Let's pretend, chapter 16

Zachary Walton's P.O.V

Flipping through the pages of the contract on my desk for the fifth time today I gave up. I threw the contract away and got up pacing the office back and forth. I stood by the curtain walls overlooking the busy streets of New York. It was already mid afternoon and I had done nothing today, unable to focus. I sighed going back to my desk and phoned my assistant whatever her name is.

"Yes sir?"

"Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day. And call Mike, I need him to review a contract for a new business"

"Right away sir"

I hung up and leaned back in my chair glaring at the wall. I was used to having no sleep sometimes, but this time was different. I didn't get to sleep because Elise invaded my mind all night, and she was doing it again now. It was starting to get on my nerves. I have never been obsessed with someone before and I didn't want it to happen now, but she was intoxicating. Mike pulled me from my thoughts when he knocked on my door and came in.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I need to sign this contract and I can't seem to focus. Can you check it for me before I sign it?"

"Sure let me see" Mike took the contract and read it quickly "That's the Anderson's contract, I was with you when you both put the terms"

"Yes you were"

"Everything is as you discussed. It's safe to sign it"

"Thanks Mike" I took the contract back and signed it with a sigh.

"You look tired Zach. Are you okay?"

"Yes I just didn't get much sleep last night. Anyway, thanks man. I'm heading home can't see the point in staying when I can't get a single thing done"

Mike chuckled and nodded getting up "Must be the woman you matched clothes with" he winked and headed for the door.

"You have no idea".

I didn't feel like going home already, and I didn't want to call Elise or text her so I went to see veronica and Serena. That was the best way to distract myself from Elise. I couldn't stop remembering the way she whispered my name, or moaned in my ear when I pleasured her, or the fact that I could make her wet just by looking at her, or that I could set her body on fire by just a mere touch. I groaned glaring at my erection "great" I muttered getting out of the car and into the hotel Veronica was staying in.

It was 7 pm sharp when I rang the doorbell to Elise's house and it took her a couple minutes to answer it.

"Hi!" she said as soon as she opened the door wearing tight jeans with a very sexy off shoulder black top that she matched with black heels.

I cleared my throat and tried to ignore how beautiful she looked "Hello Elise. Ready to go?"

"Yes I am" she came out and locked her door before following me to the car "What's up with you? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?"

"Yeah something like that. I didn't want to wake you up this morning, I left early, and the sun was just rising"

"It seems like you didn't get much sleep. What's on your mind?"

"What you told me last night. I can't shake it out of my mind. How can a man do that to his own sister?"

"He's an idiot. Don't think about it. What matters is I was able to get out as soon as I figured what was going on"

"Have any of them hurt you? The clients I mean"

"No, it was just one. He offered me to many clients but only one was an asshole and took the deal."

"What happened?" I asked not sure she would actually tell me. But she did.

"I was in the living room, still living with my parents but they were away when he came along with Asher. At first I didn't think it odd because Asher often invited his friends over, but when Asher left saying he had a meeting I felt something was wrong. I thought his friend would leave but he didn't. He kept on making small talks until I asked him to leave but he wouldn't, he said he wanted to spend time with me. I pretended to go make him a drink and pressed the security button. They had to escort him out, he pulled out of the deal and Asher came at me like a maniac and beat me like a beast saying I cost him a huge deal. That's when I figured out he tried selling me on many occasions but his clients were decent men. I left and have lived alone since then, not talking to him if I don't have to"

I didn't know what to say. I was fuming and could kill him with bare hands right now.

"Did you tell your parents?"

"No, I haven't and I won't. Asher is the golden son, they wouldn't believe me. But I have gathered a few things that could send him to jail, I'm just waiting for the right moment to use that evidence"

I stayed silent until we reached my parent's house "Are you sure you can do this?"

"I can and I want to. I actually really like your mom and would love to see and spend more time with your family. Plus if you benefit from it so be it"

"Thank you Elise, it means a lot"

"You must think I'm a fucked up person with everything I've been through"

"No I would never think that. You are actually amazing and no one would guess you went through so much terrible experiences. Don't be little yourself. You should be proud of the woman you've become"

She suddenly invaded my personal space and wrapped her arms around me hugging me tightly "Thank you so much"

"What for?"

She said nothing, she just pulled away just a bit so she could press her lips against mine and kissed me hard.

Elise Collins P.O.V

I broke the kiss when I felt the front door open and pulled away breathing hard blushing red like a tomato. "I'm sorry I just..."

"Never apologize for kissing me. You can do it whenever you feel like it"

I grinned unbuckling my seat belt "Trust me I will". I felt a slight change in my personality; I was more outgoing and more comfortable in my own skin. It felt good to be like that again.

His parents greeted us at the door and let us in to the garden where the table was already set by the pool. Candles were scattered around and in the pool as well. Lead lights were dangling from the willow trees, it seemed amazing.

"It is beautiful Ella"

"Oh thank you dear, I only added the candles for tonight. The trees were done by Zach a year ago and we light them up every night."

"It looks magical" I whispered looking at Zach who was engrossed in a discussion with his father about business.

