Zachary North

"Zac, what are you doing?!" I heard Erin's panicked voice behind me, then I felt her hands held each of my arms to assist me to sit down on my couch as well as to prevent me in lifting her luggage --- that sat on the my floor. 

"I told you, Erin, I'm really okay now. I don't actually feel anything, to be honest." I told her again and she just gave me an are-you-kidding-look. 

"But still, your doctor said to don't overwork yourself and take a solid rest for a week. We just got here in your apartment and we haven't even stayed here for 10 minutes and yet you're already defying your doctor and a pain in the ass!" she rolled her eyes at me and shook her head. 

I smiled as she took her luggage and placed it at the far end corner of my living room, then when she faced me, she gave me a playful frown and head over to my kitchen. Today, I got discharged from the hospital after the doctor assured everyone that I am already cleared from all the dangers from that accident. 

In two days I was being confined in my hospital room, Erin was with me the whole time. She assisted, fed me, helped me with everything, and took care of me, very different to the angry and hateful woman who begged me to leave her alone. 

Had she already saw my letter or she pities me because of the accident? Anyway, if she's doing all this either because of the former or the latter or both, then I don't want it. I don't want her doing these things for me because she felt she had to or needed to. I don't want her to force herself to have ties with me again. 

It hurts to admit but I have already accepted that she won't come back to me anymore. Her eyes made it clear to me, when we were still in Scheveningen, that she will never give me another chance as I have hurt her so much. Also, I've already knew that she didn't want to hear my explanations nor give me a chance to explain so I opted to write it in a letter. However, I didn't have any chance as to how, when, and where will I sneak the letter to her in her house. I sure as hell won't give it to her personally because she might tear it to pieces. 

So, when she gave me her purse the day she went shopping to irk me, I sneakily put the letter to the bottom part of her bag while she was in the changing room. The purpose of that letter though was to tell her that nothing was her fault, that I was the one who's at fault right from the very beginning. 

I shouldn't be asking for her forgiveness nor to be with me after all the pain and sufferings I caused upon her. It's selfish of me to want her and to be with her again especially now that she have already told me how much pain I put her through. All those times I was adamant in letting her go, I thought I was making the right decision but boy I was wrong! 

So wrong!

My actions cut through her, scarred her. I made her feel like she was cheap and isn't worth of my love and most of all, I let her think that she's not important to me. 

I can still clearly remember the sadness and hurt in her eyes when she's telling me everything. That night, I felt shameful to myself which is why I left her because it hit me. It made me realize how thick faced I was to yearn for a relationship with her again when I took everything away from her and stumped  it right in front of her. 

When I came home, I was back to being miserable again. I worked tirelessly, I became an ass to everyone, I drank away my guilt almost every night... in short, the grumpy Zac that everyone knew returned. 

Livy though kept asking me what happened but I refused to tell her. I even lashed out at her in being so invasive, however I was not mad at her for making me went there. Even though it did not turn out to be what I wanted, at least I knew that my fantasy and dream to be with her had already closed its doors. 

But she came here when she heard what happened to me. As I said, she took care of me. I don't know why but one thing I am sure of, she's really a kind woman. To think that I hurt her, she still came here for me.

"The doctor said stop overthinking!" I jumped when I heard Erin's scorned voice. I directed my gaze at her but when I saw her, she's halfway near me from the kitchen.

She sandwiched herself between me and my coffee table then kneeled in front of me so we're in an even level. She cupped my face and looked straight into my eyes.

"Stop thinking about the accident, Zachary, it's not good for your recovery." She moved her thumb under my eye and caressed it.

I really cannot get over her simple touches that makes my heart skip a beat and her eyes that can make me forget about things and just focus at her.

"...and don't you dare say again that you're fine, that you're don't feel like you're sick or something. You need to rest." She continued and raised her left brow at me.

I smiled at her and held her left had with both of my hands.

"I'm actually thinking about other things."

She furrowed her brows and sighed.

"Fine, I guess for you to stop exerting efforts by yourself, you have to voice out everything that's on your mind. Now, tell me... I'm all ears." She sat beside me without letting go of her hand.

I smiled at that.

"Well?" She encouraged me to talk.

"I'm sorry." I apologised sincerely to which she was taken aback, not expecting that I will blurt out those words.

