The Unwilling CEO's Love Game

Yasmine had spent the entire day lying on the bed. When she woke, her stomach was growling with hunger. She fumbled for her phone and ordered some takeaway. About thirty minutes later, the doorbell chimed.

Assuming it was her food, she shuffled to the door, not bothering with shoes.

The sight that greeted her was a surprise.

Zachary stood there, holding a bag that unmistakably contained her order. It didn't take a genius to figure out he had intercepted the delivery guy.

"This is what you're eating?" Zachary pointed to the takeaway with a smirk.

Yasmine reached for the bag, irritation flaring. "None of your business."

She tried to close the door, but Zachary blocked it with his foot.

"What's the wrong with you?" she snapped, frowning at him.

"You're really not gonna invite me in after I came all this way?"

"And who the hell are you to me?" Yasmine shot back.

Zachary, realizing she was as prickly as a hedgehog and also noticeably thinner, softened his tone. "Your dad passed away. Why didn't you tell me?"

Yasmine scoffed. "And what are you to him?"

"I am his son-in-law," he said, his brow furrowing.

"Ex-son-in-law, if you need a reminder," Yasmine retorted without a hint of sympathy. "A good ex, whether it's a boyfriend or whatever, should always be like they're dead-remain invisible." Zachary didn't expect her harsh words, or the coldness in her eyes.

Yasmine glared at him, unyielding.

He sighed, a cold laugh escaping him. "Yasmine, you've really outdone yourself."

She raised an eyebrow, the chill in her expression unbroken.

Zachary stepped back, and the door slammed shut with no hint of regret on her part.

Yasmine plopped down on the couch with her food, her appetite now spoiled by Zachary's intrusion.

Forcing herself, she took a few bites but soon gave up, tying up the bag to throw it out.

Opening the door and stepping outside, she jumped. Zachary was there, leaning against the wall, eyes closed as if resting.

Hearing her, he opened his eyes and looked at her with a depth that made her uncomfortable.

Yasmine brushed past him into the elevator without a word.

Zachary didn't follow.

The elevator doors shut, and Yasmine felt a wave of frustration. That man was always as stubborn as a mule.

After tossing the trash, she lingered outside, not ready to go back up and face the possibility of him still being there.

"Are you really that afraid of seeing me?" Zachary had waited upstairs for a while before coming down, worried about her. He hadn't expected to find her strolling around the complex to avoid him. Yasmine frowned at him. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Just go home if you don't want to see me. Why wandering outside?"

"You're right. I don't want to see you at all," she shot back.

Zachary took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure despite her anger. "Then go back inside, it's cold out here," he conceded.

Yasmine gave him a brief look before turning and leaving without another word.

Back in her apartment, she double-checked the lock,

half-expecting him to appear

suddenly. She tried to distract

herself with a movie but col.net

focus, her thoughts drifting

an outside.

Had he left? Why had he come? Would he leave at all?

Tossing and turning all night, Yasmine couldn't shake a nagging sense of guilt.

The next day, Jocelyn called, inviting her over for dinner. When Yasmine arrived, