Forbidden Heat novel Chapter 200

The door creaked and opened slowly before a very tired-looking Edward walked in. I wonder what the two men talked about and how Zak was doing. He did tell me that he was going to call so until then, all I can do is wait for his call.

“How is Zak?” I asked, trying not to sound too overly worried.

“He’s fine. There’s nothing for you to worry about,” Edward replied with a tight smile.

“That’s a relief…” I said as I breathed out the breath that I didn’t know I had been holding.

Edward sat down on the side of the bed before reaching out a warm and comforting hand to stroke my head tenderly. I closed my eyes in bliss as I enjoyed his relaxing touch.

“Natalia…” he whispered my name.

“Hmm?” I responded.

“The relationship between you and Zak has to stop…” Edward said bluntly and without emotions.

I froze at his words. So, Zak told Edward about our relationship? How much did he reveal?

“…because it doesn’t have a future?” I replied automatically in defense.

“…Yes,” Edward replied with certainty.

I knew exactly where this conversation was going. In my mind, I’ve debated the end of my relationship with Zak countless times as my mind proposed and then defended the idea of completely ending my unconventional relationship with Zak. So, trust me, I knew the arguments from both sides very well.

“Is that it? Then I’m fine with not having a future,” I stated stubbornly.

This was the conclusion that I have reached every single time I thought about ending my relationship with Zak. If being with Zak meant that I didn’t have a future; then perhaps I didn’t want or needed one to begin with.

“Natalia. You have to let go. Zak is not…normal,” Edward said as gently as he could.

“…it’s because of me,” I said as my voice shook with emotion.

“No…it’s not. You’re not to blame…” Edward said firmly as he tried to convince me otherwise.

However, my mind was made up a long time ago…

…

Almost a month had passed since Zak’s episode and my spat with Edward. I only met up with Zak for dinner which turned out a little weird because we were both trying to avoid the topic of his formal engagement to Annie. I heard that the date had already been set. Zak and I didn’t talk about it, though. Personally, I didn’t want to know.

At the end of a very busy workday, Reiner drove me back to the penthouse that I was borrowing from Edward. I let out a sigh at the sight of so many delivery boxes piled in front of my door. I regretted my decision of insisting that it was fine for him to just drop me off in front of the building. Now I have to drag these boxes into the penthouse myself.

Inside the penthouse were many more boxes just like these, still unopened. Since our argument that day, Edward had sent me many gifts. So much that it was starting to get annoying rather than pleasing. He came over for dinner a couple of times but that was it; he never stayed over.

The conversations we had over dinner was dry at best. We didn’t discuss anything besides my experience at work which was fine by me. I didn’t have anything else to say or share. After a couple of failed attempts at rekindling our fire, we both came to a silent consensus to cease future efforts at having dinner together in the penthouse. That was that.

Deep down I knew that Edward was just trying to do what he thought was best for me. I knew it wasn’t easy for him to have that type of conversation with me when we discussed my relationship with Zak, but he still did it for my own good. Perhaps, I also knew that he was right and that just pissed me off even more.

Due to many new product launches and conferences, work was so hectic that I had been feeling so tired lately. I also haven’t been sleeping very well. I plop down on the sofa as I felt a wave of dizziness take over me. I should go to bed early for tonight. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.

--To be continued…