Erin McAfee

As I opened the door of my office, there I saw a bouquet of yellow Tulips sitting atop my desk.

I smiled at the sight of the beautiful flowers but quickly furrowed my brows knowing as to whom it came from. I found the card slipped therewith and lo and behold, I saw that this was sent by Alexander Vice.

Ugh. Its been a week now since he has given me stuff such as chocolates and flowers. That night at the Distillery Night, I knew it already that he's into me the way he engaged and flirt with me while conversing. But after that night, I didn't dwell on it because I didn't want to assume anything.

I was busy talking to André, my childhood friend and date at the Distillery Night, when Jowee and Brandon found us. We exchanged pleasantries with each other and introduced ourselves to one another.

I was not in the mood to mingle with anyone actually, all I wanted to do was to go home and snuggle up on to my warm cozy bed.

However, since I was already here and to support Jowee's company, I have to suck it all up and smile as if boredom wasn't eating me alive.

As the two men that we called our dates were busy chatting with each other, I looked at Jowee and saw boredom evident in her eyes too. So, I secretly poked her to catch her attention and signalled her with my eyes to scoot.

She then got the message and excused us two from them by telling them that we're just going to get some drinks.

"Oh. My. God. That was so boring and dull." Jowee immediately told me as we went away from the two and walked towards the bar where the drinks were served besides the roving staffs that offer champagne.

"Yeah. Super boring." I agreed and downed three shots of Kamikaze.

"André looked hot though. That's why Brandon couldn't stop talking to him." Jowee joked and we chuckled.

"By the way, tomorrow will be a busy day for you and Brandon as I guess both of you will be on the front cover." I voiced out and downed another Kamikaze.

"Yeah. I don't care though, Derrick will be there to take care of everything." She shrugged. Then we heard the old couple beside us talking.

"Are you sure that's Olivia North? The daughter of Anthony?" The old man asked his wife, I assume.

"Yes. She's Niccolo's date tonight, oh no, they're actually dating. Poor guy, why did he have to fall for that spoiled heiress." The woman voiced out sadly and Jowee and I looked at each other frowning.

"But they look lovely though. I just hope that Olivia won't break Niccolo's heart as he is a very good man." The old man commented and the woman just sighed.

That's what's everyone think of Livy, a spoiled arrogant heiress. She's been perceived as such because of all the news published about her.

Anyway, we just left them and went searching for our best friend.

Jowee was the one who saw them so we sauntered towards them. I saw Olivia in the arms of Niccolo while the latter gave her a kiss on the side of her head.

The old couple was right, they really looked good together. And by the looks of Niccolo, I believe the old man's words were true, that he is a good man.

The way he held Livy and the simple kiss on her head won't make you feel that he has ill-intentions towards her. Well, I just hope that he's different and a genuine guy that will take care of my friend.

As we neared them, Jowee called Livy's name and she introduced us to Niccolo and to his best friend, Alexander Vice.

The three immediately engaged into a conversation leaving me and Alexander out.

"Erin, are you related to the McAfees?" I heard Alexander spoke.

I smiled at him and spoke, "Yes, I'm their youngest, but I did not join the family business. How about you? Are you the son of Bryan Vice?"

"Yup, I am." He smiled sweetly but it did not affect me because I know who he is. He's like Zac, who changes girls like they change their ties every day.

"May I ask why did you not join the family business?" He asked politely but I could see it in his eyes that he took a liking on me.

Not to sound so proud nor conceited, it's just that I knew that look. That's the look of flirtation, meaning that's how they give off their charm to get a woman in their bed.

I wasn't being judgemental though, I was just laying out what I have observed for years.

"It wasn't my forte." I answered him briefly then took a sip of my champagne that Jowee grabbed from the roving wait staff.

I lost my interest in the conversation when I saw the flirtatious gleam in his eyes. Nay nay, Alexander, I'm already immune to men like you.

"Oh. So what do you do then, Erin?" He asked politely despite his flirting.

"I'm a writer and a junior editor-in-chief at a publishing house." I answered him and directing my attention to the three who's still busy talking about God knows what.

"Oh nice, which publishing house?" He asked. I was going to ignore him but Olivia answered on my behalf.

"PSI Publishing House." I narrowed my eyes at her and she just gave me a smile then leaned her head to Niccolo's shoulder.

When Alexander was about to speak, I beat him to it and announced to everyone that our dates were probably looking for us.

I grabbed Jowee's arm and walked away from them.

I groaned when I remembered that it was Olivia who told him where I work. This was what I've been avoiding and my annoying best friend just have to open her mouth at the wrong time.

