Andrea’s POV
I waited outside Zion’s condominium for Grandpa Vincent’s car. I was glad I could get away from Zion. It was true he had helped me recover, but I couldn’t breathe in his presence. I didn’t want to go down memory lane and relive the moments I spent with him. What was the use? He didn’t love me the way I did.
It was best to stay away from one another. His gesture couldn’t undo the hurt he had inflicted on me. He had broken me five years ago. Even now, his harsh, judgemental words shattered me, more than a fatal wound could. How could he have such a low opinion of me without proof? No, he was too toxic for me.
It was better I avoided him at all costs. Thankfully, I had found my mobile phone lying on the bed beside me. I had dropped it somewhere when I fell unconscious. Seeing it suddenly near me gave me the idea of escaping. Maybe Zion had left it accidentally on my bed. I sneaked out with it while he was busy in the kitchen. After everything he did to me, did he really expect I would stay? How could he think I would get back with him?
Grandpa’s white Cadillac pulled up in front of me and his trusted chauffeur, Fred Martin, emerged to help me. Even Grandpa alighted from the back seat to help me. “Andrea? Why didn’t you call me before?” They almost carried me to the car, and I closed my eyes with relief. Now I knew I would be safe with my family, away from Zion Concorde!
“I lost my phone, grandpa.” He frowned at the gigantic condominium behind us but didn’t ask questions, thankfully.
“You’re safe now. Let’s go home, Fred.” I rested my aching head on Grandpa’s shoulder like I used to when younger. I just wished I could go back in time to those days. They were so much better!
“Did you take any medication? You shouldn’t neglect your health so much, Andy.” I closed my eyes and listened to him fret over me.
“It’s just flu, Grandpa. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
“You’ll rest at home until you’re better.” I sighed since there was no way he would agree with me. Obviously, I couldn’t stay at home when they needed me there at the office.
“I can’t, Grandpa and you know it.” I was too weak to argue and sat upright, waiting to reach the sanctity of my room. Trying to make them understand was a mammoth task, indeed. I knew when Knox returned, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He would make me quit everything and live here at home until I was better.
“No, I don’t know. What’s the need to work so hard? Why are you killing yourself? Don’t you care about your children, Andy? The whole day they pine for you. Why do you need to work relentlessly when we have more than we need? Can’t you take a break even one day? I’m sure we have enough to feed a battalion forever.”
I felt guilty since he was right. Why did I work so tirelessly? Maybe they wouldn’t understand my need to need to work to keep my inner demons at bay. Keeping myself busy made me feel confident, important, and productive. It helped me make my mark, but mostly it helped me forget Zion.
Did I really forget Zion, even after struggling for five years?
I couldn’t argue with Grandpa anymore. It was true. My mad career race was affecting the twins. They were just four, yet I hardly had time to spend with them. I never took them out! What a pathetic parent had I become!
We reached home, and with Grandpa and Fred’s help, I staggered towards my room. “Who does this, Andy? Shouldn’t you have dropped everything and come home if you were so sick? Where were you all this while?” scolded Kathy, as she helped me to the washroom.
“I fell unconscious at the office, Kathy. I would have come home, but Zion came over and took me to his penthouse. The moment I gained consciousness, I escaped.”
“Zion Concorde? Is he back in your life?”
I groaned since I would never allow him back. “No, he doesn’t deserve a second chance.” I closed the door and freshened up, changing into my pajamas to sleep. Thankfully, Kathy had left by the time I emerged and I was saved from answering her questions.
I lay down to sleep finally, on my bed, in my home. I wondered how Zion would react once he found out I had escaped. The very thought of him angered me. Did he think he could continue to insult me and I would forgive him and willingly sleep with him?
The next morning, despite the fever, I felt much better. “Where are you off to, Andy?” asked Grandpa.
“I’m feeling better, Grandpa. I have to go to the office for at least a couple of hours.”
“No, you won’t go anywhere today. Just rest!” I sighed, having never seen Grandpa this rigid. Even granny Catherine supported him this time.
“He’s right, dear. One day won’t make much of a difference.”
“Yay, Mom will be at home with us!” sang Zayden. I gave up fighting and followed Kathy to Adrian’s room. The poor child had called me so many times last night. He was sick too and needed me while I couldn’t be there for him. How could Zion doubt me with him?
The moment I went into his room, his face brightened up. “Mom? When did you come home? I was so worried about you.”
My heart filled up, and I sat beside him to give him a hug. “I came home last night. How are you now?” He wriggled out of my embrace at the sight of the others entering the room.
“I’m fine, see!” I smiled at him, appreciating his positivity.
