Zachary North

"Mr. North, in 30 minutes, we will be landing soon." I heard Yvan, our personal pilot, from the speakers.

I sighed and nodded at no one then proceeded to fasten my seatbelt on and cleared all my stuff scattered on my table.

I leaned my head on the headrest and massaged my temples because of the headache I was nursing since we departed yesterday. If only I knew that Livy's meeting will be held in Amsterdam, I wouldn't have agreed to be her proxy.

Imagine the horror in my face yesterday when Nikkie, Livy's secretary, sent me my flight and accommodation details. I couldn't back out though because I was already included in the email loop and that I swear I didn't think that I would have to go to Amsterdam for her meeting. Ugh! I believe this is her revenge to me. Oh, did I say that when I landed, I'll have to drive for an hour and a half, with the help of Phil, my head of security and driver, to get to Scheveningen, a seaside town in Holland.

But that's not the annoying part.

The annoying part of all is that I'll have to stay there for a whole week. I mean, seriously though, what did I put myself into. I should've asked for the details first before agreei--- wait a second... I did ask for details but I didn't agree in that instant. She perceived my enquiry as my agreement! Jesus! She took advantage of my happy mood that day. Ugh... what a cunning lady.

Anyway, I'm here now, might as well seize the so-called break for myself. Good thing I have no urgent meetings next week and that my schedule is free.

As we arrived at my hotel room, I ordered room service for my growling stomach. After I ate, I took a bath and lounge around my room. Ever since I drew the line between work and personal life, my work mode will automatically vanish once it strikes 7pm, and I believe it's already 7pm back home.

The next day, I woke up pretty much early with a good mood. I worked out then had breakfast in my room while reviewing the files for today's meeting. Seriously though, this meeting can be set up through video call, I just don't know why I had to come here for a week. Anyway, what's done is done and this meeting is somewhat important for the oil division. Although her business venture with the Coopers had amassed a great profit to our company, she's still investing in to some other oil companies.

I looked at the clock and saw that it's quarter to nine already, I need to hurry up and finish everything in ten minutes so I won't be late in our meeting at 9:30am.

I took my last sip of my coffee and I flipped on to the last page of the file, there was a light pink sticky note on it with Livy's handwritten note:

Good luck, brother! Don't waste this opportunity. I love you!

xoxo,

Livy

Seriously? Did she think I'll screw this meeting up? What does she think of me? A newbie? I am the Chairman of NGC, how would I mess this up? Silly woman, always wants to annoy me.

Unsurprisingly, the meeting went well. Emma, the middle aged woman I had a meeting with and the Chief Operating Officer of the company, and her husband Daniel, invited me for lunch at a nearby aged-old deli that was famous for upholding the century old tradition of the place. I must say, we were a bit overdressed as everyone wears casual beach clothes in contrast with the business attire we're sporting on. Thankfully, I heed on Emma's suggestion to lose the coat and tie to kinda blend in with the crowd-- though the residentials won't care about it, it's just a courtesy for me.

I mean, this is what I like about the Netherlands, people here are laid back, kind, helpful, and sweet. They won't mind your business as long as it doesn't bother them nor disrupts the common peace.

"So, Zachary, it's nice of you to take your sister's place." Emma commented in a sweet tone while we're waiting for our orders.

"I actually don't mind though, besides, it's her first schedule today for her wedding dress shopping." I smiled at her and when she heard the word "wedding dress," she gasped and held her husband's hand lovingly.

"Oh my, she's engaged. What a beautiful period in women's life." She said dreamily and leaned on her husband's shoulder.

I smiled at her.

"Yup, but a gentle advice though to your soon-to-be brother in law, brace himself as he will be the punching bag when stress in preparation gets to your sister." Daniel joked and it made me chuckle. I could actually picture Niccolo being distressed with Livy being stressed out with all the preparations--- I must say, that's a quite funny thing to think, to watch and to look at.

"He'll handle her." I chuckled at him.

"How about you, though? Do you have a girlfriend?" Emma asked and it made me stilled for a second and shook my head.

"I had but we separated six months ago because of me." I said sadly. To be honest, I didn't know why I told them, I think it's because I envy them. That both of them were happy together with each other and Emma has the same vibe with my mom.

"Do you still love her?" Emma asked and I nodded.

"With all my heart." I smiled sadly and added, "I never ceased to love her."

"Then show her, go to her and show her how sorry you are and how much you love her." Emma pushed me with her words.

