FIRST PHONE CALL

WHEN SHE WAS a little young girl, Zoe always wished to have someone in her life that will love her unconditionally until they turned grey.

Someone who would stay with her through thick and thin.

Someone who would respect her and value her like all the precious gems in the world.

It doesn't matter what he posses in life, as long he has genuine love for her.

But love isn't easy. Heartaches were always there.

She once had a lover way back in her highschool days. She was young and naive that she thought he was the one.

She was warned by her Mom and Dad.

"Be careful with the boys."

She didn't listen.

Zeke gave her a cold shoulder, telling her to break up with the guy.

She didn't want to.

But on her birthday, she found out something that broke her heart. Her lover was after her money but not her as a person.

She was a generous one, giving him gifts, taking him out of towns for dates, lending him some of her savings. She thought love isn't selfish so she's giving all she could.

"If I can't have your body, then I'll enjoy your money."

That was the first time she slapped someone in the face. She was aggravated knowing that his intentions is not just money but something more important to her, dignity as a lady.

She went home crying and she thought that Dad, Mom and Zeke will tell her that what she get for not listening but they embraced and comforted her, telling that her heart will heal in no time.

The wealth that she gave to the wrong person doesn't matter. It was her time and love that was wasted. She could have given it to her family instead or save for the right one.

Since then, she stayed away from having relationships. Whenever some guy wanted to pursue her, she let Dad and Zeke handle it.

Of course, the two chased them all away.

She focused more on herself, her family and her studies. She was nothing but happy.

But not until she saw Hans, something inside her sparked and her heart beat uncontrollably.

She wanted him, come hell or high water!

That time, she didn't mind being hurt again.

"Thanks, Aunt Dhalia."

Zoe ended the call and grinned while saving the number Dhalia has forwarded.

She can't believe she had no contact number of Hans so she asked Aunt Dhalia for it.

To: HUBBY

Howdy hubby! We're flying to Hawaii now. Take care always. Btw, this is your lovely wife!

Zoe giggled as she hit the send button. She just went all out, there's no turning back.

"You look like a crazy woman," Fern commented.

"You know I am. Crazy in love with someone," Zoe sighed and looked out of the window of the private plane they are on.

She can see from above the scenery below and it was always breathtaking. They were on board to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Fashion Week.

She was invited by a famous clothing brand and she can't be more excited to be on the runway again, wearing another masterpiece.

"Cindy just texted me that she's back at Hawaii."

"Oh great! Let's meet her later!" Zoe exclaimed excitedly.

Fern groaned, "Arghh, I just want to have a beauty rest."

"Come on, let's meet out friend, she's a very busy woman."

"Fine, fine. For now, let's take this time to sleep. We still have hours to reach our destination."

Fern already positioned himself on the small bed of the private plane and took a nap while Zoe remained sitting while watching the earth below them.

She opened her phone but there's no reply from Hans. What did she expect from a busy man?

Zoe closed her eyes and took a rest in their flight.

***

From: Zoe Quinn

Howdy hubby! We're flying to Hawaii now. Take care always. Btw, this is your lovely wife!

Hans received a message from the woman he had never seen since Monday morning. Their last encounter was when he dropped her off to her manager's residence and they went on with their separate personal businesses.

He had been accompanying Axel in his meetings, press cons and events that they were invited.

He should be there as his butler.

Hans read the message again and typed some few words but decided to erase it and kept the phone back to his pocket.

"You seemed to hate the sender of the message," a coquettish voice whispered beside him.

Hans ignored it and listened to the discussion of some leaders sitting around the semi-circle table. Axel, the mayor of San Antonio, Texas was invited to attend a meeting at Hawaii to talk about some trade of local products between each cities and about accepting some potential investments.

"You know, I like Texan people. Why don't we hangout sometime in Texas? And I learned how to be a cowgirl, I can always show it to you."

It was the secretary of a city mayor in Northern states who kept on bothering and whispering beside him.

They were seated at the back while the leaders have their meeting.

Hans knew the woman was flirting with him so he coldly spoke without looking at the woman, "I am a married man."

The woman seemed not to care, "Oh, it's fine. No one will know."

She lifted her hand and tried to put it on Hans' lap but the latter grabbed her wrist tightly.

"I. HAVE. A. WIFE."

Hans said each words in a low but firm voice while gripping the woman's wrist so tight.

