I was trying to get some work done. My collection will soon be complete. I was giving the dresses made a little descriptive title of its own now, I tapped next on my Laptop to see a dress with fur for the neck. It reminds me of Russia. Russia reminds me of Zach.
I sighed and looked up from my Laptop. I watch his back and shoulder muscles flex as he typed away on his PC, "Are you gonna stay long?" He immediately stops typing and turns himself to me in his chair.
He had on glasses but his shirt, nowhere to be seen, giving my eyes VIP access to his broad chest, slim torso and abs. His hair packed half way up wasn't helping.
"Just two days" he sighed."You'll miss me" he said more as a sure statement than a question.
Well, duh! I don't want to be in this room alone.
"Nah. Just asking" I turned my focus back to my Laptop then started to hear shifts, I dart my eyes back up to see him already towering over me.
Looking straight was dangerous. I would be looking at his torso wrapped in Calvin Klein with the second layer called red and black plaid Pajama pants.
So, I looked back down at my laptop. Too shy to look at him anywhere.
Suddenly, I felt a finger under my chin, gently pull my face up to meet a familiar greys through transparent glasses. He bent down and placed a lasting kiss on my lips, catching me off guard. "Let's try that again." I gulped while he kept eye contact, "You'll miss Me"
Dude, are you asking a question or stating facts.
I only nodded my head.
"Words, Mia Luna"
"Y-yes"
He smiled in satisfaction.
Took his hands and walked back to his desk and sat.
What was that?
That, was intense.
"Why?"
"Why, what?" He acted clueless.
"Why get up from your desk to ask...tell..."I got confused and raked my fingers through my hair.
Did he tell or ask me that question?
"Cause I can"
Okay, two can play that game.
I carried my laptop and placed it to the side to get up from the bed.
"You know you also didn't write it in the contract that I'd be marrying two people" I said walking towards him.
He frowned and raised a brow. "Meaning?"
I bent to his level on the chair, "Hi, Zach" I then reached forward to grab his glasses from the ends, snatching it from his face. "Hi, Valentino"
He smiled and that somehow turned into a smirk before pulling me down on his lap errupting a squeal from me.
"Make that three. Hi, perv"
"Only for you, Mia Luna" He wrapped his arms around me, trapping me on his lap as he rested his face on my shoulder. "Can we sleep now? I'm tired"
He switched off his PC with one hand and resumed to keep me prisoner. "Zach? Wants to sleep? No way" I sassed and he chuckled.
"Been a long day" he responded."Spooning you is what I look forward to really"
I blushed a bit at that, "At least the nightmares are gone" I take my hands through his silky hair.
"Majorly"
"Finally"
"I'll gladly have them back if it means you'll be more worried about me" I hear and I immediately smack him on the shoulder.
"Shut up"
He chuckled, "I'm pretty sure I will have them back tomorrow"
I melted in his arms, playing with the strands of his black and white hair."You'll be fine"
"In sha Allah"
"So" I trailed off my hands still in his hair. "we are gonna sleep on the chair?"
Suddenly, he stands up, lifting me with him and carrying me to the bed.
He places me down gently. I sigh, putting my hands under my head for support while he removed my laptop and keeps it on the bed-side table.
I wondered what tomorrow will be like.
"So I'm guessing your reaction when you see your father will be like..." I removed a hand from under my head and place it on my chest with an overly-dramatic gasp while the bed dips beside me and I hear Zach chuckle.
"Maybe" he shrugged and tapped the space closer to him. I rolled over to his side and kept my head on his outstretched arm.
"We should sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be weird"
He sighed."True"
*
My eyes slowly peered open. I checked the time on the bed-side table.
7:15? No way!
I looked to my side to find a ruffled sheet. Zach's already up. Expected.
I stand up from the bed and make a bee-line for the closet. Being the lovely wife I am. I help him pick out a suit.
Black? Too formal.
Brown? Too...brown
Navy blue? Hmm?
I walk over to the coat section of the closet. I pick out a black coat.
I hold out the navy blue suit and the coat. The blue's dark enough to go with it.
I hang that on my arm and get to the watches and rings. I picked out a silver watch to go and 4 black rings. Two on one and two on the other.
I turned around once I was satisfied with my pick to find Zach staring at me while leaning on the door frame of the entrance.
My palm flew to my chest,"Subhanallah! You scared me!"
"I didn't mean to, Mia Luna"
I glared at him while his smile only intensified as he started towards me. I also didn't realize he was half naked with a towel wrapped around his torso, revealing his to-die-for physique and tattoos.