"I'm sorry for everything. I know there's nothing that can justify my actions to you and saying sorry was the only way I can think of saying. I had been a jerk to you, Erin, and if you want to leave me and stay far away from you, I promise to you I will grant it. I will not chase you again nor pester you to come back to me. In fact, I will do everything you want me to do. Just tell me what you want to me to do."

After I said those, she just stared at me stoically. I couldn't read her and to be honest her stare was quite unbearable, to the point that I was secretly squirming in my seat. She was just looking at me with voidance in her eyes.

I didn't know how long we were like that until she spoke.

"Anything?" That was her first and only word but it still has powers to make nervous.

I nodded at her slowly.

"Promise?" She asked again. Jesus! This really makes me queasy with anticipation.

"I promise."

"I want to slap you the hardest I can give right now. Not only once, but for as long as my hands could take." She said spitefully and I understand her that's why I agreed.

"If that's the only way you can take out the pent up anger to me, then you can do it. Slap me, punch me, hit me as long as it satisfy you."

She nodded and took a deep breath, still no emotions in her face.

"Close your eyes." She said to which I obeyed immediately.

I braced myself for the impact but I felt nothing.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four....

Five...

Still nothing.

Six...

Seven...

Eight...

Nine...

Ten...

I froze when I felt it. My brain refused to work because I know if I think, everything will fall out of their place. So I stayed still, unmoved, until I felt her teeth bit my lower lip, asking for my response. That's when my brain start to function and classified her action as kiss.

She's kissing me.

For the first time in my life, I didn't know how to react to the kiss. Should I hold her or should I respond? Should I open my eyes to verify or should I keep it shut? Should I ask her?

Fuck!

I didn't have these thoughts when I had my first kiss. Hell, I was thinking like I am experiencing my first kiss.

"If you don't kiss me back I will get mad at you." She said in between kisses and that's when I had the courage to kiss her back.

I responded but let her lead. At first it was aggressive to the point that it will bruise my lips, like she was telling me how mad she was at me, then it meddled into fierce, as if she's telling me that she missed me, and lastly, she straddled me then gave me the familiar kiss I've been yearning for.

It was the kiss that she used to give me where I could feel the pure love she has in me. This was the kiss she gave me the night of Livy's 18th birthday, this was what made me fell head over heels for her, this started everything.

This marked me.

Then, she pulled away from me leaving an inch of distance between us. As I opened my eyes, I saw her looking at me with those loving eyes.

She smiled at me then kissed my forehead.

"I told you, I will not leave you again nor I will let you leave me. You're stuck with me forever, Zachary North, whether you like it or not." She said seriously.

I smiled at her and nodded slowly.

"I will never hurt you again, Erin."

"I know." She wiped my cheek with her thumb. That's when I realized that I shed a tear.

This feeling, the lightness and happiness is making me giddy. It felt good and right.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you." She said in response, then she kissed me again.

***
It was past seven in the evening when I woke up from our deep slumber. In an instant, I saw Erin's beautiful sleeping face beside me.

I blinked numerously to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. When I assured myself that this is reality, I scoot closer to the love of my life and caressed her cheek.

Before you think of anything, NO, we didn't do anything beyond making out and cuddles.

She opened her eyes tiredly and smiled at me.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Past seven. I ordered chinese food for dinner, I hope you don't mind?"

"I don't, but you shouldn't be eating those kinds of food, the doctor said---" I gave her a peck to which she blushed.

"I know, but I'm tired of eating super healthy meals for the past two or three days. My body needs greasy and salty foods. Please." I hugged her and placed my head on the crook of her neck, imitating a baby cuddling his mom.

She sighed and caressed my hair.

"Fine but first, you need to take a bath. The hospital germs are still in our bodies." She pushed me gently away from her and stood up from my bed.

"I'll take a bath on the other room." She winked at me and exited my room.

Instantly, when she left, I felt cold. ah... It hasn't been a full day yet I'm already craving for her warmth. I know that when the day comes that she has to go home, I will be craving everything about her. Especially now that we kinda patched things up.

Right before we took our nap, she told me about the letter. She told me that she just finished reading it when Mason called her. At first, not going to lie, when I heard and knew about her and Mason still have a connection, the jealousy sparked in me.

She noticed it and explained to me that Mason has no feelings for her at all, that he only sees her as a friend, like how he sees Olivia. But when I asked her why he bid a million dollars at her and acted all possessive, she said the most disturbing thing I heard --- which was probably had a connection with my accident.

That a man named Justin, was the one who bid on her not Mason. He only obeyed Justin because apparently, he holds the majority of their company's non-relative shares. To which he needed Justin's confidence and vote to be the CEO of their company.

She also told me that that man have a grudge on me. He wanted me to become miserable, however, the name doesn't ring a bell. I know there are lots of Justins out there but I can't recall that I wronged any Justins unless, Mason changed up the name.

You see, even if Mason shows good intentions with my sister and Erin, based of course on her stories about him, I still can't fully trust him. I feel like there are still more secrets that needed to be unveiled.

In order to do so, I need a professional help, I need Markus.

I took my phone from the bedside table and dialled Markus' number. I told him to investigate Mason Cooper as well as a certain Justin whom he'd grown acquainted too.

I asked him also if it has a connection with my accident. He then said that the car that was used to ran me over was already destroyed and was found by the lake.

Lastly, I ordered him to deploy lots of men to protect my family, Niccolo and Dylan, Erin, Erin's family, Neil, and Sky and Alyssa.

I know that man will do everything to make my life miserable. For now, before I do anything rash or on impulse that would make that Justin go on to his next move, I will let Markus collect all the info first then I'll start making a move.

"We agreed that you won't ponder on it." I looked up and saw Erin by the door in her silk pyjamas.

I gave her a tight lipped smile and stood up from my bed.

"It just crossed my mind, love. Anyway, I called Markus. I told him everything and asked him to find out everything. Also, I know you will get mad but please don't, I deployed lots of security for you and your family ---for your safety. But I promise you won't notice that they're around you, they will follow you discreetly so that it won't attract any atten---"

She kissed me briefly then wrapped her arms around my neck.

"It's okay and I appreciate you telling me about this. Now, I told you to take a bath, why didn't you? Go and wash up, you stink!" She made a disgusted face and gagged.

I chuckled.

"Okay.... But can I get a kiss first? Like a proper kiss? No smack or brief kiss... A full blown make out would be nice." I joked.

She rolled her eyes and lowered my head with her hand. Our lips were about to kiss but my doorbell rang.

I groaned.

"Seriously, until now? Why does it always happen?" I glared behind her. She just laughed and patted my head.

"That would probably be our dinner. Come, let's eat first before you wash up." She took my hand and I followed her towards my front door.

True enough, it was the chinese delivery guy. He gave us our orders and paid him but before he left, he handed me a letter envelope. I took another note from my pocket but he shook his head.

"This isn't a solicit letter. This is from Justin." When he said the name, my playful state became protective and stepped in front of Erin to cover her from the man.

The delivery guy quickly raised both of his arms to show surrender when he saw the expression in my face.

"Woah, I don't know him, man. A man with a hoody approached me in the reception when he heard that I will be delivering those food to you. He just told me that I should give you that and tell you that it was from Justin." He explained and quickly ran towards the lift.

From the looks of it, it seems that he was just being tasked to give this fucking letter to me.

I quickly locked the door and took Erin on my living room.

I opened the envelope and there's a printed note in it that says:

Tomorrow, 8pm
at Sala Restaurant
under Zachary North.
Bring Erin as well. I assure you,
no harm will occur if you come,
but if you didn't, Livy will next.

Justin

After I read it, I crumpled and tossed it on the ground.

"Fuck!" I cursed loudly.

"Why? What did it say?" Erin took the note and read it.

She gasped and looked at me in panicked.

"We should call Livy." She took her phone but I prevented her to dial my sister's number.

"No. He will know." I sad.

"But..."

"That's what he wanted us to do. To cause a tumult as well as to fuck with our minds. This is a part of his plan, one wrong move, he will cause chaos. We all know what he's been capable of, for now, let's play with him." I looked at Erin and held her hand.

"Baby, I promise I will protect you. I won't let that man touch even s single strand of your hair. I'm sorry if I got you into this." I placed my arm over her shoulders and hugged her protectively.

"I'm okay, Zac, but you can't go tomorrow. You're not yet okay, you're---"

"I will bring my men, Erin. Afterall, he didn't mention I can't."

"I won't leave you, Zac." She looked up at me and cupped my cheek with her right hand.

I smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"I love you."

Hello, loves!!!

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