47 comments/  78547 views/  60 favorites

Zachary & Ciara

By: mspat



CHAPTER 1

"What're you going to do Zach?"

"I don't know," Zachary Collins replied to his friend Gideon. "I know that I'm not going to marry Abigail Stapleton, and I'm not letting my inheritance be donated to charity."

"You will if you're not married within the next four days," his friend Colin said moving over to the huge bar in their hotel suite and pouring himself a drink.

"I can't believe my father would put me in such a situation," Zachary said joining Colin at the bar and pouring himself a drink.

"I wasn't surprised," his friend Aaron said.

"Of course you weren't," Zachary said picking up a pillow off the couch and throwing it at Aaron. 

"Your father was my father's solicitor, and you witnessed his will. You knew about this before I did."

"Yes, I did," Aaron said dodging the pillow, "but professional ethics wouldn't allow me to tell you about it."

"I can't believe it's been almost six months already since my father died," Zachary said, "and since the reading of his will, ruining my life."

"I don't think your father was trying to ruin your life," Colin said. "I think he was trying to get you to take your life more seriously and to settle down."

All the men looked at Colin and after a few seconds everyone broke out laughing. Everyone except for Zachary who was looking at him like, he wanted to kill him.

"You don't have to get married," Aaron said to Zachary, "you could allow the money to go to charity."

"There's no way I'm going to allow over fifty million pounds to go to charity," Zachary said looking at Aaron, as if he'd lost his mind. Zach's cell phone rung. He looked at his screen and saw that it was Abigail Stapleton calling. Against his better judgment, he answered the phone.

"Hello," he said his tone flat and not hiding the fact that he didn't want to talk to Abigail.

"Hello, hubby," Abigail chimed her voice cocky and confident, "are you heading back home soon? Everyone is preparing for our wedding day that's only four days away. When can we expect the groom home?"

"I'll be home soon," Zachary said, "but we won't be getting married."

"We will be getting married Zachary Collins," Abigail said her voice showing her determination to have Zachary as her husband. "I can't see you letting one hundred million pounds go to charity."

"The money's not going to charity because I'm already married," Zachary lied tired of her cocky attitude.

"You're what?!" Abigail screamed.

"I'm married," Zachary said. "So you and my mother can stop with your wedding plans because the wedding has already taken place."

"Whom did you marry?" Abigail demanded to know.

"Our connection seems to be failing Abigail," Zachary shouted into the pone holding it away from his ear.

"What is the woman's name?!" Abigail shouted.

"I'll talk to you when I return home!" Zachary screamed. "The connection seems to be getting worse."

Zachary pressed the button on his phone that ended the call.

"Have you lost your mind?" Colin asked after Zachary hung up his phone. "Why did you lie to Abigail?"

"Because she was getting on my fucking nerves," Zachary said. "She's so bloody sure that she's the one, I'm going to wind up married to. I'm not marrying that cow! I'll let the money go to charity before I let her get her claws into me."

"What're you going to do now?" Aaron asked. 

"You've only got four days before you either get married to a woman you choose, to a woman of your mother's choosing or your inheritance goes to charity."

"I'm going to get me something to eat," Zachary replied.

"You're what?!" his friends said in unison.

"I'm going to get something to eat from the restaurant downstairs," Zachary said heading for the door to his suite.

"How can you think of food at a time like this?" Gideon asked. "You need to think of a way of getting out of the lie you just told Abigail."

"I'll think of something after I've filled my stomach," Zachary said. "Are you gentlemen going to join me or shall I eat alone?"

All of his friends stood and headed out of the room, into the hall, towards the elevator. "Do you think they'll serve anything we're going to want to eat?" Alexander asked.

"We're in Atlanta, Georgia, Alex," Zachary chuckled, "not Saudi Arabia and this is my hotel, of course we're going to serve something we're going to want to eat."

"You just bought this hotel, Zachary," Alexander pointed out. "You haven't had time to make changes to the menu."

"True," Zachary agreed, "but I'm sure things have improved a great deal since the Civil War and there will be something on the menu that'll appeal to our British sensibilities."

Everyone laughed as they entered the elevator.

"Stop it guys," Zachary said as the elevator made its way down to the lobby. "You want everyone to think we don't have the good breeding and class everyone expects British citizens to have?"

"You're right Gideon said. "We mustn't forget the good breeding and manners we're known for."

"You better hope they never see you after a night of partying and hard drinking," Aaron said. "That image would blow it for every British citizen on the planet."

"That image would blow it for the British citizens that haven't been born yet," Colin said.

They were all laughing as the doors of the elevators opened. They exited the elevator and made their way to the hotel restaurant.

As they were entering the restaurant Zachary's cell phone rung again. Zach told his friends to go get a table, and he would join them after he handled the call. 

He took out his cell phone and looked at the screen and saw that it was Abigail calling him again. He sent the call to his voice mail and turned his phone off.

Deciding to order a drink before he joined his friends Zachary made his way to the bar. He ordered himself a gin and tonic. While he was waiting for the bartender to prepare his drink the conversation of two women sitting to his right drifted into his ear.

From what he could hear of the conversation the two women were, sisters and one sister, was in dire need of the other sister's help. But, the sister didn't seem to be in a sisterly mood to help the other.

"Brie, please let Emilee and I stay with you for a few days," Zach heard one of the sisters, plea.

"Ciara you know Emilee doesn't get along with Carl," the other sister replied, "and Carl doesn't like it when people stay over. He likes to come home and relax. And he can't do that with other people in the house."

"All I'm asking is that you let Emilee, and I stay for a few days," Ciara said. "I'll talk to Emilee and we'll stay out of Carl's way. I promise."

"I can't do it," Brie said. "I wish I could but I can't. You should have prepared for this Ciara."

"I did prepare for it," Ciara said. "I saved up money, but the money is gone now."

"You lost your job three months ago, Ciara," Brie pointed out. "I can't believe you haven't found another one by now."

"I've been looking for another job," Ciara said, "but the job market is very competitive right now and finding another job isn't as easy as you think."

"Isn't this something," Brie said her tone smug and superior thinking of the ironic turn her sister's life had taken. "Everyone thought that since I was the "wild one" that I would be the one to get pregnant before getting married. That turned out to be you. They thought you would be the one that would always have a job because you went to college and got a diploma in computer science and computer programming, but look who's without a job and looking for a place to stay. I bet momma and daddy are turning over in their graves."

Brie started laughing and it was more than Ciara could stand. She got up from the table and rushed out of the restaurant.

As he listened to the two women talking, an idea took root in Zachary's mind. It was a crazy idea, too crazy to be considered under normal circumstances, but he wasn't operating under normal circumstances.

He was in a fix and the woman sitting beside him was in a fix. The solution he came up with would benefit both him and the lady. But, only if she would agree to go along with it.

Zachary followed the woman out of the restaurant catching up with her as she stepped out of the lobby doors, calling out to her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Excuse, me," he said as the woman stopped, and turned to face him.

Ciara turned to see who'd tapped her on her shoulder. She was surprised to see a strange man standing behind her.

Ciara put his height at about six feet, six inches tall, his weight about two hundred to two hundred ten pounds. His facial features made him very appealing to look at with his brown eyes, shoulder length dark brown almost black hair. He had a roman nose, strong chiseled chin. His physique was very appealing as well featuring broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His clothes covered his tanned body fitting him like what they obviously were tailor-made and expensive.

"Excuse me," Zachary said.

"Yes?" Ciara replied stepping away from the stranger standing in front of her.

Zachary observed the woman standing in front of him. 

Ciara Walker stands five feet eight inches tall, weighs one hundred forty-five pounds, her eyes were the darkest shade of brown Zachary had ever seen, they were red because she had been crying, and sat above the cutest pert nose, he'd ever seen. Ciara's hair was braided, pulled back in a ponytail, came to rest just pass her shoulders. Her skin reminded him of a Reese® cup. Her lips full and kissable were turned down, sad and began to tremble. Her figure was covered up by the large novelty T-shirt that read; If I'm still alive, I can still win, written across it in big white letters, loose fitting jeans, and she wore white sandals on her feet.

"Are you alright?" Zach said asking what he knew was the stupidest question he could ever ask her at this moment.

"I'm fine," Ciara lied reaching up to wipe away a tear from the corner of her eye before it fell, then turning to leave.

"Would you mind if I bought you a drink?" Zachary asked.

"I don't accept drinks from strangers," Ciara said turning to leave once again.

"My name is Zachary Collins," Zachary said introducing himself to Ciara, holding his hand out so that she could shake it. "My friends call me Zach. Only don't call me that in front of my mother it makes her angry."

"Ciara Walker," Ciara said chuckling at his little joke and shaking his hand.

"Will you join me for a drink now, Ciara?" Zachary asked.

Ciara looked at the man a few seconds trying to gauge whether she got a good or bad vibe off the man standing Zach.

"I assure my motives, are non-threatening," Zach said smiling at her.

Ciara didn't return his smile, she just continued looking at him suspiciously.

"I give you my word that I'll be a gentleman the entire time," Zach said holding up his right hand and making the sign of a cross over his heart. "Cross my heart."

Because she didn't get a bad feeling from him, Ciara agreed to join him for a drink. Zach held out his arm to lead her back into the hotel.

"Where are we going?" Ciara asked.

"Back inside if you like," Zach replied.

"Sure," Ciara said taking Zach's arm and letting him take her back into the hotel to the restaurant.

They were led to a table and seated ahead of other customers and guests the moment Zach entered.

"Would you like to order something to eat?" Zach asked when a waitress approached to them.

"No," Ciara said, "I'm not hungry." Her stomach chose that moment to let loose with a loud growl.

"Perhaps a hamburger, fries and a drink," Zach suggested.

"Perhaps," Ciara replied.

"What would you like to drink?" the waitress asked.

"Sprite," Ciara replied.

"Make that two of everything," Zach said. "One to go."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Ciara asked anxious to get back to her daughter.

"I wasn't eavesdropping," Zach said beginning their conversation, "but I was sitting at the bar when I heard you talking to a woman that I'm assuming was your sister."

Ciara's eyes went dark and they started to fill with shame, she stood to leave.

"Please don't leave," Zach said reaching out and placing his hand on top of hers. "I really do think that what I'm about to propose will help both you and me."

"I'll listen but I can't think of anything you could come up with that could help me except a job," Ciara said sitting back down at the table.

"I think once you hear what I have to say, you'll change your mind," Zachary said.

Ciara sat in her chair not believing what she was hearing, not believing what Zachary wanted her to do and not believing that she was considering doing what he wanted.

"Where would we live?" Ciara asked.

"We would spend time both here and in the U.K.," Zachary said. "I'm an American citizen because I was born here, but I spend six months here and six months in the U.K."

"You do know that I have a daughter, she's eight years old," Ciara said. "And, she'll be starting school soon."

"She can go to school here or she can go in the England," Zachary said. "That will be totally up to you."

"Why don't you want to marry the woman, your mother wants you to marry?"

"I don't love her. She seems to think that I belong to her whether I like it or not and I can't deal with that attitude. I'm also doing this to shake my mother up. She needs to learn that she can't control my life."

"So, your marriage to me would serve two purposes," Ciara noted. "Fulfill the condition of your father's will allowing you to inherit and show your mother and this other woman, they can't control you."

"Yes," Zachary said. "And for you it would provide you and your daughter with a place to stay and financial security for the next two years because I will give you a monthly allowance and a bonus at the end of the two year term of our marriage. Allowing you and her the chance to start off with a better future."

"This marriage will be in name only," Ciara confirmed.

"Yes," Zachary replied. You and Emilee would have a wing in both my homes."

"What about dating?" Ciara asked. "I know that our marriage will be in name only, but I have a daughter. I'm not going to lie to her about why I'm marrying you but, people will talk, and they can be cruel and I don't want her to have to deal with gossip or to read about you and other women in the newspapers or to hear about it on the local news."

"I understand," Zachary said. "And I promise to be discreet."

"Why don't we agree that there will be no dating during the two years we're married," Ciara said.

"The entire two years?" Zachary asked visions of blue balls filling his head.

"I think that would be best," Ciara said. "That way we won't have to worry about anything being reported or printed. If you can't live with that, we shouldn't start this."

"Okay," Zachary said seeing Ciara's determination to protect her daughter. "What about Emilee's father? Will he go along with this and her being out of the country?"

"Her father is dead," Ciara replied not offering any more information about Emilee's father. "But, I'm not going to do this if Emilee doesn't agree to it."

"We also need to draw up and agreement and we both sign it," Ciara said, "so there will be no confusion about what's expected."

"I can arrange that," Zachary said pulling out his cell phone and dialing a number.

"Aren't we going to need passports to travel to London?" Arlene asked.

"Yes," Zachary replied.

"Emilee and I don't have our passports."

"I can take care of that too," Zach said.

"How are you going to take care of getting passports for Emilee and me in four days?" Arlene asked.

"I need you to take care of something for me," Zachary said speaking into his phone. "Look to your right."

Zachary raised his hand up signaling to someone. Ciara looked in the direction he was looking and saw a man with flaming red almost orange hair waving at them from the other side of the restaurant sitting at a table with two other men. They all stood up started, heading over to where she and Zachary were sitting.

"Who are they?" Ciara asked watching the men as they approached.

"My friends," Zachary replied. "The redhead is Aaron, he's my attorney, or as we say in the U.K...."

"Solicitor," Ciara said finishing what Zachary was going to say.

"Yes," Zachary said smiling at her.

"I do know some British terms," Ciara said feeling proud of herself.

"I think you should meet Emilee before we sign the agreement," Ciara said getting up and standing. 

"She's in the kitchen visiting with some friends. I'll go get her."

"What's going on?" Aaron asked as he watched the woman Zachary was sitting with walk away from the table and head towards the kitchen. "And who is that?"

"Sit down and I'll explain everything," Zachary replied to his friends.

Zachary had almost finished telling his friends how he planned to solve his problem when Ciara rejoined them at their table with Emilee. 

He was surprised to see Ciara's daughter sitting in a wheelchair with casts on both of her legs.

Ciara's daughter was a younger version of her in almost every way except for the color of her eyes and her. Emilee's eyes were amber with little flecks of gold sprinkled about. Emilee's hair like her mother's was in a ponytail, unlike her mother it wasn't braided.

"Who, do we have here?" Zachary asked standing to greet Emilee.

"My name is Emilee Walker," Emilee replied extending her hand out to Zachary.

"That's a very pretty name for a very pretty little girl," Zachary said shaking Emilee's hand. "My name is Zachary."

"It's nice to meet you Zachary," Emilee said. "Can I call you, Zach?"

"Yes, you may," Zachary replied. "All my friends call me, Zach, and since I want you to be my friend, I want you to call me, Zach also."

"Did you hear that mommy?," Emilee said turning to look at her mother, "He, said I could call him Zach because I'm his friend."

"I heard him, baby," Ciara said. "What do you say"

"Thank you," Emilee replied.

"You're welcome," Zach said. "These ratty looking fellows are my, friends," Zachary said turning to his friends, "Aaron, Colin, Gideon and Alexander."

"Hello," Emilee said to the men.

"Hello," the men replied in unison.

"Emilee is going to in this wheelchair for about another three to four months," Ciara said looking down at her daughter. "She was in a car accident and both her legs were broken. The doctor said with some physical therapy she should recover and be able to walk again."

"That's wonderful news," Zachary said.

"Yeah, but I may not get the physical therapy now because mommy doesn't have her job anymore," Emilee said sadly.

"I told you not to worry about that," Ciara said taking hold of her daughter's hand. "I promised you that when the time came you have the physical therapy you need. Didn't I?"

"Yes, ma'am," Emilee said giving her mother a weak smile.

"Do I ever break my promises?" Ciara asked.

"No, ma'am," Emilee said her smile growing bigger and brighter.

"And, I won't break this one," Ciara assured her.

"Are we going to live with Aunt Brie and Carl?" Emilee asked.

"No, baby, we're not going to live with Aunt Brie and Carl," Ciara said her tone turning solemn and sad.

"How would you like to come and live with me?" Zach asked joining the conversation.

"We can't live with you," Emilee said. "You're a stranger."

"Like mother, like daughter," Zach said looking over at Ciara. "I know you and your mother just met me, but didn't I just call you my friend and, don't friends stay over at friends house?" Zach asked.

"Yes," Emilee replied.

"So, why can't you and your mother come live with me?" Zach asked.

Emilee gave him a look that said I don't know then she turned and looked at her mother.

"Do you have a place where Emilee and I can sit and talk?" Ciara asked Zachary.


Zachary & Ciara Ch. 02



Zach sat on the private plane, he chartered to take him, Ciara and his friends to Vegas where they would be married, thinking about what his future wife had revealed to them before they left Atlanta.

When she said there was one more thing that she needed to tell him before they continued on with his plan, he didn't expect what she told him. They went back out on the balcony.

"Okay," Zachary teased, "lay it on me."

"Emilee isn't my biological daughter," Ciara said deciding to just say what she had to say.

"What?" Zach said his face now sporting a surprised look. "I thought..."

"I lost my baby," Ciara said. "Emilee's mother was Cara, my identical twin and we were both pregnant at the same time." Ciara said continuing on with what she had to say. "Her parents Cara and Thomas, were drug addicts. They both became addicted to crack when they were in high school. My family tried to help Cara beat her addiction and Thomas' family tried to help him beat his addiction by placing them in rehab centers throughout the state of Georgia, even some outside of Georgia. But, Thomas and Cara would always find a way to contact each other, make plans to meet up and leave the centers. They would always steal something from either the center or another patient so that they could buy more drugs to feed their addiction."

"My goodness," Zachary said astonished at what he was hearing.

"Everyone in my family and Thomas' family hoped and prayed that when Cara found out, she was pregnant with Emilee that Cara would stop using because she knew what crack could do to the baby. Thomas' family hoped that if Cara stopped using it because of the baby that he would follow suit. But, that didn't happen."

Zachary's heart grew heavy with sadness and anger as Ciara continued with what she had to say.

"Crack had a hold on my sister that she couldn't shake or beat," Ciara said sadly. "Even knowing that she was pregnant and harming her child couldn't make her stop. My parents threw her out of the house, which didn't make sense because by the time Cara became pregnant she was living out of on the street most of the time, she rarely stayed at home. She said the disappointment, shame and hurt, she saw in my parents' eyes, whenever they looked at her was too much for her to bear."

Zachary watched Ciara as she stood up and began pacing as she continued her story.

"My family lost track of Cara during her pregnancy," Ciara said. "No one knew where she was for almost the full nine months until she showed on my doorsteps in labor. I had just gotten in from work and was about to slip a frozen dinner into the microwave when Cara banged on my door screaming that she needed me. My mother had told me that if she came to me that I should send her away and not have anything to do with her because she made her bed and she should be left to lie in it. That sending her away would force her to see what she was doing and she might wake up and straighten her life out."

Zachary nodded his head up and down understanding what her mother was hoping to accomplish.

"But I couldn't do what my mother said," Ciara replied. "Cara was my other half. Even though she was hitting below the bottom of the barrel, and she was doing it to herself and my little niece, I couldn't turn my back on her. When I opened the door to my apartment the person I saw on the other side was someone I barely recognized. She looked at me, her face wet with sweat, dripping with tears from her eyes, and said she was about to be a mother, collapsed in my arms, gave birth and died."

By this time Ciara's breathing had become labored, but she had some how managed to keep the tears that so desperately wanted to come out of her eyes inside.

Zach stood intending to go over to comfort her.

"Don't," Ciara said. "I promised myself that I would cry for her one time but never again."

Zach moved away from her, sat back down, and Ciara continued telling him how Emilee came to be in her care.

"When Cara collapsed in my arms her body released Emilee on to the floor," she said. "I was so shocked I couldn't believe what I was seeing had just happened. I told myself it wasn't real. That my sister hadn't collapsed on my floor and dropped a baby at my feet. I don't know how long I stood there before the sound of Emilee crying brought me back to my senses, and I realized that I needed to get medical attention for my sister and her baby. I picked up the phone and dialed 911, the paramedics came about five minutes later. When they arrived, I was holding Emilee, who was still attached to her mother, lying dead on the floor. One of the paramedics checked Cara to see if she had a pulse. I knew she was truly dead when he shook his head no to his partner. He then turned his attention to Emilee and went through the process of cutting her umbilical cord. He then reached over to take her away from me, but I couldn't and wouldn't let her go. She was the last connection, I had to my dead sister, and I just couldn't let her go."

"What happened next?" Zach asked when it appeared that Ciara had gotten lost in her thoughts and wouldn't continue.

"The police arrived," Ciara said, "and the paramedic that was trying to take Emilee away from me, walked me down to the ambulance with Emilee still in my arms. I rode to the hospital to get her checked out still holding her in my arms. When we reached the hospital a doctor came in to check Emilee to see if she suffered any health issues from the way my sister gave birth, and I held her in my arms, a nurse came in clean her up and draw blood. She said she needed me to lay Emilee down so she could clean her up and draw blood for some tests. I told her to draw the blood, but I would clean her up. I wasn't going to let my niece out of my sight. I felt that if I let her go I wouldn't ever see her again."

Zachary's heart went out to Ciara as the image she just painted appeared in his mind.

"I called my mother and father to let them know that their daughter had died," Ciara said her voice filled with pain and sadness when she spoke of her sister's death and Emilee's birth, "and I told them they had a granddaughter. They came to the hospital and were cooing and smiling over their new granddaughter until the doctor told them that her system was filled with crack cocaine. Then they suddenly moved away from the child, they were calling beautiful only a minute ago and were now looking at her, as if she had some horrible contagious disease that they could catch if they touched her and would kill them in minutes. The looks on their faces grew even more disgusted when the doctor told them and described some of the things Emilee would go through as the cocaine left her body."

"My parents made the decision that it would be better if we let the state tend to Emilee's needs, since they were more accustomed to dealing with children suffering from Emilee's condition."

"That was the first time I cursed my parents," Ciara said wiping away a tear that hung from the side of her right eye. "I called them cowards and snobs because they were worried about people continuing to talk about and remember the life Cara led if Emilee's condition became known. I told them to go ahead and leave the hospital. That I would take care of Emilee, and they didn't have to worry about her being around to embarrass them."

"How long before you adopted her?" Zach asked.

"Three months later," Ciara replied.

"Does she know?" Zach asked.

"Yes," Ciara replied. "I explained to her that her mother loved her, but she made the terrible mistake of becoming involved with and using illegal drugs, and it took her away from us and her."

"How did she take it?"

"About as well as a six year old could take it," Ciara said her eyes becoming sad as she remembered that day. "We cried, talked about her feelings, ate butter pecan ice-cream, and went to bed."

"What about her father?"

"He died of a drug overdose a week before Cara did," Ciara replied her voice becoming cold and emotionless.

"That little girl has been through a lot," Zach said his mind spinning when he thought about the things Emilee had been through, and she was only eight years old.

"Yes, she has," Ciara agreed, "and she still has more to go through with her legs being broken. But, I'm going to make sure she has everything she needs so that she can stand on her own two legs again."

"And I'm going to help," Zach said his tone sympathetic. "You won't have to do this alone."

"Thank you," Ciara said smiling at him, "but you don't have to do that. I just felt you should know about it."

"Anything else I should know?" Zach asked.

"I can't think of anything", Ciara said. "I'm telling you everything that I think anybody having me investigated might be able to find out," Ciara said. "I didn't want you to be caught by surprise."

"You expect to be investigated?" Zachary asked his tone showing his surprise at what she said.

