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Evan had been locked up with meetings all week and could not take that stroll up to the twenty-fifth floor for observation. But the minute time was on his side; he took the elevator up from his office and to his brother’s bed. When he entered, all the girls in the office halted whatever they were doing and stared as he entered the glass doors. Is this workplace, or is this Devon's harem of women? Evan said, looking around, intrigued. He’s soaking up the scene like a dry sponge. Evans's eyes continually scan the room, watching hands and body language. He walked into the room full of cubicles. It was like he had walked into a candy store, taking it all in with an eagle eye, filing it away in his expansive memory. He strolled past the cubicles looking at each girl's smiling face. Two rows over, he saw Zari; she couldn’t be missed; she stood out like a red rose among daisies! Her velvety smooth brown complexion, long black hair, and the darkest brown eyes he's ever seen. ‘Wow! My br
"No, Devon is far more superior in looks than I am. I would say I’m more of a master of intelligence. But thank you, it’s an honor to hear from someone as lovely as you that I look like my big brother. Zari, before we go any further. I want to apologize for the family attending your wedding and being rude toward you and your family. Unfortunately, we had a lot of drama between Devona and my father. They are like two peas in a pot. And because of that, I’m sure you heard that my father disowned Devon a while back. Then he took him back into the Hightower fold into his good graces again. For Devon to only stab my father in the back again by marrying you. But I, despite all of the chaos. I remained close to my brother. He’s my best and only true friend and always will be. I don’t believe in turning my back on family. No matter how far or low, they might sink and Devon. Well, let’s just say my brother can be a bit much. But of course, you know this already, being his beautiful wife." “No,
I pulled into the driveway and parked at the side door entrance leading directly to the kitchen. I came into the house, which was dark, calling out. "Zari! Are you here?" I was waiting for an answer to my call. But instead, I got nothing but silence. I dropped my keys on the counter and walked out of the kitchen. I suddenly stop as my mind begins to wander. “Where is my wife?” I think to myself. 'Who in the world could she be with? I paused and reasoned. I had to think for a minute. “Zari doesn’t know anyone at the office. So where could she be this time of night? It was after 9 pm, and she left work at 5 pm. I’ll call her mother and sister and see if she’s visiting them.” When I hung up the phone, I was apprehensive. Then it dawned on me the only person she remembers is Mike. Immediately I called him. “Hey, Mike! I know you have Zari out with you! Don’t you think you should have discussed that with me? I’m her husband, you know!” “Devon? Man, chill out! Zari is not with me!
Devon is holding me around my waist, softly calling my name. "Zari," I returned to reality, gazing at him, saying just above a whisper. "Yes." "What can I do to prove how much I love you." But despite my reservations, and I had many, there was still a pull toward Devon. It was hard to continue to fight, especially when he kept touching me, challenging every defense and reason I had to say no. Too bad my heart didn't understand that. Every time Devon touched me, it was as if he was caressing a deep memory locked away so secure. His love for me right now is what I need. I know it didn't make sense. Bizarre events envelop this night because love doesn't have to make sense. A perfect storm took over my passion. "I feel you're worth any effort or work I must do, my love. You are beautiful, brilliant, and real. A woman I can see that matches me. Just let me prove it to you." A whirlwind of a perfect storm, just like this night; no one could explain it or undo it. Devon made me feel
Zari tried to heed Devon’s advice so she kept her distance from Evan. But he would call and check on her faithfully to see how she was doing or if she just needed someone to talk to. The phone calls came Once a week,Evan Hightower had become a companion of comfort and a much-needed friend to Zari, who felt vulnerable and often broken emotionally. They made arrangements to go to a restaurant near work so she could be home by six long before Devon would get home. Zari found herself sitting across from Evan, admiringly studying things about him. Apart from the fact that he looked like Devon. Their resemblances are not as shocking anymore to her. On the contrary, they had become a comfort to her it felt like she was spending time getting to know Devon through Evan. Especially since her husband spent more time at work than at home. Her eyes moved lower— to Evan's nice broad shoulders. The physical attraction is there for sure. How could it not be when Zari's brother-in-law looks so muc
Though Devon hasn’t gotten over the tragic kidnapping and accident. Zari has appeared to have on interest in getting her erased memories back. Zari wants to remember her life as it is now. She’s waiting on Devon to propose to her again and for the second wedding and vows to take place. Evan of course doesn’t think it should happen. As her good friend, he tells her once is enough. Evan Hightower has become a companion of comfort and a much-needed friend to Zari, who felt vulnerable. He’s secretly been there helping her navigate and get to know her things about her husband and his family. But as she explained they have to keep their little friendship quiet so Devon won't know. Zari and Evan keep in touch every week, either in person or over the phone. Sometimes they end up talking for hours. But she was utterly surprised when Devon one evening came home and said they were invited to a family dinner. ******* "Zari are you ready? How are feeling Angel?" Devon asked as he was putting
