Zelina

I stare at the wall in front of me, feeling angry and frustrated. I don't know if I am mad at Jamie or at the fact that she fucking gave birth to me. It looks like every single day God purposely gives me a new reason to hate her more. My chest tightens when the look of hurt in Merrick's eyes flashes in front of me. It broke my heart and the pain still feels very raw. I try to recall how good things were going between us just before Merrick got that call from Dean. It seems like destiny itself doesn't want me to be happy - even if it's just for a few hours.

I go back to the moment when Merrick asked Aiden to tell whose orders was he following, and he said my Mother's name. Until then everyone was focused on grilling Aiden, ignoring my presence in the room, but the moment he spoke Jamie's name, all gazes were directed at me. I took a look at Aiden's face and I knew he wasn't lying. All this time, I've been trying hard to figure out who could have tricked Merrick in such a dirty way while letting the cruelest woman slip out of my brain. How can I not think about her when she openly tried to threaten me about it?

Although finding out Jamie having a hand in this was shocking, what felt like a punch in the gut for me was Merrick thinking that I would be involved in betraying him. Of course, she is my mother, and it's obvious for them to suspect, but it still hurts to think that Merrick didn't give me the benefit of doubt. The least he could have done was listen to me.

I let out a sigh and close my eyes. No. Fucking No. That woman has done enough damage to me and my life and now, when I am finally trying to find some sort of contentment, I won't let her ruin this for me. Not just for me, but also for Merrick. I care about him and if my mother is trying to mess with his company, which I know how important is to him - then I am not going to let her do it. No matter if he doesn't believe me. I am still going to fight for him.

"Pick up the phone dammit," I scream when it goes to Jamie's voicemail again. What the fuck is wrong with her? It's Monday, and I feel frustrated and helpless sitting in my cabin. She hasn't been responding to my calls since I came back from Merrick's office on Friday, and it is bothering me like hell.

If it was any other day, I wouldn't have worried a fuck about her, but with what I learned about her, I know she has to answer me because she can't get away like that after crossing the line. I don't know where the hell she is hiding, but I need to find her.

Hell, what should I do? I just can't sit here and let things burn down to ashes between me and Merrick. Everything felt so perfect that evening when we were together on my balcony. I don't know from where exactly did I find the courage to open up to him, but I felt relieved once I was done.

I think about the moment he pulled out a chair for me. There is no doubt that Merrick is such a gentleman- he has always been. I think about the butterflies that I felt in my stomach the moment he held my hand. His touch was soft and calming and it somehow made me yearn to feel his skin more on me.

There were so many things that I wanted to say to him and it was hard not to feel disappointed when that moment was interrupted. It felt like we were starting a new phase all over again - a kind of connection that could have actually led our relationship somewhere. But then it all shattered in a second.

No, this isn't going to happen. I like Merrick and I won't let a misunderstanding get in our way now that I had an idea of how good we can be together.

Jamie is my mother just because we share the same last name other than that she has done nothing to be labeled with the noble title of being a mother. She used me for her own purpose. She made me do things that I never wanted to do in my life and it's something no mother would ever do.

She got her selfish ways with me and that's fine because I can endure it but I won't let her drag Merrick in this at any cost. Suddenly something strikes in my head and I grab my car keys and leave the office.

"I won't be coming back. Clear my appointments and forward important emails to Steve. He'll take care of them." Ruby nods at me as I say to her, walking towards the elevators.

I stop on my way and turn to look at her. "And Ruby, keep your phone close. I might need your help."

"Sure, ma'am." She replies.

I get down and walk out of the building to get in my car. I didn't have to think much before settling on this decision. I know what I am doing but there is a high possibility that I won't get any success in it. I keep my eyes focused on the road as I drive to the bar where I discovered Jamie's dirty little secret. It's the only place where I can get any clue about where she is right now.

I start digging with the people around there when I reach the bar. I know they might think of me as the poor girlfriend trying to find out about her boyfriend's new fling, who apparently seems to be a rich cougar. What they don't know is that the rich cougar is my mother and I am looking out for her.

Luckily, one of the bartenders seems to know who that guy was. He says that they are one of their regular clientele and I try not to cringe at the thought of my mother publicly being in the arms of another man. I learn from him that he works in an insurance company and I immediately call Ruby the moment I get his name and the office where he works.

"It's Shawn Lewis. Can you just get me his personal address?" I ask her.

"I'll do. Just give me a moment." She says.

I wait as I tap on the steering wheel, feeling impatient but it isn't long before I get the location on my phone.

"Thanks, Ruby," I say to her before hanging up and hitting on the gas. I can't deal with Jamie anymore. I don't care if she is in her lover's bed right now. I am going to drag her out of there and make her talk to me.

When I reach the address, I park my car and hurry out, hoping that at least I find her in this apartment. I take the elevator to the 6th floor and ring the doorbell of the house number that Ruby sent me. As I stand there, I feel disgusted thinking, how Jamie doesn't value her marriage even a little, and it makes me feel angry even more. Moments later, a shirtless Shawn opens the door. He is the same man that I saw the other day at the bar. The weird thing is he probably looks younger from a closer look than I thought. I take in his appearance and narrow my eyes at him.

"Where is Jamie?" I ask him, crossing my arms.

"Excuse me? Who are you?" He frowns as he looks at me.

"Babe, who's at the door?" I hear Jamie's voice and I push past him immediately.

"What the hell?" He says behind me as I march into his house. A look of disbelief crosses my face when I see Jamie sitting on the couch and watching TV. She seems relaxed wearing a shirt which I can tell is that Shawn's. She stands up, looking baffled when her eyes meet mine.

"Zelina? What are you doing here?" She asks with a look of shock on her face.

"Jamie, why the fuck are you doing all this?" I ask her. "Are you waiting for me to be dead so you can stop your bullshit?"

I don't let her say anything as I glare at her. "You know what? I think you won't even let me die in peace?"

"Stop talking in riddles and tell me how did you get here?" Jamie says, crossing her arms uncomfortably. As if that's going to cover her body.

"You made Aiden sell Merrick's idea to Theodore, didn't you?" I narrow my eyes at her as I get straight to the point.

She looks at me and then shakes her head. I keep glaring at her as she lets out a frustrated sigh before looking straight. Her eyes move towards Shawn behind me as her body tenses.

She takes a step in my direction as she says, keeping her voice low. "Can we talk about this in private? I mean, I can come with you Zelina..."

"Is anyone going to tell me what's going on?" I hear Shawn ask behind me, but I ignore him.

"No...I am not going anywhere. If you want to speak the truth, then tell it right here...right now." I say, looking straight into Jamie's eyes.

She scoffs, glancing at Shawn again. I bet she doesn't like me exposing her in front of him. "You are acting like a kid. Let's just go home and I'll explain." She says.

"Jamie, don't fucking test my patience. Tell me why the fuck you do that?" I ask her, raising my tone this time.

"Because that's what is best for everyone." She yells angrily as she glares at me. "Ashton needs you back. He is crazy about you. You have no idea what you are doing by sticking to that Merrick like a fucking glue."

I watch her as she pinches the bridge of her nose. "I've warned you so many fucking times that your association with him is dangerous, but you didn't listen to me. I knew I needed to take matters into my hands. You left me with no other option." Jamie looks up at me and I see the anger in her eyes. "It was the only way I could get you away from that Addington."

She sighs before her eyes harden as she looks at me. "You need to go back to Ashton, Zelina."

I look at her and nod slowly. "I knew this. I just wanted to hear it from you." Shaking my head, I let out a humorless chuckle. "You have been using me...torturing me for so long and yet you want to push me into that dirt again?"

"Why are you so cruel?" I ask her, feeling the knot in my throat tighten. "You can't stop me now. I am done with this. I like Merrick, and I am not going to let you and Ashton play with him."

She stares at me in disbelief as I speak again. "Jamie, you think you are the only one who can mess with my life? Guess what? I can do it too."

I narrow my eyes at her before I turn around, so I can have Shawn in my vision. "Hey, you fucking dumbass. This woman is using you...She doesn't love you. She doesn't love anybody." I say to him.

"What?" He asks and the look of pure horror on Jamie's face gives me peace.

"Did she tell you that she has a paralyzed husband and I am her fucking daughter?" I say and then laugh, feeling sorry for him. "Boy, she doesn't care about us. Do you think she would give a damn about you?"

"Zelina, stop..." Jamie says, looking nervous as she reaches to stand next to Shawn. She puts her arms through his and glares at me.

"Babe, don't listen to her...I'll tell you everything." She says to him, but he is looking right into my eyes.

"The only thing that's precious to her is money. I am sure she needs some favor in claiming her insurance. That's why she is with you." I tell him. I don't care if Jamie's going to be angry at me because I am not going to let go of this sweet chance of getting my payback.

I see him staring at me with a shocked expression as I walk and stand in front of him. "It wouldn't be long before she throws you in the trash like a used toothpick," I say, hoping that he finally opens his eyes and sees the reality.

Giving Jamie one last dirty look, I make my way out of the house.