Zoey POV

Ian walked me back to Hearts United, a goofy grin on his face the entire time.

He looked so adorable, smiling and holding my hand as we walked. Every now and then, he'd look over at me with what I could call admiration and love, making my heart flutter and causing me to blush.

After what I would say was too short of a walk for my tastes, we reached the double doors leading into my work building, both of us frowning when we had to say goodbye.

"Don't miss me too much." Ian whispered, our foreheads touching and him staring into my eyes.

"Why would I miss you?" I responded with a straight face, enjoying the shocked expression on his at my words. Giggling, I told him, "I'm kidding. Of course I'll miss you. Have fun with our dads."

I sent him a wink as I entered the building and waved goodbye.

Upon entering the building, I ran right into Dan, immediately apologizing when I realized I had.

"It's fine. Just get back up to your desk. A lot of important calls will be coming in and we need you to answer them." The Englishman spoke with a tone of anger and aggravation. "And watch where you're going."

"Okay. I'll get right up there." I replied, confused at his angry tone.

What the hell was his problem? It wasn't like I'd purposely ran into him.

Shaking my head, I walked the remaining distance over to the elevator when the last person I expected to see joined me.

Naomi Green stood, smiling cheerily next to me. She wore a simple mint green dress, matching high heels, and white jean jacket. On her wrist, she wore a golden bangle bracelet that looked oddly familiar to me, a golden choker on her neck, and golden hoop earrings that looked like a pair I had back home in my jewelry box. Her golden hair was pulled back and away from her face, held up in a messy bun with a large white hair clip. As for any makeup she wore, she had black eyeliner applied on both lids, white eyeshadow, and light blush on her cheeks. On her lips, she wore a light peach-colored lip gloss that made her lips appear plumper than they were.

"Naomi?" I asked aloud, making sure I was correct in assuming it was in fact her.

"Oh, Zoey. I didn't notice you there." She responded in mock surprise. "How have you been?"

"Um, I've been okay. What brings you here?" I answered awkwardly. "Are you being interviewed? I didn't know you had a troubled past."

Damn! Why was I being so awkward? I used to be so confident with people. Ever since I vowed to calm down when I was engaged to Dan, I've been so weak and timid.

"Oh I'm not here to be interviewed. I'm here to see my Aunt Delilah." Naomi replied with a smirk.

Aunt Delilah? Shit!

"Mrs. Greene is your aunt?" I asked in trepidation, not sure if it was a good or bad thing.

"Yep. My only aunt. We're very close." She emphasized on the word before asking, "So, what brings you here?"

"I'm the new receptionist for your aunt and Daniel Franklyn." I replied, frowning.

"Ah, that must be awkward considering you cheated on him and broke his heart."

My stomach dropped, fresh guilt consuming me.

Would I ever get over feeling terrible about what I did to the Englishman? Probably not. I was only human, after all.

"Actually it isn't that bad. He's been pretty pleasant and civil." I remarked, deciding to not let this girl make me feel bad about something I already was beating myself up over.

"Oh. Well, it is only day one. Only time can tell." She smirked again as she added, "What if he asks you to do something like, I don't know, maybe fuck him on his desk? Just to keep your job?"

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to punch the girl like I had back in the penthouse the day Ian broke up with her.

Instead, holding my head up high, I looked her straight in the eyes as I spoke.

"Even if Dan asked that of me, I wouldn't do that to Ian. I have morals against it."

"You mean like you had when you made out with Ian when he was dating me?" She raised her eyebrows and I hated to admit, I was rendered speechless.

A ding sounded as the elevator finally reached the Executive Floor and I practically ran out of it, towards the bathroom at the end of the hall, leaving Naomi standing, waiting for a response she'd never get.

I turned the faucet on in the sink, sitting my purse on the counter beside me.

Taking a deep breath, I splashed water across my face, calming my nerves down.

I didn't know why her words hit so hard, but hearing Naomi call me out on what I had done in the past really made me feel guilty.

Get ahold of yourself, Zoey! That was all in the past. You aren't that girl anymore. I yelled in my head. You never were that girl! You just were troubled. Ignore that bitch Naomi and go back out there, head held high and confidence on your face.

I sighed, drying my face with a paper towel and then grabbing my purse.

After a moment of hesitation, I pushed the door open and walked over to my desk, deciding to just get through the rest of the day.

