His for a year. - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

We walked toward where Zade was seated. He turned when he heard movement behind him. His eyes ran over my new look—impressed, though he didn’t say it.
He signaled for me to sit next to him.
“I’m expecting a couple of potential investors,” he said, not looking at me. “They need to see I’m a family man. Act like we’re in love, okay?” He looked me in the eye.
I nodded.
God, I hated how he made me feel—how quickly I became flustered around him.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it at first, but it kept vibrating. It was Aliyah texting. David was home. Our elusive, rebellious older brother was yelling at her about his “scattered” room.
Really? He disappears for four months—no communication of any kind, no trace—and now he’s back, yelling at her?
I couldn’t rush home. Not with everything going on right now. My hands went clammy, my body restless as I tried to think.
“What’s wrong?” Zade asked, noticing my unease. “Do you need the bathroom?”
“Yes!” I blurted and stood up quickly.
“Be quick!” he snapped.
Once in the bathroom, I called Aliyah immediately.
“Hello?” I said the second she answered. I could hear chaos in the background—things clattering.
“Talk to me, Aliyah,” I said, heart racing.
“Where are you?” A man’s voice. David.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, trying to stay calm.
“Come back and explain this mess. Where’s Mom? Last I checked, she had no job,” he scoffed.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep my tone neutral so he wouldn’t take it out on Aliyah.
“I’m at school. I’ll explain everything when I get back. Just… please calm down.”
“You sound respectful now,” he said, laughing dryly. “I don’t have time. Don’t make me come looking for you.”
There was a loud sound. I pulled the phone from my ear.
“Hello?”
“He threw my phone at the wall,” Aliyah said quietly.
“Are you hurt?”
“No. He just messed the house up some more. But he’s gone now.”
“I’ll get you a new phone. I promise.”
“I’m fine. Jake’s here.”
Jake. Thank God. I let out a breath of relief. Jake was my age, but he’d always looked out for Aliyah. They’d been close since her first days of school, and I trusted her with him.
“Tell him I said thank you. I’ll be home soon. Take care, okay?”
“You too, Olive.” She hung up.
I looked in the mirror. My reflection stared back, tired and heavy. I splashed water on my face, dabbed it dry, adjusted my skirt, and took a deep breath.
I can do this. I must do this.
Outside, Zade was laughing with two middle-aged men, all holding golf sticks. The potential investors, I assumed.
As I approached, Zade smiled widely, placed a hand on my waist, and kissed my cheek.
He was so smooth with it, like he was born to be an actor.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “this is Olive Trevor, my fiancée.”
“Hi,” I said shyly, shaking hands.
“Wow,” said one man. “I knew you had taste, but this is next level. I’m Alex Rey.”
“You can call me Michael,” the other added. “And I agree with Alex—she’s stunning.”
I smiled politely and took a seat. The men returned to golf. Zade kept glancing at me—sometimes smiling, sometimes just staring. I couldn't tell what was going through his mind, that made me sweat.
My thoughts were still on Aliyah and David. Why now? Why this week?
“Oh my God,” I gasped.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Zade rushed over.
I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Are you okay?” He took my hand, sitting beside me.
“Yes—I’m, I'm fine,” I said.
He studied me.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Was that real concern or performance?
“No. Not at all.”
“Good.” He smiled.
Just then, Ray approached and handed Zade his vibrating phone.
“Shit,” Zade muttered. “It’s my mother.”
My pulse spiked.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, rubbing my sweaty palms on my skirt and forcing a smile.
“Yes?" he answered. I could hear her voice, calm but commanding.
“No, everything’s fine here. Yes, I’m with her,” he said flatly.
She was already asking about me.
I cleared my throat.
“Whatever,” he muttered, pulling the phone away to FaceTime.
I swallowed hard as the camera turned to us.
“Hi ma’am. I’m Olive,” I said with a smile.
Zade’s mother had the kind of beauty that didn’t beg for attention—it simply existed, quiet and composed. Her face had delicate features framed by loosely pinned dark hair.
There was a calmness in her eyes, thoughtful and unreadable. Even through the screen, she gave the impression of someone who measured her words carefully, and carried authority.
“I heard my son,” she hissed.
She is… unwelcoming. Her appearance is deceitful.
“Mother, be nice,” Zade said, pulling me closer. “She’s going to be your daughter-in-law.”
“You don’t have my blessing yet. What if she’s dishonest?”
“I’ve done my research. She’s the one,” he said.
“Well, I’ll do mine. I want to meet her. Tomorrow.” She didn’t look at the screen, just kept typing on her laptop.
“What's her last name again?” she asked, finally glancing up.
I hesitated, unsure if she was still talking to Zade—until he nudged me.
“Oh. It’s Trevor. Olive Trevor.”
She shook her head. “Really, Zade? This is what you want to bring into the Avner family?”
That stung. She spoke like I wasn’t even there.
Zade was clearly irritated now. I just didn’t know if it was with her or me.
“Are you questioning my decision?” he snapped, voice low and hard.
This was spiraling. I moved slightly, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his chest.
I had never felt fear and tension so tightly bound together. My stomach churned. My heart thundered. I blinked back tears.
“Zade, baby, it’s just—”
“No!” he yelled. “I’ll be with whoever I say. That’s final.” He hung up and shoved me away.
