Zachary North

I waited for Erin to open her door after I rang the door bell. I was so exasperated yet surprised as to how she acted a while ago in the club.

That was the first time I saw her snapped at me. It was so refreshing to see her being like that towards me aside from her normal timid self whenever I see her. It was cute though.

However, I didn't like what she had mentioned about Alex sending her chocolates and flowers. Heck, I didn't know they knew each other.

I know Alexander Vice, I considered him one of my friends. And through that, I knew very well his reputation when it comes to women. So, having known tonight, accidentally, that he's trying to woo Erin, it made my blood boil.

That's why when Erin left us at the club, I asked him about it and what he said infuriated me. He said that he likes her and that he's willing to do anything just to have a date with her.

It irrate me to the core when I heard it but knowing Erin, I know she won't give him any chance as she's not a type of woman who would fall for a playboy. She knew too well how to avoid these kinds of men, I mean, look at me, since the night I kissed her at Olivia's birthday party when they were in college, she avoided me like a plague and distanced herself from me even more.

After a minute waiting, the door opened revealing a very sleepy and drunk Erin in her white pyjamas. When she saw me, she immediately frowned and narrowed her eyes at me.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in irritation but I find it so cute to see her in this state. As I have said, she was always timid whenever I was around.

"I came here to give you this." I handed the clutch that I took from her awhile ago when I was trying to persuade her to drive her home.

She just looked at the clutch without any emotion and rolled her eyes.

Woah. She was so adorable. This was why I like the drunk Erin, her inhibitions towards me goes down and her true persona was being uncovered. She's voicing out her concerns, she's talking to me like I was a normal person, she got angry at me, she rolls her eyes at me, she points her finger at me, and just everything that she normally do to anyone.

I smiled.

"It's Jowee's. Go to her apartment." She was about to shut the door but I held it.

"I took this from you so it's just right that I give this to you." I said coolly and she frowned.

Oh she didn't like what I said. Let's see what she'd do.

"Stop it! You kept on doing whatever you want, Zachary! When I said something, YOU," she pointed her finger at me and continued, "follow it! I've had enough of you doing whatever you want to do with me. So go to Jowee's and give her that clutch!" She said angrily and tried to shut the door but I entered in her apartment.

"Ugh! What the hell! You just couldn't follow a simple instructions, couldn't you?!"

"No. I'm here to talk to you about Alexander Vice." I said and put down the clutch to the table at her receiving area.

"Get out, Zac. I won't ask you again." She ordered sternly, I went to her and she widened the door open thinking that I heeded but instead of exiting, I took her hand that's holding the knob and shut the door.

"I said get out and don't touch me!"

"If you say another word, Erin, I will kiss you until your knees give out." I said calmly and she didn't utter another word after that but she wiggled her wrist from me.

I sat her on her couch and I sat on her coffee table in front of her.

"Now, about Alex, stay away from him. I know---" I raised my forefinger to shush her and spoke, "if you cut me off, I will kiss you. So let me finish talking." She frowned at me and pursed her lips.

I sighed thinking how cute and adorable she is tonight. Oh God, let me have enough control tonight, please don't let me lose it.

"Now. I know you won't give in to his wooing but I still want to warn you about what kind of a man he is. He changes women regularly and I don't want you to be one of them. So please, be cautious when it comes him." I warned her.

"Are you done? Can you go home now?" She said after a while of silence.

"Erin, I just want you to---"

"I don't care, Zachary. I want to sleep now. So please, get the hell out of my apartment!" She stood up and crossed her arms on her chest waiting for me to take her words in action.

I stood up and went closer to her in which she took a step back but I took another step towards her and snaked my arm around her waist before she took action.

She tried to get out pf my hold but I gripped her harder and closed the remaining distance between us.

"Zac, stop it!"

"No, you stop it. I've been controlling myself since awhile ago because you're being difficult tonight." I whispered to her and grazed my lips over her earlobe in which I felt her took a sharp breath.

I inhaled her scent and placed my forehead on her shoulders enjoying the feeling of her body.

After a minute of silence, I looked at her face and saw her deep in thought. She looked at me void of emotions so I decided to speak again.

"I just want you to stay away from a guy like him. That's why I came here to tell you that." I whispered and held her face, I didn't know that I was inching towards her when she spoke.

