Flawless // z.m

Twenty.

Arabelle's POV

I've always been sort of a free spirit. My family never dictated my life, nor did they ever try to steer me into what they wanted. From a very early age, I was on my own--but not in a bad way.

I was free to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes. Things as simple as picking out my own clothes in preschool and packing my own snack, to much bigger things like university and work, I've always had control over my life.

I also never had a sibling to boss me around, or for me to boss around. I was always allowed to be myself and do the things I wanted without anyone interfering. Of course, my parents put in their two cents every once in a while, but never so much so that it was overbearing.

So as Zayn stood there, telling me that I needed to this and I needed to do that, I couldn't help but let the anger resonate in me. It was different when we were at work, because he was my boss, but when we were outside of the office and he was telling me how to live my life, I had a problem with it.

"You'll have to tell your parents too, I guess. But we'll do that together. I think you sho--"

"Zayn," I stated harshly, for what seemed like the fifth time. He finally looked up from his computer and hummed at me. His eyebrows furrowed in concern when he saw my expression.

"What? What's wrong?" He immediately leapt up from his chair and raced to my side.

"Zayn..." I started, feeling guilty for what I was about to tell him. "I know how much you want to go on this trip, but I really can't." Disappointment instantly flooded his features, and I couldn't bear to see the way his bright eyes dulled.

"What do you mean?" He frowned, his hand reaching up to cup my chin. "I planned everything out." He gestured behind him to his at home office, where papers were messily sprawled all over his desk.

"I know. But I can't just take a whole week off."

"But I'm--"

"The boss, I know. But I still have school, and I need the money Zayn. I want to pay my parents back for the apartment, and I can't do that if I'm taking a week off."

"I'll still pay you," he mumbled weakly and I shook my head.

"Then I'd be taking advantage of you." I wrapped my arms around Zayn's neck and stood on my tip toes to reach his lips. "I'm sorry." I gave him a quick kiss and he sighed when I pulled away.

"I think I liked it better when you just did whatever I said without question."

"Oh really? You liked it better when I could barely get a sentence out?" Zayn's arms wrapped around my waist loosely and a slow grin lit his faces as I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"It was cute."

"Right." I rolled my eyes playfully, "that's why you looked like you wanted to have me escorted out of your office every day." The smile instantly fell off his lips and my chest tugged at the sight of the frown that replaced it.

"I didn't mean that," he shook his head vigorously and tightened his arms around me, like the next words would cause me to slip away. "I was just... I was trying to distance myself from you."

This time I frowned, "why? Was I that bad?"

"No! I just didn't think I could control myself around you." He bit his lip as I stared at him in speculation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I narrowed my eyes at him and pushed back into his hands that were tightly clasped around me, keeping me locked into place. Zayn's eyes swam in apprehension and he continued shaking his head. "You hated me that much that you thought I'd set you off? Is that what that was? What did I even do to you? Why were you always so cruel?"