Merrick

A sense of relief takes over my body when I watch Zelina's eyes close next to me in the passenger's seat, but then it hits me that I don't have her address. I groan internally and look at the purse sitting on her lap. I know I can search through it to get something useful, but at the same time, it would be rude to go through a woman's belongings without her consent. So I let out a sigh and end up calling Sarah. Sarah is always there at my disposal, and within 5 minutes I get about the location I wanted to know.

I think about how I found Zelina drunk on the sidewalk and can't help but wonder if she is alright. I know it's none of my business, but I couldn't really hide my concern when I looked at the sadness in her eyes. The way she was talking, it felt like she was really hurt. I am not sure if I was imagining it, though.

I look at her as I drive through the roads. At least it's peaceful now that Zelina is asleep. The drive to her home isn't a big deal with the speed I go in, so I relax and enjoy the night. As I drive, I feel more grateful for not having to deal with her drunk self now. It doesn't take long to reach the location that Sarah sent me, and I take joy in thinking that I'll drop Zelina quickly and get back to my home. But then I feel some movement beside me, and I frown when I watch her stir up again.

I tense a bit and stare at her, but then my eyes move towards her window, where I see a man pop up suddenly. I get on alert, whereas Zelina looks up at him and then smiles slowly. "Drew, it's my friend Merrick. You don't have to worry." She says sleepily, and the guy nods at her.

I then realize that he probably is one of her guards. The guard turns to me and smiles before he calls in to open the gates. He looks so calm with Zelina's drunk state that it makes me wonder if this is her daily routine. I park my car in the driveway and then reach for the door of Zelina's side. She mumbles something as I help her out of the car. Placing my hand around her waist, I guide her inside the house. To my amazement, I find her front door already unlocked and I can't help but question the kind of lifestyle Zelina has. I mean, doesn't she worry about her safety? I guess she really enjoys living a carefree life.

We step into her living room and my eyes fall on the large aquarium sitting there at the end. The lights illuminate it, giving it an amazing glow, and I stare at the surroundings for a moment. Her house is beautiful and also very modern. And that aquarium is probably the highlight of the house.

I was hoping to see her family waiting for her, but I am disappointed when I look around and find no one. I sigh and realize that I have to take her to her room all by myself now.

I look down at Zelina, who is clinging to me, and pat her cheek gently. "Hey. Where's your room?"

She looks up at me and smiles through her hazy eyes. "We are home?" She asks and I nod.

Her head swings a bit, and she takes in her surroundings before her gaze finally halts on the aquarium. "OMG! Let me see how my babies are." She squeaks excitedly, making me frown. Before I can say anything, she pulls away from me and starts walking towards it. Her steps seem staggered as she crosses the room and I quickly catch up with her to make sure she doesn't fall anywhere.

"I am so sorry I forgot about you..." she speaks as she bends to look at the fish in the tank. "Are you guys hungry?"

"Zelina..." I call her, looking clueless about what to do now.

Zelina turns towards me and raises her eyebrow. She then shakes her head with a smile and lifts her hand to signal me. "Come here." I feel unsure as I walk over and stand next to her. "Hey, cuties! This is my friend Merrick. Say hi to him." Her eyes dart between the tank and me as she says.

"Hello," I say awkwardly.

I watch her as her eyes gleam like a little kid as she looks up at me. "Do you wanna see magic?" She asks, looking at me. She doesn't wait for my answer as I see her put her hand into the water without thinking for a second. The moment her hand goes inside the water, I see all the tiny fishes gather around her palm. I watch their colorful bodies huddle around her hand with their popping mouths, and it brings a smile to my face.

"You do it." She looks at me and orders, pulling her hand out.

"Me? Zelina, I don't think..."

"Oh, come on, it's fun." Not giving me a chance to protest, she grabs my hand and dips it into the aquarium together with hers. At first, I am a bit shocked by her action, but then I begin to relax when I look at all the fishes gathering around our hands the same way they did earlier. I can feel their tiny mouths tickling my palm and I turn to look at Zelina. She has a wide grin on her face as she speaks. "I think they like you."

I look at her smiling face and for a minute, it feels impossible for me to take my eyes off her gorgeous face. She looks so happy and innocent at this moment that it makes me wonder if she was the same Zelina that tried hitting on me at the bar.

Zelina suddenly stumbles, and I reach to hold her, getting out of the trance I was in. "I think you need to get some sleep." I clear my throat. "Let me take you to your room."

At first, I think she is going to protest, but then she simply nods at me. "Right. It's up there." She points upstairs.

I lead her up through the stairs, and when we reach her room, I switch on the lamp on her nightstand and gently sit her up on her bed. I take a step back and purse my lips.

"So I'll leave now. Goodnight." I say, scratching the back of my head.

"Thank you, Merr-hick..." Zelina says, looking at me, and I frown. Then I watch her bounce a bit as a series of hiccups come out of her lips. I sigh and shake my head before I find myself saying. "I'll get you water."

I hurry down and search my way for the kitchen. When I locate it, I head straight to the refrigerator and grab a water bottle. I walk back to Zelina's room, thinking how I should be having a good night's sleep at my home right now, and stop when I don't find Zelina in her room. I feel a sudden breeze of wind hit my face and I turn to see her balcony door wide open. I make my way towards it and my eyes widen in panic when I see Zelina sitting on the edge brick of the railing. I quickly grab her hand and pull her down before she falls off and gets herself killed. What is wrong with her?

