*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 19👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 MORE THAN FRIENDS 👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
———————-
Zenia’s POV
EJ made a slow approach towards Anton and I knew what was coming. The temper he possessed and the unfriendly tension from him, it was going to get ugly very quic-kly.
I rushed between them before he got too close to a startled Anton.
“Why are you here?” I asked him, trying to direct his attention towards me instead.
“I asked you who’s this guy?” His dark grey eyes locked onto Anton.
“This is my new friend,” I answered.
“I’m Anton.” Anton held out his hand to EJ, who only looked at him as if he had the Ebola virus. After ten seconds, Anton pu-lled his hand back without a responded handshake.
“Why’s this dude here with you?” EJ’s eyes shifted over to me now.
“We got caught in the rain so….” I was about to explain but he cut me off.
“And so what? His house doesn’t have a roof? Why do you have him up here with you? Oh, so that’s why you couldn’t answer your phone, huh? You were busy with entertaining this guy, Zenia?”
“EJ! would you just stop it!” I snapped.
“Maybe I should just go,” Anton said.
“Smart,” EJ plastered back.
“Zenia, thank you for the towel and the shelter. I’ll text you later.” Anton quic-kly moved pa-ss EJ on his way out.
“You’ll text her later? Let me make myself clear, bro, stay the hell away from my girl,” EJ laced at him before he could disappear throu-gh the door. Anton gave a wave of his hand and continued walking away.
“I’m not your girl.” I was becoming annoyed by EJ’s sudden behavior. He made it clear to me that him and I were over but yet for all, here he was, chasing away my new friend.
“You are my girl!” he said back and slammed in the front door.
____________
“What the hell EJ!”
“Who was that guy?” He was standing in front of me now.
“I alre-ady told you that he’s my friend.”
“He’s British.”
“Congrats on being so observant.” I rolled my eyes at him and went back to the couch.
“I’ve been calling you and texting you. Why are you ignoring me?”
I looked at him as if he had a clown costume on.
“Are you serious right now EJ? Are you really serious? The last conversation we had, you said we’re done! So the real question is, why are you here?”
“I’m here for you. I want us to work out. I’m willing to try. For us.” He sat down next to me.
“There’s no more us. Just leave me alone EJ.”
“Oh so you can talk nicely to Antoine or whatever the hell his name is.. but you can’t have one conversation with me about our future?”
I shifted my b©dy in his direction, looking him dead in the face.
“EJ, plea-se stop complicating my life.”
“I’m a complication Zenia?”
“Yes you are! You’re a contradiction and on top of that, you’re so damn disrespectful. You have a childish personality and you only want things your way. You men think that women revolve around you but we don’t! We’re human being as well and we have feelings too.
You hurt my feelings EJ.
You made me cry. You made me ashamed of myself even more. You said that we were throu-gh.”
The tears were there but I wasn’t about to let him see me cry.
“Zenia, I’m sorry.” He opened his arms to hu-g me but I slapped them away.
“Don’t tou-chme right now. Just plea-se leave. I know it’s your brother’s penthouse but I don’t want you here.”
~
He stared at me for a brief moment. He stood up, raking his fin-gers throu-gh his hair. He gave me one more sympathetic look before ma-king a beeline for the door.
______________
My che-st heaved in and out ra-pidly as the tears sli-pped out my eyes.
I missed him. I missed his arms wra-pping around me and pu-lling me against his che-st.
I missed his eyes. His laughter. His posture. I missed everything about him but I wasn’t about to let him break and make me. I nee-ded to be strong for myself, by myself.
______________
The door opened again and my mother walked in with someone on her tail.
“Hey sweetie.”
“Hi mom,” I greeted her and crooked my head to catch a look at the person behind her.
My blood c@m£ to a boil instantly.
“What the hell is he doing back here?” I asked.
“Zenia, your father and I have something to say to you. Something you and Jasmine never knew because I couldn’t bring myself to tell you both.”
“I don’t care. I really don’t care about anything you have to say in correspondence of defending this a-sshole behind you.”
“Zenia!” she scolded.
“Zenia plea-se listen to your mother,” my so called father bu-tted in.
“plea-se don’t mention my name in your mouth. I don’t like you, I don’t care about you and I never will.
Jasmine made it clear she doesn’t want him back here so what the hell were you thinking bringing him back here?”
“Zenia, your father went away for a reason.”
“I DON’T fu-ckING CARE!”
I threw the bath towels across the chair, stood up and went into my be-droom. I locked the door behind me and buried myself in the puffy comforter on the be-d.
I took out my cellphone and messaged Anton.
Me: Hey, are you home yet?
British Hottie: only 5 mins away.
Me: what are you doing Friday?
British Hottie: Don’t got anything planned.
Me: wanna meet up?
British Hottie: hell yes. I just hope your crazy boyfriend don’t behead me.
Me: He’s not my boyfriend. Well, it’s very complicated.
British Hottie: well in that case, can I be your boyfriend?
