ZURI: Dinner

Life hits me like a ton of bricks more often than I care to admit. It's happening again right now.

I'm half awake with an insane headache that feels like a lifeform crawling in my brain. The intense pain brings back memories of last night's events with Lorenzo, playing out like a horror movie in my mind.

Wow... I think back to the time I met him for the first time at that fancy restaurant where he worked as a chef. The same restaurant where I had a blind date in college. I almost got a restraining order because I might have been stalking him after that day, but who cares?

The universe hates me, and the feeling is mutual.

"I really need to quit drinking." I whimper with grave embarrassment.

As I open my eyes to a totally unfamiliar hotel room, my gaze lands on the lamp table, where I see my phone, a glass of water, and a well-cut pair of pills for my hangover.

A disbelieving scoff escapes my throat. "That asshole left me here."

I take the pills without hesitation, rise to my feet, pick up my phone, and walk out of the room without searching. I don't need any more signs to know he's not here.

I guess I wouldn't stay if I were him either. Our current situation is extremely complicated.

As I step into the elevator and switch on my phone, I'm not surprised to see the missed calls from Cora, Zion, and almost a hundred more from my parents, uncle, and cousins.

But seeing the one missed call from my grandfather sends my heart racing. "Oh shit, I'm in big trouble."

I clear my throat and call him back, closing my eyes shut. He answers on the first ring, his raspy voice thick with his accent, and a hint of reprimand. "Where are you, Zuri?"

"Ah.. I.. I'm sorry, Grandpapa... I... uh..." I breathe in deeply, opening my eyes slowly. "I bumped into my ex-husband."

"Was the night filled with fireworks?" The teasing tone in his voice makes my face burn with embarrassment.

"No.." I bite down on my lower lip.

Was the night supposed to be filled with fireworks?

My grandfather's tone turns serious. "Stay away from him, Zuri. You're going to marry into the Rassias family." His sudden seriousness tells me that it wasn't my parents who brought up this idea in the first place.

I should have known.

"I'm not interested in marrying into the Rassias family, Grandpapa,"

"Angel, you know that I and your grandmother always support your interests, but it won't happen this time. Not while the opportunity to advance is available. The Van Der Meers have made this opportunity clear, and we must take it."

"Grandpapa, I—"

"You two are meeting up tonight. I've made all the arrangements. Succeed, and you will take over completely, just as you deserve."

My grip tightens on my phone, and my body sags with defeat. "Yes, Grandpapa."

The line goes dead, and I'm left staring blankly at the parting elevator doors, feeling utterly defeated.

~

LORENZO

~

"It's time for your lunch break, sir," my nerdy secretary Marco mutters, staring at the pad in his grip.

"I'm skipping," I grumble, over the forced taps of my fingers on the keyboard, expecting Marco to leave. But he just stands there, staring at me with a glum expression.

I sigh heavily and look at him with dull eyes. "What?"

"I've known you for two years, sir, and it's very clear that you skip lunch when one thing happens," he says in a robotic tone that catches my attention.

"And that is?" I ask, raising a brow at him.

"When you're stressed, sir," Marco replies.

"No kidding." I sigh out in frustration before moving my attention back to my laptop.

The whole day has been a barrage of meetings. As expected, our stocks are soaring, and reporters are swarming the building, asking where I've been for the past four years, why I faked my own death, whether I'm truly a Salvatore, and when my marriage to Alexandra will take place.

The questions are endless and frustrating, but what really catches my attention is the complete silence about Zuri and me. It's as if the whole world has forgotten that we were married.

I feel a slight throbbing in my head and run my hands through my already messy hair. Should I have waited for her to wake up? She looked so peaceful... so calm... so asleep.

I had to leave. What would we even discuss if I waited? There's nothing to talk about. We're divorced. There's nothing between us anymore.

Nothing ever existed between us.

My eyes lift to Marco, who's still staring at me. "What's on my schedule after lunch?"

"From 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, you have a Contract Negotiation Meeting with Van Der Meer Representatives, and from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM, you have a Review of Q2 Financial Projections..."

Marco's voice fades into the background as soon as I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.

I pull it out to see a message from Father.

{Father: I'm having lunch with Alexandra. She said you chased her off because of another woman last night.}

Emptiness settles in, a numbness that suffocates the air from my lungs.

{Me: So?}

{Father: It seems Alexandra loves you enough to protect this woman's name. Who is she?}

I sense the underlying threat. Father is not asking; he's demanding.

{Me: Get to the point, Father.}

The messaging dots... he's typing, and I know his response won't be pleasant.

{Father: Have dinner with Alexandra tonight. I'll set up the preparations. Hold her hand, kiss her if necessary, do whatever it takes. Don't mess this up for me, or I'll find this woman and make her disappear.}

A frown crosses my face, and I tap my shoe carefully on the floor. He's typing another message.

{Father: You know how easy that is for me, right.}

Instantly, a raw memory erupts in my mind. Roaring fire followed by the loud, pleading screams of my parents.

I shove my phone into my pocket, rising to my feet. "Enough, Marco."

"...Information regarding the new car engines..." My secretary's voice trails off, and he stares at me with wide eyes. "S... sir?"

I glare at him, snatch my suit jacket from the back of my chair and put it on while walking out. "Cancel all my appointments. I'm going to prepare for dinner."