Don't Play With My Soul
Chapter 46

Zenia's

POV

"Does it look like I'm joking?" his voice asked before I heard the gun shot.

I flew out of my sleep with traces of sweat forming on my forehead. Ever since I arrived back home, I had been having terrible nightmares every night about what I'd been put through when I was in England.

I got out of bed, fearing that I'd have another nightmare if I tried to go back to sleep. I walked towards the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.

I poured myself a glass and looked up at the wall clock. It was 3:30 a.m. Finishing my glass of water, I rinsed my cup out and went back to the bedroom, where I stayed awake for the remainder of the early hours of the morning.

At daylight, I took a shower and got dressed in a comfortable dress. I brushed my hair back and applied my makeup. I stared at the rings on my fingers. The promise ring and the engagement ring.

"He's not always going to be there to save you, Zenia!" Anton's voice played in my head. "You both are going to pay! Pay! Pay!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled back, aloud, at his voices, and I heard his sinister laughter.

I began crying. I knew I needed professional help. Anton was in jail in his country, but, yet, I kept feeling his presence around me and hearing his voice in my head.

A knock on the door startled me. I opened it and EJ walked into my room.

"Good morning, sweetie, are you alright?" he asked.

"No. I keep hearing him, EJ. I can feel him around me."

"Zen, he can't hurt you anymore, but we will let you see a therapist. You've been through hell, and you need to adjust back to the beautiful, charming Zenia I fell in love with." His arms circled around my neck, drawing me towards his chest. His manly fragrance tickled my nostrils as he kissed my forehead then my cheeks and, lastly, my lips.

We walked to the kitchen where we met Jasmine and Jevan having breakfast. EJ and I joined them.

"Good morning, how are the two of you?" she asked.

"We'll be fine. I'm taking Zenia to a therapist and then to the park," EJ answered. "Therapist? What's going on?"

"I've been having nightmares about him," I answered and felt tears forming in my eyes.

EJ wrapped his arm around my waist.

"EJ, what therapist are you taking her to?" Jasmine asked.

"He's a friend of the family and has been a licensed therapist for over fifteen years."

"Okay, please be safe with her."

"We'll be alright. Don't worry so much Jassy," EJ answered with confidence.

After our breakfast, EJ and I left. He drove us to an office, which stood by itself in a very private area.

EJ introduced me to the therapist and he ushered me into a room while EJ waited in the receptionist area.

The first session felt like I had been friends with this therapist for years. He didn't rush into the details of my nightmares and the reasons I that was having them. Instead, he asked questions about me and my accomplishments, and I enjoyed speaking about such.

My next session was scheduled for the following week, but I felt happy when I left.

EJ took me to the park where we spent the reminder of the morning enjoying the atmosphere of early autumn. We talked and joked as we laid underneath a tree on a blanket.

That night I slept peacefully, and EJ slept next to me.

The next morning, I woke up and he was staring at me with a bright smile.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"I've got word from my father. He's going to give me my house, and I want you and I to turn it into a home."

"Yes," I answered and almost knocked him off the bed when I hugged him with a force.

"Excellent. We'll go see the house this evening. And, if you like it, you'll take it."

"EJ, it's from your father. Of course I'll like it."

And I stood corrected. I loved it.

It was bigger and better than the first house he owned

It was bigger and better than the first house he owned. We roamed the bedrooms, the living rooms, the kitchen, the swimming pool area and the garage space for his cars. "Do you like it?" he asked.

"Like it? I love it. I can't wait for us to actually move in," I squealed.

"How about tomorrow?"

"Yes. Tomorrow sounds perfect."

We moved in together again and, this time, I was more humble and conscious of the man I had in my life. He had no intentions of hurting me. All he wanted was to love me, and I loved him, too. He was everything and more.

At my next therapy session, I spoke about meeting Anton and the first impression I got from him. He was nice, so nice that, at one point, I thought he could have been a replacement for EJ.

I wasn't afraid of talking about him. Speaking up made me realize that he was not in the same room with me and he couldn't hurt me anymore. They couldn't hurt me anymore. I was in a better place.

I went back to my boutique and did what I loved doing, making and designing clothes with my best friend, Ashley.

It struck me by total surprise when she flashed her ring finger and I saw an engagement ring on it.

"He's willing to settle down, and he's willing to settle down with me," she said with excitement. "That's amazing! Congratulations!"

"Zen, remember what we always used to talk about in college? When we're about to get married?"

"We used to always say that we'd have a double wedding and..."

She caught my eye and I caught hers before we broke into our girly screams. "Yes! We could have a double wedding."

I was happy. EJ brought me happiness, and making a home with him brought me more, but we were taking everything one step at a time. We weren't rushing into getting married, but being engaged felt right since we were living together again and had a baby on the way.

Two Weeks Later

EJ and I were by the pool when I started craving ice cream. Cookies and Cream ice cream.

"EJ, I want ice cream," I started.

"There's ice cream in the fridge babe."

"But not the Cookies and Cream flavor."

"I'll send security to get you a tub."

"No. I don't want security to go. I want you to get it for me."

"Okay. I'll be right back."

I watched as he grabbed his T-shirt and car keys and got into his one of his cars. He drove out the gate and I headed back indoors.

"I got your ice cream," EJ said as he sat down on the couch.

I had fallen asleep.

I took the tub out of his hand and went into rage when he brought the wrong flavor.

"I said Cookies and Cream! Not Cookies and Mint."

"There wasn't any Cookies and Cream so I thought this would have been a substitute."

"No, EJ. I don't want this."

"Then I'll eat it." I watched as he stuffed his face with the ice cream.

I took a handful and spread it all over his face in a playful manner.

"Now you're eating ice cream," I joked as I got off the chair and ran upstairs before he could get me back.

"Zenia! I'll get you back. I promise, I'll get you back."

When I went into the kitchen the next morning, I saw three tubs of Cookies and Cream ice cream on the kitchen island with a note attached:

Hi baby,

I've already left for work. Evan and I are closing a very big business deal today, but I called Mom and she told me where to get the ice cream. I drove there early this morning while you were still asleep and picked you up these. Enjoy. Lots of Love for you and the baby.

Your fiancé, EJ

A smile spread across my lips. There wasn't a word to describe how amazing EJ was.