"I am enjoying your company, but I won't forget what you did." With that being said, I left and went towards Maria and Aria.

"Hey, girl, you look dashing." Aria squealed

"Thanks Ari, so do you guys. Pink and blue are definitely your colours."

They smiled at me and I returned the gesture.

Us three begin talking but I couldn't keep my eyes off of Kezr. Currently, Iam sure Zake teased Kezr about something, because Kezr is glaring at Zake and his hand is raised in a punch. Zake looked at me for help but I just shrugged my shoulders.

Iam busy, buddy.

Yeah, too busy checking your husband out.

He is wearing all black suit with his hair in dreadlocks and his beard looks perfect as ever. One thing I don't like about him in suits is the fact that they cover his tattoos but other than that he looks really handsome.

I know what went down today in his office and how he assumed things about me was wrong of him. And trust me Iam not forgiving him yet, but he just looks so cute.

No, remember what Zake said at the picnic, If anybody talks to you like that, you show them your bad boys.

Yeah, Kezr and I are definitely going to have to talk about what happened today.

As Iam thinking these thoughts, I felt a rough hand around my waist. I smiled thinking it was Kezr, but the hand felt really rough and not muscly like Kezr's usually is. I swiftly looked back to see Mark smiling at me.

Startled, I immediately stepped back from his grasp.

"I scared you, didn't I?" He said proudly smiling at himself.

I put a hand on my chest,"Yes, please don't hold me like that again." Ever.

"Sorry, I just....sorry. Can you forgive me?"
He said forming his lips in a pout but it looked like his lip got busted by eating too much wassabi.

"Yeah, of course." I said smiling at him.
I don't know why my brain keeps giving me signals to stay away from him but he seems like a really nice guy.

I always trust my instinct so Iam going to keep a lil distance from him.

But,
Maybe him and I can be friends?

"Can I talk to you about something?" I saw Maria and Aria gone from my side. I felt relieved knowing that Iam not ditching them.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?" He held my hand in his and led me to the balcony.

Okaaay....Is he going to kill me?

"So.... What is it?" I asked getting curious.

He seemed really nervous all of a sudden. He scratched the back of his neck and said,

"Uh...I don't know how to tell you this...."

Is this the time that he is going to tell me that this is a mafia ball and that Kezr is the Capó. Stop.

I was growing impatient.

"Well, just go on with it, Iam getting curious." I spoke honestly.

"Okay, Iam just gonna say this." Mark said taking a deep breath.

"Ella, I like you very much, and I want you to go on a date with me."

Stunned. That's what I was stunned.

"Uhh...umm..me?" Why does he like me? What is happening?

"Yes you, who else?" he said laughing.

"Uh..." I took a deep breath and decided to deliver him the news once and for all.

"Iam sorry Mark, I really am, but I don't have the same feelings for you. Iam happily married and very much loyal and committed." I took out my ring from my purse to show him the ring.

"What?" He asked completely shocked. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Yeah....see?" I happily showed him the ring that Kezr slipped on my finger on our wedding day.

I don't wear this ring but keep it in my purse all the time because Kezr's 6th rule was to not let anybody know that Iam married to him. So, if I wore a ring, my colleagues would ask me and I am the worst at lying and then there would be a big baloney of a scandal.

Yeah, I predict the future. Nice to meet you....

Now coming back to Mark, He just looked like somebody slapped him. He didn't utter a single word and just walked from the balcony not before telling me, "He's a lucky guy."

He doesn't think that.

As he left the balcony, a face that I haven't seen in a month, appeared in front of me.

Stacy.

What's she doing here at our company's ball?

"Shocked? Yeah I was too when I found somebody likes you." She said in her shrill voice that had my ears bleeding.

"Stacy? You here?"

"Yeah a friend called me."

She's lying obviously.

"You don't have any friends from here."

"Yes I do" She said defensively.

Why so defensive?

"How. Are. You. Here? Tell me before I get the security."

"Fine. Fine. Not that Iam scared of you or anything but I came here without an invitation."

"How did they-"

"Let me in? I have charms." She winked at me.

