Chapter 27

Z A R A

"How long are you planning on staying in New York, Yasmeen?" Alejandro asks.

I know he's trying to make sure she doesn't intervene between us.

"About a month or so, why?" She answers casually. I know for a fact she's only here for a week. She's doing this on purpose.

"Oh, I see. For what reason?" He asks, getting a little tense.

"My father's a busy man, Alejandro. Age is also reducing his quality of work. He can't take care of all sectors of his business at this age. I'm here to oversee a few projects in his place," she doesn't stutter once, as if she's practiced this for hours.

"If I remember correctly, you didn't want anything to do with business in high school. In fact, I clearly remember you saying you'd rather jump out the window than take another business course," Alejandro'a suspicious of her reasons and it's making me nervous.

"Alejandro, I don't know what you're getting at but let me tell you something. When someone provides you with shelter, food, clothes, money, and love, you don't just ignore their requests. In this case, it's my father's request. That old man needs a break and I'm giving him that time off," her smile is screaming 'try me'. She's handling the situation like a boss.

"Is that so? I guess there's nothing wrong with that," Alejandro is not completely satisfied, I can tell from his expression. "Where are you staying?"

"That's any of your business because...?" She raises a brow.

"I'm just wondering. I could provide accommodations if you'd like," he offers, politely.

"I want to live with Zara but I'm going to take a quick guess that it's out of the question since you two are... very much aquatinted way past just friends," she smirks. "How about providing me with a place to live in the same apartment complex as yours?"

I had told Yasmeen I was living in a fancy apartment. She's not wasting any opportunities. Alejandro knows exactly what game she's playing, he knows that she's caught onto something. I'm begging Yasmeen not to push it any further.

Alejandro smiles, not the comforting kind. He smiles as if she's playing right into his hands and it's scaring me.

"How about a penthouse suite in a neighboring apartment building?" He offers.

"Oh?" She smiles. "A big man like you can't get me an apartment in the same building as yours?"

"I would love to, but it's out of my control when it's all occupied," he simply states.

"Understandable. I wouldn't mind as long as it's beside Zara's. I haven't seen her in so long, you know?" Her tone is edging with anger. "She just disappeared into thin air for months and now I see her engaged to someone who went AWOL for the last four years. It's sort of irritating if I say so myself."

"That's quite understandable as well. I'm sure she didn't mean to just disappear. Right, my love?" Alejandro looks over at me with an authoritative gaze. I gulp, nodding. The tension in the air is so restricting, that it almost feels poisonous. The fun, teasing environment has vanished completely.

"Perfect! Then, I'll be expecting to move in tomorrow?" Yasmeen asks.

"Of course. I'll have my men set it up for you. It'll be ready for you to move in tomorrow morning," he nods.

"Yasmeen, are you sure about this? Your cousins won't get lonely without you?" I try to sublimely try to talk her out of it.

Something about the way Alejandro is offering this apartment doesn't sit right with me.

"No! They'll be fine. They were only here for vacation anyways. They're leaving in a few days so I'd be the one who would've gotten lonely," she says. "Besides, we have a lot of catching up to do! And, I'm going to help you plan a wedding, aren't I, traitor?" She laughs.

"Yes, my Queen," I grin. "No more betraying my Queen."

"You better not!" She gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"You can't allow her to speak in this manner to you, Alejandro," I overhear Marcus complaining. "And you plan on giving her a place to stay? Don't you think you're doing it?"

"No, I don't think I am, Marcus. Also, I don't think I have given you authority to question my decisions, have I?" Alejandro says bluntly.

Marcus steps back, his irritated expression changes into a blank one in a split second,

"No, Boss."

Marcus is upset, he's very upset–maybe even jealous, that Alejandro is treating Yasmeen so humanely. I can't blame him, it's making me slightly envious as well. But of course, Alejandro has to keep on a mask to keep Yasmeen from questioning anything further. He knows her well enough to know that if he keeps her satisfied, she won't push anything.

