Louis' POVWe landed in Elysian Harbour half an hour later. Of course in silence we walked giving each other a wide berth. I didn't know what possessed me enough to speak to her the way I did when we were on the jet. Yet, I could have sworn that I detected a softness to her. In her gaze, in her voice as though she felt my sadness and how vulnerable it left me.There was no annoyance, not an ounce of gloat when she had accessed me with those green eyes. They had turned from a mixture of blue and green over the years to a distinct almost emerald colour. I signed, her black heels clicking in my peripheral. The morning air was cold and slightly windy in the airport we had landed. Some of her brown curls pulled free of the restraint she had put on it. She tucked them back behind her ear. The gesture reminded me of a younger Zoe. It had always been a tell tale sign that she was nervous. Did it still mean the same? Or had she changed? I found myself reminiscing the times I had tangled my fin
Zoe's POVTo say that I had not expected a reaction would be a lie but the reaction I got was not what I could have foretold. I believed he would have taken a pause when he realised what I had done and not completely rejected the room altogether.During much of my research on him, I traced an incident that occurred just a few months before the Rodriguezes' very ugly, public separation. On Christmas Eve they had arrived at this same hotel with little Sophia like any normal couple ready to celebrate a Christmas in luxury, but it had ended on a bitter note when Jennie had called the front office in a panic. She said that her husband would kill her. Like any normal hotel, they came running to be met with quite a scene. The room was in utter disarray; windows broken, the television smashed in and so on. Jennie laid in an unconscious heap with her face bruised and her nose oozing blood. Louis was found at a desk, passed out drunk with Jennie's blood staining his white dress shirt. This had
Zoe's POVOnce we separated we gave each other a wide berth and with the expanse of the room we were given, it was relatively easy. He took a shower while I had my head buried into my laptop. I had my back turned to him as I worked. Despite that, my traitorous brain kept pulling my thoughts to the man behind me, fresh from the shower. I had seen him naked but that was years ago when he was still a growing boy. His physique had been begrudgingly far above average even at that age, it made me wonder how he would look like now, unclad and dripping with water. I shook the thoughts away and cursed under my breathe. Fuck! A few minutes later, I caught a whiff of his cologne. Then he was out the door even quicker. I was finally alone. I got up from the table and stalked towards the door. I put my ear to it and waited. I could still hear his retreating foot steps growing fainter with each step. I pushed myself off the door once I could no longer hear it. I got back to my system and swit
Zoe's POVI sat back at desk and typed the name, Francesca Morreti into the search engine, the blue line flew to finish line in a blast and I had information about the actress splayed all over my laptop screen.It did not take me long to know the basic details of who she was. Francesca Morreti, twenty nine year old actress who is known for her beauty and irresistible allure. When she was twenty was when she first gained popularity but then she had fallen in love with the director of her movie. The directior was fourty three year old at the time and his name was Daniel Bennett. They had married soon after but after that her career took a fall when she had starred in a horrible show. Slowly she disappeared from the industry and stayed married to her husband for eight years after that. She finally divorced her husband and rose to prominence once again. In many interviews she thanked her best friend, Jennie who she claimed was her rock during the oppressive years of her marriage to her
Zoe's POVI bit into the steak and let the flavour sip into my tongue. "Mum, it's so good." I gasped to which she only chuckled and she pulled gently at one of my pig tails. She turned away from me but not fast enough I still saw her smile die on her lips. She began to wash the dishes. I swung my leg as I continued to revel in the deliciousness of the dish. The room was fairly in order although it smelt faintly of mould. Mum said it was the rain rotting the ceiling and that it will be alright. A cry tore through the air, slightly stunning mum but I was out of the chair and by Andrew's side in second. My baby brother writhed in his little creaky cot, his face flushed pink and tears rolling down his face. I reached out my stubby hands and carried him. The way I saw mum do whenever he was upset. He quieted down a little and something nudged my shoulder. I looked up to see it was mum smiling down at me, handing me his bottle. I took it and sat. I fed him by myself for the fourth tim
Zoe's POV When I opened my eyes the next morning and I was greeted with a fresh wave of headache so bad that I had to stroke my temple. The room was dark but I knew it was morning by the slivers of sunlight that filtered through the dark heavy curtains. The aroma of something that ought to be mouthwatering assaulted my senses and a fresh bout of nausea washed over me. This was normal in the mornings after I have been plagued with nightmares. I was forgetting something but before my muddled thoughts could begin to sort themselves out, a voice pulled me back. "Finally awake," By its sonorous yet husky timbre I knew immediately who it was. "Louis," My voice came out smaller and weaker that I intended. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness of the room and I could find the outline of his features. "Zoe," His voice was oddly comforting as if he was trying to balance soft with intimidating. "You need to eat." He got up and I felt the mattress heave a sigh at the absence of his weight.
Zoe's POV He looked me over one more time before turning away. "I'll give you some privacy if you want to call her." Then he left the room as he had promised. I went to the nightstand and picked up my phone. Just to be safe, I went to the bathroom to dial her number. On the second beep she answered. "Zoe?" Her voice was frantic."It's me." I affirmed. I heard her release a breath of relief on the other end before we delved into silence for a long minute. "Regina…" I said but I was promptly cut off. "What are you doing with Louis Rodriguez?" Her tone was hard. "What are you doing within a five mile radius of that fucking bastard?" Her voice rose. "Regina, it is…" "Confidential." She took the words right out of my mouth. "Like everything else in your life and I understand but this…" She heaved a sigh. "Is different. After everything he did to you. He is Abel's dad but that bastard does not know that he exists." "And I'd like to keep it that way. What did you tell him about Abel
Zoe's POVI really had neither the time nor the energy for a verbal sparring. I had too much on my plate and I could not put something as trivial as the attire I would wear for tonight, get me stressed. I took a calming breath before looking down at the boxes. "Thank you." I said finally, releasing the tension in my shoulders. A look of shock ghosted his features then he shrugged. We resumed work but my mind wandered. The previous day's revelation still sent shock waves through me and I had an itching urge to see Cathy, my mother. I was uneasy and gripped with anxiety. Whoever had put a bullet in her was still out there and would still be looking for a chance to strike. I had made sure she had security but I was still bothered. Then there was the fact that I would meet the D'Amato's today. I had figured out one part of the puzzle that Cathy D'Amato was Agatha Carter. I knew she was my mother but now came the tricky part. If the D'Amato's turned out to be her family and my grandpare