CHAPTER NINE :An invite

Nova immediately entered her car and drove home, she was unaware that Zephyr was just behind her. When she got to her apartment she suddenly heard a familiar voice call her name.

“Nova!” Zephyr, who was now in his automatic wheelchair, wheeled himself towards Nova.

“What… Are you doing here?”. She stuttered. Her anger didn't go unnoticed by Zephyr, and that made him so sad. He was once the only person who existed to her, but now it seemed like he never meant anything to her.

It was all his fault, and he concluded that he deserved whatever treatment he was getting from her.

“I asked you a question, Zeph”. She didn't realize she had just called him by his shortened name. 

Zephyr felt his heart boil with joy, and he started to smile.

“Why are you smiling?” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms. How dare he smile at her like that when he made her miserable.

“No…it's just that you called me zeph and it made me happy”. I just feel that we can work things out, Nova. I know somewhere in you, your heart yearns for me, just like my heart yearns for you. He said softly, hoping his words would fix things.

“You are a joke, Mr. Lockwood”. She cut out his emotional phase. Why did she even refer to him as zeph in the first place?

“Please Nova”… he tried as much to suppress the misery he felt hearing her call him Mr. Lockwood.

Nova could see that her words were getting to him at that moment, and she loved it. His eyes reminded her of hers when he would hold Tiana right in front of her while she begged for his mercy and love.

“Just leave us alone. I am now a renowned actress, I no longer need you to save this stripper in distress”. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit them back, her jaw tightening. Crying felt like giving in, like admitting defeat.

However, she could never be defeated again.

“It's fine Nova. I will leave you, but it won't be for long. I will prove myself to you and I will make sure you realize that Eryx isn't the angel in your life”.

“I don't even care. Just leave my life alone and stop saying shit about Eryx. He went against his family to be with me. He never revealed my location when I never wanted to be found”.

“He is worried whenever I am, and unhappy when I am not happy”. She gasped for air as she had exhausted her breath.

“He didn't leave my side when the doctor said I would lose my baby if care wasn't taken, he never gave up on me like you did”. Her loud voice lowered as her voice started to crack.

The edges of Zephyr's lips curled upward, but the warmth never reached his eyes. It was a smile, yes, but one heavy with the weight of things unsaid. Regret tugged at the corners, making the expression feel more like a mask of agony.

“Nova, please”. He extended his hands forward as if he wanted to hold her hands. But she moved backward with immediate alacrity.

“Don't come back Zephyr, stay out of our lives and leave Eryx alone”. Her eyes were still wet with tears.

“I am sorry, Nova. But I can't give up on you or our son”. He said as he gestured for his secretary to bring in the gift he had prepared. Drop it at her door steps. He said with reddened eyes that couldn't meet Nova's.

“Hey, take it back”. She backed down. “We don't need it, okay?”.

“STOP IT”. Zeph clamored, he was slowly losing his fucking mind…can you please not deprive me of my son. Those words went deep into Nova's nerves.

It reminded her of how her father will beg her mother to see her. But her mother never allowed it.

Her father died without her even knowing him.

She couldn't speak as she just stood there watching him as he moved away from her and towards her car.

Ethan felt pity for his boss. He had been miserable for the past four years and even neglected his work and everything.

He was sure if there was one thing his boss could change in his lifetime. It will be his betrayal to Nova.

****

The next day Nova was on set, and she was the lead actress for a particular serial movie and surprisingly Jane was the second female lead.

The story was about love between three people, and it happened that Nova played the role of a rich and influential lady while Jane played the helpless poor lady who needed the male lead to come save her.

“Action”. The director ordered.

And the scene started with a slap. Nova slapped her hard across the face and Jane started to cry.

“How dare you? What have I ever done to deserve it?” Jane cried.

“Haven't I told you to leave Chris Alone? But you proved fucking stubborn, huh?” The drama continued with both of them arguing before the male lead who acted as Chris rushed in.

It was the magnificent Greg Thompson. The best male actress in New York. Every girl's dream. The people loved his movies and he had the history of having no boring episodes even in movies he featured in.

“Stop that”. His rigid voice spread across the air as he immediately dragged Nova away from his beloved.

“Cut”. The director ordered. He was satisfied with their acting. Especially with Jane as she had a special place in his body. He smirked at her as he felt a dangerous part of his body rising.

Jane felt devastation wash over her. She was sure that Nova slapped her hard intentionally; she was calling for trouble, she thought, before making her way to the changing room for the next scene.

After the drama and when Nova was going home, Greg, alongside Jane, suddenly approached her. 

“Nova”. She was surprised to hear her name coming out of his mouth as they never talked apart from when it came to acting. She stopped to hear what he had to say until he said….

“I have been meaning

to invite you”. He said as if talking to a casual friend.

“Where?” Nova asked.