Anyway, what's done is done. I'll just ignore him for a couple more days and he will surely give up.

I called Chloe, my secretary, to put the Tulips in a vase and place it on the coffee table inside my office. I may not like the sender but I won't throw a beautiful flower to waste.

Other than teas and books, flowers also give me a calming feeling whenever I look at them. It gives off a vibe of tranquility and serenity for me.

My first half of the day spent mostly in my office reading tons of drafts that needed my attention before I submit it to my senior. For some, my work may seem to be boring because it consisted of reading and/or correcting grammars and typos that our writers sent to us. But what they didn't know was it was just a part of our job.

Being an editorial chief, I manage a team of writers and editors, we determine its layout, style, design and the like that will be presented to the market which lead us to oversee the whole process of publication, be it an editorial, a book, newspaper, magazine, and academic journal.

As per the salary, it pays very well actually. I mean even if I didn't hold a share in our company, it would still provide me a good life. Now you may be wondering why I became a junior editor-in-chief at the age of 23, it's because I have been working here at PSI since I was in third year college.

Brenda, our boss, was actually the senior editor-in-chief that time and I worked under her so she knew me very well and treated me as her daughter.

My colleagues were actually great too, we rarely have office dramas as we all get along pretty well, if of course, I do say so myself. As per Jordan, he apologized to me the next day and promised that he will not bother me again with asking me out. I accepted his apologies though but I still distanced myself from him because I really don't like his vibe.

However, a rumor spread in the office that I am dating Zachary North and that the flowers that was delivered these past few days were from him. I ignored everyone's questions about me dating him. Some asked me if it's because I'm friends with his sister while others warned me to not fall in love with him as he will just break my heart.

Everytime they give their advice to me, I just smile at them and quickly divert the topic because it frustrates me from the inside. There's this feeling inside me that I wanted it to be true but how will it came true when it was only me who's into him.

As I have mentioned before, I've long been accepted that Zac will never see me more than his sister's best friend. But these past few days, there were lots of things going on that concerns him and it ignites the desire that I've long been buried in me, that is the desire of being with him.

The night he drove me home from Jordan's welcome dinner, he did not let go of my hand. All throughout the ride, he was holding it like his life depended on it. I didn't know what to do though because it was too much for me to handle so I pretended to have fallen asleep. As I arrived in my apartment, I couldn't contain it anymore and danced manically.

I chuckled at the memory of me twerking in the living room. Geez, I acted like a teenager. Before I could focus on the file that was in front of me, my phone rang.

"Hello, Jowee." I answered cheerfully.

"Woah, someone's in a good mood." She commented and I chuckled.

"So, what's up?" I asked and put her into a speaker mode.

"Go straight to my place once you're done in your work. You can use any of my dresses for our clubbing tonight." She suggested.

"Oh-kay. Have you informed Livy?" I asked because ever since she and Nick became a thing, she rarely hang out with us.

"Tried calling the bitch but she wouldn't answer. Just get ready in my apartment and we'll go to her once we're done, I don't think she forgot tonight. Afterall, she was the one who suggested to go clubbing."

"Okay. Just fetch me, J. Adrian drove me to work today." I said and we bid our goodbyes.

After four and a half hours, my phone received a notification and I instantly knew that it was Jowee so I quickly stuffed my things inside my Balenciaga bag and went out of my office. I knew how much she hates waiting so I took great strides towards the exit.

It's about 9:30pm and I was putting my makeup on when she entered her room in a sour mood.

"She's still not answering me." She groaned and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Should we start worrying? Or should we call Za---"

"No. She's with Niccolo. I called her secretary to ask if something happened to Olivia but she just said that she has a dinner date with Niccolo tonight." She informed me and smirked.

"They're getting cozy with each other, huh." I commented while I was applying my mascara.

"Yup. From what I knew, Nick's a great guy, and I can see that he can take care of Livy properly. Not to mention that he can tame her." She added and I mumbled a small yup.

"Are you done though? Let's go to Livy's and catch them." I nodded after checking myself through the mirror.

When we arrived at the club, I immediately saw Alexander Vice on the island with a whiskey on his hand.

What the hell?! Of all the clubs here in New York, why did he choose this one? Ugh. My God! But I don't think he'll see me tonight, right? There are tons of---

My mini pep talk to myself went downhill when both Nick and Livy went to greet him. Ugh! Don't tell me they invited him?

When we neared him, Alexander immediately beamed at me. They re-introduced us again and went to our usual table, and as you guessed it, Alexander sat beside me. After we ordered drinks and downed a couple of shots to get our blood pumping, Jowee decided to go to the dance floor leaving me with the ON couple, Olivia and Niccolo, and this man.

