Don't Play With My Soul

Zenia's POV "It's EJ."

My heart raced around my chest. I hadn't heard his voice in over a week. My head was telling me to hang up, but my heart was curious to hear what he had to say.

"What is it?" I asked in a tone that would definitely make him realize I wasn't so excited for his sudden phone call. "Can we talk?"

"About?" I was keeping it as short as possible.

"Us."

My heart spread wings and some butterflies danced around in my stomach.

"We're done, remember?" I recalled his words, ignoring my flying heart and the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

There was a long pause from his end, and I was certain he was thinking deeply about the next thing to say. "Zeni..."

"Goodbye EJ." I hung up.

I couldn't forget the hurtful words he said to me when I took the liberty of going to his office to have a face-to-face conversation like grown people. He was so disrespectful, cold heart and hard headed. His words cut me like a knife, but I had put a bandage on that wound, and I was in a better place, doing better things.

Switching off my phone completely, I took a shower, washed my hair and got dressed in a simple outfit. After all, I was only going across the street to get myself something to eat.

I was seeing less of my mother lately, and I was certain was she dating a chef from Evan's mansion.

I stepped out in the busy street. The sun was just leaving the sky, being chased by a large dark rain cloud. My legs carried me over to a small Subway outlet. I was in the mood for a freshly prepared sandwich with lots of dressing. I pushed through the door and joined a short line, waiting for my turn.

"What would you like to have?" the server asked.

"Foot long Italian bread, chicken teriyaki with American cheese. For veggies: lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. Oh, throw some pickles in there, too. And, for my dressing, sweet onion, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce and honey mustard."

"Nine ninety-nine."

"Can I pay for that for you?" a voice asked right above my shoulder. His minty breath made the hairs on my skin stand up.

I turned around slowly and met a friendly pair of dark blue eyes. A pleasant smile showed on his kissable lips. His face looked like it came from the perfect romance novel, and his light stubble contributed to his overall handsomeness. He wore a simple black T-shirt-- but by the way it hugged his upper region, it was easy to tell he was lean and kept in shape with a printed six-pack-- faded grey jeans and grey chukka boots. "Would you mind?"

"Huh?" I asked stupidly. I was mentally drooling over this guy.

"Can I pay for your sandwich?" he asked again, and it was then I caught his accent. He was British.

"Sure." I gathered my hormones and stepped aside while he paid for my sandwich and ordered his.

"Thank you." I threw on one of my sweetest smiles. Just for him.

"You're welcome. So are you having your sandwich here... or you're leaving?"

I was in love with his voice. He sounded like the smoother version of Jason Statham.

"I'm having it here, actually." At the very beginning I was having my sandwich to go, but I couldn't leave without getting to know this perfect art from God better.

"I'm Anton, by the way." He held out his hand to me.

"Zenia. Nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure, Zenia. I love your name."

Don't you love me too?

"Thank you."

We walked over to a table and took seats opposite each other.

"So, what made you pay for my sandwich?" I asked before unwrapping and biting into it.

"We have a lot in common with our sandwiches. I love tons of dressings too."

We shared a light laugh and I took in his features.

"From your accent, I can tell you're British."

"Correct. My mum is an American, but my father is from England. They recently got a divorce and Mum moved back to America. I'm a shared custody case, so I'm here with her for the summer." "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. That's life, I guess."

"Well I really hope you enjoy the summer here. America is a nice place."

"Are you kidding? It's so boring because I don't have a friend. I've been here two weeks going, and I'm yet to make any friends."

"You just made one." I winked my eye at him and saw the blush creep on his face.

"I'm very thrilled to hear that, Zenia."

It was only sensible to exchange numbers with a new friend, so we did just that.

He was staying in a hotel within two miles of the penthouse, so distance wasn't a factor in this new friendship.

"See. I live right up there. Right at the very top." I pointed to the penthouse as we stepped out from Subway.

"Beautiful. Listen, Zenia. I really hope you don't think I'm some desperate guy who'll cling onto you, but I'm very happy to become your friend."

"I would never think anything like that," I replied as I put my phone on silent. It was off for the evening, and I had a bunch of text messages coming in.

"You're a very popular woman," Anton said as he studied my movements.

"I'm a fashion designer." I covered.

"Really? That's so good."

I mentally growled when I saw a text message from EJ.

Slipping my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, we crossed the street. We shook hands and were about to wave each other off when the clouds couldn't hold the rain any longer. Rain burst down with a vengeance, and everyone on the street ran for the nearest shelter.

I took Anton's hand and ushered him into the lobby.

"Wow. Rain on a summer day?" he said rhetorically and we shared another laugh as we attempted to dry ourselves off from the droplets that had captured us outside.

"Follow me," I commanded.

We headed upstairs to the penthouse suite. I ushered us inside and handed him a towel.

"Thank you." He stood in the living room, drying off his hair, while I sat on the couch and dried mine.

A knock came on the door.

I peeled myself off the couch, threw the towel over my shoulder and walked to the door.

"I've been calling and texting you continuously. What were you doing?" EJ asked as he moved past me and walked into the room.

He stood still when his eyes caught Anton's. His hands bawled into fists and, although I was behind him, I saw his jaw clench.

"Who the fuck are you?" he directed to Anton.

The tension from EJ was already thick and steaming.