Erin McAfee

I was in the midst of putting my high heels on when I heard my door bell rang.

I went out of my room then towards the living room to see who's the person outside.

As I looked at my video intercom, I saw Zac grinning widely at the camera.

My heart beat rapidly for this was the first time I will be seeing him since he confessed to me in this exact spot.

I quickly looked at my reflection in the decorative mirror in the foyer and when I was satisfied on how I looked, I opened the door.

Immediately, his manly bergamot scent filled my nostrils and I cursed it mentally for it awakened my urge to hug this man in front of me.

However, it didn't take long when he enveloped me into a tight hug. I shyly placed my left arm on his back and patted it.

"I missed you." Zac told me then inhaled deeply after that he released me and kissed my right cheek briefly.

I bet I look like a tomato now. Ugh. I looked down because I was embarrassed to show him his effect on me.

But I missed him too, you know. This is what his messages did to me. It made me miss him terribly.

I felt a finger on my chin and it made me looked at his face. He was smiling boyishly but despite that, I could see exhaustion in his face.

"I like it when you blush." Zac commented and I removed my face from his hold and went towards my kitchen.

"W-when did you arrive? I thought you'll be landing tomorrow night?" I asked because in his messages, he said that.

"I just landed. My work there were done so I opted to come home early, also, I was missing you. You never replied to any of my messages, I thought you never read them or you blocked me but I was wrong." He mumbled happily at the end.

If he only knew that I was waiting and looking forward everyday for his messages. But, did he just say that he just landed? Oh geez, that explains the exhaustion in his face.

"Zac, you just landed, you should have went straight to your apartment to take a rest. Have you had breakfast already?" I looked at him and he was still smiling.

He shook his head and spoke. "I told you, I missed you, Erin. So I went straight here." He winked and I shook my head at him.

"Do you want coffee? Tea?" I asked him and his nose scrunched when I mentioned tea. I knew from Olivia that Zac hated tea. For him, it was like he's drinking a semi flavored got water.

"Coffee please." He pleaded like a baby. Oh gosh. This was the first time I saw him being carefree, not the usual I am the boss attitude/aura. And I admit, I liked it.

I smiled at him and took my freshly grounded coffee and prepare my pour over dripper.

Oh, thank God. I still have hot water from awhile ago.

After I poured the hot water on the grounded coffee in the filter, I left it to brew and went straight to my fridge to take out two eggs and a bacon.

"How many toasts can you eat?" I asked him and he answered two. I put two square breads in to the toaster then went to my stove two cook the eggs amd bacon.

While I was cooking, I jumped a little when I felt his arms around my waist and he placed his chin on my right shoulder.

"Sorry." He whispered and then kissed my cheek.

I ignored the butterflies creating havoc in my stomach and tried to focus on cooking the breakfast of this huge distraction.

Every once in a while, he would give my cheek a kiss.

"You're being very comfortable with me today, huh." I said while flipping the bacons.

I heard him chuckled and he gave a peck on the side of my neck. I wanted to moan but I controlled myself because that would be embarrassing.

"You don't know how many times I imagined you cooking for me." He said huskily.

Huh? Many times? Geez my heart is doing tumblings right now. However, despite being lost in his embrace, I didn't fail to hear the toaster.

"Zac, can you take out the toasts? The plate are over there then, take a sit, this is done." I said quietly and I felt him nod. His body heat quickly vanished when he went to do the stuff I said.

I took a plate out and placed the scrambled egg and bacons. Then, I placed the plate in front of him, who's already seated on one of the kitchen stools. I took a cup and poured the coffee in and gave it to him.

I then took the grapes as well as the strawberries from the fridge to give it to give it to him.

He was looking at the food hungrily and it made me smile.

"Dig in." I nodded at the food and he smiled boyishly.

Geez. He's been smiling since he came here and he looked so dreamy.

"Thanks, babe." I silently gasped when I heard 'babe' from him.

Shucks.

I'm melting.

"I surmise you're done eating?" He asked as he was putting butter on his toast.

I shook my head slowly and before he could react, I spoke.

"I have a breakfast meeting with my team today."

He nodded.

"I hope I'm not taking any of your time." He said apologetically.

"You're not. Eat up, Zac. I'll just go to my room to take my purse." I said and I didn't wait for him to respond before I walked towards my room.

