Make Me Believe In Love.

Charpter 04. I don't want you on my bed sheets.

I spent the entire morning packing my bags, cleaning my room. In the afternoon, I decided to tag along with Antenna and Shantel on their Saturday walk downtown. It was around 3:00 PM, and the clouds hung low in the sky, casting a comforting shadow over the streets. As we strolled, I couldn't shake off the frustration simmering within me.

"You two are the baddest sisters in the world, like you handed me over to Ezekiel," I grumbled, irritation evident in my voice. If it wasn't against the law, I swear I'd give them a piece of my mind.

Antenna, never one to hold back, quipped, "I thought the baddest sisters were Cinderella's ugly stepsisters."

Shantel, always the optimist, chimed in, "Oh, come on, May. It's not so bad. You get to live with the hottest bachelor in the state." She paused to catch her breath, leaning against a nearby rock.

"Don't forget, he's loaded," Antenna added, attempting to lighten the mood.

Before I could respond, Shantel shouted, "Package!" and dashed off ahead, leaving Antenna and me in her dust.

"Show off!" I called after her, trying to hide the pang of envy in my voice. "Wait up!"

Antenna suggested we take a short break, and as we caught our breath, she remarked, "She's quite fast."

"Yeah, well, I'm fast too. I just don't feel the need to show off," Antenna retorted, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

I chuckled, teasing her, "We all know you're just lazy."

Rolling her eyes, Antenna replied, "Whatever. If you ever get bored at the Knight Mansion, just remember, I'm only a phone call away." She could always read me like a book, sensing my unease during our jog.

"What if you're off shooting somewhere?" I asked, genuinely curious about her commitment.

"I'd drop everything for you," Antenna declared, catching me off guard with her sincerity.

"Even for Mr. Knight?" I teased, knowing full well how she felt about our enigmatic boss.

After our jog, they headed home, leaving me alone at my apartment. It was 5:00 PM, and five men were busy packing up my belongings.

"I won't forget what you did today, invading my privacy and then kicking me out. This is my home, and you two are replacing Ryan. You're both crazy," I stated firmly, meeting their gaze head-on.

Shantel, always the sentimental one, opened her arms wide, asking, "Is that how you say goodbye?"

"We love you as much as you hate us," Antenna said, pulling me into a heartfelt group hug.

"I hate you both 100%," I joked, feeling a surge of warmth amidst the chaos.

"I guess that means we love you 100%," Shantel replied with a smile, sticking her tongue out playfully.

"See you on Saturday and Sunday," I said as they left, uncertainty lingering in the air.

"We won't make any promises," Shantel remarked, a hint of mischief in her voice.

As I got into my car, thoughts swirled in my mind. Motherhood was on the horizon, and despite the challenges ahead, I was ready to face them head-on. On the way, I reviewed the contract Ezekiel had drawn up for me. Everything was crystal clear. I wasn't expecting love or romance in this arrangement. After all, Ezekiel was far from my type. With a sigh, I retrieved a pen and signed the contract, signaling the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

"Don't tell people we live together". I couldn't help but feel puzzled by this rule. Why did Ezekiel want to keep our living arrangement a secret? I wanted to challenge him on it, to demand a valid reason for such secrecy.

"No smiling at you".My initial reaction was defiance. Who was he to dictate when and how I should smile? I scoffed at the idea and vowed silently not to comply with such a petty demand.

"Don't touch my clothes". I bristled at this rule, feeling insulted by the implication that I was there to play the role of his wife. I made it clear that I wouldn't adhere to such a demand, asserting my boundaries and refusing to be controlled.

"Don't talk to me except when you want to talk to Ryan or work": I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Ezekiel's arrogance. What did he think we had to talk about anyway? I challenged him on this rule, asserting my right to communicate as necessary for our professional relationship and refusing to be silenced by his arbitrary restrictions.

I couldn't help but chuckle at Mr. Knight's bold rule. "I don't want you on my bed sheets". "What if you asked me to be on your sheets?" I quipped, unable to resist the opportunity for a playful retort.

His response was swift and cutting. "That will never happen," he declared with a steely gaze that sent a shiver down my spine. Despite his dismissive tone, I couldn't shake the feeling of satisfaction at having teased him, even if just for a moment.

I handed Ezekiel the contract with my signature, a smirk playing on my lips. "There you go," I said, trying to maintain a composed demeanor despite the tension between us.

