He's not my Lover!

ZAYLA

I woke up with a headache, so hard, my head banged like it was scrapped open. I tossed the sheets off my body and sat up. Everything from last night came to me and I realized I was still in the hot guy's house.

Hot guy?

Yeah, he's hot. But I've got something hotter on my plate right now.

I needed to leave, as soon as possible.

The room was still dim, and I wondered what the time was. I looked around for the glimpse of the hot guy, but he was nowhere close. I had no wrist watch or phone on me, I really wanted to know the time. I looked around the room and found no clock.

Who doesn't have a clock in their living room?

My gaze shifted to his computer set up. What exactly did he do with so many computers?

That was none of my business.

Ohh yeah, his computer screen was lit. I could check the time there.

I stood up and my foot padded against the cold marble floor as I made my way to the computer setup. My heart raced, too wild for my liking and too much for just going to check the time.

The space smelled and felt like him. But, I couldn't shake off this odd feeling that loomed around me. Maybe, it was the fact that I was walking to his computers without his permission. Or the fact that it felt like I was being watched.

I looked around the room, for him, but he wasn't there. Damn, why does it feel like I was doing something so bad? Hey, I just wanted to check the time. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't even have a thing for computers.

I crouched down to look at the screen, it swirled with idle animations, but no time showed. I tapped on the keyboard and the lock screen popped up.

9:45 a.m.??

Fuck, I overslept. I needed to find my way and leave.

I turned to leave, but instantly froze at the sudden sight of him. He stood there, all broad, Imposing and brooding. His stare was dead cold and expression, blank.

Horror crawled up my spine as I tried to breathe for air. Hell, I wasn't letting any man break me again, not even with his look or presence.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Hi, good morning."

His gaze moved past me to the computer and then back to me. He didn't need to voice it, I understood the question.

"Uhmm..." I turned to the computer, then to him. "I just checked the time." My tone came out like, I was trying to convince him.

Jesus, was I scared of this man?

He suddenly chuckled. The cold, humourless sound, echoed in the room and did nothing but unsettled me.

What's with the switch? He was a nice, hot guy, last night.

"Really? Is that the only lie you could come up with?"

Hell, What's he talking about?

"Excuse me?" I felt my brows shoot up.

"You really think you could log into my system without inputting a password?"

Now, this is serious.

"Look, I really don't know what you're talking about, right now. I wanted to check the time, you weren't in sight, same as your clock."

He tilted his head to the left and I followed his gaze to find an almond shaped, wall clock, hanging on the wall.

"I swear, I never saw that there." I blurted, even before I could think.

What the hell is my fate playing at, today? I'm seriously not interested and not a fan.

"More lies. You seriously can't come up with a solid lie, Zayla Everly Hollis?"

Wait... What?

I stilled. A wave of adrenaline washed over me. My eyes, wide agape. My heart... My heart hammered against my chest.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" He smirked.

No, this is bad.

Now, the possibilities were rushing into my head.

Could he be one of Lugard's men? Did he know about me all along? He was very much a nice man last night. Fuckkk.

Did Lugard track me and bribed him? That's even worst.

How? How did he know... My real name?

I stared at him, my chest pounding harder. I had no martial art skill, if I had to take on this man, he'd beat me to a pulp. If I survived this again, I'm definitely taking a Krav Maga class.

I looked at him, really looked. He was furious, in a dark and dangerous way. Even Lugard didn't get me this scared.

What had I gotten myself into, again?

"If I were you, I'd start talking and quit playing dumb."

Dumb? What was that?

My lips suddenly felt dried, I licked them and shook my head.

"I... I have no idea, what you're talking about. My name is Eva Taylor, not—"

"Shut the hell up!"

I almost jumped at his yell. The funny thing? Despite his cold and intimidating gaze, I couldn't take my eyes off him, and maybe that made him more furious.

"If you're gonna keep lying, just shut up. What? You think I wouldn't find out? that fucking bastard sent you to me."

Taken aback, my brows knitted.

Maybe, this is different. Because I seriously have no idea what's he's talking about.

I don't know how many times I was gonna ask this, but I'd ask it again, "What... Who are you talking about?"

"Your fucking lover, Lugard Blade. Now, does it ring a bell?"

What the actual hell?

I clenched my fists. My nails dug into my palm, so hard, I could smell my blood. I tried to rein in the anger that rose to my chest.

So, this is what it is about? Seems better than being Lugard's accomplice, yet... I was mad.

"You think I was sent to you by Lugard?" My stare morph into a glare.

His brows arched, "I don't think. I know it. You are a fucking liar."

My chest twisted slightly, as I glared at him. Long and hard, before I looked away. I unclenched my fists. It was no use to justify yourself when people had already made the assumption.

"Thanks for your help last night." I mouthed and swallowed the bitterness that rose in my tongue. "However, I've overstayed my welcome, I need you to hand me my bag, so I'd leave."

His gaze narrowed, "What? Resorting to pity card? That would never work on me." He scoffed.

I paused and looked at him, "Why would you think I was sent by Lugard Blade, Does he have something against you?"

"You're not asking out of curiosity, are you?" He smiled coldly and took a step closer. "You should know everything about your lover."

"Lugard Blade is not my fucking lover. Damnit!"

I said I wasn't going to make any justification or explanation to this dumb asshole in front of me, but the need to do it, is scorching. I never want to be viewed as that bastard's lover. I never want to be confused as his property. Hell, I don't even want my name in the same sentence with his.

"Still lying, what's this then?" He showed me the screen of his iPhone.

It was the news of the damn wedding.

He seemed to loath Lugard, so very damn much, he's transferring it to me. Or he's transferred it to me.

It was a good and bad thing, but at least we have something in common.

"It's up to you to believe it or not. I lied, about my name, yes... That's for my safety. And him? I'm never getting married to that asshole." I deadpanned.

The man smiled, still not convinced. "You were dating him."

"Yeah, I did. Which I'd forever regret. I'd make him pay, tho. For everything he did to me."

Scenes from my past life flashed back to me. The cold, sharp, searing pain of the knife in my stomach. The blood that pooled within me, as I laid on the floor, and clutched my stomach. His smile, while he was balls deep inside another woman.

I blinked, and the images were gone.

"My family too, they'd get what's coming to them. But now, I need to move as far as I can from this country." I muttered, my voice was laced with so much venom, I tasted it.

"Now, can I have my backpack? I'm running out of time."

He stared at me—hard. Like he was contemplating to believe me or not.

I don't give a damn about what he thought.

Just then, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the room.

His eyes flicked to the door, then back to me. And for the first time since I met him… he looked almost unsure. And I had the feeling that my time had just ran out.