Zayn's p.o.v.

"I can't believe you hit him Zayn" Callum mumbled for the fifth time in the past 20 minutes and I groan in frustration.

"I know Callum, I know! But what was I supposed to do, let him get away with putting his hands on my girl? Hell no, he's lucky I didn't do worse." He grumbles in response, not fully agreeing with me but I don't care, he was literally on top of her. I could have murdered him, how dare he think he can be that close to my baby. She's mine.

"I just want to impress her you know. The first time I met her I was cocky, I thought that would work but she's not afraid to fight back, now I'm just trying to go slow. But it's hard to go slow with a girl that you constantly think about, she never leaves my mind Callum. I swear if a month goes by and she's not mine I can't wait much longer, I'm just going to do it how we originally planned."

"Ur, are you sure that's a good idea, I feel as though if you force her into loving you she'll just end up resenting you more, just wait it out, she'll end up falling for you don't worry." I give him a side glance as I drive down the road, not too sure if I can wait that long before she's mine.

"Help me out here, I've never done this before. How do I win her over then?" I never thought I'd be asking Callum for relationship advice, but here I am, practically begging for any tips he has.

"Well, have you asked her on a date?" The last time I did that I didn't have much success.

"I did once, but she rejected me. She said she couldn't because she was with Jay" even his name still pisses me off.

"Okay, but now he's gone they won't be together anymore, why not ask her again?" That isn't too bad of an idea, I can say it's to cheer her up or something, yeah, this could work.

"Thanks Callum, I think I've got an idea." Throughout the rest of the journey I plan our date in my head, perfecting every detail so my baby will have the best time-

"We're here, just pull over there." He drags me out of my train of thought as we enter the Collins' home, a business partner of mine.

I try and get my head into work mode, but Bella keeps on finding her way in my mind. I get out of the car and see Micheal and Ashton pull up behind us, Callum following behind my footsteps as I make my way to the front door.

I knock twice and wait, irritated by his lack of efficiency once I've been stood outside for around 30 seconds. How long does it fucking take to answer the door?

"You ready?" Ashton asks behind me, making me turn around and give him a stern nod. As I turn back the door cracks open and Collins is stood in the entryway, ushering us all in and leading us to the board room.

"So, Zayn, why have you called for this meeting?" I sit myself down on the chair next to him, the boys following suit as I take a minute to phrase my next words carefully.

"Our agreement on the 'project' down on Broadstreet," I start, waiting for him to give me an indication that he knows what I'm talking about.

"Yes, what about it?" His eyebrows furrow in confusion, wondering why I came all this way to bring up one of our many projects.

"I don't want in, I want to remove myself from all parts of it. Immediately." I state it bluntly, not leaving much room for debate.

"What, why? We planned for it to be up and running by Autumn? I thought you were collecting the line up these past few weeks-"

"I will not be apart of this." I slam my fists down on the table, aggravated by the thought of it.

"Why? You were all on board with it a few weeks ago? What's changed?" He pries, looking frustrated as he tugs on the few strands of hair he has on his head.

"I owe you no explanation, I just thought I'd inform you personally of my absence towards the project." With that I scrape my chair back and get up to leave, seeing that this conversation will clearly go nowhere.

I begin to walk out of the room when a rough hand grabs my shoulder, yanking me around. Who the fuck does he think he is?

"If you had any sense in you right now Collins, you'd take your hand off of me. Now." My voice is low, demanding, not caring to give him a second warning.

"Oh my god!" He exclaims, removing his hand from my shoulder and throwing them up in the air in a cross between disbelief and laughter.

"I know why you are backing out of this," he wags his finger in my direction, as if he was making an accusation.

"And why's that?" I amuse him, irritated by his new found confidence all of a sudden.

"It's her isn't it. She's made you change your mind," he scans my face but I refuse to make a move, keeping a stern expression. "I heard rumours about this but I thought they were pulling my leg. Dear God Zayn!" He exclaims, chuckling along with his words.

"Have you- have you, fallen for her? Oh, don't tell me you have!" He now looks at me in shock and amusement, but I'm yet to see the humouring side of it as my body begins to shake in anger.

"I would shut the fuck up if I were you." Callum warns, knowing full well that if he pushes a step more he won't be able to hold me back.

"Oh come on! She's our property Zayn! Nothing mor-" before he's able to finish his sentence I slam his body against the wall, my anger igniting as I take in what he just said to me.

"Don't you ever, speak of her again. Got it." I press my hand tighter against his throat as I say each word, waiting for him to reply as he chokes for air.

"I-I'm-" he claws at my hand to let him go but my anger has taken control and until this prick apologies for what he said about my baby he can choke till he dies for all I care.

"-Sorry" he spits, I release him from my grip, making sure to throw him to the floor as I let go.

I begin to walk back out of the room and turn around briefly to see Collins still catching his breath, "and don't expect to see me again any time soon, we're no longer partners." With that I leave his house and start the car, glad that the project is finally behind me.

"Damn Zayn, you went full hulk on him I swear," Callum chuckles.

"Well that's what you get when you talk about my girl like that, he should be thankful his necks still attached to his body." I grumble, pissed off at the way he talked about Bella.

I give myself the rest of the journey to cool off, basking in the silence as I think of ways to ask Bella on a date by the time we're home.

Bella's p.o.v.

"Luke!" I squeal as he bumps into my side as I kneed the dough, making the flower spray all over my top.

"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to do that," he says with a smirk, picking up some flower between his fingers and flicking it over my face. That's it.

I tear out a piece of dough and lob it at his back, stopping his laughter as he slowly turns around to face me again.

