"I've told you countless times that you're wasting your time. I'm not interested in any of this...""Fuck it! I said, "Fuck!" He yelled, cutting me off and springing up from the floor.""I've said it before: you never change. You're still the Zayn I know."At this point, we were already yelling at each other as I was unable to hold back any longer.He paused, gritting his teeth as he thought for a moment. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to deny my proposal?" He asked, a bit scared."Of course. Have I been blabbing all this time? I'm not one of those who go back to their vomit," I said firmly, a smug grin tugging at my lips as I walked out of the office, heading to mine.To my surprise, as I walked out of Zayn's office, I met the management staff in the corridor next to his office, waiting for me to provide them with feedback."It didn't work," I said to them, sighing weakly.Their expressions darkened. "So what do we do now?" A lady among them asked, her tone laced with tir
The entire weekend seems to be the worst phase of my work. I never expected it to be this hectic.I would go to bed late, around 2 a.m., and wake up at 5 a.m. I barely eat because of this project, even though I had said that no work could make me do that.I was trying to deliver it by Monday morning so I could free myself from the Zech Holdings project. However, I had already lost interest in what I was doing as the work had lost its main value. While trying to implement those unnecessary policies Zayn requested, it lost its original look and value.I paused what I was doing and started to rethink my decision. The stress was much more than I expected.I sighed in frustration and gazed at the ceiling of the apartment, which is where I was staying. I had been so devoted to this project that I couldn't even spend some time with my daughter through video calls or normal calls.I couldn't even call her the day I intended, and when I finally did, the call didn't last—we had a brief conversa
The drive from where I was staying to Zayn's residence was about seventy kilometers.I took a deep sigh as the driver halted in front of the compound, knowing that I was about to go and meet Zayn, whom I had sworn a few years ago not to have anything to do with for divorcing me for his fling.I alighted from the cab and paid the driver, then turned, facing the building."Been a while," I muttered, referring to the house. Immediately, all the memories I had about that house hit me like a hurricane, and I tried to hold back my emotions.Without much delay, I walked up to the entry gate and knocked. About two minutes later, the security man walked out and opened the gate."Good evening, Ma'am. Please, are you Zora?" He questioned, and I nodded in affirmation.He was a new person, not the former security man we had then.Perhaps Zayn had already told him about me, as if he already knew that I'd one day find him."Please come in." The security man remarked, extending a warm smile."Thank y
Zayn let out a smile. "Well, I'm glad you could see that everything is still the way it was when you left. I made sure I did not change anything."I chuckled lightly. "I bet you know it's sickening hanging a picture of someone you've parted ways with everywhere in your sitting room. I think you need to see a doctor," I said, thinking it would provoke him, but he made fun of it."No worries, doctors won't even be able to cure the syndrome I'm suffering from. You're the only one capable of doing that, and that is when you...""Enough. I don't know when I suddenly became a doctor," I said with a sigh, passing my hand across my face, as I felt intimidated by his dominating aura. Pretending I was removing something from my face."Are we going to stand up discussing? Why not take a seat, dear?" He said, gesturing towards a chair in the sitting room. I went and got seated."How about I get you something to drink? At least to calm the stress you experienced, driving all the way from your apar
"But why the sudden imposition of conditions? I'm the one who is supposed to be doing that because you want a favor from me. You want to make your company proud and bring in bigger contracts for them.""You want to get the money involved in this project so you could provide what your daughter deserves, as you had earlier said. You want to...""Enough, Zayn. You're the one I'm doing a favor for because you have been clinging and disturbing me even when this project hasn't started. You want me so bad, don't you?" I asked him, giving him a seductive look, capable of making him lose his senses and do everything I demanded."Are you going to have me walk away without fulfilling your all-day wish, which is to have a taste of my lips once more?" I added, waiting for his reaction.I could see from his face that he's already drowned in my words. His eyes went from my eyes down to my mouth, and it stopped. I could tell he is lost in imagination. Perhaps, imagining his lips locked with mine and
ZAYN—I stood there watching Zora as she left the compound with my mouth open. I felt really bad. It was as if I was watching a precious treasure vanishing in front of me.My eyes didn't depart from her until she was out of sight, and I felt empty. I staggered and slumped on the couch, exhaling a deep sigh. Mad frenzy engulfing my mind."Fuck. I can't believe this was reality," I said inwardly, licking my lips so I could feel her taste once more on my lips.I hadn't imagined the kiss would go that way because of Zora's body reaction at first and the imposition she brought up. Never did I think she could respond to the kiss, talk more, or caress my body.I chuckled with satisfaction. "She still loves me. I can say that boldly that she loves me from the way she kissed me back and even allowed me to fumble her breast. She's just playing hard to get." I said in my thoughts, confident about it."Shit!" I exclaimed, feeling like cursing the person who was calling her during the beautiful mo