* * *

Naomi stayed and spent time with her aunt for two hours before finally leaving.

She didn't bother me anymore after our elevator conversation, but I had a feeling it wasn't the last time I'd see her.

Finishing up the last email reply for the day, I closed out my computer and put away the last of the paperwork into the proper  filing cabinets.

As I was gathering all my things together and getting ready to leave for the day, I got a text from an unknown number.

You bitch whore! You're nothing but a fucking slut. You'll always be a cheater. Just because you finally got the dick you wanted, it doesn't mean you aren't still a cheating ho!

I texted back and asked who it was, but after five minutes of waiting, still never got a reply.

Tossing my phone into my bag angrily, I grabbed my things and stormed into the elevator, just wanting to go home and take a long bubble bath.

As I rode the elevator downstairs, the text message went through my mind over and over again and before I knew it, tears were running down my cheeks and shortly after, I was sobbing heavily.

Who could have sent the message? Why did it hurt so much when I read it? Why was I crying like a baby right now?

Adrian POV

I entered the Hearts United building around 6 o'clock and waited by the elevator in the lobby until Zoey came down.

After we said goodbye earlier, the rest of my day pretty much was spent couting down the hours before I'd be able to see her again.

It was pathetic, I know, but I couldn't help it. Zoey affected me in ways, I'd never thought possible and obsessing over seeing her again was one of them.

"Sir, may I help you?" The red head from when I dropped Zoey off this morning asked, walking towards me, seeming to finally notice after I had been standing there for nearly ten minutes.

"Oh, no. I'm waiting for my girlfriend, Zoey." I smiled, enjoying the sound of it. "She should be coming down soon."

"Oh, right. You're the guy who dropped her off this morning." The red head adjusted her glasses, cocking her hip to the side. Looking me up and down she asked, "Will you be dropping her off every morning?"

"Um, yes, I suppose." I replied, a little confused why this woman was looking at me like I was a piece of meat.

"My, my, my. If it isn't the guy who stole my girl." His familiar English accent had me spinning around and spotting Daniel Franklyn standing, in all his glory a few feet behind me.

"Hello to you too, Mr. Franklyn." I greeted, trying to maintain my anger.

"I would ask you what brings you to my office, but we both already know." He smirked, tucking his hands into his pants pockets. "So tell me, what do you think of being with her? Isn't it exhilarating?"

"I beg your pardon?" What was this guy getting at?

"You know what I'm talking about. The sex. Isn't it exhilarating?" He smiled a wild chesire grin. "How many times have you done it now? Once twice? More?"

"I don't think that's really your business." I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists at my side.

"Isn't it though? I mean, she did leave me for you. I'm just curious to know if you guys have sex as much as we did. Or are you inadequate?"

That's when I couldn't take it anymore and lunged towards the Englishman, landing a punch to his face.

Yes, it's a little barbaric of men to do, but when we're questioned of whether we're good in the bedroom or not, we tend to lash out.

That precise moment, the elevator dinged and out stepped Zoey, her face blotchy and her eyes puffy.

Before I got a chance to ask her what was wrong, she spotted Dan holding his jaw and glaring at me.

"What's going on?" She questioned aloud.

"Oh Adrian and I were just talking." Dan replied calmly, regaining his composure.

"What's wrong with your jaw?"

"Oh. I got into a little tiff with someone at the bar last night and it's choosing now to start to swell." He lied through his teeth and I wondered why.

"Hmm. . . Okay." Zoey had that look on her face that said she knew something was up, but chose to ignore it.

"Well, you have a good night." Dan remarked, heading towards the front doors. Before he exited the building, however he turned and smiled at Zoey. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Zoey. Good talking to you, Adrian."

I clenched my fists again, resisting the urge to go after the pompous jerk.

"You okay?" Zoey asked me, looking at me from under her lashes and causing most of my anger to fade.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I replied, intertwining my fingers with her's. "Ready?"

She nodded and we walked towards the door.

Over my shoulder, I looked back at the red head who saw the whole thing transpire, but now acted as if nothing ever happened as she finished typing away on something.

Shaking my head, I turned back around and left the building with Zoey.

Deep down, though, I thought back to Dan's words.

They had been harsh, but I couldn't lie and say I hadn't thought myself inadequate before.