"You know, I created that gown while imagining a conservative version of you." As they waited for Cora Ma to fit the gown, Patrizio Moretti rested his leg over the other as he glanced at Zoey.
Zoey had been his muse ever since the beginning of his designs. Thus, all dresses and gowns would fit Zoey perfectly.
"I think it will suit your sister-in-law since she has that conservative vibe." He added, arching his right brow as Zoey was oddly silent while flipping the pages of a magazine.
"Keep talking." Without averting her gaze from the magazine, Zoey muttered which caused Patrizio to narrow his eyes.
"Am I your therapist now?"
"If you stop talking, my mind will wander." Lacking interest in Patrizio Moretti's mild sarcasm, Zoey sighed.
For some reason, her mind suddenly thought of Matthew Xi. She wondered how he was holding up managing Z Image with those bunch of heretics.
Well, although Zoey was confident that he could manage on his own, she was still worried about his well-being. After all, it was Matthew Xi's first time working without her.
If only Zoey knew that Matthew Xi was not just perfectly fine, he had too much extra free time to even order Paul Qian to check her out, she wouldn't worry anymore.
"Wander, where?" Squinting his eyes, Patriots Moretti rubbed his chin as he turned his focus onto Zoey. "I smell a man..." He uttered, moving closer to Zoey as his interest was piqued.
"Is he handsome? Will you introduce me to him?" He giggled, teasing Zoey as his eye for good looks never disappointed him.
"Don't you dare," Casting him a glare, Zoey warned which made him chuckle.
"I'm mildly surprised, Z! You sound like you're finally serious this time!" Patrizio Moretti humored, returning her glare with a mischievous chuckle. However, his chuckle soon stopped when Zoey looked away with a sigh.
"Wait," In disbelief, he furrowed his brows as he nearly gasped. "Girl, don't tell me it is?!" He inquired, blinking his eyes many times as if afraid he wouldn't see Zoey's reaction much clearer.
"Girl, I don't know..." Closing the magazine, Zoey sighed as her shoulders lowered along with a faint sigh. "I think I'm going crazy before I'll know how deep I fell into this hellhole." Rubbing her face with her palm, Zoey explained in distress as this situation was pushing her to the edge.
Although Zoey knew what exactly she should do, force herself and her feelings onto Matthew Xi, she just couldn't! Zoey also found her actions disappointing, but what could she do?
Bearing almost zero feelings for Matthew Xi was easier for her than knowing she got too attached. Why? That's because despite her carefree persona, her heart was still afraid of real emotions.
After all, the people that Zoey loved, for example, her mother, her father, her biological father, Ezekiel Tang... they all betrayed her in one way or another. She didn't expect too much from them. Just a little bit of love was enough, but in the end, they left her hanging.
Therefore, more than that, she was afraid about Matthew Xi's preferences. She was terrified that once Matthew Xi confirmed that he was just using her all along or anything of the sort, she might just snap.
Zoey was afraid to take the gamble without a clear and firm resolve. If she did without thinking ahead or steeling her heart, she might never be the same again.
Not that the old Zoey would vanish, but the current Zoey would disappear. Her old self might just resurface as she healed herself, and God knows Zoey wouldn't prefer that.
"Girl..." Shaking his head, Patrizio Moretti chuckled as Zoey wasn't even trying to conceal that she's in love. How troublesome.
"Just tie him up. If a rope wouldn't suffice, use chains!" He advised, sighing as Patrizio Moretti understood where Zoey was coming from.
After all, he was confident that he knew the old Zoey before this lady before him. She might have changed, but some things would never change — that was, she's Zoey.
"You already know what you should do, why are you afraid if he leaves you? Not like he can ever escape you." He added, rolling his eyes as he threw nothing but facts. Well, Zoey was a very capable person, even if the man she was in love with ran to the ends of the world, she would find him and probably drag him to the nearest church to marry her.
"Damn it... you're not helping." Shaking her head, Zoey muttered as she sighed.
Why did all the advice she got were about forcing Matthew Xi?! Was her reputation that bad that they thought she didn't know how to respect a person's decision?!
"But I make sense, don't I?" In a matter-of-fact tone, Patrizio Moretti shrugged his shoulders as he raised his right brow at Zoey.
"Whatever, Patty. I might give him to you if this goes bad." Slowly, Zoey placed her palm onto the chair's armrest as she assisted herself up.
Following Zoey's figure with his eyes, Patrizio Moretti knitted his brows. "Where are you going?"
"Do your best with my sister-in-law, I want the best wedding gown for her." Without answering him, Zoey started walking away as she waved her hand. "Also, while you're at it, introduce her to people that might help her. I already told you their situation with that monster. Just drop her at my place later. Bye~"
"Z, where are you going?"
"Off to seduce someone." Without a bit of hesitation, Zoey sighed as she clicked her tongue. "Here goes nothing!." She murmured, rolling her eyes as she might as well play as the villain all her friends think she is than what she thought to herself.
After all, they wouldn't progress if they keep on pushing and pulling. It's tiring and Zoey just wanted to end it. Damn her if her heart might be split in half.
At the very least, Patrizio Moretti was around and she'd just ask him to party and go wild with her since Cora Ma was about to get married.. Good thing her original bestie was around to help her mend her heart IF ever there was a need to.