Her charms, I understood what she meant.

"Just had to seduce the guard and then-" I cut her off not wanting to listen to her.

"Shut up. I don't want to listen you being a prude."

She laughed, "Still the same old..... wait! OMG! Don't tell me you're still innocent Ella." She didn't need me to say anything, my face gave it all.

She laughed and said "Obviously why would he want you, you're fat as a fucking cow. You need a body like me." I felt a tiny sting to my chest, "small and slim, that leads to beauty and beauty leads t-"

"That does not lead to beauty that leads to anorexia." I know I was rude and Iam sorry but I have had enough of her comments. She doesn't need to rub in the fact that Iam fat.

"Oh, somebody got her fucking tongue back.... but let me tell you" She said coming closer to me, "You will forever be a bitch and will never be good enough for Kezr", And with that she kicked my leg.

I slipped and fell harshly on my butt and a pain shot down towards my ankle.

I cried a little but her eyes held no remorse, "Mummy and Daddy are glad you're gone from our lives, and maybe that's what your parents thought too." She shrugged her shoulders and left.

How can she say something like that?

I had tears of frustration and pain rolling down my cheeks.

I took off my sandals and stood up with way too much difficulty.

I want only one person right now.

I don't know why, but I always find myself being comfortable and safe around him. When he's not angry, of course.

As I was walking out of the balcony, I saw Zake and his facial expression held worry for me.

Maybe not for me and he is worrying at the fact that Iam walking barefoot with tears rolling down my cheeks in front of the company's biggest clients.

He held my hand but I just pushed his hand away and asked him where Kezr was. When he told me that he was in the bathroom, I practically ran from there to the bathrooms as much as I could limping.

As soon as I reached the bathroom, I saw the door open and Kezr come out. Without a second thought, I collapsed in his arms.

He looked confused but held me there. I cried not feeling embarrassed or anything. And he let me. I was glad to know he understood that I needed to cry, instead of making my Niagra falls stop.

He took me to his car and buckled me up and his musky scent engulfed me. I took a small sniff shamelessly.

Throughout the whole car ride, he held the steering wheel tightly till the point his knuckles were white.

I noticed how they were bruised.

What happened to him?

I went to ask him but he shushed me saying he is angry.

Great, now you made him angry by leaving the ball room early.

Why? Why am I not happy and doesn't let others be happy too?

••••••••••••••••

"Now, Tell me what the fuck happened?" He demanded.

I took a deep breath and told him everything from going to the balcony with Mark till Stacy being a baloney.

I left out the part, where Mark told me he liked me, cause that would be weird telling your husband. Yikes.

Although I'm sure Kezr wouldn't care, but I had eyes for no one but Kezr, although Iam still angry at him for his way of words with me in his office.

After I completed my story, his eyes were darkened with anger and he had his fists clenched.

I held his knuckles in my hand and massaged them to calm him down.

His facial expression retorted calmly but just a little.

"What happened to your knuckles? Why are they all bruised up?"

He smiled nervously at me, all of his anger gone.

Damn Iam a great topic changer. Is that a job? because I'll be richer than Kezr if that is a job.

"Uh...I punched the sink." He said nervously whilst scratching his neck.

"Don't lie, you didn't punch the sink, this clearly has glass cuts on it, and even if we go with your lie, why the fridge would you punch a sink? Do you not like your knuckles? I like them and if you don't, can you donate them to me?"

He just looked at me amused before his chuckle echoed in my room.

"You want my knuckles?" He said between his chuckle.

"Yeah. Why is it funny?" I said crossing my arms over my chest.

"Okay fine." He cleared his throat, "I won't laugh, but I want to know what would you do with my knuckles."

"Fight the bad guys, duh, go into mafia and become a female fatale and-"

"Woah, you're obsession with mafia books is too much to handle." Kezr said.

"Who said you have to handle me? I am a woman and I can handle myself just fine. Thank you very much." I said snapping at him playfully.

His eyes widened in amusement and he said, "Really, if you can handle yourself then please walk and take yourself to the couch in the living room."

What? I can't do that!

But I am not going to give up.