I barely caught my balance as he stormed off to his car.
Was he driving away? What about the investors? Or me?
Anna followed him quickly. She caught up, and they both got into the car. I could see her trying to calm him. He yelled, raking his fingers through his hair.
This was too much for me, I needed to breathe.
As I stood, Alex and Michael approached me.
“Is everything okay?” Alex asked. “We saw… everything.”
“No, yeah, it’s fine. Just a mother-son thing,” I lied with a strained smile.
“Still,” Michael added, “I’m rethinking this proposal. If they can’t hold a civil conversation as a family, how can I trust them going public with my money?”
“No, please. It's just a little misunderstanding. They’ll settle it today, I’m sure,” I said quickly.
Why am I even defending them?
“I’ll sleep on it. But you don’t look well. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m—” My head spun. The world tilted.
I felt the world turning, everything became blurry and my body felt so light, weightless. I wanted to sleep or sit, I wasn't sure what my body was trying to tell me.
I touched my forehead, I was burning. My body felt weightless.
I stumbled, reaching for something—anything. I started to fall, but someone caught me. Alex.
He tried to walk me to a chair, my arm around his neck, his arm on my waist.
Then Zade appeared. He pulled me from Alex’s grasp and lifted me like I weighed nothing. He carried me to the car and laid me in the back seat.
He sprinkled water on my face, then unbuttoned my top two buttons, poured a little water on my chest, and gently rubbed it in with his fingers, breathing heavily.
Was he… worried? Or just exhausted from carrying me? Maybe he thought I’d die right there in his care.
Our eyes locked
“Ugh,” I groaned as a sharp headache pulsed behind my eyes.
He jerked, pulling his hand away from my chest.
“Hey. Are you okay?” he asked, stepping away.
I sat up, groaning. “Just a headache.”
I looked at my chest. Then at him.
“What?” he looked away . “You’re welcome for not letting you pass out.”
The car was filled with awkward silence.
I buttoned my shirt, tried to stand—nearly fell. He caught me again.
“Sure you don’t need a hospital?” he asked, helping me sit back down.
“No. I just need sleep,” I whispered. And to check on Aliyah. I can't give her more things to worry about.
He helped me up again, walked me to the front seat, and shut the door.
“Give me a minute,” he said, walking off.
He spoke to Alex and Michael, shaking hands quickly, then talked to Anna and the others, giving orders now. He returned to the car.
I sighed. Please let this day end.
He got in and started the engine.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said.
“Alex was… touchy,” he said suddenly.
That caught me off guard.
“He only caught me when I almost fell,” I said defensively.
He adjusted in his seat, jaw clenched.
“Well, don’t go fainting around men who find you attractive.”
He turned off the AC, rolled down the windows.
Was that… jealousy? Or control?
“Don’t get excited,” he muttered. “I just don’t want people thinking I’m marrying a slut.”
That stung. I bit my lip, looking out the window.
“You’re not going to say anything?” he asked, louder.
“No. You’re right,” I said flatly. “That’s why I didn’t argue.”
“Then apologize. For making me look bad.”
“I’m sorry for the impression I gave,” I whispered, swallowing my pride.
We turned down a street I knew too well. My throat tightened.
My spine stiffened as I looked out the window, watching the scenery shift from generic city blocks to something painfully familiar. The red-brick building with the busted intercom. The bodega with the half-lit sign. The laundromat with a broken dryer taped off with caution tape. My block.
No. No, no, no.
I pressed my lips together, my throat tightening as Zade’s car slowed in front of my house. My real house. The one with the rusty fence and the missing house number nailed crookedly to the porch.
He parked without a word.
I couldn’t breathe. The silence was louder than anything he'd said today.
I stared at the dashboard.
“Come on. I’m not stupid,” he said. “I asked Ray for your real address.”
I said nothing. My hands gripped my bag.
“And now?” he said. “Now I know where you really live.”
I wanted the ground to open up.
“The Bronx, Olive? This is where you live?” he added with a smirk. “I expected a more creative lie.”
I turned to him, angry, ashamed—but stopped.
His eyes had softened. Just a little.
“Don’t lie to me again,” he said quietly. “Not about this. Not when I’m trying to… be decent.”
He looked away as soon as the words left his mouth.
My hands trembled.
I hated that he saw this part of me. And even more that I was relieved he didn’t mock it.
“Let’s go in,” he said, unbuckling.
“No, Zade—” He stepped out, slamming the door before I could finish.
He walked around and opened mine.
“Come on now my love “ he said mockingly.
He stretched his hand for me to hold on to as I came out.
I bowed my head in embarrassment. Just as I held on to his hand, the door opened. It was Aliyah and Jake.
I struggled to remove my hand from his but he held on tight. He closed the door as I stepped out.
He led me towards Aliyah who's face read excitement and confusion.
We walked up the cracked steps together. I hated the way he was seeing everything. The flaking paint. The broken door. The rust on the railing that stained your fingers orange if you touched it. This wasn’t a house—it was a confession.
“Hey there” he said to Aliyah with a smile.
“Aliyah, I know this is… “
“You're Zade Avner, “ Aliyah blurted with shock.
“Oh look, your sister knows me” He whispered proudly in my ear.
“Yes I am Zade Avner, Olive's boyfriend” He said bluntly.
Her eyes widened.