"Zach, you're a rich man, who's coming home suddenly with a wife that no one knew you were dating," Ciara said a grin on her face. "An African-American wife, with a little girl. Of course I'm going to be investigated if not by your family, by someone wanting to know more about me."

"You like being prepared," Zach teased.

"To the utmost," Ciara teased back.

"I need you to buckle up sir," the stewardess said bringing Zach out of his thoughts. "We'll be landing in Las Vegas soon."

"Thank you," Zach said as he buckled up his seatbelt.

"You can still change your mind," Aaron whispered in his ear. "You don't have to do this."

"I know," Zachary said looking over at a sleeping Ciara, "I won't change my mind. I want to do this."

After the plane landed Zach woke up Ciara and they made their way to Vegas where they would be married. ****************************** "You may kiss your bride," the Justice of the Peace told Zachary.

Zachary leaned down, Ciara raised her jaw expecting him to kiss her on the cheek. Zachary lifted a finger up to her chin and gently and slowly turned her to face him, and he gave her a peck on the lips.

"Welcome to the family Mrs. Collins," he teased.

"Thank you, Mr. Collins," Ciara teased back.

Zach's friends started shouting congratulations as they tossed rice in the air and let it rain down on the newly, legally, married couple.

"I've performed many marriage ceremonies in my thirty years of being a Justice of the Peace," the Justice of the Peace said to Zachary and Ciara, his smiling face beaming at the couple, "but I have to say I have a feeling that the two of you are going to have a long and happy married life."

The man's words meant to comfort and compliment them sent a pang of guilt through Ciara's body, that made her feel so ashamed of herself for fooling him.

She turned away from him hoping he didn't see the shame she was feeling on her face or in her eyes.

"Thank you," Zachary said shaking the man's and moving towards the door with Ciara, so they could leave.

"Don't be nervous my dear," the Justice of the Peace said taking hold of Ciara's hand. "I know that this marriage might have more challenges than most, but it's obvious to anyone looking at you and your new husband that you're both in love with each other. So, I say have faith in each other, your love and everything will be alright."

"I will," Ciara said the sincerity in the man's voice causing the guilt she was feeling to almost rise up in her throat and choke her, "and thank you for those kind words."

"Let's go darling," Zach said slipping his hand into Ciara's as tears began falling from her eyes. 

"We don't want to miss our flight."

"Have a happy life," the Justice of the Peace told them as they made their way down the aisle to leave.

"We will," Zach said back to the man.

Once they were outside the chapel Zach pulled Ciara close to him and put his arms around her.

"Sorry about that," he said his chin resting on her head.

"It wasn't your fault," Ciara told him moving out of his embrace. "I don't know why I started crying."

"A bride always cries at her wedding," Gideon said trying to joke and lighten the atmosphere.

Four sets of eyes turned towards him signaling that if he didn't shut up he would be in serious trouble.

"I think we had better get back to Atlanta," Ciara said. "I'm anxious to get back to Emilee."

"Alright," Zachary said pulling out his cell phone. "I'll call the pilot and let him know that we're on our way and that he should be prepared to fly us back." ******************************

"Mrs. Zachary Collins." Ciara said the name out loud to herself and couldn't believe it referred to her. They had been married a week, and she still didn't believe it. 

As she looked down at the one caret diamond wedding set on her finger her mind went back to the day she and Zach were married.

A laugh flew out of her mouth when she thought about the look on Zach's face when he realized they were about to leave without their marriage license and the way he looked when he rushed back inside the chapel to get it.

Then Ciara realized that neither, she nor Zach had signed it and ran inside with Zach's friends to correct it. They all nearly collided with Zach who was on his way back outside to get her.

They all laughed as they made their way back inside the chapel where Ciara and Zachary signed the license then headed to the airport for the trip back to Atlanta.

When they returned that night Ciara learned that Zachary owned the hotel where her sister was the manager. That bit of information surprised her but it allowed her and Emilee to stay in the penthouse suite free of charge.

Zach and his friends had flown back to London a day after they were married, to deliver proof of their marriage to his father's solicitor, so that the first half of his one hundred pound inheritance could be released to him. 

The other half would be released on the second anniversary of their marriage. Ciara and Emilee couldn't go with them because their passports weren't ready yet.

Zach called her when he arrived in London to let her know that his meeting with Aaron's father went as planned and that half of his inheritance had been released to him.

Before Zach left he hired a nurse to help Ciara with Emilee and he gave Ciara cashier checks so that she could get anything that she and Emilee needed for their trip to London. She, Emilee and the nurse went shopping for clothes for her and Emilee.

Their passports came three days after Zach and his friends left. Now, she and Emilee were all packed and getting prepared to head to the airport for their flight to London where Zachary would be waiting for them.

"I'm all packed."

Ciara turned to see Emilee and the nurse behind her.

"Are you sure?" Ciara teased.

"I'm sure," Emilee replied her voice a little shaky.

"Everything is going to be fine," Ciara tried to reassure her.

"I know," Emilee said. "I'm not scared, I'm excited to be flying on a plane for the first time and to be flying so far. All the way to another country. I can't wait to get on the plane."

"It is exciting isn't it?" Ciara said walking over and giving Emilee a hug.

"Are you excited mom?" Emilee asked.

"I'm very excited," Ciara replied.

"I'm going to be leaving now," the nurse said.

"Thank you," Ciara said paying the woman, including a big tip.

"The two of you have a safe journey," the nurse said looking at her check. Her eyes growing big when she saw the size of the tip Ciara had given her. "Thank you ma'am."

"Thank you," Ciara said as she walked the nurse to the door. "I appreciate all your help."

Just as she was about to open the door someone knocked on it.

Ciara opened the door and was surprised to see Zach, Aaron, Alexander, Gideon and Colin standing on the other side.

"Zachary!" Emilee said holding her arms up letting him know she wanted to give him a hug.

"Hello!" Zachary said going over and giving Emilee a hug. "How is my little munchkin?"

"I'm fine," Emilee said hugging his neck real tight. "Thank you for my clothes. I never had a wardrobe before."

"You're welcome," Zach said enjoying the way Emilee's eyes lit up as she talked about her new clothes.

"Mama, bought me a new doll too," Emilee said.

"You only got one toy?" Zach said.

"Mama, said that one toy would do for now," Emilee said, "She said I could get more when we arrived in London."

"Sounds like your mother made a very good decision," Zachary said.

"Hey, what about us?" Alexander said kneeling down beside Emilee, a sad look and a pout on his face. "Don't we get hugs?"

Emilee turned and gave each one of Zach's friends hugs.

"What're you guys doing here?" Ciara asked. "Has there been a change in plans?"

"No," Zach replied. "I came because I couldn't have you and Emilee take your first plane trip by yourselves, could I?"

"You all came here for me and mama?" Emilee asked.

"Yes, we did," Gideon said. "We heard that you were a little nervous about your first plane ride."

"Just a little," Emilee said shyly.

"Well, you don't have to be afraid even a little," Gideon said, "because we're going to be on the plane with you."

"Thank you," Emilee said.

"You're welcome," Gideon told her.

Zachary looked at his friends all fawning over Emilee his mind flashed back to the conversation they had the night after he married Ciara, and they were on a plane on their way back to London.

"Have you lost your mind Zachary?" Colin asked him. "You've married a woman, you know nothing about. Not only do you know nothing about her, but she has a child."

"Your mother is going to have you committed," Gideon said. "I can't believe you've done something so crazy."

"Crazy isn't the word for it," Alexander said joining the conversation. "Insane is the word for it. Your mom is going to blow a gasket when she finds out you've married a woman you just met and know nothing about and that the woman has a child. But, she's going to fucking, faint dead away when she meets Ciara and Emilee."

Everyone knew that Alexander was talking about Zach's mother's reaction to finding out that her new daughter and step-granddaughter are black.

"He's right," Alexander said, "the fact that Ciara and Emilee are black is going to be a hard pill for your mother to swallow."

"Ciara is my wife," Zach said his tone strong and unmoving. "Any problems my mother has she is going to have to get over them, because the marriage is done and there's nothing she can do about it."

"You, better be ready for your mother and Abigail to make Ciara's life a living hell," Aaron said. "Because, your mother isn't going to be happy about this nor will she just accept it. She's going to do everything she can to put an end to your marriage. Replacing Ciara with Abigail."

"I'm married," Zachary said, "my mother will accept the fact that Abigail and I, getting married isn't going to happen."

"Oh, ye of so little brains," Gideon said his tone mocking. "Your mother knows this isn't a real marriage, just as you do. To her Ciara is a speed bump on the road to her dreams, something to be dealt with, and she will do just that, deal with Ciara."

Zachary didn't want to admit it, but Gideon was right. His mother's reaction to his marrying Ciara won't be to welcome her into the family with open arms, but to learn about her by watching Ciara and figuring out the best way to get her out of his life. 

But, he wasn't about to let that happen. Even though what he and Ciara had wasn't a real marriage, he wasn't going to allow his mother to disrespect it, Ciara or their relationship. He was going to protect Ciara and Emilee from his mother and Abigail.

"Earth to Zachary," Ciara said snapping her fingers in front of Zach's face and bringing him out of his thoughts.

Zachary looked down at her a worried look on her face.




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 02



"Thinking about what you've done?" Ciara asked.

"Yes," Zachary admitted.

"Me, too," Ciara said a look of understanding on her face. "Spent most of the week thinking about it and not believing I did it."

"Sounds as if we both lost our minds, doesn't it?" Zachary said.

"Just a little," Ciara replied chuckling, "but it feels good not be crazy alone."

"What's your favorite color?" Zachary asked suddenly changing the subject.

"Red," Ciara replied. "What's yours?"

"Blue," Zachary replied. "Now we know something about each other."

"You're crazy," Ciara said laughing.

"We're ready to go," Aaron said pushing Emilee's wheelchair towards the front door.

"I'm ready too," Ciara said picking up a carryon bag and a suitcase.

"I'll take that," Zach said taking the suitcase from her hand.

Ciara, Emilee, Zachary and his friends were crossing the lobby heading for the hotel entrance, when they bumped into Brie, Ciara's sister.

Ciara had been looking for Brie during the week she stayed in the hotel to tell her about her marriage to Zachary, but she was never available when Ciara tried to contact her, so she wasn't able to tell her about Zach.

"Hello, Mr. Collins," Brie said wondering what her sister and her niece were doing with her new boss. "Is there a problem?" she asked looking at Ciara and Emilee.

"No, Ms. Walker," Zachary said. "I'm just taking my new family home to meet my family in London."

Brie was so shocked by what she heard all the air left her lungs and words failed her.

"When?" she asked when she could breathe again.

"A week ago," Ciara said.

"We have to leave for the airport, Ciara," Zachary said. "We're going to miss our flight, if we don't hurry."

"I'll talk to you when we get back," Ciara told her sister as she and her group headed out of the hotel. Leaving Brie standing in the lobby with her mouth opened and a stunned look on her face. 

Watching as her, sister left with her boss, who had just told her, he was her new brother.

*****************************

Ciara and Emilee were quite a sight when they arrived at the airport. An African-American woman and little girl with five white men in tow. People stared at them all probably wondering what the five handsome men were doing with the plain-Jane and the cute little girl.

They had no problems when they arrived at the airport because both Ciara and Zach had called the airport to make sure arrangements had been made so that Emilee's first experience at the airport would be a good one.

They were met at the sidewalk when they arrived at the airport by airport employees that assisted them in getting Emilee out of the limo, through airport security and on to the plane.

Because, Emilee was in a wheelchair, they were the first, first-class passengers to board the plane. 

They were all sitting together. Ciara and Emilee sat together both holding each other's hands. 

Zachary and Aaron were in the seats across from them, Alexander and Gideon were in the seats in front from them, and Colin sat in the seat behind them.

Ciara sat in the window seat because Emilee wanted to be able to talk to Zachary. Across the aisle Aaron had the window seat and Zach sat in the aisle seat. He wanted to be able to comfort Ciara and Emilee if they became nervous about the flight.

He looked over as the plane began moving down the runway. Ciara was holding Emilee's hand. Emilee's eyes were closed tight.

"Don't forget what I told you to do if you become afraid," Ciara whispered to her daughter.

"I didn't," Emilee said wrapping her hand around a necklace she wore around her neck. "I'm holding on to my good luck fairy."

"That's good baby," Ciara said.

Zach wished, he could ease both their fears, but knowing that the situation didn't allow it and doing what he could he reached out and took hold of Emilee's hand.

Emilee opened her eyes, looked down and saw that Zach was holding her hand. She turned, looked at him, and smiled.

"Thank you," Ciara said.

"I can't have my friend be afraid and not comfort her, can I?" Zach said.

Seeing that Ciara was also nervous, Colin put his hand over the top of her seat offering it for her to hold. Ciara seeing the hand reached up and took it into hers. They rode that way as the plane taxied down the runway.

Zach raised an eyebrow when Ciara took hold of Colin's hand. For some reason he didn't like her holding his friend's hand. He wanted to be the one to comfort her. 

Aaron feeling Zach becoming tense all of the sudden turned and looked in the direction that Zach was looking.

"He's only helping Ciara," Aaron said.

"I know," Zach said, 'but I still don't like it,' Zach added mentally.

Zach turned away mentally telling himself that he would be glad when their plane landed.

When the plane leveled off Zach looked across the aisle to see if Ciara was still holding Colin's hand. He fought to keep the smile off his face when he saw that Ciara had relinquished the hold she had on Colin's hand.

******************************

Their flight was non-stop making it a long, tiring first flight for both Ciara and Emilee. By the time they reached Heathrow it was evening and Emilee was having a hard time keeping her eyes opened. Ciara told her to take a nap, but she refused, saying she didn't want to miss any part of the plane ride. 

But, by the time they had reached their destination Emilee had lost the battle and sleep had won.

When their plane landed Zach reached over and eased Emilee out of her seat and cradled her in his arms, then he, Ciara and the rest of their motley crew made their way off the plane.

Just as they did in Atlanta, people were staring at them as they made their way through the airport. Zach spotted his mother and Abigail waiting for them.

Abigail was the first to spot them, tapping Zach's mother on the shoulder and pointing in their direction. She and Zach's mother headed in towards them.

"Who is that with him?" Abigail asked noting the black woman by Zach's side and the little girl with both legs in casts Zach was holding in his arms who appeared to be asleep.

"I don't know," his mother said searching the airport to see if she could pick out her new daughter. "I want to get a look at the woman, he's gone and married."

"I think the woman with him is your new daughter," Abigail said as she watched the black woman standing next to Zach slip her arm around Zach's arm.

"What're you talking about," Zach's mother asked as she looked at the scene Abigail was looking at. 

"Oh, my god," she said as Zach passed the little girl over to his friend Aaron and grabbed the hand of the pretty black woman as he spotted her and Abigail and headed in their direction.

"I don't believe he did this to me," Abigail said fighting back tears as she thought of the reactions of her family, friends and the questions they would ask when they found out Zachary was not only married to someone else, but he'd married a black woman. "He has to be joking," Abigail said as Zach and the woman walked up to her and Zachary's mother.

"It's going to be alright," Zachary whispered to Ciara when he felt her tense when she noticed the way his mother and Abigail were looking at her. He smiled when he felt her a little as they reached his mother and Abigail. "Good evening mother," Zachary said tightening his hold on Ciara's hand.

"Good evening, Zachary," his mother replied never taking eyes off the woman whose hand her son was holding. "Who have we here?"

"I would like for you to meet my wife, Ciara Walker-Collins," Zachary said putting an arm around Ciara's shoulders. Ciara I would like for you to meet my mother Emily Collins."

Ciara looked at Zach's mother and saw what she knew had to be the prime example of British etiquette and elegance. Emily Collins, Zach's sixty-eight year old, five feet five inches tall, one hundred fifty pounds mother. Her face was expertly done up showing just a hint of wrinkles. Her cold grey eyes stared suspiciously at Ciara, her clothing screamed designer, expensive and tailor-made. Her grey hair was beautifully coifed. Emily Collins looked at the woman her son just introduced as his wife, her eyes assessing everything about her, surprised that the woman was giving her the same look.

"Hello," she said being the first to speak.

"Hello," Ciara replied waiting for Zach's mother to continue the conversation because she knew that meeting her and finding out, she was married to her son had to be a shock and a surprised.

"Mommy, I'm hungry," Emilee said letting everyone know that she was awake.

"Okay, baby," Ciara said walking over to Emilee, who was still being held by Aaron. "We'll get you something to eat as soon as we leave the airport. I want you to meet Zach's... I mean Zachary's mother Emily Collins, Mrs. Collins, I would like for you to meet my daughter Emilee."

"Hello, Mrs. Collins," Emilee said extending her hand out the way her mother taught her to do when meeting someone new.

"Hello," Zachary's mother said shaking the little girl's hand.

"We have the same name," Emilee said.

"Yes, we do," Zach's mother said.

"I bet I spell my name different from yours," Emilee said.

"I don't think so," Zach's mother said. "Emily can only be spelled one way."

"My mother spells my name a special way because I'm a special little girl," Emilee said. "Want me to spell it for you?"

"You can spell it for her later," Ciara said. "We need to get you something to eat."

"Let her spell it," said the young woman standing next to Zach's mother. "I want to hear how she spells it."

"Go, ahead baby," Ciara said her eyes trained on the woman. "Spell your name for everyone.

"E-m-i-l-e-e," said proudly spelling her name.

"Your mother's right," Zach said pushing Emilee's wheelchair over to Aaron helping him place her into it and making sure she was comfortable. "that is a special way of spelling your name for a very special little girl."

"My name is Abigail Stapleton," Abigail said when it looked as if no one was going to introduce her to Zach's new wife and step-daughter, extending her hand out to Ciara. "I'm a friend of Zachary's."

"She's a friend of the family," Zach corrected.

"I was about to become more than a friend of the family," Abigail said snidely looking at Zach.

"Nice to meet you, Abigail," Ciara said shaking Abigail's hand.

"You have a southern accent," Abigail remarked. "Are you from the southern part of the United States?"

"I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia," Ciara replied.

"What's wrong with the girl?" Zach's mother asked.

"My legs are broke," Emilee said before anyone else could answer.

"We're not going to talk about my step-daughter's condition here," Zachary said placing his hand on top of Emilee's. "We've just come off an exhausting flight, so we're going to go home, rest and we'll talk to you later mother."

Emily could tell from the tone of her son's voice that he was angry with her.

"Does that mean I won't see you at all today?" she asked her son.

"Not today," Zachary said. "I want to make sure Ciara and Emilee are settled."

Everyone made their way to the limo that would take Zach and his family home. As they approached Emilee called to Ciara.

"Momma."

Ciara went to her daughter.

"Yes, baby," Ciara said.

Emilee crooked her finger signaling to her mother that she wanted her to come closer. Ciara leaned over so that Emilee could whisper in her ear.

"Everything is going to be alright," Ciara said to Emilee her tone comforting.

Emilee shook her head no.

"What's wrong?" Zach asked.

Ciara stood on tip toes and whispered what Emilee told her in Zach's ear.

"Your mother's right," Zach kneeling down and speaking to her, "everything is going to be fine. Nothing's going to happen. I promise."

Emilee once again shook her head no, frowned and began to cry.

"What's wrong with the child?" Zach's mother asked.

"She doesn't want to get into the limo," Ciara said.

"Why not?" Zach's mother asked.

"She thinks that if we get into the car something bad will happen," Zach said.

"How would she know that?" Abigail asked.

"Come on Emilee," Ciara said ignoring Abigail's question. "Nothing is going to happen."

"I don't want to get into the car momma," Emilee said crying harder.

"How about if we ride with you?" Gideon said.

Emilee shook her head no once again.

"Just put the child in the car," Zach's mother said. "We don't have time for this."

Ciara was about to rip her new mother a new one when Zach stepped in."

"We'll handle this mother," he said his tone telling to his mother to but out. "You don't have to ride in the car if you don't want to. We'll take a different car home. Alright?"

Emilee nodded her head up and down, wiped her eyes and stopped crying.

"I'll take the car home," Zach's mother said. "I'm not going to let the money we paid for the car to take us home go to waste."

"No!" Emilee screamed.

Hearing Emilee scream Zach's mother stopped where she stood, just as she did a car careening out of control came out of nowhere and smashed into the limo Zach, Ciara, Emilee, Zach's mother and Abigail would've been riding in.

Everyone looked over at the crumpled limo, with a big dent in the middle where the other car had T-boned it.

Then they all turned and looked at Ciara and Emilee, wondering how the little girl knew.



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 03



Airport security and employees came rushing over at the sound of the crumpling metal, breaking glass and women screaming as they watched the speeding car crash into the parked limo that Zach, Ciara, Emilee, Zach's mother and Abigail were about to take home.

Airport security kept people from the cars and the employees checked to see if everyone was alright. The only person injured was the driver of the speeding car.

Zach wanted to take Ciara and Emilee home so that he and Ciara could talk, and she could explain to him how Emilee knew the car was going to crash into their limo.

But, they couldn't leave because the police and airport security wanted to take statements from them concerning what they saw.

After giving their statements it was Zachary who suggested that they take separate taxis home. 

Everyone knew that it was because he wanted to talk to Ciara about what happened and to ask her why she didn't tell him about Emilee's unique ability.

Zachary knew she probably didn't tell him because she figured he wouldn't believe her, and she was right.

He didn't believe in psychics and the like, and he wouldn't have believed her if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

"Are you angry with me?" Emilee asked Ciara as they sat in the back of the taxi.

"No, baby," replied. "I'm not angry with you. You did something wonderful today, and you kept everyone from getting hurt. I'm very proud of you."

Emilee looked up at her and smiled.

"How did you know the cars were going to crash into each other?" Zach asked.

"Lets, wait until we get to your place to talk about what happened," Ciara said stopping Emilee from answering Zach's question.

The rest of the taxi ride, to Zach's place was silent until Emilee asked a question.

"Are you sure you're not angry momma?" Emilee asked feeling the tension stretching across from her mother and Zachary.

"I'm sure baby," Ciara assured her reaching over and giving Emilee a hug.

"Then why aren't you and Zachary talking to each other?" Emilee asked. "Are you angry with Zach?"

"No, I'm not angry with Zach," Ciara replied. "The accident shook me up a little and I get a little scared when I think about what could've happened if you hadn't been there to warn us. You amazed me today sweetheart."

"You amazed me too," Zachary said joining the conversation. "You saved our lives today. What you did was wonderful and greatly appreciated."

Nothing else was said until they reached Zachary's penthouse, and they were putting Ciara's and Emilee's things into their room and Ciara saw Emilee trying to suppress a yawn.

"I think it's time for you to prepare for bed," Ciara said.

"But, the sun is still out," Emilee said.

"I know," Ciara said, "but it's probably dark in Georgia by now."

"What's that got to do with it?" Emilee asked.

"You remember the science project you did in science class last year about the earth spinning on its axis?" Ciara asked.

"Yes," Emily replied.

"Remember how you and I built a model of the earth, then took a flashlight and shined it on the model?" Ciara asked.

"Oh, yeah," Emilee said. "Half the earth was dark and half was light."

"That's right," Ciara said proud that her daughter remembered what she'd been taught. "Right now we're on the light side, but our friends and family are on the dark half. Our bodies don't realize that we're now in the light half of the earth and are still functioning as if we're in the dark half of earth."

"So, our bodies gets tired because they think we're still in Georgia," Emilee said understanding what her mother was saying.

"Yes," Ciara said.

"Does that mean we'll sleep in the daytime like vampires and stay up all night?" Emilee asked.

"You might have trouble sleeping the first few days," Zachary said joining them in Emilee's room, "but your body will adjust and you'll go back to your normal bedtime routine."

