Zion’s POV
Mad fury coursed through my body as I realized what she had done. How dare she hit me? I would punish her right away! No one could get away after messing with Zion Concorde! Maybe she hadn’t gone far without a car or her bag!
I was about to open the door and run after her when a phone buzzed somewhere on the floor. I felt my phone in my pocket. It wasn’t mine. I looked around to find Andrea’s phone lying outside the main door. She might have dropped it in her haste. Then how would she summon help in her condition?
I walked out of the penthouse, picked up the phone and glared at the screen. The name Adrian flashed across the screen, immediately making me see red. At that moment, I could have killed the guy with my bare hands. I was about to accept the call immediately, intending to blast him for calling at odd hours, when my gaze fell near the elevator.
A gasp of horror escaped my lips at the sight of Andrea lying near my private elevator. I knew she was burning with fever when I had touched her. How could I be so inhuman?
I slipped the phone into my pocket and rushed forward towards her. In a split second, I picked her up in my arms. She was burning with fever and I felt guilty for fighting with her instead of taking care of her.
‘What’s wrong with me?’ I couldn’t help but mutter. In her unconscious state, she rested her head on my shoulder and all the bitterness I had harbored in my heart ebbed away. I felt lighter, euphoric, like a little boy who got what he craved!
It was true in a way. Of course, I wasn’t a little boy, but I definitely craved Andrea with all my heart and soul. It wasn’t something I developed overnight! I had craved her ever since I had seen pictures of her and Knox. I was eighteen and here on a brief visit with my grandfather, Theodore Concorde. He was grandpa Vincent’s close friend.
Yet I didn’t get to meet Andrea on that visit! She had already left for her college in Copenhagen. I waited for ten long years for her to return to LA. With my life in a mess; it wasn’t a difficult task to do. My grandpa died from multi-organ failure, leaving all the property, business and wealth to my stepmother, Delia Kaya, who was wicked as sin. I knew he hadn’t signed willingly but was forced to do so on his deathbed!
I had no idea how my dad, Atlas Concorde, married her in the first place! She was a stark contrast to my mom, Rosa, who died in a car accident when I was just thirteen. Ever since Delia came into our lives, she has been controlling everything! It was because of her I had to leave Athens and the business and come over to LA. She had forced me to marry her niece, Elena Nomikov, in return for 50% shares in my grandpa’s business.
It was impossible to tolerate the woman. Yet I married her just for access to the Concorde Group! After a year, things became unbearable, and I had to seek a divorce. Delia tried everything in her power to get us back together, but failed. She refused to hand over further access to the company shares, insisting on handling the business herself. I knew it was beyond her. Now, within a week, she was struggling already, begging me to return, but I wouldn’t agree so easily. I would need more shares or she could face the angry, dissatisfied customers!
I knew the goodwill of the company would be at stake, but at least she would know the gravity of the situation. The press was already prepared to cover the sensational news of her evil ways! It was only because of me they haven’t published it yet.
Andrea stirred, bringing me back to reality. I knew I was fucked up, but I desperately wanted her in my life. I could accept her with all her flaws because I was no saint. In fact, I was even more flawed than she was.
“Why are you fighting me, Andrea? Why can’t you just agree and be mine already? You had agreed once. So what changed in these five years?” I murmured, but she was still unconscious. I carried her to my bedroom and lay her down gently.
I was at my wit’s end, having never done this sort of thing before. I was good at negotiating, at striking deals, but never comfortable with women. Although I had married, we lived separately. I continued to live in my bachelor pad where she was forbidden to set foot in. I knew I was a beast, but now I couldn’t do a thing about it. My circumstances were different.
“Water!” muttered Andrea, and I rushed to the kitchen to get it for her. Maybe I should summon a doctor!
I looked up on my mobile phone for a doctor near me and called her home. In the meantime, I took the water to Andrea. Her eyes were still closed, and she was delirious. I felt guilty for her condition. Sitting down on the bed, I held her by the shoulders and lifted her a little.
“Here, drink some water, Andrea!” I raised the glass to her lips, and she sipped slowly. All the animosity I felt for her vanished within seconds. I felt overwhelmed to get a chance to be with her.
If Delia hadn’t intervened five years ago, I would have been with Andrea already! I wouldn’t have hurt her at all.
Her body sank in my arms and I gently lay her down. The doorbell rang, and I rushed to get it. The doctor arrived and examined her.
