Don't Play With My Soul

Zenia's

POV

I felt better. I confessed and I immediately felt better. The truth had been buried inside of me and had been eating at me like a cancer for far too long.

I got dressed. I went to the do the thing I loved doing the very most-- work at my boutique. I got started on my sister's wedding dress designs as I hummed along to Rihanna's "Russian Roulette".

Ashley came busting through the doors in tears and looking a wreck.

I leaped at the sight of her. I had never seen her in such a nasty condition before. I went over to my best friend immediately.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" I asked in deep concern, pulling her into my arms for a comforting hug.

"It's... It's... Alex!" she sobbed.

"What did Alex do?" I feared her response. If Alex had broken Ashley's heart so quickly, there would be a very serious problem.

"He.....he...... he said he doesn't believe in long terms relationship. He... doesn't want to be serious with me!"

I felt her pain. My heart ached as she said those words.

Ashley and Alex mounted very quickly, and they were already sleeping together. But I knew she cared deeply about him. The girl was basically going nuts just to have his attention. Now, she had finally gotten what she hoped for; I knew she wouldn't do anything silly to jeopardize her bond with him.

So it had to be Alex. That coward.

"Sit," I instructed. I handed her a box of tissues and rubbed her back gently. "Ash, it's going to be okay."

"No, it's not going to be okay. I love him, but he doesn't love me back."

"Alex must be just scared of commitment. We're all still young and want to live our lives and experience different things."

"You mean different people. Is there another girl in the picture? I swear, I could kill a bitch!"

"Ash, calm down. That's not what I'm saying. I think you gave yourself too soon to that guy, and, maybe, that's why he's having second thoughts."

"But I loved him since--"

"I know that sweetie. But he's a guy, and he's just thinking like one."

Sometimes, I should listen to my own damn advice. Maybe if I had, I wouldn't have had a broken heart, and a child who never got to see the light of day.

Sigh.

That poor baby.

After Ashley had calmed down and stopped crying, she began working like nothing had happened. She picked herself back up like a boss, but I knew on the inside she was heartbroken.

Just wait until I set my eyes on Alex.

Why stomp on someone whose only intentions are loving you?

He was a coward! A pathetic piece of sh--!

The morning went by as normal. I resumed the wedding dress designs I thought my sister would absolutely love and have a hard time deciding on which one to actually make. I could just picture her craziness. "Wait Zenia, I love this one more."

"Omg, this other one is perfect."

"No, no, no, let's go with the second one."

"What do you think about the third one?"

"Which one do you love the most?"

Jasmine could never make a fashion decision without my approval.

A small smile played on my lips, which immediately disappeared as she walked into the store.

What does she want?

She walked right up to me at my desk.

"Hi, Zenia."

"Madison," I said with slight annoyance in my tone.

"I need to get a dress."

Is EJ paying for this one too?

"What dress are you looking for?" I asked with my usual fake smile I gave to customers I did not like.

Ashley eyed her. She knew she had been very friendly with EJ, but lately EJ and I had been getting closer and closer.

"Something simple but elegant. I prefer white."

"What's the occasion?"

"A celebration."

"Okay. Right this way."

I took her to the mannequins dressed in white dresses.

"Oh, I love this one. What's the price?" she asked as she pointed to the third dress. It was designed by Ashley. It was simple but classy. Gold spaghetti straps, dropped low at the back, right above the butt, and flowed down your body to the ankles. The material was pure silk.

I checked the price tag. "Two thousand."

She scoffed.

"Two thousand dollars? Two thousand dollars for this rag? Are you crazy?" she asked rudely, and a bit too loudly.

Ashley heard her. And, in a split second, she was standing between us.

"Is there a problem here?" she asked Madison, eyes daring her to repeat what she had just said.

"Madison here thinks the price of the dress is ridiculous because it's a rag."

I wasn't about to sugarcoat anything.

"Oh, is it because EJ isn't paying for it this time? If you can't afford the dress, there's no need to insult it. Just get your ass out the boutique and try Old Navy. I'm certain you'll find something there to fit your budget." I snickered. Ashley could be so blunt.

Madison glared at us with pure hate.

"You bitches," she mumbled before walking out.

"I was so close to pounding her ass like a drum," Ashley said.

"I think she has a vendetta with me, actually."

"Because of EJ? It's not your fault that he doesn't like stale milk and he prefers a chocolate cookie."

I laughed before playfully pushing her away.

Ethan Junior's POV

I settled in my new office easily and was almost finished signing the paychecks when my cellphone began chiming in my pocket.

I retrieved it. Madison.

"Hey," I answered.

"E... J." I heard her sniffing.

"Mads, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I'm just coming from Zenia's boutique and she was so mean to me, EJ; you wouldn't imagine."

"What? What happened?"

"I told her I wanted to see one of her white dresses, and she became so hostile when I couldn't afford. She yelled at me and practically threw me out of her store-- cursing at me and telling me to go shop at Old Navy, and using your name to offend me even more." "Why my name? Why would Zenia do that to you?"

"I don't know. But remember when you first bought me the dress for my birthday? Well, she told me I can't afford anything without you."

That was so cruel and totally uncalled for. I couldn't believe Zenia could be this petty.

"I only went back there because she had really nice dresses and you referred her to me."

"Stop crying, okay? I'll speak to Zenia."

"She'll only lie about it. She wouldn't want you to be angry with her."

I raked my fingers through my hair as I listened to her crying. She must have felt so embarrassed.

I finished work at 3:00 p.m. Evan was being lenient because Jasmine was with him.

I drove to ZENIA'S.

Pushing through the door, my eyes immediately saw her speaking harshly with Alex while he stood there listening to everything like a child.

I got in the middle of the conversation, putting a halt to everything.

"Can I talk to you Zenia?" I intruded.

"Sure."

We walked to the back of the boutique.

"What's up?" she asked innocently.

"Why did you lash out at Madison today?"

"Wait, what?"

"She called me on the phone, crying her eyes, because you insulted her."

"What! I never even said anything to--"

I cut her off. "I really thought you were better than that. She's my friend. You don't have to be mad at her because you don't like her. I was the one who referred her to your boutique. She just wanted a dress for my celebration tonight." "Your celebration?" She folded her arms and arched an eyebrow at me.

Oopppss.

"She's invited and I'm not?"

"I didn't get a chance to tell you yet," I covered.

"Oh, but you got a chance to tell her, EJ?!"

She moved passed me so quickly before throwing a white dress at my face.

"This is the dress Madison wanted! Why don't you buy it for her again and have fun at your celebration!"

"Zenia!" I called out to her but she was already out the door.