I can't mention it enough.
I looked everywhere but him as he stopped before me,"What have you chosen?"
"Just a little uhh something" I stretched it out for him to grab, which he dutifully did while I make an attempt to escape.
"Where are you going?"
I halt in my tracks as I realize I might never get over Zach's body, no matter how much I've seen it...or maybe I can but not anytime soon.
I turn around,"I also need to get ready for work"
He smiles but I knew there was something behind that smile when he said,"Valid excuse" with a nod.
I nod back and with an urgency known to man, I walk out and realize I needed to cool off with a shower.
Zachariah's POV
I was on a phone call with Ivan when she came bursting into the room.
"I forgot I had my clothes here..." She finally looked up at me,"And why are you not dressed yet?" She looked at me bewildered.
"We'll talk later" I tell Ivan and hang up.
"Cause, somethings wrong with my shirt" I quickly say pointing to the shirt on me.
She knits her brows together in confusion as she walks up to me,"Isn't this supposed to be designer, VS" she makes air quotes around the 'designer' before making her way up and down my shirt.
It takes some seconds for her to realize,"This shirt is fine, nothing's wrong with it"
"Nothing can be right about the shirt until you button it up for me." She looks up at me and smacks her forehead. "What?" I ask her, looking at her reddened face. Her reaction's cute.
"You are..." She raised her hand and squished it to a fist while a squeal of annoyance made its way out of her throat, looking at me like she was pondering the many ways she'll kill me,"You'll be late" she simply says and walks past me. I catch her hand and pull her back.
"You've done this before on your own accord. Why get shy now?" I stare deep into her honey pools which immediately squints once I finish my sentence.
"Fine" she starts to do the button and I smile in satisfaction.
"Remind me not to pick out clothes for you" she gives a forced smile but I just watch as she secretly enjoys it.
Something as easy as her helping with my button was enough to put a smile on my face. I loved that.
Once she was done. She walks to the bed to get my coat while I tuck in and zip up my pants.
She helps with my coat too and then drags me over to the bed."Might as well style your hair too" she murmurs as I sit on the bed and hug her to me while she starts on my hair. I could see goosebumps on the skin of her lap.
That made me smile all the more.
Once she's done. She claps her hand and raises my face up to meet hers. She grins, and I smile back to her,"Perfect"
We both head down the stairs once she's done dressing.
"He has awoken" Sienna announces as she sees us descend the stairs.
"Alhamdulillah!" My wife breaths a sigh of relief as she picks up the pace to get to Ryan faster.
"How many hands am I holding up?" She questions him the first chance she gets.
"4" Ryan's voice was laced with confusion.
"Welcome back!" She cheered."So I gotta go now. We have questions for you later. So rest" she gave a toothy smile and then looked up at me.
"Shall we?" She asked.
"We shall" I responded.
"BTW. Y'all look good" Sienna complimented.
Eshaal smiled,"I know right" they both chuckle and we made our way out.
****
Just boarded the jet and I already missed her.
I've been away from her before but this distance was taking a toll on me. Also, cause I was probably going to meet my father again.
I didn't know what to expect, it was all too sudden. I wish Eshaal was here to smile at me and tell me to 'Man up!, cause everything's gonna be okay'.
I smiled to myself as I imagined her saying all that with her eyes widening and slight freckles all over her face.
I picked up my phone lying on the chair of the airplane, intentions to call her. I realized she might be busy at work. I didn't want to be a distraction again.
"Boss?" I turned to the owner of the voice, "have you even been listening?" Ivan squinted.
"No" I answered with a sigh. Suddenly getting frustrated by his voice and face.
"Zdravstvuyte, ser.( Hello, sir)" I squeezed my eyes shut in abstract frustration. There went another voice that wasn't Eshaal's. "Chto by ty khotel vypi...(What would you lik..."
"Zatknis(Shut the f*ck up)" I opened my eyes as everywhere became dead silent. I simply turned to the hostess, who was too stunned to speak. "Teper' ukhodi (Now, walk away)"
She swallowed and looked between both Ivan and I. I think she was contemplating following my instructions or maybe she thought I was testing her. I'll do the honors,"Vy glukhi?(Are you deaf?)"
That did it and she scurried away. I rolled my eyes. I was tired of this already,"Uhh, As a friend now. Is everything...alright?"
I dropped my head between my shoulders, the voices were headaches."That goes for you too, Ivan"
"What?"