“It’s just flu. There’s nothing to worry about, Mr. Concorde. I’m sure adequate rest and care can heal her in three-four days.”
After the doctor left, I was determined to keep Andrea here with me forever. I wouldn’t let her leave. With renewed energy, I prepared a lemony chicken soup for her. There was a time when she used to love everything I made for her. Would she love it still?
Maybe she didn’t remember a thing! After all, we spent only a month together, but those were the only precious moments of my life. Maybe she had better memories, but I didn’t. For me, time stood still since she left me five years ago!
I carried the soup to her and placed it on the nightstand. Holding her limp body by her shoulders, I fed it to her, one spoonful at a time. She opened her delirious eyes and stared at me, wordlessly. My heart constricted with pain to see the tears trickle down her cheeks. Maybe I was too harsh on her. I swore to change myself only if she agreed to be mine.
“I’m sorry!” she whispered, closing her eyes as if to block me out of her life again. It hurt me, but I didn’t say a word, holding the medicine to her mouth. I was so lost in her I had completely forgotten about her retaliation earlier.
She swallowed the medicine with water and lay down to sleep. I gazed at her longingly for a second before picking up the tray. With her back turned towards me, I knew she hadn’t forgiven me at all. Maybe it would take a lot of effort to undo the hurt I had inflicted on her.
I trudged back to the kitchen to wrap up the work. There was a lot of soup left and I helped myself to it. The warm dinner rolls dipped in soup tasted delicious tonight, more than an exotic dinner. Maybe it was because of Andrea’s presence in my house. It now felt like home.
I wrapped up the work as quickly as possible and strode towards my bedroom at last. The prospect of sleeping next to Andrea made my heart skip a beat. Finally, my dream would come true! Maybe all wasn’t lost.
As I entered the bedroom, my gaze went towards the bed to check up on her. She wasn’t there on the bed where I had left her!
Panic settled in my heart. Where could she go in such a condition?
Andrea’s POV I waited outside Zion’s condominium for Grandpa Vincent’s car. I was glad I could get away from Zion. It was true he had helped me recover, but I couldn’t breathe in his presence. I didn’t want to go down memory lane and relive the moments I spent with him. What was the use? He didn’t love me the way I did. It was best to stay away from one another. His gesture couldn’t undo the hurt he had inflicted on me. He had broken me five years ago. Even now, his harsh, judgemental words shattered me, more than a fatal wound could. How could he have such a low opinion of me without proof? No, he was too toxic for me. It was better I avoided him at all costs. Thankfully, I had found my mobile phone lying on the bed beside me. I had dropped it somewhere when I fell unconscious. Seeing it suddenly near me gave me the idea of escaping. Maybe Zion had left it accidentally on my bed. I sneaked out with it while he was busy in the kitchen. After everything he did to me, did he really e
Andrea’s POV I turned a deaf ear to the phone, letting it buzz. Somehow, I had the feeling Zion had a hand in the eviction. Why else would they evict us so abruptly? I just couldn’t sit idle at home and rest when there was so much on my plate. I popped a pill and got ready to go to the office. Grandpa was upset with me and refused to talk to me. I could understand his point of view, but today, I had to check out what was going on. I would definitely demand a notice period when I wasn’t a defaulter. The moment I drove out through the gates, I came across Zion’s car, heading right inside. Why was he here now? Maybe he was here to blast me for escaping him and ignoring his call. It served him right. I swerved the car, but he blocked me. Lowering his window, he handed me my laptop bag. I could see the amusement in his eyes, but I ignored it. I snatched my bag from his grip and drove away, leaving him where he was. After ten minutes, I braced the LA traffic and reached my office. Rober
Andrea’s POV “Mom, I hate to live alone. Why do we have to go? Why can’t we stay at G-Pa’s house like Zane and Angel do?” asked Zayden, scowling at me defiantly. They called their great-grandpa, G-Pa, just as Knox’s children did. I glanced at Adrian sulking in the back seat, furious to leave Cromwell Mansion behind. His leg was much better and he could walk using a crutch. It would be a matter of days before he could move around without aid. I couldn’t stay until then. I had to get away before Knox’s arrival. He was too dominating! “Their lives are settled in Cromwell Mansion, whereas ours is in our apartment. How long would you miss school? It’s quite a distance from Cromwell Mansion.” I drove towards my apartment while the twins sulked. I couldn’t tell them the real reason I had moved out. They were too young to understand. There was another reason, though. Zane, Zayden, and Adrian together were becoming quite a handful for granny Catherine and grandpa to handle at their age. The
Zion’s POV My whole body burned with rage at the mention of the name. I hated that name now! Who the f*ck was this Adrian guy? My mind conjured up images of a shrewd, lecherous playboy with looks good enough to kill! I could disfigure him using only my bare hands. Was he Andrea’s boyfriend? Why else would she live together with him? I hadn’t seen a wedding ring on her finger. So she couldn’t have been married to the guy! How did Knox accept him so readily in her life when he broke off all ties with me? He hadn’t even given me a chance to explain myself. Then, Knox had always been the weirdest among us. It was expected of him. I had no idea how he chose an angel of a woman for himself. He didn’t deserve Danielle’s love! I sat in my car and seethed even more, unable to drive away. I wanted Knox to leave so that I could go back to catch them red-handed. Of course, I knew Andrea wasn’t answerable to me. She had the right to move on after I had thrown her out of my life five years ago.