“Good, because the therapist will come over from today to help you walk,” said granny Catherine, coming into the room.
“Oh, I don’t want to get well. Then Mom will take us back to the apartment. I love to stay here,” pouted Adrian.
“No one’s going anywhere. Even when you’re well, I won’t let your mom take you away,” said Grandpa, glaring at me as he walked into the room.
“Please don’t give them false hopes, Grandpa. You know I won’t stay here.”
“Why not? This is your childhood home. It’s so huge, you can occupy a wing if you want privacy. Knox can occupy another.” I groaned, not wanting to go into that argument again.
“I’m not going back,” said Zayden, looking determined as ever.
“Neither am I,” supported Adrian while I looked at the two of them helplessly. I needed my freedom. I couldn’t dump my children’s responsibilities on them. They had warned me against Zion, yet I went to Athens. I was at fault for what I’m facing right now. Why would they bear the consequences of my actions?
“We’ll see about that when the time comes.” Kathy served Adrian his food while I got up to take some medicine. The fever was returning, and I wanted to lie down and forget everything.
“No, mom. We’ll come back here even if you take us to your apartment.”
“Stop being so difficult, Andrea. You will stay here and let us take care of the three of you. Knox is returning tomorrow, and I am sure he would want the same. You can’t fight him!” said Kathy, and I sighed in defeat.
A phone call from the office got me busy. I walked out of the room and went to my room, accepting the call from Roberta. “Andrea, I’m sorry to inform you Dennis has refused to continue with us. He wants to end the contract he signed with us.”
I sat down in shock, feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from underneath me. “How could he leave when he had just joined us?”
“He cited personal reasons. We have to release him or he would sue us for forcing him to sign a deed, Andrea. He’s bringing a lawyer with him tomorrow.”
“No need. I’m unwell right now. When I come down, I’ll release him. In the meantime, ask him to email me his resignation. Has he brought in a single project yet? I would have to work out the incentives.”
“No, Andrea. Nothing. Oh, there’s one more thing! The building janitor just handed me an eviction notice on behalf of the owner. We need to vacate immediately!”
“Why? We’ve always paid the rent on time.”
“I don’t know, Marina. I’ll send it to you through the security guard.”
I disconnected the call and sat with my head in my hands. What would I do now? Would I give up on my dreams?
My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Zion. Despite being away from him, I hadn’t erased his number from my phone. It was the same as before but what did he want now?
Andrea’s POV I turned a deaf ear to the phone, letting it buzz. Somehow, I had the feeling Zion had a hand in the eviction. Why else would they evict us so abruptly? I just couldn’t sit idle at home and rest when there was so much on my plate. I popped a pill and got ready to go to the office. Grandpa was upset with me and refused to talk to me. I could understand his point of view, but today, I had to check out what was going on. I would definitely demand a notice period when I wasn’t a defaulter. The moment I drove out through the gates, I came across Zion’s car, heading right inside. Why was he here now? Maybe he was here to blast me for escaping him and ignoring his call. It served him right. I swerved the car, but he blocked me. Lowering his window, he handed me my laptop bag. I could see the amusement in his eyes, but I ignored it. I snatched my bag from his grip and drove away, leaving him where he was. After ten minutes, I braced the LA traffic and reached my office. Rober
Andrea’s POV “Mom, I hate to live alone. Why do we have to go? Why can’t we stay at G-Pa’s house like Zane and Angel do?” asked Zayden, scowling at me defiantly. They called their great-grandpa, G-Pa, just as Knox’s children did. I glanced at Adrian sulking in the back seat, furious to leave Cromwell Mansion behind. His leg was much better and he could walk using a crutch. It would be a matter of days before he could move around without aid. I couldn’t stay until then. I had to get away before Knox’s arrival. He was too dominating! “Their lives are settled in Cromwell Mansion, whereas ours is in our apartment. How long would you miss school? It’s quite a distance from Cromwell Mansion.” I drove towards my apartment while the twins sulked. I couldn’t tell them the real reason I had moved out. They were too young to understand. There was another reason, though. Zane, Zayden, and Adrian together were becoming quite a handful for granny Catherine and grandpa to handle at their age. The
Zion’s POV My whole body burned with rage at the mention of the name. I hated that name now! Who the f*ck was this Adrian guy? My mind conjured up images of a shrewd, lecherous playboy with looks good enough to kill! I could disfigure him using only my bare hands. Was he Andrea’s boyfriend? Why else would she live together with him? I hadn’t seen a wedding ring on her finger. So she couldn’t have been married to the guy! How did Knox accept him so readily in her life when he broke off all ties with me? He hadn’t even given me a chance to explain myself. Then, Knox had always been the weirdest among us. It was expected of him. I had no idea how he chose an angel of a woman for himself. He didn’t deserve Danielle’s love! I sat in my car and seethed even more, unable to drive away. I wanted Knox to leave so that I could go back to catch them red-handed. Of course, I knew Andrea wasn’t answerable to me. She had the right to move on after I had thrown her out of my life five years ago.
