Zachary North

It's been days since dad's angioplasty. Uncle Eriq, dad's doctor and friend, advised us to let dad take a bedrest with a private nurse in the manor so he could monitor further Dad's heart.

Dad was so against it but Olivia, being strict as she is, was adamant to comply and follow what Uncle Eriq had advised and prescribed.

Tonight, Olivia has organized a simple dinner here in the manor to support and cheer dad up.

"Zac, I'm disgusted already with all the food that I've been eating. From the time I was admitted in that hospital until now. I wanted to taste something! Can you at least allow me just tonight, just this once, please, son." My dad begged me while were in his study waiting for the ON couple to arrive.

I sighed at him and shook my head.

"Dad, if only I could, I would. But you know what Uncle Eriq told us, especially that Livy was in charge of your health nowadays. I can't disobey her, you know she'll get Hulk on me. So, as much as I wanted to give you food that's prohibited on you, I can't. I'm so sorry, Dad." I told him sincerely and patted his shoulder.

I admit, seeing him beg for food breaks my heart but I won't risk another heart attack from him again. Just like Uncle Eriq said last time, who knows, maybe the next heart attack will be fatal, and I of course didn't want that.

"Fine." He casually rolled his eyes and that gave me smile to my face.

I guess Olivia got her eye rolling habit from Dad.

Speaking of which, Lorna just announced that the ON couple had already arrived. I helped Dad get up from his seat and we went to the living room.

When we arrived at the living room, there I saw my sister talking to the heads of securities, chef, Gina - second to Lorna, and our gardener. I asked Niccolo who's currently watching my sister in amusement.

"What's going on?" I whispered when I stood beside him and after I made sure Dad was properly seated on the couch who was also amused by my sister's bossy nature.

"Apparently, you're sister's making new ground rules in this household. She wanted everyone to submit a daily report about Tony's activities the whole day." He paused and continued.

"Failure to comply would mean removal from service in this household." He whispered and was surprisingly in sync with Livy's final statement after she dismissed everyone.

I chuckled at it and it grabbed my sister's attention and glared at me.

"Shut up!" She said and quickly smiled at Dad when she saw him sitting comfortably on the couch.

"Hi there, old man!" She hugged dad.

"Bipolar brat." I commented and Nick chuckled lightly.

"Dad, how are you feeling? Where's Roberta?" She asked and looked around for the private nurse.

Dad stood up and was assisted immediately by Livy.

"I gave her an early dismissal today. Besides, I'm fine now, my Livy. It feels like I'm getting more sick if you and someone treated me like I'm fragile." He chuckled lightly but my sister was not having it.

Dad then patted Nick on his shoulders.

"It's nice to see you again, Niccolo. I hope my daughter's not giving you a hard time." He walked towards the dining area and we followed suit.

"She's not" then whispered another not, "not giving me a hard time." Dad laughed and Olivia hit Nick's arm.

"I heard that!" Then proceeded to hit me also, "and what you said to me a while ago, you idiot!" He was going to hit me again when Nick grabbed her arm and briefly hugged her to save me from the pre-Hulk woman.

"That's enough. Let's have dinner." Dad said playfully and we all settled in our places.

As the other housekeepers placed the food in front of us, I looked at Dad salivating over the pork chop in front of him. Too bad he couldn't eat what's laid in front of him for he has his own set of food prepared for him.

I saw Niccolo's face and he too was pitying Dad. I guess it wasn't only who couldn't fathom the longing look dad give out to the food in front of him.

While we were in the middle of having dinner, Livy's phone rang and she excused herself for it was an important call. While she was away, Dad again pleaded to us to give him a piece of pork chop.

I guess a piece won't hurt him though, so fine, I succumbed to his wish but I was caught in the act giving him one when Livy entered the dining room.

Instantly, she was hell bent mad and attacked me by punching me. It stings you know, because pure knuckles was punching me. She was only stopped when Nick carried her outside the dinning room and God knows what he had done to calm the female version of the Hulk.

After that so called altercation, we ate in peace again. Then, she asked Lorna if the cupcakes she requested are already packed?

Lorna then gave her two boxes.

Supposedly, she will give these two boxes to both Erin and Jowee as they were craving for Ronaldo's, the Manor's patisserie, cupcakes. I remembered that they used to eat his pastries whenever they spends time here.

However, Livy couldn't give Erin's portion to her as her apartment is out of their way since she'll be staying at Nick's house tonight. Only Jowee's portion she could give for she's nearer.

So, since my apartment is nearer to Erin's, she asked me, more like forced me to give these cupcakes to her.

Now, I've been standing here in front of Erin's door for three minutes not knowing how would I greet her.

I heaved a frustrating sigh for being a coward again. Geez, I promised myself to man up.

Ugh.

But it's been weeks now since "that" happened. Shit. I really don't know.

Well, here comes nothing.

I was about to knock when the door opened revealing Alex who's about to go home now.

He was grinning like an idiot but when he saw me, he became all serious and glared at me.

"What are you doing here?" We both asked each other in unison.

"I dropped off Erin from our date." He smirked and it made my blood boil.

