Zain held the woman in his arms tighter as she cried her heart out, the pain radiating from her causing distress to press tightly on his chest. Her sobbing thankfully gave way to hiccups until she stilled in his arms, having fallen asleep.
Minutes later, he was still awake, reliving what had just happened. In all the years he'd known Emma, he'd never seen her like this. So broken, so vulnerable. He'd always believed she was this strong, indefatigable woman who was cruel because it was part of her nature.
It'd never occurred to him that she had always been pretending, that deep down, she was still a frightened little girl who was too scared of falling in love, pushing people away while she sought comfort in her accomplishments.
Right now a variety of different emotions were running through Zain. Sadness, anger, dread, regret. Sadness because of the pain thoughts about Emma's past caused her. Anger at the father who hadn't cared and had ruined her for other men. Dread because he knew that he was falling deeper and deeper into the abyss where his feelings for Emma were concerned. And regret because now more than ever, he was sure that his decision to not let what they had to go beyond the weekend was the right one.
It was the best choice for both of them. Emma wanted to be with him now- the man he was now. Soon he wasn't going to be that same man anymore. What would happen then? Would she leave? Would she stay and continue to be with him out of pity, feeling tied down?
He couldn't deny that he was doing this more for himself. When things changed in the future, even if she forced herself to stay, he didn't want to see the pity in her eyes. The disdain, the bitterness, the regret.
It would drive him crazy. It was better they parted this way, while he was still the same man. For the first time since he'd met Emma, he was going to put himself first.
He had to let her go.
*****
The ride back to the city was filled with silence. Tense, deafening silence, and yet Emma couldn't hear what it was trying to tell her. Or was she just refusing to hear?
This morning, they'd made love one last time at the chalet before setting off for the city. Zain had barely said a word to her. Her thoughts raced with so many questions it made her dizzy with the fear and anxiety the thoughts evoked.
In the car, even though she knew that he noticed her turning to look at him every other second, he didn't even bother to turn her way and offer her a small smile. His eyes were focused on the road, his gaze unreadable. The uncertainty of their relationship from here on gnawed malignantly at her flesh.
It took Zain clearing his throat for her to realize they'd reached her location which she'd given him. He finally spared her a look. Emma stared back at him, waiting, expecting him to lean forward and press his mouth to hers.
A soft kiss that would nonetheless promise her that there was more to come.
âSee you at your fashion house tomorrow, Emma.â He said instead.
Her heart sank. She had been in a fool's paradise, thinking this weekend had also meant more to him than just sex.
She could barely hide her disappointment as she stared at him. She wanted to scream at him. She couldn't believe he was doing this after she'd bared so much of the person she was to him, both physically and emotionally.
âSee you, Zain.â She said instead.
With eyes burning, she grabbed her small duffle bag from the back seat, opened her door, and stepped out of the car. She didn't turn to look as he sped away. The tears finally fell.
She ran inside the edifice. No matter how much she wiped the tears, they wouldn't stop falling. In the elevator, a woman she didn't recognize looked at her like she was a moron for crying in the lift.
Once inside her apartment, she threw herself into one of her settees and buried her face in a throw pillow. Her tears soon wet the pillow. It was pathetic but she couldn't stop.
She fell asleep sometime around there because she woke up about four hours later. It was night already. Her mood was still down, but she didn't feel like shit anymore. She ordered pizza and turned on Netflix.
Apart from a few of her employees at the fashion house, Emma didn't have any friends. Someone to talk to about the shit she was going through. People only hurt you when you let them close, so she'd spent her life pushing a lot of them away. She'd always preferred to binge-watch shows on Netflix and chill instead.
And for most of her life, it'd been okay. She'd been content with her solitude, with being alone. Until she'd met Zain. He'd always had a way of making her yearn for so much more.
Memories of their weekend played through her mind in slow motion. Every kiss, every embrace, every smile, all the moments of passion between them. Within just two days, she'd been happier and fulfilled than she'd ever felt in her life.
Zain made her life so much better, she realized, and she realized she falling in love with him. Hard, and she wasn't going to let him go just like that. She'd hurt him once and he was obviously afraid that she would do it again.
She had to prove to him that she was so done letting her fears rule her life. This time, she was here to stay.
****
Emma had known it wasn't going to be easy, but she'd never anticipated how hard it would be either.
Zain became an instant favorite for everyone the very first day he set foot at her fashion house. The man had charisma, was very open and friendly, and he made sure to charm everyone he talked to.
Everyone except her.
Not that she could be more charmed by Zain than she already was. Still, a little effort on his part could have sufficed. Instead, Zain treated her like they had a strictly business relationship and met through management or something.
Twice, when she invited him for lunch after a shoot, he made sure to invite a third person, which always ruined her purpose. She would sit through lunch brooding and feeling like the third wheel, shooting glares at the other female as they laughed with Zain.
Whenever she went out of her way to speak on other matters apart from business, his responses were curt and rigid. He wasn't hostile or unfriendly. Just so nonchalant that it left her feeling so damn miserable.
The shoots took a week. Some of them were taken outdoors but most of them were in the studio. The man was extremely good at whatever he did. He had a body to kill and die for. A face with features so well defined that you could stare for hours and not get jaded.
No wonder he'd been a model for only a year and yet was rising so fast.
Finally, it was all over. Enough shots had been taken. Zain's services wouldn't be needed anymore. At least not immediately.
Fuck it, Emma thought as Zain said goodbye to everyone. She was done bottling all of this frustration inside. Tonight, she was going to confront Zain and force him to admit that she hadn't misread the responses of his body to hers anytime he kissed her, embraced her, or made love to her back at the chalet.
She would give him all the assurances he needed if he was still scared that she would hurt him again.
âHey.â Zain's voice startled her out of her thoughts.
Emma blinked at him in surprise. It was the first time he'd initiated a conversation with her in the past week.
âHey.â She responded, her heart picking up pace.
âSo when's the release?â He asked her.
His expression was still impassive, but at least he was talking to her and that counted for something.
âUh, in three days.â She breathed. âThanks for doing this, Zain.â
âWell, I got paid so I don't think I deserve that thanks.â He mused. âAnyways, I think I'll be on my way.â
With a small smile, he made to sidestep her. No 'see you'. Emma was damned if she was going to just let him walk away like that.
She shot her hand out and caught his arm. He tensed, but she held on. âI'll be coming to your place later tonight with some celebratory food and wine.â
âEmma...â He began to protest.
âI'm not taking no for an answer, Zain.â She said, but her voice was apprehensive and she knew it.
Zain stared at her for some seconds. Finally, he nodded. âSure.â
****
Emma got to his edifice around seven in the evening, a bag in hand. The bag contained two takeout bowls with Chinese food that she'd bought on her way. Her other hand held a bottle of chardonnay.
She texted Zain that she was in the lift. Her heart raced as the elevator made its ascent to his floor. He had agreed to be alone with her. That meant something. He obviously missed her and wanted her back. She couldn't wait to be in his arms again.
Her excitement and anticipation morphed into disbelief immediately after she stepped out of the elevator; Zain was half-naked and had a woman pinned against the wall.
His hands were squeezing her breasts as they kissed like there was no tomorrow.
_________________________
Just missed writing in third person.ð Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter.
LOL(Lots Of Love)
-Enock