"In the mean time, I think you should take a nap," Ciara said. "The plane ride over here was a long one."

"Alright, mama," Emilee said. "I am a little tired." ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

After putting Emilee down for her nap Ciara went into her room under the pretense of unpacking her clothes and putting them away, when in reality she was trying to avoid Zach and the conversation she knew he was waiting to have by hiding in her room.

She thought she'd succeed until she heard a light tapping on her bedroom door, that told her Zach wasn't going to allow her to avoid the conversation.

Ciara put down the shirt she was folding, went over and opened the door to her bedroom and saw as she expected Zachary was standing on the other side.

He didn't say a word, he simply looked at her. He saw acceptance in her eyes as Ciara stepped into the hallway, closed the door to her bedroom and made her way to the living room, with him following her.

"Would you like something to drink?" Zachary asked going over to the bar and pouring himself a club soda.

"No," Ciara replied.

Ciara sat on the couch and Zach sat beside her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Zach asked beginning the conversation.

"You wouldn't have believed me," Ciara said.

"How long has she had her ability?" Zach asked.

"I noticed it a few weeks before her accident," Ciara replied. "She would tell me we're going to have visitors and who the visitors were before they knocked on the door. I chalked it up as a coincidence."

"What changed your mind?"

"Emilee's accident," Ciara replied moving away from Zach, closer to the end of the couch as a wave of pain rushed through her body as memories of the accident that put Emilee in the wheelchair came rushing back into her mind.

"What happened?" Zach asked.

"Before Emilee's accident, I was a proofreader for a publishing company," Ciara said. "Because of modern technology I could do my job, which I was very good at and paid very well for, from my home. I normally worked while Emilee was in school, and after she went to bed. Allowing me to spend time with her and give her my full attention. The day of her accident Emilee seemed to be having a bad day, and she seemed to want to pass her bad day on to me."

Ciara got up and went over to stand in front of the large picture window that overlooked a breath taking view of London. She looked out of the window trying to hide the guilt she was still feeling from Zach's view.

"She had been extra clingy that day," Ciara said laying her hand on her chest fearing that her heart would burst out because she was desperately trying not to cry. "Emilee wanted me to focus all my attention on her, she wouldn't let me get any work done. I explained to her that I couldn't stop what I was doing because I had a deadline to meet."

Ciara started pacing.

"I sent her to her room to go play with her video games, but instead of distracting her that caused her to come running into my office every few minutes to tell me how great she was doing. I was about to yell at her and tell her to go back into her room when someone knocked on the door of our apartment."

Ciara stopped in front of the window, reached up and wiped away a tear that had escaped from her eye. Her voice shaky she continued her story.

"It was one of Emilee's friends wanting to know if Emilee could go to the movies with her and her parents. They told her that she could invite one friend, and she chose Emilee."

Ciara turned to face Zach and found him standing behind her. Unable to face him she turned back towards the window.

"I don't normally like spur of the moment or last minute outings," Ciara said. "So, normally I wouldn't have even considered letting Emilee go. But, she was behaving so badly that I felt we both needed to take a break from each other. She could go out and enjoy herself, and I could get my work done. So, I considered this to be a win-win situation for the both of us. I told the little girl to wait in the living room while I went to get Emilee. Emilee was playing with her video game. I told her, her friend was in the living room, waiting for to take her to the movies. I expected her to jump for joy."

"But she didn't?" Zach asked.

"No, she didn't," Ciara replied. "She asked me whom she would be going with. When I told her the little girl's name a look of shear panic appeared on Emilee's face, and she told me she didn't want to go. I asked her why she didn't want to go, and she said that something bad was going to happen. I asked her what did she think was going to happen, and she said she didn't know, but that it was going to be very bad. I thought she didn't want to go because she was having too much fun aggravating me."

"So, you made her go?"

"Yes," Ciara replied turning to face Zach. "The only thing I saw was an opportunity to get Emilee out of my hair for a few hours. She could have some fun, and I could get my work done and meet my deadline. I told Emilee that she was going whether she wanted to go or not, and that she would behave and enjoy herself."

"I bet Emilee wasn't happy about that."

"She wasn't. She began to beg me not to make her go with her friend. She promised that she would stay in her room, and she would stop bothering me. I didn't believe her. I told her that getting out of the house would do her some good, and that she might as well get dressed because she was going, and she'd better behave herself and have fun, or she would answer to me when she returned home. Emilee got dressed, put a smile on her face and left with her friend."

"What happened next?" Zach asked when Ciara remained silent, and it appeared that she wasn't going to continue.

"A few hours later I received a phone call from A.P.D. informing me that there had been a bad car accident," Ciara said staring out of the window once again. "The officer said that Emilee had been seriously hurt and that I needed to get to the hospital. I told the officer that he'd dialed the wrong number and hung up the phone. I told myself that it was a crank call, but the phone rung less than a minute later. I looked at the caller I.D. and saw that it was from an officer Frank. I almost didn't pick up the phone thinking that it would go away if I didn't answer it, but I answered it. The officer on the other end explained that he understood how I felt but that he needed me to come down to the hospital. He said that a officer was coming to pick me up so that I could be with Emilee. I asked him what was wrong with Emilee, he said he couldn't tell me, that the doctors would tell me when I reached the hospital. He said they were treating her injuries."

"That must've been the longest wait and drive of your life," Zachary remarked.

"No, Ciara replied. "Everything seemed to happen very quickly after I talked to the officer. The officer that was to take me to the hospital seemed to arrive at my door in less than five minutes. The drive to the hospital seemed to take less time than that. Before I knew it I was at the hospital listening to the doctor as he told me about Emilee's injuries."

"What did he say?" Zach asked.

"He said that Emilee had a concussion," Ciara replied wrapping her arms around herself, "and two broken legs, but other than that she was fine. He said the words so nonchalantly, I stopped moving and looked at him. The look on my face must've told him that I was shocked by the callous way he spoke about my little girl because he apologized saying that he was only saying that her injuries could've been worse. I didn't want to start yelling at the doctor, so I told him to take me to Emilee."

Feeling that he should, comfort Ciara as she continued to tell him what happened, Zachary moved towards her intending to put his arms around her, but she moved away from him and continued telling him how Emilee ended up in a wheelchair.

"When I walked into the stall where Emilee was being treated, she was lying on a gurney covered with a sheet, an I.V. was in her arm. Her head was wrapped in a bandage, she was unconscious and her legs were wrapped in casts. The doctor explained how they were treating her, but I didn't hear a word he said. My eyes, my thoughts were trained on Emilee and trying to come to terms with what I was seeing. I couldn't believe that this was my daughter lying in the bed all broken and bruised, not when she'd just left me a few hours ago angry but alright. That was when I remembered what Emilee said to me before she left home. How she begged me not to force her to go with her friend. That's when I realized that I was responsible for her lying on that gurney, unconscious with both her legs broken. That's when guilt landed on me like a two ton boulder. I stood beside that gurney and promised myself that I would never again doubt anything she ever told me again."

"Has she had anymore visions besides the one she had at the airport?" Zachary asked.

"Yes," Ciara replied. "We came to be homeless because after Emilee's accident my focus became her, taking care of her and making sure she was alright. And because of that I missed a few deadlines and I lost my job. Which, meant I lost my health insurance, which meant I was totally responsible for Emilee's hospital bills. Which I was able to pay with my savings and my 401(k) account."

"Which probably didn't leave you much to pay for other things like rent and food," Zachary remarked.

"You guessed it," Ciara said her eyes still staring out of the window. "The apartment manager was a really nice lady who helped me out by paying our rent for two months after Emilee was released from the hospital. But, that still left me with the electrical, gas and groceries, which was impossible with the little bit of money I got from unemployment. By the third month, the manager and I realized that I was fighting a losing battle. So, she did the only thing she could do, which was to evict us. But, she gave us sixty days to find a new place to live, but with Emilee being in a wheelchair that was almost impossible. I didn't know what I was going to do until Emilee told me to go to my sister's job and talk to her. She said that I would find the help I needed there."

"Did you believe her," Zachary asked.

"Not really," Ciara replied. "Because I thought she was talking about my sister, and I had already talked to Brie about, Emilee, and I, staying with her, and she turned me down. But, remembering the promise, I made to believe Emilee when she had her visions, I went anyway, and just as I expected she turned me down again. I thought Emilee had gotten her signals crossed. I left Brie not knowing what I was going to do, or what I was going to tell Emilee."

"Then you met me," Zachary said.

"Then I met you," Ciara replied.

"The help that you needed."

"The help that I needed."

Zach sat back down on the couch and took a sip of his club soda.

"This is amazing," he said. "Does anyone else know about he ability?"

"No," Ciara replied. "At least I don't think so. Like I said earlier I had been chalking everything that happened as a coincidence until her accident. But, when I realized what she could do I told her not to tell anyone and Emilee is very good about doing as I tell her.

"That's good," Zachary said. "I hope no one at the airport saw or heard our reactions to what happened."

"I do too," Ciara said. "I do too."

((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

Emily Collins walked into her home still reeling from what she'd witness and experienced at the airport and her head was beginning to hurt from the annoying sound of Abigail's voice in her ears during the entire drive home.

"Do you believe what happened?" Abigail asked for what seemed to Emily like the one hundredth time.

"I was there, Abigail," Emily replied placing her purse on the table and bringing her hands up to rub her temples in the effort to block out Abigail's voice.

"How did the child know that the limo was going to be wrecked?" Abigail said her voice filled with awe over what she'd witnessed.

"She couldn't have known, Abigail," Emily said going into her sitting room and sitting down. 

"It's clear the girl saw the other car heading towards us and warned everyone."

"She couldn't have seen the other car," Abigail argued. "She was sitting in her wheelchair making impossible for her to see over the limo, meaning she couldn't have seen the car."

"Then she heard the car coming or someone screamed," Emily said.

"She warned us not to get into the limo before we heard the screeching tires and before anyone made a sound," Abigail said. "She knew about the other car before we started to get into the limo."

"What're you saying Abigail?" Emily asked, tiring of discussing what happened.

"I'm saying that, that little girl knew about the accident before it happened," Abigail replied repeating what she said earlier.

"And how do you think she knew about it beforehand?" Emily asked.

"Maybe she's...a...psychic," Abigail replied hesitantly, "or she has ...psychic abilities."

"Don't be daft, Abigail," Zachary's mother said. "Psychics don't exist and anyone claiming to be one is dodgy, only out to make people shell out for their services."

"Well, you explain what happened," Abigail challenged.

"I've given, you the only logical explanation for what happened," Emily said, "but you're not willing to accept it."

"That's because there was nothing logical about what happened," Abigail said. "And, you know it."

"I know only one thing," Emily said refusing to be drawn into Abigail's nonsense, "there's a logical explanation for what happened, and if it's not the one I gave there has to be another reason, and it's a lot more logical than the child being a psychic." 

"Well, when you find out what it is please inform me," Abigail said, "because I would love to know what it is." ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

Ciara and Emilee had been in London a week and were alone in the penthouse because Zachary had returned to work, when someone knocked on the door.

Even though she knew who it was because the doorman had called ahead and informed them that they had a visitor, Ciara still looked through the keyhole on the door before she opened it.

She smiled when she saw Colin standing on the other side of the door.

"Hello," Ciara said greeting him when she opened the door.

Colin Fischer stands six feet, two inches tall making him an inch shorter than Zachary. He weighed two hundred pounds, his facial wasn't as handsome as Zachary, but he wasn't hard on the eyes by any measure. He had dark brown eyes, wavy black hair and wore a well trimmed beard making him look very dashing.

Colin and Zachary had been friends since primary school. They became friends when Colin's mother came to work for Zach's parents. Because he didn't have the wealthy background of the rest of his friends Colin always felt out of place. 

Even though his friends never did anything to cause him to feel that way it was something he couldn't seem to get over. It caused him to work extra hard in school and in college because he saw his education as a way of securing a job that would allow him to reach the standard of living his friends were already experiencing. 

He found a job but the pay wasn't enough to help him reach his goal. So, Colin took up gambling. He would visit the racetracks twice a month hoping that he would pick a winner and improve his situation, but that wasn't working either. 

He came up with a plan to help him reach his goal, after seeing what Emilee had done at the airport, but before he could put his plan in motion he had to learn more about Emilee and her ability. After finding out that Zach had returned to work, he decided to pay Ciara and Emilee a visit at the penthouse.

"Hello," Colin replied leaning in and giving Ciara a hug before entering the penthouse. "How have you and Emilee been doing since the last time I saw you?"

"We're doing fine," Ciara said stepping back so that Colin could enter the penthouse. "We're both, just a little bored."




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 03



"Colin!"

Colin turned around when, he heard, the excited sound of Emilee's voice and saw her sitting in the living room looking at television, as she turned her wheelchair towards him.

"Emilee!" Colin replied meeting her halfway, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm so glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you too," Emilee told him as she hugged him.

"What're you watching?" Colin asked wheeling her back into the living room in front of the television.

"They have some of my favorite shows here in London," Emilee said. "I thought I wouldn't be able to see them here."

"I'm glad to hear that," Colin said. "You find anything new you like to watch?"

"MI-High," Emily replied. "I wish we could get that back home."

"So, you like spy shows," Colin said.

"Yes," Emilee replied. "I like the gadgets they use."

"What brings you, by today?" Ciara asked joining the conversation. "Shouldn't you be working?"

"I came by to see if you and the little munchkin were up to going out and seeing the sights?" Colin said. "As for work I took the day off to make sure the two of you had some fun. I know how busy Zach's been lately with working and settling his father's estate."

"That's nice of you," Ciara told him feeling a little guilty about Colin taking time off his job to take her and Emilee, sightseeing.

"Please, mom can we go?" Emilee whined. "I want to go outside. We've been inside for a whole week."

"I don't know, Emilee," Ciara said thinking about how difficult it would be to get her daughter on and off the elevator. "Maybe we should wait until Zach is here to help put you on the elevator."

"I can help with Emilee," Colin said flexing the muscles in his arms, "I'm really stronger than I appear to be."

"I didn't mean to imply that you weren't strong enough," Ciara said. "I just didn't want to put you out."

"You won't be putting me out," Colin assured her. "I came over because I wanted to take you and Emilee out to have some fun."

"Please mama," Emilee pleaded again adding puppy dog eyes for a dramatic effect.

"Alright," Ciara said. "Let me call Zach and let him know that we're going to be out sightseeing with Colin."

"You don't have to do that," Colin said. "We'll probably be back here before Zach, heads home."

"I wouldn't feel right leaving home and not letting Zach know that we're going out with you," Ciara said.

"Are you saying you don't feel safe with me," Colin teased.

"It's not that I don't feel safe with you," Ciara explained. "It's the responsible thing to do."

"You're behaving as if you and Zach are an actual married couple," Colin said chuckling.

Ciara's reaction to what Colin said let him know that he'd said the wrong thing. Her body tensed and all the fun of the moment left her eyes.

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded," Colin said quickly explaining himself, trying to repair the damage he'd done. "I was teasing with you Ciara. I said what I said as a joke. I swear I didn't say it or mean it to be disrespectful."

Ciara looked at him trying to decide if she should go with him or if she and Emilee should stay home. Colin held his breath as he watched her emotions flow over her face, hoping he hadn't screwed up, and she would decide not to go with him. Deciding to believe him, Ciara decided she and Emilee would go with him.

"Give us about thirty minutes, and we'll be ready," Ciara said pushing Emilee's wheelchair back towards their bedrooms.

When Colin was sure he was alone in the living room, he took a deep breath and plopped down on the couch. 'You almost blew it, you, bloody idiot,' he said to himself. 'You really need to be careful about what you say.'

Ciara and Emilee were dressed and heading back to the living room when Emilee asked her mother a question.

"Can I give Colin the picture I drew for him this morning?" Emilee asked.

"Sure," Ciara replied. "I'm sure he'll like it. Why wouldn't you let me see it?"

"It's a thank you gift for Colin for holding your hand on the plane," Emilee said. "I want him to see it first."

"I guess I'll see it after he sees it," Ciara said.

"He's not going to show it to you," Emilee said.

Ciara stopped pushing Emilee's wheelchair.

"Is this a vision?" she asked.

"Yes," Emilee said, "it's something that Colin needs."

"I want to see it," Ciara insisted.

"I can't mama," Emilee said knowing that her mother wouldn't approve of the picture."

"Why not?" Ciara asked.

"Because, you won't let me give it to him if you know," Emilee said.

"Is it dangerous?" Ciara asked feeling silly asking her eight year old daughter such a question.

"No," Emilee said meekly.

"I'm going to allow you to do it this, this one time," Ciara said. "But, you have to promise me you won't do it again."

"I promise," Emilee said a smile spreading across her face, happy that her mother was going to allow her to give Colin the picture without seeing it.

They found Colin standing on the balcony looking out over the city. Ciara went over and tapped on the sliding glass door. Colin turned, smiled and made his way back into the penthouse.

"We're ready to go," Ciara said, "I just have to call Zach, and we can head out afterwards."

"Why are you calling me?"

Everyone turned around as the door of the penthouse opened and Zach entered the room.

"Zach!" Emilee said holding her arms up for a hug.

"Hey, little munchkin," Zach said giving her the hug she was requesting.

"You're home early," Ciara said putting the phone back on it's base.

"I left work early because I knew you and Emilee, had been hold up in here for a week, and I knew the two of you had to be going bonkers by now," Zach said looking over at Colin surprised to find him in his home and wondering why he was there. "I thought you and Emilee might like to go out do a little sightseeing, and we'd have dinner afterwards."

"Well, it would appear that great minds think alike," Ciara said. "Colin came over to take us sightseeing. Why don't you go with us, and we can have dinner afterwards like you wanted."

"Please, Zach?" Emilee said.

"How can I turn down such a pretty face," Zach said looking down at Emilee loving the big smile on her face when he agreed to join them. "Let me change my clothes, then I'll be ready to go."

"Would you like something to drink while we wait for Zach?" Ciara asked Colin after Zach left the room.

"A glass of water would be nice," Colin replied.

"I'll be right back," Ciara said heading to the kitchen.

"I have something for you," Emilee said pulling her drawing from behind her back and presenting it to Colin.

"What's this?" Colin asked as he unfolded the picture.

"I drew it for you," Emilee said proudly.

Colin looked at the picture. It was a drawing of horses running on a race track. It was a crude drawing, the horses had square bodies, with stick legs and necks, with circles representing their heads. Stick men with stick bodies, sat on each horse representing the jockeys.

The drawing appeared to be of the end of the race with the winning horse crossing the finish line.

The first horse to cross the finish line was wearing the number one, the second horse was wearing the number three, the horse that finished third was wearing number eight. Written across the top of the drawing in red crayon were the words; Race #1.

After looking at the drawing Colin looked at Emilee his eyes full of questions.

"It's to thank you for holding my mama's hand when we were on the plane," Emilee said. "Use it tomorrow."

"Are you saying these horses are going to win the first race tomorrow?" Colin asked.

"They did in my vision," Emilee replied.

"Which track?" Colin asked.

Emilee had trouble saying the name of the racetrack but Colin understood what she was saying.

"Thank you, munchkin," he said a big smile on his face.

"You're welcome," Emilee said.

"You like the drawing?" Ciara asked walking into the living room with a bottle of water for Colin.

"I love it," Colin said looking at the drawing once more.

"May I see it?" Ciara asked. "Emilee wouldn't let me see it when I asked her saying she wanted you to see it first."

"I don't think so," Colin said rolling the drawing up before Ciara could see it. Somehow he knew that she wouldn't approve of it. "If Emilee isn't sharing, I'm not sharing either."

"Spoilsports, the both of you," Ciara said not surprised at Colin's refusal to let her see the drawing.

"We're not spoilsports," Colin said. "We're just two friends with a secret."

"That's right," Emilee said, "two friends with a secret."

"Okay," Ciara stressed. "I'll let the two of you have this one secret, but no more."

"There won't be anymore secrets, mama," Emilee said.

"Who's being a spoilsport now?" Colin teased. Zachary returned to the living room after he'd changed his clothes. Colin surprised at what Zachary was wearing had to swallow a joking comment that almost left his lips.

Zach was dressed in a denim faded, rolled sleeved, light blue, cotton shirt and a pair of jeans that fit his body very nicely. 

"I'm ready," he said tugging on the collar of the shirt, he was wearing letting everyone know that he was uncomfortable in the clothes.

Ciara didn't say anything, she just stared at him.

"Is something wrong with the way I'm dressed?" Zach asked.

"No," Ciara replied still staring at him. "I'm just not used to seeing you dressed so casually. I didn't think you owned a pair of jeans."

"Of course I own a pair of jeans," Zach said. 

"Jeans are an essential part of anyone's wardrobe. I don't see why my wearing a pair would surprise you."

"You're right," Ciara agreed, "jeans are an essential part of a person's wardrobe. But, I've never seen you wear anything but a suit the entire time we've been here. Even, when you dress down you do it by removing your jacket. I'm not used to, seeing you dressed so...so casual, so relaxed."

"Mama's right," Emilee said staring at Zach, as if she didn't recognize him, "you wear a suit all the time." "Well, I decided to dress down a little today," Zach said heading over to Emilee and pushing her wheelchair towards the door leading out of his penthouse.

That's when Ciara noticed the price tag dangling off the back pocket of his jeans.

"Are you sure those aren't new jeans?" she asked. "They look as if they've never been worn."

"No, they're not new," Zach said.

"Alright," Ciara said reaching over and pulling the price tag off the back pocket, "I guess you forgot to remove this when you put them away after purchasing them."

"I did," Zach said taking the price tag from her hand and putting it in his back pocket. "Now, can we leave?"

"I'm going to have to call off until another time," Colin said making his way over to the door of the penthouse, edging pass Emilee's wheelchair and making his way out into the hall. "I just remembered something that I have to take care of."

"You're not coming with us?" Emilee asked.

"I'm sorry little munchkin," Colin said, "but I have something that I have to take care of. I promise I'll visit you again real soon."

Not waiting for Emilee's response Colin made his way over to the elevator and pressed the down button for the lobby.

"I wonder why he's in such a hurry?" Ciara asked.

"He going to use the gift I gave him," Emilee said.

"Gift?" Zach questioned. "What gift?"

"I drew him a picture," Emilee said.

"How can he use your drawing?" Zach asked.

"To make himself happy," Emilee said smiling.

Zach turned and looked at Ciara hoping she would understand what Emilee was talking about.

"It's a secret between her and Colin," Ciara said. "She wouldn't even let me see the picture."

"Are we still going out?" Emilee asked trying to change the subject.

"Yes, we are," Zach replied. "If you ladies still want to go."

"I still want to go," Emilee said.

"So, do it," Ciara replied.

"Then ladies, let us be on our way," Zach said.

The trio left for their sightseeing tour of London and dinner afterwards.



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 04



Sorry it took me so long to update fellow members, but I'm still working on Unusual Beginning, getting it ready to be published. These two kept getting in the way of my concentration, so I wrote an update. I hope they're happy and everyone enjoys it. Leave me some feedback. I love hearing what you think of what I've written.

*

Colin walked into his flat, slammed the door shut, threw his winnings from the racetrack onto the coffee table and plopped down onto his couch. He leaned forward, rested both his elbows on his thighs, his head on his hands and began rubbing his temples trying to relieve a headache that had taken up residence in his head.

'She was right,' he thought to himself falling back on the couch, 'she was bloody right.'

The anger he felt at himself for not making the wages on the list of horses from the drawing Emilee gave him raged through his body.

