Zack would have disconnected the call, but the caller’s words played on his mind; they clearly insinuated a hostile undertone. “Who are you?” he asked, his memory not reflecting the caller’s voice.
Silence followed in the background; it was both irritating and suffocating. Deep lines etched his face as he listened to the silence until his patience ran out.
“Answer me. How did you get this number?” he demanded, expecting a response soon, but there was none. The call disconnected from the other end, followed by a series of sharp beeps.
He placed the phone away from his ears, his knitted brow quirked, his mind trying to ascertain who the mysterious caller was, but no matter how deeply he thought about it, he still couldn’t recognize him. It seemed the caller certainly knew him.
“What does he want?” Ivy asked, her eyes penetrating through Zack; she overheard a bit of the conversation.
Zack’s contemplative gaze wandered. “I don’t know; he’s just another troublemaker,” he replied, not sure that was the only case.
The name Emerald whispered through his thoughts, stirring up a memory he couldn’t quite grasp. Although he assumed the caller mistook him for someone else, he was mindful of the firm tone and certainty in the caller’s voice, which begged the question: What was the caller implying? Why was the name Emerald dappled in his mind? Every nerve hummed with unease, his eyes narrowing into a wary squint.
“Zack…” Ivy’s voice jolted him from his thoughts; he glanced at her, conceiving his distress.
Her eyes flashed with concern, piercing deeply into his narrowed stare. “You zoned off; do you perhaps recall something?”
“No… not really,” he responded indifferently, snapping out of his needless worry.
Ivy relaxed in her seat, looking out the window as they drove out of the city. Once in a while, she glanced at Zack to see if he was still bothered by the unknown caller.
His eyes were glued to his phone, scrolling through the screen, not bothered in any way. He seemed to have forgotten their earlier discussion, or maybe he was saving it for later. But she knew she would have to explain her plans to him whether she liked it or not because there was no way she would be able to execute it without his consent.
They reached the estate and rolled up to the villa. The accident had ruined their plans to stay at the penthouses for the rest of the month, and she was beginning to get comfortable with the serene ambiance. But the comfort was disrupted by the lurking danger surrounding that environment, the city in particular.
Her eyes darted around the residence as she observed the intensity of the security her husband had organized. Bodyguards were stationed at every corner of the building. The villa had completely transformed into a presidential palace where the lives of officials were being threatened. She couldn’t help but ask as she stepped out of the car.
“Hubby, how many guards are posted?”
She was certain the sheer number of sentries would unnerve even the most brazen assassin, making them think twice about their mission.
“Why do you ask?” Zack’s eyebrow furrowed in a mix of concern and curiosity. His eyes locked into hers, studying her face for a hint of what lay behind her question.
Ivy’s shoulders rose in an awkward shrug, berating herself for asking in the first place. She couldn’t help it; the numbers were way beyond what she had estimated. “Don’t mind me; I was just overwhelmed by the feeling of being trapped in a high-security bubble.” She chortled in between her words, her gaze lingering on the ground.
Zack chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned closer to her ear, his lips inches from grazing her skin.
Every fiber of her body stiffened; a spark of electricity tingled at the pit of her stomach as she reacted to his tantalizing touch.
“Close your eyes,” he said, his voice alluring and sweet wafting into her ear.
As if heeding an irrefutable command, her eyes involuntarily shut tight, her breathing ceased as her body subconsciously yielded to a surging force she couldn’t defy.
Zack led her deeper into the guarded perimeter. When they had gotten a good distance away from the parking courtyard, his movement halted.
“Ready?” he said, his voice laced with excitement, making Ivy boil with anticipation. Her eyelids quirked, attempting to peep at the sort of surprise awaiting her. What would it be? She was so clueless… Zack was going to give a surprise? The feeling was a bit surreal… But she now realized her husband was being more considerate with each passing day; she couldn’t ignore the subtle yet explicable growing affection blazing between them.
She felt his warm breath brushing her skin, making her flinch in anticipation. “Open your eyes, wifey.”
Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a whimsical garden. She gasped in awe, her gaze lingering on the soothing ambiance of her favorite scenery. A plethora of bright and vibrant daffodils were artfully displayed around the whole place. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as her gaze wandered to the plaid mat lying on the lush turf, with a meticulously arranged and inviting spread of cuisine and fresh fruits.
“A picnic.”
A smile crept up Zack’s lips, impressed by his choice of surprise. “How do you like it?”
Ivy’s eyes sparkled with pleasure as she placed her hand on her lips, her fingers steepled together in a gesture of contained delight. “It’s so lovely… The daffodils are wonderful…” she said, her voice hushed but filled with joy.
Zack burst into contained laughter. “I didn’t know daffodils would make you this ecstatic.”
“They are my favorite,” she said, her eyelashes batting with vivacity. A memory crawled into her mind; her brow knitted when she remembered how he reacted at the sight of daffodils some time ago. “I thought you didn’t like them.”
“I don’t,” he replied, his smile brightening. “But that shouldn’t deprive you of getting them as a gift.”
A maid appeared behind him, stretching out a bouquet with a bow. Zack collected it, his eyes locked on her in a euphoric stare, his smile widening in excitement.
“Happy birthday, wifey…”