Andrea’s POV
A sense of dread spread over my mind as I watched Mrs. Hamilton approach the door. No, I couldn’t face him. “Please deal with him, Kathy. Tell him I’m busy!” I dashed off towards Adrian’s room to avoid Zion at all costs.
The therapist had completed his work and got up to leave. I could hear the main door close. So Zion had left! Granny Catherine was arranging Adrian’s duvet and cushions, so I followed the therapist out. “Call me if he faces any discomfort. Otherwise, I’ll come over after two days to check up on him.”
“Thank you so much for coming over at such short notice.” He smiled and nodded at me.
“It’s my job.” As we walked out of the room towards the main door, I froze at the sight of Zion, sitting in the living room, maybe waiting for me. What was he doing here? Didn’t he know I was busy?
The therapist took his leave while I walked over to Zion, glaring at him all the while. “What brings you here, Zion? There is nothing to discuss. I’m busy!” I continued to glare at him, but he looked least bothered by my insult.
“I can see how busy you are. So you’ve started calling them home as well.” I gave him a confused look. What the heck was he talking?
“Calling whom? If you can’t be specific, you can leave. I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense!”
He got up, his face livid with rage and annoyance. “Calling your hook-ups home. You don’t need to act so innocent around me. I know you too well!” He marched out of my house while I stood there feeling shocked, insulted, and furious at his insolence. What did he think of himself? Did he really think the therapist was a hook-up of mine?
Mrs. Hamilton came rushing into the room and gave me a look of concern. “What happened? Did he insult you, Andy? I tried to push him away, but he insisted on waiting for you inside.”
I came back to my senses and gave her a small smile. “Don’t fret over him, Kathy. He’s a pain in the ass. I’ll freshen up in a minute. Can you check where Zayden and Zane are hiding? I’m sure Angel will know. Ask her.” Angel was Knox’s daughter and Zane’s twin, the polar opposite of both of them. True to her name, I saw her leading Kathy towards Zayden’s hiding spot and a smile tugged at my lips. I went away to my room to change. My decision was made.
I would avoid Zion at all costs. I wouldn’t let him get under my skin. He wasn’t worth my attention. I worked to earn for my children, to give them a good life. Surely, I would find a way out despite Zion’s efforts to drag me down. If everything failed, I would come back to my grandpa’s house rather than get back with Zion Concorde!
When I went downstairs, Adrian was awake and the two chipmunks, Zayden and Zane, were sitting beside him. The moment I went into the room, they hung their heads with guilt. I stopped in front of them. “I need to talk to both of you!”
“Oh no, Mom’s mad at us!” muttered Zayden.
“We’re sorry, Aunt Andy! It won’t happen again,” said Zane, looking guiltier than before.
“Sorry, mom!” said Zayden, seeing me glare at him. “We thought Addie had recovered. He has rested for days already!”
“Yes, he was getting bored in bed. He needed rescuing!” explained Zane while I glared with horror at the two of them.
“No, he doesn’t need rescuing. Do you realize he is suffering from a hairline fracture? It will take him a month to get better.” The boys gaped at me as if I had uttered some gibberish.
“What’s a hairline fracture? I haven’t hurt my head or hair, Mom!” protested Adrian while the other two rolled with laughter.
“Aunt Andy needs to rest her brain!” laughed Zane.
“Have you been overworking, mom?” asked Zayden.
“Stop! I’m serious, boys! A hairline fracture doesn’t involve the head or hair despite the name. It’s a tiny crack in the bone, as thin as a strand of hair.”
“Oh! It sounds scary, Aunt Andy. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Addie until he’s better!” said Angel, dragging her brothers out of the room.
“Thank you, Angel. I trust you.”
She flashed an angelic smile at me when Kathy entered with Adrian’s dinner. “I can’t eat on my own. I have a hairline fracture, Kathy!” he protested, giving me a helpless look. Of course, I could see through these stunts. It was only to compel me to take pity on him and feed him.
“I don’t have the time to feed you, Addie!” protested Kathy.
“Oh, you don’t need to. Mom’s here to feed me! Please Mom, I’m tired!” As if I wasn’t! Yet my motherly instincts took over and I sat down beside him to feed him.
“Are the kids at the table?” I didn’t trust Zayden. He would forget his meals if no one forced him to sit at the table. When I was at the office, I had to ensure they had their lunch at the daycare center. It was just opposite my office, and I took time off from work to check up on them.
I fed him while he talked about his boring day in bed. We discussed his homework which granny Catherine had already made him do. I felt thankful to her for her help. It had completely skipped my mind. “Mom, when can I go to school like Zayden?”