I didn't need to repeat myself before he too left for another seat far away from me in the jet.
I rested my head back on the head rest and looked out the window. 'The clouds are beautiful' something Eshaal would say if she wasn't so afraid of heights. The corner of my lips twitched.
The beauty reminded me of Eshaal. Eshaal reminded me of Allah. I started to say my Duas. Just the ones I knew.
'Everything will be fine, Trust Allah' I heard her voice in my head.
****
I was working my butt off but my hands itches to pick up my phone to call him but I swore to never touch it till I'm back home.
Unless he calls.
I've glanced at my phone for the 26th time in just...i glanced at the watch on my wrist..."Oh wow, 20 minutes" I suddenly realised I haven't left the office and gave just been going back and forth with the color of material to be used for a design and my phone for the past 20 MINUTES!
Help me!
Why hasn't he called!
He said he'd miss me. That liar!
He's probably relishing in the Eshaal free plane with those air hostesses.
Tch! Men!
My feminist side kicked in.
I rolled my eyes and got back to choosing between beige and brown.
Hmm, Coffee brown?
Brown? That's what Zach would've worn today.
I smiled but then realized...I'm staring at the phone again.
"No! Stop!" I cried sinking down to the ground—knock! Knock!
I immediately get back up, smoothen out my clothes, grab the two pieces of silk material and wear my awesome poker face while deciding which to go for.
"Have you finally chosen one?" MK walks in with Sophia, slurping boba.
"No, it's a really tough decision" I nod my head slowly.
"I don't know why I'm feeling those two colors won't go for the design. Maybe like blue?" —it hit when he mentioned the color.
"Not a bad idea" Sophia folded her arms looking intently at the design on the chart.
"I mean I don't work here but you know..." He shrugs,"I have keen eyes"
I roll my eyes and so does Sophia,"I'm proud" I sass and glace over at my phone.
"Let's do blue. Navy blue" I conclude.
"So, we're doing my idea?" MK's hazel eyes brighten
"What does it look like?" Sophia takes her turn to sass, while I glance at my phone.
Just call!
"Now, we are down to just 4 more designs" Sophia drops more materials and printed out sketches.
"All these weeks to come down to just 14 designs" I smile through the pain.
"At least we've gotten some done", Sophia shrugs."The faster you decide, the better"
I looked at Sophia and realized I don't give her enough credit really, "Soph?"
"Yeah?" She smiles in response.
"Thank you"
"What happened?"
"Just thank you. You helped with the company. I'm probably nothing without you by now..."
"Awwn" we hear and turn to MK,"What? It's a touching moment" he slurps more on his drink.
"Anyway, yeah, thanks a bunch. Thanks isn't even enough to show my appreciation"
"It's okay, Esh. I won't be able to help you if you didn't accept me. So thanks too"
"Now hug" That was MK.
I point to him and gesture,"Slurp, MK"
"Can't there be criminals around here. I need to shoot something" And he slurps.
"Ok-kayyy. I'll be on my way. Byeee" Sophia goes out the door and i'm back to glancing at the phone again.
Maybe I missed his call? No, girl! Don't touch the phone!
I won't.
"MK?" He humms in response."Has Zach...I don't know...called you yet?" I pretend to look at the designs and pick between materials so it won't look like I'm too interested.
"Oh, Boss? No, he hasn't called"
Is he okay?! Is something wrong? I hope he's fine. Just call me already!
I nod,"Okay" and continue with my work.
Let me out! I need my phone.
****
8 hours had passed and I was still in the jet.
8 hours of counting so I could call her.
She should be heading home by now. Unless, she decided to work extra time.
I got off my computer and took my phone to call.
It rang, once, twice, thrice and she picked it."Hello?" I smiled.
Her voice. Her voice did something. I walked up to my chair and sat, resting my head back.
"Salamualaykum, Dolcezza" I greeted."Miss me yet?"
"Wa'alaykum Salam. Also, not even a quarter teaspoon", I chuckled. "You're still in the jet, right?" She asked.
"Yeah, I am. What are you doing?"
She sighed. I could tell she was exhausted. "Packing up from the office. Today was sooo stressful. I mean I had to decide on materials, colors...the colors were the hardest, so many shades!...I almost couldn't decide on any. They all looked so good. Then I was like, hmm, why don't I just do rainbows. But no, the society would take it wrong and..."
'Mrs VanShov. Your chariot awaits!' I hear MKs voice in the distance.