My heart skipped several beats.
Me: We’ll see how that goes. Let’s not rush this.
British Hottie: Sure sweetheart.
~
A text message from EJ popped up on the status bar. pu-lling down the bar, I re-ad it silently to myself.
BaeToBe: Zen, I’m really sorry for everything I said to you. I was speaking from an angry place but I really shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me like that. I never meant to hurt you or make you cry. I don’t want you to have that impression of me because I’m nothing like that.
I know you might think I’m just talking shit but I am falling madly for you. I don’t want to lose you and I don’t want to let you go. plea-se forgive me and let us fix this.
I know you have feelings for me still, I can see it in your eyes. I would love to make you officially my girlfriend, then my wife one day.
~
I looked at the text message for well over five minutes, re-ading it over and over to myself.
He called shortly after.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Did you get my text?”
“Yeah.”
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
“I know how sorry you are but I don’t think we’re going to work out. It’s better to just let this go before more hearts are broken.”
“Zenia, plea-se don’t do this to me.” His voice sounded broken, and I could have tell there was a pain on his che-st.
“I’m sorry EJ.”
“plea-se tell me this has nothing to do with that British boy!”
“EJ. Just stop.”
“I swear if I see him around you again, I’ll beat him like a drum.”
“Goodbye EJ.”
I hung up.
__________________________
On Friday, I was in the best of moods. Jeremy from Hands On Magazine had visited my boutique, as he said he would. He was interested in publishing three clothing lines in their magazine. I was overwhelmed with happiness.
Anton and I had scheduled our first real date in the evening.
I hurried home to prepare. I took a hot shower then toweled off myself. I applied lotion to my skin and stepped into an un-derwear. I had alre-ady picked out my dress and because it had been raining lately, I paired my dress with a colorful faux fur coat.
I let down my hair and added some wave curls. I did a light makeup application to my face before stepping into my black heels.
At 7:00 PM, I was re-ady to go.
__________
I received a phone from Anton. He was outside waiting. He had borrowed his mom’s car to drive us to a restaurant of my choice.
I took the elevator down and walked out the lobby, feeling like a model.
Anton’s eyes popped when they landed on me. Flashing him a bright smile, I got into the car and directed him to the restaurant.
________
We walked hand in hand as we got into the elegant restaurant. A waitress guided us to a table before taking our orders.
“This is nice,” Anton said as he looked around from the chair opposite mine.
I looked around also. I had never been here before. I found the restaurant on google maps but the place was amazing.
Across from us, on a large table, sat Jasmine, Evan, Mrs. Hollen, Mr. Hollen, and of course, EJ.
I immediately turned back to Anton, fli-pping my hair more over my face as if I wanted to cover up and conceal myself.
“Hey, why you look so uncomfortable suddenly?” Anton asked, as I shifted and fidgeted in my seat.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just hungry. When I get hungry, I giggle.”
“Well, we should get the waitress then.”
Before I could stop him, he semi-shouted to the waitress pa-ssing by, “WAITRESS, some service plea-se.”
EJ caught his accent and looked over at us. His b©dy immediately shot up from his chair and his feet was carrying him towards our table.
Oh no, oh God plea-se no.
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 20👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 MORE THAN FRIENDS 👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Ethan Junior’s POV
“Don’t do this. Just plea-se go back into your seat and lets continue our dinner.”
My brother placed a firm grip on my shoulder, stopping me in my path and putting an end to the flaming temper I had intended to re-lease on that guy.
I went back into my seat, scra-pping the chair on the floor as I pu-lled myself up to the table. My temper slowly decrea-sed as I stabbe-d my fork into the be-d of vegetables in front of me.
“Are you okay EJ?” Mom asked me.
“I’m fine, mom,” I answered short.
Mom had wanted us to have a family dinner ever since the beginning of summer. But everyone always seemed too busy.
Dad was being dad, always had something to do.
Evan was the same old Evan, CEO of Hollen Tower and always used that as an excuse to get away from family bookings.
Jasmine was busy planning her wedding and being a mom but tonight, my mom had managed to capture us all and dragged us to this restaurant for a family dinner.
_____________
I watched as Zenia quic-kly walked past our table and the only other person who was aware of her pres-ence other than myself, was Evan.
I looked at Jasmine as she fed Evan diced lobster. I shook my head at my brother. Baby.
I turned around to the direction Zenia had previously walked past and saw the washrooms ahead. I peeled myself off the chair again, Evan’s eyes fell on me.
“What? I’m going to the washroom.”
I walked to the washroom .
The women’s washroom.
I waited outside the door for her, like a lion waiting for its prey.
She busted throu-gh the door and unintentionally walked directly into my arms. I ushered her back into the washroom.
“EJ….what are you doing?”
I re-leased her but had her cornered against the wall. I took her in. Her ti-ght blue dress instantly made me had cravings for her. I pressed myl-ips on her ne-ck which made her quivered as my arms wra-pped around her w@!st and pu-lled her onto my che-st.