Once I got in, I fanned my face to remove the blush in it then I quietly squealed. Oh my God. Oh my God. He called me babe. A freaking legit endearment... BABE.

My heart's been somersaulting since he's hugged me and told me that he missed me. Oh, especially when he said that he came straight here. Geez, when I heard it, I so wanted to dance like a maniac. Ugh. Don't even get me started when he backhugged and give me series of kisses on the cheek.

It's like I was living the dream.

Zac, what are you doing to me?

When I heard a knock, I quickly opened it and came face to face with the hotshot.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yup. Why wouldn't I be okay? Are you done eating?" I asked and he smiled.

"Yup. Thank you. I have already washed the dishes also." I widened my eyes when I heard him say that.

"What? You should've left it there. I can do tha---"

He gave me a brief kiss on the lips.

"I did it already. Thank you."

"Zac, y-you can't do that, you know." I said shyly.

He raised both of his brows.

"Y-you can't just kiss me." I said while looking everywhere but him.

He made me look at him.

"Just tell me to stop, Erin, and I will do it. Do you want me to stop?" He asked seriously while looking me straight in the eyes. There's this hope in his eyes and I swear I didn't know what to answer.

I mean, of course I didn't want him to stop but keep in mind that there's nothing going on between us other than us liking each other.

When I was going to answer, my phone rang.

I took it from my purse that I was holding and it displays Jacky's name, one of the managers in my team.

I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Erin, were here in the Bloom already. We're already ordering... What do you want to order so that I when you come here, food is ready." I furrowed my browse slightly and looked at my wrist watch.

My eyes widened when I saw that it's 9am already. I only have 30 minutes to go to Bloom.

"Oh. The usual. And I am already on my way." I said and hung up.

I quickly went to my mirror and finger combed my hair.

"Zac, I'm so sorry but I have to go." I said.

"I understand. Let's go?" He asked and I nodded.

Then, I gasped when he intertwined his hands on mine. I looked at our hands and at his face who's currently smirking.

"Come on, babe. We don't want you to be late on your meeting." He winked and started to walk while me, who's still in shock, followed him out of my apartment then down to the parking lot.

As we stood beside my car, he faced me to him.

"Thank you for the breakfast, Erin. See you later." Then, he kissed me on the forehead and gave me a brief hug.

He opened my car door and told me to get in but before I got in, I faced him again and held her arm.

"Zac, go home and take a rest. Do you want me to drop you off at your apartment?" I asked.

He grinned. Again. For the nth time.

"No need. Phil's here. Now go, you'll be late." He said and I nodded.

"Go home and sleep." I reminded him and he saluted.

"Yes ma'am." He winked at me.

Then, as I started the engine, I honked to bid my goodbye to him.

All throughout my day, I was in a good mood and was smiling ear to ear because of Zac.

I wonder how he's right now. Is he still resting? Or did he went to his office? I hope he's doing the former but knowing how workaholic he is, I bet he's already working.

"Someone had a good day today. What's good, E?" Jowee asked me while we're waiting at our food.

"Huh? Nothing. I just had a good day, as you have mentioned. So, what's making you stressed?" I asked her.

Currently, we are in a Thai restaurant to have dinner. She called us, me and Olivia, to destress tonight because she badly needed one. But Livy couldn't come tonight as she was busy planning Dylan's birthday next week.

"Everything! Dad keeps on giving me additional workloads and it's making me crazy insane. Even on weekends I work! I couldn't even go to a spa. Oh you know what, I asked for a week's leave but he didn't approve, Erin! I am so tired... I just want to take a rest, to sleep, and to unwind!" She said in distress.

I sat beside her and hugged her to ease her agony. "Aww. Jowee, I'm sorry to hear that. If there's anything I could be of help, just let me know." I said sincerely.

It made me sad to see her jolly self tampered with stress.

"Thanks, E. Anyway, enough about it. I called you to entertain me. So, dance for me, my love." She squinted her eyes at me and I looked at her in disbelief.

"Why don't you dance here and entertain yourself." I retorted playfully and pushed her away.

"Whatever. So, anything good with you?" Our orders came and the waiter placed our food in front of us.

"Not much." I answered.

"Okay. So, have you chosen?" She asked and it made me confused.