Andrea’s POV I gasped with horror at finding myself in Zion’s arms, despite my efforts to keep him at bay. Why was he waiting in front of the door?“Leave me, Zion!” I thrashed furiously, desperate to place some distance between us. I was here to warn him, not to hug him!“What have I done? You’re the one who walked into my arms!” His eyes sparkled with mischief, infuriating me even more. Did he find this amusing?I wasn’t letting this opportunity go. Did he think I would blush and stammer at his flirty ways? The old Andrea who had a crush on him might have done that, but not me. I had learned my lesson the hard way. I would never fall for him again. “How would I know you’d be waiting for me right at the door with open arms? Desperate, aren’t you? No wonder your wife left you.” He released me as if my words hit him hard. His jaws clenched and I could see the annoyed look back on his face. Good enough! That’s how I wanted it between us. It would make me hate him even more. It would r
Zion’s POV My lips burned with her touch for hours, even after she had left. I sat brooding over my reaction to Andrea every time I met her. Why did I always overreact to her? Why couldn’t I ever be normal around her? The kiss didn’t help my condition at all. In fact, it aggravated it. Now I craved her with an obsession and I knew I needed more than just a kiss from her. I seethed with jealousy to even think about her motive for coming here. Did she really think I would stay away from her? I wouldn’t in this lifetime! She was mine and I would win her at all costs. I didn’t repent for beating up the guy called Adrian. I didn’t know what equation Andrea had with him, but it gave me happiness to know he had left her. Did he really leave her? I had to find out for myself. Maybe then I would know what was stopping her from moving in with me. I walked out of the office and got into my car, determined to stalk Andrea Cromwell from tomorrow. That was the only way to know what she was up t
Andrea’s POV I had to leave Adrian with Kristina at home the next morning. Zayden was restless to attend school, and I dropped him at his pre-kindergarten on my way to work. With everything within walking distance from my home and office, it was quite convenient to keep track in between work. At the office, I was relieved to see we still had the project with us. Maybe Zion hadn’t got a whiff of it yet. I worked on the design all morning and by lunchtime I could complete the first draft and arrange for a client meeting. It pleased me immensely that I hadn’t given in to Zion’s pressure. Roberta came into the office with a pleased look on her face. “Andrea, there’s good news. We’ve bagged a renovation project for celebrity chef, Rick Salisbury’s restaurant, Rick’s Delights! This will make us famous!” My jaws dropped with surprise. Why would such a famous person want to work with me? “Oh, how did you get it?” “They called us, Andrea! Do you remember the last villa renovation project
Andrea’s POV “Never! Stop stalking me, Zion.” I stormed into the elevator, furious at his question. What did he think me to be? I wasn’t a weakling to give in to his manipulation. I could fend for myself and fight it out.He followed me into the elevator, making me even more furious. “I won’t stop until you give in. So, why waste time?” I sucked in a deep breath to stay calm. “You’re wasting your time pursuing me. I’m not interested in you. Get out and stay out of my life.” The elevator stopped at my floor and I marched out. To my immense annoyance, he still followed me. “I see. So, who are you interested in now?” He grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned around to face him for the last time. This was getting too complicated now. I hadn’t expected him to pursue me to this level. Why was he doing it? Didn’t he have any important work to do?“No one! Can you leave me alone, Zion? I’m tired of this. The more you pressurize me, the more I’ll run from you. I am married to my business and
Zion’s POV I drove over to the headquarters of the Concorde Group to attend the annual board meeting. It was something I couldn’t ignore, although I dreaded meeting Delia. She would definitely try to convince me to take over the reins of the business once again but as her puppet. Only she didn’t realize that I would never be her puppet. I would take over as CEO again only if she signed 20% more shares over to me. With a majority of the company shares in my name, I would have a clear advantage over her. For the last four days, my life has been a roller-coaster ride with no time for anything. After the massive disappointment on Saturday when Andrea skipped the get-together because of me, I realized my mistake. Her words echoed in my head all the time. I realized Andrea had rejected me! She had moved on from me! There was no place for me in her life! The realization hurt me a lot, and I spent the entire night seeking solace in my bottle of Jack Daniels. The next morning, I noticed t