Page 18 of Playing With His Heart

Jenna felt bad that she hadn’t called to acknowledge the flowers Zayn sent her the day before, even though she had a message that he’d called her. They were beautiful, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d received any. It wasn’t exactly the thing to do after a one-night stand if one or both parties didn’t intend on seeing each other again, and she’d have to stop and think when exactly the last time was she’d had a steady boyfriend. Even then, she didn’t remember getting flowers. Instead, Jenna stopped at the corner grocery and grabbed as many produce boxes as she could carry and started packing her belongings.

It felt odd having to leave her first apartment fresh out of college. She liked living alone. It only got lonely occasionally—and when it did, she just went to bed early. Even in college she didn’t have a roommate because her anxiety always got the better of her. Thanks to her doctor’s referral, she could live alone.

Jenna always felt that moving in with someone was a natural progression for two people that had dated for some time. So, why then, was she considering the move to Zayn’s? They weren’t dating.

“Because I have nowhere else to go, thanks to him.”

Apartments in the city were hard to find and not cheap unless they were on their way to run down. The farther outside the limits she went, the more commute time there would be, not to mention the added cost. If Zayn decided he was going to move everyone right away, there wouldn’t be time to search and apply for a new place, so she would have to put her big girl panties on and accept his offer.

Thanks to her air conditioner being repaired, at least it was bearable to be in the apartment and hopefully sleep would come easily. Jenna worked into the wee hours and got most of her belongings packed.

When she woke with her mind clear and her decision made, she grabbed a duffle bag full of clothes and headed out the door. Since it was Saturday, she was taking a chance that he would be home. It felt weird to call ahead, so she thought a surprise in-person conversation would be less awkward.

The bus ride to his apartment building was remarkably similar to the one she took to work every day, just an extra turn or two, so her commute from his place to her office would technically be quicker. Maybe even within walking distance, which would save her money.

When she stood out front after the bus pulled away, she hadn’t noticed before just how much taller the building was than anything she was used to. Good thing the elevator was fast, and she wasn’t afraid of heights. The attendant held the door open for her to walk into the building and when she stopped at the desk, no one was there to greet her, same as the last time. Was she supposed to wait, or would they notice her helping herself to the elevator again? The fact that no one manned the front desk made her wonder just how safe the building was—but anything was better than her own place.

When she reached Zayn’s door, she knocked hesitantly. There was quite a bit of commotion going on inside the apartment and she didn’t want to interrupt if he had company, so she turned away from the door just as it opened. When she looked back, it wasn’t Zayn, but instead a beautiful woman peeked out.

“Can I help you?”

“Um, no, sorry. I have the wrong apartment.”

She waved a hand and walked back to the elevator quickly. She was at a loss. He invited her to move into his home, so not once had it crossed her mind that he would have another woman there. Maybe she was right after all, and even though he denied it, the billionaire stereotype fit him better than she realized. She had great disappointment in herself for trusting him. Jenna pushed the down button multiple times, but it didn’t make the elevator doors open any faster. How could she have been so stupid to actually believe him?

“Damn it, what is taking so long?”

She didn’t want to be in that building any longer than necessary. Right off hand, she knew there was a newspaper on her dining room table and she planned on throwing herself into the classifieds section until she found a new place to live, even if it took all night. She had money hidden away in an account she could use for a deposit, even though she’d been saving that for a higher purpose. At the moment, however, Jenna didn’t really have any other choice.

The elevator dinged and the entrance slowly opened. When she pushed the lobby button and leaned against the back wall, she watched the reflective doors move back together effortlessly. Right when the two became one, she could have sworn she heard her name echo from the hallway.

It was him, but it didn’t matter. The damage was done, and she wouldn’t be played a fool twice. When the elevator stopped its descent, she stepped out and made her way to the front doors, regardless of the fact the front desk attendant desperately called out to her. More than likely the poor man was under orders from Mr. Holden to stop her. Reminiscent of the Gods smiling down on her. The bus home arrived right on cue and she hopped on like it was her own personal chariot. As she chose a seat, it drove away. She didn’t look back. Mostly, she didn’t trust herself not to change her mind because she felt bad.

Sympathy might just be the death of her.

* * *

“Damn it!”

“Is everything okay, Mr. Holden?”

Zayn stood outside on the sidewalk in front of his building, watching the city bus pull away.

“Thank you, Henry, but everything is far from okay.”

“If it’s any consolation, sir, she was very upset as well.” The front attendant nodded his head and held the door open while his employer moved back inside the building.

It didn’t help at all. In fact, the very thought made him feel even more horrible. She wasn’t happy, and it was his fault—not intentionally, but hurt just the same. He never imagined that Jenna would show up at his house out of the blue. He had one of his childhood friends there, helping him add some life to the spare room to make Jenna more comfortable. She was an interior decorator, and he was horrible at that stuff.

What she must have thought when Ann answered the door. Flowers would not fix the situation. He had to go find her and make things right. Luckily, he knew where she lived.

When he got back to the penthouse, Ann was waiting in the living room and she looked almost as upset as he knew Jenna was.

“Did you catch her?”

“No, the bus pulled away right as I got to the sidewalk out front.”

“Zayn, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should have answered your door.”

---