"I didn't believe her!" he screamed out picking up an ashtray from his coffee table and throwing it across the room. "Why didn't I listen to her?!"

Colin knew why he didn't bet on the horses from Emilee's drawing it was because she gave him the numbers of the horses that would win the races and not the names. After doing some checking up on the horses he found that some were longshots and some of the horses' records didn't impress him enough to risk his money on them. So he took all his money and placed a wager on the horse with what he considered the best odds of winning, and that was the horse in the second race.

Then he went and sat in the stands and watched the races. When the first horse on Emilee's list won its race Colin chalked it up to luck. When his horse won the second race, he chalked it up to his common sense.

But when the third horse won its race Colin's confidence in his decision to ignore Emilee's selections began to wane. By the fourth race, he was calling himself all kinds of asses. As the winner of the fifth race crossed the finish line Colin was on his way to collect his winnings, anxious to leave the racetrack disgusted with himself and his stupidity.

"There will be no more secrets, mama."

Emilee's words popped into his head. 'I hope she didn't mean that was the only tip or drawing she was going to give me.' Colin thought to himself, 'because if that's what she meant I'm going to have to come up with some way of changing her mind. Starting now as a plan grew in his mind.'

He pulled out his cell phone about to call Zach's condo, then changing his mind; thinking of a better way to put his plan into motion closed his phone, picked up his winnings off the coffee table and made his way out of his flat. He had some shopping to do.

******************

"Did you have fun yesterday?" Zach asked Emilee as he, Ciara and Emilee sat down to eat dinner.

"Yes, I did," Emilee replied. "Can we do it again tomorrow?" she asked almost jumping out of her wheelchair.

"No," Ciara replied before Zach could answer, "you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, young lady."

"Oh, yeah," Emilee said her smile disappearing. "I forgot."

"It's going to be alright, sweetheart." Ciara said knowing that Emilee was nervous about seeing a new doctor going over and giving her baby a hug, "you don't have to be nervous we're going to see the doctor that Dr. Chambers your doctor in Atlanta recommended. Remember he gave us a copy of your medical files to give to the doctor here so that he would know all about you and how he's been treating you and your legs, and he sent a copy to Dr. Burke. I'm sure he's going to give you the best treatment he can."

"And you seemed to like him when we visited his office," Zach remarked coming to stand next to Emilee's wheelchair.

"I do like him," Emilee said. "I'm just nervous about seeing a new doctor. "I'm use to Dr. Chambers being my doctor."

"Dr. Chambers is in Atlanta." Ciara said snuggling her nose against Emilee's, "And you're in London, and you need to continue having your legs treated so that you can have your casts removed soon."

"I can't wait for that day," Emilee said her smile returning. "I'll be able to stand, walk, run and go to the bathroom by myself once again."

Ciara and Zach laughed.

"It's not funny," Emilee said a hint of anger in her voice. "I feel like a baby every time I have to go to the bathroom because someone has to help me."

"You won't be in that chair too much longer," Ciara said trying to comfort her daughter.

"I wouldn't be in it at all if you had listened to me that day," Emilee mumbled under her breath.

The truth of Emilee's words pierced Ciara's heart like a knife and the guilt she felt about Emilee's accident wrapped its arms around her and lay heavily on her body like a gigantic weight almost causing her legs to collapse under her.

"I'm sorry," she told Emilee tightening her hold on her.

"I didn't mean what I said mommy," Emilee said hugging Ciara and crying. "I know it's not your fault that I'm in this chair and my legs aren't working. I just get so mad sometimes. I hate being in this chair."

"I know sweetheart," Ciara said tears streaming down her face also by this time. "But, like I said you won't be in this chair too much longer, just wait and see. Pretty soon you'll be strutting around like the big girl everyone knows you are."

"I can't wait," Emilee said the brightest smile Ciara had ever seen on her face.

Ciara and Emilee were heading to the bathroom to prepare Emilee for a bath and bed when someone knocked on Zach's condo door.

"I'll get it," Zach said making his way towards the door.

Zach opened the door and was surprised to see Colin standing there with an arm full of toys.

"Well, if it isn't Santa Claus," he said his voice filled with sarcasm.

"Not exactly Santa Clause," Colin said ignoring the sarcastic tone of Zach's voice and stepping inside Zach's condo making his way over to Emilee, "just a grateful friend bearing gifts to a friend."

Emilee's eyes lit up when she saw Colin walking towards her with his load of toys, but the light disappeared as he neared her when a vision appeared before her eyes. It revealed that Colin hadn't used the information she gave him and that he was very unhappy about it and expected her to give him drawings with horses on them.

Wearing a big fake smile on his face Colin placed the toys in her lap and around her chair.

"My way of saying thank you," Colin said to Emilee as he kissed her on the cheek causing her to flinch.

"But, you didn't do like I told you," Emilee replied ignoring the toys.

"I didn't do exactly as you told me," Colin admitted, "but I did use part of it and it helped me a lot. I'm very happy with the results and this is my way of saying thank you."

"I can't help you again." Emilee said letting him know that she knew why he'd come to see her. "I promised mommy that I would do it only that one time."

"I didn't come here for that," Colin said a forced smile on his face.

Emilee knew he was lying so she told him she couldn't accept the toys he brought with him.

Her refusal of his gifts caught Colin off guard. He didn't know what to do.

"I told you I didn't come over here to get you to help me again," Colin said anger and frustration rising up in him. "But I'm sure your mum wouldn't mind if you helped me one more time, if I promise to follow your instructions to the letter this time."

"No," Emilee said pushing the toys on her lap onto the floor with the rest of the toys Colin brought her.

"Look, you little ..."

"Mama!" Emilee screamed as Colin charged towards her his eyes and voice filled anger.

Ciara jumped in front of Emilee, caught Colin by the arm, threw him over her back onto the floor, took her fist and slammed it into his face stunning him. When he went to get up she took her foot and pressed it against his chest pinning him down to the floor.

"You had better think about what you're going to do before you get up," she told him standing over him in a judo fighting stance ready to hit him again, "because if your intention is to hurt my child you had better stay down there."

Zach stood in the room stunned speechless by what he'd just witnessed. It was Ciara's threat to hurt Colin if he got back up that brought him back to his senses. He went over to his soon to be ex-friend, grabbed him by his collar jerking him up from the floor and pushing him towards the door.

"It's time for you to leave," he told Colin as he opened the door to his condo and threw him out into the hallway. Zach closed the door to his condo as he followed Colin out into the hallway. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked as he stood over his former friend.

"I don't know what came over me." Colin said bringing his arm up protecting his face because he thought Zach was going to hit him. "I don't know why I behaved the way I did. Let me go in and apologise to Ciara and Emilee." Colin said making his way over to the door of Zach's condo.

"You're not going back in there," Zach told him putting himself between Colin and the door. "There's no way I'm going to let you go back inside, not after the way you treated Emilee."

"Okay," Colin said sounding contrite and apologetic, "then will you go in there and talk to them for me? "Get, Emilee to agree to help me out one more time. I'm sure you could talk her into doing it."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Zach asked him almost giving into his urge to hit the idiot standing in front of him. "You're actually asking and expecting me to not only use my, step-daughter but to talk her into helping you, when she has not only refused to help you, but promised her mother, my wife that she wouldn't help you again?"

"Please," Colin pleaded not realizing that Zach was angry with him, "i you talk to her and get her to change her mind, we could go in together and both make money."

"Do you realize how ridiculous, disgusting and dishonest what you're suggesting sounds?" Zach asked truly amazed that he'd once consider Colin to be a friend of his.

"All I'm asking you to do is talk to Emilee," Colin said, "to give me one more set of winners. I promise I won't ever ask her to do it again."

"I'm not going to do it," Zach reiterated, "and you need to leave before I kick your arse."

"Alright," Colin said about to make another suggestion, "I'm sorry for asking you to talk to or trick Emilee into helping me, okay. I was wrong."

"Why did you think that I would go along with what you're suggesting?" Zach asked needing to know why Colin thought he would go along with something so distasteful.

"Because, you're my friend," Colin replied. "I thought you would want to help a bloke out."

"I wouldn't do that, Colin," Zach told him, "friend or not."

"I apologise once again," Colin said. "If I'd known it would upset you, I never would've made the suggestion."

"Apology accepted," Zach said his anger subsiding a little, "and don't ever make such a suggestion to me ever again."

"I won't." Colin said seeing Zach's body relax a little and his anger easing. "Do you think Ciara would talk to Emilee for me?"

Colin's question caused Zach's body to tense up once again and his anger to turn into rage. He was so angry he balled his left hand into a fist; as he continued listening to the idiot in front of him speak.

"Could you ask Ciara to speak to Emilee for me?" Colin asked overlooking his friend's reaction to what he was saying. "I'm sure if she asked or told Emilee to help me that Emilee would give me what I'm asking for."

"I'm about to do what you asked me earlier and help a bloke out," Zach said bringing his fist up and hitting Colin on the jaw.

Pain shot through Colin's jaw as his body hit the wall then landed on the floor.

"Why you ..." Colin said pushing against the floor as he went to stand.

"You bastard," Zach said the anger, he was feeling coming through his right fist as he hit Colin in the face once again knocking him back down onto the floor.

"You're going to pay for that," Colin shouted getting up from the floor, charging towards Zachary.

"The only one who's going to pay for anything around here is you," Zach said hitting Colin again when he was close enough, this time in the nose causing blood to spurt from it.

The sound of the two men arguing and fighting brought Ciara to the door.

"What's going on out here?" she asked surprised to find Zach and Colin fighting in the hallway, gasping when she saw blood flowing from Colin's nose.

"Don't," Zach said taking hold of Ciara's arm when she moved towards Colin concern on her face and in her eyes when she went over to help him. "He's leaving and he won't be back. Isn't that right Colin?"

"I'm sorry Ciara." Colin said coming to his feet ignoring Zach hoping he hadn't completely cut himself off from access to Emilee.

"Be on your way," Zach ordered taking hold of Ciara's hand and guiding her back into his condo, "and don't come back. He slammed the door in Colin's face leaving him standing in the hallway.

Colin stood in front of Zach's condo panicking, knowing that he'd truly messed up. Ciara wouldn't allow him anywhere near Emilee after the way he behaved when Emilee refused to help him and when Zach told her why they were fighting.

'I've got to fix this,' he thought to himself as he took his hand and ran it through his hair.

He left Zach's place but not because Zach ordered him to, it was because he needed time to think of a way to get back into Ciara's and Emilee's good graces. He went over and pressed the button to call for the elevator. The elevator arrived and he stepped on to it.

"Damn!" he said angry with himself as the doors to the elevator closed, for screwing up so badly. "Damn!" he said again this time hitting the wall of the elevator. "I've got to fix this!"

When the elevator arrived on the ground floor Colin was surprised when the doors opened to see Abigail waiting to step onto it. Seeing her standing there and knowing that the only reason she was there was to see Zachary allowed an idea to start brewing in his mind and a smile to spread across his face. He'd found a possible solution to his problem.

"Hello, Abigail," he said smiling at her as he walked off the elevator.

Abigail looked at Colin, her blue eyes seemingly looking through him, treating him, as if he didn't exist as she normally did.

Abigail Stapleton, five feet, five inches tall, weighing one hundred-ten pounds with a heart shaped face, flawless skin, a model thin figure impeccably dressed in the latest fashion designed by the latest designers, worn by the very class conscious.

She didn't like Colin. She considered him to be a hanger oner, a user, a wannabe, desperately trying to climb the social ladder that pretended to be Zachary's friend hoping the wealth that Zach grew up with would eventually rub off on him. She considered him to be a fool for believing in such a notion. Her dislike for him wasn't a secret to anyone who knew her. She showed it every chance she got. 

Normally, when he said hello to her, she would walk by him without responding, as if he wasn't speaking to her. But, since Zachary had married Ciara, and he wasn't willing to speak to her or be alone with her so that she could talk to him about his decision to marry someone else rather than her to claim the inheritance his father left him. She decided that she should change the way she treated him, since he might come in handy if she needed someone to talk to Zachary for her.

"Hello, Colin," she replied smiling at him.

"Are you going to see Zachary?" Colin asked.

"Why do you ask?" Abigail replied.

"Because, if you are I suggest you visit another day," Colin suggested, "things aren't going to well for the happy couple today."

This bit of news garnered Abigail's attention. She came by to visit Zachary because she wanted to know how his marriage to his southern belle was doing. She was hoping that their relationship was beginning to show signs of crumbling.

Abigail knew that hoping to see signs of trouble so soon was wishful thinking, on her part, especially since the woman and her child had only been in London for a week or so but she couldn't help herself. She wanted Zach's charade of a marriage to end so that she could send the Georgia peach and her child home, and she could take her rightful place at Zach's side as she wife. And the quicker that happened the happier she would be.

"What happened?" she asked Colin.

"I don't think it would be proper for me to answer that question." Colin said turning away from Abigail. "I only told you what did because I didn't want you to go up to Zach's place and hear him and his new wife having a row."

Colin loved the flash of anger that flashed in Abigail's eyes and the shade of red that spread across her face when he called Ciara, Zach's wife. He could almost smell the jealousy she felt for Ciara being married to the man she always considered to be her future husband.

"Wait a minute," Abigail said going over to him and placing her hand on his shoulder to stop him from leaving. "You can't tell me something like that and just walk away from me without offering me a bit more information."

"I told you, I'm not going to discuss Zach's personal affairs with you." Colin said turning to leave knowing that she wouldn't let him leave, not until she had the information she wanted, which on he could provide.

"Wait," Abigail said stepping in front of Colin preventing him from leaving. "Why don't we go somewhere, get a drink, sit down and talk?"

Colin almost laughed out loud at the come hither she wore on her face and the sensual smile she had pasted on her lips trying to entice him with promises of things he knew she had no intention of keeping.

'I hope she doesn't think I'm going to fall for her little act.'' Colin thought to himself. 'I know what she thinks of me, although, shagging her might be an interesting prospect indeed.'

"Where do you want to go for a drink?"

"I'll let you choose," Abigail said her smile growing bigger because she thought she'd drawn Colin into her web, "I trust you to choose the perfect place."

******************

"Is he gone?" Emilee asked her mother as she and Zach walked back into his condo.

"Yes, baby, he's gone." Ciara replied going over to comfort and reassure her daughter. "He won't be back."

"I'm sorry," Emilee said her eyes turning watery.

"None of this is your fault," Zach told her walking over to her wheelchair and kneeling down beside her. "You're not responsible for the way Colin behaved."

"It's my fault that he's unhappy," Emilee said. "I told him what to do, but he didn't do it."

"What kind of picture did you draw for him?" Ciara asked.

"It was a picture of horses running races," Emilee replied.

"I see." Ciara said arching her brows and looking at Zach, both understanding why Colin was angry.

"Did I do something wrong?" Emilee asked.

"No, baby," Ciara replied. "Why did you draw him a picture of horses running races?"

"Because that's the vision I had," Emilee replied, "and it was for Colin."

"What were you doing when the vision appeared?" Zach asked trying to see if he could figure out when Emilee's vision's appeared.

"I was wishing I could think of a way to thank Colin for holding mama's hand on the plane." Emilee replied, "And the vision appeared."

"I see," Zach said. "Has this happened before?"

"It happened when I wished I could help mama find someone to help us." Emilee replied. "I felt sad watching beg her sister to let us stay with her, so I wished that I could help her and a vision of the hotel appeared, and I told her to go there and that's when we met you."

"Do you always have visions when you wish for things?" Zach asked.

"No," Emilee replied, "sometimes they just appear to me."

"I think it's time I gave you a bath and put you to be," Ciara said. "You've had a pretty exciting day young lady.




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 04



"But I'm not sleepy," Emilee whined. 

"You don't have to go to sleep. You can read a book until you're ready to fall asleep," her mother said.

"I think watching an hour of television will be more relaxing," Emilee said smiling coyly.

"Alright," Ciara said marveling at her daughter's negotiating skills, "an hour of television, then its lights' out and off to sleep. Say goodnight to Zachary."

"Goodnight Zachary," Emilee said holding her arms out for a hug.

"Goodnight, munchkin," Zach replied giving her, her hug. "I'll see you in the morning."

After Ciara had given Emilee her bath and put her to bed she and Zach sat alone in the living room thinking about the events of the evening neither of them saying a thing to the other.

"Ciara ..."

"I don't want that ... that ... anywhere near my child ever again." Ciara said standing and walking over to the picture window. "If he comes near either Emilee or me again I'll ..."

"He won't." Zach said going over to the window and standing behind her. "I promise you Colin won't get within thirty meters of either you or Emilee."

"I can't believe the he acted," Ciara said her anger growing as she thought about the way Colin threatened Emilee, "the way he spoke to Emilee."

"Did you know about the drawing?" Zach asked.

"I knew she was giving him a drawing." Ciara replied. "But I didn't know what it was a drawing of. She said it was a secret between her and Colin, something he needed to make him happy. I never dreamed she was giving him horse racing tips, or I wouldn't have allowed her to give the drawing to him."

"Did you know that she could make a wish and a vision would appear?"

"No, I figured she was too young to tell me how or when her visions appeared. I'm sorry about this Zach. I should have looked at the drawing before she gave it to that clown, and I could've kept all of this from happening."

"You're not responsible for what Colin did," Zach said turning Ciara to face him. "Colin's the one who should be apologizing and be ashamed of himself for coming here with the intention of using an impressionable little girl."

They stood in front of the picture window staring into each other's eyes. Him marveling at the deep, dark, rich brown color of hers and her getting lost in the warm chocolate brown color of his. 

Zach gave in to an urge that always came over him whenever he was around her. He took his hand brought it up and gently stroked her cheek, enjoying the softness of her skin as it moved under his fingertips.

"Your skin is so smooth and soft," he said his voice just above a whisper. "It reminds me of the finest silk."

"Did you say something?" she asked still lost in the deepness of his eyes, and she realized that his lips were moving, but she didn't hear what he said.

"I said I want to kiss you." Zachary replied as he put his arms around her and lowered his lips near hers to get what he desired.

"I think it's time for me to head off to bed." 

Ciara said pressing her hand gently against his chest stopping the kiss they almost shared.

"Alright," Zachary said, "but can I get a kiss on the cheek before you go?"

"I don't see anything wrong with that," Ciara said after giving his request some thought.

Zach turned his face to the side and leaned down so that Ciara could kiss him on the cheek, as her lips neared his face, he changed position and her lips landed on his lips giving him a quick peck.

"Thank you," Zachary said going and sitting back down in the couch.

"You sneak." Ciara said tapping him on the head as she left the living room and made her way to her room.

'It might've been sneaky,' Zach said to himself smiling, 'but you didn't say you didn't enjoy it.'



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 05



I know it's been a long time coming and I'm sorry you had to wait so long. But for the faithful I present Chapter 5. I hope you'll enjoy and find that the wait was worth it. Those of you who gave up maybe this will cause you to give Zachary and Ciara another chance. Either way enjoy. 

*

"I can't believe that bastard!" Aaron replied after Zach told him, Gideon and Alexander about what happened at his condo between him and Colin.

Zach and his friends were having breakfast at their favorite restaurant where he asked them to meet him so that he could tell them about Colin.

"I wanted to wring his bloody neck," Zach said his anger returning as he thought about his former friend's behavior towards Emilee.

"How is Emilee doing?" Alexander asked.

"She's scared Colin's going to come back and hurt her," Zach replied.

"The poor girl," Gideon said.

"Look whose headed our way," Aaron said looking in the direction of the restaurant's entrance.

They were all surprised to see Colin walk through the entrance. Everyone watched him as he looked around, saw them and made his way over to them.

Colin kept walking towards the table where Zachary was also sitting and knowing that he'd told everyone about his behavior from the previous night of what he knew by now were his former friends were sitting. He thanked God that the four set of angry eyes trained on him didn't have the power to strike him dead or make him burst into flames where he stood because if they did he knew he would be drawing his next breath.

He was hoping that Zach, and the others would allow him the opportunity to explain his behavior towards Emilee, but he didn't put too much faith in that happening, not if Zach had already given them all the gory details of what he'd done. However, he had to try because he wanted to try to keep his friendship with Zach and the others intact.

He didn't see any reason for him and Zach not to become friends again, especially since his marriage to Ciara wasn't real, and he had no romantic feelings towards her.

Colin refused to believe that Zach would hold what happened against him. He was also hoping that some of the others in their group would side with him and help him in gaining Zach's forgiveness if that was what it took after, he told them his side of what happened. But the angry looks he saw in everyone's eyes told him that wasn't going to happen.

"Hello chaps," Colin said smiling as he approached the men. They didn't return his greeting or his smile. They all simply stared at him.

"I'm going to assume from the looks on your faces that Zach has told you all about what happened at his place yesterday evening."

No one answered him they all just continued staring at him.

"Does anyone want to hear my version of what happened?" Colin asked becoming angry that they all believed Zach without waiting to hear his side of things.

"Of course we want to hear your version of what happened." Gideon said. "Why don't you tell us all about how you went over to your friend's house to get his step-daughter to give you winning picks on the horse races?"

They all watched as Colin stammered trying to think of a response to Gideon's accusation.

"How could you do such a thing?" Alexander asked.

"I just wanted Emilee to give me the winner of one race." Colin said. "She did it before; one more time wouldn't have hurt."

"She did it the first time because she didn't know any better." Zach said. "She gave you those winning horses because she wanted to thank you for comforting her mother during our flight to London. You knew what you were asking her to do was wrong, and you tried to take advantage of her."

"Oh come off it," Colin said pulling a chair away from the table next to where Zach and the other were sitting and sitting down, "don't sit here and tell me the four of you wouldn't have made those wagers if Emilee had given you the winning horses instead of me. All of you would've gone back for more if the first picks she gave you had proven to be right just as I did."

"Whether we would've done as you did isn't the issue here," Aaron told him. "The issue is your despicable attempt to use a child who didn't understand the consequences of what she was doing and who was trying to reward you for the kindness you showed her mother."

"I know what I did was wrong." Colin said finally admitting what he'd done. "The only excuse I have for what I did is temporary insanity, I lost my head. It's not every day that one meets someone like Emilee with such an extraordinary ability. I want the opportunity to apologize to her and Ciara for the way I behaved and for frightening, Emilee."

"You're not to go near either Ciara or Emilee." Zach told him the tone of his voice deadly serious. "If you do you'll regret it."

"Why don't you want me to go near them, Zach?" Colin asked the tone of his voice snide, a smirk on his face. "Do you want to be the only one with access to Emilee's ability? Why aren't you willing to share her with the rest of us?"

If Colin that statement would bring some of the men sitting at the table over to his side, he was gravely mistaken.

"I'm going to give you three seconds to get up from this table and walk out of here under your own power." Zach told him. "And I think you should know that you've already used up two of them."

"I'm not afraid of you," Colin told Zach. "Perhaps you've forgotten that I grew up in the streets and slums of London, the toughest slums this city has. I used wealthy boys like you as punching bags to train for the real fights I had to endure on almost a daily basis to survive those slums, so if you think you can take me go ahead and take your best shot."

Zach was about to reach across the table and grab Colin around the neck and choke the smirk he wore on his off when Alexander stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Let me deal with our friend." he told Zach his eyes trained on Colin. "Let's take this outside Colin. We don't want to ruin the other patrons' meals by coming to fists to cuffs in front of them do we?"

"Anywhere to settle this will be fine with me," Colin said easing his chair back and standing.

"Thank you," Alex said throwing his arm around Colin's shoulders and walking out of the restaurant with him, as if they were still friends.

