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Chapter Twenty-One

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I pull away from Zach in surprise. The heaviness in my chest hasn't settled down and my eyes are still teary. Is this like, a goodbye kiss?

His emerald green eyes don't have the usual shine in them. He is breathing heavily, like me. We continue to stare at each other's eyes, waiting for either of us to break the silence.

Not able to control myself any longer, I wrap my hands around his waist and push myself into him. Basking in the feeling, I shut my eyes tightly to not let my tears out when Zach's arms wrap around me.

His steady heartbeat helps me calm down a little but that heaviness in my chest doubles. My throat closes up and I swallow a sob.

I pull back after a while. I don't look into his eyes this time because of the fear of breaking down.

"Bye, Zach." I smile, looking anywhere but at him.

"Ella." Zach groans softly.

"Thank you for everything," I smile at him kindly before leaving a last kiss in his cheek and turning around. With a sigh, I open the door and slide inside the car.

I wave at Zach when the car starts to move but he remains standing there with jaws clenched and face hard. If he really wanted me to not go, he'd ask, right?

A lone tear runs down my cheek and I hastily wipe it before looking outside, thinking about better things- like my freedom.

However, Kyle's phone buzzes loudly when we're a mile away from Zach's house and he pulls to the side. He turns around to apologise and answers the phone.

"Yes sir? wha- okay sir..," he mumbles into his phone. He looks at me briefly through the display mirror before starting the engine and taking a u-turn.

"Um... Kyle? Wh-where are we going?"

I don't realize that it is the first time I've spoken to someone other than Zach.

Kyle looks at me and mumbles a 'sorry, Mrs Kane' and gets back to driving. I just hope this isn't like one of those movies where the driver is paid by the main lead's enemy to kidnap his loved one so that he can get back at him.

Yeah, right. This wasn't some movie or book.

My anxiety turns into confusion and then into realization when we enter familiar gates. To an outsider, this must seem comical, I left with tears not too long ago.

Zach is nowhere to be seen when Kyle pulls the car to the side.

"Sorry again, Mrs Kane. Mr Kane's orders."

With that, Kyle gets out of his car and opens my door. I get outside and Kyle carries my suitcase and sets it beside me. I smile at him in gratitude and he gets inside the car, probably waiting for Zach to take him to his office.

I don't know how long I stand staring at the mansion in front of me, with my hands still on my suitcase. Am I missing something?

Zach comes out ages later, like I haven't been standing over here for the past minutes. His walk towards me is painfully slow and I blink at him.

The atmosphere is plain awkward. Zach stands in front of me in his black tuxedo, his hair done to perfection and his green eyes twinkling like they always do.

"This won't be awkward at all if you just speak, Zachary."

He looks taken aback and if it were some other time, I'd probably laugh at the way his full name sounds on my lips. But right now, I look at him with narrow eyes, pulling at the hem of my white t-shirt.

"Come on," I groan in frustration. "You've got to give me something!"

Zach heaves a sigh and meets my eyes.

"I want you to stay."

I don't know if I want to hug him and squeal in happiness or slap him. He could have saved me my energy. And, my tears.

"Please," he adds when I don't react.

"Why?"

"This- this is why I wasn't telling you. Just stay okay, we'll talk about this tonight." He grips at his hair, messing it. I slap his hand away and run my hands over his hair so that it looks like before. Perfect. He takes my hand in his and places a kiss over my wrist.

He looks down at me with an unfathomable emotion which is gone as soon as it comes.

"I'm begging you. Please," he whispers.

"You'll be late for w-work," I smile at him, not asking him what the bloody hell was going on, like he wanted me to.

"I better get going, then." He again looks at me with that expression mixed with relief. My breath is caught in my throat when he leans down and his lips brush over mine.

With that, he opens the door and sits down. The car bolts away and I stand there like before, this time with a silly grin on my lips.

. . .

I look at the card in my hand. I think of asking Zach, but I know I have no reason to. I make myself comfortable in the bed, I'm currently in Zach's room.

I type in the personal number written on the back of the card. With a deep breath, my fingers start moving over the keyboard.

me:
Hey
It's Ellen Sallow
I hope you remember me
We met at the charity ball

I look at my phone anxiously. What if he doesn't remember me? My phone dings a moment later.

Paul:
Of course, I do 'Miss Sallow'

I bite my lips at the memory of that night. Zach sure was acting a bit possessive. Or I was just overthinking.

me:
I was thinking about your offer

I hold my breath and wait for the reply.

Paul:
Glad to hear that
Why don't we talk about this over dinner?

me:
I don't think I can talk yet, I'm sorry

Paul:
It won't be a problem
We can communicate through texts if you'd like?
I'll have a contract ready by tonight

Over dinner? Wouldn't that be a bit unprofessional? And tonight? Dammit, Zach said we needed to talk tonight.

me:
I'm quite busy tonight
Can we do it tomorrow?

Paul:
I'm afraid not
I'm heading for a business trip tomorrow
I'll be gone for a few weeks

I purse my lips. I really want this job. Graphic designing has always been my dream job and offers like this only come once in a lifetime. Zach and I can talk later, right?

me:
I'll reschedule
Send me the address and time
Thank you, Paul

I throw my phone on the bed and close my eyes. My phone dings again, it probably is Paul. Sighing, I stand up from the bed and stretch my arms. I had been on the bed all day.

The dinner with Paul is at seven. Zach isn't home by then. So, dressed in a formal black full-length gown, I put my hair down and use a little bit of make-up before walking outside.

This gown was among the many other clothes that were already placed in the closet the day we got 'married'.

I sent Zach a text about my whereabouts, including the name of the restaurant. I then order Uber and with a deep breath, I leave for the not-so-formal interview with my (hopefully) new boss.

I return an hour later. The dinner went great, we talked about different things and he felt more of a colleague than a boss. It was a little weird with texts and all but it could have been worse.

He said I could start once he returned from his business trip. I had to take a three months training first, though.

Paul asked to drive me home and it would have been impolite to decline. So, I accept the offer. Once we pull into Zach's gate, my eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

Zach stands in front of his door with a pissed off expression in his face, his arms folded. His jaw twitches when he scans us through the front glass and I gulp.

"He looks like he's about to blast," Paul chuckles. I nod nervously.

"You'll thank me for this," Paul states and I turn to look at him in confusion.

What?

Out of the blue, Paul kisses my cheek. With widened eyes, I bid him goodbye and get out of the car before Zach kills him. He drives away after that.

I know what Paul tried to do. And, he seems to have been very successful.

Zach was beyond pissed. Yay me.

A part of me was excited and happy.

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Unedited.

(If you do not remember Paul, read chapter eleven <3 )

Someone's jelly, eh? ;)