"What was that?" He asks slowly, I turn around and start to whistle, acting as if I hadn't done anything.

"You little missy!" He runs up to me and I sprint around the counter, laughing as we chase each other around the table.

I run to the side of the cooker where the eggs are stacked and reach for one, keeping it in my grasp as Luke's eyes widen.

"No no no.." He shakes his head, backing up from me, but not doing it fast enough as I quickly throw it at him, the shell cracking on his forehead as the yolk runs down his face. Laughter erupts from my mouth at the sight of him as he wipes away at his eyes, ridding the yolk from them.

"Oh you are soo going to pay for that!" My laughter stops as he comes running towards me, my reaction time not long enough as he grabs me by the waist and pulls me back to him, cracking an egg on my head as we both chuckle at the sight of one another, looking completely ridiculous.

"What's happening here?" Micheal opens the kitchen door, a look of pure confusion and amusement edged over his face.

"Luke thought it'd be funny to start a food fight," I answer, quirking an eyebrow up at Luke in accusation as he feigns innocence.

"What the hell happened in here?" A more aggressive voice let out, making Luke jump from his hold around my waist.

"Food fight," I answer again, Zayn not looking amused by my answer as he turns to Luke in annoyance.

"Clean this shit up. Now." I never knew anyone was so OCD over their kitchen, jeez.

I turn and bend down to the cupboard, looking for some kitchen roll to clean the yolk up with, "what are you doing?" Zayn questions and I look at him in confusion.

"You just told us to clean up..." I trail off, he did say that right?

"No, Luke, not you." What?

"We both made the mess, so we'll both clean up." This boy confuses me beyond belief, have him and Luke fallen out or something, he's acting so hostile towards him.

"No, I need you to come with me," he ever so sternly puts it, "please" he adds when he see's the look I'm giving him.

I look back at Luke as if to check if it's okay for me to leave and he nods his head, not fully meeting his eyes with mine. With that I follow Zayn out of the room and walk with him upstairs as he makes his way to my bedroom.

"Yes?" I question, plopping down on the mattress as he pulls out the dresser chair, sitting opposite me.

"So, I-er, have something to ask you?" He fumbles with his fingers, stumbling on his words as he barely makes eye contact with me. Now I'm even more intrigued.

"Yeah, what is it?" I ask while attempting to remove the clumps of flour stuck in my hair.

"So, obviously with the whole thing with Jay-"

"What 'thing' with Jay" I pry, wondering what he was getting at.

"Well, the fact that he's moved away, clearly you're not together anymore-"

"Wait, wait, wait. How do you know he moved away, I only just found that out today and the only person I told was Luke." I narrow my eyes, wondering how he knows such a thing without me telling him.

"Er-" his eyes are wide as they scan the room, focussing on anywhere but me. "Yeah, I-I know. Luke messaged me earlier, he thought I needed to know-"

"Why would Luke think that you need to know?" He looks frustrated by my question and scratches the back of his head.

"Look, this is not what I wanted to talk to you about-" He sighs in annoyance, "stop asking me so many damn questions." He mumbles the last bit under his breath in irritation.

"Well what were you going to ask me then?" I drop the questions for now as I know it will go nowhere.

"Oh, right. Yeah, so-" he takes another breath and looks everywhere but at me, "Ok I'm just going to ask."

"Ask me what?" I intervene as he suddenly grasps my hands between his, finally looking me in the eyes.

"Bella, would you please let me take you on a date?" He sucks in a breath as if he has ran out of oxygen, looking at me with those damn puppy eyes.

Go on a date? A date with Zayn? The guy that was weirdly possessive the very moment we met and then just a day ago said he would stay out of my love life. He makes no sense.

"Zayn, I literally just come out of a three year relationship, and as you know, it didn't particularly end smoothly," I start, not sure how to say it, "if you really want to go on a date then we kind of need the foundations first."

"What do you mean?" He pries, looking at me with both hurt and anger etched on his face.

"Well, I know nothing about you, we should start by becoming friends." I suggest, I don't particularly like the thought of being intimate and personal with someone I've spoken to about three times.

Zayn's p.o.v.

Her denial confuses me, can't she tell I don't want to be friends. Why would anyone just want to be friends with this beauty, that's why she needs me, I know men's true intentions and I'm the one that can protect her from them.

"Zayn?" She waves a hand in front of my face, I must have blanked out.

"Oh, sorry." I mumble, not too sure what to say to mask my hurt, so instead say nothing.

"Don't you think that's a good idea?" No.

"Yes, I understand." I do get what she's saying, she knows nothing about me, we need to become familiar with each other first, I do understand, but it doesn't mean I like it.

"How about this, I'll take you out to dinner tonight to one of my favourite places and we can start to get to know each other." I say it as more of a statement than a question, wanting to spend some private time with her so I stay sane.

"Yea, I'd love that." She jumps up out of her position on the bed, surprising me with a hug. And shit, I don't think I've ever had this feeling before, the hair on the back of my neck stood on edge, a shiver crippling my spine. Jesus. I swear a bit of yolk started to run down my t-shirt but I was too engrossed in the moment to care.

"Oh wait," She jumps back, a small frown finding it's way in my face from the loss of contact.

"What am I supposed to wear?" She tilts her head to the side, as if piecing together outfits in her head.

"Don't worry about that, I've got you covered." I smirk, knowing exactly what she can wear.

"How-" I press a finger to her lips, not wanting her to ask questions I'm not sure how to answer.

"Don't worry about it, just be ready by 6." I give her a small smile and swiftly leave the room, not knowing how long I had before I lost control of myself, what is she doing to me?