Chapter 10 Midnight Madness

Zolina's POV

I've been running around for the past 24 hours and haven't had an ounce of sleep. My body is functioning from all the coffee I've been drinking since I got the news of being shortlisted by Dior. Fucking Dior. I am excited for this opportunity, which is going to catapult my design company into the design industry.

But what I really want to do right now is to stab Eros with a really sharp knife or maybe a seam ripper into his arrogant heart for putting me in this position, which has me highly under stress. Evara is going to have to forgive me for murdering her dear brother, because where am I going to find another tailor to be able to complete the five designs I have to submit? Massimo is overly stretched as it is. And where am I supposed to find five models to showcase the designs?

"ARGHHHH!" I loudly groan, slamming my hands onto my design table, just fed up with everything. The only good thing about this situation is that I already have multiple designs to choose from, so that is checked out. "Girl, I wish I could murder this Eros guy. Arghh! Why did he have to put us in this situation?" Massimo asks, clearly frustrated, just like me. "If you knew how many times I murdered that guy in my head, you'd be shocked," I tell him while imagining just doing that.

I lay my head down onto my design table which was filled with fabrics and multiple sketches. God I am so tired. I haven't slept in like 20 hours and I feel like I'm about to drop like a fly. "On the bright side we are done with the first two dresses, so that's a good thing," he says seeming proud of our work. I turn my head on the table to the left to look at the two dresses on the mannequins on the far corner.

"You have a point there," I pointed out, agreeing with him. "I know. I'm always right," he says, "now get up so we can go back to the apartment and get some needed sleep." He instructs, which gets another groan from me. "You need to be energized to show that evil CEO that you are not intimidated and can take what he throws at you," he points out. "But you can't do that if you have eyebags and dark circles. Mh-mh. Can't let my girl look like a zombie in front of the devil's CEO and Dior at the same time," I chuckled because he had a point there.

I tentatively got up with Massimo's help of course. How is he still energetic with the day he just had? We clean up and sort out the loft before we leave Burj Vista for my apartment. And yes Massimo is staying with me during his time in Dubai. I mean why would he stay at a hotel and waste his money if his favorite mentee has a whole apartment with an extra bedroom?

We walk out to the cold of Dubai night, and I wrap my sweater tighter around my shivering frame. Dubai might be hot during the day, but at night it's so cold. I mean typical dessert conditions.

I spot the BMW taxi a few feet in front of us, and I mentally thank Massimo for calling one beforehand because I couldn't have waited out here in the cold for one. I already have mild pneumonia as it is. We hurriedly shuffle into the car, and I loudly exhale. The taxi was warm, a contrast from the outside a few seconds ago.

I lay my head on top of Massimo's shoulder. He is so warm. I snuggle even closer, getting a small chuckle from him. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer. "How is your chest holding up? Do you feel any pain?" He asks, clearly aware of my health situation. "Am okay. No chest pains," I answered him. "Okay, please tell me whenever you feel any okay?" He pleads with me and I give him a small okay, then give him a small peck on the cheek to show my appreciation for his concern.

We reach the apartment complex and quickly pay the driver, then get out. Beside me, Massimo starts chuckling hysterically. "What? What's so funny?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow. "You didn't see how the driver was looking at us? He thought we were a cute couple. If only he knew I swing to the same team." He says, still laughing hysterically. It's actually funny because of how we were holding each other. "I wish I could see his expression if he knew I was gay. That would have made my day," he says as we walk into the lobby giggling.

We greet Amal on our way up, who looks just as tired as I, if not more. We reach our floor, and Massimo says he's going to order us Chinese takeout. My stomach decides that this is the time to make itself known.

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After eating, I throw away the trash and put the leftovers in the kitchen, then drag my slumping body through my apartment and make my way to my bedroom. I can't wait to soak my body in sizzling hot water, then curl myself in bed while covering myself with my thick blanket and forget about anything and everything.

"Psst!"I heard as I was halfway inside the threshold of my door. I looked behind me and saw Massimo with a serious expression littered with worry as he looked back at me. He moved away from the door he was leaning on and walked towards me.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You've got this, and you've got both Evara and me, so you're not alone in this. Okay?" He pulls me into his chest, hugging me tightly. This man is such a gem. I am so lucky to have him in my life, and I won't trade him for anything.

"Okay... I know and I appreciate the both of you," I pull back to look at him. He nods then pecks my forehead and whispers, "goodnight madam designer."

"Goodnight, mister fashionista."

I close my door behind me then walk towards my bathroom while stripping my clothes off on the way. I just don't have the courtesy of waiting until I reach the bathroom. I'll just pick them up when I am done.

I get into the shower and turn the water temperature high as it pours down mimicking rainfall. My head makes contact with the opaque shower glass wall as I lean on it. I can't help but think about Eros. All my life I have never met a man like him. Not because of his arrogant behavior but because of the feelings and emotions he unknowingly gets out of me.

And why– why – did my stomach flip every time he spoke in that low commanding tone?

Urgh.

I've never met a person so infuriating and devilishly handsome at the same time. Why could he not have been the typical rich man with the big belly and receding hairline? Why does he have to look like a GQ model instead?

Never mind, he shouldn't even be crossing my mind as it is. I should be mad at him and his way of testing me by putting me under pressure. What an asshole.

I get done with my shower and oil up my skin, then put on my purple satin pajama two-piece, which consists of a tank top and short shorts with lace around the edges of both. After putting away my dump towel and my previous clothes in the dirty hamper, I crawl into bed.

My peace is disrupted by the sound of Nokia by Drake, which so happens to be my ringtone. I picked it up from my side table, where it was previously charging, only to see the familiar number flashing on the screen.

"What does this man want now? Can't he just leave me alone for at least 24 hours?" I answer the call without being irritated. "What do you want Mr. Esposito? It's almost midnight and some of us are trying to sleep," I tell him without waiting for him to say anything.

A beat of silence. Then-

"How is the designing process going?" I scoffed.

"You tell me how it's going since you are the one who decided to dump all this on me without so much as a heads up."

"What are you saying? Is the oh so ambitious Zolina backing out of a small challenge like this," He says arrogantly. Typical.

"Of course I am not backing out!" I snapped. "This may seem like a small thing to you but to me it's not. But you can't seem to understand this because you have everything you want and you are just taking pity on a small up and coming designer. This doesn't mean shit to you. It never did."

Another pause. Then, quietly-

"Hmm, is that what you really think?"

"No. That's what your actions make me think. Look if there isn't anything of importance you have to say to me then I'm hanging up," I tell him tiredness is taking a toll on my eyes and they start getting droopy.

"Goodnight, Ms. Lanconi."

"Nightmares Mr. Esposito," I hang up and slam my phone face down back on the side table then pull my blanket up to my neck snuggling, waiting for sleep to carry me away.