CHAPTER 9:THE PRETTY BLONDE

EMILIA 

That kiss... Ugh, It shouldn't have happened!! 

I like Zach,he's a really sweet guy when you get to know him. I can't deny the attraction I have towards him too.But it hasn't been that long since I left Liam,it would be a huge mistake getting involved with another man. Wouldn't it? 

Things are going to be awkward living with him from here on out. It's best that I do what I can and get the hell out of here. Maybe I can take Michelle up on her couch offer. 

I walked in the front door planning on going to my room straight away. I had even bought some snacks on my way home from work,just so I could avoid him...

Well that was until I saw the candles lighting on the table and the red wine chilling in a bucket. Zach was in the kitchen with a cloud of smoke around him. 

"Kate..Is it that time already? I didn't realise."He coughed, and swung the tea towel in the air to clear the smoke. 

"Were you cooking something?"I asked.When Zach told me that he was a terrible cook, I never imagined that he was bad enough to burn a house down. 

"Trying to. I wanted to surprise you with dinner,but it hasn't turned out like I hoped it would."The smoke alarm started to ring loudly."I should probably open the back door."

"Maybe windows too-All of them."I smirked at him and walked into the kitchen to tend to the smoking oven while he opened some doors to let a little air in. 

I can't believe the man that never cooks tried to cook a meal for me,that's kind of sweet of him. Although the food that he was cooking ended up burnt to a crisp,I appreciated the effort. 

Twenty minutes had gone by and the smoke was finally clear. Zach and I were standing looking down at the burnt food that we taken out of the oven. 

"I think it's safe to say that that's not salvageable at all."I looked at him and we both chuckled at his expense. 

"No,It doesn't look like it."He chuckled. "I did tell you that I was dangerous in the kitchen,I shouldn't be trusted. How does Chinese take out sound?" 

"Um,Sure. I'll clear away this while you take care of the take out."I started clearing away that food that wasn't edible while Zach ordered us something that was. 

Sitting down at the table for dinner with him means talking about the kiss. He seemed eager to set things right,but I wasn't sure how I was going to approach the situation. I didn't want to end up saying too much about my past. 

Zach and I were sitting at the dinning table,the candles were still lighting between us and our food was mostly eaten. It wasn't long before the kiss had come into conversation. 

"If you didn't want the kiss,you know you can say it. I thought you wanted it too."

"No,I wanted the kiss."I sighed."I know you must be so confused,I'm sorry. I just have a lot going on in my life right now,A lot that I can't really talk about."

"I understand,I have a lot going on too. You don't have to talk about anything that you don't want to-not until you are ready."Zach sat forward in his chair with his eyes remaining on me."I like you,Kate."

My lips curved into a smile and I was experiencing a jittery feeling in my stomach. He likes me,isn't that what every girl wants to hear from a guy like him."I like you too,Zach."

"Well that's a relief."He smiled."How about I take you out tomorrow then?" 

He wants to take me out,I'm intrigued. I wonder where he'll take me."Sure, I'd like that. But don't you have work?" 

He shrugged his shoulders lightly."I'll take the day off. It's no big deal,I am the boss after all. I just want to spend some time with you."

I grinned."Lucky me!"It was a surprise to me that he was taking a day off work mid week just to take me out. It was sweet too. 

Zach had made a run to the store for a second bottle of wine and some dessert. I was having a quick clear up after our dinner,before he gets back. 

I wasn't sure what to except for a rest of the night. After two bottles of wine I hope Zach won't be thinking that I would fall into his bed. It doesn't work like that,at least not for me it doesn't. 

There was a knock at the front door, startling me at the sink. It was late, too late for knock ins from salesmen about switching electricity or a faster speed broadband. I wonder who that could be? 

I wiped my hands on the towel and then walked towards the front door. I looked out the side panel of glass first and saw a woman of similar age to myself. I opened the door. 

"Surprise,Babe!!"The woman looked me up and down and realised that I wasn't who she thought I was."Oh,Um who are you?" 

Well clearly I wasn't Babe. But who the hell is she? Her red lips and her fishnet stocking had me under the impression that she was just after finishing her shift at the strip club. Clearly this woman must have the wrong house. 

"Kate-I'm Kate. Um, are you sure you have the right house?"I asked,hoping that she would just say Yes and then leave. 

The blonde placed her hands on her hips with attitude."Yes,I'm pretty sure, Sweetheart. Unless my boyfriend moved and didn't tell me about it."

Boyfriend-Her Boyfriend?? This must be some kind of mistake,it has to be."Your boyfriend??" 

"Yes,My boyfriend Zachary."She looked behind me to check for Zach."I don't quite understand what's going on here. Where is he and what are you doing in his house?" 

It's confirmed,He's her boyfriend after all. He was lying to me the entire time. Now she wants to know who I am,what am I going to tell her? 

Max started to growl at her,and she wasn't impressed. She glared down at him as he stood beside me."Oh,Calm down you Beast!!" 

Bitch!! 

"Blake.."Zach's voice came from behind her. He was holding a bottle of wine in one hand and some dessert in the other."What are you doing here?"His eyes darted in my direction and then back to her. 