"How do you want to do this?" Colin asked once they were outside the restaurant shrugging Alex's arm off his shoulders and standing in a fighter's stance.

"I didn't come out here to fight you." Alex told him. "I wanted us to come out here to discuss the situation like gentlemen."

"I don't th..."

Alex cut off whatever Colin was about to say by bringing his right leg up to give Colin a roundhouse kick to his face sending his six feet, two-inch frame crashing to the ground. When Colin tried to stand Alex kicked him in the face causing blood to come gushing from his nose.

"You ass!" Colin screamed pulling out a handkerchief from inside his jacket pocket, placing it onto his nose, tilting his head back to try and stop the flow of blood.

"As I said before I came out here to discuss the situation like gentlemen," Alex said, "but I realized that we were one gentleman short."

"I'll get..."

"You'll get the message and do as Zachary said, and you'll stay away from Emilee and Ciara," Alex told him. "And one more thing you'll do well to remember is that we wealthy boys as you called us might not spend too much time fighting on the streets, but we love gyms and are able to pay for self-defense classes from some of the best fighters in the world. And we have to luxury of spending as much time as we wish to take those classes, because unlike you a nine to fiver who has to worry about such pesky things as paying rent and buying food we don't have such trivial worries."

"This isn't over," Colin yelled as Alexander turned and walked away from him leaving him lying on the ground.

"I know that." Alex said turning back around to face Colin. "Zach doesn't know or realize what a sick little coward you really are."

"What're you talking about?" Colin asked.

"Your gambling habit," Alexander replied.

"I don't have a gambling habit," Colin told Alexander his tone letting his former friend know that he'd insulted him.

"You keep telling yourself that." Alexander said his voice filled with anger and disgust. "But I know the signs; I saw them in my brother when he became involved in gambling. I saw him become so involved that he begged money from everyone he knew from my father to our cook to either pay off a debt or to try and score the big win, the one that would set him up for life. My brother and I were the sons of one of the richest men in the U.K. He was already set for life. There was no reason for him to start gambling. He allowed it to ruin his life. He lost his entire inheritance, and then too ashamed to face the mess he made of his life he committed suicide."

"I'm not your brother," Colin said. "I'm not weak like him."

"Famous last words," Alex replied as he turned once again to go back into the restaurant. "You just remember to stay away from Ciara and Emilee." ****************

"Is my son home," Emily Collins asked Ciara as she haughtily walked passed her into Zach's condo after Ciara opened the door.

"No," Ciara replied as her eyes rolled up towards the ceiling. "Zachary isn't here."

"Good," Mrs. Collins replied taking a seat on the living room couch and making herself comfortable. "I didn't come here to see him, I came to see you."

Ciara didn't say anything in response to Zach's mother's declaration because her visit wasn't an unexpected one.

Emily reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope.

"This," she said holding it up and showing it to Ciara, "contains the results of a private investigator that I had do background checks on you and your daughter."

"And?" Ciara replied.

"I believe you know what's in the report," Mrs. Collins said wondering why Ciara was so calm. "I'm here to give you and your daughter the opportunity to return to the states without me revealing the contents of the envelope to my son."

"I'm not leaving my husband," Ciara said calling Zach her husband just to see his mother cringe.

"I understand why you might be hesitant to leave." Mrs. Collins said. "You're in desperate of the money my son promised you to stay married to him. You need it to help your daughter recuperate from the accident that put her in the wheelchair. I'm willing to pay Emilee's medical bills and make sure she gets the physical therapy she needs if you and she will go back to the states within the next forty-eight hours."

"I'm not leaving my husband," Ciara said.

"My son isn't actually your husband," Mrs. Collins said.

"Your son and I are married," Ciara replied. "That makes me his wife and him my husband."

"Your marriage to Zach isn't a real marriage," Mrs. Collins said. "Zach only married to you to secure his one hundred million pound inheritance and you only married him because it would benefit you and your Emilee."

'One hundred million pounds,' Ciara thought to herself managing to only lift an eyebrow at what she'd just learned. She knew that she, and Zach was getting married to satisfy the conditions his father made in his will to get his inheritance, but she didn't know it was that much.

"Even though this marriage isn't an actual marriage Zach won't like what he reads in this report," Mrs. Collins said. "When he finds out that you've neglected to tell him certain things before marrying him, he's going to be very upset with you, things that could embarrass him, our family and our public image. I'm offering you a way out that would allow you to get out of this situation that won't embarrass either you or Zachary and help you financially. If you care about your daughter you should at least consider what I'm offering you."

"I'm not leaving Zachary," Ciara told his mother for the third time. "Now if you've said everything you came here to say I would appreciate you leaving before Emilee wakes up from her nap."

Ciara went over and opened the door to the condo letting her mother know that she was serious in her desire for her to leave.

"You're going to regret this," Mrs. Collins said standing and making her way towards the door. "I'm going to tell my son about the investigation and show him the contents of this envelope. I'm giving you one more chance to change your mind."

"Do what you must, Mrs. Collins," Ciara told her holding the door waiting for Zach's mother to leave. ****************

Two hours later Emily Collins was taking a lift up to her son's office the envelope she showed Ciara clutched tightly in her hand. She knew that Zach would probably be angry with her when she told him about the background check she did on Ciara and Emilee, but she was confident that he would forgive her once he read what she discovered about Ciara.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Collins," Zach's secretary said as his mother approached her desk.

"Good afternoon, Clara," Mrs. Collins replied. "Is my son available?"

"Let me check," Clara replied picking up the phone and buzzing Zach's office.

"Yes, Clara," Zach replied answering the phone.

"Mrs. Collins is here to see you," Clara told him.

"My wife is here?" Zach asked excited at the prospect of Ciara and Emilee coming to see him.

"No, sir," Clara said sorry she hadn't made herself clearer. "It's your mother."

"Oh." Zach replied his voice sounding less cheerful. "Send her in."

Zach moved from behind his desk and went over to open the door so that he could greet his mother. They hadn't spoken to each other since he returned to London with his wife and step-daughter. He opened the door steeling his nerves, preparing for the argument he knew that he was going to have with his mother. 

"Hello mother," Zach said bending down and greeting his mother with his usual kiss on the cheek when she stopped in front of him, leading her over to the couch that sat on the wall across from his desk.

"Hello Zachary," his mother replied as she sat down on the couch. "I came by because I need to speak to you about something very important."

"And what is that mother?" Zach asked returning to his seat behind his desk.

"I've done something that I know you're going to find very upsetting," his mother said, "but I hope you understand that I was looking out for your best interest."

"What have you done mother?" Zach asked his voice becoming tense.

"I had your wife and step-daughter investigated," Mrs. Collins said holding the envelope she was holding out for Zach to take. "And I found out something that I'm sure she didn't see fit to tell you before you married her."

"You had no right to do that mother," Zachary said pushing his chair back from behind his desk and standing.

"I did it to protect you." his mother declared. "I did it because you married a stranger, with not only a child but an injured child, then you brought them here and presented them to me as your new family. You did this without knowing anything about the woman, without any regard to how her becoming a member of this family might affect me or you. I know you only did to claim the inheritance your father left you, and because you didn't want to have to marry Abigail, a woman who would've made a much better wife for you than Ciara and would've been the perfect addition to our family. She would've spared us the possible shame that the woman you did marry might bring upon us if what learned about her gets out."

"What did the private investigator find out about Ciara?" Zach asked his mother.

"He didn't find anything criminal about her," Mrs. Collins replied her voice holding a hint of disappointment at that announcement. "It appears that Ciara was a law abiding citizen. The information the investigator discovered was about the little girl she's calling her daughter. It appears that the little girl isn't her daughter but her niece."

Mrs. Collins paused to gauge her son's reaction to what she'd just said. There was no reaction he simply stared at her.

"Ciara adopted the girl after her mother, Cara, who was Ciara's twin and a drug addict, died of a drug overdose after giving birth to Emilee," Mrs. Collins said sitting back waiting once again for her son's reaction to what she'd just revealed to him.

"Is that it mother?" Zach asked his tone nonchalant and calm.

"Isn't that enough?" his mother asked not understanding her son's attitude. "Ciara lied to you. She let you believe that she was Emilee's natural mother. She should have told you, she adopted the child, and that Emilee's mother was her sister before you married her." 

"Ciara is Emilee's mother, whether she gave birth to her, or she adopted her," Zach said. "They have a loving mother-daughter relationship."

"How can you say that?" his mother asked. "It's obvious that she's ashamed of the girl and the circumstances of the child's birth. If she wasn't she would've told you the truth before she agreed to marry you."

"She did tell me."

"What?" his mother replied.

Zach covered his moth with his hand to hide the smile that appeared on his face at the shocked look on his mother's face.

"You knew that Emilee is actually Ciara's niece?"

"Yes, I did," Zach replied taking his seat behind his desk. "Ciara told me all about Emilee, her sister and the circumstances of Emilee's birth before we were married."

"That explains her reaction when I confronted her with what I knew earlier today," his mother said to stunned to stop the word from slipping pass her lips.

"What do you mean when you confronted her earlier?" Zach asked.

"I went by your condo to see Ciara before coming here to see you," his mother replied knowing that she had no choice but to tell her son the truth after she'd given herself away. "I told her I wouldn't tell you what my investigator found out about Emilee if she flew back to the states and quietly divorced you."

"What did Ciara say?"

"She said that she wasn't going to leave you," his mother replied. "I offered to pay Emilee's medical bills and her physical therapy and she still refused to leave."

Zach couldn't stop the smile that slowly spread across face upon hearing Ciara's response to his mother's threat. He knew that she probably responded the way she had because she had already told him about Emilee, but the fact that she decided to stay even after his mother offered to pay her filled him with pride.

"Why didn't you tell me about the child?" his mother asked bringing him out of his thoughts.

"It was none of your business mother," Zach replied. "Ciara told me because she expected someone to investigate her background and she didn't want me to be blindsided if they found out about Emilee. Even though adoption records are sealed and not a part of the public information records. She didn't trust that someone with money would allow that to stop them."

"Zach!"

Zach and his mother turned towards the sound of the voice of the person calling his name as the door to his office flew open. They saw Abigail charging into his office, his secretary right behind her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Collins," Clara said. "I tried to stop her."

"I would've called, Zach," Abigail said making her way towards Zach's desk, "but what I have to tell you is too important for me to say over the phone."

"Hello, Abigail," Zach replied. "I'll handle it from here Clara."

"Alright Mr. Collins," Clara replied as she backed out of Zach's office and closed the door.

"Hello Abigail." Abigail almost jumped out of her skin surprised to hear someone else calling her name.

"Hello, Mrs. Collins," she replied surprised to see but glad to see Zach's mother sitting on the couch in his office. "I didn't see you sitting there."

"That's obvious my dear," Mrs. Collins replied.

"What do you have to tell me?" Zach asked Abigail.




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 05



"It's about that woman you married," Abigail replied. "I found out something that I bet she didn't tell you before she accepted your marriage proposal."

"And what would that be?" Zach asked.

"She isn't the little girl's mother." Abigail said. "The little girl is her niece whose mother died after giving birth to her because of a drug overdose."

"Abigail how did you get this information about Emilee?" Zach asked.

"I was concerned that, that woman might be using you," Abigail replied. "So I had her investigated."

"You don't know anything about Ciara," Zach said, "neither of you do. So how did you have her investigated?"

"Colin called me and told me about an argument that you and Ciara had last night." Mrs. Collins replied. "I asked him if he knew anything about Ciara, and he told me that she had a sister who worked at the hotel you have in Atlanta. I called there and spoke to her sister, and she told me about Emilee and gave me all the information I needed about Ciara to have her investigated."

"He told me the same information," Abigail said, "after I paid him six thousand pounds."

"He charged me five thousand pounds," Zach's mother said.

Neither of you had the right to have Ciara investigated or to interfere in my life," Zach said.

"I have every right," his mother said. "You're my son and I love you."

"If you love me mother you'll accept the decisions I make concerning how I live my life," Zach said.

"I know that you have the right to live your life as you please," his mother said, "and as you stated if I love you I'll accept those decisions, but this is one I don't think I can accept, Zach. Not when it's so obvious to anyone with eyes or half a brain that it's wrong."

"Whether my decision to marry Ciara is right or wrong you have no say so in the matter," Zach told his mother. "I won't have you nosing about in my affairs."

"You've never spoke to me this way before you married that woman," his mother said.

"You never interfered in my life before I married Ciara," Zach replied. "There was no need for me to speak to you in such a manner before."

"Well," his mother said getting up from the couch and standing preparing to leaved Zach's office, "I'm not going to stand by and watched that woman ruin your life."

"I'm not going to allow you to keep interfering in my life," Zach said. "So you have a choice to make mother one that you'll have to live with long after Ciara and I go our separate ways." His mother didn't say anything in response, she simply straighten her back and walked out of her son's office.

"Zach, I only wanted to..."

"Goodbye Abigail," Zach said going over and holding the door to his office open so that he could close when she left.

Zachary went over to his desk picked up the phone and dialed his home number. He smiled when Ciara picked up the phone on the third ring.

"Hello," she said.

"I heard you had a visitor today," Zach said.

"Yes, I did," Ciara replied. "How did she react when she found out you already knew?"

"I'll tell you when I come home," Zach said.

"I'll be waiting," Ciara replied.

"Are you going to do as Zach asked and not interfere in his life?" Abigail asked Mrs. Collins as they rode the lift down to the lobby.

"I'm going to make him think I'm not interfering," Mrs. Collins replied. "But I assure I'm not going to stand by and watch that woman get her claws into my son."

"I'll do all I can to help you," Abigail replied a big smile on her face.



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 06



Hello fellow members. Some of you have posted and emailed that you aren't happy with the length of time between updates for my stories and for this I'm truly sorry. In the future I promise not to post another story until I'm finished with it. That way I'll keep my readers happy and myself out of the dog house. Here's chapter 6 of Zachary and Ciara. 

*

"Is the penthouse ready?" Brie asked her assistant as she mentally ran down a list of all the things she needed to do to prepare for her sister's arrival.

"Yes, it's ready," her assistant replied.

"Let me know when my sister arrives," Brie told her. "I'll be in my office."

"Will do," her assistant replied. "You really should relax. Your sister isn't due to arrive until later this evening."

"I know I just want things to be perfect when she arrives," Brie said releasing a sigh. "I don't want her to have anything to complain to her husband about."

"I can't believe your sister's married to our new boss," Brie's assistant said.

"I can't believe it either," Brie replied.

"Did you know they were seeing each other?"

"No," Brie replied. "I found out about them at the same time everyone else did when I found out, they were married."

"I bet it feels good to have an in with the new boss," her assistant teased. Brie didn't answer her. She simply smile and made her way to her office.

'An in with the boss,' Brie thought to herself almost laughing out loud at the absurdity of her assistant's words. 'I wish that were true.'

As she plopped down onto the chair behind her desk Brie thought about the last time she saw her sister and the things she said to her. How she turned her back on her and Emilee by refusing to allow them to stay with her because her niece didn't get along with Carl.

That was the excuse she gave Ciara but the truth was she wouldn't have allowed Ciara to stay with her, even if she lived alone. The truth was she enjoyed seeing her big sister hit bottom, and she wouldn't lift a finger to help her even if it was at the expense of her niece. Brie liked being able to lord over Ciara that she was in need of her help, and she wasn't going to lift a finger to do anything for her.

A smile slowly crept across Brie's face as she thought about the possibility that Ciara was coming home because Zachary's mother had told him the truth about Emilee not being Ciara's daughter. That she was actually Emilee's aunt and that Emilee was the child of Ciara's druggie twin Cara.

'I bet he went ballistic and threw her and Emilee out of his place when he found out that Ciara lied to him about Emilee,' Brie thought to herself her smile growing bigger. 'That's probably she's coming back alone. He's allowing her to stay in the penthouse until she can find or afford a place of her own.'

Brie shook that thought from her head when she realized how ridiculous it was with her sister staying in the penthouse suite.

'If he was throwing Ciara out he wouldn't allow her to stay in the best room in the hotel,' she thought. 'He would put her up in one of the regular or cheaper rooms in the hotel. Maybe his mother hasn't told him about Emilee, yet.'

Hoping that Zach's mother hadn't told him about Emilee, Brie began thinking about all the ways she would toy around with her sister if what she was thinking was true. Like a cat playing with a mouse just before it killed and ate it, that's what she would do to her dear big sister.

'I bet she won't bounce back from this fall the way she bounced back from all the other times trouble found its way into her life,' Brie thought actually laughing out loud this time.

That one trait out of all the things that Brie disliked about her sister was the one thing that she disliked the most. Ciara's ability to seemingly land on her feet no matter what kind of trouble came her way. She hated that about her sister.

She thought Ciara had hit rock bottom this time when she found herself homeless with a child to take care of. Brie knew that Emilee was the only reason she came to her and practically begged her to let them stay with her.

Ciara wouldn't have done it if she only had herself to worry about.

Turning her sister away, thinking about her being on the street made Brie happy. It didn't even bother her that Emilee was with her. But her happiness was short lived because the next time she saw her sister she was married, not only was she married she was married to a wealthy man, not only was she married to a wealthy man, she was married to Brie's new boss.

This time Ciara didn't simply land on her feet, she soared into the sky and landed on her boss' lap. But if Brie could help it, she would be sitting there temporarily.

Brie was brought out of her thoughts when she felt her cell phone vibrating in her pocket; she pulled the phone out, looked down at the screen and saw that it was Carl calling. She was tempted to not answer her phone and let his call go to her voice mail, but Carl wouldn't leave a message he would just keep calling her until she answered her phone.

"Hello Carl," Brie said managing to keep the tiredness she was feeling out of her voice.

"Hello babe," Carl replied. "How's your day?"

"It started out pretty shitty," Brie replied. 

"When I arrived at work this morning, and I sat down at my desk and checked my email, I found one telling me that Ciara and Emilee would be coming home today, and I've been instructed to prepare the penthouse for her majesty's arrival."

"You're kidding," Carl replied. "Why didn't they call you to let you know they would be coming home today?"

"I don't know," Brie said. "I guess she felt that the email was enough."

"I think Ciara's trying to get back at you because you wouldn't let her, and Emilee stay here when they didn't have a place to live," Carl suggested.

"Ms. Goody-two-shoes wouldn't do something like that," Brie told him. "Ciara isn't into seeking revenge. She's not an eye for an eye type of person."

"She might've been that way before she adopted Emilee," Carl said. "I bet she's changed since you, not only refused to let her stay but Emilee too."

"No Ciara wouldn't change because of that," Brie her tone assured. "She wouldn't want to set a bad example for Emilee."

"If she's not like that explain to me why she didn't call you to let you know she was returning today?" Carl asked.

"If you recall I was late getting to work this morning," Brie said a smile appearing on her face when she thought about how she and Carl spent their morning. "She could've called and I didn't answer."

"Don't give me that," Carl said. "Ciara knows your cell phone number. If she wanted to talk to you, she could've called your cell, she knows you never turn it, off, and even if she called your office, and you didn't answer she could've left you a voice mail."

Brie went silent thinking about what Carl was saying and trying to come up with a logical explanation for Ciara not calling her, unable to think of one she decided that Carl was right, her sister was trying to make her look bad.

"If her intention is to try to make me look bad she's going to fail," Brie said. "The penthouse is going to ready when she gets here, and I'll still do all of my regular duties. There won't be anything for her or anyone else to complain about."

"That's my girl," Carl said glad he'd gotten Brie to see things his way, "show that bitch she can't rattle your cage."

 ****************

"Do you have everything you need?" Zach asked Ciara as she and Emilee prepared to board the plane that would take them back to Atlanta.

"Yes, I'm sure I have everything," Ciara assured him.

"Are you still coming to visit us in two weeks?" Emilee asked.

"Yes, I am munchkin," Zach replied bending down to speak with Emilee. "I'll be there on the fastest plane I can find."

"I'm going to miss you Zach," Emilee said a tear falling from her eye.

"Now, now," Zach said pulling a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiping away the tear that had landed on her cheek, "you promised to be a big girl."

"I am being a big girl," Emilee said. "I'm just a sad big girl." Zachary and Ciara laughed.

"I'm going to miss you and your mother," Zach said. "But, thinking about see the two of you again in two weeks helps me not to be so sad."

"But two weeks seem so far away," Emilee whined. 

"It's fourteen whole days away."

"How about if I call you every day before you go to bed and say goodnight?" Zach said. "Would that make the time seem to go faster?"

"Yes!" Emilee replied her eyes lighting up.

"Then that's what I'll do then," Zach said. "It'll make the time seem to go faster for me too, and I won't feel so sad about missing you and your mother."

"We're ready for you and your daughter to board Mrs. Collins," a stewardess came over and told Ciara.

"Thank you," Ciara replied about to get behind Emilee's wheelchair towards the boarding ramp. "Would you help my step-daughter aboard the plane please?" Zach asked the stewardess. "I need to have a word with my wife."

"Gladly," the stewardess replied. "Are you ready to go little lady?"

"Yeah," Emilee replied sadly.

"See you later munchkin," Zach said giving Emilee a kiss on her cheek.

"Bye," Emilee said throwing her arms around Zach's neck giving him a hug just before she was wheeled towards the plane.

After Emilee and the stewardess left them alone Zachary and Ciara stood in the middle of the airport departure area silently staring into each other's eyes, acting as if they were two teenagers coming to the end of a first date, wondering how they should say goodnight, if they should kiss or shake hands.

Zach was about to speak to Ciara when he looked up and saw Jonas Porter the man, he and Ciara hired to two weeks ago to help Ciara take care of Emilee.

Jonas Porter stands six feet tall and weighs two hundred pounds, his body a temple of muscles that he kept in shape by going to the gym four times a week whenever he could, his face a handsome collection of chiseled features that never failed to garner him the attention of the opposite sex no matter where he went.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said to Zach and Ciara lugging his carryon bag over his shoulder, "I overslept."

"How did you manage to do that?" Zach asked him, "Especially when you knew what time you were expected to be here."

"Stanly took me out to dinner last night so that we could spend some time together," Jonas said a blush spreading across his face. "We stayed out later than we planned because we lost track of time."

"Forget about it," Zach told him not wanting to hear the details about how Jonas spent his evening. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again. I expect you to spend the majority of your time helping Ciara take care of Emilee. I'm not paying you to cat around."

"I promise you it won't happen again," Jonas said.

"Emilee is already on the plane," Ciara told Jonas. "Would you go see that she's alright?"

"I'm on it," Jonas said saluting Ciara has he left her and Zach heading towards the plane to see about his little charge.

"I'm going to join them," Ciara said turning to go board the plane.

"Wait!" Zachary said walking towards Ciara. Ciara stopped.

"Promise you'll call me when you and Emilee reach the hotel," Zach said as he came closer to Ciara.

"I promise," Ciara replied raising her chin so that she could look into Zach's eyes.

"And promise me you'll both be careful," Zach said looking down into Ciara's eyes putting his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. "And you'll allow Jonas to do his job and help you with Emilee. That is what he's being paid to do."

"I will," Ciara replied.

"I'm going to miss the two of you so much," Zach said as he tightened his arms around Ciara's waist hugging her to his body.

"We're going to miss you too," Ciara said returning his hug.

"Please don't cry," Zach said when he noticed Ciara's eyes tearing up.

"Too late," Ciara said as a tear rested on her cheek.

"You should go," Zach said noticing the impatient look the flight attendant was giving him and Ciara.

"Alright," Ciara replied.

Neither of them moved out of the other's arms.

