Bad Romance

1. His Return

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~ZARA WELLS - PRESENT DAY~

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I hum to myself as I walk around my office, reading the details for the latest case I am working on. It is nothing serious - just a property dispute between two brothers. They could just talk it out. I have seen them. They adore each other. I don't know why they are dragging this out in court.

"Ms. Wells?" There is a knock on my door.

I turn around to see that it is my assistant, Katie.

"Yeah, Kate?" I smile at her.

"Mr. Dixon wants you at conference hall eight." She says.

I furrow my eyebrows.

I work at Dixon, Halls, and Henryson Law Firm, and Mr. Dixon is my boss so yes, he can call me over anytime he wants but he is the kind to tell you in advance. What has happened now?

I nod at her and walk over to my desk, placing my file down and putting on my heels that I had taken off for the ease of work. I do not enjoy wearing heels but it is necessary to keep up appearances.

So I put on my heels and make my way to the conference hall.

I knock on the door and wait for the soft "Come in" before opening the door and walking in.

"You needed to see me?" The question is directed at Mr. Dixon but my eyes are on the back of the head of the man facing away from me.

I have seen him somewhere. I cannot put my finger on it but I know this man from somewhere.

"Zara, meet Nathan Knight, your new client."

The color drains from my face as he turns on the chair, a smirk on his face as he reveals his model-like face.

"You!" I am not able to keep my calm as I come face to face with him after four whole years.

I take a step back, feeling sick to my stomach.

"Zara." The smirk is wiped off of his face, replaced by concern as he stands up.

"Are you okay, Zara?" Mr. Dixon asks. "Do you two know each other?"

"I would like to talk to her alone." I hear him say.

I shake my head, trying to convey to Mr. Dixon that I have nothing to say to this man but it is futile, for my boss leaves me alone with this man.

"Zara breathe." He takes a step towards me.

I hold my hand up. "Stay away from me, Knight."

"Honey-"

Not the smartest or civilest thing to do but when your ex-husband shows up unannounced in your life after trampling over your heart four years ago? You sort of lose your mind.

So as soon as I heard 'honey' come out of his lips, something he has never called me in the course of our marriage, my first reaction is to take off a heel and throw it at him.

He did not expect or he was too slow to react because the next moment, he is in front of me with his hand on his forehead, and from where I am, I can see he is bleeding.

And the only reason I regret doing it is because this could cost me my job.

"Okay okay, you are mad at me. I get it!" He says, and the casualness with which he says it makes me want to throw my other heel at him.

"Why. Are. You. Here?" I ask, emphasizing each word.

He opens his mouth and for a moment, it looks like he is going to say 'honey' again but he is Nathan Knight. He is smart. He closes his mouth and picks up my heel instead, walking over to me with it.

He kneels down in front of me and helps me to my footwear.

"Why are you doing this again?" I ask.

He takes his sweet time standing back up and fixing his suit.

"I need your help." He says.

"That much is clear." I roll my eyes.

There is a tortured look on his face like there is so much he wants to say but he cannot.

"Granpa." He says gravely.

I close my eyes. My only fond memories of my marriage to Nathan is the time I spent with his grandfather, Felix Knight.

"When?" I ask.

"No no no... He is not dead. He is healthy as a horse." He waves his hands in front of me animatedly.

I give him an exasperated look, my eyes scanning the still-bleeding wound on his forehead. I sigh. I am just too good for my own good.

I take out my handkerchief and hand it over to him.

"Thanks." He murmurs.

"If he is fine, then what are you here for?" I ask.

He takes a breath. "He took a fall, hit his head. He does not remember the past four years, meaning, he thinks we are still married."

My lips form a small 'o' and I do not say anything.

"The doctors say not to give him any major shocks and you can guess the first person he looked for when he woke up."

I rub my temple. "How am I supposed to help?"

"Be my wife again."

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