LOVE AND IT CIRCLE

Chapter sixteen

Zach•
"I was uhm...you know taking pictures of the garden."She said.
"I'm not asking what are you doing in the garden, I'm asking what are you doing in my estate?"I explained to her .

T

he unexpected appearance of this mysterious woman - my eyes fixed on her, not a single flicker of movement - left me with more questions than answers. Just a day ago, I was thinking about her, and now she stood before me, clad in a maid's uniform.

The last time we crossed paths, she was a model under my employ and a rising star in the industry. Yet, here she stood again, despite what I had done to her. I had locked her in my estate for days and separated her from her cousin, so what brought her back?A hidden emotion was stirring deep within, making me question my feelings why was I feeling this way?

I'd been in love with Amelia for a long time, but now, with Gabriel standing before me, I was struck by an unfamiliar flutter in my chest.
"Duh! I work here, I'm working for you."
"Why me?"
She simply rolled her eyes at me ,her face didn't hide her annoyance at my questions but then again, I was surprised to her here. I'm not angry or upset that she was here, maybe it was because of the strange feeling I was dealing with right now.
"Why not you idiot?" Did she just called me an idiot?
"Ohh idiot? Really?"

She gave a heavy sigh,"Zach I didn't do these by purpose i was chosen to be here I swear I can't stand your presence even your eyes." She said, worse really hate me that much.

That hurt.

"Anyway I expected that it's not like I wanted you to fall inlove with me." She rolled her eyes again. "Mrs Amelia told me that you always asked about me, maybe you're the one who is inlove with me." When she said those words something in me kind of agreed with her, but what is it?

"I only asked because I didn't want to go to jail for stupid things."I defended myself.
"I wasn't going to do that."
"And why not? You already did it before."
"Why should you know?"

"Why am I even arguing with you, you don't fit to be in my standards for qn argument. "
As I leave her be , she was shocked at my comment leaving her mouth wide open as I left her side.

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Could it be love? No, it couldn't be-I loved Amelia. But why was I suddenly feeling this way about Gabriel?I had been secluded in my room for hours, doing my best to avoid any interaction with Gabriel, though it was no easy feat. As I peeked through the balcony window, our eyes unexpectedly met and she waved a friendly hand at me, before resuming her sweeping.

S

he was smiling at me enjoying all the torture I was putting into myself.

I chastised myself for my lingering gaze at Gabriel.

As I began to turn away from the window, I was met with the welcome sight of Amelia entering the room, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of her.

A

s I waited impatiently for Amelia to arrive, I reminded myself of my deep love for her, assuring myself that Gabriel was just a passing distraction. I felt a pang of something, perhaps disappointment, as I glanced out the window to find Gabriel no longer there. Yet, I pushed the thought aside, reassuring myself that it was only Amelia I missed.

As I began to turn away from the window, I was met with the welcome sight of Amelia entering the room, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of her.With a fierce longing, I wanted to feel the warmth of Amelia's body against mine once more. I held her close, my lips pressing against her neck and lips as if I could capture the moment forever.

Gazing deeply into her eyes, I felt a sudden fear of losing her all over again, and the need to express my love in the only way I knew how. Picking her up in my arms, I carried her to the bed, gently setting her down. I came on top of her, my lips trailing down her neck as I left hickeys in my wake.
Closing my eyes wasn't going to help me since it only put me back to Gabriel's image.

"Amelia."

"What?"

"I want to ask you something."

"Sure."
We sat both upright as she waited for me to say.
I held her hand as I looked at her eyes ,"have you thought about re-marrying?"
"What? re-marrying after everything? Zach that's too soon don't you think?" She smiled but yet her tone was so serious.
"I know and I have thought about it too, it's just that I can't lose you again this time."

I wasn't sure of what she was thinking about but from her reaction I think she wasn't going to agree.

"Zach I don't know, I don't think it's going to work." She shook her head as a "No."
"Why not? Are you not inlove with me?cause I am and I never stopped loving you." I said , I was pissed but I managed to calm my tone at her.

"Zach, I don't know okay and yes I do love you but..."

"But what?"

The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the sound of her ragged breathing and the quiet pattering of tears. I couldn't help but wonder why she was reacting this way. I knew that the past was still a sensitive subject for us, a part of our history that I wasn't ready to revisit. It reminded me of that letter, and I found myself questioning the sincerity of her words. Did she really mean everything she had said, or was there something else holding her back from marrying me again?

The thought of her potential involvement with that old man, Raffael, plagued my mind.

"But first, I have something to tell you."

Amelia's reaction was exactly what I had anticipated, as she appeared to be caught off guard by my sudden disclosure. I had never intended to reveal my darkest secret at this moment, but the weight of my secret had become too much to bear alone.
"Tell me , what is it?"
"Well two ago when we fought..."
My mouth opened to speak the words I had kept hidden for so long, when a sudden knock on the door interrupted my confession.

The intrusion of a maid brought us to the balcony, where a familiar yet unwelcome sight greeted us. There, stood an old white-haired man, lean in build, donning an expensive grey suit.
"What are you here in my house?" I said with an unwelcome tone, people like him didn't mind.
"Is that how you welcome your guests?"
"Pshh!"I sigh in irritation,
Amelia's reaction to the stranger was one of indifference, leading me to believe that there was no connection between the two. This notion brought me a sense of relief as I felt my confidence surge.

However, my elation was short-lived as I watched Almanzer approach the unwelcome visitor, dressed in a striking red ensemble that sharply contrasted her usual work uniform. The sight of the pair sent a wave of pain through me as I realized I had been deceived, my trust in Almanzer shattered.

"As you can see I've already taken the other one, now I'm here to take my wife."
My amused chuckle at his outrageous claim of Amelia as his wife was cut short as the stranger fixed me with a murderous glare. "Amelia darling let's go home." He said, His two henchmen advanced towards Amelia, but my loyal guards were quick to intervene, shielding her with their own bodies.
"She is not coming with you."My voice became hard.

The old man rose from his seat, fixing Amelia with a stare that radiated pure malice. As I stood by her side, the fear and nerves radiating from her were palpable as she clung to my hand with a trembling grip.
"Yes, she is coming with me."

"No I'm not."Amelia spoke up to him,although I sensed fear she was afraid of him.
"You will, you just don't know yet."

As the menacing group departed, Almanzer cast a chilling, knowing smile in my direction. "You're such a fool." She then looked at Amelia's side and said,"You think you that smart but I am, you going to regret these."

Amelia's relief at their departure was palpable, her body shaking with lingering fear. Questions swirled through my mind-why had they come here, and what was Almanzer's role in all of this? A plan had been set in motion, but I was determined to uncover its purpose and end the threat once and for all.

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