"Alejandro, where's Charlotte?" I ask him. I want to introduce Yasmeen to her and Frank.

"I sent Charlotte and Frank to do a sweep of the floor," he says.

I blink, not understanding. Like clean?

He sighs, "I just sent them off to double-check that we don't have any safety or security issues."

"Oh," I get it. They're just going around to check if there's any suspicious activity.

"What's his last name?" Yasmeen asks me, staring at Marcus.

"Wang," I answer.

"Does my hijab look okay?" She touches her head.

"Yes, it looks great," I raise a brow, wondering what she's about to do next.

"Mr. Wang," she calls out to him.

He doesn't hear her–or rather chooses to ignore her.

"Mr. Wang~," Yasmeen says in a singsong tone. "I think your surname would sound fabulous as my last name."

My palm slaps my mouth so hard, that it stung. I was not expecting this, "Oh my God, Yasmeen."

I swear I heard Alejandro choke a little.

Marcus doesn't give her a single glance, not even a simple change in expression–he didn't crack. It's almost as if he's completely managed to block out Yasmeen.

"Zara! He didn't even budge," Yasmeen pouts. I try not to snort, "Marcus is built a little... different. Getting a reaction out of him is going to take more effort. But even then, you might not get anything out of him."

"That's so unfair! He just keeps ignoring me!" She cries out like a child.

"Yasmeen, this is me giving you genuine advice because I love you and care about you," I sigh, I know she won't take this well. "Plus, I don't want to see you heartbroken again because I hate seeing you sad so hear me out: forget about trying to impress Marcus. It just won't happen. His interests lie within someone else."

Yasmeen looks over at Marcus, who's still standing beside Alejandro, looking over him like a bodyguard, as Alejandro continues conversations with other guests.

"But... he's so cute," she sighs.

I giggle, "He is until he opens his mouth."

"I thought he was cute even when he opened his mouth," she pouts even more intensely.

"I'll help you find someone else, okay?" I pat her back.

"Promise?" She smiles.

"Pro—" before I can finish the word, an incredibly loud pop goes off.

I'd recognize that sound anywhere–it's a gunshot. As the crowd slips into panic, Yasmeen is looking at me confused. "Zara, what's going—"

Another pop of a gunshot and I'm snatched away from Yasmeen by Alejandro, "We have to go, now!"

I look at him, completely petrified. I'm trying to process what's happening but my mind is numb, "Alejandro! Yasmeen, we have to save Yasmeen!"

"We don't have time! We have to get out!" He yells. I kick and scream at him, "I can't leave without Yasmeen! Please!"

Alejandro doesn't listen to my pleas as he drags me further and further away from where we were standing. I look back to see if I can catch a glimpse of her but, to my horror, there are splatters of crimson blood where we were standing. My eyes search every inch of the place as we run, trying to believe that Yasmeen survived.

But the blood... it's splattered right where we were standing. Yasmeen. She had to have survived, please, God. She had to survive. The whole world starts spinning as my legs start to give out. I grip Alejandro's arm tighter as I let the chaos around us swallow me whole, "Alejandro... I don't... I don't feel... so... good..."

"Zara? Zara!" His voice is a distant sound as I close my eyes and collapse.

• • •

I wake up in a dark room, screaming, "Yasmeen?!" I'm drenched in sweat and dry tears plastered on my cheeks.

I realize I'm not in my own room but Alejandro's. I quickly sit up–which I instantly regret because I feel nauseous–and pull the blanket towards my body. I'm still in my gown, my hijab neatly folded beside me.

I notice a laptop light in the sitting area of the room. "Alejandro?" I call out in confusion and slight terror.

"You're awake," he states, closing his laptop. Not a hint of concern in his tone.

"Is Yasmeen okay? Do you know if she's okay?" I ask

"You're in no position to ask if she's okay when you look so shaken up yourself, my love." He walks toward me and pours me a glass of water. "Drink some wat—"

"Shut up!" I yell at him. It's dark but I know I've surprised him from the way he retracts the glass of water from me. I can't believe he's so calm and composed when I have no idea if my best friend is alive or dead. "Just shut up! This was part of your plan, wasn't it? You wanted to get rid of Yasmeen so she didn't ask any questions or try to find out how I am! You could've just left her alone! She didn't need to be a victim of your sick games!"