"I like the way you look at him. You really love him don't you?"

I was surprised by how forthcoming Ella was, but wasn't the least offended. I bit my lower lip considering my words before speaking up "Yes I do love him. He doesn't know though... we haven't confessed yet" I smiled surprised that I felt every word I said. Realization came to me. I was in love with Zachary, it wasn't just a crush, my feelings for him were strong. I felt my heart beat accelerate as if my heart was coming out of my chest.

"Are you okay dear? I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude"

"No no Ella, it's fine I just realized how much he means to me. It scares the hell out of me. What if he doesn't feel the same?"

A small smile played on Ella's lips as she reached for my hand and took it in hers "I've never seen my son smile like that. Look at him, he's smitten by you. Yes he might not say it, but he has strong feelings for you too. Trust me."

"What are you ladies talking about?" Zachary asked as he and his dad joined us. He sat right next to me and placed an arm on the back of my chair brushing my shoulders. He leaned in and whispered in my ear "I'm sleeping over tonight" leaving the details out so I would imagine what he will do to me. I blushed pressing my thighs together feeling myself getting wet in anticipation.

The night was fun, Ella kept teasing Zach by telling me stories of his past girlfriends when he was just a teen.

"Oh and let's not forget the famous Tiffany" she laughed before taking another sip of her drink. She was already tipsy. "Tiffany was so obsessed with Zachary that she came one night and tried escalating the wall to sneak into his bedroom, but we had dogs at the time and one of them thought she was a thief and started barking. The poor girl just hid herself scared of the dogs while we called security. Oh lord how embarrassed she was"

Brandon got up before she could embarrass her son even more "Alright Lady Ella, time for bed"

"What? No I haven't finished my drink yet"

"I think you drank enough for the night" she kissed us good night and so did Brandon before he took her upstairs and we went to the car.

"Did you have a good time?"

"I have. They are nice people I really like them"

"I'm glad you do. Amelia wanted to come but she's running a fashion show in Paris and had to meet with her designers"

"That's awesome, I'm happy for her. She's making a name to herself just the way she wanted"

"And one day you'll do the same. Trust me, when the hotel is done, everyone will want to hire you"

"I hope so."

I was buckling up when I felt Zach's gaze on me. I looked up slowly only to be lost in his brown orbs. I felt my face heat up as he closed the small distance between us and captured my lips in his. At first the kiss we shared was soft and gentle, but soon it turned into a heated kiss with tongues dancing together and hands exploring each other's faces and bodies.

I was breathing hard when I pulled away trying to regain myself "that was..." I couldn't finish though. No words could describe the way I felt while kissing him like that.

Zach chuckled and pulled away adjusting himself in his seat and with a smirk adjusted his little friend down there which made me blush like crazy. As promised, he came home with me and spent the night just like many other nights after. It's been a month since our dinner with his family, and since then he slept every night at my place. He usually had a busy schedule during the day so I didn't always see him unless it was work related I would go to his office and barge in without even having a meeting with him. We still hadn't define our relationship, but more and more pictures of us kept figuring in the papers and on social medias which was good for him.

I was finishing the last touches on the lobby 3D drawing when Aria barged in with a huge grin on her face. I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Lately she's been happy 24 /24 and I still didn't know why. Don't get me wrong I'm happy for her nut I would love to know the reason behind all this happiness.

"What got you in a good mood? Have you taken your happy pills already? It's only 11 pm" I mused shaking my head.

"No! not yet! But I saw a beautiful picture of my beautiful friend with her fake or not so fake Greek god of a boyfriend" she said grinning as she sat next to me and looked over my shoulder to see what I was doing. "Oh my, that looks amazing girl!"

"Thank you" I smiled saving my last shot and closed off my laptop. Turning my attention to her I raised both eyebrows "So you're excited because you saw a picture of me and Zach? I mean there's a new picture of us every day so what got you so happy?"

"Well this one is different. This one shows you're both not pretending anymore, there was no one around so it wasn't just for the show"

"Show me" I said frowning a bit. She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of Zach and I walking on the beach hand in hand looking in each other's eyes. The sunset was beautiful, the whole shot was amazing.

"You're right, this picture is so lovely. I'll send it to my phone"

"You miss the point! You're in love, he's in love! Why keep it from each other?"

"You're talking non sense, just stop. He doesn't love me, we're just... I don't even know what we are. We're pretending for the sake of his mother, but we're also... we're like friends with benefits I think"

"You think? Well I don't. and if I were you I would ask him about it."

Before I could say anything my phone went off "saved by the bell" I muttered taking it from the table "It's Zachary, he probably wants to know if I finished the first part of the project" I picked up "good morning Zach"

-Good morning to you Elise-

"I'll be over with the final plans of the first part in about an hour, are you free to see me?"

-I'm always free to see you but... that's not why I called. I need to ask you something—

"Ok? Ask away"

"I don't know how to put it, and I know it's asking too much of you but if you don't want to do it just tell me-

"Zachary Walton! Just tell me what you need"

-I need you to marry me...-