Erin McAfee

It's been three days since I told Olivia everything. It's also been three days since Zac went here and drunk apologised to me.

Since that day, I never had a proper sleep. I kept thinking of Zac, his actions, his jealousy, his apologies, and the sincerity in his eyes.

I don't understand, why was he like that? It's as if he cares for me and that hurting me was never his intention?

What's his deal? What does he want from me?

Does he love me that's why he's acting all jealous and guilty?

Or was it because I am his sister's best friend that's why he felt guilty on hurting me?

Ugh! I swear, I don't know anymore!

I groaned and sighed loudly.

"Zac again?" I heard Jowee asked from Livy's kitchen.

"It's been three months already, why does everything still so hard for me?" I answered her with a question.

It's like the more days has passed, the more complicated my situation with him.

"Because, it's my brother. He's complicated." Olivia answered when she and Dylan got out from her toilet. Her son just went number 1.

I took Dylan from her, kissed him on his chubby cheeks, and sat him on my lap. This boy is so cute! It can make your stress temporarily go away.

"Help me, Livy. What shall I do? What did you do in Dubai? Please." I pleaded because she's gone through this already. Maybe I can learn from her experience.

"E, we're different. What I did was not good for myself, I worked almost 24 hours a day for seven days. It's like---"

"We're no different." I covered Dylan's ears and continued, "Nick also broke up with you. You were also hurt by it. How did you hold up and---"

"Nick broke up with me, yes, but he has no issues to himself. He was just blinded by his insecurities. Yours were different." She answered me calmly while Dylan tried to remove my hands from his ears. I did so and he kissed my cheek as his thank you, then spoke.

"Mommy, can I pway with Aunt Jowee?"

"Come here, you little cutiepie, help me with these cupcakes." Jowee called him from the kitchen, she's making cupcakes for Dylan as he requested it.

He looked at his mom for approval and she nodded. Now, Livy and I were all alone in discussing this matter. I swear, talking to her about my past relationship with her brother is still awkward for me. Never did I once thought that we'll talk about me and Zac in this kind of situation.

But, we know nothing about the future. The one you wished to happen might not happen, and some of those you don't wish to happen, happens.

I took a deep breath and looked at Olivia's eyes.

"Should I take a break from everything? Go far away from here just like what you did?" I asked her thinking that maybe I could do what she did. It looked like it worked well for her.

"I mean, I was not going to go away for Zac to chase me, no. It's... Fu-- fudge cake, I don't know anymore." I whined and kicked Livy's coffee table slightly.

She sighed and took a sip on her tea.

"Erin, if there's anything I can advise to you is for you to focus on yourself. I know it's hard, but you need to because there's nothing or no one that can help you in this but yourself. For the first two months I was in Dubai, I thought being busy and being away was the answer. I shut myself to everyone but that did not do any good to me. It made me feel more depressed and lonely because the very memories and emotions I was running away from were inevitably coming back to me or haunt me at the end of the day."

"And what I got from that? Resentment. Not to Niccolo, but to myself. I blamed myself for everything that happened me. For falling in love with him, for giving my heart to him and letting him crush it in front of me. For months, I punished myself by neglecting myself. I starved, ate junkfood almost everyday, overworked, and gaslighted myself. This was the point I had given up on myself, Erin, and that's what I am seeing you're doing right now. And I know, once you get away from here, your self-neglect will heightened that will eat you alive."

"As your friend, I won't let you do that to yourself. I won't permit you to go somewhere because that won't fix anything nor be therapeutic for your mental and emotional state." She paused and looked at me with the eyes with so much understanding and care.

I know she suffered but I didn't know that this was what she had gone through in Dubai. I can't imagine how she surpassed that loneliness in a place where she doesn't know someone.

"Liv, mine is different. I want to leave this town to seek for myself again and I know I won't get that here in this city especially to my apartment where majority of our memories were spent. I have accepted already everything that transpired between me and your brother and I know that we're never going back together. Don't get me wrong though. I haven't been fully moved on from him, I still love him, truthfully. But I already accepted the fact that my feelings for him will just remain a fantasy. For four whole months, Livy, it was too good to be true, that I was living my dream --- being with your brother. But I guess it has to stop now." I explained to her.

There, I said it.

I have been struggling admitting this to myself but I guess nothing will come out good if I keep on denying this. I will just hurt myself even more.

"If that's what you're really feeling, then I'll support you with that." She smiled at me in understanding but I don't understand... Why is she agreeing? I mean, I thought she wanted me to end up with her brother, but why was she supporting me?

Does she also know that me and Zac are really not meant to be? Or Zac really has no feelings to me at all?

"You know, you can always ask me or tell me what's bothering you, Erin." Livy spoke when she noticed my odd silence.

Should I ask her? Am I ready to hear that she already knew that Zac didn't feel anything towards me?

I think I have to know... but it will hurt me even more.

No. I'm fine. I need to know this, that way I can start in clean slate.

Yes.

Whew... here goes nothing.

