Thirty-six

Zach arranged the finishing touches to the dinner after it was served. He didn't know why he was nervous. He was acting like a boy who is about to meet his date for the prom father as he is picking her up.

Okay, it was almost the same thing, the only person he would need to like him that was related to Maisie was her friend and she was coming here to assess him. Although Maisie had tried to downplay her friend's character, he had heard enough about there to draw up his conclusions that she was crazy and hard to impress and from Maisie's conversation with her on the phone. He could tell that the girl is indeed crazy and was not so freaked about him dating her best friend.

If it were any other girl, he would not have gone through this worrying process. Hell, he would not have even think about letting the girl family near his apartment neither would he be thinking about them liking him, but he found out that he cared because it was Maisie. The lady who was special to him. Even before he met her physically, he already knew that.

And now she was on her way with her best friend in town. A girl who might not like him and probably had already made up her mind to hate him and if she did hate him, it would be awkward between them and Maisie would have to choose and he hated presenting Maisie with that decision when it was clear that no matter who she chooses, she will be sad about the decision since it meant the loss of the other. He didn't want that for Maisie.

When the doorbell of his apartment rang, his heart went into overtime drive. This was ridiculous, he shouldn't be acting this way over somebody who had no control over his life.

And now that was a lie. Maisie likes the girl so that means that she would value her friend and if her friend doesn't like him that would mean sad Maisie who had in a short while become his life. Not literally but she was the person he held dear the most.

Zach moved to open the door. And he did that without checking the peephole. During the time he was lost in his head, frozen by the sound of the doorbell, some seconds had passed, and he didn't want her to have a bad impression of him that he always kept Maisie standing outside his door, pressing his doorbell before he opened the door.

Zach opened the door with a greeting only for the words to get stuck in his throat. “Welcome...” Zach started until he saw that the person standing on the other side of the door was not somebody he was hoping or waiting to see. In fact, if he never saw this particular person until the day he died, it would be too soon.

“Why thank you.” Vivi said as she strutted into his home like she was part owner of the apartment.

“what the hell are you doing here.” Zach asked with a murderous desire, he wanted nothing more than to kill this girl and hide her body but that will take too long, and he didn't want Maisie to arrive with Betty only to see him cleaning blood off the floor. That would certainly not make the first impression he was striving for.

“I am here to talk to you.” Vivi toss over her shoulders as she walked deeper into Zach's home.

“I am busy, you can talk to me tomorrow, come to the firm. I will have Taylor slid you in.” Zach said as he walked after Vivienne.

“I am already here. Why can't we talk now?” Vivi asked as she shrugs out of her coat and tosses it to a chair.

“Pick up your coat and get out of my house. Sister-in-law.” Zach gritted out, clenching his fists by his side he knew that if he lays a hand on Vivienne, he will leave a mark and she might tell another story to her fiancé which will ruin his relationship with Jeffery more.

“Oh, that is one of the issues we need to talk about.” Vivi said as she spied the dinner table and walked towards it.

“Stay away from there.” Zach said as he quickly went after her, but he wasn't quick to stop her from putting a spoon filled with food from the plate that was supposed to be for Maisie. Guess he was throwing out that plate and the dinner have been ruined.

Zach reached her just as she sat down in the chair in front of the plate and moan at the taste of the food. “Very delicious. Is it from Vincent diner?” Vivi asked with an innocent expression “What do you want.” Zach asked through his clenched teeth.

“To talk.” Vivi replied then glanced at the food in front of her. “Well, I saw it and I couldn't just resist it.”

“I told you, come by tomorrow and Taylor will fix you in.”

“Since I am already here and had probably ruined your dinner plans why not just have a seat so we can proceed.” Vivi asked as Zach breathed out angrily and matched to get a chair and sat on it.

“Better make it worth my time. Zach said as Vivi nodded.

“I miss you.” Vivi said with her expression shuttered.

Zach released a breath. “You are an annoying bitch. You dated me and left me for my brother and got engaged to him only to come back saying you miss me. What the hell is wrong with you.” Zach asked Vivi with a disgusted look on his face.

“Nothing. I was lonely and he was available and now I miss you. I want you back Zach. Please.” Vivi said her expression turning desperate.

“And I am not available.” Zach tells her.

“Please, what did you even see in her. I am much better " Vivi said with a wave of her hand, dismissing Maisie like she was not worth her time.

Zach breathed deeply through his mouth. Vivi had to be drunk. Normally, what he would have done in this situation was to call his brother, but he had a guest, and he wouldn't want her to think that he was always having family troubles.

Zach leaned towards Vivi then told her in a deadly tone. “I am going to stand up and open the door and if you don't stand and leave yourself. I don't care what bruises will give you. I will physically throw you out of here.” Zach said but before we could make a move to do what he threatened, Vivi made her move. She threw her hand across his shoulders and kissed him the same time the door opened.