Em didn't think of Zain throughout the morning as she worked, until it was five minutes past the time he usually came to pick her up for lunch. She waited till it was ten minutes past her lunch break and yet he didn't show up.

"So it seems your friend decided not to show up." Eva, trying to hide her satisfaction, mused.

"Eva, I'm really not in the mood for your cynicism." Em said wearily as she stood up, figuring she would be having lunch alone since Eva would just view inviting her as using her as a 'rebound.'

She thought of calling him to check up on him and stopped, thinking that would sound needy. But she was starting to worry about him.

Yesterday he'd been acting strangely. He avoided eye contact with her for most of the time he'd been over at her house, and when he did look at her, it was with a hint of. . . pity.

Shaking her head, Emma did an inward eye roll at herself, finding no reason why Zain would pity her. Perhaps it was probably that he finally found someone and didn't know how to tell her because he feared she would view it as too quick?

The idea sounded unlikely, but yes, that would be great. And no, she felt no pang of jealousy, thank you very much.

"I think he's finally tired of convincing himself he can get over you by being with you." Eva said, and when Emma refused to retort, she left her office looking hurt and ignored.

The latter of which she claimed Emma had been doing to her ever since her reunion with Zain.

Speaking of Zain, he never showed up or called that day.

**~**~**

George's surprise arrival was a pleasant one to everyone in the house, most especially Em, since it meant her husband was back so she wouldn't be spending another night alone.

He arrived right after they'd finished supper and her aunt was about clearing the table. Amy was the first one to see him.
"Daddy." She shouted excitedly, jumping off her table and running.

Confused, Emma sought after the direction her daughter had run and found George gathering Amy into his arms and showering her face with kisses as they whispered how much they'd missed each other, and she felt joy flood her own heart.

She met him with a passionate kiss that sent a jolt of sensation down her spine, Amy wedged between them, and it was Maggie clearing her throat that made them break the kiss.

"Sugar." He whispered the endearment he usually used to refer to her.

"Coconut." They hugged a one sided hug so they weren't squeezing Amy, and she absorbed the warmth. It was soothing to have him back. Even Amy must've sense that warmth for she sighed blissfully, seemingly reveling in her parents love for each other.

"I'm glad you are back, dear." Maggie said, but Emma didn't know why she felt something about that gladness seemed to be because of her. Her and Zain to be precise.

"Oh, I didn't know I had so many loved once who have missed me so much for just the three days I was away." George's face was pouted dramatically in mock awe. "But come on, its not like I've not gone on a business trip before."

"I missed you because there was no one to tell me stories about fairies and knights.” Saying this, the little girl glanced at Emma a bit with a hint of mischief in her eyes, then leaned forward and whispered something into her father's ears that Emma heard nonetheless. "Mummy's story is boring."

George threw his head back and laughed that his laugh that always made her stomach flutter, while she gasped in mock shock.

"You, silly little princess." Emma chastised playfully and started tickling her capriciously, while Amy begged her to stop the torture as she laughed uncontrollably.

When Emma stopped, she looked at George. "You arrived after dinner. Have you eaten or should I prepare something for you?."

"Oh, no. I ate in the plane. Unless you mean something else. Then I'm definitely hungry." He winked as he said this while Amy raised her brows in confusion. George merely laughed at her expression.

"You must've been so bored without me on a weekend, princess." George prided to Amy as they made their way to the living room.

“No, I was not." Amy replied, an obvious attempt at naughtiness. But that naughtiness was the beginning of Emma's anxiety.

"Really now?" George coed, not looking a bit convinced as he sat in one of the settees with his daughter still clutched to his chest.

"Yes. Zain came on Saturday and he took me and mummy out."

"Really?" George asked, briefly glancing enquiringly at Emma, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes!" Amy went on enthusiastically, not knowing the tension it was making her mother feel. After all, Emma had hidden the fact from George and she would have to give explanations.

"He took us to the Lurar park and we had so much fun. After that, he took us to. . . the place where there are a lot of paints. Is it called a garrery? Yes, a gallery! Then he took us to his house and cooked sanwich for us. Then we watched cartoons."

Amy seemed to be willing to go on and on, but it was obvious George's attention had slipped out. Instead he was staring at Emma as she sat besides him, trying not to flinch. "Why didn't you tell me this, sugar?"