“Maybe after two weeks when you can walk with crutches.” Adrian groaned, and I felt bad for him. I tucked him in after dinner and granny Catherine came in to tell him a bedtime story. The rest of the children too bundled in to listen. I slipped out to have my dinner. It had been a waste of a day today. With no work, and no marketing manager, I was in a soup.
“Andy, you’re hardly eating!” said Kathy as she joined me to have her dinner. I smiled at her, forcing myself to eat.
“I don’t feel like. My head is killing me. So is my body!” Kathy frowned with concern and touched my hand.
“You’re warm. Are you feeling feverish?” I nodded and got up to sleep it off.
“A little. I’m sure I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
I trudged towards my bedroom and lay down to rest, but the day’s events had me tossing and turning all night. How could I see my dream company crumble? I had to do something, but what could I do? Tears of helplessness pricked at my eyes. Why did Zion have to come back when things were picking up? I didn’t disturb his happily married life!
I felt terrible the next morning. After getting Zayden ready for school, I tended to Adrian and left for work. I had to reach the office at 9 o’clock to interview the new marketing guy, Dennis Webster. The future of my company depended on him.
Ignoring my condition, I drove down to the office. Opening the laptop, I noticed Michael’s resignation in my mail inbox. It didn’t surprise me, since Roberta had already informed me. I would deal with it later.
After twenty minutes, Dennis Webster arrived, and I hired him after a brief interview. The guy was capable and willing to work hard. He joined immediately and started working for us!
My head was killing me and I knew I wouldn’t last long. After Dennis settled down, maybe I would take the rest of the day off and go home. However, work cropped up all the time the entire day. I couldn’t leave. By evening too,I was neck deep in a deal, trying my best to get it. All the employees left while I sat framing the deal. I wanted to offer more than the others so that we would get the project.
The security guard came inside after a brief knock on my door. “Ma’am, there’s someone to see you.”
My heart filled up with dread since I knew who it could be.
It was none other than Zion Concorde, whom I had been avoiding since last night. He had called me thrice all day, but I had blocked him. Couldn’t he take the hint and leave me alone?
“Tell him I was just leaving for the day. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“He isn’t listening to me, ma’am.” Footsteps echoed and the door was pushed open wider. Zion marched in disregarding the poor guard.
“Andrea, why have you blocked me? I’ve been calling you all day.”
I didn’t even glance in his direction. Closing the laptop, I started dumping everything in my bag, gearing up to leave. The guard went away while Zion strode towards me in a fit of rage.
“I’m talking to you, Andrea!”
Yet I didn’t glance his way, picking up my bag and staggering towards the door. I had to get away before my body gave way. I felt violently sick, my body burning with temperature, ready to drop off anytime.
He grabbed my arm to stop me, pulling me roughly towards him. The bag dropped to the floor. My head swooned, making me close my eyes as everything blacked out and I felt myself falling.
Andrea’s POV I felt relaxed, rested, and much better! The soft bed I was lying on didn’t seem mine! Where was I? I remembered falling unconscious in the office! After that, everything was hazy. I had no memory of anything whatsoever. Immediately I opened my eyes with a start as a feeling of dread clutched at my heart. I looked around the tastefully done-up room. Where was I? This wasn’t my room or Cromwell Mansion! With its neutral shades of beige, it looked more like a man’s bedroom. My heart constricted with fright. I dreaded accepting the obvious. Did Zion bring me over to his house? After all, he was the only one present near me when I lost consciousness. No, I had to escape. I didn’t want to stay here a second longer to confront him. My head swooned as I tried to get up. It was a futile effort, and I fell back on the bed. I knew I was burning with a fever, but I had to leave. If I stayed here, I would go crazy. I made repeated attempts at getting up on my feet. At last, I sto
Zion’s POV Mad fury coursed through my body as I realized what she had done. How dare she hit me? I would punish her right away! No one could get away after messing with Zion Concorde! Maybe she hadn’t gone far without a car or her bag!I was about to open the door and run after her when a phone buzzed somewhere on the floor. I felt my phone in my pocket. It wasn’t mine. I looked around to find Andrea’s phone lying outside the main door. She might have dropped it in her haste. Then how would she summon help in her condition? I walked out of the penthouse, picked up the phone and glared at the screen. The name Adrian flashed across the screen, immediately making me see red. At that moment, I could have killed the guy with my bare hands. I was about to accept the call immediately, intending to blast him for calling at odd hours, when my gaze fell near the elevator. A gasp of horror escaped my lips at the sight of Andrea lying near my private elevator. I knew she was burning with feve
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 e
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