WHAT A DAY

SIENNA’S POV:

My gaze swept over the space, noting every detail in the decor. The place was exquisite, dripping with luxury. Every table was perfectly set, gleaming silverware aligned perfectly on crisp white linen. Golden scones on the wall cast a warm glow over the dark wood paneling, giving the room an almost ethereal warmth. A crystal chandelier hung above, its facets catching the light in quiet, flickering sparks that danced across the empty floors.

When I was kidnapped, I hadn’t expected to be brought to such a luxurious restaurant, and why was this place deserted? I racked my brain trying to figure out what was going on, but I just couldn’t. 

The men in black suits nodded at me to keep going forward, and I did, each step slow and steady, ignoring the throbbing pain from my wound. There was no way I could run away now. I was also oddly curious to know the identity of my kidnapper, I didn’t know whether it was the adrenaline, or the anesthesia messing my mind up.

The more we walked, the stronger the enticing aroma of food became. The sudden growl of my stomach reminded me that I had barely eaten all day. All I wanted to do at that moment was to rush toward the source of the smell, but I knew better than to do that.

Suddenly, I paused in my steps. Before me was a table with candles casting a warm glow on the white crisp tablecloth. Silverware and different meals, all my favorites, were arranged neatly, while a vase with a single rose stood at the center of the table.

It wasn’t the table set before me that had made me pause, but the man whose back was turned to me. “Why is that back oddly familiar?” I whispered under my breath, rooted to my spot.

“It can’t be him,” I repeated over and over in my turmoil-filled mind. Suddenly, the man stood up and turned to me, shooting me a wide smile I was oh-so-familiar with.

I gasped, staggering backward. “How could he appear suddenly? Why? Is this real?” Different questions rushed through my mind as I stared at the man in front of me, who just stared back scanning me from head to toe.

“Miss me?” He asked in his deep baritone voice, tilting his head slightly. It was him, standing tall at 6’5, in a black tailored suit. His dark hair fell over his face creating a sharp contrast with his grey eyes which stared intensely at me. His defined jawline only added to his allure.

At that moment something in me snapped, all the pent-up anger, pain, and tears got to me. I marched up to him, raised my hands, and slapped him hard across the face. The men in black suits tried to step forward to hold me down, but he signaled them to stay put.

“Did I miss you?” I asked hysterically. “Fucking hell you disappeared for four years, Zane! Four years without a trace. Now you appeared from God knows fucking where and asked if I missed you. You bloody asshole!” Tears streamed down my face, as I yelled pointing at him with shaky hands.

“Si…” He addressed me by the nickname he had always called me in his low voice, stepping forward to hold me, but I quickly stepped back and accidentally hit my injured leg on a chair nearby.

Pain shot through me but I didn’t give a fuck about that moment. “Don’t you dare call me that! That was for when you were my best friend, the person I trusted the most in the whole world, not the guy who abandoned me without a word.” My words were laced with venom but I didn’t care one bit, and couldn’t just stop.

Pain flashed in his eyes, but I didn’t care one bit. He had disappeared for so long without a word, without caring how I felt, and suddenly appeared out of nowhere. That guilt he felt was nothing.

“I looked for you, I asked your friends, your family, but no one had a clue where you were. I wasn’t able to get through to you on your number, do you know how many thoughts rushed to my mind? I..I thought you were hurt.” My words broke off at the end recollecting the bad memories.

“Si–Please list…” He tried to say moving forward with a pained expression, but I once again stepped back, cutting him off.

“No! You listen.” I couldn’t stop, maybe it was the accumulated pain, heartbreak sorrow, but I had to get everything off my chest. “You didn’t call, or text to assure me you were okay. You didn’t even show up for my wedding”

“What wedding Sienna, the one your father sold you off for? He yelled, gripping my arms, and staring into my eyes.

“Yes! You knew all that, yet you were not there—you were not there when I needed you the most Zane” My voice became low at the end. I was broken and tired.

“Sienna” He called out softly, his voice tight. Looking into his eyes, they were filled with a mixture of pain and conflict, he looked at a loss for words.

“Let go” I said, realizing his hands were still on me, but he didn’t move his hand one bit. “I said let go Zane” I repeated myself, and began pounding my fists on his body, but it was a futile attempt since he was far stronger than me.

Suddenly he pulled me into his embrace, and the familiar scent of sandalwood and tobacco enveloped me. The scent that once used to be my comfort in every problem. I hadn’t even realized tears were rolling down my face, as he tapped my back slowly.

It was all too much for me.”Zane, please let go” I whispered my voice lacking any energy. And this time around, he actually let go.

