*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
????????????EPISODE 35????????????
??????????
*?? MORE THAN FRIENDS ??*
??????????
??????????
Zenia’s POV
I sat down in a near-by Café, having a cu-p of coffee and enjoying my lonely company. After everything that had conspired out of proportion with my relationship with EJ, I nee-ded a break to piece myself together.
I had seen what my sister did to herself and I vowed I never wanted to make the same silly mistake but yet for all, I did exactly that and more. I broke his heart, his trust and his ego.
A man’s ego is everything.
I retrieved my cellphone from my handbag and began surfing throu-ghmy picture gallery. I immediately came across a picture I took with EJ in be-d, sound asleep. He looked so peaceful with his hair ruffled on his forehead, his long eyelashes shielding his eyes, his pink l-ips looking so ki$$able and his morning stubble appearing.
I scrolled to another picture. It was of both me and him by the pool. The first day he brou-ght me to the house.
The memories repla-yed over and over in my mind. I was missing him. Tears sl-ipped down my eyes again and I quickly wiped them away with a tissue. I stuck the phone back in my bag and gra-bbe-d my coffee to go.
I b-umped into someone and lost my footing. My coffee spilled from it cu-p when it hit the floor and I fell right into it.
“Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.” He extended his hand to help me up.
“Thanks,” I replied as I got back on my own feet.
My outfit now matched the feeling I had been carrying for the whole morning, stained and ruined. I tried cleaning myself off with a handkerchief before stepping into the streets.
“I’m really sorry Zenia, I didn’t meant to do that.”
“It’s fine Anton. It was an accident.”
“But I feel terrible. Can I replace your coffee? It’s the least I can do.”
I gave him a weak smile. “Okay.”
~
I sat at the table I had previously occu-pied and Anton walked over with two cu-ps of fresh coffee and handed one to me.
“Thank you,” I said to him and took a sip.
“You’re welcome. So, it’s been a while that I haven’t heard from you. I un-derstood you were working on mending things with your arrogant boyfriend, but you really shouldn’t have shut me out like that.”
It took a long pause from me before answering. I was going down memory lane again with EJ. The fights at the pa-rty, the unfriendly atmosphere from him when he saw Anton and I together in the penthouse.
“From the sounds of it, it seems like you nee-d a break,” he wisely said after I told him about everything that happened with EJ and me.
“I do, but I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve managed to wreck everything once again.”
“This isn’t your fault only so stop beating yourself up. EJ was wrong to have that girl in his office. Would he have told you if you hadn’t caught him?”
I thought about his question for a moment. “I don’t know,” I replied, “I don’t think so.”
“Do you know why my mum and my dad got a divorce? Well, she didn’t trust him because she always had a gut feeling that he was up to cheating on her and breaking her heart. She hired private investigators to tail my father but when nothing surfaced, she decided to let it go but that gut feeling wasn’t going away.
Then one day, mom decided to show up at his office by herself. She stood outside his office for two long hours while my father was screwing his secretary on his desk.”
I was amazed. “What? Wasn’t the office sound proof and locked?”
“Of course it was but after they were throu-gh, the secretary walked out without even noticing my mother in the reception area. She was adjusting her skirt and fixing her hair as she walked by. Mom knew instantly what had happened.
She then went into dad’s office, he was stepping into his bathroom with l-ipstick mark all over his face.
Mom went crazy on him and his office received the full bl-owof her wrath. She then left England and moved here.”
“Wow. That’s really embarrwi-nking but if he had been cheating all along, why the investigators never found anything?”
“It turned out that the investigators were friends with dad so they fed mom false information each time. They were taking her money, giving her lies and hope of finding something in the future.”
“That’s so terrible.”
“I know.”
“But aren’t you angry at him for hurting your mom like that?”
“Yes I am but England is my home. I love it there and actually, I’m leaving next week.”
“Next week?”
“Yes, I’ll miss you.” He gently took my hand into his and gave me a sweet smile.
“I miss you too although I hadn’t been the best friend.”
“Nonse-nse, you’ve been perfect. The drama and altercations created some excitement in my life and although I got the crap kicked out of me by your ex, I enjoyed my stay here.”
“I’m very happy to hear that Anton and once again, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, and I’ve gotten a wild idea. Why don’t you come with me to England?”
“What?” I almost chocked on my coffee.
“You nee-d a break and a change for once in your life. What better place to do so than England?”
“I can’t do that. Where would I stay?”
“My father owns a mansion and he’s ba-rely at home. It’s mainly the housekeepers prese-nt. Would you at least think about it?”
“I’ll think about it.”
He gave another darling smile and we continued to talk about random things.
______
When I got back to my sister’s home, I put my outfit into the garbage can. I turned on the television to look at the gossip shows.
“Zen, you’re back,” Jasmine greeted as she came into the living room.
“Yeah.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing better.”
“Are you sure? So you’re no longer affected by EJ?” she asked again.
not really.
“ And in the new hot, gossip, Ethan Junior Hollen is now dating his childhood best friend. Paparazzi found them last night, having more than just dinner. Didn’t he just broke up with that fashion designer? wow, men do move on fas-ter,” the talk-show-host spoke and cut off the conversation between my sister and I.
“ New relationship! Childhood best friend?” I asked louder.
It hasn’t even been three weeks as yet since the break up and he is already in another relationship? That wi-nkhole.
“He’s dating that girl I asked to be one of my bridesmaids?” Jasmine asked as she drew herself closer to the television to have a better look at the picture of EJ and Madison having dinner.
That was all it took for me to break down and started crying again.
EJ was really dating Madison?
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
????????????EPISODE 36????????????
??????????
*?? MORE THAN FRIENDS ??*
??????????
??????????
Zenia’s POV
“fu-cking Madison, EJ! Are you kidding me?” I furiously asked as I got into his office.