"Goodbye," Zach said as he leaned down and gave Ciara a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodbye," Ciara replied as Zach eased his arms from around her waist and she moved towards the boarding gate.

"We're going to talk when you come back to London or when I come to Atlanta in two weeks," Zachary said as Ciara continued walking away from him.

Zachary smiled and waved at the confused look that appeared on Ciara's face at his last statement.

"What do we ...?"

"Think about it?" Zachary told her. (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

Ciara opened her eyes after replaying her goodbye to Zach at the airport in her mind. She still couldn't figure out what he wanted to talk to her about. Ciara thinking about the kiss Zach gave her on the cheek brought her hand up and rubbed the spot where his lips came to rest. Smiling as she remembered how his lips felt on her face.

'That's the second time he's kissed me on the cheek,' she thought to herself still rubbing the spot.

Wondering if his lips feel the same if he kissed her on the lips Ciara brought her hand up and gently touched her lips.

'No,' she mentally chastised herself removing her hand from her lips. 'I can't go there,' she said shaking her head to dislodge the thought from her mind. 'Developing romantic feelings toward Zachary Collins wouldn't be a smart thing for me to do. Our relationship can't move pass friendship. It would be silly of me to think of it has any more than that.'

Jonas sat in the seat across from Emilee and Ciara. He saw that his employer was deep in thought, conflicted about something that he was sure involved Zach his other employer. He wasn't sure if they'd had an argument or if she or Zach received some upsetting news. But he knew that something was wrong because he'd never seen a married couple behave the way they did. 

They seemed to be very uncomfortable around each other. Seemingly afraid to get close or touch each other the way normal married couples did. It was as if someone or maybe one of them had drawn an invisible line between them that they weren't allowed to cross and both of them were being very careful not to cross that line.

'Maybe neither of them liked public displays of affection,' Jonas thought to himself. 'Even though a blind man could see that they were dying to kiss each other.'

Jonas couldn't see going away and not kissing his Marilyn. He didn't care what other people thought about them kissing in public, he wasn't going to forgo an opportunity to give his woman a big wet one on her lips when he or she wanted one. Even though he had to wrestle one from her this morning because she was angry with him, Jonas wasn't walking out of that door without a kiss.

He laughed and felt guilty about the little white lie he told Ciara and Zach about his sexual preference. It wasn't something he wanted to do, but something he felt he had to do when he noticed that all the good-looking men or players (as they're called in the States) seemed to come out of the interview quicker than the ones who were what people would consider as not good looking, he needed this job. He needed this job, and he decided that pretending to be gay would make his chances of getting the job more favorable, and it seemed to have worked for him because they called him the evening after his interview to let him know that he was hired.

That was the reason why he and Marilyn were at odds with each other, she didn't want him to take the position, because he would be gone for possibly three months or longer, but Jonas couldn't pass up the fantastic salary job paid nor the advance Zachary had given him. He just couldn't do it.

He hoped that by the time he called Marilyn later that evening that her mood would be better because loved her, and he hated for her to be angry with him. (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

Ciara, Emilee and Jonas reached Zach's hotel about ten o'clock that evening. Jonas walked into the hotel carrying Emilee in his arms with Ciara walking ahead of them pushing her wheelchair.

Brie greeted them as the trio entered the hotel lobby. She pasted a smile on her face as she approached them wondering who the man was carrying her niece.

"Hello, Ciara," she said her tone nonchalant and all business.

"Hello, Brie," Ciara replied her tone just as nonplussed.

"The penthouse is ready just as Mr. Collins instructed," talking to Ciara but her eyes trained on the good-looking stranger holding Emilee.

"Thank you," Ciara replied as she made her way over to the private elevator that would take her, Emilee and Jonas up to the penthouse.

"Who is your friend?" Brie asked when it became obvious that Ciara wasn't going to introduce her to the stranger.

"It's late, Brie," Ciara said as she stepped onto the elevator. "We've had a long flight and as you can see Emilee is tired and if you haven't noticed I'm tired also, too tired to make introductions. So if you don't mind I would like to go up to my suite and put Emilee to bed and get some sleep myself."

"Excuse me," Brie replied. "I was only asking because I was curious. It was only a month ago that you left here as the new wife of my employer and you come back with another handsome man carrying my niece in his arms. You can't blame a person for wondering if there's trouble already trouble in your marriage."

"Whatever is going on with my marriage is none of your concern," Ciara told her sister. "And why are you worried about what's going on in my marriage or in my life? It's not something you've ever been interested in or worried about in the past."

"I'm worried because of your marriage to Mr. Collins," Brie replied. "People have been asking questions because it happened so suddenly, so unexpectedly."

"That reminds me," Ciara said her eyes narrowing as she looked at her sister, "I need you to come up to the penthouse when you arrive for work tomorrow. You and I need to talk about your being questioned and how you seem to be so willing to answer those questions."

"And Brie, I'm not asking you to meet with me as your sister," Ciara said the tone of her voice letting Brie know that she was serious and all business. "I want to see you as your employer, so don't be late. I expect to see you twenty minutes after your arrival to work."

"We can discuss it now," Brie said smiling and walking towards the elevator. She wasn't ready to leave her sister's presence, there was so much that she wanted to know about her sister and the man that was going upstairs with her and her niece.

"Tomorrow will be soon enough," Ciara said as she pressed the button that closed the doors to the elevator. "And don't be late."

"I'll be on time," Brie said her sounding nonchalant but anger seeped through her body at the way her sister ordered her to meet with her in the morning.

'Bitch,' Brie thought to herself as she turned to head to so that she could gather her things and head home. (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

"Hello?"

"We made it safe and sound," Ciara said to Zach as she made herself comfortable on the large California king sized bed in the master bedroom of the penthouse suite.

"How was your flight?" Zach asked amazed at how thrill he was to hear her voice.

"It was fine," Ciara replied.

"How is Emilee?

"Asleep," Ciara replied.

"How about you? How are you doing?"

"A little tired, a little sleepy and my feet are killing me."

"Poor baby," Zach cooed and teased.

"You're going to pay for that when I see you again," Ciara told him, a smile Zach could feel through the phone appearing on her face.

"Oh, I'm so afraid," Zach teased.

"I had to tell Jonas about Emilee," Ciara said changing the topic and mood of their conversation.




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 06



"Really?" Zach said.

"Yes," Ciara replied. I felt that he should know."

"Why?" Zach asked.

"He's helping to take care of Emilee," Ciara said, "and I wanted him to know that if she suddenly told him to do something or that something was about to happen that he should listen to her.

"How did he react?"

"Like he wanted to get back on the plane and return home to London," Ciara said laughing when she remembered the look on Jonas' face when she told him about Emilee's ability. "I think he thought he was traveling with a crazy woman."

"Thought?" Zach said.

"Yes, thought," Ciara replied. "He began to believe me when Emilee told him that he should call his girlfriend Marilyn because she wanted to talk to him to apologize for the fight they had before he left London."

"Did he believe you then?"

"I think he began to believe me," Ciara replied. "But I think he turned the corner when Emilee described and started talking about his German Shepherd-Doberman Pinscher mixed puppy named Bundles. He finally rounded the bin when Emilee asked him why he didn't call the dog Star after the brown star on the front of the dog's chest."

"Did he explain why he lied about his sexual orientation?"

"You were right," Ciara said. "He thought you were turning all the other applicants away because you saw them as a threat to our relationship and the thought that pretending to be gay would help him get the job."

"Did you tell him, we knew he was lying after we ran a security check on him?" Zach asked.

"Yes," Ciara replied. "He asked why we still hired him after finding out he lied to us. I told him because Emilee liked him and felt that he was the man to help me take care of her." 

"Did you tell him about our marriage?" Zach asked.

"No," Ciara replied a yawn breaking free as she spoke. "That is between you, me and Emilee. Jonas doesn't need to know that our marriage is one of convince."

"You sound as if sleep has caught up with you and wants to take over," Zach remarked after hearing Ciara yawn.

"It's the fault of this comfortable bed," Ciara told him, her voice becoming softer as she snuggled against the pillows she was lying on.

"Goodnight Ciara," Zach said letting the sound of her voice wash over him.

"Goodnight Zach," Ciara replied noticing that his voice had become husky and soft.

Zach smiled has he turned off his mobile phone placing it on his nightstand. He was enjoying the comfortable feeling moving through his body as he spoke with his wife and amazed that it wasn't scaring the hell out of him. He couldn't wait for the two weeks until he saw Ciara and Emilee again to pass because he truly did miss them, especially Ciara. (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

"Hey babe," Carl said from his easy chair parked in front of the television as Brie walked into their apartment. "I'm glad you're home. I'm starving."

"Why haven't you cooked something or had something delivered?" Brie asked as she made her way to their bedroom to take a shower and change her clothes.

"I want you to cook dinner for me," Carl said lifting his six foot, dark skin frame from the easy chair, Brie in their bedroom. "You're my woman aren't you? Don't you want to cook for your man? I've worked hard today and having you cook me a good meal is the cherry that tops my day."

"I've worked hard today too," Brie pointed out to him. "I'm tired and I don't feel like cooking today."

"How are you going to be tired?" Carl asked. "You sit behind a desk all day and order other people around. You don't stand on your feet all day."

"Neither do you," Brie said. "And you know how to cook. There's no reason for you to wait around for me to do the cooking."

"My mother worked, but she still had a hot meal sitting on the table for my father, me and my brothers. Woman today are too pampered and lazy. They don't want to do anything for their man and if we ask you to do anything for us you try to turn it around and make us look like male chauvinists. What good is it to be in a relationship if I can't expect you do the normal things a woman does for her man?"

Tired and not wanting to hear Carl go on once again about the things his mother did for his father Brie tried to ignore Carl. She just continue to go around the room collecting her night clothes so that she could go take a shower, crawl into bed and relax.

"Brie, are you going to cook me something to eat?" Carl whined.

"I'll put one of the frozen meals in the oven after I take my shower," Brie told him.

"I don't want a frozen meal," Carl said. "I could've done that myself if that was what I wanted. I took out the pork chops. I figured you could barbeque those, prepare some mashed potatoes and make some cornbread."

"Do you know how long it would take me to cook all of that?" Brie asked surprised that Carl actually expected her to cook such a meal this late in the evening after putting in a twelve hour day at work.

"You can have it done within an hour, two hours at the max," Carl said. "The pork chops can be cooking while you're taking your shower. You can also peel the potatoes and put them on the stove so that they can be cooking too while you take your shower. By the time, you get out of the shower you'll only have to put everything together, and then we can sit down and enjoy a meal just the two of us."

Tempted to say no, but not wanting to continue arguing with Carl, Brie agreed to cook him the dinner he wanted.

"You're the best," Carl said going over and giving her a peck on the lips. "I'm going back into the living to finish watching my show. I'll see you when you're out of the shower and calling me into dinner."

'If he wasn't so good-looking and so good in bed, I would throw him and his old-fashioned ideas out of here in a New York minute,' Brie thought to herself making her way into the kitchen.

"Honey would you bring me a beer?" Carl said from the living room. "Since, you're in the kitchen anyway."

Brie opened the door to the fridge took out the pork chops and put them on the counter, and then she reached in got a beer and took it to Carl.

"You're the best," Carl said taking the beer from her hand then taking hold of it, turning it over and kissing the back.

Brie gave him a quick smile, turned and made her way back into the kitchen wiping her hand on her pant leg as she left.



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 07



"I should arrive at the hotel around seven tonight," Zach said to Ciara.

"I haven't told Emilee you're arriving today," Ciara replied. Feeling a tingle of excitement in her stomach thinking about Emilee's reaction when Zach walked through the door.

"She might already know," Zach said hinting at Emilee's special ability.

"I don't think so," Ciara said. "If she knew you were coming I don't think she would be able to keep that a secret. She would have told me."

Zach wanted to ask if Emilee had, had any more visions but he and Ciara had agreed not to discuss Emilee's ability in public. Especially after what happened when Emilee used her ability to Colin. They both felt that it wasn't something that everyone needed to know.

"Please turn off all mobile and electronic devices, we're preparing to land," the pilot said over the loud speaker.

"I have to..."

"I know," Ciara told him. "I heard."

"I'll be there soon," Zach said.

"We'll be waiting," Ciara replied.

Zach ended the phone call, turned off his cell phone and laptop then he buckled up his seat belt preparing for the plane to land.

After getting off the plane, Zach hailed a cab and made his way to the hotel. As the cab whizzed down the 285 expressway Zach tried to tamp down the excitement building inside of him at the thought of seeing his pretend family. Especially Ciara.

'This marriage isn't real,' he reminded himself pushing away an image of Ciara throwing herself into his arms as he walked into the penthouse out of his mind. 'That isn't going to happen,' he told himself.

Needing something to take his thoughts off his pretend wife Zachary turned on his laptop and sees that he has an email. He logs on to his email account and sees that the email is from his accountant Kyle Standish. He had forgotten that Kyle was sending him a copy of his monthly expenses report. Zach scanned the report and everything seemed normal until he came to Ciara's monthly expenses.

'This can't be right,' Zach said to himself. He pulled out his phone and dialed his accountant's mobile number.

"Hello."

"Hello, Kyle," Zach said.

"Hello, Zachary," Kyle replied. "Did you receive my email?"

"Yes, I did." Zach told him. "That's why I'm calling. Are the figures you listed for Ciara's and Emilee's expenses correct for the time they were in London?"

"Yes, they are," Kyle assured him. "I checked the figures three times to be sure they were correct. I was tempted to call the merchants to confirm the amounts."

"You didn't did you?" Zach asked.

"No," Kyle assured him. "I didn't feel it was my place to do so without your permission."

"Thanks, Kyle," Zach said.

"Are you going to talk to Ciara about the report?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know," Zach replied. "I'll talk to you later Kyle."

*********************

Zach was still going over the expense report when his cab pulled up to the hotel's front entrance. He was so engrossed in the report he hadn't realized they had arrived at the hotel until the door attendant opened the back passenger door.

"Good evening, Mr. Collins," the attendant said as he opened the door.

"Good evening Davis," Zachary replied after he read the attendant's nametag.

"How was your flight sir?" Davis asked.

"It was perfect," Zachary replied walking towards the lobby. "Would you see to it that my luggage is brought up to the penthouse please?"

"No problem sir," Davis replied.

When Zachary entered the lobby, the first person to greet him with a big pretentious, strained smile on her face was Brie.

"Good evening Mr. Collins," Brie said her teeth clenched together. "It's good to see you again."

"Hello, Ms. Walker," Zach replied barely sending a glance in Brie's direction.

"Listen to us," Brie said her tone relaxing just a little. "We're family and yet we're being so formal. Why don't you call me Brie and I'll call you Zach?"

"I don't think that would be wise Ms. Walker," Zachary told her. "Not when we're in a professional environment. I think addressing each other in the formal stance is the appropriate thing to do. That way there'll be no misunderstandings between us."

"Yes sir, Mr. Collins," Brie said all hint of relaxing gone from her voice.

"Is my wife and daughter in the penthouse?" Zach asked.

"I believe Ciara and your stepdaughter Emilee are up in the penthouse," Brie replied instead of simply saying yes to Zach's question. "Would you like for me to notify my sister and niece of your arrival?"

"No," Zach replied simply walking away from Brie over to the private elevator that would take him straight to the penthouse.

Brie watched her brother/employer as he stepped into the private elevator a big smile on his face, fighting the jealousy that welled up in her as she wondered once again how her sister had managed to get so lucky.

"Will he be here soon?"

Ciara chuckled watching Emilee as she sat in the living room in her wheelchair anxiously awaiting Zach's arrival.

"I'm sure Zach will be here soon," she replied going over to her daughter, kneeling down beside her chair, giving her a hug. "Just be patient."

"I can't be patient mama," Emilee said so excited about seeing Zach she couldn't sit still in her chair. "I want to see him now."

"I promise he'll be here soon sweetness," Ciara said as Emilee's arms tightened around her neck.

"Aren't you excited about seeing Zach too?" Emilee asked.

"Yes, I am," Ciara replied. "I'll be very happy to see him.

"Do you think he'll bring me a present?" Emilee asked.

"Emilee-e-e," Ciara said her tone warning. "What did we talk about last night?"

"You said I shouldn't expect a present every time Zach comes home from a trip or he comes to visit," Emilee replied her face showing the shame of Ciara's reprimand.

"That's right," Ciara said. "You should be glad Zach arrived safely and he came back to see you."

"I'm very glad for those things," Emilee said, "but the present makes seeing him extra good, like a cherry on top of a great big banana split."

Ciara laughed out loud at Emilee's analogy and the way her eyes lit up as she spoke.

"You're not getting a banana split young lady," Ciara said knowing that her daughter was also hinting that she wanted a banana split.

"Aw-w-w shucks," Emilee said.

At that moment, someone knocked on the penthouse door.

"He's here!" Emilee squealed clapping her hands and bouncing up and down in her chair.

"Calm down," Ciara said making her way over to the door to look through the peephole. "It might not even be Zachary. Besides Zach wouldn't knock on the door."

She tried to suppress the smile that was fighting show on her face when she looked through the peephole and saw Zach standing on the other side.

'This isn't a real marriage,' she scolded herself as she tried to slow down her suddenly fast beating heart. She told herself there would be no falling into his arms nor any rushing to kiss his lips when she opened the door. 'You can't start behaving like some lovesick school girl. You are a grown woman with a child to take care of. You are only pretending to be married to Zach. This relationship is not, meant to last. It is only pretend. So get it together.'

"Open the door mama," Emilee said her voice bringing Ciara out of her thoughts. "Zach's waiting."

"Alright sweetie," Ciara replied realizing she had to get herself together because not opening the door wasn't an option.

She rubbed her sweaty hands against her jeans to dry them then she reached out, grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

The few seconds it took for the door to open seemed like an eternity to Zach, he was so anxious to see Ciara and Emilee too of course. He hadn't realized how much he missed them until he crossed the threshold of the hotel lobby. As his desire grew to see Ciara and Emilee, the elevator seemed to take forever to reach the top floor. He almost ran off the elevator when the doors finally opened. As he approached the penthouse, his nervousness grew and his palms began to sweat as if he were a teenager going on his first date at the thought of seeing Ciara again.

'Get it together, old boy," he chided to himself. 'You're going to see your pretend wife; the two of you are barely acquaintances. Okay the two of you are more than acquaintances, you're good friends but your relationship is nothing more than that. So, get your emotions under control."

Having duly chastised himself Zachary knocked on the penthouse door.

'I wonder why he knocked?' she asked herself as she opened the door.

When she opened the door, Ciara had a big smile on her face and Zach had the same smile on his face. Emilee watched as the two of them just stared at each other neither of them seeming to know what to say. Deciding to get things moving Emilee called out Zach's name.

"Zachary!" Emilee said her arms outstretched waiting to give Zach a hug.

Hearing his name brought Ciara and Zach out of the staring contest that seemed to be going on between the two of them.

"Emilee!" Zach said walking over to Emilee, kneeling down beside her chair and giving her the hug she sought. "How's my favorite girl?" he asked kissing her on the cheek.

"I'm fine," Emilee replied. "Do you notice anything different about me?"

"Let me see," Zach replied standing up and looking Emilee over. "Oh, my goodness. When were your casts removed?"

"Last month," Emilee replied. "Mama wanted to tell you but I pleaded with her not to tell you so that I could surprise you. Were you surprised?"

"I must say you did surprise me," Zach said, "and I'm happy to see that you'll be walking around soon."

"Me too," Emilee said. "The first thing I want to do when I'm able to walk is go to the park and run around until I'm so tired I can barely stand."

"I don't think the doctor would approve of you doing that," Zach said. "I'm sure he's going to want you to take it easy once you're able to stand on your own again."

"You sound like mama," Emilee said pouting just a little. "She said the same thing when I told her that's what I wanted to do."

"How are you doing with your physical therapy?" Zach asked. "Do you like your therapist?"

"I'm doing fine," Emilee replied, "and I like Janesa."

"Which part of your therapy do you like the best?" Zach asked.

"Swimming," Emilee told him. "I love it when Janesa and I go into the pool. I don't like the stretching that we have to do when we start our sessions," Emilee said a sad look appearing on her face thinking about the pain stretching causes her in her legs.

"I'm sorry you're in pain my little pumpkin," Zach said putting an arm around Emilee and pulling her close. "But the stretching is what you have to do to prepare your muscles for the stress of your physical therapy. If you didn't stretch your legs wouldn't continue to heal."

"I know," Emilee said. "That's what mama and Janesa told me. But it still hurts."

"I'm sure the treat your mother gives you after your sessions makes up for the pain just a little," Zach said.

"How did you know mama gives me a treat?" Emilee asked. "Mama always gives me a treat after I have my therapy and it does help a little."

"I know that your mother hates to see you in pain," Zach said. "And I'm sure she'll do whatever she could to make it easier on you. How often does Janesa come over?"

"Three times a week," Ciara said.

"Did you bring me a present?" Emilee asked eyeing the big box Zach held under his arm.

"Emilee!" Ciara said sending a glare in her daughter's direction.

"That's alright," Zach told Ciara. "She probably already knows what's inside this box."

Zach stared at Emilee as if he was waiting for her to use her physic powers to see what was in the box.

"Can I open it?" Emilee asked when it appeared that Zach wasn't going to give her the box.

"Of course you can," Zach replied a hint of embarrassment showing on his face.

Both adults watched as Emilee tore open the box. Emilee's and Ciara's grew big as she pulled something furry out of the box that seemed to grow bigger as it left the box.

"It's a bear," Emilee said when she finally had the stuffed toy completely out of the box.

The bear seemed to be as tall as Emilee was.

"Thank you, Zach," Emilee said holding the bear tightly against her chest then reaching out to give Zach a hug.

"You're most welcome," Zach said going over and getting his hug.

"Take your new friend into your room, Emilee," Ciara said leaning down and picking up the scraps of wrapping paper stuffing them into the big box. "And it's time for your nap."

"Can I stay up a little longer please?" Emilee pleaded. "Zach just got here and I want to spend more time with him."

"I'll be here when you awaken," Zach said. "We can spend more time together when you awaken. Besides we're going out to dinner this evening and I don't want you falling asleep during our meal because you didn't take your nap."

"You know that would never happen," Emilee said laughing at Zach. "I would never fall asleep during dinner."

"You haven't so far because your mother sees to it that you take a nap in the afternoon," Zach said. "We wouldn't want to ruin your perfect record now would we?"

"Alright," Emilee said turning her chair in the direction of her bedroom. "But, we're going to talk when I wake up."

"We'll talk all you want when you awaken," Zach promised her. "Can she get into bed by herself now?" Zach asked Ciara noticing that she didn't follow Emilee into her room to assist her as she normally did.

"Yes, she can," Ciara replied. "She loves doing things for herself since the casts were removed from her legs. She only calls me when she really needs help."

"I sense that I'm in trouble," Zach said.

"And I believe you know why," Ciara said her voice dripping sarcasm, folding her arms under her breasts.

"I'm sorry," Zach said knowing exactly what he had done wrong. "She's an amazing little girl by herself but knowing the things she can do she's just... just even more amazing. It's hard not to test her abilities when given the opportunity."

"You're right," Ciara replied. "She is an amazing little girl and her ability does make her even more amazing and I understand how tempting it is to test her ability or see it on display when the opportunity arises. However, you are going to have fight the temptation to do so. I haven't told anyone about Emilee's ability because I want her to have as normal of childhood and life as possible. I do not want people using her, turning her into some kind of lab experiment nor do I want them treating as if she's some kind of freak to be put on display for the entertainment of others."

"Point made," Zach said. "And I'm sorry for my actions.