I had to get home, I was tired and it was getting quite late, I didn’t need more problems with Sebastian on my plate. Scanning the area, his men were gone, I hadn’t even noticed when they slipped out.

Having no other choice, I turned to Zane, “Where are we? I need to book a ride home”

“Sienna” He drawled but I was tired of talking. All I needed was to lay down.

“Zane please, I need to get home.”

“I’ll drop you off” He offered, but I couldn’t agree to that, I needed space from him, not to stay in the same car with him.

“I’ll take a taxi” I said wanting to move, but immediately I took a step with my injured leg, pain shot through me and I couldn’t stop the hiss that escaped. 

Zane rushed to my side, “Are you okay si?” He asked with furrowed brows etched with worry.

I ignored him and continued limping forward, enduring the pain. 

Zane had a look of realization on his face, fell on his knees, and held my leg put, I tried wriggling my legs away, but that just caused me more pain. He raised my pants up and was met with the sight of my blood-stained bandage.

His eyes darkened as he rose, “Sienna, who did this to you?” I could tell he was trying to contain his anger but it was blazing in his eyes.

I swallowed hard and managed to mutter, “It’s just a small cut, nothing serious.”

He ignored my words, and repeated, “Sienna who hurt you? Was it that dick sebastain?”

“No! A glass cup slipped and some shards hurt me, that was all.” I rushed to defend, I knew how he got when someone dared to lay a finger on me.

“Sienna, do you really think you can lie to me? I’ve been gone for four years but I still know everything about you, when you are angry, hurt, hungry, and most especially when you are angry. You know what else I know? You’re in a shitty marriage, neither Sebastian nor his family gives a fuck about you, yet you continue to stay there, taking it all. I’m a hundred percent sure you were hurt by Sebastian.” He yelled, his voice etched with anger and frustration as he stared at me intensely.

“Who are you to judge me, Zane? You also hurt me, didn’t you? So who are you to get revenge for me, to preach to me, tell me what gives you the right?” I was shaking with anger, he had hurt me the most out of them all, yet he put himself on a high ground.

He looked at me with hurt in his eyes but all I wanted at that moment was to be far from him, to think properly. I began stepping to the entrance but Zane dragged me back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Zane asked with furrowed brows.

“Home, now let me go” I replied curtly.

“No, first we’ll get you to the hospital to get you stitched up, and then I’ll drop you home,” He said in a tone of finality. As if I’d listen to his commands.

I scoffed, “What makes you think I‘ll listen to you?” I asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Because I didn’t ask, either you go willingly or forcefully,” He said, his lips carving up in a mischievous smirk.

“You wouldn’t da..” He lifted me bridal style in the air before I could complete my words. The darn asshole.

I tried to struggle free, but he held me firmly. “The more you trash your leg, the more pain you feel so I advise you to stay put Rossa” 

I didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. “What’s with the nickname, don’t ever call me that again” I spat out.

His mouth widened in an amused smile. “Ok, Rossa” He drawled.

“Asshole” I cursed, looking away, but he only chuckled. 

“This is going to be a long night” I sighed inwardly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Fucking hell, why does my head hurt so bad!” I groaned turning on my bed. It felt like I had woken up from a long dream. I smiled to myself and tried to spring up from my bed, but a sharp pain coursed through me, causing me to let out a loud hiss.

“Nope, that wasn’t a dream” I whined struggling to sit up as snippets of last night flooded through my mind.

“Si wake up, we’re at the hospital”

“Kids of nowadays just treat the doctor’s instructions as nothing”

“Does it hurt Si?”

“You may have a headache in the morning, and this time around child, try and follow my instructions” 

“Ma’am sir’s not back”

The jumbled images came in, Zane had forced me to go to the hospital, and the doctor had a lot to say about my stitch which tore. Zane had also dropped me home, but the car ride was completely silent. When I was about to leave, the only thing he said to me was,

“You can’t run from me Si”

Darn that asshole. Luckily for me, when I got home, Sebastian was yet to be back and Martha had covered for me, so he had no idea I came back later than usual. And for some fucking twisted reason, I cried myself to sleep last night, I couldn’t stop thinking of Zane.

What a day it was. I dragged my body up from the bed, had a quick shower, dressed up, and laid back down.

I hadn’t checked my phone since last night, so I brought it out and decided to scroll through it, only to be met with two messages.

Unknown number: We have to talk Si

Of course, I knew who the sender was, not many people called me Si.

Sebastian: I need an explanation for you coming back later than usual.

“Oh fucking hell, the day hasn’t even fully started” I groaned stuffing my face in my pillow.