"I came home early. I thought I would surprise you."She turned her head and looked at me."But you're not the only one that's surprised. Care to explain?" 

"This is Kate-She's um.."Zach paused, unable to think of a good excuse to keep her quite. I can't believe this guy. That being said,I'd rather not have the drama so I better save his ass. 

"I'm a family friend. Zach was nice enough to give me a place to stay while I look for a new apartment. I'm new to LA!"He didn't deserve the save in my opinion,not after the lies he has told. 

"That's Zach,Always helping out the less fortunate."She looked at me and smirked."Let's go inside then,I'm cold."He walked past me into the house. 

"I'm sure you are."I mumbled. I looked at Zach."You didn't tell me that you were dating a stripper."I whispered of course,I didn't want to get a heel in the face after all. 

He sighed."I can explain,Kate."

Explain,Please!!What could he possibly have to say to make this right."Don't bother!!"I walked into the house,not giving him a chance to say anymore. 

I walked past the blonde,up the stairs and straight into my room. Of course Max followed,he was more loyal to me than he was to his owner. I rested down on my bed and looked up at my ceiling with a sigh. 

It's better that I know now-before I'm in too deep. 

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FLASHBACK 

Liam and I were sat in the middle of a fancy restaurant,celebrating our first anniversary. He wanted to do something special,something to make up for all the crap. 

"A year already."Liam smiled,and took my hand across the table."It's been the best year of my life,Emilia. How about yours?" 

I mustered a smile."Mine too."

"I'm happy that you decided to take a break from college. I think it's safe to say that both more of ease with you not being gone all the time." 

I decided!! It's more like he bullied me into it. Liam was getting too obsessive about me being away from home and around other men. I had no choice in the end. 

"I um-I didn't see it at first,but I realise now that I've made the right choice.I have more time to spend with you after all."I was trying my best to keep him sweet,to say everything he wanted to hear."Do you want me to get you another drink?" 

"Alright,Same again."Liam drank the remaining drink in his glass and set it back down. Liam grabbed my arm as I walked past him."A kiss before you go?" He asked,but I knew it was more of a demand than a question. 

"Anything for you."I lied,and leaned over for a kiss. A kiss that I was hoping to place on his cheek,but at the last second he turned his head and I got his lips instead. 

It was a passionate kiss-Showing every single man in this room that I was his. It lasted a couple of seconds before I pulled back and left our table towards the bar. 

I ordered him his third scotch on the rocks and just a water for me. He was surprisingly in a good mood and I wanted to keep it that way for as long as I could. 

"Excuse me.."said a man to my left. I turned and looked at him."Sorry, did you drop this?" 

The man similar age to myself,was holding a purse out towards me. He was dressed up and looking smart,with a round of drinks in front of him at the bar."Um, No sorry. That's not mine."

He sighed."I was hoping to return it to it's owner, I know what a woman can be like without her purse."

I was feeling a little anxious,looking around me to make sure that Liam wasn't in sight."You could give it to the bartender. Whoever lost it will most likely ask at the bar anyway-I would."

"You're right,Thanks!"He smiled.

"What the hell is going on here then?" Liam's agitated voice came from behind me, immediately sending shivers up my spine."Were you just hitting on my Girl?" 

Oh God Please, Don't so this!! 

"What??"The man looked between the both of us. Liam looked even more frustrated now."Are you being serious?" 

"You heard me."Liam stepped closer to the man,hoping to intimidate him. "Do you really think that it's okay to hit on someone else's Girl?"

"Liam,Please!"I begged,hoping to calm him down."He was just asking me if I owned the purse he found,that's all it was I swear."Liam kept his eyes on the man,not even hearing a word I said. 

"I'm not dealing with this,this is stupid." The man turned to walk away and that's when Liam grabbed hold of him and threw the first punch. The next 30 seconds were a blur of fists being thrown and the two of them scuffing. 

Security ended up having to intervene and break up the fight,and dragged Liam towards the entrance of the restaurant. Everyone was staring at him- And me. 

"I'm so sorry!"I said,to the man with the bruised face that didn't do a thing to deserve it. 

"Don't apologise for him. Look I don't know you,but you should get far away from that guy. He's dangerous."He turned around and walked away from me. 

I left the cash on the table and walked out of the restaurant quickly. When I got outside I saw Liam leaning against the wall of the restaurant,spitting up blood."I can't believe you!!" 

"Don't start with me,Emilia.I'm in pain here incase you haven't noticed."He spat again,and turned around leaning against the wall.

"I can't do this anymore."I cried. I was at the point of enough. I've tried,for months I've tried and waited hoping that he would change. He won't change. He's incapable of change!! 

Liam set his dark eyes on me,caught hold of me and pinned up against the wall of the restaurant. I could smell the scotch on his breath he was so close. 

"Can't do what?"He asked."Choose your next words carefully my Love. And remember that I'm only in this mess because of you. When you flirt the way you do,How do you expect me to react?" 

I looked up at him,scared to death of saying the wrong thing. Looking in his eyes I knew that there was no easy way out of this hell. 

I'm in too Deep!! 

END OF FLASHBACK

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