"Why? I mean, why are you being supportive? You were rooting for me and your brother to end up together when you were still in Dubai. Did he finally tell you that I... that he really had...n-no feelings towards me?" I stuttered at the latter part because even if I wanted to know, it's hard to say it out loud.

"Huh?! No... of course not. Believe it or not, I am still pro ZErin and no, my brother has feelings for you, trust me, but it's not my business to meddle in nor my place to tell you what he truly feels for you. But I am your best friend. It's my job to support whatever your decision is, as long as you're not hurting yourself. You know, E, what I learned from my breakup with my idiotic of a boyfriend, is to not give your 100% love to the person you love." she paused and smiled, enjoying the confusion in my face.

"You have to spare some self love for you. I know they said once you love, you have to give your 100% but that's so wrong. Yes, of course you need to give your love to that person but not everything to the point that you're leaving nothing to yourself. No. It's not that. give your 70% to the relationship and 30% to yourself. That way, you won't lose yourself once everything goes south."

"That's the loophole in love. They taught us to be selfless for the relationship, but what about ourselves? I know they will say take a risk, but isn't giving your love to someone taking a risk itself? Anyway, what I'm saying is, you need to find yourself first before you face everything or anything." she winked at me and gave me her sweet smile.

I must say, breaking up with Niccolo made her mature, for the past year, Olivia became more mature. I believe this has something to do with her working in their company, being with Niccolo, and most of all, being a mom to Dylan. She's different now and I could see that her life has full of colors now and I'm so happy for her.

She's now the one giving advises to us, not the other around.

"You know, Livy, it's nice that you're now happy with your life. That all you've dreamed about is now happening to you, and I'm so so happy for you." I told her sincerely, she was about to say something but someone rang her doorbell.

She excused herself to see who's on the other side of the door. I was praying so hard to not be Zac because even though I accepted everything I am still not ready to see him.

As I was busy thinking of ways to a subtle escape, I heard my name was called by a familiar husky low voice.

"Erin?" I stilled and my brain stopped working but when Dylan happily shouted his name, I turned around and looked at him.

"Uncle Mason! Uncle Mason! Uncle Masooooon!" Dylan ran towards Mason and the latter knelt with one knee and caught the running little devil and twirled him around.

"Hello, buddy. I've missed you." he greeted him and gave him a slight pinch on his cheek.

I was gobsmacked when I saw how close Mason is with Dylan, I didn't know he like kids and I didn't know that this is how close Olivia and he is.

I looked at Olivia and she was smiling appreciatively at the two.

I looked at Mason again and saw him looking at me smiling. I returned his smile and nodded at him. He then placed Dylan down on the floor and mumbled something in his ear to which the latter jumped in joy. Hmm. I wonder what that is.

Anyway, Olivia directed him to her home office and told me, Jowee, and Dylan that they have some urgent business to discuss. I guess it's about their unsupervised project in Dubai. I mean, ever since Olivia went back home, she's been working remotely here and Mason was the one who replaced Olivia. According to Mason, he didn't want to stay in Dubai for a long time because he doesn't want to leave his post here unsupervised because of the threat of his cousin in winning the confidence of the external shareholders.

But, I wonder how tight the competition he and his cousin has. I mean, I looked him up and I saw he has a lot of business achievements. And I just knew that he and Olivia were the brains of this billion dollar Cooper-North business venture.

What more does his dad need from him? Or what more does he need to prove to him?

Ugh. Anyway, it's not the time I have to be curious about him. I made it clear to myself that I will stay away from him.

Ever since he blackmailed me to be his date at Sky's wedding, I didn't trust him anymore. I feel like he has a hidden agenda as to why he approached me and bid on me. I feel like this has something to do with Zac.

"Hello." Mason greeted me.

I was so engrossed in thinking that I didn't hear him nor felt him sit beside me, which was so close by the way. So, I scoot further away from him and returned his greeting.

"Hi." I greeted timidly.

"Don't worry, Erin, I won't do anything to you. Also, I promised Olivia to be in my most behaved self or else she will kill me." he chuckled and shook his head, probably remembering how Livy said it to him.

Then suddenly, I heard a loud slap and a groan from Mason, I looked at him and he's caressing his right bicep, when I looked behind him, I saw Olivia shaking his left hand, probably because it hurt... then she spoke, "Hey! Remember what you promised me, that you will behave!"

"I remember, okay. Oh crap, how much do your hands weigh?" he groaned.

Olivia just smiled at him sweetly and winked at me then went to help Jowee and Dylan in the kitchen.

Like she really can help.

I smiled at that thought.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I heard Mason asked and I stopped smiling.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him respectfully but not in a friendly tone. I didn't want him to be comfortable with me again. I want him to see that I built up my walls from him.

"I brought some documents that Olivia needs to be signed for I will be bringing those to Dubai tomorrow." he pointed at the thick brown envelope that sits atop Olivia's coffee table.