“Good evening, Father and Mother,” Devon says. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hightower. You have a lovely home; thanks for inviting me for dinner.” Zari says, smiling. His father noticed right away that Devon and Zari were holding hands. He didn't say anything, but his eyes slid over to Evan. Who nodded to his father to be excellent. His father quietly sighed, taking in a deep breath. "Have a seat, and welcome to my home." "Thank you kindly, sir," Zari replies as she and Devon sit, with Evan and Cherry sitting closest to the father. "So son..." his father sarcastically laughs aloud, looking over at Evan, who chuckled. "I heard we have been making many changes at the main office. Hiring new people, and the twenty-fifth floor is filled with only beautiful women. But I'm not surprised. Tell me, son, are you trying to ruin the family business?" Zari immediately looks over with a concerned expression on her face at Devon. Just when Devon was about to respond to his father's question
In the bedroom of the father and mother, the mom is crying. “I don't believe I'm hearing this from you, of all people. I just don't believe you're expecting this.” With compressed lips. He hadn't relished the idea of his son dating someone outside his race, maybe a Korean girl not of his status, but never a foreign girl. He said that was the furthest thought from his mind to his wife. "If we don't accept this girl, Devon will stay away even longer. Is that what you want?" He asked, hugging his wife. She eventually calmed down and thought about it. The more they discussed the matter she began to agree. At one time, Devon and his mother were so close. Deep inside, she still desired that closeness with her son. When the dining room door opened, mother and father returned to the dining room, and she gave her precious younger son a warm smile. “I gave it some more thought, but it doesn't mean I will approve of a marriage.” "I understand, Mom, and it doesn't mean I will not get married
“Devon what should I do?” She asked after muting the call. “Take the call.” Devon poured himself a cup of coffee.. He could see Zari was deep in thought. So he took a seat at the table. She looked at him. Her body heaved, again and again. It was time to purge. Zari told Devon. “I agree we can’t keep ignoring his phone calls.” “Yes, so you should tell him goodbye so we can move on with our life." Devon hugged her, and her stomach finally settled. Now she could finally put it all to rest finally. “Hello Evan. Please listen to me first. I'm so sorry, I had no idea not responding to your call for these months would bring you here. I am the biggest procrastinator there is. I'm the type if something is happening today or a problem arises. I tell myself that I will worry about tomorrow. It's the way I have coped with issues by telling myself to deal with them tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, I face something new and have forgotten all about yesterday's concerns. But now that I'm appl
Zari remembers Devon, not from her past and she doesn't recall the vows from the past. The tragic kidnapping and accident have erased pieces of Zari's memory, including the recollection of her first wedding. The memory from photographs, pictures that capture the passion between them on that particular day, is her only memory in pictures. But she can't forget her loving husband, Devon she has now. After making court appearances, his brother's lawyer, in the end, pleaded insanity. Evan was going away to a mental institution where hopefully, he'll get the help he needs. Since his health didn't permit it, Devon's father had to humble himself and ask his oldest son to take over the family business entirely. Devon encourages his father to trust his sister Mina, who can manage the family business more successfully than he could ever. Once the dust settled, the reality of the problems of the Hightower family hit home. It was now time for Devon and Zari to concentrate on their life. Zari d
After telling Devon what happened to her, Zari could see that Devon was beyond angry. “Devon, I don’t want to share anymore. All you need to know, baby, is that I fought and fought to keep him from taking me until he put that towel over my nose and forced me into the back seat of his car. "Do you remember the make and model of the car Zari?" Devon anxiously asks. I think so, but I only remember the color, nothing much else, because before I passed out, he covered me with a blanket, and I quickly lost consciousness. Upon waking, I felt drugged and limp; my hands and feet were bound, and once inside his house, I was forced into the shower to shave. "Shave?" "Please don't make me share details." Devon nodded, "Tell me." Zari continued. "The man led me across the hall into a room; I tried to get away many times. That's when he handcuffs and leaves me alone for I don't know how long. Until I was dying of thirst and starving for food, and that was the beginning of my nightmare and
Zari finally awakened and she wasn't sure about anything. She just wasn't sure of much anymore only that she was unhappy and then suddenly happy. Being that the caretaker dropped the dose of meds, she was giving Zari. She began to cry a lot. She cried when it rained. She cried at the sound of gloomy music on the tv and radio.She cried over the fact that she cried and she cried because things lacked substance. Zari felt as if she was moving in slow motion, swimming through a sea of shadows. Then she said, “What an awful Metaphor,” she thought, and then she laughed asking herself, “What is a metaphor? How did I know that word?”Even though she didn't know what the word meant anymore, she had the feeling she'd known it, once before. She'd known a lot of things. Then again, maybe not. Something was wrong with her. Wrong, she thought.He told her the doctors said she was ill. Not that she recalls seeing a doctor. He told her that she had additional problems. “Your memory was failing her.
