Why Is He Back??

A kiss of love and hatred

Zack's recovery wasn't just about regaining his physical strength; it was about reclaiming control over his empire. His days were filled with phone calls, terse meetings, and an ever-present tension that seemed to radiate off him in waves. The sweet Zack that Olivia had once known was gone, replaced by a man who was cold, distant, and far too entrenched in his mafia world.

Olivia, determined to stick to her part of the contract, tried to help him in any way she could, but every attempt was met with resistance. She quickly learned that Zack wasn't interested in her help-he didn't want her around, period.

One morning, after a particularly sharp exchange, Olivia found herself standing outside Zack's office door, a tray of breakfast in her hands. She took a deep breath and knocked lightly, hoping today might be different.

"What?" Zack's voice barked from the other side, sharp and uninviting.

"It's me. I brought you some breakfast," Olivia called out, trying to keep her tone light, but she could already sense the irritation in his voice.

"Leave it. I'm busy," came the curt reply.

Olivia's jaw clenched, frustration bubbling up inside her. She opened the door anyway, stepping into the room. Zack was seated behind his large mahogany desk, papers strewn everywhere, his phone pressed to his ear as he barked orders at someone on the other end.

"No, I said I want the shipment in by tonight, no excuses. I don't care if you have to bribe every customs officer from here to Timbuktu, get it done!" Zack snapped, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Olivia's presence.

Olivia set the tray down on a side table, trying to ignore the icy glare Zack shot her way. "You need to eat, Zack. You can't keep running on coffee and anger."

"I don't need you telling me how to run my life, Olivia," Zack growled, covering the mouthpiece of his phone for a moment. "And I don't need you here. So, if you're done playing housewife, you can go back to whatever it is you do."

Olivia's hands clenched into fists at her sides, her temper flaring. "I'm trying to help you, Zack! You're the one who's making this impossible!"

Zack turned his attention back to the phone, completely dismissing her. "Do what I said, or you'll be dealing with more than just late shipments," he threatened before hanging up and tossing the phone onto the desk.

The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words. Olivia could feel the anger radiating off Zack in waves, but she refused to back down.

"Zack, you can't keep shutting me out like this. We're supposed to be in this together-"

"Together?" Zack scoffed, cutting her off. He stood up, looming over her with a look that could freeze hell. "We're not in this together, Olivia. You're here because of a contract, nothing more. So don't pretend like you give a damn about what I'm dealing with."

"That's not fair, and you know it," Olivia shot back, her voice rising. "I care about you, Zack, whether you want to believe it or not. But you're so wrapped up in your world that you can't see that!"

Zack's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "My world is none of your concern. Stay out of it, Olivia."

Her frustration boiled over. "You're such a hypocrite, Zack! You say you want me to stay out of your world, but you dragged me back into it the moment you signed that contract. You can't have it both ways!"

Zack stepped closer, his eyes dark with anger. "Watch your tone, Liv. You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Olivia met his glare head-on, refusing to back down. "Then tell me! Stop treating me like some outsider and let me help you!"