I stood up from the bed with much difficulty. I had walked only for a nano second, before I cried in pain and the next thing I know, Iam swiftly sweeped off of my feet and held into big, soft yet rough hands, bridal style.

He chuckled at my failure and said "Handle yourself, eh?"

I slapped his chest and hid my face in his shirt whilst clutching it tightly. His chest rumbled with his chuckle and I smiled into his chest.

I love his chuckles, his smile, his laughter, his groggy morning voice and so much more. And knowing Iam the reason behind those expressions makes it so much better.

I sniffed his cologne, so tasty! Can I drown in his cologne?

"No you can't" Kezr said chuckling.

"Huh?"

"You can't drown in my cologne."

"What....how?"

"You blurted it out" he said bending down and I gripped the sofa for balance. He put a pillow under my ankle.

I like being in his arms. I missed his cologne and warmth already, I pouted internally.

"You like my cologne?" He asked.

I smiled at him like a cheshire cat and said "Yes, I love it's musky scent, What's the brand?" I was way too interested in the convo.

He chuckled at my obviousness and said, "That, my darling...... is for me to know and for you to find out."

My darling? My heart!

I have bunnies in my stomach right now, hopping around and having a lil party.

I was smiling like an idiot and was far too gone in my dream land that I didn't hear Kezr's question.

I looked at him standing in the kitchen and saw him looking at me intently.

"Huh?"

He shook his head and smiled like the idiot he is. Hot idiot.

"I asked, what would you like for dinner?"

Dinner?

"We're having dinner, you're cooking?" I asked amused at the new info that he can cook.

"Yeah, why?"

I laughed like the villian in mafia movies and see him flinch at my tone.

"S-sorry, but here's the menu, cook me chilly gravy with steak......think you can do that?"

I said playfully joking knowing there was no way he was going to cook for me.

"Uhm....We have ingredients, so...sure" he shurgged his shoulders and turned around.

Wait what?

That wasn't how it was supposed to go!

"No, wait!" He turned around startled.

"What?" He asked confused at my tone.

"You're cooking for me like, lil 'ole me....Me?!"

"Yeah, why are you so surprised?"

"Wait, legitimately?"

"Yeah, legitimately."

"Like, deadbutt?" I asked, still not believing him.

He looked confused before he chuckled and said "Yes, Deadass."

"Oh my!! This is the. Best. Day. Ever" I squealed loudly.

"Jesus Woman! My fucking ear!"

"S-sorry, but I am so happy!"

"Iam happy that you're happy, but why are you happy?" Woah, too many happies.

"Iam happy cause, the Kezr Heznaya is cooking lil 'ole me, dinner!" I said obviously fangirling over him.

He chuckled and said, "You know I have never smiled so much in my life."

He said turning around and sat beside my ankle.

"Iam happy to be the reason of your happiness." He smiled gratefully at me.

He pulled my ankle on his lap and massaged it as I moaned in pleasure, it was really soothing.

"You know Zella, you're too good for this world. Your kindness is your weakness."

"But isn't it supposed to be good?" I asked puzzled.

"Yes, sometimes. Zella you're too kind. This world is filled with people who want to bring you to your worst and they take advantage of your kindness, so the best thing you can do is to kill them with kindness"

I laughed a little and said," I did not know you were into Selena Gomez"

He looked confused and said, "The fuck? Who?"

"Wait..." I pulled my phone out, but put it back knowing Iam too embarrassed.

"Give me your phone." I said to Kezr.

He bent over and picked up his phone from the table beside the sofa and gave it to me.

"Wait, you don't have anything to hide?"

"No. Should I?"

"Uh...nope." It was weird how he gave me his phone without any hesitation. I thought he would have a password and will have messages to hide.

I opened his phone and found the lock screen wallpaper to a picture of Alex and I back at Mendhall lake.

Wait. Alex and I?

I looked at him and he said "What? Alex looked cute and.... so did you." He mumbled the last part but I heard it and my heart warmed at the words that flowed from his mouth.

Biting my lip, I opened his google and typed in Selena Gomez.

"See? She is Selena Gomez, she is a singer and an absolute icon."

