"His Absence, My Undoing".
837 Words
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Chapter Seven
Amara – “His Absence, My Undoing”
I didn’t sleep at all.
Not even for a second.
I laid on his couch, still in that burgundy dress, my body thrumming with the memory of his hands, his mouth, his voice saying You’re in control.
Except I wasn’t.
Not anymore.
Because the moment he walked out that door, he took a part of me with him—and now I couldn’t breathe without wondering where he went, or who had called to ruin our moment.
Who could shake Zephyr D’Voré enough to make him leave like that?
My phone buzzed at 3 a.m.
Unknown Number: Go home, Amara. Lock the doors. Don’t ask questions.
My blood ran cold.
Another message followed.
And whatever you do, don’t call Zephyr.
I sat up, hands shaking, heart in my throat. Was this some kind of twisted joke? A hacker? One of those scam messages?
But then I realized—I never gave anyone this number except HR. And Zephyr.
I bolted upright, grabbed my clutch, and left his penthouse with adrenaline pulsing through every inch of me. I didn’t care if it was irrational. I needed space. I needed answers.
I needed him.
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It was two days before I saw Zephyr again.
He hadn’t shown up at the office. No emails. No messages. Nothing.
Every minute I sat at my desk was torture. Every ding of the elevator made my stomach twist.
And then—on Wednesday morning—he walked in.
Dark sunglasses. Stubble on his jaw. That same suit from Sunday, but wrinkled and unkempt.
He looked like hell.
But when his eyes met mine across the floor, something inside me shattered.
Because for the first time since I met him, he looked afraid.
And he was staring straight at me.
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I followed him into his office without asking. Closed the door. Locked it.
He stood behind his desk, gripping the edge so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Where were you?” I demanded. “Why did you leave like that? And why the hell did someone text me at three in the morning telling me not to call you?!”
He didn’t answer.
I moved closer. “Zephyr, talk to me.”
His voice came low and cold. “That number. Did you delete it?”
I blinked. “What?”
“That message—did you delete it?”
“I—I don’t know—”
He grabbed his phone, eyes darkening. “You don’t understand what you’ve stepped into.”
“Then explain it to me!” I exploded. “Because I didn’t ask to be dragged into this game you’re playing. I didn’t ask for your attention or your kisses or—”
“I’m not playing,” he growled.
My breath hitched.
“You think I want this?” His voice dropped an octave. “I’ve spent years building walls around myself so no one could be used against me. And then you walked in with your quiet strength and your wide eyes, and you tore through every single defense I had.”
I froze.
He stepped around the desk, moving toward me like a storm.
“I told myself to stay away,” he whispered. “But I can’t. I can’t, Amara. You’ve already got me. And that puts you in danger.”
“What kind of danger?” I whispered. “Who was that message from?”
He paused, eyes burning.
“My brother.”
My blood turned to ice. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“You weren’t supposed to.” He looked away. “He’s not someone I talk about. Not someone I trust.”
I stared at him. “Why would he warn me?”
“Because he wants something,” Zephyr muttered. “And he’ll use you to get it.”
The room went dead silent.
I didn’t know what to say. What to believe.
And then Zephyr’s phone buzzed again.
He checked the screen and swore under his breath.
“What is it?” I asked.
He didn’t answer. He just turned the phone so I could see.
It was a photo.
Of me.
Taken from across the street.
Tonight. Just minutes ago.
I staggered backward.
“What the hell—?”
Another text flashed.
You’re running out of time, big brother. You protect her… or you lose her.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“Zephyr,” I whispered, voice trembling. “What does he want?”
He looked at me like he was about to say something that would ruin us both.
But before he could open his mouth—
BANG!
The office window exploded.
Glass shattered. I screamed and ducked as Zephyr tackled me to the ground, covering my body with his. Alarms blared. Screams echoed from the floor outside.
His heartbeat thundered against my back as he whispered in my ear—
“He’s not warning us anymore.”
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- Writer