“What are you doing here with him?” I asked in her left ear. She shivered even more.
“I’m.. I’m… having a friendly dinner with him.” She let out soft mo-ans between her answer.
“I told you I don’t want you with him.”
“You…you can’t tell me what to do.”
I pushed her back against the wall and stared into her beautiful brown chocolate eyes. My hands on either side of her. She lowered her head, bi-ting the bo-ttomof herl-ip.
“Hey,” I said in a whisper as I titled her chin upwards so that she was looking me in the face.
“You look beautiful. I just wish you were here with me instead of him.”
“EJ. He’s my friend and a really nice guy.”
“I don’t care and I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
Myl-ips went to hers and my fin-gers went throu-gh her hair. I couldn’t stop myself from ki-ssing and wanting her.
Zenia was beautiful in every aspect.
“EJ…..Don’t……..Stop…… plea-se.”
“I’m not going to stop baby.”
“I meant to stop it!” She pushed me away from her.
“Look me in the eyes Zenia and tell me you don’t want me.” I knew she was pla-ying with my head to punish me for hurting her.
“EJ… I…..I…. I…” She fidgeted with her hair and herl-ips as she looked at me.
I turned to leave but her hands quic-kly reached out for me.
“Stop. Where are you going?”
“Back to dinner. You can go back Antoine now.”
“EJ. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“So why is it that you’re doing exactly that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you falling for that guy Zenia?”
“No… Maybe… I don’t know.”
I heaved a loud sigh, calming myself before I had to go out there and beat him back to England.
_______________________
Zenia’s POV
I found myself stopping him and walking into his arms to comfort him. He was mad. I saw it in his eyes.
Mad at the fact that I was sli-pping away from him and becoming friendly with another guy. I didn’t want him to approach Anton and create a scene because of me. I didn’t want him hitting Anton.
As I la-id against his che-st, I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat. His arms circled around me and hisl-ips c@m£ down to mine.
I responded quic-kly. He woke up the current in my b©dy and it washed over me in haste. My fin-gers went throu-gh his hair as I was lifted up and pinned against the wall again. I twitched as his mouth traveled to my ne-ck, and his hand went un-derneath my dress.
I saddled myself in his hold, afraid of sli-pping out. He must have been re-ading my mind because his hold on me ti-ght£ñed and bec@m£ firmer.
“EJ…” I let out as I felt my pa-nties p@rted to the side and his fin-ger to-uched my sp-ot. He stro-ked me before in-serting his fin-ger into me.
“Mmmhh,” he mumbled.
I pu-lled his head backwards and claimed hisl-ips.
I heard his belt unbuckling as we ki-ssed hungrily.
“EJ, someone… might walk in on us.”
“I locked the door.”
“Oh shit,” I let out as I felt him on me.
“Tell me that you want me,” he said se-ductively in my ear.
Every waken nerves and cells wanted him. I wanted him inside me and to let him have his own way with me but instead I said, “I have to go back to Anton.”
His arms dropped and I dropped too, on my own two feet.
His b©dy language changed and his dark eyes c@m£ back. He put himself back into his pa-nts, zi-pped and turned around again, without another word.
“Are you angry?” I asked, before he walked out the door.
He stopped and turned back at me, causing me to regret asking that question.
“No Zenia. I’m not mad. I’m very happy, actually I’m so fu-cking excited that you’re going back to Anton.”
It was obvious that he was being sarcastic.
“EJ…”
“You know what Zenia? This is very funny. You’re doing the same thing that your sister did to my brother.
You’re leaving because of another guy who’s not shit but unlike Evan, I wouldn’t take your a-ss back when he fu-cks up!”
He unlocked and slammed the door on his way out.
I was left in the washroom alone, thinking about what he had just said.
I straightened my dress and smoothed my hair before going for the door.
___________
“Zen, what are you doing here?” Jasmine asked as I walked pa-ss their table.
“Hi sis. Hi everyone,” I greeted as if I was just seeing them for the evening.
“Hi Zenia. Why don’t you join us?” Mrs. Hollen offered.
“Oh ummm, I’m actually…”
“Yes Zenia, join us. You can sit next to me,” EJ said as he pu-lled out the extra chair beside him.
“I’m on a date,” I finished my statement.
All five pairs of eyes were on me while I looked at Anton.
“Have him join us too,” Evan suggested.
Being outnumbered, Anton and I joined their table. I sat down next to EJ and Anton sat across from me.
“I love your accent,” Mrs. Hollen directed at Anton as the conversation escalate.
“Thank you Mrs. Hollen. Zenia, are you hungry again?”
“Nooo,” I almost mo-aned out as I stopped the fidgeting and attem-pted to pu-ll away EJ’s hand from un-derneath my dress.
“I want you to suffer un-der my fin-gers as you sit across from your new golden boy,” EJ whispered in my ears.
TO BE CONTINUED…