Chapter 36 Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Six
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Zeke
Among all the pictures I'd made out in my head—which included her still asleep, none of them came close to the real deal as I walked into the bedroom the next morning. She was sitting on my bed, hair tousled, looking sexually appealing, with a guarded expression in her eyes. I held onto the tray of food even more tightly, as I ventured in.
“Zeke?” Disbelief, surprise, and even a hint of fear, laced her voice. I forced my eyes away from her long legs which my shirt didn't cover.
Seeing her in my shirt only served to spark off the primal male instincts in me. I wanted to grab her. Kiss her, and fuck her.
“You are awake.” I said, placing the tray carefully on the bedside table. Her eyes followed me.
“What are you doing here, in Vermont? How–” She paused, her eyes straying down to my erection which was evident at this point.
I didn't move. “It's a long story. You were drunk last night, and–” I was saying, when she held up her hand. Her cheeks colored crimson.
“I remember.” She muttered.
“Okay,” I turned to go out, even though I badly wanted to say. To be close to her. Her phone rang out in the living room.
I mouthed an “I'll get it,” and teleported over. She was hugging herself when I returned.
“I'll never get used to that.” She shook her head, before receiving the call. She massaged her temple with a small wince, as she listened to whoever it was. She hung up a minute later, and looked up at me.
“How long would it take me to get back to Tristan Estate? And where's my car?” She was already standing up.
I roamed my eyes over her figure, letting it land specifically on her peaches which jutted against the shirt. I restrained the urge to take them in my mouth alternately.
“This is Tristan Estate.” I said, in reply to her question.
Stunned, she looked at me. Not before her look graduated into a furious one. “What? Wait, are you stalking me?”
All defenses vanished from my head, because no matter how she'd look at it, it'd seem like a lie.
It was an honest mistake. I never planned to be in the same space with her. I planned to stay away, give her the space she needed.
“I wasn't.”
“Then explain this!” She flared up. “Why I woke up in your apartment. Why you aren't in Weasels. Why I discovered that you live in the same building with me. Explain, Prince Ezekiel.” She snapped through gritted teeth.
“And I bet something funny happened.” She added.
I moved towards her slowly, and she backed away with each step. “If something happened,” I didn't stop walking. “We wouldn't be talking so calmly. You'd feel sore, and wouldn't be able to walk.” I stopped right in front of her.
Her face flushed, and she visibly swallowed. “Stop it.” She moved away, and walked towards the door.
“Where are my clothes?” She asked, just as she turned the doorknob.
“Here,” I pointed towards the closet. As she moved towards the walk-in closet, I called out, “You can have breakfast before you go.”
A hiss accompanied my words. From her, of course.
…
Bathed by the morning light, her gown seemed more provocative than it did last night. I unashamedly took in her look, as she walked out of the bedroom.
I followed her out, even against her protest. She halted right in her tracks, when she stepped out that I almost bumped into her.
Her low curse intertwined with my low “Shit.”
“Mirah?” Her friend came over. She spared me a brief glance and surprise clouded her eyes.
“Umm,” Mirah flushed crimson, as she pulled her friend away.
“Hold on,” Her friend pulled away from her hold. “I haven't introduced myself.” She added.
By the time she came over, Mirah looked like she wanted the ground to open, and swallow her.
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Mirah
It was hard to avoid Zeke, while knowing he lived next door. He was everywhere, and I saw him almost every time.
“He likes you,” Nessa said one morning, while munching on her box of Oreos and working on her newest design.
“Well, I don't like him.” I retorted.
‘Lies, Mirah,’ my inner voice argued. I knew if circumstances were any different; with Zeke as a normal person, I would date him without hesitation.
“Why don't you accompany me to the gala, as my plus one?” Nessa asked, after a while.
I raised a brow. “A public event? No, please. Not with the scandal on ground.” I turned down her offer.
“More the reason you should come with me.” Nessa argued.
“Hm.” I could see the point she was trying to make. Appearing at a public event after eloping from my wedding, and while my father's company was on the verge of bankruptcy, was telling the public that there was nothing wrong.
But I wasn't ready.
“You can find someone else to be your plus one.” I waved a hand.
“I want you. You'd also get to wear my finest and newest design. I can already picture how breathtaking you'll look.” She gushed.
Okay, I was moved.
“Alright, alright.” I nodded after some hesitation. I leaned back against the couch, and swung my legs. My phone lit up just then. Nessa reached out for it, and with a glance at the screen, her expression turned grim.
“What-” I pushed back the rest of my words, and collected the phone from her. My stomach churned when I saw who it was.
“Mirabella,”
How long has it been since I heard his voice?
“Hello, Father.” My voice came out shakier than I expected.
“We have to talk.” He said over the phone.
My heart dropped, and I pressed my lips together. “We have nothing to talk about,” I said, and added, “Father.”
He was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again, it was with that no-nonsense voice he usually used on us, when we were younger.
“Meet me at the mansion.”
I was tempted to cave in. A part of me- the one who used to be daddy's little girl, wanted to do anything to make him happy.
But I was no longer that girl. I was turning 22 in a month. That ‘Mirabella’ was slowly vanishing.
“No, Father. I don't want to.” I snapped.
He laughed coldly. “Do you want your name to be removed from the family's registry?” He asked.
My blood turned cold, and my throat flexed. “Don't threaten me, Father.”
“Until you own up to your mistakes, come home, and agree to marry Jayden again, don't address me as your father.” He warned.
A tear slipped down my cheek. Even though I was trying to be hard hearted, I still loved my family. I still loved my dad.
"Are you disowning me?” I asked in a whisper.
“That depends on your next line of action.” With that, he hung up.