"Choose what?" I asked then I twirled my pad thai and ate it.

"Between Alex and Zac." I choked when I heard those names.

"Oh my God, Erin, are you alright?" She said and offered me her water. I coughed continuously even after I drank the water as the rice noddle was still hanging on my pipe. This gained us an audience.

A waiter with a pitcher then suddenly appeared and refilled our glasses. I then took my water filled glass and gulped it in one go.

When I regained my composure, I took a couple deep breaths.

"Everything's fine now. You may continue eating." Jowee said to everyone who's staring at me.

"Oh my God, Erin. Are you sire you're okay? Do we need to go to the hospital?" She asked me while caressing my back.

"I'm fine. I'm okay." I said quickly.

"Are you sure? Because if you need to go to the hospital, just tell me." She paused waiting for my response.

"I told you, Jo---"

"Just tell me who to call. Alexander Vice or Zachary North?" My eyes widened while her eyes were full of mischief.

"What? What are you talking about?" I asked her praying that she won't say whatever's in my mind right now.

Please dear God. Please don't let her say anything.

"I'm talking about Man A and Man B. Alexander and Brother." She winked at me and smirked.

Deny.

I have to deny everything whatever it takes.

"You're nuts, Jowee. Man A and Man B are for Josie. Why was Zac and Alex dragged here?" I asked her, I hope my panicking was not obvious.

"Erin, cut the crap. Spill. Olivia's not here and you can't fool me." Jowee said seriously and crossed her arms on her chest.

Geez... What should I do? Should I tell her or not?

"Tell me. You have no choice. And you said it aloud."

I heaved a sigh.

I guess it's high time for me to tell someone.

"Okay fine. But please, promise me that you will keep this as a secret between us. Don't tell Olivia." I pleaded and she just rolled her eyes.

"Jowee!" I called her.

"Fine!"

"Okay. But let me ask you first, how did you know?" I asked her.

"Remember the night when I was going to get my clutch from you, I saw Zac went out of your apartment with a very swollen lips. And I very well knew that kind of swelling. It's when someone had an intense made out session." She said and I covered my mouth with my hand.

Oh gosh. That night was the night I got promoted, the night when I saw Zac standing in front of my door.

I groaned and clicked my tongue.

"You knew since then?" I asked her still in disbelief.

"Yup. But your crush towards him, I knew it since high school." My jaw went wide open.

What. The. Fuck.

"No. No. No. No. No. Omg. Does Livy know too?" I shook my head to sync everything in.

"Your crush on her brother? Yup. So, have you chosen between them?" She asked again and I looked at her sadly.

"She knew?!" I accidentally raised my voice.

"Woah there, down girl. Yes she knew when we were still in high school. But now, I don't know." She explained and I groaned.

"Jowee. Shit." I held both of her hands.

"It's fine. Livy's cool with it actually. So, have you decided yet?" She asked again.

I shook my head and lowered it.

"J, I don't know what to do. It's making me insane."

"You know, you have to decide now before everything gets even more complicated. If you're afraid that someone will get hurt, don't be. Because one way or another, someone will get hurt. It's inevitable, Erin." Jowee said and I nodded.

"I know. But... It's difficult."

"It is because you're still not ready to see the whole picture and you're still denying everything. So, I won't push you anymore. Just know that whatever's going on with you, I will always be here to help you and to listen to you. I can't stomach to see you suffering all alone." She smiled.

"Thank you, Jowee. But please, can we not tell Livy first? I mean, I don't think I am ready to tell her everything." I pronounced sadly.

"Okay." Jowee said.

"Let's eat?" I asked.

"Let's. But before that, is Zac a really great kisser?" She pushed.

"Jowee!!!"

"What?! I wanna know if the tabloids are telling the truth. So, is he?" She asked again while wiggling her eyebrows.

"Stop it." Oh God stop her please.

"Oh my God. Basing on your redness, he really is!!"

"Stop it, I said." I spoke in a mock irritation.

"Fine." She raised her arms in surrender.

I heaved a sigh.

Oh my God.

Busted.

But still, I'm thankful that I have someone to confide my feelings to.

Hello loves,

Sorry but this will be the last update today. I am not feeling well since Friday, I guess it's because of the holiday flu.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

xo,
kimmypatata