"Of course, it did. Trust me," I remarked, my head swelling up with pride."Bad guy. You really enjoyed yourself because she is now the epitome of beauty, and her body has set perfectly the type you want it. Figure eight."I was smiling as he was blabbing all that. Blake's wife always sees him as an innocent, God-fearing guy. Only if she knew how corrupt his mind is. Mind you, I'm not insinuating that he cheats on her."So after all that, she fell for you. Letting you hit. Ladies indeed do follow their emotions and don't have a mind of their own," he remarked, sounding a bit disappointed in Zora."Well, we never did that. Although we could have, it's just that something erupted.""So what's all the excitement for then? Why did she visit? What did you end up benefiting from her visit?" Blake was laughing."We just had a kiss. But trust me, it's worth it.""Really? What then stopped you from having your way since it's worth it?" He asked, his tone a mix of surprise and curiosity.I sigh
PAIGE— "I don't want this particular designer outfit. It's outdated. Let me see the other one over there," I said to the sales personnel in the clothing store. I had come here with my new catch—my influential boyfriend, Stormzy, to purchase some outfits for the grand tour date I'll be going on with him in Paris. Stormzy is one of the city's hot boys. He's loved by many ladies, and they're willing to do anything to have him. However, I was shocked the day he approached me and told me he had interest in me. I felt I was daydreaming until he took the game to the next level. Stormzy told me he's a hundred percent single and that he's ready to live the rest of his life with me because I'm the woman meant for him. I never told him I'm married because I thought he might lose interest in me if that happens. However, when the rumors reached the people of Southampton City, a man approached Stormzy without Zayn's notice, and he told Stormzy that I'm a married lady. He even showed him my dat
ZORA —"Are you saying that Daisy isn't my baby?""Ah. No, I didn't mean to say that," I said, realizing my mistake—I had insinuated that Jason is just being foolish by taking care of a child that doesn't belong to him unknowingly."You are the only father Daisy has. I'm sorry for being mouthy. Trust me, I didn't mean that," I went on apologizing."It's fine. So let's go together since you insisted on picking her up. Maybe you're scared of Daisy transferring all the parental love to me."A smug grin tugged on my lips as I found that statement amusing."Let's go then," I said. I picked the car key from the table and led the way while he followed.We sauntered to the parking lot. I was heading to my car when Jason objected. "Are you planning on driving me?""Of course. Anything wrong with that?" I asked him, looking worried."Not at all. But I want us to go with my car. I should drive you with my car," he stated, heading to his car.I had no option but to follow him. Jason always likes
ZORA —I was in my office sorting out works that I intended to embark on once I'm back from break. Suddenly, the door was opened, and I turned with tension.No one opens the door of my office and walks in without my messenger informing me beforehand, seeking permission first from me, so I was scared of being in danger.However, the moment I saw Jason entering, I exhaled a deep sigh of relief. "You literally freaked me out," I commented, pouting my lips as I faked a cry, doing that baby girl look, and as expected, he walked closer to me and began petting me."I'm sorry, baby. Pardon my misconduct," he said, hugging me and using his cheeks to brush mine.Nonetheless, I noticed one of his hands was hidden behind his back. "What's in your right hand?" I asked him."Do you want to know?" He responded with a question, leaving me curious while adjourning the hand down to his butt area as I tried to find out."Calm down. It was even meant for you. But you have to close your eyes first so I ca
ZAYN—I swallowed hard, my eyes rolling as I tried to quench the urge to sound harsh to him and tell him openly how he offended me."Nothing, Blake. I don't feel like going," I said, my gaze still on the kids.Blake sighed with frustration. "I think you're confused, Zayn. You don't know exactly what you want, and anyone helping you is just wasting their time on you. Do you know what it takes to organize a party? Making everyone leave their daily activities to join this party, which was organized solely because of you.""I'm not interested in any damn party, man! Call it off. What's the big deal there?" I barked at him, my tone venomous.He then let out a bitter chuckle. "I've helped you succeed with your mission, and now you're trying to kick me out of your life, thinking I'm of no use to you anymore?""You didn't help me with anything, Blake," I cut him short before he could finish his speech."How could you help me and be useful to me but only be backstabbing me? Hiding sensitive in