I looked at it and I didn't know why I felt a pang of loneliness when I saw the envelope. Being rich is lonely. You have a lot of money that can buy you everything but time, enjoyment, and rest are the luxuries you that can't buy your money.

I believe there were only 10% of the rich are being completely happy with their life, the other 90%, they're concealing it with the expensive stuff they buy.

"I'm sorry." Mason apologised.

I raised my brows at him to urge him to continue.

"I'm sorry for blackmailing you and for starting a fight with Zac. I'm not sorry though for him, but I want you to know that none of what I did was intentional. I know by the time I blackmailed you, I lost your trust to me, but I swear, that's the only way I knew to make you be my date. I wa--"

"Tell me honestly, why did you bid on me?" I asked Mason because I don't believe the 'I like you" anymore. It just doesn't make sense.

He sighed and shook his head.

"I can't tell you, but what I can tell you is that I want Zac to be jealous and to lose his fake demeanor." he answered and that really got me shocked.

I knew it. This has something to do with Zac, not me.

"But what I showed you was the real me. I never lied to you though, and you made me realize that there really are still women like you." he tried to hold my hand but I avoided him.

"What did he do to you?"

"To me, nothing, but to someone, it's big. Coincidentally, he holds the 10% external share of our company, and to earn his vote, I needed to do this."

The favor.

This is the favor he's telling me about. Who is he?

"W-wait... So that means, you're not the one who bid on me?" Please tell me he did bid on me. Please. Please. Please.

He shook his head and gave me an apologetic smile.

"I wasn't. It was him. I was merely his puppet, Erin, but I can assure you, he's not dangerous, he will not harm you."

But that didn't make me feel at ease. If he can control Mason, and if he can waste a million dollar for a worthless bid, then he holds power.

Who is he? And why does he have a grudge on Zac?

"What does he want from Zac? Does Olivia know about this?" I asked him but he just shook his head and made a shush gesture.

"I can't tell you, Erin, and Olivia does not know anything about this. I know I said he is harmless and not dangerous, but if I told you, all hell breaks lose. Even I will pay for it." he whispered and that made break cold sweat.

Who is he?

"But I promise you, I won't let him hurt you or do anything with you. You have my word for this, Erin. Just don't tell anyone what I told you. Even your best friends, he knows everything, he hears everything, and he's everywhere." he gulped and took a deep breath.

Oh please God.

Ignorance is bliss.

I shouldn't have asked.

"But why did you tell me?" I whispered at him.

"This is the only peace offering I can offer to you." he answered and stood up and mouthed, I'm Sorry to me.

"Walk me out?" he asked and I nodded.

"Livy, Dylan, Jowee, I have to go." He raised his voice gently and there came Dylan running with blue icings on his face.

"Bye, Uncle Mason." He kissed Mason on his cheek and wiggled down so he can go to the kitchen.

Livy then emerged from the kitchen and joined me in walking Mason out. As Livy opened the door, I stilled and she gasped, while Mason smiled smugly.

There was Zac, who's about to ring the doorbell. When he saw me, his eyes softened but it quickly darkened when he saw Mason.

"Zachary." Mason said condescendingly and draped his arm on my shoulder. I was about to remove his arm but he gripped it without hurting me.

Zac on the other hand, followed his actions and I saw him fisted both of his hands. His veins on his neck were also visible.

There goes what I was saying. The way he gets jealous even if we're not together anymore. This is why I was having sleepless nights, for thinking this kinds of acts of him.

"What are you doing here?" his voice were hard and full of anger in it. If looks and words could kill, Mason would've died already seconds ago.

"None of your business, North. I have to go, babe." he turned me towards him, kissed my forehead, and hugged me. He slid his hand on my back and stopped right above my buttocks but it didn't took long enough because he was tackled on the ground by a brooding Zac.

"You fucking shit, I told you to not touch her!" he hovered over him and punched him square in the face. Mason then pushed him and tried to punch him but Zac acted on his reflexes and quickly evaded the punch.

Livy was yelling for them to stop. I looked at the kitchen and saw Jowee carrying Dylan while covering his eyes and ears towards Olivia's room.

Olivia however, stopped screaming and went to her kitchen.

"Stop it both of you!!! Even if you kill each other, I don't care, just do this somewhere where there's no toddler!" I screamed at them both and miraculously, they stopped.

I saw blood oozing from Mason's nose so I helped him get up and gave him my hanky. I glared at Zac and spoke.

"Stop, whatever you're doing! We're over! Stop being jealous and possessive!" I screamed at him and pushed him. I picked up the brown envelope Mason was holding and assisted him out of Olivia's apartment.

I didn't care anymore, I just want to leave that place.

As I said a while ago, I was not yet ready to see him.

Hello, loves!

Surprise! I will be busy tomorrow til Friday so I wrote this chapter today.

Next update will be on Saturday or Sunday this week.

What are your thoughts, though? Who is this mystery bidder? hmmm...

Did you enjoy this chapter? If you did, please vote.

Thank you!!!

xo,

kimmypatata