Zachary North

I've been rereading Olivia's email for the past ten minutes now. She's informing me that due to the time constraint, she's already on her way to Dubai to supervise personally her and Mr. Cooper's engagement. I was okay with it at first but when I saw how long she will be there I couldn't believe it.

Four months?!

Why the fuck she'll be there for four months?! And she didn't even consulted me.

I called Nikkie, her secretary, to ask if this was just a sick joke because sometimes, when my sister's crazy, she'll do everything or anything craziness she's thought of just to show it to me.

However, it was real. Even Nikkie didn't know why she suddenly went to Dubai, I didn't want to think of something negative happened to her that pushed her to go there. And there's only one person who could tell if something's wrong with my sister, that is of course, my girlfriend, Erin.

That night, we were having our dinner at a restaurant that Jane, my secretary, booked. As usual, Erin looked effortlessly beautiful. We talked about what happened to our day, until I brought up about Livy's sudden flight to Dubai.

"Babe, do you know why Livy went to Dubai all of a sudden? I mean why did she rushed to go there without proper telling me and dad knowing that she would be staying there for quite awhile." I asked her.

She stilled for half a second and then continued to drink her wine.

"uhm, I don't know. She just told us the night before as she needed us to help her in packing." she answered and looked everywhere but me.

"Oh. But is she okay though? Because I kinda feel that something's not right that pushed her to go there. Did she say something to you and Jowee?" I asked again because I could feel that she knows something. I mean, these three are the closest, they knew every little thing that goes on in each other's lives.

I just hope that Erin's telling the truth.

"You know, maybe you should ask Olivia instead? Have you talked to her?" she asked meekly.

"I tried calling her but I just went to her voicemail. I even emailed her but she didn't respond."

"Maybe because she's still jetlagged or busy?"

"Maybe... Does Nick knew?" I asked and she stilled.

"K-knew what?" she stuttered. Oh Erin, I hope you're not hiding something from me.

"Knew about---"

My phone rang and I saw Mr. Fukuyama's name, I excused myself from Erin to answer the call. After 25 minutes, we hung up the call and before I went inside, I dialled Markus' number, my personal investigator.

In just two rings, he answered.

"Mr. North."

"Markus, good evening. I want you to investigate why Olivia, my sister, went to Dubai all of a sudden." I ordered.

"Noted, sir. Anything else?"

"None, just give me everything in two days." I said and hung up after he mumbled a yes sir.

This was the only way I knew to know what pushed my sister to go to the other side of the globe. No one was giving me answers even Erin who obviously knew what's happened to my sister. I just hope that whatever Markus' gathered, it won't be grave enough for me to flip out and take necessary actions.

***

Two days after

I was drinking my evening coffee when my doorbell rang, I opened the door and saw Markus holding a thick brown envelope. I surmise he had already gathered everything and basing on how thick the envelope was, I don't think I'll like what's inside that envelope.

We went to my home office and nodded at him to start.

"What did you find?" I asked him as I sat on my chair. He handed me the envelope and my blood boiled instantly.

There it was a picture of my sister being held by Jericho, Nick's brother. I could clearly see blood on her arm as well as the swelling of her cheeks. I looked at the photos and I swear to God I wanted to kill Niccolo.

Markus narrated everything that happened to Olivia in the past few weeks then, he explained to me what happened to Tessa's birthday party, the pictures that I was holding. Then, as he was about to finish, he gave me the USB containing the CCTV footage of that day.

After I watched the footage, it made me want to hurt someone. My sister was again humiliated in that fucking house, this time she has no one to side with her, to protect her.

As if everything's enough to unleash the beast in me, the next words uttered by Markus made me want to turn every stuff I could see upside down.

"Ms. Olivia went to Ms. Jowee Bradley's apartment afterwards then the next day, Ms. Erin McAfee went to Ms. Jowee's apartment to take care of her. After that day, they accompanied Ms. Olivia every night for a week in her apartment. In addition, the day before Ms. Olivia's departure, Mr. Knights went to her apartment, I didn't get any data as to what they had talked about but what I saw in the CCTV footage was that before he came inside Ms. Olivia's apartment, he was holding an envelope then as he went out, he was writhing in anger and the envelope was gone. That same night, Ms. Olivia went to the airport with Ms. Erin and Ms. Jowee with her." Markus told me everything.

What the fuck?! Erin knew all along? From the time I drove her to Jowee's apartment, she already knew what happened to my sister and she dared to lie to me? Fuck!!!