"You're forgiven," Ciara told him.

"Have you decided to hire someone to replace Jonas?" Zach asked changing the topic of their conversation.

"I've decided not to hire anyone new," Ciara said. "Since Emilee's legs are no longer in casts I don't need anyone to help me with her anymore."

"Are you sure?" Zach asked trying to hide the happiness he was experiencing at the thought of not having another man around his family.

"Yes, I'm sure," Ciara told him.

"Where would you like to go out for dinner tonight?" Zach asked.

"Why don't you pick," Ciara replied. "I'm sure Emilee and I will be happy with your selection."

"How about one of the restaurants down in the lobby?"

"That's fine."

"I'll call and make the reservations."

"I have something I would like to discuss with you," Zach said to Ciara joining her out on the balcony after he made their reservations for the evening.

"And what would that be?" Ciara asked staring out at the Atlanta beautiful Atlanta skyline.

"Before I left to come here I had a meeting with my accountant to go over the monthly expenses," Zach said.

"And?" Ciara said turning away from the view of the city skyline.

"The report shows that during the entire time you were in London you only spent three hundred pounds," Zach said moving closer to her.

"I know," Ciara said looking up at him. "I used the credit card you gave me to purchase some personal item for myself and Emilee. I was going to use cash but I wasn't comfortable or familiar enough with British currency so I used the credit card. Did I do something wrong?"

"No. You didn't do anything wrong," Zach assured her. "I'm not questioning your use of the credit card. It's the amount that amazes me, the fact that it's so small."

"Oh." Ciara said finally understanding Zach's question. "You're wondering why I haven't spent more money."

"Yes," Zachary replied.

"Do you remember mine and Emilee's situation when you met us?" Ciara asked.

"Yes," Zachary replied remembering the conversation he overheard between Ciara and Brie.

"I don't want Emilee to ever experience that again," Ciara said. "With the money you pay me monthly and the money I'm going to receive after our contract ends I'll be able to make sure it doesn't happen again."

"I understand that," Zach said. "But, I promised you that I would pay your monthly expenses."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to go crazy spending money, Zach," Ciara told him. "Emilee and I are going to have to go on with our lives after you leave it. I'm trying to keep our lifestyles as close to what it's going to be when we're on our own as possible. I want to limit the change of you not being there as much as I can. In fact I wasn't going to mention this but I was thinking of moving us out of the penthouse into an apartment or a small house."

"What?" Zach replied shocked by what he was hearing.

"I said I was thinking about it," Ciara said raising her hands up in front of her before Zach could respond. "But Emilee loves it here and she understands that we'll only be living here as long as you and I are married or as long as we're both agreeable to it."

"Why would you even think of leaving here? Zach asked as the panic he was feeling ebbed away."

"Haven't you been listening to me?" Ciara almost screamed. "Zach, Emilee and I have been evicted from our home, our things thrown out on the street while we sat on the curb once; I won't allow that to happen again. I'm responsible for her well-being and I won't endanger it again."

"I would never allow anything like that to happen to the two of you again," Zach said. I would see to it that you and Emilee always have a place to stay."

"I know you wouldn't and I believe you," Ciara said looking up at him. "But I can't overlook the fact that your mother doesn't want us in your life. She has already tried to get me to walk away from this marriage by having my past investigated. I don't know what she might try to do next."

"My mother wouldn't have you and Emilee evicted from the hotel," Zach said the sound of his voice letting Ciara know that she had insulted him. "No matter how she feels about our marriage she wouldn't do that to a child."

"Emilee was there, sitting in the living room, in her wheelchair when your mother came over to your place with the report from the investigator in her hot, little hand," Ciara said turning away from Zach her own anger rising, her hands balling into fists as she thought about that day. "But that didn't stop her from telling me that she'd learned that I wasn't Emilee's real mother. She didn't worry one little bit about whether or not Emilee knew about what she was about to say or how what she was about to say would or could hurt my daughter emotionally. Her mission was to get us out of your life anyway she could, as soon as possible."

Zach unable to argue the truth of Ciara's words remained silent shame weighing down his shoulders.

"Is that why you decided to come back here?" he asked Ciara.

"Yes," Ciara replied. "I didn't want to risk being in a foreign country if she decided to do something extreme. I'm not familiar with the laws of London the whole country is foreign to me. I felt vulnerable. I decided that I would be able to defend myself and Emilee better with home field advantage."




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 07



"I wish you had talked to me before deciding to leave," Zach said.

"I would have if we were really married," Ciara said. "But we're not. Emilee and I are temporary members of your family. I do not expect nor do I want you to ruin your relationship with your mother over us. When our agreement ends we'll go our separate ways then you and your mother can come together again."

"How would your coming back here accomplish that?" Zach asked.

"I figured if she didn't have to see us every day or worry about her friends or other family members seeing us she would relax," Ciara said. "You know out of sight out of mind."

"You're right about our marriage," Zach said going over and turning Ciara around so that she was facing him, "but pretend or real you and Emilee are my family, my responsibility. I'm not going to allow anyone to hurt the two of you family included to hurt either of you."

"I know that," Ciara said. "You're and honorable man but you should save that fight for if you actually marry someone who your mother doesn't like not waste on me and Emilee."

"It isn't being wasted," Zach said. "I love you..."

Ciara's heart almost seized up and her breathing almost ceased upon hearing Zach's words. There was something in his eyes and the tone of his voice that seemed to say to her that there was something more to his words. 'He can't mean what I think he means,' she thought to herself. 'Don't be ridiculous,' she told herself.

"Are you alright?" Zach asked when he saw Ciara tense up.

"I'm fine," Ciara replied when she could finally breathe again. "My mind just wandered for a moment. What were you saying?"

"I was saying," Zach said returning to their conversation, "I love you for thinking of me and for trying to ease the tension between me and my mother but you and Emilee didn't have to come back here to achieve that."

"Us being here will work better for everyone," Ciara said. "Maybe Emilee and I being here instead of in your home will help your mother to see there is nothing between us, that this marriage really is one of convenience. Maybe she won't worry so much about one of use developing real feelings for the other."

"If that were to happen that would be between the two of us," Zach said. "My mother would have no say in the matter. Besides it might not be your feelings my mother is worried about."

"What do you mean?" Ciara asked.

"Since you and Emilee have been gone my mother, friends and even my employees think that I've turned into some sort of ogre," Zach said. "It seems they all think I've suddenly become irritable and short tempered. My secretary commented that I've lost my smile since my family's been away."

"Really?" Ciara said.

"Yes," Zach said taking hold of Ciara's hand. "I think the main reason for my being so short tempered is because I was thinking about my wife being in this penthouse with a handsome, muscled-bound man who I thought was gay, who isn't as gay as he led me to believe."

Ciara raised an eyebrow at the growl she heard come from Zach's throat as he spoke.

"You sound as if you're jealous," Ciara remarked.

Emilee came into the room before Zach could respond to what Ciara said tears running down her face.

"Mama," she cried.

"What is it sweetheart," Ciara asked making her way over to her daughter her voce filled with concern.

"Zach has to talk to Aunt Brie," Emilee said pulling on Ciara's blouse. "He has to tell her not to go into the parking garage. If she goes in the parking garage she's going to get hurt really bad."

"Alright, baby," Ciara said holding Emilee tight against her chest trying to calm her. "I'll tell your Aunt Brie not to drive home."

"No, mom," Emilee said. "Zach has to tell her. She won't listen to you."

Ciara knew Emilee was right. Brie would not listen to her. If she told Brie not to drive her car home she would drive it home as a way of letting Ciara know she didn't tell her what to do. Now that she was married to Zach, she might go so far as to accusing her of lauding her money over her.

"Are you sure baby?" Ciara asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Emilee replied. "I'm sure. If Aunt Brie goes into the parking garage a man is going to hurt her really bad."

"You have to do it, Zach," Ciara said turning to Zach.

"Why would she listen to me?" Zach asked. "We barely know each other. The only connection we share is her being your sister and me being your husband."

"You're a man," Ciara replied, "and she thinks that you and I are together. She is dying to know all about us. Since my return from London Brie has been slyly asking questions about how we me, when our relationship began and if my being pregnant is the reason for our surprise marriage. If you're suddenly friendly to her, she won't think to question why. She'll be too excited about having a possible way for her gain access to my new life."

"I don't think that your sister will take another way home simply because I ask her to," Zach said.

"I think I've come up with away that'll get her to listen to you," Ciara said.

Zach arched an eyebrow wondering what was going on in his wife's mind.

****************

Brie was sitting behind her desk in her office dreading the thought of the long drive home.

'I bet Carl is sitting on his ass waiting for me to come home and cook him dinner,' Brie thought to herself.

The thought of going home and slaving over a hot stove wasn't something she was looking forward to, not after the tiring, stressful day, she'd had. Brie reached over and pressed the intercom button on her desk letting Sue, her secretary that she could go home.

"I'll be leaving right behind you," Brie told her.

"Thank you, Ms. Walker," Sue told her. "I'll see you in the morning."

Brie picked up her purse out of her desk drawer, stood up from her desk and made her way over to her office door. She opened the door and was surprised to see Zach standing on the other side.

"Mr. Collins," Brie said after getting over the shock of seeing him, her voice unable to hide her surprise.

"Good evening, Ms. Walker," Zach said making the tone of his voice as neutral as possible upon seeing the gleam that appeared in his sister's eyes as she stared at him. "Are you leaving for the day?"

"Yes, I am," Brie told him the gleam in her eyes dimming just a little, a little defensiveness seeping into her voice. "I've been here since six this morning and it's now seven o'clock."

"I didn't come here to reprimand you for leaving," Zach told her. "I came down to tell you what a wonderful job I think you're doing managing the hotel."

"You did," Brie said the gleam in her eyes returning even more intense than before. "You do?"

"Yes, to both questions," Zach replied chuckling a little at her reaction to his compliment. "And to show my appreciation for all your hard work arrangements for you to be driven home this evening."

"Thank you, Mr. Collins," Brie said, "but I drove to work this morning."

"I know," Zach replied. "But I thought that having someone drive you home would help you relax after the hectic day you surely must've had."

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your offer," Brie said, "but how would I get to work in the morning without my car?"

"I've arranged for you to be driven to work tomorrow morning also," Zach replied.

"Wow," Brie said. "I hope your generous gift won't cause a problem between you and my sister. She can be a very jealous person when it comes to her boyfriends being nice to me."

"I wouldn't worry about that," Zach said smiling down at Brie. "I'm not Ciara's boyfriend, I'm her husband. I'm sure she knows how I feel about her. She knows this is just a gesture of appreciation and nothing more."

"I'm sure you're right," Brie said swallowing the disappointment she felt upon hearing his words.

"Let me escort you to your ride home," Zach said holding his arm out for Brie to grasp.

"Thank you," Brie said slipping her arm around Zach's thinking about all the tongues that would start wagging as she and Zach made their way through the hotel. 'I might be able to shake things up in my big sister's life, starting with my boss's generous gesture.' She thought to herself.'

When Brie arrived home, Carl was just where she expected him to be sitting in front of the television waiting for her to come home and cook dinner.

"You're early," Carl said turning his eyes away from the television long enough to send an air kiss in Brie's direction then giving the television his full attention once again. "How was your day?"

"Better than I expected," Brie replied thinking about Zach and the way he helped her into the limo that was waiting for her in front of the hotel.

"Oh, yeah," Carl said turning and giving Brie his attention once again. "What happened?"

"My boss/brother in appreciation for all the hard work I've done managing the hotel arranged for me to be driven home in a limousine and I'll be driven to work the same way in the morning."

"You're bullshittin me," Carl said.

"No, I'm not," Brie said. "I was getting ready to head to the employee parking garage to drive home when I opened the door and saw Zach standing on the other side. I thought he was going to get on my case and accuse me of leaving early but he came down to tell me what a wonderful he thought I was doing and to thank me he arranged for me to be driven home and picked up tomorrow morning in a limousine."

"Why is your boss suddenly offering you rides home in a limo?" Carl asked.

"I just told you why he did it," Brie replied. "It was his way of thanking me for the wonderful job I'm doing at the hotel."

"Are you sleeping with him?" Carl asked getting out of his chair making his way over to Brie.

"Of course not," Brie told him. "I would never do anything like that. The man's married to my sister for Christ sake."

"I was trying to get with Ciara when you came on to me," Carl said. "What's to keep you from making a play for him?"

"Why would I make a play for him when I have a man like you to come home to?" Brie said walking over to Carl, slipping her arms around his waist. "He's not even close to being as sexy as you are," she told him as she stretch up on her toes and placed a light kiss on his lips.

"But he has the one thing you've wanted all your life," Carl said placing his arms around Brie's waist.

"And what is that?" Brie asked placing butterfly kisses on Carl's chin and on his neck.

"Money," Carl replied.

"I'm not going to deny that having money to live the way I've always dreamed of is something I'm hoping to achieve in my lifetime," Brie said bringing Carl's lips down closer to hers, "but I don't want it bad enough to ruin what you and I have together."

"I'm glad to hear that," Carl said as his lips met Brie's in a slow, passionate kiss. "Because the thought of losing what you and I have isn't something I even won't to think about."

"I'm glad you and I are on the same page," Brie said. "How about we go in the bedroom and seal the deal?"

"I think that would be a wonderful idea," Carl said kissing her again. "After you cook dinner. I'm starving."

"Why do you always wait for me to cook dinner?" Brie asked. "Your mother taught you how to cook. Why don't you fix yourself something to eat?"

"I work hard every day Brie," Carl said. "I don't think it's too much for me to expect you to come home and prepare dinner for me not when you've been sitting behind a desk all day."

"Your job has you sitting behind a desk all day too," Brie pointed out.

"Look, I don't want to argue with you," Carl said. "Just go into the kitchen and prepare me something to eat. It's what a woman does for the man she loves."

"And what does the man the woman loves do for her?" Brie asked.

"He shows her how much he appreciates what she does by cleaning his plate, and complimenting her on her efforts to please him," Carl replied. "Now please go prepare dinner."

Brie grumbled as she made her way into the kitchen. She mentally kicked herself for the day she learned that Carl had the hots for Ciara and her decision to draw his attention in her direction before Ciara could sink her claws into him.

"I can't believe I found that jerk to be attractive," she mumbled to herself.

"What did you say babe?" Carl asked from the living room.

"I didn't say anything," Brie replied. "You must be hearing things." 'I've got to get myself out of this situation,' Brie told herself. 'I was meant to have a better life than this. I was meant to have a better man than that idiot sitting in my living room staring at that damn television.'

A smiled stretched across her face as she thought of the courteous way Zach treated her when he escorted her to the limousine that would take her home. The way he opened the car door and helped her inside made her feel special and ladylike.

"That's the way I want to be treated all the time,' Brie thought to herself. 'That's the way I will be treated. Enjoy yourself while you can you lazy pig,' Brie thought to herself as she prepared dinner for Carl, 'because pretty soon you're going to find yourself hungry and alone. Maybe my big sister will let you cry on her shoulder because she too is going to be alone. Hurricane Brie is on the move and she's going to shake things up.'



Zachary & Ciara Ch. 08



Emily Collins sat in her living room her leg propped up on an ottoman, her ankle wrapped in an ace bandage awaiting the arrival of her son, Zachary from the states. She hadn't planned on falling and spraining her ankle but she saw it as a happy accident that would get her what she wanted, her son away from that woman and her child.

"Has he arrived yet?" Abigail asked rushing into the living room with a glass of water for Mrs. Collins bringing Emily out of her thoughts.

"No, he hasn't," Emily replied her exasperation with the young woman growing. "It has only been two hours since we notified him about my accident. He won't get here until later in this evening."

"I'm sorry for causing you to fall," Abigail said a hint of guilt in her voice , the image of Zach's mother tumbling onto the floor as she tripped over her foot coming into her mind.

"I've told you it wasn't your fault," Emily said. "I'm the one who didn't see your foot sticking out in my path."

"Do you think that woman and her child will come with Zachary?" Abigail asked changing the subject of their conversation.

"I don't know," Emily replied cringing at the thought of Zachary's pretend family coming with him. "I hope they don't and I think it's highly unlikely. The child is in school and with her legs in casts; Zachary would have to make preparations ahead of time to get her ready for a trip back to London. Besides I don't see the child's mother interrupting her routine to come here with Zachary to see about me simply because I sprained my ankle."

"Even so, Zachary might talk her into coming with him," Abigail remarked.

"Why would he do that?" Emily asked. "Zachary isn't serious about this woman. He only married her so that he could get his inheritance and nothing more. He has no feelings for her nor her child. If he does, it is only because of their situation and nothing more. When the two year requirement has been met their marriage will be ended and they'll both go their separate ways."

"She might try to talk Zachary into staying with them," Abigail said.

"As I said I don't see that happening," Emily said her tone confident.

"What about the little girl?" Abigail asked. "Zachary has only been there a day and now he has to come back home. The little girl might start crying because he has to cut his visit short and that might convince him to stay."

"I'm Zachary's mother," Emily said. "He loves me; his concern for me will override any tears the child might shed."

The ringing of Emily's phone cut off Abigail's response.

"It's Zachary," Emily said pressing the button, answering her mobile phone. "Hello."

"Hello, mother," Zachary replied.

"Hello, Zachary," Emily said holding her breath worried about what her son might say.

"How are you feeling?" Zachary asked.

"I'm fine," Emily replied. "Why're you calling? Have you changed your mind about returning home?"

"Hold the line, mother," Zachary said.

Emily strained to hear the mumbling she heard on the other end of the line as Zachary spoke to someone but she couldn't make it out because Zachary had his hand over the phone.

"What's going on?" Abigail whispered.

"Shush," Emily told her. "I'm trying to hear what's going on."

"Is she trying to talk Zachary out of coming?" Abigail asked becoming angry at the thought. "Are they fighting?"

"Shush girl!" Emily said her voice more intense this time. "How can I hear what's happening with you jabbering in my ear."

"Are you still there mother?" Zachary asked coming back to the phone.

"Yes, I'm still here," Emily replied. "Is there a problem?"

"No," Zachary told her. "I'm calling to give you the details of my flight."

"Do you want me to meet you at the airport?" his mother asked.

"No, mother," Zachary replied. "I just wanted you to know when I would arrive back in London."

"I'll be waiting," Emily said as she wrote down Zach's flight information, slowly releasing the breath she'd been holding the entire time she spoke with her son. "I can't wait to see you."

"I've only been away a day mother," Zachary said. "That's hardly enough time to miss me."

"I know dear," his mother said. "I'm just glad you're coming back home."

"I'll see you when I arrive mother," Zachary said. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," his mother said.

"Is he coming?" Abigail asked as Mrs. Collins hung up the phone.

"He's coming," Emily replied a big smile on her face. "My boy is coming home."

"I think I'll be there to meet him at the airport," Abigail said.

"I think that would be an excellent idea," Emily said passing the piece of paper containing Zachary flight information over to Abigail. "Your being there alone to meet him at the airport will give the two of you the opportunity to talk and renew your relationship."

"Great minds think alike," Abigail said taking the piece of paper leaving Mrs. Collins home, heading to her home to prepare for Zachary's arrival.

*****************

"I want you and Emilee to come to London with me," Zachary said to Ciara.

"We can't go with you, Zach," Ciara said. "Emilee has to attend school and she has physical therapy three time a week."

"I can..."

"No," Ciara said determined not to allow Zach to change her mind. "We can't go with you. You should go to London to take care of your mother alone and come back to see us when you can."

"But I've spent less than a day with you and Emilee," Zach said giving Ciara a sad puppy dogface. "I miss having both my girls around."

"We're not your girls," Ciara said fighting to maintain her resolve of not going to London with him. She hated to admit even to herself that she missed him too.

"You are for the next two years," Zach replied a stupid smile on his face that was making it even harder for Ciara to maintain her desire not to give in. "I want my girls home with me. Please?" Zach said his puppy dogface growing even sadder as he walked closer to Ciara.

"Zach," Ciara said wondering how he managed to slip his arms around her waist without her realizing it, "the situation that would be created by Emilee and I going home with you wouldn't be a good one for Emilee, me, you nor your mother. It would be very stressful for everyone."

"We could make it work," Zach said. "Together we can make things pleasant for everyone. Please come home with me, Ciara."

As he spoke Zach kissed Ciara gently on the lips at the end, he gave her a long gentle kiss. Ciara knew that Zach was asking her to do more than to come home with him. After dinner last night, he told Ciara that he wanted them to change their relationship from a pretend one to a real one. Hearing him say that surprised and caught her totally off guard. It wasn't something she was sure she ready or capable of doing. She'd imagine in her mind her relationship with Zachary changing but it wasn't something she'd ever saw happening. Now that he was asking her to do the thing, she'd imagined she wasn't sure she could do it.

"I don't think we should change the status of our relationship," Ciara said moving out of Zach's embrace away from his lips so that her mind could be clear and she could think. "Nothing between us is supposed to be real. We are only pretending to be in a relationship. Remember?"

"Are you saying you're not interested in having a real relationship with me?" Zach asked his eyes daring her to deny what was happening between them.

"I'm saying that we need to really think about this," Ciara replied. "Your mother isn't happy with me. I think the only reason she's able to deal with me at all is because she knows that what we're doing isn't real. How do you think she'll react to hearing that we're thinking about actually seeing each other romantically? She's going to pop a blood vessel."

"Let me worry about my mother," Zach told Ciara easing his arms back around her waist. "We're talking about us and what we want. That is the only the only topic of this conversation."

"Maybe you should go home, take care of your mother and think about whether or not you really want to do this," Ciara suggested. "Maybe we should both take some time away from each other to think about whether or not this is a good idea."

"It's all I've thought about most of the time you and Emilee have been here," Zach said. "I'm sure this is what I want."

Shocked by what he'd said Ciara looked him in the eyes. She searched them looking to see if they match the tone of his voice. She saw no deception in his eyes and she heard none in his voice so she decided she too would go with her heart.

"Are you sure Zach?" she asked her voice pleading with him to be sure this was what he wanted.

"I'm sure," Zach replied resting his chin on her head.

"I guess we could give it a try," Ciara said.

"I want you to promise me that from now on instead of trying to handle things on your own that you'll come to me with any problems you might have," Zach said.

"But Zach..."

"Promise me," Zach demanded.

"Alright," Ciara said relenting, "I promise."

"No matter what it is," Zach added.

"But Zach..."

"No matter what it is Ciara," Zach said.

"No matter what it is," Ciara replied.

"Alright it's time for us to head home to tell my mother the wonderful news," Zach said.

"I think before we tell your mother our wonderful news that you should call her to let her know that Emilee and I are flying back with you," Ciara suggested.

"That won't be necessary," Zach said. "I think my mom knew my goal in coming here was to bring you and Emilee back home with me. She'll be glad to see that I was successful."

"I need to tell you something," Ciara said.

"What is it?" Zach asked.

"I haven't had sex since my miscarriage," Ciara said.

"What?" Zach said shocked by what he was hearing. "That was over..."

"A few months longer than Emilee's been alive," Ciara said.

"Why?" Zach asked. "Haven't you dated since then?"

"Before my life spun out of control I dated plenty," Ciara replied. "But when I became pregnant it shocked and frightened me. It wasn't what I had planned for my life. Nor did I plan on spending the rest of my life with the father."

"You and the baby's father planned on getting married?" Zach asked.

"He asked when we found out I was pregnant," Ciara said shuddering at the thought of being married to her ex, "but I turned him down. I knew it was the wrong thing for us to do. It would've been like piling on mistake on top of another and I couldn't do that not even for the sake of my child. Besides he tricked me into getting pregnant."