He stared at those pink panties she wore. His hand lingered over her center as if too excited to touch it. His eyes cascaded down her thighs to her legs. He realized she still had on her shoes. He hurried to the foot of the bed. “I'm sorry, that should have been the first thing I removed. Please forgive me, dear.” He said, looking up at her face and chuckling. Once he removed her shoes from her feet. He climbed back into bed, smiling non-stop. He wanted her; she was almost too precious to touch. But his twisted mind convinces him to make her his bride and wife. And he felt the only way is to have intercourse with her. That way, she will become his, and he would be able to wipe away the grime she's been living with all this time. "She will be all mine," He repeated breathlessly in heat. The sound of labored breathing, the crescendo of gasps and moans escaped his throat as he removed her bra and panties. His right hand cupped her breast while the other rubbed her mound. Zari lay th
She felt someone grab her from behind. She tried to scream as the white cloth was placed over her mouth. He held it there until she stopped moving and completely collapsed in his arms. He knew he had to avoid the cameras. The only one he saw was the one across the street. He maneuvered around the building getting behind the camera. He opens up his car door and puts her in the back seat. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Why didn't she just listen?” He got in the car and drove off. As Zari lay there on the backseat, knocked unconscious. He was rambling as if she could hear him. “Why didn't you listen?” He asked as he let out a sigh. “You heard everything I told you, and you know I was right about that punk Devon the first time. He shook his head, his lips trembling. “I don't get you, Zari. After all the abuse you've gone through, I'm here to protect you, and you don't want it.” He was coming in and out of insanity and sanity. “What did you say?” He looked back to the backseat
Instead of moving on and forgetting the past, he was trying to help her gain her memory even now after all this time. He seemed absorbed with the past and what had happened to the woman she was before. Zari has constantly questioned why her brain has chosen to erase or lock away her memory of her past life with Devon and their excellent beginning. She couldn't understand why something so good, so precious, she couldn't recall it. It was so aggravating. All she wants to clearly remember and cherish is the things they have experienced in the past six months. And to add, she is finally going to the Hightowers for dinner for the first time in their three-year marriage. ***** According to the Doctor, Zari's memory of time and events was returning. Sometimes when a patient's memory returns to them, they feel like they are reliving that moment. Devon was encouraged to give her time to go through the episode; once she has calmed down, she may be ready to reveal where she's in her memories.
She stormed out of the living room. Zari was determined to let him speak first. No more filling in the silences for him. No more assuming his quiet meant, "I love you, let's stay married even though I'm indebted to Susie." So she left him standing there as she slammed the door to her room. Devon plopped down on the sofa. He had to consider long and hard all that was said. Devon was shocked. He had thought all was well between the two of them now. "How did I not realize how bad this had hurt her? I must figure out how to return to Zari's good graces and life and tell her I'm not going anywhere. I thought the planning of the vow recital showed I was serious." Devon had been so distracted with trying to please Susie and keep his sanity, thinking only of the promise he had made to Susie, but sadly he never managed to keep in mind the vows he had made to Zari and how she must have felt all this time. Until recently, he'd finally dared to start doing it another way around. From now on, Za
"I've asked you this once and will ask you again. Are you pregnant or something for Devon? I don't understand why you can't let a man who has disrespected you this way go?" "No, I'm not pregnant, for my husband and I take my marriage vows seriously. However, Mike, I believe we make mistakes, and if we are repented, then they deserve a second chance," she said honestly. "So you're going back to him? I thought when you left with me tonight. You have made your decision." Mike's emotions caught in his throat slightly. "I don't know the full workings of the human heart… maybe I'll understand one day. But I do know how I feel about him, and I still get angry at him, but I know how I feel about my husband." "I'm still not following," Mike said quietly. "Even though our relationship is in question, I knew I loved him before I married him. We've been together off and on for three years. And what I have for you is love, but falling in love with you that hasn't happened. There's an attractio