He was at the computer, typing on the keyboard. His eyes traveled to me and he appeared to be afraid of answering.
“So you’re not going to answer me? After everything you said about her, oh she’s just a friend, we’ve known each other since preschool, there’s nothing between me and her and she’s not my type, that was a pile of bullshit because you’re dating her now!”
“Well unlike you, she un-derstands me and listens to my every word. I don’t have to worry because I know where I stand with her.” He stood up and walked slowly towards me.
“Don’t you dare fu-cking get closer to me,” I warned. My heart had already went out the window and I was beginning to hate him.
“Zen, I did say that we can be friends. Its much better that way for you and I.”
“Yeah. The last time you said that, you pinned me against a door and fu-cked me. What type of friends are we really? Friends with benefits? I don’t nee-d that in my life.” I stepped backwards as he got closer. His eyes were cold and mischievous, a sly sm-irk displa-ying on his l-ips.
“Zen, I’m sorry. You know I’ve never meant to hurt you.”
“But you did! Of all people, why Madison?”
He ran his fin-gers throu-ghhis hair and let out a de-ep sigh.
“I don’t know. She’s there for me when I nee-d someone and she un-derstands me. She’s a real friend.”
“Friend? Aren’t you dating her?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets then went back to his desk and began typing on his computer again.
“I asked you a question EJ!” My voice rose.
He continued to ignore me.
“I’m leaving,” I said.
“Have a nice day, I’ll see you soon.”
“No you wouldn’t. I’m leaving in the next three days. I’m going to England with Anton.”
His eyes latched onto me and grew darker. His hands balled up into fists and his jaw ti-ghtened.
“Excuse me?” he asked and slowly rose off his chair. “You’re going where, with who?” His tone was serious.
I swallowed the regret of telling him.
“To England with Anton.” I stood my ground.
“To hell you are. You’re not going anywhere Zenia and I mean it!”
“Are you going to stop me?” I turned on my heel and opened the door. His hand wrapped around my wrist and he slammed the door shut in my face before I could step out.
“Where do you think you’re going? To see that British boy?”
“Let go of me EJ!” I cried as his hold got ti-ghter on my wrist.
“I said you’re not going anywhere!”
“You can’t tell me what to do, I’m not yours anymore!” I yelled back at him. He released my hand.
“Okay, fine. Bon voyage.” He went back to his computer once more and I felt stupid. For some strange reason, I wanted him to continue. Just him being close to me and touching me was awaking all the cells in my bo-dy.
“EJ..” I began.
“Please leave. I have work to do.” He waved his hand in a dismissive manner and pointed at the door. The same door he shut in when I tried to leave a moment ago.
I would never un-derstand him.
I turned around and left.
~
*Three Days Later*
“Are you sure about this Zenia?” my sister asked as she watched me packed.
“I nee-d a break Jas.”
“I know you do but why England? Why don’t you just go back to the penthouse and take some time for yourself?”
“I can’t. I nee-d a change of scenery.”
After another hour, I was fully packed and ready to go to England with Anton. We had already organised our flight and I left Ashley in charge of running my boutique until.
*
*
*
“We’ll miss you Zen but I un-derstand. I was once in your position so I know how important this is to you. But please, come back soon.” My sister pulled me in for a bear hu-g as we got inside the airport.
“I’ll miss you guys too,” I responded and kept looking behind her with hopes that he’ll show up and talk me out of leaving.
“Tell Jevan I’ll miss him but I’ll call often.”
*
*
“Attention all pwi-nkengers, flight 202 for London is now boarding.”
“Well that’s us,” I said with a sigh behind it. I gave my sister one last hu-g and met up with Anton at the ticket point.
“You take care of my little sister. If I find out that she’s hurt and unhappy, I’ll be on the next flight to England and hunting you down Anton,” Jasmine cautioned him.
“She’ll be very happy, Jasmine,” he answered very quickly.
They shook hands and I waved goodbye to her. Anton and I headed towards the terminal and towards our waiting flight.
*
“You look uncomfortable,” he said when we got into our seats. Thank goodness we were sitting next to each other or else I would have regretted every moment of it.
“I’m not. It’s just all new to me, that’s all. Going to England, I meant.”
“Oh. There’s nothing to worry about. We’re flying first clwi-nk and the meals are to die for.”
I lightly laughed.
____________________
Ethan Junior’s POV
“Move your wi-nk over!” I yelled at the car in front of me as I honked my horn loudly.
Of all the days to have a terrible traffic, why today?
Was this God’s work of telling me to leave her be?
I bypwi-nked five vehicles before going into the freeway. If I wanted to catch her in time, I should try alternative routes to the airport.
*
After an hour and a half, I parked my Lamborghini outside and ran into the airport in search of her. My eyes scanned the large area wildly, looking for her pretty face and warming smile.
“EJ!” I heard someone called my name. I turned around and saw Jasmine walking towards me. I heaved a sigh a relief.
Zenia should be somewhere around here or very close by.
“Hey Jasmine. Where’s Zenia?”
“Oh, you just missed her. Their flight left less than ten minutes ago.”
My heart sank.
“But it’s only 5:00 pm.”
“Yeah, it was earlier than expected. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“Is it really? You’re looking beat up and drained.”
“I am but I’ll be alright. I just wanted to wish her a safe flight.” I knew I was lying to myself and by the look on Jasmine’s face, she wasn’t buying it either.
I was late in stopping her from leaving with that wi-nkhole but if that was what she actually wanted, what her heart really de-sired, then why should I even bother?
All I ever wanted, was to spoil her and be with her until my final day on this earth.
Was I wrong for wanting that?
I walked out the airport and found a parking ticket attached to the windshield of my car.
Great!
TO BE CONTINUED……