Andrea’s POV I gasped with horror at finding myself in Zion’s arms, despite my efforts to keep him at bay. Why was he waiting in front of the door?“Leave me, Zion!” I thrashed furiously, desperate to place some distance between us. I was here to warn him, not to hug him!“What have I done? You’re the one who walked into my arms!” His eyes sparkled with mischief, infuriating me even more. Did he find this amusing?I wasn’t letting this opportunity go. Did he think I would blush and stammer at his flirty ways? The old Andrea who had a crush on him might have done that, but not me. I had learned my lesson the hard way. I would never fall for him again. “How would I know you’d be waiting for me right at the door with open arms? Desperate, aren’t you? No wonder your wife left you.” He released me as if my words hit him hard. His jaws clenched and I could see the annoyed look back on his face. Good enough! That’s how I wanted it between us. It would make me hate him even more. It would r
Zion’s POV My lips burned with her touch for hours, even after she had left. I sat brooding over my reaction to Andrea every time I met her. Why did I always overreact to her? Why couldn’t I ever be normal around her? The kiss didn’t help my condition at all. In fact, it aggravated it. Now I craved her with an obsession and I knew I needed more than just a kiss from her. I seethed with jealousy to even think about her motive for coming here. Did she really think I would stay away from her? I wouldn’t in this lifetime! She was mine and I would win her at all costs. I didn’t repent for beating up the guy called Adrian. I didn’t know what equation Andrea had with him, but it gave me happiness to know he had left her. Did he really leave her? I had to find out for myself. Maybe then I would know what was stopping her from moving in with me. I walked out of the office and got into my car, determined to stalk Andrea Cromwell from tomorrow. That was the only way to know what she was up t
Andrea’s POV I had to leave Adrian with Kristina at home the next morning. Zayden was restless to attend school, and I dropped him at his pre-kindergarten on my way to work. With everything within walking distance from my home and office, it was quite convenient to keep track in between work. At the office, I was relieved to see we still had the project with us. Maybe Zion hadn’t got a whiff of it yet. I worked on the design all morning and by lunchtime I could complete the first draft and arrange for a client meeting. It pleased me immensely that I hadn’t given in to Zion’s pressure. Roberta came into the office with a pleased look on her face. “Andrea, there’s good news. We’ve bagged a renovation project for celebrity chef, Rick Salisbury’s restaurant, Rick’s Delights! This will make us famous!” My jaws dropped with surprise. Why would such a famous person want to work with me? “Oh, how did you get it?” “They called us, Andrea! Do you remember the last villa renovation project
Andrea’s POV “Never! Stop stalking me, Zion.” I stormed into the elevator, furious at his question. What did he think me to be? I wasn’t a weakling to give in to his manipulation. I could fend for myself and fight it out.He followed me into the elevator, making me even more furious. “I won’t stop until you give in. So, why waste time?” I sucked in a deep breath to stay calm. “You’re wasting your time pursuing me. I’m not interested in you. Get out and stay out of my life.” The elevator stopped at my floor and I marched out. To my immense annoyance, he still followed me. “I see. So, who are you interested in now?” He grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned around to face him for the last time. This was getting too complicated now. I hadn’t expected him to pursue me to this level. Why was he doing it? Didn’t he have any important work to do?“No one! Can you leave me alone, Zion? I’m tired of this. The more you pressurize me, the more I’ll run from you. I am married to my business and