Chapter 6

• Zenobia's POV
• "Jake, you have five seconds to tell me what she's doing here before I literally drag you both by the damn hair," I angrily stated, blood coming to a boil.
• "Okay, baby, first you need to calm down. This isn't what it looks like," he started, "Clarissa is my personal assistant and she's here to help me sort out some paperwork."
• My eyes landed on the long body mirror. I went over to it and started twirling.
• "Zen, what are you doing?"
• "I'm trying to see which part of my body got the word 'stupid' tattooed on it," I answered.
• "Look, it's true. Clarissa just arrived here. I picked her up from the airport one hour ago."
• "Then why is she in your hotel room than hers? I checked out your room and it's not a double or a joined!"
• "She came by for this folder," he said and reached for it on the nightstand before handing it to her.
• "Thank you, Jake. And Zenobia, I apologize for the misunderstanding. I'm really not the kind of woman to get involved in other people's relationships so if I gave that impression, I'm sorry on being a threat," Clarissa said to me.
• "Okay. First of, no one was speaking to your ass. Secondly, you're not a threat to me because we're not on the same level. And thirdly, you better leave before I knock all those yellow teeth out your mouth. Those things look like corn gains in your mouth and you're here talking trash!" I erupted.
• I was approaching her but Jake held onto me. "Zen, stop it. You don't have to lash out like this."
• "Didn't you hear what she said to me?" I asked.
• "Look, I don't have to put up with this. I don't work for you or at Hollen Tower. Jake is my boss, not you. You can take your insecurities to someone else," Clarissa said and walked out of the room.
• ~
• "I want her FIRED," I said to Jake.
• "You're overreacting. Clarissa is one of the best personal assistants I've ever had."
• "She talked back to me in a disrespectful manner and you're not going to fire her?"
• "No. You came at her wrong, Zen. You attacked her teeth and threatened to drag her. You judge people, that's your problem. You're always judging someone without proof."
• "She wants to sink her claws into you. No personal assistant who has a mindset on work only would wear such a short dress. I could have seen her panties."
• "I don't pay attention to these things because I only have eyes for you. She's free to wear whatever when she's not in the office or meeting. I can't tell my PA how to dress for a flight."
• I eyed him. Something wasn't settling right. He was way too defensive of her and she was way too confident to talk back to me.
• "Baby, let's not fight. I've missed you so much and this is a beautiful surprise," he said to calm me. He took me into his arms and planted a kiss on my lips.
• "I want you," he whispered.
• I pulled away.
• "What's wrong?" he asked.
• "This! This feeling in the pit of my stomach! The way Clarissa talked to me! You constantly defending her!"
• "Zen, there you go again. What is it that you really want from me, huh? To go and fire my PA because you said you? You don't see me making those commands towards you and your employees."
• "Because they don't walk around with like strippers!"
• "Stop judging people. You're not perfect either. You're this entitled person with a sharp attitude. You want everything given to you at once, including me."
• "Wait a minute. Including you? What the fuck are you trying to say, Jake?"
• "We're young. We haven't live our lives. We haven't seen what else is out there."
• "The typical words of a cheating man or a man who has intentions of cheating! Fine, Jake! I heard you loud and clear!"
• "I didn't mean it like that."
• "No, that's exactly what you meant. I get that we're young but that doesn't mean we have to act like whores. I don't play with my life like that. AIDS and STDs are real and it's the experimenting with other people that leads to contracting it."
• "I really think we should take some time apart and..."
• " We? Kiss my ass with that bullshit. You go right ahead and take all the time you need. I'm done with you."
• I placed my silk robe over me, took back my bottle of champagne and boxes of chocolate strawberries.
• "You can eat the rose petals," I said on my way out his bedroom and out his life.
• ~
• Kyle was outside the hotel, parked in the lot with the Lamborghini I rented for my travels. He opened the door for me and I got in next to him.
• Went drove to our hotel in complete silence.
• Reaching the penthouse, I popped the champagne and headed the bottle. Kyle eyed me.
• "What?" I asked him.
• "Nothing, Miss. Hollen," he answered.
• I stuffed my mouth with a strawberry then handed one to Kyle. He kindly refused and went into his side of the suite.
• "Great," I said to myself. I went into my bedroom, took off the stupid lingerie and headed for the steaming pool but Kyle beat me to it.
• I peered from behind the wall. His back facing me. I watched carefully with barely winking eyes as he took his white shirt off. His biceps were muscular and taunting. His back appeared to scream at me for my touching and nail scratching.
• Then off came the pants. His firm butt stood in a shorts.
• "You're going to hide behind the wall the whole time," he asked, exposing me.
• "How you know I was here?"
• "Chanel Number 5. Your signature fragrance," he answered.
• I smiled. He remembered my favorite fragrance and he paid attention to me wearing it.
• I walked over to the pool. "I hope you don't mind but I can really do with a hot swim right now."
• "I don't think I'm in a position to mind. This is your suite and the pool is big enough. I'll just head back to my room and come back when you're done."
• "No," I almost shouted, "You don't have to leave. I don't mind you being here and keeping me company. And as you said, the pool is big enough. Why can't we share it?"
• "Not that I'm complaining but, why are you being nice to me?" he asked.
• "I'm not. I'm tolerating you, after all, you are my bodyguard," I said, protecting my heart.
• He nodded and we got into the pool together.