"I-I can't. She made me promise to not look for her and she wanted us to sort everything out by ourselves. You see, I hurt her. SO MUCH. That's why I have already accepted the fact that she won't be coming back to me anymore and I'm actually fine with that, though it hurts, but if that's the only way for her to be happy, I'm okay with it. She deserves to be happy and that's what matters the most." I took a deep breath and gave them a tight lipped smile.

What I said was true though. I know there will be a little to no chance of me and her getting back together that's why even if it hurts, I have accepted it.

"What made you think that?" Daniel asked.

"Because I hurt her." I replied.

"Was it intentional?" Emma asked.

"No, it wasn't but still, I hu---"

"You did but now, you've already admitted your mistakes and you've atone it already, I surmise --- basing the regrets in your eyes. It's good that you respected her privacy but if she came back, regardless to you or to your hometown, then try your best to win her again. Show her that you've changed already, for the better. Just remember, sincerity and honesty are keys to second chances." Daniel advised then, our orders came.

All throughout the luncheon, I can't help but think about Daniel's advise. Would it work though? I mean, would Erin even forgive me to what I did to her? What I did to her was grave, forgiving someone like me will be hard and to be in a relationship again with the person who hurt you, I guess it is impossible. If only I can turn back time, I will correct every mistakes I did to her.

After we had lunch, Emma and Daniel told me the best places to go and stroll in here in Scheveningen and even warned me to not get hit by bikes. I laughed at it and we parted our ways.

I went to the beach and walked around. There were many tourists and locals scattered around the sand bathing under the sunrays while children were running around and building sand castles. But the view though, it looked so serene and peaceful, just like the view in Famiglia.

Famiglia.

That's where I first introduced Erin as my girlfriend to Edna even though we were not yet official that time. I remembered that she was so happy when she saw the magnificent view in our reserved table at the back of the restaurant. She looks so cute and pretty in the sunset. If only I could turn back or freeze the time, I will do it.

But I can't.

There's nothing more I can do but to man up and---

My thoughts were interrupted when someone or should I say a bike collided to me.

I composed myself quickly and helped the woman who bumped me. Surprisingly, she looks okay while crouching down with her back facing me while collecting her books and apologising to me at the same time.

I helped her pick up her books and when I was about to give her the books, she looked up at me and we both stilled. It's as if time had stopped that moment and all I was seeing was the woman I've been missing these past few months.

Those beautiful green eyes were staring at me in shock. It's still amazes me how I could see everything in those eyes, it's literally the window of her soul. How I missed this feeling...

Oh how I missed Erin.

Then, I lost my control and pulled her up and immediately engulfed her into my arms. I inhaled her calming bergamot scent and hugged her tightly.

This was what I was dreaming of and yearning for, for her to be back in my arms again. Though not fully but at least I saw her already safe and sound as well as knowing where her whereabouts is.

"I missed you, Erin." I said and she pushed me away forcefully, to which I stumbled back a little.

"Didn't I say to not follow me?!" her eyes changed quickly from shock to anger.

"What? No. I swear I di---"

"You promised me! You promised me that you will not have me followed and don't fucking tell me that this was all coincidence because I will never ever believe you!" she said angrily while picking up again the two books that fell when I hugged her.

"No, I swear, Erin. I didn't know you're here. I just finished a meeting and---"

"Finished a meeting? Here, in Scheveningen? Seriously? You know, I will only believe you if you will have a meeting in Amsterdam. Don't think of me as a fool, Zac." she angrily put the books in her tote bag. She was about to go pick up her bike but I held her arm to halt her.

"I swear, Erin. I swear, I'm telling you the truth. It was Oli---" then I remembered the note. This is the opportunity she's talking about. It all made sense now, she made me come here not because of this meeting but because Erin's here. Oh my God, Olivia! You really are the best sister in the world!

I promise you, I won't let this opportunity go to waste.

"See, you can't even think of any excuses." she said in annoyance and removed her arm from my hold.

"I'm sorry but can we talk? Please?" I pleaded.

"No. Just let me go." She said angrily but I held her arm again for the second time.

"Zac, I said, LET. ME. GO!" she tried to remove her arms again from my hold but this time, I didn't let her and hugged her again.

"I won't let you go again, Erin. I'm sorry." I said then released her.

She frowned at me and shook her head.

"We're over, Zac. Nothing's left between us." she said angrily and pushed me then when she was going to pick up her bike, she staggered and fell from the ground. She held her right foot and tried to stand up again but I held her down and examined her foot.

