Chapter 4

• Zenobia's POV
• Morning came too quickly. Jake stayed the night and made me breakfast in bed.
• Afterwards, I took a shower, got dress, styled my hair and left the bedroom to get to my car.
• "Good morning, Miss. Hollen," Kyle greeted and got the door for me as usual.
• I nodded and got in without a word. He shut the door, started the car and drove to Hollen Tower, picking Tiffany up on the way there.
• During working hours, Tiffany came to my office.
• "Hey. So it's Friday and some of us are getting together for drinks after work. It's Stacey's birthday," she said.
• "I'll think about it. I was planning a surprise dinner for Jake," I said, signing an invoice.
• "Jake can have his dinner tomorrow night. You don't have to work tomorrow anyways, so just please have drinks with us. You're the life of the party and I wouldn't enjoy it if you're not present."
• "Desperate, aren't you?" I teased her.
• "Very much so," she answered with puppy eyes.
• "Okay. I'll come."
• "Yay! It's at the club so I suggest we change from our working suits."
• I laughed as she did a small dance, flipped her silk pressed hair over her shoulder and went back to work.
• *
• After work, Kyle took us to the club where we met the others. I changed into a tight fitted dress and Tiffany wore a cute off- the-shoulders romper.
• "Ladies, your shots," a waitress spoke and laid a tray of tequila shots in front of us. We were given the VIP room at the top of the club.
• "Who's the guy behind you?" Stacey asked. I turned and Kyle was standing there.
• "Excuse me, ladies," I spoke and I got up and walked over to him.
• "What do you think you're doing in here when you should be in the car?" I asked with immediate annoyance.
• "Miss. Hollen, I'm your bodyguard and I should be atleast six feet away from you in public settings like this one." He twirled his finger to indicate the club space.
• "Look, I'm not a baby. I'm having drinks with my friends. I have no use for you at this time."
• "And what if something was to happen to you while you were drinking alcohol with your friends? I would be held responsible."
• "Who do you think you are?"
• "Your bodyguard."
• "I want you to leave before I get my father on the phone."
• "I'm not leaving and I'm sure your father would agree with me on this."
• "You'll regret this, Livingston. Just stay out of my way tonight."
• He smiled a silly smile at me. I went back to my friends and more drinks were added to the table. The music blasted through the speakers and I felt like I wanted to dance.
• Some of the ladies were already getting groovy on the dance floor, including Tiffany who was twerking and having the time of her life.
• I pulled Stacey from her seat and we went into the mix. Our vibe caught the on-lookers and they joined in. The music shifted to a slow love song and each of the ladies found a partner, except for me.
• I left the dance floor and called Jake on the phone.
• "Hey babe. Where are you?" I spoke.
• "Hey. I'm about to board the jet. Are you okay?"
• "Oh, right. You're traveling tonight."
• "Yeah. I got that meeting in Texas. Then from there, I'll be heading to Dubai for another conference."
• "Okay. I wish you a safe flight. See you soon."
• "Of course."
• "I love you," I said but he hung up too quickly to hear those words.
• I heave a sigh and watched my friends with laughter on their faces as they danced to more upbeat music.
• "You know, you looked great dancing out there," Kyle spoke. He stepped closer to me, "Great but lonely."
• "And that's your business how?"
• "It's not."
• "It's not my style to dance with a stranger. My boyfriend couldn't make it tonight."
• He nodded and I smirked.
• "You look great," he spoke again.
• I remained silent, then Tiffany came over.
• "Wow. I haven't dance like that in a long time. I'm almost out of breath. Where's that tequila?" she said.
• "Well you look like you're having the time of your life," I told her.
• "Hell yeah I am. And the guy I'm dancing with is so hot and he said he loves thick madams." Tiffany reached for another shot then turned to me again, "Girl, why you standing around looking like a queen's life guard?"
• "I'm really not feeling to dance right now."
• "Zen! Live your life. You're only young for a minute. When you're sixty-five, you can't twerk and twirl again or you might break your hip."
• "I'm a long way from sixty-five, Tiff."
• "If you don't grab that fine ass bodyguard of yours....." She mouthed before going back to dancing.
• I turned to Kyle. "Wanna dance?"
• "That would be inappropriate and unprofessional."
• "Save it. You'll be even closer to me so technically you'll still be doing your job."
• "Okay. Let's dance then."
• I took his hand. A surge of electricity ignited my finger tips and I quickly removed them from his touch. We reached the dance floor and he held me from behind. His chest braced my back as his arms circled my waist.
• "This is for all the lovers on the dance floor right about now. All the couples and those thinking about becoming couples, this one is for you," the disc jockey spoke then he played Let Me Love You by Mario.
• The words spoke to me, especially the part about coming home to me every night.
• We danced to the song and I was feeling a sense of extra comfort and stress-free. As if all my woes were melting away. I turned and face him. Looking into his eyes. I rested my head on his chest as we grooved. The song was over but I was still grooving.
• I came out from the trance when my phone buzzed. A text from Jake appeared. I didn't open it immediately. I took a washroom break, said goodnight to the ladies and left the club with Kyle.
• Walking through the doors to my home, I opened Jake's text.
• "I love you too. [ heart emoji ]"
• So he heard.