Ezekiel took the contract and glanced at it briefly. "Good, you MAY go and cook," he said, emphasizing my name with a playful smirk. It was clear he was teasing me, but I refused to let him ruin my mood.

As I headed to the kitchen, I could feel Ezekiel's eyes on me. "Whatever," he muttered, rolling his grey eyes before settling down to watch TV. Meanwhile, Ryan was engrossed in his phone, oblivious to the dynamic between his father and me.

In the kitchen, I began cooking, letting the familiar rhythms of chopping and sautéing soothe my nerves. Lost in my own world, I started singing softly to myself.

Suddenly, I heard a mischievous laugh from the living room. Ezekiel must have had something up his sleeve. Moments later, I heard the sound of water splashing against the floor. My heart sank as I realized what he had done.

"Ryan, let's watch TV together," Ezekiel called out, interrupting his son's activities. It was clear he was trying to divert Ryan's attention away from the kitchen.

Despite my attempts to be careful, I slipped on the wet floor, landing hard on my back with a painful thud. "Ouch, my backbone!" I cried out, the pain shooting through me.

Ryan heard the commotion and immediately showed concern. "Let's go check on Mommy; she must be in pain," he suggested, ready to rush to my aid.

But Ezekiel stopped him, assuring Ryan that he would handle it. With a heavy heart, I realized Ezekiel had planned this all along, expecting me to fall victim to his cruel prank.

As Ezekiel approached, I struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. "Are you okay?" he asked, feigning concern.

Trying to maintain my composure, I replied, "Yes, I'm okay," though I couldn't hide the frustration in my voice.

Ezekiel's cold laughter cut through the air as he mocked me. "Why are you replying? I was talking to the floor," he quipped, his tone dripping with malice.

Feeling a surge of anger, I demanded his help, but he simply refused, revealing his true colors. As I struggled to get to my feet, I couldn't help but confront him. "You're no KNIGHT in shining armor. You will regret making me an enemy," I warned, unable to contain my frustration.

But Ezekiel brushed off my words with ease, retreating to the living room as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Ryan looked on with concern, his innocent gaze filled with worry.

Despite the pain coursing through me, I managed to get up and finish cooking. "Food's ready!" I called out, my voice tinged with exhaustion and resentment.

Ezekiel's snide remark about poisoning the food only added fuel to the fire, but I refused to let his negativity dampen my spirits. As they joined me in the kitchen, I resolved to stand my ground and not let Ezekiel's antics get the best of me.

Ryan's eyes widened in admiration as he beheld the dishes before him. "Wow, they're beautiful!" he exclaimed, his genuine compliment warming my heart. It wasn't often that someone as young as Ryan appreciated homemade meals, especially considering his exposure to the finest cuisine prepared by top chefs. His enjoyment of my cooking was a reassuring validation of my culinary skills.

With his headphones on, Ryan eagerly dug into his meal, emitting satisfied sounds of delight with each bite. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile as I watched him savoring the food.

Ezekiel, however, seemed puzzled. "Where is the meat?" he asked, his confusion evident. It was clear that my decision to cook a vegetarian meal had caught him off guard.

"I thought you saw on my profile that I don't do meat; I'm a vegan," I replied, masking my amusement at his reaction. In truth, I wasn't a strict vegan, but I saw no harm in playing along, especially if it irked Ezekiel.

"Thank you for giving me a reason to hate you," Ezekiel retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"The pleasure is all mine," I replied, relishing the slight satisfaction I derived from his irritation.

As Ezekiel finished his meal and announced his departure to bed, I couldn't resist one final jab. "I hope you have all sorts of nightmares," I remarked, my words dripping with mock concern.

"Seeing your face every day is a nightmare," Ezekiel shot back before retreating to his room and locking the door behind him.

Meanwhile, Ryan and I enjoyed a peaceful evening together, with me reading him a bedtime story before tucking him in and kissing him goodnight.

The next morning, I was roused from sleep by the sound of Ryan bustling about the house. Ezekiel, clearly perturbed by the early morning activity, questioned Ryan's actions.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his annoyance evident.

Ryan, undeterred, explained his intentions. "Preparing something for Mommy," he replied earnestly.

Ezekiel, perhaps skeptical of the necessity of Ryan's endeavors, interjected, "Is that necessary?"

Ryan answered "Yes, it is."