"Don't touch me." She tried to wriggle her right foot from my hold but I held it securely and tried to gently twist it. She grunted and let out a quiet stinging squeal.

"You sprained your foot." I told her and just rolled her eyes at me.

"I know. Now, can you move away and leave?" She tried to push me but before she can do it, I carried her in bridal style.

"You jerk, put me down! Put me down this instant, Zac! I swear I will punch you if you don't---"

"I will only put you down once we're in my hotel room." I said to her seriously but she scoffed.

"What?! Are you nuts? I will not go to your ho---"

"Then tell me where you live? Erin, I won't leave you in this state and it's starting to get dark. I can't let you go to your home alone injured, it's not safe." I said but the feisty woman wiggled her legs to try to get down.

Seriously, if I didn't have a good grip, she would've fallen awhile ago. Also, my patience is running thin now. She's being unreasonably difficult. I mean I know she loathes me at the moment but can't she understand that I only want to help her? If I heed to her, I won't be at ease and be restless in thinking if she'd gotten home safely.

But her stubbornness makes it hard for the both us. So, I used what I thought would stop her stubbornness and fidgets on me.

"If you won't stop wriggling, I will kiss you hard right here."

Upon hearing that, she quickly stopped and covered her mouth with the back of her palm.

"If you do that, I will hate you even more!" She said with a muffled voice and glared at me. Which made me sigh, closed my eyes and leaned my forehead to hers. Being this dangerously near to her makes me want to open my eyes and kiss her, but I won't do that, it will just add a ton of fuel to the fire.

I sighed.

"Just let me take you home. I promise I won't do anything to you." I said slowly and tiredly. She huffed and harshly pulled her head away from me.

"Fine, but how are you going to hold my bike? You know what, let me ride it while you push it." She challenged and I smirked at her.

"Phil will hang it on the trunk. Right, Phil?"

"Yes, Mr. North." Phil agreed and it made Erin speechless and in disbelief. She might have thought she will get away from me. Well, not now nor ever.

Baby, you can't outsmart a desperate man. I told her mentally.

We walked to my car and placed her carefully on to the leather seat. When she composed herself, she scooted to the furthest part of what my car can offer. I made sure though that the child lock was on so that she won't escape from me.

"So, where do you live, love?" I asked while we're waiting for Phil as he's busy hanging her bike on the back.

"Just drop me off to a hospital." She said while her arms crossed on her chest.

"That's not an option, it's either in my hotel room and leave tomorrow morning, or in your house? You choose." I looked outside too and smiled before continuing, ''Because either way, I will get to know where you live. If that's what you don't want to happen, then I'm sorry, love, there's no hospitalization tonight."

She looked at me and scoffed.

"As if you didn't know. Didn't Markus put it in my file report?"

Ugh. Why can't she believe me that I haven't had her followed.

"Because, there are no reports. Baby, I swear I didn't know you're here. I was here for a business meeting, that's all." I said to her and her eyes furrowed even more.

"Like I will believe you and stop calling me baby or love, for God's sake, we're over!" She said angrily and that shuts my mouth. I mean, up until now, hearing those two words from her, We're Over, or anything that has the same meaning, hurts me. It's the force that's making me go back to the bitter reality of our relationship.

I took a deep breath to conceal the hurt and asked her one more time.

"Okay. I'm sorry. But please tell me where you live because if you don't, I have no choice but to bring you to my hotel room and treat you there."

She hesitated for a bit and went on to tell her address to Phil, to which the latter pinned it on the car's gps.

After that, she shook her head and mumbled something I didn't quite comprehend then went to look outside the window.

All throughout the car ride, I just stared at her. I know it's creepy but I was still processing in my mind that Erin's in the same car with me tonight and that this wasn't a dream. Although she's brooding, I am still elated to see her and I'll have to thank my sister for that.

Now, I will do everything in my power to make her forgive me. I will not waste this opportunity given to me by my sister.

It's time to show Erin how much I love her and how much I changed for the better.

Hello, loves!

They already met! Omg!! Thank goodness for Livy!

Oh! And I just thought of Amsterdam out of the blue. I never planned for Erin to go out of the country but then, why not? She said she wanted to go as far away from Zac as possible besides, it's fun and she has money. Hahaha

Anyway, please vote, comment, and share.

Thank you and always keep safe!

xo,
kimmypatata