"I've been doing that since I was in college, Zac. Since someone stole a kiss from me and slept with another woman." I looked at her in confusion, was she talking about that night when I kissed her in Livy's apartment?

She pushed me and released herself from me then went towards her room, before she entered, she spoke.

"Go home, Zachary, and don't forget to lock the door." Then she went in her room and locked her door.

I admit, it rendered me speechless. So does it mean that she remembered that night? I thought she was drunk and couldn't remember anything because she never brought it up on me nor cleared it to me.

Geez. So, all these time she knew that I've been kissing her whenever she's drunk? Does she knew or remembered about what happened that night as well?

Oh this is not good. Is this because she's being timid around me? She knew that I've been losing my control when she's drunk?

Oh my, I should really stay away from Erin to give her respect not only because she's my sister's best friend but because she's a woman who deserves it.

With that thought, I went out of her apartment and made sure to lock everything.

***
"Mr. North, I would like to remind you about your 2:00 meeting with Mr. Mookda." Jane, my secretary, reminded me through the intercom.

"Very well. Tell Olivia that I will be on my way to her office to fetch her. I'll drive to Carlton Hotel with her." I ordered and she asked if there's something else and I hung up.

I took my Fendi peekaboo briefcase and went to my sister's office to fetch her for the meeting.

Ugh. I didn't know why I was so tired today but after this meeting, I will go home and relax my body and take a peaceful slumber. Being the CEO of this multi-billion dollar conglomerate is thrice as hard compare to an ordinary CEO.

I had to make sure that everything's in place whether it's here in our headquarters or in any of our branch country. A lot of employees were depending on us that's why I can't afford to lose anything even if it's just a small deal. Good thing, my load was decreased when my father forcefully asked my sister to join the company.

She does her job very well even though she's considered as a newbie in the business world. I remembered when we, Dad and I, had a meeting with the shareholders informing them that my sister will be joining us in NGC. They went nuts about it and almost all of them were against it because of my sister's reputation.

But their complaints went downhill when they saw how efficient and good my sister is in her work. I mean, how can she not because between the two us, she was more intelligent than me. Well of course I wasn't going to tell her that because she will use it against me.

"Brother, who is this Mr. Mookda we're meeting again?" Olivia asked me while we're on our way to the venue.

I glanced at her and she was reveiwing something in her iPad.

"He's the one handling our transfer pricing engagement. This meeting is just a status update." I answered.

"Oh. Okay. So it's nothing big, why didn't you hust scheduled a skype call if it's only a status meeting? Or why didn't you make the venue of the meeting in our office if you so wanted to see his face? Saves us travel time." She whined a little.

"That's because his schedule was tight today, he had other meetings in that hotel. Also, this was the only time I could squeeze in a meeting with him. So stop whining." I felt a sting on my arm as she hit me.

"Olivia, I swear to God, your hits damn hurt. I wonder how Niccolo felt whenever you hit him? Geez, I pity my friend." I teased her and she punched me on my arm.

Oh my God it hurts!

"Olivia if I got bruise---"

"Then what? What would you do? Hit me?" She taunted me and I heaved a sigh.

"You ninny, Nick does not complain though. He's manlier than you." She said.

"I'm glad that you two are doing fine now. He's treating you nicely, right?" I asked her and she nodded.

"If he ever did something to you, Livy, don't hesitate to tell me. You know I will always got your back, I don't care if he's my friend or not. You're more important than anyone." I uttered and she leaned her head onto my shoulder.

"I know, brother. Thank you." She said sweetly and went back to sit properly on her seat.

That's why I couldn't follow my desire to be with your friend because I didn't want to be the reason of your friendship to end.

I mentally added.

"Oh, by the way, have you fetch Erin at the club last week?" She asked and I gripped the steering wheel.

"Yup but she didn't want to be driven home by anyone." I answered briefly but my mood changed when I remembered Alex.

"Oh. So how did she went home?"

"Through Jowee's driver." I answered.

"Oh-kayyy. When you said anyone, who's the other one?" She asked in confusion.

"Alex Vice."

"Oh. Alex was there?! Anyway, he's been sending Erin chocolates and flowers to her office since the night of Jowee's company anniv. He's so into her, you know, I believe he's serious about her." She said out loud and I gritted my teeth when I heard the last part.

"I know Alexander Vice, he will never be serious to a woman. Be---"

"Just like you, huh?" I looked at her and she was busy fixing her hair through the mirror attached onto the sun visor.