I tried to go with Jowee but I was sandwiched between this guy and the couple who's busy eating each other's faces.

Also, I was well aware that the guy beside me was staring at me with a smile so I glared at him.

"Move." I commanded but his smile widened even more.

"Move!" I repeated.

"How are you? Did you like the flowers and the chocolates?" He asked as if he didn't hear me.

"I. Said. Move." I pronounced each word while narrowing my eyes at him.

"Answer me first, feisty." He grinned and I swear I wanted to wipe it off of his face.

"Fine! I detest it, it all ends up in the trash or to my team. So stop sending me those pathetic stuff because I will never be swayed through that, especially to a guy like you." I snapped at him and his smile slightly faltered because of the words I spat on him.

"Yes, I know what kind of a guy like you. You see me as a challenge that you wanted to overcome. Let me tell you something, Alexander, I am not like any other girls who warms your bed. Now move!" I added angrily and pointed my index finger at him.

"You judged me already." He uttered and looked me in the eye.

"Damn right. Now get the hell out of my way or else I will pour this Jack Daniels onto you and smash the bottle to your head." I held the bottle to scare him and thankfully, he heed on to my orders.

I quickly went to the dance floor to find Jowee but she's already dancing with someone else.

I groaned because I was going to have fun tonight but someone decided to ruin my night. So I decided to go to the bar to order some drinks and lose myself into its content.

After I downed a couple shots and calmed myself down, I went to the dance floor and danced my night away. Then I felt a hand around me, I looked behind and saw a handsome guy so I turned around and danced with him.

Then, when I saw Livy and Jowee dancing with each other, I left the handsome guy and joined my two best friends. Afterall, we arranged this night for us to hangout.

After a couple of minutes, Nick went to us to dance with Olivia. Jowee and I moved away from them because we didn't want to see them sucking each other's faces. We've seen enough of it.

Thankfully, Alexander left me alone and did not bother me anymore. I hope that what I told him would make him stop pestering me with the stuff he's sending to my office.

When Jowee and I got tired of dancing, we went towards our empty table. I took my phone out to just play with it then I saw a text from Olivia notifying me that she and Nick already went home.

I sighed and informed Jowee that the ON couple, had already went home. She just shrugged and we drank two shots of tequila before we agreed that one more dance then we're out of here.

Jowee was so drunk she couldn't even walk properly so I assisted her towards her car. Thankfully she asked her driver to wait for us but before I can hop in the car, I realized that our clutches was still on our table so I had to go inside to take it.

As I was on my way to the exit of the club, a hand gripped my arm and stopped me. I looked at the hand and followed it's way to the owner. What I saw shocked me.

Why is he here? Or was I hallucinating? I asked myself in confusion.

"Zac?" I uttered his name in question and he sighed.

"I'll drive you home." He took one of the clutches I was holding and was about to hold me when I evaded his hand.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked him because I still couldn't believe that he's here. Or if it really was him.

"I just passed by. Now, let's go." He attempted to hold my arm again but I took a step back from him.

"No. I came here with Jowee." He successfully held my arm but I tried to wriggle it out from his hold because the annoying electricity that I've been wanting to feel again since the night he held my hand was there again.

"Don't touch me." I snapped when I realized that I was beginning to fantasize a relationship between me and him again.

"Erin, stop being so stubborn. Let me drive you ho---"

"Are you deaf? I said I came here with Jowee. So drive yourself home." I said and tried to take Jowee's clutch from him but he hid it behind his back.

"Zachary, give it to me, you moron!" I uttered angrily at him. And I saw surprise in his eyes.

"Erin, what's going on here?" Alexander immediately blocked me from Zac then spoke again, "Zac? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to fetch Erin." He stated and I could see that his blue eyes turned dark when Alexander stood by my side.

"I said no need, Zac! Ugh! Both of you! You really don't know when to stop, don't you?! When I said leave me alone, leave me alone! You" I pointed at Alex, "Stop bothering me with flowers and chocolates! And you" I pointed at Zac, "stop driving me home! Stop everything that you two are doing to me and start listening to me!" I said in frustration and stormed out of the club.

These two men, they made me go insane.

Hello, loves!

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

Also, to those who have read Olivia's Knights, I know I wrote that Erin took an uber but in this book, I changed it to make it more fitting with the scene.

Moving forward, expect further more alterations if you have read it. But if you haven't, please just enjoy this book.

That's all.

As always, thank you for reading my book. Stay safe y'all.

xo,
kimmypatata