ZAYN —"No!" I roared, standing up from the couch and beginning to pace around the room.No way I'm going to let another man take away my child from me.Impossible!I reached for my phone and scrolled through the contact list; I wanted to call my pilot because I wanted to embark on a mission.I stared at my wrist, checking if I could make it on this mission that I'm about to embark on.As soon as the call was answered, I proceeded to deliver my message. "Hello, get the plane ready. I will be heading to Northville City. Expect me in the field in a short time," I remarked and quickly hung up the call without letting him say anything."Impossible!" I screamed again, dropping the glass cup of wine nonchalantly on the table and standing up, not minding the content pouring away."Another man can't claim my child on a platter of gold while I'm still alive," I grumbled, hurriedly dashing into my restroom to take a shower.About five minutes later, I was done with bathing, and I left for my ro
ZAYN—"Hello, Mr. Zayn. Always at your service. What's the deal this time?" He asked as soon as he answered the call.I took a deep breath before making my request. "I want you to investigate Zora for me. Heard she has a child, so I need you to confirm the maternity of the girl and the hospital she was birthed in in Northville City," I requested."Alright, but could you tell me the year of birth?" he requested, his fingers already typing on his keyboard as he began working on the request."Ummm..." I checked the girl's image on my computer to estimate her age and birth year."From her height, I would say she was born in 2019. But you should verify that as well. I will send you the girl's image so you can continue your investigation," I stated, forwarding the picture to Michael's email address."Got it, sir. I will give you feedback shortly," he said, and the call ended."Great," I muttered, clasping my fingers as I awaited Michael's response.Michael is a renowned detective who works
ZAYN—"You didn't tell me all this year that you have a secret baby with someone?" She commented, looking excited."I don't have a child anywhere, Grandma. I'm yet to figure out how I'm connected to this child," I responded, my last statement solely to draw her mind off the notion that the girl looks like me, although I know it's a clear fact."I'm doomed. God, what's my offense to give me this type of a grandchild?" She wailed, raising both hands up as she questioned her creator."Why are you determined to let your father's legacy be forgotten? You've refused to spend time with me and also don't want to give me a great-grandchild. At least if I have a great-grandchild, I would be a happy lady, but you said no. You abandoned me to die of loneliness.""Your father died out of his foolishness, and your mother couldn't bear his loss, and it resulted in her high blood pressure, which later took away her life years later after his demise, leaving you behind." She paused, dampening the tear
ZAYN—I was sweating, going through my contact list searching for who to call.It has been over five hours since Grandma was admitted to this hospital, and I haven't heard any positive, consoling news about her.Whenever I bumped into the doctor and asked him about my grandma's development, he would only reply with, "We're doing our best.""How am I going to forgive myself that my decision was what led to the sudden demise of my grandma?" I questioned myself, realizing that if I hadn't divorced Zora, all these catastrophic situations wouldn't have befallen me.I was about to dial Zora's contact when the doctor walked out of the ward Grandma was admitted to."Has she finally died?" I asked him, my mouth dried with drool."Calm down, Mr. Zayn. Your grandmother is okay, and you can go and see her.""Yes!" I screamed and hurried inside the ward. "Mama, you're awake," I said, touching her cheeks, making sure she's fully okay."Yeah. I'm okay. I forgot to take my medication before leaving t
ZAYN —As the elevator halted, I walked out before Zora and headed to my destination.Damn, I must admit that this was the greatest taste of self-control I have ever had in my life. I didn't even know I could make it, staying in that elevator with Zora without stirring up romantic discussion.Seeing Zora again after so many weeks didn't ease the crazy desire I have for her. I never thought I could see her again after hearing from my manager at Zech Holdings that she had left Southampton after completing her project.She was still perfect, glowing as always.Only God knows how I felt being with Zora inside the elevator. Honestly, I never thought I could do it because every part of my body yearns for her kiss.I wanted to grab her and kiss the hell out of her, but each time I remembered the deal we made, I would retract my action.Her gaze wasn't concentrated on me. I bet no way she wouldn't realize that I wanted her kiss—I wanted to throw her to the wall and kiss her so bad.She wasn't
ZORA—Today marks two weeks since I returned to Northville City, and I have been spending time with my family, especially my daughter.The day after my return from Southampton City, Jason received a business call that required him to travel out of the city. He stayed there for a week and some days before finally returning. However, he went straight to his house, with his reason being that I am already back.However, I know the main reason for his abrupt move to his house without stopping at my place, where he left for the trip, has nothing to do with my presence. It was because of how I treated him. I had taken him as just a buddy instead of a lover, which is why I hadn't engaged in an intimate activity with him.Checking the time on my wrist, I was surprised to see it wasalmost twelve o'clock p.m. I took a deep sigh, picked up my phone from the table, and texted Jason that I would be going to Southampton City to pick up a file that I forgot at Zech Holdings.I couldn't call him beca