Engulfed with the billionaire brothers

Chapter 3

The heart feels different things at the same time. It's amazing really, how it mixed the dull ache in the chest, the pounding of the head that can be felt from miles away and finally, spices it up with a splash of pure self loathing and calls it a simple name; heartbreak. All complex emotions, swirling in one muscle and it's classified under one simple name.

She'd been standing in the same position for what seemed like light years, tears pouring down her cheeks and disbelief written on her face as she watched the man she loved scramble off the bed, tugging on his briefs and chanting, 'Baby, I can explain', as if it was magically going to erase the millions of emotions coursing through Annie's heart.

The girl he'd been with clearly had no shame as she calmly got off the bed and ambled out of the room stark naked, not a care in the world. She probably didn't give two f***s that she'd just ruined the dreams and hopes of the woman standing awestruck by the foot of the bed. Nope, she didn't care.

After successfully tugging on some pants, Zach advanced towards her with a pleading look on his face, hands outstretched in order to place them on her shoulders, he slowly said: "baby, I can explain, I made a mistake."

Annie wished she could just raise her hand and deliver a resounding slap on his perfect face or push him away or more so, kick him where it hurt most like she'd seen female characters do in soap operas but no one had ever told her about the deep shock waves that ceased all actions because she was completely immobile.

Taking her silence for something close to understanding, Zach felt it was safe to move a little bit forward and explain.

"It was a mistake, I swear it to you, baby. It was a stupid mistake." He found himself muttering over and over, hoping she would understand, hoping the temporary immobility wouldn't snap and make her walk out that door.

Hearing those words made her tears pour in greater magnitude. Of course, Zach expected her to understand. It's what she'd always done. Look past the bad and see the good. Her simplicity had finally been taken for absolute stupidity and she couldn't believe how stupid she'd really been.

She should have realized that Zach Ralstone was a big charmer and a flirt, should have known that his 'business trips' were fallacies and should have known that falling in love with Zach was the worst mistake she had ever made.

Dear God, how idiotic had she been from the start? Filling her head with how Zach was the 'one', the prince in the fairytale, the one who swept the princess off her feet and loved her till the end. It was so funny now she wanted to laugh.

And she did just that. She opened her mouth and let the hysterical laughter bubble out of her chest, spilling into high octaves until her chest hurt and she doubled over. Even if she tried, she couldn't have controlled the sudden wash of amusement at her own detriment. It was rather funny and the look Zach had on his face was amplifying her laughter.

She could imagine the tabloids screaming "GIRLFRIEND OF BILLIONAIRE ZACH RALSTONE GOES CRAZY AFTET WALKING IN ON BOYFRIEND CHEATING". It was headline worthy material, no doubt. The perfect couple has finally crashed, people would say.

Zach finally placed his hands on her shoulder, worry clouding his eyes the same way her love for him had clouded hers too.

"Are you alright?" He just had the guts to ask that. Was she alright? Of course she was not alright! Was he that daft or just blind to see the plain hurt flashing in her eyes? Of course he wouldn't see that. Annie just had to fall for the dumb Ralstone brother. How great.

Ignoring the question and the man himself, Annie shrugged the hand off and walked out of the room where she'd shared her hopes, her dreams, her smiles, her sleep and her body with this man who hadn't given any thought about crushing the dreams he'd helped her build. She walked out without a glance, heading straight to where she'd dropped the gift bag.

The cool air pricked her neck and sent shivers down her spine. She hadn't realized how toxic the air in that bedroom was and for the first time, the walls of the gigantic loft felt like it was closing in her and squeezing the air out of her lungs.

It was like losing balance or sense of direction. Annie felt like she was spinning in tight circles, unable to break out of the repeated motion. Nausea washed over her senses and her lungs tore at her chest as she drew ragged breath after breath.

"Annie, baby, please don't go, I can fix this," Zach pleaded, hot on her heels as she exited the room. He just wouldn't let her leave or cry in peace and for a strange reason, in between her sadness and helplessness, she felt anger ride up.im her chest.

"Fix this? Fix it in what way, exactly?" Annie spun around, eyes blazing with mental daggers all aimed at one man. If looks could kill, Zach was twelve feet underground.

"I..." He stuttered, caught unawares eitherby the question or the fact that her first words were laced in the most acidic tone he'd ever heard.

The condescending look that overtook her normally gentle features shook Zach to his bone marrow and for the first time, he was understanding that what he had done was no child's play.

"That's what I thought," she spat, walking to God knew where. The situation was becoming clearer and something told Zach that the moment Annie walked out that door, she would never come back. The thought sickened him and suddenly made him weak.

Annie was grateful for the short burst of anger. Despite the fact that it left her feeling more miserable, it also cleared her head a little and stemed her tears from a downpour to a sniffle. Of course, she was going home to cry some more but for now, it seemed that she could show momentary self control.

Her eyes darted left and right, searching for the gift bag she'd dropped minutes ago. Minutes ago seemed so long, like another universe before pain was introduced. Minutes ago, she'd been had been happy, smiling to herself as she pictured Zach's surprise when he found her valentine gift, not knowing the only surprise she'd get in return was heartbreak served on a disarrayed bed.

Dimly, she was aware of the still naked girl prancing Zach's kitchen like she was the owner of it, like she had some entitlement to the place. Annie knew she was supposed to feel angry and maybe get into a fight with the unconcerned girl but somehow, she just couldn't bring herself to do so.

From a young age, she knew the benefit of logical reasoning because she possessed it and now, common sense was telling her to get out of the loft because she couldn't handle everything that was going on. She needed to sit down and process things.

Finally, she saw the well wrapped expensive gift, laying casually on the chair almost the same time that Zach saw it too.

His pleas stopped and shock registered on his face as he understood without being told what had led to Annie's coming over.

As if the gift reeked of death and disease, Annie picked up the gift bag with her thumb and fore finger before turning to Zach with new tears swimming in her brown eyes.

"Here's your present," she spat, flinging it at his bare chest.

Zach was speechless. How had things gone so wrong? He couldn't help but wonder. It's all started from a random hookup and now, it had ended his loving relationship with the girl he actually loved but voicing this was futile and Zach was insightful to keep it to himself.

"It's over, Zach. Just thought I should say it but I'm sure you knew it was over the moment I saw you on that bed," Annie bitterly said, staring at Zach in a way Zach had never thought possible.

"Annie..." This was all Zach could get out of his constricted throat. It was one thing to imagine it was all over but it was another to hear her perfect lips say those words that broke his heart in more ways than one.

With a resigned sigh and one angry swipe at her damp cheeks, Annie grabbed her handbag and began to move towards the door in angry strides.

Zach didn't understand how he moved so fast or when he grabbed her wrist but he knew the moment he spun her around and met her eyes that Annie McHenry was done with him.

"I'm sorry," he choked out, burning under her withering glare.

"Sorry fixes your conscience but does nothing for me," she stated, yanking her wrists out and covering the few metres to the door where she held the handle tightly, lips set in a tight line as her eyes hardened.

"Besides," she said with dead calm, "I don't believe you." And then shut the door in his face.