When Daphne walks out of her bedroom this morning, her squeals of shock woke me up from my slumber. I guess she has noticed all the balloons, banners and birthday pancakes. Daphne is eighteen today, and it baffles me how time has zoomed past us. I remember when I first saw her as a baby, fresh out the womb, not making a single noise. She was a good baby for our parents. Nowadays, I wish she had been the worse behaved baby for them - especially for my mother. Last week's event are still playing on my mind, but today is about Daphne, so anything related to Xavier Bright or Scarlett Jones are not important.
"Happy birthday Daphne!" I smile, hugging my not so little sister tightly.
"Thank you Zi, this is just so kind and thoughtful of you. I'm going to take a shower, and then we can eat!" She says, rushing into her bedroom. While waiting for Daphne to sort herself out, I look through the mail. Amongst the bills, there are two birthday cards for the birthday girl. I place them next to her presents that surround her breakfast. Since working at Lighthouse Industries, my income is unimaginable to someone who barely had enough money to pay rent. If I am not mistaken, this is probably Daphne's first birthday where she has more than one present to open up and enjoy. She enters the kitchen; her eyes lighting up at the sight. She claps her hands in happiness, as she takes a seat at the dining table.
"Ziayn this is truly the best birthday ever! And not because of the money or the presents, or even the place we now call home - it is because I'm with you, and that is all that matters." She tears up, taking my hand into hers. I don't hold back the tears, allowing them to fall.
"You do this every year Daph - every year you make me cry!" I laugh and she laughs too, handing me a tissue.
"Right, which present are you going to open first?" I ask her, starting to eat my own pancakes. Daphne hovers over the selection of gifts, but her hands pick up one of the two cards.
"I think I will open this." She says. As she opens the card, money falls out of it, and I instantly know who it is from.
That back stabbing, two faced, dream selling liar.
"To Daphne, happy eighteenth birthday. I have only known you for a few months or so, but you mean a lot more to me than you think. Here is a little something for you to treat yourself on your day. Xavier." Daphne's eyes widen as she reads out the card. She looks at me, and notices my facial expression is blank.
"What happened now? I thought everything was okay between you guys?" Daphne questions me, confusion written across her face. I never bothered to tell Daphne about last week and what occurred that evening while she was at her friend's house.
"It is a long story Daphne. But just push it to the back of your mind; today is about you. Forget about anyone named Xavier Bright." I smile slightly, trying to convince my sister that there is nothing to worry about, clearing away my half empty plate. Daphne does not argue back with me, staying quiet, as she puts Xavier's card to one side and carries on opening the rest of her presents. She receives a new phone from me, a dress, crafted by Joan to wear to her party tonight, and loads more gifts from the friends she has made at school. What happens between Xavier and I should not be added stress to Daphne. She is half way through her exams, and the last thing I want, is for her to take on board drama involving myself and Mr Bright.
Daphne tells me that her and Dan, are going to go out for a bit, so while she is getting ready, I pick up from where I left on the Liverpool hotel designs. Regardless of what has happened, Xavier is still my boss, and I still have to work for him. How could I be so angry with him? He is not my boyfriend, or my husband. He has no romantic attachment to me, nor I to him, but everything I think about him I go all gooey and mushy inside. But when I think of him and Scarlett in his office that day, my eyes start to well up, and my blood boils hotter than a kettle.
"How do I look?" Daphne's question pulls me away from my Xavier driven thoughts. I turn around to see her outfit. She looks so grown up and mature, I have to stop myself from crying. Daphne twirls around, a smile on her face, as she grabs her bag. She tells me she will be home in time to get ready for tonight, before leaving the apartment. Daphne does not know that I've managed to get her old school friends to come tonight for her party, and that I need to decorate the venue. I arranged for Dan to take her out, giving me enough time to do the finishing touches. It also prevents me from staying at home, crying over Xavier. I decide to get myself ready, heading into the shower, the scorching hot water makes me sleepy.
There is a knock at the door, interrupting my shower time. I roll my eyes in annoyance, has I go to answer the door, putting on my dressing gown and slippers. Carelessly, I throw open the door, instantly regretting it when I see Xavier standing in front of me.
"No no no. We are not doing this today Xavi-" His lips interrupt me as they crash into mine without a warning. I could not stop myself from falling into his little trap, my hands traveling through his hair while his hands respectfully roam my body. As much as I despise him for what he did, there was nothing I wanted more than this. Once my senses return, I pull away from him.
"You don't get to do that. You don't get to just knock on my apartment door and kiss me! It doesn't make me forgive you-" I stop myself. Why would I need to forgive him?
"That's the first time you've called this apartment yours." Xavier smirks. I narrow my eyes at him, as he changes the conversation topic.
"What do you want?" I sigh, moving from the door frame, allowing him to come in.
"To apologise - even though I know that I can't apologise enough. I should not of lied to you about Scarlett, but I need you to know that I don't care about her like the way I care about you Ziayn and I mean that." Xavier tells me, honesty in his eyes. The sincerity in his voice almost makes me cave as I stare longingly into his eyes.
"How can I be so sure? You told me that we were taking things slow and next thing you know, you are getting it on with Scarlett of all people!" I scoff, walking towards my room to get dressed. Xavier follows behind me. I enter my room, and slam the door in his face.
"Ziayn, I am serious about us. I am serious about being completely finished with Scarlett. In a months time she will be dropped by the company. And I am guaranteed of that because I will be the one letting her go seeing as it is my business." He continues to speak on the other side of my bedroom door while I got ready.
"Why in a months time? Why not tomorrow?" I ask, slipping on my favourite tartan trousers. I then put on a red lacy bodysuit to match the red and black print. The bodysuit was most definitely revealing, but I don't care. Xavier can just be tortured, looking at what he can't have, even though I want him to have it - me! As desperate as it sounds, I just want to give everything up to him - show all my cards and give my all to him. He does this to me, and I despise it; how does he do it? How does he get every hair on my body to stand to attention just by a touch? How does he make my knees go weak, just by the sound of his voice? How does he make it so easy to forgive him, even when I know I shouldn't? I must be going insane. I have to be going insane.
"Because I need her to get the finances ready for all the departments that are working on these new hotels before she goes." He says bluntly. Of course it is all about money for this guy. As he finishes his sentence, I open my bedroom door to reveal myself fully dressed and ready to go. Xavier's mouth drops open, drool practically falling from his lips. The sight was hilarious.
"Are you going to keep staring at me, or are you coming to help set up Daphne's party?" I grab Xavier's attention, grabbing my coat and bag. Xavier composes himself, and follows behind.
"You are playing a game you know you won't win Miss Xu." Xavier whispers seductively from behind. I smirk as I turn on my heel, my smirk disappears as I face him.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Mr Bright."
YOU ARE READING
Don't Hurt Me
Romance"If this is just a game to you then leave!" "This is no game baby girl. This is the real deal." Ziayn Xu is a twenty two year old woman who has been looking after herself and her little sister ever since they were left outside an orphanage by their...