"Oh", he said and looked down, massaging my feet.

"So...??" I said in a questioning tone.

"So?" He repeated confused.

"Well, What do you think of her?"

"Uh, she's.....nice." He hesitated.

"Kezr. You didn't meet her, I showed you her photo. Tell me she's pretty right? I love her brown hair, I want hair like hers."

"I love your black hair, I want hair like yours." He said smiling.

I laughed at his attempt to make me feel good about myself, "Kezr, you have the best hair and with braids they look really good, so with little due respect, shut up."

He scoffed and I said, "Come on tell me the truth."

"You wanna know the truth?"

"Yes please" I nodded eagerly.

"Well, I think you're very beautiful and gorgeous with your emerald doe eyes and black hair." He said looking between my eyes.

I blushed a deep red and looked down and mumbled shyly, "I asked the truth about her not the truth about me."

"So you accept my statement as the truth. See? I knew you found yourself beautiful." He said smiling proudly.

"What? No! Iam chubby and fa-"

He pinched my ankle slightly and I cried and hissed in pain. I looked at him and his face held rage and fury.

Woah, what happened?

"So you're going to choose that bitch Stacy's words over me, huh?"

"No! I never said that!"

"Yes you did, you accepted the negativity but you're refusing to accept the truth that I am telling you."

I looked down knowing he's right and said, "It's not my fault you chose to lie"

He held my chin up to hold eye contact and said in monotone voice, "Don't. Ever. Insult. Yourself. In. Front. Of. Me, Understand?"

I gulped and nodded but playfully said, "So, I can say it behind you?"

He glared at me "Rozella.." uh-oh real name. "You know what I meant."

I laughed and said, "Yes, yes Iam sorry and yes, I understand. Thank you Kezr alot."

He smiled at me and ruffled my hair and said, "You're cute."

I blushed and looked down. When I didn't hear him say anything, I looked up and saw him looking at me intently.

My eyes darted to his lips and I wet my own and bit the inside of my cheek.

My eyes darted back to his eyes to meet the blue orb but found his eyes ten times darker than they usually were and his eyes were fixated on my lips.

Oh my gawd!

My heart is in my stomach and is beating really fastly.

Are we going to kiss?

We're going to kiss and Iam all here for it.

I saw him leaning towards me and I closed my eyes when his lips brushed just above mine.

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in my ankle and I screamed. I looked down and saw Kezr's elbow on it.

"Shit. Fuck. Iam so sorry. Are you okay, Zella?"

"Yes" I muttered out while groaning in pain.

"Sorry sorry. Let's just put the ointment on now."

I nodded and he massaged the ointment on.

We just stayed quiet while he was dressing my ankle in gauze. He got up to put the bam back when I called him over.

He turned around with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh-" my voice came out really squeaky so I cleared my throat and said, "Give me the bam, I-I have to put it on your knuckles and bandage it."

I said while looking down. He just quietly came and sat beside my ankle and passed me his hand.

After bandaging his soft hands, They were really soft, we ate dinner quietly while stealing glances from one another. Whenever he caught me looking at him he smirked and vise versa.

At the end of the dinner we both were left flustered and went to our rooms not before bidding each other 'goodnight.'

I went to my room and jumped on the bed, squealing.

We were about to kiss!!

I can't believe it.

I touched my lips where his lips just brushed against mine.

Now, Iam really curious as to what his lips feel like against mine.

I face planted into my pillow and sighed.

Today was a really happy day for me even after the whole Stacy scene, what she did was really upsetting but Kezr managed to make me happy and cheerful again.

I really like this carefree and jolly side of Kezr, always chuckling and joking, him calling me beautiful.

I felt the heat crept up my cheeks and I touched them to calm my racing heart, it feels like my heart will do a back flip and leave.

I am damn sure my crush for Kezr isn't just a crush anymore, it's a full blown liking that I have towards him.

And I can really wish the same feelings from the other side, cause I don't want my heartbroken, not by Kezr at least.
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They are finally in action.
I find them really cute.
What are y'all's thoughts?
💜💛💚💙
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