He puts down the glass of water and pins my flailing hands onto the bed, rolling himself and hovering over me. "I don't like the tone you're using with me, Zara."

"You don't like my tone? Alejandro... I've let you take my very being since the beginning, hoping you'll just go a little easier on me but you've taken everything..." my voice cracks, as I turn my head to look away. I hate sounding weak but he's not understanding!

He gets off of me and starts walking away. "I didn't do this. I'd never do something as risky while you're there." He didn't deny that he wouldn't hurt Yasmeen.

He sounds upset–almost offended. He's acting like I'm supposed to already know that he would never put me in danger. He expects me to believe that? After everything's he's done to me? But I don't understand. If he didn't do this, then...

"I'm already immensely upset our security was breached, do not anger me any further," he slams the door shut.

He never puts importance on my feelings, he never asks how I am, what I'm thinking, or how I'm feeling, never. It's always how he's angry, or how he's upset, or how he's irritated.

I had 10 minutes of just pure happiness with Yasmeen, 10 minutes of feeling like I'm on top of the world after so many dreadful months–only for her to get mingled into Alejandro's lifestyle and get snatched away from me, right from underneath my grasp.1

I sit on his bed, sobbing my heart out for five minutes before gathering some strength to walk to my room to get changed and freshen up.

After changing into comfortable pajamas, topped with an oversized hoodie, I leave my room to grab a glass of water. I try to rehearse what I could say to Alejandro to have him look into Yasmeen:

"I know you asked me not to bother you but could you please have someone look into Yasmeen's status?"

or is that too demanding?

"Do you think, for my sake, you could check on Yasmeen?"

Does he even care enough for me to use 'my sake'?

"I'll literally let you fuck me right here, right now if you have someone check for Yasmeen."

Sounds like something he'll agree to but not something my mind agrees to.

Sacrifices. I have to make sacrifices.

As I walk towards the kitchen, with a clear intent to grab a glass of water and prepare to give Alejandro an offer for anything on Yasmeen, I'm stopped by his intense yelling.

My heart stops beating because of how loud he's yelling into the phone.

"I don't fucking care how they slipped in, what is done is done. I want names, faces, addresses, every bit of information on whoever caused this shit before I blow your fucking brains off!" There's a pause. "The motherfuckers put my fiancée in a dangerous situation, I won't let them get out of this alive. And I won't let you and your team live if I don't have information in the next 60 minutes."

He hangs up without a goodbye. Seconds later, his BlackBerry rings again. "What?!" He yells into the phone. "And she's safe?" His tone drops as if he wasn't just yelling his lungs out seconds ago.

She? Who's she?

"No injuries?" He asks much more calmly. "Okay. Keep me posted." He sighs, sitting down on the couch. He rubs his temples, letting out an irritated groan. "Fuck everyone. None of these fuckers can do their jobs right," he mumbles to himself.

I decide to walk past him to the kitchen but he doesn't glance over in my direction, not even once. He pretends I'm not even here.

Do I say it? Should I say it? Should I just walk back to my room? The glass in my hand shakes. I couldn't even take one sip from it properly. My mind is scattered, the silence between us is so loud that it's almost deafening. I can't focus on anything except for the white marble countertop with the glass sitting on it.

Put your foot down, march over to him and demand answers! A part of my kind encourages me. What if he hurts me instead? I ask the little voice in my head back. If anything, just offer your body. He can't refuse that, it suggests.

I shudder at the thought. I slowly walk towards Alejandro, taking in a deep breath but he speaks first instead.

"Yasmeen is fine. Elijah and Marcus are with her," his eyes are glued to his phone as he speaks.

A huge weight lifts off my shoulders for two reasons: one, Yasmeen is alive and unharmed. And two, I didn't have to offer up my body to him for this.

