"Is that all you are buying?" Ximena asked Zaria the following day as they shopped around. While she bought several sets of new clothes, shoes, and accessories, she noticed that her friend had bought nothing but a watch. More so, it was a men's watch—she was probably buying it for her dad whose birthday would be in a week. Aside from that, she had bought nothing for herself.

Zaria took another glance at the watch to decide whether it was good enough and nodded. "Let me help you with your bags."

The latter had many of them and it was getting hard to carry them, so she passed two of them to Zaria. She was more relieved as they left the jewelry store. "Are you hungry? I'm craving for ramen."

"There should be a seafood restaurant on this street, but I have never tried it out. Wanna take the risk?" Zaria suggested then immediately recalled that she had said something similar before.

They exchanged glances and laughed, recalling their horrible experience at an unfamiliar restaurant many years ago that had made them swear to only set foot in places recommended to them by someone they knew.

"Don't worry, this is a high-end street. A restaurant can't thrive on this part of the city if it's not good enough. Besides, hygiene and food safety officers are stricter these days." Zaria reassured her friend, but just as they headed into the restaurant a few meters away, she felt troubled. "Ryan isn't going to 'coincidentally' pop up out of nowhere, right?"

"No, he won't." Ximena said guiltily. Knowing that Zaria was displeased the last time, she did not secretly invite Ryan this time. Although she felt bummed that Zaria was dismissing such a caring guy, she knew that it was not up to her to push it.

"Do you want to go and see Nina later?" She proposed as they would still have time after eating.

"Not today." Zaria sighed when she thought about it. She would only go over when she was certain that Ryan would be absent. How ironical it was for her to be avoiding the man she had always looked up to, she thought to herself.

…

Monday, in the morning.

As soon as Zaria entered the elevator, Desmond stepped in and flashed her a sideways smile.

"You arrived too. What a coincidence."

"You were waiting for me." She had not seen him before he walked in, but she didn't believe that there was such a coincidence.

"Are you complaining?" He questioned as he moved closer to her.

Unlike the other times, she did not push him away but placed a hand on his chest when he hugged her. "I do have a complaint. You look too handsome today."

It was the first time that he heard her openly admit that he looked handsome, so he was intrigued. He looked down at her peach-colored manicured nails that were trailing down his blue tie. "I dressed up for you. Don't you like it?"

"I do." He had always been breathtaking but he seemed to have paid more attention to detail today. She had heard the gasps and flying kisses from the female employees when he made his way into the elevator a moment ago. Under his fiery gaze, she frowned. "I just don't like the flushed look on other women's faces when they see you."

"Are you jealous?" He leaned down to take her lips in his gently. "I don't care about their opinion. I only belong to you."

Her heart picked up its pace and she was shocked at the same time. Such honey words… "Isn't it too early to make such a declaration?"

"It's not about time, sweetie. It's about how I feel. It's the same whether I say it on our first meeting or ten years later."

Sniffing in her floral scent that he was getting addicted to, he pulled her tightly into his arms.

"I missed you so much."

His voice was croaky and his breath warm against her ear. She felt her skin start to heat up.

"It's only been a day and a night." She bit her lower lip to calm the pool of emotions that was starting to flood in her stomach.

"Two days and two nights." He corrected her. "I miss you as soon as you leave my sight."

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she felt him run his hands down her back. Just as he turned to pin her against the mirrored wall, the door slid open.

"This is not our floor." She murmured against his chest as she realized that they couldn't have arrived so soon. She turned in time to see Liam who was about to enter the elevator. As soon as he saw the scene inside, he took a U-turn and went to the next elevator.

Later when he went to Desmond's office, it was evident that he was displeased by what he had witnessed earlier.

"Do you have something to say?" Desmond asked him even though he already knew what his friend had to say.

"You cannot be with her." As expected came Liam's solemn words.

"Can you explain why not?" Asked Desmond, deciding that this was the only time he would be patient with anyone who said such things to him. No one was allowed to come in between him and Zaria. Not even his friend.

Liam made sure the door was locked before he turned and looked at his friend seriously. "You don't even love her. You are only going to hurt the innocent woman."

"And what makes you come to such a conclusion?" Desmond dropped his pen to listen attentively to the nonsense that was being uttered before him. "Surely, you of all people should know me better than this?"

Liam frowned and wanted to punch something. "You know what I am talking about, Desmond. You will make her a target. Don't forget about M…"

"Shut up." He interrupted with a fierce glare. "I can protect my woman from whatever comes her way. If this is the only reason, then leave."

Liam glanced at the door and was preparing to leave after finding that this was a lost cause. He had just taken two steps when he turned on his heel. "No it's not."

"What else?" Desmond was beginning to lose his patience.

Liam battled with himself and wondered whether or not he should pull out the big guns. Was it worth it and could he handle the aftermath? He wanted to let it go, but as soon as he blinked, the future flashed in his imagination. He decided to go through with it. "There is more to her than meets the eye. Her identity is suspicious."

Desmond raised an eyebrow languidly. "What about it? She is Theodore Willaims' daughter and that's all. What else could there be?" He guffawed when he thought about the absurdity of things that could be unpredictable sometimes. "Unless there is a twist and you discovered that she is not Theodore's daughter?"

Even if that were the case, it would not be enough reason for him to not be with Zaria. He loved her and that didn't have anything to do with who she was or whose daughter she was.

"She is Theodore's daughter. I confirmed it through my means." Liam replied, and Desmond didn't look surprised.

"That's predictable. One look and you would know that." He shrugged.

"I know. But many things still don't make any sense when pinned together." Liam insisted. "I'm investigating her and when I get a definite answer, I will tell you about it."

"Then I will never get an answer from you." Desmond laughed and picked up his pen to resume his work. On one hand, Zaria knew that Liam was investigating her and would probably not let him get answers to whatever it was that he was looking for. On the other hand, Liam wasn't even certain of what he was trying to find evidence of. It wasn't every day that he thought of Liam as unreliable and it was baffling as well as comical.

"Samantha went to the attorney." Liam changed the topic when he realized that they were getting nowhere discussing Zaria. Not to mention, the latter was only one wall away and could walk in any instant.

"What's new about that? Did she grow some brains?" Desmond's voice was filled with intrigue. He knew his sister well enough to be certain that she would not do as he asked her to. Unless something else triggered her.

Liam's face was filled with scorn. "The brainless woman. She reported that you had threatened her to change her testimony into a lie."

Desmond's lips twitched as the pen between his slender fingers broke from the impact of his grip. "Truly brainless. I gave her enough chances."

It was she who did not treasure the chances that had been given to her. She had no one but herself to blame if her fate turned out to be similar to that of the pen.