"How?" Zach asked.

"I thought we were having safe sex because he wore a condom and I was on the pill, but I didn't know that he'd pierced holes into the condom just before using a pin or a needle," Ciara said. "I thought I was safe because I saw him open up the condom and slip it on."

"Weren't you on the pill?" Zach asked.

"The pill is only 99.9% effective," Ciara replied. "When I became pregnant I discovered that I'm part of the one tenth percent of woman who can get pregnant even though they're on the pill."

"How did he know?"

"He didn't. His desire to control me was so strong he decided to take a chance I might get pregnant and it worked."

"What happened after you miscarried?

"Douglas accused me of doing something to purposely cause my child to die. He said I hated him so much that I will my body to reject his child."

Ciara tried to move out Zach's embrace but he refused to allow it. He pulled her tighter against his body.

"I wasn't in love with him," Ciara said, "and becoming pregnant by him wasn't something that I wanted, but I wouldn't purposely wish or do something that would have hurt my child. The moment I learned I was pregnant I fell in love with my baby. When I miscarried, I grieved for my baby as if I'd given birth. The pain and loss I felt almost unhinged me. The way Emilee came into my life was tragic but it brought me back into the real world. It gave me, my life a purpose once again."

"I understand," Zach said rubbing his hand slowly up and down her back.

"You know," Ciara said fighting back tears, "after I lost my baby I was so jealous of Cara because she managed to see her pregnancy through. I couldn't understand how someone who was strung out on drugs, drank and abused their body the way my sister did could have a baby and me a person who doesn't drink, use drugs, exercise and got a physical every year miscarried. It didn't make sense to me then and it doesn't make sense to me now."

"Life doesn't always follow logical paths," Zach said.

"You sound like my mother when I asked her that same question," Ciara said chuckling a little. "She came to the hospital that night and held me in her arms while I cried over losing my baby and said; "Baby life doesn't always make sense, if it did it wouldn't always be worth living and we wouldn't get to see come of the miraculous things that God has done in this crazy world."

"I bet that was the last thing you wanted to hear," Zach remarked.

"It was," Ciara replied. "But I wasn't going to tell my mother that."

"I'm sorry for your loss and all the pain you experienced," Zach told her.

"I came to realize that having a baby with Douglas Freeman would've been the worst thing that could've happened to me and having that man for a father wouldn't have been a good thing for my baby."

"He was that bad," Zach asked.

"I met Douglas at work," Ciara said. "I went against my rule about dating people I worked with and we started dating. Things went pretty well until we slept together. Three months into our relationship trusting what I felt for him, I slept with him. I discovered afterwards that he was one of those men that if you slept with him, he took it to mean that you were serious about having a relationship. I found that to be attractive in the beginning because he was my first and I felt the same way. I was thrilled to have given myself to someone who felt the same way I did. I thought I was in love with Douglas and that he loved me."

"What happened to change your mind?"

"The day after I slept with him he changed from the loving, caring man I thought he was into this raving dictator who thought he had the right to run me and my life. He came over to my place with a suitcase in his hand and declared that he was moving in with me."

"You're kidding," Zach said not believing the nerve of the man.

"I kid you not," Ciara said. "I told him I wasn't ready to move in with him or anyone else. He became angry and accused me of sleeping around. According him, I had gotten my first taste of sex from him and I was looking for other men to try it with.

"How could he say that about you?" Zach asked the anger he felt filling his voice.

"I guess he was upset because I wasn't the clingy little virgin he expected me to be," Ciara replied.

"How long did your relationship with this idiot last?" Zach asked.

"About seven months," Ciara replied. "The only contact I had with him afterwards was to give him reports about my doctor visits and that was only because he was the father of my baby."

"Seems you dodged a bullet," Zach remarked.

"No, I put a target on my back," Ciara said. "After I ended things between us Douglas was put in charge of my department. He tried every way he could think of to have me written up in an effort to have me fired."

"How?" Zach asked.

"The first thing he did was to increase my workload to an amount that was almost impossible for me to manage. Then he slammed me on my quarterly work reviews. However because I was good at my job he was blocked at every turn by upper management. He was finally able to accomplish his goal when Emilee had her accident."

"Your bosses couldn't protect you any longer?" Zach asked.

"No, they couldn't," Ciara said moving out of Zach's arms. "He had a legitimate reason to fire me and he jumped on it. The quality of my work began to suffer because the only thing on my mind was taking care of Emilee and dealing with the guilt for the part I played in her winding up the way she did."

"She's your daughter," Zach said his anger increasing over the horrible way Ciara had been treated, "that's where your mind should've been. Your employers should've understood they should've done something to help you."

"They did," Ciara said. "They took up donations in the office to help financially and they allowed me to work from home so that I could be there for Emilee. However, it wasn't enough. My work continue to suffer until they had no choice but to terminate me and the pleasure of doing that went to Douglas as the head of my department."

"I bet he loved being the one to fire you," Zach said.

"He called me into his office, told me to sit down, offered me a cup of coffee which I turned down and then he began his speech with the biggest smile on his face I've ever seen." Ciara said her eyes staring out into space as tears rolled down her cheek as her mind flashed back to the day Douglas fired her.

"Ciara everyone was sorry to hear about Emilee's accident," Douglas said his smile growing bigger if possible, "and we as a company have tried to be as supportive as we could to help you and work with you through your terrible situation, but as I'm sure you know and realize things aren't going well. We understand that Emilee is your first priority; we even understood when your work slipped a little and we were willing and prepared to accept that. However, your work has fallen to a level that is no longer acceptable to our clients and us." Douglas slide an envelope with Ciara's last paycheck and severance pay across his desk towards her. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but we're going to have to let you go," Douglas said standing and walking around the front of his desk. "I'm sorry to do this Ciara but I'm sure you understand the company's position. We cannot put our reputation at risk because of your pathetic situation. Maybe I would've been able to help you out if we were still together."

Ciara told him she didn't need his help and stormed out of his office.

"That bastard," Zach said his teeth clenched together, his hands balled into fists. "Was that how you and Emilee became homeless?"

"Yes," Ciara replied. "We lived on my savings, severance pay and the generous bonus the company I worked for gave me for almost six months."

"What about the insurance payment?" Zach asked knowing Americans pension for suing each other.

"The people who invited Emilee out the movies were the responsible for the accident," Ciara said. "Their insurance company offered me fifty thousand dollars as a settlement but I turned them down. That amount of money wouldn't have covered Emilee's hospital bills and it wouldn't have covered her therapy at all. It would've done nothing to help our situation."

"You're right about that," Zach said. "Don't you have a solicitor?"

"I hired what I could afford at the time," Ciara said. "A law firm I saw advertised on the television that said I wouldn't have to pay them unless they won my case. Thinking that it was a godsend since I wouldn't have to come up with a retainer upfront. I went in and talked them, liked what I heard and I signed a contract for them to take my case. It wasn't until I got home and actually read the contract that I realized that while the attorney fees wouldn't be payable until the case was settled, other fees such as filing fees and a list of other fees would be billed as usual."

"So what did you do?"

"When I couldn't come up with the money to pay my filing fees the attorney I hired put my case on hold until my financial situation improved," Ciara said. "I told him I wanted to cancel my contract."

"Did he cancel it?"

"He refused to do so until I paid him the money I owed him."

"What money?"

"He charged me research fees saying that he had his law clerks research my case as soon as I signed the contract."




Zachary & Ciara Ch. 08



"I bet he did?" Zach said snidely. "I'll help you get away from that shyster so you can hire a new solicitor."

"I've already taken care of it," Ciara told Zach. "That was the first thing I did with the advance you gave me. I'm waiting for him to send my file before I look for a new attorney. I'm going to be a lot more selective this time and read the contract more thoroughly before I sign it."

"Is that why you wouldn't go back to London with me?" Zach asked.

"No," Ciara replied. "I wouldn't go back to London with you because I think we both needed to think about what we're about to do. You've learned something new about and you should take the time to digest it, think about if you really want to do this."

"You keep asking me to think about what we're about to do," Zach said. "What about you?"

"I need to be sure too," Ciara said. "I need to think about how turning our relationship into the real thing is going to affect me and Emilee if we don't work out."

"No, no, no," Zach said wagging his finger in front of Ciara's face. "There will be no thinking about us not working out. Only positive thoughts are allowed when it comes to us."

"Okay," Ciara said laughing. "Only positive thoughts."

"You also need to know that what you've told me doesn't change my mind about us," Zach said. "I still want a relationship with you."

"I do too," Ciara replied. "But..."

"No buts," Zach said. "I want you and Emilee to go pack your bags and come back to London with me. Please?"

"We'll go with you," Ciara agreed, "but you still have to call your mother and let her know that we'll be coming back with you."

"Why?" Zach asked.

"I don't want to upset your mother by surprising her with our sudden appearance," Ciara replied.

"Okay," Zach said. "I'll call my mother and let her know that you and Emilee are coming back to London with me."

"Thank you," Ciara said giving him a peck on the lips. "I'll go tell Emilee that we're going back to London with you."

A big loud laugh poured out of Zach when he heard Emilee squeal a few seconds later upon hearing that she and Ciara would be returning to London with him.

He was about to call his mother when someone knocked on the penthouse door. Looking through the peephole, he was surprised to see Brie standing on the other side. 'I wonder what she wants.' Zach thought to himself.

"Hello, Ms. Walker," Zach said greeting Brie after he opened the door.

"Hello, Mr. Collins," Brie replied surprised that Zach was still being so formal with her. "Are we ever going to get past calling each other Mr. or Ms.?" Brie asked her tone teasing.

"No." Zach replied simply no teasing in his voice. "How can I help you?"

"I came up to thank you for insisting that I take a limo home yesterday," Brie said. "Security was patrolling the parking garage last night and they found a man hiding under my SUV."

"I heard," Zach said. "They notified us last night. I'm also glad you didn't take your car home."

"Well to show my appreciation for saving my life I want to invite you and Ciara out to dinner tonight," Brie said a fake smile on her face mentally hoping that her sister wouldn't be able to join them.

"That's very nice of you Ms. Walker," Zach said, "but we're preparing to return to London this evening."

"Oh," Brie said not bothering to hide her disappointment. "Ciara never said anything about you leaving."

Zach didn't respond to what Brie said he just stared at her.

"Whose at the door Zach," Ciara asked coming from the back of the penthouse.

"Your sister," Zach replied. "She came to thank me for the limo ride home last night and to invite us out to dinner as a way of saying thank you. I told her we weren't available because we're all flying back to London this evening."

"Imagine my surprise when I heard that," Brie said a hint of anger in her voice. "I haven't had any time to spend with you or Emilee. I haven't seen Emilee since you and Zach were married. How is she doing?"

"She's doing fine," Ciara replied. "You would've known that if you'd came by to visit."

"Are you taking her to London with you?" Brie asked ignoring Ciara's comment.

"I think Zach just informed you that we're all going," Ciara said.

"Is that good for her?" Brie asked. "Are you taking care of her medical needs? What about school? Isn't her flying back and forth across the country counterproductive for her education?"

"Don't you dare stand there and try to accuse me of not taking care of my child," Ciara said mentally fighting the urge to walk over and knock Brie the hell out. "Not when you turned your back on us when we needed you the most."

"I think you should leave," Zach told Brie trying to prevent an argument between the sisters before it started.

"I didn't mean to upset you Ciara," Brie said trying to make herself look better in Zach's eyes. "I was just concerned about my niece and how all this traveling might affect her."

"As Ciara state it's too bad your concern for her wasn't that strong when they needed you the most," Zach said.

"I'm sorry about what I said," Brie said. "To make up for it I'll take care of Emilee while you and Ciara go to London."

"I don't want to stay with Aunt Brie, mama."

Everyone turned surprised to hear Emilee's voice. The fear they heard in it angered Ciara and Zach.

"You're not going baby," Ciara said making her way over to her daughter putting her arms around her to comfort her. "Let's go back to your room so that we can finish packing your things."

"We don't have to go to my place," Brie said moving pass Zach into the penthouse. "Emilee and I could stay here in the penthouse during the time you and Zach are in London."

"Go to your room," Ciara told Emilee not wanting Emilee to hear the curse words she knew were about to fly from her mouth.

"I want to go to London with you and Zach," Emilee said her eyes pleading with her mother not to leave her behind.

"You're going with us baby," Ciara assured her. "I want you to go to your room and select the things you want to take with you while your aunt and I talk."

"How do you think Carl would react to you staying here and him staying at the apartment?" Ciara asked turning her attention back to her sister.

"Carl..."

"No," Zach said. "Emilee is coming with us."

Brie wanted to tell Zach that he should butt out of the conversation because it really was none of his business, but she didn't because she didn't want to do any more damage to her reputation than she'd already done in his eyes.

"Okay," Brie said. "I guess I'll see everyone when you all return to this side of the big pond as they say in merry ol' England. I guess we'll have dinner then also," she said looking over at Zach.

"Goodbye Ms. Walker," Zach said his way of letting Brie know their conversation was over and that it was time for her to leave.

"Alright," Brie said heading for the door stopping a few inches away from it. "I'm sorry for upsetting you and Emilee," She said to Ciara. "Can we talk about Emilee spending time with me when you return?"

"No," Ciara replied.

"Why not?" Brie asked. "I'm her aunt and I should be allowed to spend time with her."

"She's been in this world for eight years," Ciara said, "and during that time you've never wanted to spend any time with Emilee. Why do you want to now?"

"I...uh...well..." Brie said racking her mind trying to come up with a good explanation.

"You need to leave," Zach told her once again.

"As I said earlier I didn't mean to upset you, Ciara," Brie said. "I don't know what happened to our relationship. We used to be so close before you married Zachary."

"Are you saying that I'm the reason your relationship with Ciara has changed?" Zach asked.

"No," Brie told Zach. "I'm saying that your money is allowing my sister to show her true colors. I've never known her to be a snob. She used to so loving; making sure that Emilee maintained and I some kind of a relationship. But, I guess that's changed now that she has money."

"The reason you don't have a relationship with Emilee has nothing to do with my financial status," Ciara said. "That is entirely your fault. Yes, I tried to make sure you and Emilee had a relationship, but I stopped trying when you made it clear that it wasn't something you were interested in having."

"Goodbye, Ms. Walker," Zach said moving away from the door this time placing his hand on Brie's shoulder and leading her towards the door, out of the penthouse.

"I don't believe her," Ciara said her teeth clenched together fighting the urge to cry. "How dare she come in here and accuse me of keeping her away from Emilee when she's the one not interested in having anything to do with my baby."

"Calm down," Zach said going over and putting his arms around Ciara comforting her.

"Did you hear what she said?" Ciara almost screamed. "She accused me of being a snob. That...that..."

Zach cut off Ciara's ranting by kissing her. Ciara's mind caught off guard to have Zach's lips suddenly pressed against hers froze and her body went stiff. Her body realizing a man she found very attractive and whom she wanted to kiss her was kissing her began to relax and enjoy what was happening to her. Her hand came up and slowly and gently caressed Zach's cheek. A moan flowed from Zach's mouth at the trail of heat let behind as Ciara's hand moved down his face coming to rest on his shoulder.

"Feeling better?" Zach asked when the kiss ended resting his forehead against Ciara's.

"Much," Ciara replied.

"Good," Zach said. "Now go finish packing so that we can get out of here."

"Zach," Ciara said after Zach held her in his embrace for a few seconds and it didn't seem as if he was going to release her.

"H-m-m-m?" Zach replied.

"I can't finish packing if you don't release me," Ciara pointed out even though she hadn't tried to move out of his embrace herself.

"I know," Zach replied tightening his hold on her. "I haven't finished enjoying the feeling of having you where I've wanted you since I walked through that door almost twenty-four hours ago. I'll let you go I just want to enjoy it just a little while longer."

"Alright," Ciara said, "While you do that I'm going to enjoy the feeling of being held by you."

"Alright sweetheart," Zach said. "We'll both just enjoy this moment."

****************

Brie stepped off the elevator anger and jealousy rolling off her like water going over Niagara Falls. The thought of Ciara flying off to London with a rich, handsome and powerful man made her blood boil. She struggled to tamp down the scream that was scratching at her throat to come out.

'That bitch!' she thought to herself clinching her fist so tight her nails dug into her palms.

"Brie."

"What!" Brie almost screamed turning to see her assistant coming towards her.

"One of our VIPs is requesting tickets and backstage passes for his daughter and five of her friends to a concert in town that has been sold out for almost two weeks. How do you want to handle it?"

"Who is it?" Brie asked.

"Mr. Benders," her assistant replied.

Mr. Benders was a VIP customer who came into Atlanta once a year to see his daughter and celebrate her birthday. Brie hated him. He did everything at the last minute. He would register at the hotel a day before his daughter's birthday and then make some outlandish request that he expected her and her staff to fulfill. Over the years Brie had become hipped to his game and made his daughter's birthday an annual event on her calendar. As the child's birthday neared, she would try to purchase tickets to every event a child his daughter's age might be interested in so that the hotel would be prepared to fulfill any request he might make. This was what got her noticed by upper management and made them offer her the position of manager when her predecessor retired.

"I'll be in my office," Brie told her assistant letting her know that she would handle it.

Making her way to her office Brie was surprised to walk pass the hotel restaurant and see Ciara's old boyfriend Douglas Freeman sitting at the bar. As she watched him, a sly smile spread across her face as an idea formed in her mind, one that would allow her to use the man's hatred of her sister to start the hurricane of trouble she wanted to bring into Ciara's life. It wouldn't be a lot of trouble but it would be the first drop of the storm.



Zachary & Ciara



"Sure," Zachary replied, "we can go up to my hotel suite."

Everyone made their way over to the elevator. Zachary helped Ciara ease Emilee into the elevator and his friends stepped on afterwards. Zach pressed the button for the penthouse.

"Where do you live?" Emilee asked Zachary.

"I live in London," Zachary replied.

"Does everyone in London speak the way you do?" Emilee asked.

"Not all," Zachary replied, "but most do."

"You sound funny," Emilee said.

"Emilee," Ciara said trying to refrain from smiling. "That wasn't a very nice thing to say."

"It's alright," Zachary said, "I'm often told I have a funny way of speaking."

"I'm sorry," Emilee said. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"You didn't hurt my feelings," Zach said tickling the bottom of her chin with his finger to get her to smile.

"Do I sound funny?" Aaron asked.

"You sound funnier than Zach," Emilee told him.

"What about me?" Colin asked stooping down so that his face was level with Emilee's.

"You sound funny to," Emilee replied.

"I bet I sound funnier than all of them put together," Gideon said changing his voice and making his accent even heavier."

"You sure do," Emilee said laughing out loud.

"Hey, no fair," Zachary said, "he cheated.

"You're just mad because I beat you out," Gideon said sticking his tongue out at Zachary making Emilee laugh even louder.

"Alright children," Ciara said as the elevator stopped and opened signaling they had arrived at their floor, "lets behave now. We don't want everyone to think we weren't raised properly."

"Party-pooper," Zachary said as he wheeled Emilee out of the elevator.

His mouth fell open when Ciara stuck her tongue out at him in response to what he said.

"You did a no-no mommy," Emilee said sticking out a finger and brushing another finger over it. "You said that sticking out your tongue at people wasn't ever a nice thing to do."

"You're right baby," Ciara said. "Mommy shouldn't have stuck her tongue out. I slipped, but I won't do it again."

"Tsk, tsk," Zach said shaking his head. "Mommies should know better."

Ciara turned to Zachary and gave him a look that warned him not to press his luck.

"You and Emilee can talk in the bedroom," Zachary told Ciara as he unlocked the door and they entered the penthouse.

"I think you and I need to talk first," Ciara told Zachary.

"Sure," Zachary said going over to the balcony and opening the door.

Ciara walked out on to the balcony, Zachary followed her.

"What do you want to talk about?" Zach asked.

"I want to know if you've changed your mind," Ciara said.

"Why would I change my mind?" Zach asked.

"My daughter is in a wheelchair," Ciara said, "and I know that can be a problem for some people. I want to know if it's going to be a problem for you.

"Emilee being in a wheelchair isn't going to be a problem for me," Zachary said, "and I haven't changed my mind about you helping me. That is if you still want to do it."

"I'll do it," Ciara said, "but only if Emilee agrees.

"I think we both should talk to Emilee about what we're going to do," Zachary said. "I can help explain what's going to happen and answer any questions she might have about London."

"Okay," Ciara said unable to think of a good reason for him not to be there when she explained things to Emilee.

Ciara wheeled Emilee into the bedroom and Zach followed leaving his, friends in the living room.

"How do you think Emilee will react?" Colin asked when he, Aaron, Gideon and Alexander were alone.

"Depends on how they explain things to her?" Aaron said.

"Is something wrong mommy?" Emilee asked.

"No, baby, nothing is wrong," Ciara replied. "I just need to talk to you about something."

"We're going to the shelter again, aren't we?" Emilee said her eyes beginning to tear up.

"No, baby, we're not going to the shelter," Ciara said going over and putting her arms around her daughter and giving her a hug, her heartbreaking from the sadness she heard in Emilee's voice. "We're going to go stay with Zachary for awhile."

"We are?" Emilee said looking over at Zachary.

"Yes, you are," Zachary said going over an kneeling beside Emilee. "Your mother and you are going to come and live with me."

"Why?" Emilee asked.

"Well," her mother said standing. "Zachary and I are going to get married."

"Really," Emilee said her eyes growing wide. "You're going to marry my mommy?" she asked. Zach.

"Yes," Zachary replied. "Your mother and I are going to get married."

"You're going to be my new daddy?" Emilee asked.

"No," her mother said, "he's not going to be your new daddy."

"But, you said, you and Zach were going to get married," Emilee said a confused look on her face.

"Let me explain it to you, baby" Ciara said taking her daughter's hand.

She didn't tell Emilee about Zach's father's will and the condition that he got married in six months or his inheritance would go to charity. 

She simply told Emilee that she was doing a favor for Zach to help him out. She explained that Zach needed her to pretend to be his wife for awhile, but that she and Zach wouldn't do the things that a real married couple would do because they were pretending, and because they were pretending Zach wouldn't be her real step-father. Emilee looked as if she was confused about the things her mother was telling her, but she became excited when Ciara explained that they would be flying back and forth between the United States and London.

"We're going on a plane?" Emilee asked almost jumping out of her chair.

"Yes," her mother replied.

"Will, Aunt Brie, come with us?" Emilee asked.

"No, baby," Ciara replied, "she won't be coming with us."

"Good," Emilee said, "that means no Carl."

"Do you think we should help Zachary?" Ciara asked.

"He's our friend, "Emilee said, "and if he needs our help, we should help him. You told me we should do what we can to help a friend. So, we should help Zach. But, he has to promise not to make you unhappy or cry."

"Thank you," Zach said. "I'm glad you're both my friends and I promise I won't make your mommy unhappy and I won't make her cry."

"Mommy, has been crying a lot lately," Emilee said her eyes turning dark and sad. "I don't want her to cry any more."

"I promise to always try to make your mother smile," Zach said.

"Good," Emilee said. "When do we get on the plane"

"We have some things to take care of first," her mother said, "but we'll be getting on a plane real soon."

"I'm sleepy, mommy," Emilee said yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Okay, baby," Ciara said, "we're going to leave so that you can go to bed."

"You and Emilee can stay here," Zach said know that they didn't have a place to stay. "This place has three bedrooms."

"What about your friends?" Ciara asked.

"They can double up or sleep on the couch," Zach replied.

"Thank you," Ciara said.

"No, problem," Zachary replied.