"T-Thank you," I manage to say.

"I didn't do anything," he states blankly.

"Thank you for letting me know about Yasmeen's whereabouts," I clarify.

I don't ask him anything else for fear that it might make his already rotten mood even worst. I'm just relieved that Yasmeen is okay, that's all I needed to know. I trust him enough to know he wouldn't lie, especially knowing that I would want to see her again. With that peace of mind, I can relax in my room for the night.

Just as I was about to walk away, he sighs and grabs my hand, pulling me down on his lap. My hands instinctively rest on his shoulders as I stare at him wide-eyed.

He snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me in closer to him as he rests his head on my chest.

"I'm glad you're okay," he mutters softly. "I'm glad you're safe."

I freeze, my heart starts racing and I'm sure he can feel it. I don't bother moving, but neither do I wrap my arms around him. However, I let him stay like that for longer than I should've. His hands start sliding down, below my waist until it reaches my lower back. His lips make sudden contact with the skin on my neck, making me jump a little. He leaves a trail of wet kisses down my neck, pulling down the neckline of my hoodie for more access.

I feel a sharp pinch as he sucks on a small part of my neck. "Ow!"

He's leaving a hickey, isn't he?

Should I let him continue? Should I let it be to not piss him off? Or am I letting this happen because, I, myself, am enjoying this?

"Mine," he smirks against my skin. "All mine."

All his? Then, why isn't he all mine? Why do I have to bear the burden of sharing him?

He grabs my throat, gently enough to not let it be threatening, and presses his lips against mine. His tongue finds it's his way inside my mouth, swirling with mine. He lays me down on the couch, not once letting our lips uncouple.

Our lips only separate for a second, when he slides my top off of me and slips out of his own shirt, revealing his tempting body.

His hand made its way inside my bra, clutching my breast, and making me moan. My back arches at the pleasure bubbling up between my legs.

"Let me fuck you, my love," he whispers against my mouth. "Let me fuck you breathless." His hand slides inside my pants, his fingers stroking me gently enough to drive me insane. My body wants this so bad, it's writhing in pleasure. Alejandro's touch is like a drug that instantly numbs every receptor in my body, shutting out logical thoughts. His mouth latches onto my breast, sucking and licking until my body shakes uncontrollably.

"I want you to cum all over my fingers, I want to feel how wet I make you," he moans as his fingers rub faster against me.

Tonight, I want more. I want him to take me past the edge, my body is begging to be led to euphoria. The first time he did this, I didn't enjoy it enough. But tonight, I want every bit of stress, sadness, and anger drowned out of me.

"Do you know how long I've wanted to touch you since the last time?" He says as he kisses down my chest to my stomach.

"I've dreamt about you for years. I wanted to feel you, touch you, taste you. I wanted my mouth on every inch of your body, drinking in every part of you every chance I can get." He slips off my pajama trousers, leaving kisses on my inner thigh.

"I can't handle myself when I think about fucking you. The number of times I've thought about my mouth on your pussy, tasting your sweetness—" his kisses go further up my thigh. "—or you writhing beneath me as I thrust myself deep into you while you moan out my name—" His lips reach close to the center but he keeps edging me to tease. "—or bending you over that very counter to fuck you until you can't take it anymore."

His words itself has me shaking from intense excitement. I can feel that I'm completely drenched down there from just words. My legs are tight in anticipation of his touch. He sits up smirking at the sight of me completely putty in his hands but I can no longer take it. I grab him by his neck, pulling him closer to me, "Touch me, Alejandro. Touch me like you've never touched anyone before. Tonight, this body of mine is all yours."

With that, I decided to give up on the fight and let myself use Alejandro's body for my own pleasure. I'm tired of letting him control me, I'm tired of being angsty over him. Tonight, he'll make me feel good. Tonight, he's mine to use.

- - -

I let y'all enjoy the fluff for too long. Sociopathic Alejandro will be making an appearance in the next chapter or so. Get your spears and knives ready.