The was no edge of suspicion in his voice, thank God! But the question still unnerved her anyways. She fumbled for the most alibi of an excuse. "You remember we barely talked about my day when you called on Saturday?" She counter asked, referring to the brief phone sex they'd had.

"I know but I did ask you if you had a great day and you simply said yes. You could've elaborated." There was no censure in George's tone, just want of understanding, and Emma was saved from the guilt of further lying when he shrugged. "Well, I guess it's no big deal. I'll thank Zain for keeping you guys company when I was away."

Emma nodded and smiled tightly, wondering how someone could incline his mind only towards positive conclusions and suggestions. Then she gave herself an inward frown. Why was she feeling so guilty like she'd committed a mistake?

After all, nothing was wrong with spending an entire day with a friend especially if it made your daughter happy. Perhaps she was feeling this way because she hadn't had the courage to tell George about it when she should've.

"So how's the construction going?" She asked.

He smiled, seemingly happy that she'd asked, but it was with an air of sleepiness. No doubt he needed rest after a long day. "It's going great. Though there was a lot to make clear. Seems the workers are a bit lazy, so..."

"Daddy?" Amy's petite hands held George by the chin and refocused his gaze to her face with a frown, interrupting him. "I want to show you the painti and all the toys Zain bought me." Without waiting for any cue, she jumped off her father's lap and started pulling him by the hand. George went graciously.

Reclining in the couch, Emma sighed. Out of relief? Guilt? She feared it was the latter.

**~**~**

After dropping Amy off to school the next day, Emma drove to work where intense preparations for an upcoming fashion show were made for most of the morning.

Ten minutes to her break, she wondered if Zain would show up or wouldn't come just like yesterday. She was starting to get worried, but he showed up, placating that worry.

It felt strange though, when the only thing he said was, "Shall we go?" and nothing else with something like guilt revolving around his demeanor.

Through the elevator and as they made their way to the parking lot and into his car, she kept on giving him sidelong glances, hoping he would explain his reasons for not coming and not informing her. He never did, neither did he try to start a conversation.

Frustrated by his uncanny behavior, she was just about to ask when her phone rang with the screen displaying her endearing name for her husband. She glanced at Zain briefly before answering it.

"Hello wife." His signature flirtatious tone made her smile.

"Hello, love." She mimicked his tone, and paused when she saw from the corner of her eye, Zain's fingers clenching the wheel.

"I wanted to pick you up and take you out on a lunch date. Are you at work?"

"Actually no" she bit her lips nervously. "I'm on my way to a restaurant."

"That's not a problem. Tell me where and I'll meet you there."

"The thing is..." she begun. Was she going to lie to George again? No, she'd promised herself she would quit that. "I'm actually with Zain."

"Zain?" he sounded surprised.

"Yes." She replied, heart thumping against her chest. Zain was just looking at her curiously.

"We talked about ten minutes ago and he never mentioned that he would be picking you up for lunch." As usual, there was no suspicion in George's tone, but the silence that came after didn't help her nerves.

George's cathartic voice finally came. "Well, I guess that's too bad. He beat me to it. Okay, I'll see you. Love you, sugar."

"Love you, Coconut." She hanged up, sighing with relief.

The ride after that ended up more awkward. So was their time at the restaurant until halfway through the meal, Zain looked at her, with a hint of a smile. "I want to take you to my apartment after this."

"Why?" She asked, confused and alert.

"There's someone who wants to meet you there." He replied simply.

"Who is it?" Her pulse picked up for some reason, and she felt a sudden, inexplicable twitch in her heart.

"You'll see for yourself." he replied evasively. There was a pleading gleam in his eyes that made her hold back her questions, but it did nothing to mellow the sudden rate of her heart. She ate the rest of her food in a haste.

The ride to Zain's apartment was like a mini hell. Her attempts to distract herself with the view of the city failed miserably. Instead she found herself wondering the most obvious questions. Who was this person? Why was he or she wanting to see her? Zain gave her no relief answers.

When they finally got to his apartment, Zain entered a room around the corner, and emerged a full minute later. Out of patience, she demanded, "Zain, what is going on? Who wants to speak with me?"

"Me." A voice so dreadfully familiar it sent a chill down her spine came out of nowhere, and her pulse stuttered.

Right on cue emerged from the same room that Zain had entered earlier, a man that Emma had never imagined she would ever see again. A man who's presence suddenly made her stumble back as horrifying images from the past assailed her.

Her father.