While the kitchen prepared for Zach and Xavier's meals, Xavier walked up to his brother's room. He knocked twice before walking in. Zach was currently sitting on his bed in fresh home clothes consisting of sweats and a shirt while his hair was still damp from a shower.
,m He had on his reading glasses as he looked at his tablet. Xavier walked in and went straight to the lounge before settling on a sofa. He loosened his tie and took off his jacket.
"So", he started as he stood to get himself a drink. "Don't you have something to tell me?"
"What?" Zach responded without looking up.
He was able to entertain his brother because Amy said she had gone off to cook. So while waiting for dinner, he would get some work done. If only he knew how to cook, he would be in the kitchen himself so it would feel like they were doing things together although apart. He sighed at his shortcomings.
"You and sister-in-law! When did you two start dating? How could you hide something like that from me? I should have known something was up when that gloomy expression suddenly disappeared from your face! So how long has this been going on?"
Zach stopped and his brows Rose in amusement. "Dating?"
"Still acting oblivious? If things have progressed to this point, why don't you bring her home already?"
Zach fell quiet. Things were not as easy as it seemed. He feared that should he so much as ask her where she is or give her a clue that he's looking for her, she would disappear again. He knew she was trying to keep her distance in the name of keeping him safe from God knows what. So he would play it by the ear while looking for her. But the day he finds her...
"Well?" Xavier probed. He was now seated on the sofa sipping on some Captain Morgan.
"It's not that simple", Zach responded.
"What do you mean? All you need to do is ask her where she is, assure her she'll be safe with you, I'm sure she knows this already, and you'll have her with you and help her face whatever problem she's facing. Simple", Xavier shrugged. He really didn't know why his brother wanted to take the difficult route.
Zach chuckled when he heard his brother. If Amy was not who she is, he would have had her by his side. But this is a woman capable of taking down a whole corporation! Whoever is after her surely is not so simple and she wouldn't deliberately put him or anyone associated with her in danger.
He saw this from the way she saved her assistant Dylan. And even if he asks, she would never tell him who is after her or simply agree to come to him at present time. He was already grateful she wasn't fully resisting his advances. However, when he finds her...
"Great things don't come that easily, Xav."
Xavier sighed. His brother was really pitiful. A knock was heard from the door.
"Sir, your dinner is ready", Edmund announced.
"We'll be right there!" Xavier responded a little too happily. The pleasant aromas had tickled his taste buds when he had arrived earlier.
Zach's brows knitted together when he heard this. "Did your house burn down?"
"No, why?" Xavier was buffled as he followed his brother out of the room.
"Why are you having dinner here? We can't afford to run out of food", Zach grumbled.
Xavier choked on his saliva and he looked at his brother with a hurt expression. Why was his brother being mean? Is it because he asked about Amy that he was verbally attacking him?
Edmund, however, felt Zach was being a hypocrite. This was the same man who knew the kitchen followed a schedule and would have dinner ready by the time he's back from work but actually gave a different order for no particular reason.
"Do you have something to say Edmund?" Zach arched a perfect brow.
Edmund gasped when he realized he had been caught scowling at his boss. He awkwardly cleared his throat and looked down. "No, sir."
Xavier remained stubborn and accompanied his brother for dinner. Their meal was served with white wine which went well with the chicken dish. To further annoy his lonely brother, he decided to sleep over. Zach was already annoyed by his brother's intrusion on his distant date with Amy, so he didn't say anything when Xavier decided to stay the night. Zach went to his room after dinner and locked himself in. It was time for his late night chat with his lady and he could not afford any interruptions.
Amy had just concluded her night routine and finally got under the warmth of the covers. She suddenly felt nervous about writing to Zach. But if she didn't, he would. Their conversation was inevitable. She hadn't managed to come up with probable reasons to shoot down his advance. Her phone chimed and she knew it was him. She took a huge breath before opening his email.
***.com: Not done yet?
***.com: Just got in bed. I was about to write to you.
Zach chuckled when he saw this. He could guess that she was dreading to bring up their earlier conversation before she went to cook so he decided to twist it up.
***.com: I take back what I said about taking responsibility for my heart.
Amy's heart dropped when she saw this. She immediately sat up and re-read the message. 'Is he changing his mind? What does this mean?' Her heart started racing uncontrollably and she felt an unpleasant twist in her stomach. But shouldn't she be happy about this? This is what she had been aiming for, right? Had she pushed him away enough he had suddenly lost interest in her? Why the hell is she not happy about this? She had a million questions but she narrowed down to one.
***.com: Why?
Zach smiled when he saw this. He took his sweet time composing a reply. He needed to make sure it was perfect. He had no idea his actions triggered anxiousness in Amy. She hugged her pillow and constantly checked her inbox. She started to wonder if he had stopped writing to her altogether.
'Should I say something else?' she picked up her phone. She had no idea what to write but she was going to say something. Her phone chimed all of a sudden. Amy gasped when she saw the reply.
***.com: I would say I'm giving you my heart but you already have it. You've had it from the moment we met. So you can do whatever pleases you with it, I won't change. Nothing can change how I feel about you Amy. That's a promise.
As she read the message, she felt her eyes sting with tears. The hot droplets fell down her cheeks and she started to sob in the quiet night. She was not sure if it was the hormones or Zach's words had really touched her. Whilst crying, she composed a reply.
***.com: How can I be irresponsible with it when you're like this?
Zach smiled when he saw her message. He closed his eyes and wished she was there in person. He would have held her in his arms and kissed her to properly express his intense emotions. Little did he know, Amy wished for the same thing. The two never hated their situation as much as that moment where they truly yearned for each other.