an insecure guy who'd go around banging a bunch of random chicks just to feel better about myself. I was a good guy. And I wanted to be that guy in Zenia's life.That late evening, I drove us back home from the park. When I pulled up to the penthouse's compound, I turned off the engine and looked over to
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