"But give the man the benefit of the doubt. If he really has bad intentions toward my friend, I bet Erin would sense it right away. Just look at him, he's not giving up on her even though she's been turning him down numerous times already." She voiced her opinion and I tightened my grip to the steering wheel.

"Erin's smart. I don't think she'll fall for a guy like that. Hell, I don't think she'll give him a chance either." I countered because I know Erin, she's hard to be swayed and a tough woman to woo.

"You'll never know, brother. You'll never know." She said and hopped out of my car when we arrived at the lobby of the hotel.

I sighed and went out of my car then gave my keys to the valet.

All throughout the meeting, I couldn't focus as I was a bit disturbed about what my sister said. What if Erin got swayed by Alex's charms? But I strongly think that he won't stand a chance towards her because she's a very smart woman and won't fall for a guy like that.

Just like what she said to me, that she's been staying away from those kinds of guys because of what I did to her. She hates playboys because she experienced it already through me.

If she only knew how she turned me on that night, she would understand why I had to pick a woman at the club to satisfy my desire towards her. She's the only woman I couldn't touch even if I have been dreaming to because she's fucking off-limits for me.

She's the only one I desire to be in a relationship with her and no woman made me feel that way. Only her since that night but I am a coward, I couldn't tell her what I felt for her because I didn't want to risk her and my sister's friendship over my petty feelings towards her.

As I have said, my sister is more important than anyone else even if it's my happiness. Ever since our mom died, I vowed to myself that I will take care and prioritize Livy's happiness because she was the one got affected by it the most.

Me and Dad evaded the manor because it was filled with Mom's memories. I lived in my college apartment while dad worked 24/7 leaving Olivia at the manor filled with the memories we're running away from. We were so busy running away from it until we forgot about her who's left alone in a very lonely big mansion that was once filled with laughters and happiness.

She sought solace from Jones and Lorna, her bodyguard and the head houseleeper, until she met Erin and Jowee. Their friendship is everything for my sister, actually their friendship transcends any boundaries so, how can I be selfish to break the one thing that my sister's been cherishing, right?

"Well I guess that would be all for me. How about you, Zachary? Is there anything you want to clarify or confirm with Mr. Mookda?" I heard Olivia called me and I looked at her and saw in her eyes warning me to snap out of my reverie.

I cleared my throat and nodded.

"For now, that'd be all. I'll review these Transfer Pricing report and call you or set a meeting if ever I have any questions or clarifications, Kem." I said to Mr. Mookda in my business tone.

He then nodded at me and thanked me for giving their firm the opportunity to work with us.

"Thank you too, Kem. Now, the meeting's adjourned. We'll keep in touch." I stood up and shook hands with him, same did Livy.

When we went out, Livy elbowed me to my side.

"Oww what the fuck?!" I held my ribs and glared at my mentally ill sister. Of course I was only kidding.

"Did you purposely zoned out so I would be the one 'engaged' to that boring meeting? You're fucking terrible Zachary!" She whined and stomped her feet. I chuckled when she did that, she looked so childish.

I placed my arm around her shoulder.

"Livy, I had a lot of things in my mind right now. So I'm so sorry. Now, I'll buy you dinner, where do you want to eat?" I asked her and she shook her head.

"Just buy me a bag, I can't have dinner with you tonight as I have a date with Nick." She said and as if on cue, her phone rang. She's having trouble getting her phone out from her purse so she forced me to hold it.

"Baby!" She squealed when she answered her phone. I rolled my eyes at her and shut my ear off so I won't hear her annoying sweet talks to Nick.

After she was fetched by Nick, my car was brought by the valet and as I entered my car, I saw Alex and a woman hopped off his car holding a flower entering the hotel.

I tried to look at the face of the woman because she has an identical form with Erin. I tried to exit my car but a series of agitated honks from the car behind me prevented me to do so, so I drove away instead. Leaving me in turmoil of thoughts.

"No, I don't think she gave him a chance." I assured myself and drove ahead.

Hello loves,

Warning: This chapter is not edited.

If you have read Olivia's Knights, you know what Olivia's up to. However, if you haven't, it's fine though, it won't affect this book but it would leave you in curiosity. Hehehe.

Anyway, please don't forget to vote, comment, and share this book to your friends.

Thank you and stay safe,
kimmypatata