'Hurry up!!!!' a feminine voice adds.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute" Eshaal yells back."I'll call you back when I get home?"
I was a annoyed cause she had to go. Her rants were relaxing. She would probably take just few minutes and call back.
"I should delete those two people" He muttered. I just paused, speechless. But he continued, sighing,"Pls do call, immediately"
"Uh. Ok-kay. Bye"
I smiled,"Bye" and she hung up.
I went back to work.
Eshaal's POV
We finally got back to the manor. I got into the living room to see Sienna and Ryan playing chess.
I was about giving a 'hi' when I realized they were too immersed in the game. I looked around to see if I'd catch a glimpse of Savio but to no avail.
I ended up taking the mini elevator up, and made way to my room. Once getting there, I dropped my bag on the floor, unwrapped my hijab, tossing it with myself on the bed.
My body relaxed, finally. The room suddenly felt empty. Well, cause it was. My stuff was transferred to Zach's room.
Hmm, I should go to Zach's room instead. I stood up, grabbed my phone from my bag and called him.
He picked on the first ring, while I entered Zach's room.
"Hey"
"Hey, You're home now?" I let myself into the walk in closet.
"Well, duh. That's why I called" I dropped my phone on the make up table and put it on speaker.
"Right" I smiled at the cluelessness coming from him.
"You'll be in Russia soon?" I voiced out as soon as my eyes landed on the time.
"Yeah, soon enough" he sighed.
"Don't stress, Zach. You'll be fine"
"Insha'Allah" he responded. "so What happened at work? Where you able to choose between the colors?"
I love how he asked about something I was talking about earlier. He was paying attention.
"Oh yes!" I excitedly say, "I completed it today, Alhamdulillah. I'm so happy! We'll be done with the collection by the middle of this month!"
"I'm proud of you." He said and it hit right in my heart. "I knew you would get back up"
"No celebrations yet tho. We don't know if that cow, R, is behind the competition"
"True but still. You rose from all odds, that's another one of your many achievements"
I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror. 17 years old me would be proud. Alhamdulillah!
"You don't mind that I'm in your room right?" I suddenly ask.
"My room?" He asks,"Mia Luna. That's our room. Do whatever you want with it. Wear my shirt to sleep"
I started to glance at his many shirts that'll inevitably smell like him,"I was thinking about that"
"Don't think, Dolcezza. Do." He said and my eyes landed on his sweats. It is a bit cold. "Do as you pls" he added.
"You're flattering" I responded.
"For one and only"
A giggle escaped my lips, "So, have you decided on what you want to wear?"
"Yes"
Immediately I say that, a request for a video call comes in. I pick it up and a half image of Zach sitting with his hair still how I made it and glasses on came to view. He seemed to have placed his phone standing straight, on a desk while he works on his PC.
"Why are you video calling me?"
"Cause I wanted to see you and what you're wearing. It'll help me sleep at night, but apparently my wife seems to not have taken a shower"
"Creep" I say into the phone, while he chuckles and sips a drink from a cup. I place my phone to stand on the mirror. "I'm gonna wear your grey sweats" I hold it out for him.
"Nice choice. Just the top?"
I squint in suspicion. "How many women have you done this with?"
He raised a brow. I think he was actually offended. "One. You bring out this side of me"
"Wow. Am I glad to bring out your pervy side"
"Is it called pervy if she's your wife?"
"Yes"
"Well then, I don't mind" he flashed me a smile and back to his PC.
"What about..."
"If you're thinking of Morvena. No. Never. I don't remember doing a video call with her when I'm away"
It's like he read my mind.
"But you guys were close" I was playing with my ring now. I remembered the whole Z and M thing.
"Hey, listen" I turned to the phone with an image of a beautiful specimen on it."She's in the past. A past I had. She was someone I needed to escape from what I was going through. I don't think I ever really wanted her exactly. Do you get that?
I nodded. "Yeah...yeah. I do"
"I want you and will always want and need you, okay?"
I calmed down hearing his words of affirmation and smiled seeing his radiant smile from the phone. Something In me actually wanted to say 'i love you'. I was about saying it too but for some reason it came out as, "i just made you go all mushy" and i burst out laughing.
"You did. Don't you laugh at me" he chuckled and I laughed harder.
I gathered myself and looked into the camera with my most rizz-est look, I licked my bottom lip and said in a thick voice,"I want you, baby" and burst out laughing again.
