Thirty-eight

Zach spent an hour searching all over the city at places he was sure Maisie would go but he didn't see her. He knew he had to try her home soon although he knew that Maisie would think it was too easy for him if she decides to hide there, so she will definitely not sleep there. Still, he had to try his luck.

Zach breathed he didn't know what Vivi's game was, but it was over. He would not allow her to do whatever she wants with his relationship. He was going to deal with her later but what was on his agenda right now was looking for Maisie, he had already tracked the car to see it dumped by the side of the road with a parking ticket already. Zach knew that if Betty had her way, she would have trashed the car.

Zach went to Maisie's home and knocked (more like bang) on her door.

“Maisie open up. Please open up if you are in there.”

To Zach's greatest surprise he heard the locks turning as the door was being open, but his head quickly caught up. If the door were being opened it would not be by Maisie. It would be by her friend who already seemed to have a vendetta against him. The girl hates him, and it might be for life if he doesn't find a way to tell Maisie that the kiss was staged, and it was never what he wanted. And he knew that it would but win him brownie points since the girl was his ex, but he still had to try his luck.

When the door opened and a swing came flying at his face, Zach ducked out of the way and grabbed the door refusing to let it go when Betty tried to kick the door shut.

Zach pushed his way into the apartment and shut the door behind him as Betty glared at him while stomping towards Maisie's sitting room.

“Is Maisie here?" Zach asked cautiously.

Betty snorted. “You are stupid to think that I would open the door to take a swing at you if Maisie was here when I knew that your physical strength is more than mine.”

“Please, Betty I have seen her," Zach said knowing better than trying to explain the truth to Betty. She would just meet Maisie and twist the truth until the lie was more bearable to forgive than the truth.

“I don't think she wants to see you. The last time she saw you, was with your tongue shoved down somebody else throat.” Betty yells at Zach.

“There were no tongues involved.” Zach yells.

“Of course, that is the only way you can justify yourself.” Betty snarls.

“Please, I need to see Maisie.” Zach said and tried again. Not raising to Betty bait.

“Go screw yourself asshole. Oh, you might not, you already have someone for that.”

“There is no other person.” Zach yells at Betty.

“You know what. I have heard enough and have seen you too much without hurting you. Get out.” Betty told Zach in a quiet tone that made the hair on his body stand.

“Please just listen...” Zach started but stopped when he saw that Betty had a bat on her hands and with the way she was palming it and the fierce look in her eyes, he knew that if he tries anything other than leaving, that she was going to use it on him and not even bat two lashes at it. Zach's shoulders sagged as he walked to the door and nodded to Betty as a goodbye. Betty, in turn, gave him the finger.

****

Maisie was lost in her thoughts, she moved too fast with Zach and she had no idea until she saw him with Vivi. Even though it was staged, although Maisie knew that she should stop torturing herself with thoughts like that. Vivi showed her exactly what she needed to see to come to her senses. Just because Zach woke up from a coma with her name on his lips or whatever the hell he woke up with, that doesn't mean that he still didn't feel anything for Vivi. After all, he started looking for her as soon as he woke up shoving whatever feelings he had for Vivi aside. It doesn't work that way; Maisie knew that fact experience. Even if Zach lies to himself that he was no longer in love with Vivi. A certain part of him must still love her.

And Vivi was right when she said that Zach still loves her. She needed a break, and she knew that she couldn't be seeing Zach's face every day and that only meant one thing. She needed to stop her work. It was fun while it last, but it was about time she stopped. It was time she followed through with her plan, the one she made before Zach in his ghost form or whatever stormed her life. She had saved enough; she could go for some months without having a job. Maybe she would make Betty stay with her. There was another free room she had never used. Yes, she would do that then take a break from life and resume at a fresh start in another law firm, she needed to start to write her letter of resignation.

The door slams nearby as Betty's angry stomps and the drag of a suitcase was heard. “Can you believe the ducking nerve of that guy showed up in your apartment, knocked at the door like he owns the damn place?” Betty huffs.

“He met you inside.” Maisie asked her friend while cleaning her face Betty saw her doing this but didn't say anything about it even though she had made Maisie stop crying before she left.

“Yes, he did.” Betty said with a proud voice “I didn't hurt him, but he will think twice before storming your place again and acting like he owns the place.

“What did you do,” Maisie asked with horror on her face as she glances at the bat Betty just brought out of the suitcase in case there was blood on it.

“Relax. I just threatened him, I didn't hit him. No matter how much I wanted to.” Betty said as Maisie breathed with relief.

“Although I tried to punch as he was entering but he ducked.” Betty said as Maisie shook her head.

“You need to stop throwing punches until you meet someone who will take you up on your offer of a fistfight and beat you mercilessly.” Maisie tells her friend who snorted.

“When that happens, I will marry him.”