Dream looked back to ensure Zayn had left, but when she turned forward, she stumbled into Ace.
"Dad?" She called with a raised brow.
"You were kinda taking a lot of time out here. Had to come check up on you. Are you good?" He looked at, and through her.
"I'm fine," she lied through her teeth, hoping her face wasn't red enough to be noticed.
He looked at her pointedly, clearly not fully buying her response.
"Are you sure, Dreamy? Anyone disturbing you?"
For a moment there, she saw the flash of protection in his eyes, and it took her back to that one night.
The night that crazy woman almost destroyed her family she loved so much.
A cold chill ran down her spine, but she kept herself admirably well from shuddering.
She had managed to pretend as if that memory wasn't something her brain randomly revisited from time to time. It was why she hated extreme silence.
"Dad, I'm fine. Let's go in before mum chops off both our heads." She forced a smile.
Ace still didn't think she was being totally honest, but she was an adult now. He had to remember that every time he wanted to be unbearably smothering.
"Let's go." He lifted an arm over her shoulders, and pulling her closer, dropped a kiss on her head.
Together, they walked into the restaurant. Still, Dream could not shake off the thought that Zayn was watching her.
A few hours after dinner was over, and they returned home, Dream marched straight to her room.
She shut the door with the keys, and walked into her bathroom.
"Crys, something really bad has happened," she said as Crystal answered.
"Okay slow down. What happened at dinner?"
"Adam happened." She held her heaving chest with her free hand, and bent her head over the bathroom sink.
"Adam? The weird guy that wanted you to—"
"Exactly him. That bastard came to the restaurant where I was having dinner with my family. I don't know how he got there. I mean sure he has a nice car, and lives in a weird mansion, but I didn't think he had that kind of money and power to freely enter into our restaurant without any prior reservations. But he did, and even got this valet to deceive me so I could walk out alone and meet up with him!" She hissed through her teeth, as the hand on her chest tightened into a fist.
Her head lifted, and when she saw her face in the mirror above, she allowed herself to shudder.
She was a mess. In less than five minutes of returning to her room, she was a total mess.
"Oh my God, Dream. What did he do to you? Are you okay? I'm on my way."
"No! Hell no! Dad already suspects something is wrong. If you come, it'll pretty much confirm something is wrong. Anyway, he made me sign some documents agreeing to be his girlfriend. Like I said I was going to do before."
"Dream?" Crystal called in a spooky voice.
"What Crys?"
"Please tell me you read through what you signed. Tell me you didn't just sign a docu—"
"Oh shit! I did just sign a document I didn't read through. But he threatened to walk into the restaurant and disrupt dinner with my family. He bloody knew we were all having dinner together, which means he has been following me. What was I supposed to do?" She bit her lips, as her toes wobbled.
"Dreamy! You should have let him go in and confront your family. Your father would have handled him. What if what you signed isn't just about the relationship thing? I don't even want to give you grief because you've been through enough today, but—"
"I know, Crys. I really do know. But I have to hope— wait a second, my stupid lawyer is calling."
She kept Crystal on hold, as she proceeded to answer her lawyer.
"Why didn't you tell me you signed off the land to Zayn Bass yourself?" He asked as soon as she answered.
"Okay look here mister, why would I sign away the land deeds to Zayn Bass of all people? Has everyone lost their minds?"
"No. It seems you're the only one that has lost your mind. As I'm speaking to you, I have a copy of the signed deeds to him, and it's signed with your signature. Please explain—"
"Oh my God, no," she shook her head, as her chest began to thump loudly. "No please."
"No, what? Anyway, I thought you had given me time to help you. But you've shown you really don't trust me. I just wish you wouldn't have made me look like a fool in this manner that you have. I'm hanging up now."
He hung up, and the call automatically transferred back to Crystal.
"Hello Dreamy, are you there?"
She was there, but she couldn't speak. Her lips quivered, whilst she hoped that what she was thinking had happened, didn't happen.
"Dream? You're scaring me. If you don't speak, I'm coming over."
"Crys," she called, her words trembling alongside her lips.
"What is it Dream?"
"I think I've been swindled. I think Adam works for Zayn Bass. I think the document I actually signed was me giving up my land to Zayn. My lawyer just called to confirm."
"Oh my God! Say it isn't so, Dream?!"
Dream closed her eyes, and as she took a deep breath, she called on the inner strength she knew very well she possessed.
She opened her eyes, and the doubts were still present, but the fear was gone.
"I'm going to find Zayn Bass, and I'm going to sue him for all he's worth for daring to trick me. And when I'm done with him, he'll provide Adam, the tool he used in doing that. I'll make sure to ruin their lives. That's a promise!"
"Dream, don't do anything irrational please."
"Goodnight Crys. Thanks for listening to me rant. We'll talk later."
She ended the call, and went straight to her room. Without taking off her clothes, she dropped to the bed, and grabbed her laptop.
Throughout the entire night, Dream did not sleep a wink. In her research, she discovered that Bass Holdings operated even on Saturdays.
When morning came, she considered herself fully ready to face Zayn Bass. Even though she had to drive straight into his office, she didn't plan on stopping until she saw him face to face.
At dawn, she shed her clothes, and went to wash up.
The dress she picked out reflected her battle mood.
It was a short, black suit dress, and red heels. Her hair she put into the perfect messy back bun, freeing her face off every strand that would make her uncomfortable.
Her eyes went to the time, and she saw it was 8:am.
"Perfect," she thought, as she sprayed her body with what had become her signature perfume- a gift she received from her mother.
Next she drew a wicked wing in her eyes, and then to wrap it up, pulled out one of her many glosses she made herself..
Her one vain obsession was lip glosses. So obsessed, she learnt how to make them.
After applying the cherry flavoured gloss, she stepped back to admire herself.
"Ready for war," she muttered, before grabbing her purse.
She slung it across her shoulders, and grabbed her phone.
Gently, she closed her door behind her, and then walked up to the staircase.
Her nose caught a whiff of pancakes, and she smiled reflexively.
"Definitely a Saturday morning," she thought as she walked down the stairs.
"Dream? Why are you all dressed up on a Saturday morning?" Fay asked on spotting her.
"Uhmmm–" she scratched the side of her head.
This was the part she had not figured out before she began this journey.
"We're going to check out a space for my cupcake business together," Crystal said, as she opened the front door and walked in, all dressed too.
Dream released the breath she was holding, and smiled so wide her cheeks almost collapsed.
"Morning ma'am." Crystal walked up to Fay who kissed her on the cheeks.
"Morning, sweetheart. Why didn't you mention it to me before that you're starting a cup—"
The screeching sound of a car caught all of their attention. It was swiftly followed by noise that came from the gate.
In a blink, they all ran out to check out the cause of the chaos.
"You can't just drive in!" One of the guards was saying to a man that has clearly driven in successfully.
Fay opened her mouth to ask what had happened, but Ace, who just came out, beat her to it.
"What the hell is going on here?" He asked at the top of his voice.
"This man here drove in before we could lock the gates after Miss Crystal drove in," the gate guy explained.
"Who is he? Give him some space to explain himself," Ace ordered, drawing closer.
The gate guy nodded, and moved back to create space.
Tension seized up the entire atmosphere, as the man opened his side of the door, and stepped out.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he pulled off his sunglasses, and sent his gaze directly to Dream.
"Adam!" She gasped loudly.
"No," he said, leaning on his car. "Zayn Bass, your husband."