Zach was definitely finding it hard to contain his laughter,"Am i annoying you yet?" I asked curiously. I wanted to know if I was succeeding in my plot.
"No. Just amusing. Cute, if I may add"
I frowned my face and scoffed.
Lies!
"I'm thinking of inviting my friends over..."
He started to nod,"No problem, Dolcezza"
I smiled,"Thanks"
"We'll be landing soon. I'll text immediately I get down, okay?"
"Okayyyy"
"Please, wear the sweats. Do not forget"
"I won't. Byeee" I waved.
"Bye, Mia Luna" I hung up and caught myself in the mirror, smiling and turning red like a maniac.
"The asylum is calling you, Esh." I shook my head at myself.
****
We got down from plane and I texted her as promised. Then, immediately we went into the helicopter.
"Wow, we'll be there soon, Boss" Ivan yelled over the helicopter blade noise as it lifts.
I nodded.
In some minutes the large mountains where lining up showing their snowy surfaces ahead as the storm became heavier.
"Oh wow. That's quite impressive" Ivan turned to me and back to the view ahead.
"We're going to be landing now, Boss" The pilot announced in a yell, through the loud storm.
Ahead was a made of dark heavy metal, carefully architectured and complex, huge building, built with different booby traps. Looking past the prison, you'll know it'll be hard for any prisoner to escape unless they die by immediatly drowning or freezing in the water surrounding it.
There's a landing pad on top of the dark building, beaten by immense snow. Immediately we got down, Ivan walked forward, informing the guard on duty of my arrival.
I looked up at the huge, heavy building with bars for tiny square holes they'd gladly call windows and no sort of covering. The inmates were definitely exposed to immense cold.
The guard immediately opens the huge gates after inputting the code.
"Dobro pozhalovat', ser (welcome, sir)" he greeted holding the door open. I gave a nod of acknowledgement and stepped in.
The inside had just a slight increase in temperature and just a bit of light from the minimal windows and a bit of installed light.
It felt like walking into the hall of a modern dungeon.
We walked further into the wide hall with the sound of our shoes on the hard floor echoing.
Then came an added echo, followed by a deep voice."Privet. Yest' li kto-to, kogo vy ishchete konkretno(Is there someone you seek in particular?)"
"Ofitser Petrov(officer Petrov)." I called as he stepped into the light where I can see him. "proshli gody. YA zdes', chtoby zabrat' moyego ottsa.(Its been years. I'm here to get my father)"
"tvoy otets?(your father?)" His brows knot in confusion.
I smirked remembering him from the scene. The officer that cried accident."Konechno, Vanshovym nado pozvonit' v kolokol'chik.(Surely, the Vanshovs must ring a bell)"
His eyes widened in realization. "tvoy dyadya umer?(your uncle is dead?)"
I took a step forward and spelt it out."Voz'mi moyego ottsa(Get My Father)"
He took to instruction and nodded, immediately sending another of his colleagues in.
He turned to me and with his head to the ground, he said,"Mne zhal'. tvoy otets... Yego brat...(I'm sorry. Your father...His brother...)"
"Ostanavlivat'sya(Stop)" I interrupt. "izbav' menya ot povtoreniya(spare me the repeat)"
He looked at me with an unsure expression, pressing his lip in a thin line and nodded and that's when I heard the heavy door creak.
My heart rate increased but I did my best not to wear my anxiety on my face. I didn't know what I was expecting exactly.
A man with a bald cut.
A man with a long plaited beard.
A man with more tattoos it reaches his cheek bones.
A man with new piercings and probably a broken tooth.
I had started to contact Eshaal's wild imagination and I knew it.
At least a man wearing 17 years worth of anger on his face and his throat dried due to his thirst for revenge.
But no. It was quite the opposite.
"Privet, Petrov(Hello, Petrov)" he greeted. Hearing his voice after so many years of thinking he was dead felt surreal. Immediately he stepped into the light. I saw him.
His beard was definitely longer but not plaited. He still had his long hair and the grey eyes mom never failed to remind that I took from him.
One eye. The other was covered with an eye patch.
Must be the accident. He smiled at officer Petrov, his wrinkles defining his smile lines and the corner of his eye while I stood there dazed.
I thought humans stopped growing at age 20 at most. He seemed taller. I looked down at his grey jumpsuit uniform with a turtle neck covering even his jaw and also gloves. The jumpsuit was quite worn out. There was a tag on it.
The number said 210.
*
👀👀I'm kinda back....hiii
Salamualaykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuh 😘😘