Zenia's POV
We 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
Zenia's POVI remember it clearly.It was November of last year.Haria, Janice and Sacorra wanted me to tag along with them to a Halloween party at a guy's house. Those three girls were wild and ratchet, guys were always in-and-out of them.My best friend, Ashley, hated them, but I never passed any judgement. Everyone is different and makes different choices in life. Everyone wouldn't be a saint, and Ashley wasn't. After listening to her going on and on about those girls, I turned a deaf ear.I got dressed-up in a little Red Riding Hood costume before meeting Janice, Haria and Sacorra outside. I wanted to do something wild and crazy.My sister had left me, and she said she wouldn't be coming back. I missed her badly, and I took it pretty hard when she just turned her back on the rest of us, but I understood why she did it. I hated it though.When I got to the party with the girls, it was already in full swing. Alcohol
Zenia's POVI 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
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