"You son of a bitch, I told you to stay away from---"

"Alex, you forgot this." Erin emerged from the inside holding a blazer what seems to be this man's belonging.

When she saw me, she abruptly stopped and hurt flickered in her eyes.

"Thank you." He thanked her and then took his blazer from her and placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her gently towards him then kissed her head.

Fucking shit.

I was on the verge of losing myself if not from the cupcakes I was holding, I would've beat the shit out this conceited man. But I'm better than that, so instead, I glared at his hand that I've been wanting to ripped off and break all the bones since the night I saw them walking towards this building.

"Z-zac, what are you doing here?" Erin's soft voice called me and I looked at her. She uncomfortably removed Alex's hand around her and faced me.

"Livy wanted me to give you these cupcakes. Ronaldo was the one who made it." I said briefly yet still in sour mood because this airy man was still here.

"Oh. Okay." She took the box from me but I invited myself inside her apartment which made both of them stupefied for they didn't expect it.

I walked towards her living room and placed the cupcakes on the coffee table.

"Livy told me that you and Jowee missed these cupcakes, huh." I commented and when I saw both of them looking at me, I added, "Aren't you going home, Alex? Why are you still here?" This time, it's time for me to be conceited, afterall, that's what defines me. A conceited, son of a bitch.

That's what the businessmen tell behind my back whenever I put them into their place.

"It's late, Zac, you---"

"That's why he has to go. Thank you for dropping Erin off tonight, Alex. You may go home now." I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her to me.

He was angry and was about to retort when Erin spoke.

"Alex, it's fine. You can go home now." She removed my arm around her and hugged him which made my blood boil even more.

"Thank you for tonight." She then said and I snatched her again and tightened my hold to her.

"Fine. If anything happens, call me." He said and I furrowed my brows.

What the hell was this idiot implying to? Son of gun, did he think I will harass Erin? This idiot.

After Erin nodded at him, he glared at me and I waved a goodbye at him just to irate him. And when the door closed, Erin pushed me with all her might angrily.

"What are you doing?!" She asked me angrily.

"I'm marking up my territory." I said in nonchalance and I guess it made her more angry.

Oops. I guess it came out wrong.

"What are you, a dog? Get out, Zac." She pointed at the door but I smiled at her and hugged her.

Ah... I missed her scent and her body heat.

"Zac what are you doing? Get off of me!!!" She tried to release herself and I let her but at a hand distance only.

"I missed you, you know." I said and she slapped me.

Hard.

It feels that she's been wanting to do it since that day, and I'm okay with that, because I deserved it.

"I am not one of your bimbos when you feel like wasting your time you'll come to me. I am not fucking one of them. So get the fuck out of my apartment or---"

"I'm sorry." I apologised sincerely and that's when she stopped talking.

She looked into my eyes looking if I was sincere or not. But when she couldn't see any false sincerity in them, it made her more angry.

Why? What's going on?

"Shut up! Get out. Stop messing with me. I'm done with everything that has transpired between us. You can't just come here when you felt like it. You shouldn't have come here and apologized. It's fine by me if we left things like that. That way, we're back to fucking normal!" Her hands were all over the place when she talked to me.

"We're never ever get back to normal, Erin. We have an unfinished business, so nothing will become normal between us until we address the elephant in the room." I replied.

She shook her head in disbelief. Her eyes held so much anger and sadness in them and I so wanted to hug her but no, I won't. I promised to myself that I will set aside these urges and settle everything with her tonight.

"Zac, we don't have any unfinished business. The only thing that we have to settle is how we will get back to normal. Like you and I exchanging pleasantries kind of normal. It's time that we stop whatever this is for Olivia's sake!" She's fuming in anger and frustration but I'm so sorry, Erin. I won't grant you your wish.

"That's the fucking point! All this time that was the one holding me back---"

"Then make it hold you back again! I'm tired of this shit, Zac. I'm tired of you kissing me, barging here in my house, and giving me mixed signals. Stop it please. Can't you see the bags under my eyes? For months, all your giving to me was sleepless nights. You kept me awake for a couple of nights because of the things you do! I've been whacking my brain for months just to look for any justifiable answer but I couldn't think of any! You're making everything difficult for me, Zac. Why can't you just listen to me and stop---"

I couldn't hold it anymore.

I kissed her.

I kissed her with all the pent up feelings I felt these past few days. All the anger and jealousy I felt whenever I saw her and Alex together, I poured in that kiss also.

At first, she was struggling and pushing me back but she eventually succumbed to the kiss and hesitantly placed her arms around my neck.

I smiled at her cute action and deepened the kiss.

When we felt we needed some oxygen, we stopped and rested our foreheads against each other.

We were like that for quite awhile. The only sound you can hear was our panting.

When I regained myself, I cupped both of her cheeks and spoke.

"I like you, Erin."

She opened her eyes widely, surprised at what I had said.

I smiled at her and added.

"Very much."

Hello loves,

Ah yeah!!! Zac had confessed already. 👏👏

Anyway, I'll try to upload another chapter on Tuesday, but I can't promise though. 😉

I hope you liked this chapter. If you did, please give it a vote and comment.

As always, thank you for reading my book.

Stay safe.

xo,
kimmypatata