5

Chapter 5

Zyair

I uncurled my body from her, my eyes taking in the soft rays of sun that bounced into the room through the floor-to-ceiling window. Upon glancing at my side to catch a glimpse of the peaceful view of my sleeping fiancee, I slowly rose to my feet.

Quickly, I covered my body with a robe, shut the door behind me and knocked on Adola’s door. Once… twice, my knuckles connected with the sturdy wooden door, but there was no response.

She could be asleep or awake, trying to get a rise from me. After all, she wasn't the weak woman I knew her to be. She was tougher now, and more assertive. I liked her that way, but that aside, I had to be sure that my guest was still alive.

“Adola?” I knocked again, this time more vehemently. “If you don't respond, I'll have to let myself in,” I warned, getting exhausted with the hide and seek, but silence was all I got.

Pursing my lips, my grip tightened on the knob, twisting it open to reveal an empty room.

Where could she have gone? The thought lurked in my head like a plague. I didn't particularly care about her, I just wanted to be sure she left on her own. That she was safe.

My pondering was cut short by the piece of paper stuck on the bed table.

My eyes rolled in their sockets after reading it. So much for the concern. She left without saying goodbye. I shouldn't have felt bad, but strangely, her coldness stung.

“Don't tell me you left me just to check on that woman,” Lorna's raspy voice nearly caused me to flinch.

“You were supposed to be sleeping,” I folded the note, turning to look at her.

She seemed annoyed with the way her eyes rolled, her gaze dropping to my hands. “I know we had a good time last night, but why did you tell her that I'm your fiancée when I'm not? You even had to tell her that I was fine with another woman staying in our suite. What's wrong with you?"

"Someone you shouldn't worry your pretty brain about. And I didn't lie about the fiancée part, or do you not want to be my wife?"

The annoyance on her face faltered. Her eyes bulged, pursed lips stretching into a wide grin. “You must be joking,” she chuckled.

As I advanced toward her, I stylishly tucked the paper into my robe and reached for her hands.

“I don't share any resemblance with a clown, do I?”

She shook her head. “No, but, we've never discussed about it because whenever I try to bring up the issue you change the subject,”

“Ignore my nonchalance,” I caressed her cheek. “You're a good woman, and I think I'm ready to settle down. I know this is impromptu and I don't have a ring right now, but Lorna Ross, will you be my wife?”

“Yes, yes,” she lurched onto my body, giggling sheepishly.

My arms circled around her wrist as I shut my eyes. Lorna was good for me. She'd make a good partner. I shook my head to affirm my thoughts, but she wasn't perfect like…

Damn it! She was all I needed. I had to get the stupid images of Adola out of my head.

“Then let's get married. I'll go ring shopping tomorrow, and then we'll visit my parents. What do you think?” I smiled at her.

Her eyes lit up brightly. “I'm down with the idea. I can't wait to be your wife. Oh, to be a Henderson,” she disengaged from me, walking backward. “I need to go home and tell my father about the engagement. He'll be so excited to hear this news. See you later, I love you.” She planted a kiss on my lips and buzzed off.

I let out a deep exhale, crashing onto the floor with one big question in my head.

What have I done?

I was one to think my actions through before making a decision, and the only person I got to be spontaneous with was Adola so why did I propose? Why did I lie that Lorna was my fiancée when she wasn't?

Ruffling my hair, I realized that I was doing a lot of stupid things just because she returned and this was only the beginning.

The shrill of my ringtone jolted me away from my train of thoughts. Distractedly, I glanced at the screen that showed an unknown number.

I swiped the green button, putting the phone on loudspeaker. “Who's this?”

“Hey, Zyair,” my brother's voice came on the line.

“Chase?” I sprang to my feet, my heart drumming with joy.

“That's me. I'm at your door,”

“What door? I'm not at the penthouse…”

He snorted. “I know you’re in your hotel and I'm standing right in front of your suite, man. Come get me,”

The weird feelings that I'd been nursing in my heart ever since I proposed to Lorna evaporated even if it was only for that moment. I knew that it would come hunting me later, but for now, I just wanted to enjoy my time with my younger brother.

I rushed to the door and he was indeed there.

I reeled him in for a tight hug, patting his back. “How did you know I was here?”

“You know me. I made a few phone calls,”

“I haven't seen you in what? Six, seven years,”

“Eight years actually,” he corrected, strolling into the living room, taking in everything. “The hotel is massive, Zyair. You've done so well for yourself,”

“You too. I can see your face everywhere on billboards, magazines. Your music is topping the charts, bro,” I replied.

He shrugged, dropping his little designer's bag. “What can I say? I followed my passion. Thank God I didn't listen to Tate,”

I nodded, and headed to the wine cellar. We didn't like our dad, but Chase harboring a deeper resentment for him. Our father never supported our career choices, but his stance was worse with Chase.

Tate wanted to be his producer and manager, but knowing how tricky he could be, Chase refused his offer. He didn't want his career to be tied to our dad so he built everything from scratch.

And when our dad saw that he was doing well, he began to sabotage him. His own son. Chase disowned him, and till now they never see eye to eye on anything. Chase doesn't even like to be reminded of his existence and so did my father.

“I can say the same,” I uncorked the wine bottle and poured out its contents into two glasses. “Let's forget about him. Tell me everything you let me miss out in the last couple of years,”

His smile morphed into a dirty smirk. “I met someone,”

My curiosity was piqued. “Who is she? Where did you meet her?”

He gulped a greedy amount of (name the wine) and chuckled. “At the elevator on my way to your room. She seemed like she was running away from someone, and trust me I was ready to fight for her, but she said that she was fine. After that, her gorgeous and confident self pointed out a few errors with my outfit. I can't wait to have that woman by my side,”

I was listening attentively when my brain picked out the fact that she was running away from someone into the elevator.

“Woah, that was spontaneous and fast. Can you describe her?”

“She's really beautiful with olive green eyes, and very long wavy auburn hair. She wears a pout most of the time but it suits her personality and I like it,”

His description fit Adola’s features perfectly, and what irked me the most was how he smiled while talking about her. I didn't blame him anyway, once he knew the kind of gold digging woman she was, he'd run from her.

I'd be damned if I let him chase her.

“Did you get her name?”

His countenance fell slightly. “Unfortunately, I didn't, but I will soon because I asked her to be my stylist,”

“You what?” I asked in a high-pitched tone, feeling a rise in my temper.

He shrugged, lips nibbling on the rim of his champagne flute. “I asked her to be my stylist,”

My body didn't feel comfortable caged in one position so I began to pace. "And what did she say?"