Broken

Chapter 23: A velvet morning

please don't attack me... 🙂‍↕️

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As Brandon heads for the foyer, Zac emerges from the stairs, clad in Fatima's dark red velvet robe. The sight is enough to draw a disapproving look from Brandon. Zac, unfazed, meets Brandon's stare with a defiant one of his own.

"You better watch your back, councilman," Brandon says sharply.

"Is that a threat?" Zac steps closer, his tone cold.

Just as the tension escalates, Fatima steps between them, her frustration evident. "Stop it!" she scolds. "Brandon, you were leaving."

Brandon gives Zac one last glare before exiting, and Lana opens the door for him. As soon as Brandon is out, Fatima turns to Zac, her eyes scanning him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Are you wearing my robe? You're so unserious," she says with a chuckle.

"It's really comfortable," Zac replies, adjusting the band around his waist.

Fatima shakes her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Versace is always comfortable."

"Can I keep it?" Zac asks with a grin.

"No!" Fatima says firmly.

Zac shrugs, unperturbed. "Hungry?" he asks, his gaze shifting to her.

"Yes," she replies.

Fatima turns to Lana, who is standing nearby. "Dinner, please, Lana."

Lana nods, "What would you like?"

"Tacos," Zac says nonchalantly.

"Okay," Lana responds, turning to head towards the kitchen.

Zac looks at Fatima, a mixture of surprise and amusement on his face. "Wait! She's really about to make tacos?"

"Yes," Fatima says with a nonchalant shrug. "Lana's a culinary wizard."

Zac's disbelief turns into a smile as he shakes his head. "I'm not sure if I should be impressed or worried."

"Definitely impressed," Fatima says.

Zac raises an eyebrow, still processing the casual ease with which Fatima handles everything. "You've got a personal chef just whipping up whatever you want, huh?" he says, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Fatima shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. "Perks of the job," she replies, walking towards the living room and gesturing for Zac to follow. They settle onto the plush sofa, the tension from the earlier conversation with Brandon seemingly dissipating. Fatima leans back, crossing her legs as she watches Zac, who's still adjusting the robe.

Fatima's face went pale as the realization hit her—she needed to warn him about Denzel, but how? If Zac knew everything, he would leave—she couldn't allow that to happen. After all, she wasn't exactly innocent in all of this. If Zac learned the truth, everything between them would change. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him, right? Catching his gaze, she quickly forced a smile.

"You know," Zac begins, a mischievous glint in his eye, "if I wear this robe long enough, it's basically mine by default. That's how these things work."

Fatima chuckles, shaking her head. "Nice try," she says, smirking. "But you're not keeping it. You look ridiculous."

Zac feigns a pout, leaning closer. "I think I pull it off quite well, actually," he teases, earning a playful eye roll from Fatima. He reaches out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Besides, it's not the robe that makes me look good; it's you."