"What the hell were you doing up there?" I ask her in disbelief.

She smiles as she stares at me. Then she reaches up to place her hand on my cheek. "Do you know your eyes seem like an ocean under the moonlight?"

I keep staring at her for a moment, not knowing what to say, and then I remind myself that she is talking all this shit because she is drunk.

I shake my head and pull her. "Let's go inside."

I sit her again on the bed when we get in and reach for the water bottle. I have no idea how she managed to get rid of her hiccups, but I make her drink some water anyway. Then I look at her. "Listen, Zelina, you are not in your senses and I can't take the risk of leaving you alone right now. It's best for you to try to get some sleep so I can leave, okay?"

She looks at me and nods. "Okay." I let out a sigh of relief, wondering that she agreed so easily, but then again, dread takes over my face when I see her reach to pull the zipper of her dress down.

"Stop! What are you doing?" I almost scream, making her look up at me.

She frowns. "Can't you see? Taking off this dress."

"Why?"

"I can't sleep with my dress on, you silly." She says amusedly.

I shake my head and look at her. "Yes, you can. Just lie down."

I watch her pout as she tries to get her fingers on the zipper correctly. She then sighs exasperatedly when she doesn't succeed and looks up at me. "Stop that bullshit and come help me. I can't get it."

When I don't say anything, she walks up to me and gives me her back. "Please, Merrick."

My eyes meet hers as she turns her head to look at me, and I clench my jaw. "I can't," I say, shaking my head and then I face away.

After a moment, she turns towards me and looks up slowly. I look into her eyes and suddenly she doesn't seem drunk. I watch her as she takes a step closer and stands right in front of me. I don't know why, but I get a little nervous when she stares at me.

"Why are you like this?" she says and I can see her eyes shine with grief.

"Like what?" I ask her slowly.

She looks down for a second before getting her eyes on me again. "All my life men have never missed a chance at getting me out of my clothes, but you...you are refusing to do that...why?"

I feel shocked by what she said. I don't know where that came from, but I look into her eyes and they tell me she is being honest, and it makes me angry. "If that's how you have been treated before, then I am not sure they even deserved to be called men." I feel surprised by hearing the rage in my own tone.

She half-smiles, but then I watch her expression change. She looks at me and suddenly I can see the same cocky Zelina that I encountered at my office. "Though it wasn't their fault entirely. I hold a part in luring them to do that."

I watch her chuckle as she places her hands on my chest. My body freezes with her touch, but I don't attempt to avert my gaze from her. "It didn't take me to do much to get them down to their knees. But you are different. Why?"

"Because I am not one of them." I clench my jaw and say. I just don't get her. She is confusing the hell out of me.

"Why can't you be like them and fall into my trap." She asks. She tilts her head as if she is trying to study my face and I frown. "Why are you trying to be so hard on yourself? Don't you want to have some fun?" I gulp harshly when she moves her hands up and wraps her arms around my neck.

She smiles, leaning into me, and I stare into her eyes. "What your fiancée did was cruel. I know you are struggling with getting over her, but give me a chance, Merrick. I promise I can make you forget about her."

I look at her and gently wrap my fingers around her wrists before pulling her away from me. "Zelina, stop." I shake my head, feeling frustrated with this whole situation.

At that moment, all the things I've heard and all the articles that I've read about her surface in my mind. I think about how people call her names for the way she does business. The fact that she is a well-known seductress isn't hidden from me, but despite all those ugly remarks made about her, there is still something inside me that refuses to believe it. I don't know why the hell I feel so. There is something more to her that the world doesn't know. It feels like she just pretends to be the Zelina that every one terms her to be. It feels like that Zelina isn't real. But I need to see if my assumption is really true.

I sigh and look at her. "Ask yourself one thing. Do you like doing this? I don't know you and I am no one to judge but...is this how you want to live your life?"

She looks at me and I can tell she knows what exactly I am talking about. Looking away from me, she chuckles dryly. "Who cared about what I wanted to do with my life?" She says, and I can hear the pain in her voice. "Hell...No one cared about me. Why would they care about my life?"

I feel a strange tug at my heart listening to her words. I sigh deeply and my eyes soften. Hesitating for a moment, I then place my hands over her shoulders. I know I might be stepping into a danger zone by touching her, but I simply can't stand there and not try to comfort her. "Well, I care about you and I want you to go to bed so you can feel better tomorrow," I say, turning her around and taking her back to the bed.

She doesn't protest when I make her lie down after removing her heels. When I pull the duvet over her, she smiles at me with a look of admiration.

"You know, you are too good to be called a businessman." She says sleepily and I laugh.

"Goodnight, Zelina," I say after I make sure that Zelina isn't going to run out of her bed now.

She yawns and I watch her eyes close. "Goodnight, Merrick."

I stand there and stare at her until I am convinced that she is asleep. Then I switch off the lamp and begin to walk out of the room finally feeling relieved.

When I reach the doorway, I hear Zelina call my name. "Merrick..."

I turn to see her staring right at me.

"One day..." she says, and the gleam in her eyes frightens me a bit as she completes her sentence. "One day you will be here in this bed...right under me."