I don't know which one should I be mad more, that she lied to me or she didn't think of telling me what happened to my sister?!

She knew very well how protective I am to Olivia!

I stood up abruptly and glared at Markus.

"This is what I want you to do, block Niccolo from everything that concerns my sister. Make sure that he won't find her in any way. Sooner or later, he will know the truth and will come running to Olivia for her forgiveness. I want him to suffer emotionally and regret not believing my sister. Track everything he does and report it to me. Next, deploy some of your men to watch my sister discreetly in Dubai, I don't want her knowing that I have men following her. IF EVER Niccolo gets past our track and went to Olivia, make sure that he won't be able to approach nor speak to her. Understand?!" I ordered to Markus and he nodded his head.

You son of a bitch, Niccolo, I won't let you off the hook so easily. I'll make sure that you'll suffer once you knew the truth. You bastard, you told me that you love my sister and even promised me that you will protect her in all cost. Now what did you do? You were the first one to turn her back at her when he needed you the most.

I took my car keys and went down to my garage. In a matter of 20 minutes, I arrived at Erin's apartment and confronted her about what everything. She didn't deny and she apologised to me but I wasn't really having it. She just lied to me about my sister. It was fucking okay if it was about just a petty misunderstanding between Olivia and Niccolo but this is big! My sister got hurt physically and emotionally.

I didn't see why she didn't see the need to tell me.

She knew very well how much I cared for my sister, fine if they have a friendly code to not tell this to anyone BUT everything has exceptions. This is an exception, this is a big deal! Now, she's miles away from everyone and is nursing her broken heart all alone.

After that night, I went and confront Niccolo about it. Of course, I intend to hurt him so I gave him a couple of punches and I ended our friendship. Even though he's one of my closest friend, I could never ever consider him as a friend given the fact that he hurt my sister to which he promised and assured to me that he will never ever hurt her because he loves her.

Love?! Fucking shit right?!

How the fuck does he love my sister when he himself didn't trust her.

Do you call it love when trust wasn't in it?

A week had gone by before I told what happened to Livy to my dad. I omitted some parts because if I said everything to him, I bet he would have another heart attack and this time, I believe it would be fatal.

I told him about my plans on ruining Niccolo's business but he didn't agree because it was not ethical and that Olivia won't appreciate if she knew that I meddled in. Dad said that it was more than enough that I blocked everything related to Olivia from Niccolo.

Anyway, it just came out of the blue, I didn't actually intend on doing that especially that I witnessed how he started it.

I sighed and leaned back on my humongous chair here in our company.

Then, my phone beeped notifying mo that I have a message. I looked into it and saw Erin's usual text of pleasantries and apologies. To be honest, I am a still irked at her in not telling me. But I missed her already, it's been a week since I snapped at her and ignored her.

I believe it's time for me to stop acting like a jerk towards her.

I was about to call her when Markus' name emerged from my phone.

I answered it right away because it's either about Olivia or Niccolo that he's going to report.

"What is it?" I answered.

"Mr. Knights went to Ms. Erin's apartment last night." I immediately stood up from my chair.

"What?!"

"He already knew the truth and as predicted, he asked Domenik to find Ms. Olivia when he knew that madam has been away for quite some time now. But of course since we removed any traces of her departure, they won't find her that easy." He explained.

"But he went to Erin last night." I announced darkly.

"Yes sir and apologies but we didn't know what they talked about." He apologised.

"Just make sure that that son of a bitch won't find my sister that easy and if he did, don't fucking let him approach her in any way. Understand?!"

"Yes sir."

"Alright, I'll handle Erin." I hung up my phone and I dialled Erin's number.

When she answered the call, I asked her angrily for not telling me that Niccolo came to her last night. But what I couldn't understand was that she got angry at me when I was the one who should be angry at her.

She even hung up on me and dared not to answer my call that's why I went to her apartment that night.

As predicted, it didn't came out good. She even lectured me about not meddling in my sister's life. I mean, how can I not? That fucking bastard Niccolo hurt, insulted, and humiliated my sister in front of so many people!

However, that's not the reason why I am mad at Erin. I am mad because she kept her mouth shut and decided to not tell me what happened to my sister.

I know for someone it's petty, but for me, it's a fucking big deal! Now she's mad at me for learning everything from Markus and even lectured me about listening to someone's explanation first before concluding anything.