The woman was terrified and struggled to take back her wrist, but her strength is nothing compared to Hans.

"I apologize." She said as she felt the grip on her wrist tightened even more and the pain increased.

Hans let go of her hand and stood up, quietly walking out of the conference room.

Axel could handle himself in there.

He needs to get out before he lost his patience with that woman. He was so annoyed that she disrespected him.

Unlike some other married people, he wouldn't cheat at his partner.

His hand subconsciously fished out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

Calling Zoe Quinn...

Sunday night, he asked Aunt Dhalia for her number.

The call ended but no one answered and he was directed to the voice message. Hans is getting irritated. Her last text wasn't even hours ago. How come she couldn't answer her phone immediately?

Then a surge of worry rose to his chest.

'She didn't get into an accident, right?'

Hans dialed Zoe's number again and after one ring it was answered. He felt relieved when he heard Zoe's voice on the other line.

"Sorry! I fell asleep, hubby!"

"Don't call me that. It's annoying."

It's annoying because it sounded nice with her voice.

"You're so mean hubby. Oh! It's our first phone call!"

"Where are you now?"

"I'm on the plane, hubby."

"The specific location."

"Ehh, I don't really know! All I see from here is all blue," Zoe gasped on the other line, "Woah, there's no cloud to be seen and it looks like the sky and ocean are one. You need to see this, hubby."

Hans sighed, did he married a child?

"How long were you on flight?"

"I reckon at least an hour."

"I see. You still have more or less six hours until you land here."

"That's surely a long trip," she sounded so tired, "Hold on a second, you mean you are also there? At Hawaii?"

"Mhmm."

"Wow! It might destiny!"

Hans remained silent so Zoe asked, "Are you busy tomorrow, hubby?"

"Yes."

"Oh okay."

He heard the sadness in her voice.

"We're invited to watch a runway show," Hans said while leaning back on the wall.

"Really?! I was also invited. And guess what, I will walk in that runway!" Zoe on the other line was so excited.

"That's your job."

Zoe laughed, "Haha, right!"

"What's the theme of the show?" Hans asked and he also didn't know why he asked that question.

"It's spring summer theme."

Spring summer theme? Does that mean the clothes are thinner and showing more skin than usual?

"Mhmm. Okay."

"I didn't know you were also interested in fashion, hubby!"

'I'm not interested at all.'

Hans saw the door of the conference room opened. The meeting was already concluded.

"I need to hang up now."

"Bye hubby! Thanks for calling."

Hans ended the call and he heard Zoe said a thing but he didn't clearly get it.

"You really missed her that you ended up calling her while on meeting, huh?" Axel chuckled, tapping his shoulder.

"I was bored inside and someone's annoying me there."

"Oh, that secretary? I was also distracted listening to the two of you. And I heard something about cowgirl?"

"Funny that you really tried to listen to us than participating in the meeting."

"I can multi-task."

They were about to leave the place when someone called Axel.

"Mr. Giovanna! Please reconsider our proposal."

A fat old man approached them and the woman who annoyed Hans earlier was following behind with her head lowered.

'Good that she learned her lesson,' Hans thought.

"I see no reason to accept your proposal. It clearly doesn't benefit my people, only harm them in the long run. After all, they were the most important for me as a mayor," Axel explained with a polite smile.

"You haven't heard the full details yet. Since I didn't see a secretary of yours, why don't you bring mine and talked about it privately?" The fat mayor motioned her secretary which the latter only gave a small bow since she was still afraid of Hans.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time for that because we still have matters to attend to. And my secretary is right here," Axel pointed Hans, "he can basically do every role. He's a a butler, a secretary, a bodyguard, a driver and the list goes on. He's very efficient. Now, if you'll excuse us."

The two of them gave a small bow before walking away, leaving the disappointed and frustrated mayor from the north.

"He's been offering you that proposal since last year," Hans said as they entered the elevator.

"He just won't give up. He's very persistent to build a casino in San Antonio."

"I am sure NightCrawler is behind this business."

Axel nodded, "They're trying to widen their business so they can operate in every city. Let's just leave it to the North Twilight to solve this."

"Yeah."

They dropped the topic as soon as they went out of the elevator. Talking about it in an open space is risky.

"Where to?" Hans asked as they were already on the car.

"Hotel! I just want to FaceTime my babies."

"Right, you miss your babies."

And they drove back to hotel.