How? What Markus gave me were facts, and he's not fucking sugar coating it or whatsoever. Also, need I say that he's loyal to me? He never once lied to me or covered some parts.

Unlike her who managed to lie to me in the face and I swear I'm fucking taking this seriously.

Also, what I said a while ago was the truth, Livy is and always be my priority. That's what I promised to mom and I would never ever break that.

Right after I parked my car outside Pub Lo, I got a notification from Jones, Livy's personal bodyguard and chauffer since high school. As usual, Livy's been overworking herself and not eating properly.

Ugh. What are doing to yourself, he's not worth all the pain, Livy.

I was tempted to call her and tell her that but I won't because knowing her, it will push her away more and it would be hard to reach her.

I heaved a sigh of frustration and walked inside the pub. As always women were quick to throw themselves at me but I evaded them by walking quickly because firstly, I am already taken, and secondly, they're not worth my attention.

As I entered our private room, there O saw Neil and Sky laughing their asses off about something. I huffed as I sat on one of the chair and clicked my tongue.

"Grumpy is here." Neil spoke first.

"I can see that." Then Sky followed.

I rolled my eyes and gave them the finger.

"If only I have a vagina, I would be more than happy for you use that on me. But unfortunately, I'm a guy so pass." Neil commented while Sky laughed harder.

"I will shove a fucking golf club up your ass if you don't shut up." I replied to Neil in irritation. "Stop laughing Skylar." I glared at Sky but it didn't faze him so he laughed even more.

"Now, who shoved a stick up your ass to be this grumpy?" Neil asked after he sipped his whiskey.

I shook my head slowly not wanting to tell them the fight I just had with Erin.

"Is this still about Olivia and Niccolo?" Sky asked after he gotten over his laughter.

"Yes and No." I answered tiredly.

"What happened now?" Neil asked as he lowered down the volume of the music blasting in the room.

Well fuck it, I guess I should really need to tell them.

I told them everything, from Nick finding out the truth and trying to find my sister till the fight I had with Erin. By the time I was finished telling them, Neil cursed loudly.

"Fuck, Nick is really an idiot, it took him weeks from knowing the truth. Geez. But why the hell are you mad at Erin? She didn't do anything wrong as I have seen it." Neil uttered.

"Neil, she lied to me that day. If she only said to me that something happened to Olivia, I would've stopped her going to Dubai and stay there for four fucking months! Do you know how dangerous it is for someone to stay at a place where she doesn't know any single one person in there? Add the fact that she's heartbroken, so it would safe to say that she might do reckless things. I meant she's not in the right mind because her emotions are getting the best of her." I stood up and paced a little.

"Now how can I protect her if she's miles away from me. How can I protect her from someone or from herself?" I added in frustration.

"But still, it wasn't Erin's fault, Zac. Did you asked her why she lied that day?" Sky asked and I shook my head.

"But she said that Olivia wanted to keep it a secret from me." I answered him.

"That's it." Neil uttered.

"What?! She fuckin' lied to me, Neil. She knew very well that when it comes to Olivia, I'm so fucking protective!" I snapped at him.

"That's the point, dude." Neil replied.

This isn't making any sense. They can't see my point of view.

"Of course I'm naturally protective of my sister."

"Overprotective, you mean. You see Zac, the point is, Olivia didn't want you to know about it because he knew what you'll do or what you're capable of. Secondly, as for Erin, she's one of your sister's best friend. So, naturally, she's bound by the friendship rule to not divulge any secrets especially if it's a promise. You see Erin's of your sister's true friend, she's loyal to her also, did you think she wanted to lie to you or keep this a secret?" Sky asked but I just huffed.

Because I swear I didn't know what to say nor react.

"Of course not, Zac. If it's anything, I'm sure she's whacking her brains out because she's been sandwiched between you and Olivia. She's torn between telling or not telling you. So give your girlfriend a benefit of the doubt or let herself explain to you. You should know that she's not the kind of woman who will lie just for the sake of lying. She lied because she had to." Sky added.

"But---"

"Sky's right, Zac. It wasn't Erin's fault she had to not because she wanted to." Neil said interrupting me.

I hate to admit this but they have a point.

"But what about me? I am her boyfriend, what about her loyalty to me? She knew very well that Olivia means a lot to me, why didn't she tell me?"

"It's about what Olivia wants, Zac. It's not about what you want." Sky said.

I slid next to Neil and finished my glass.

I fucking don't know what to say anymore we're just running in circles.

Hello loves!

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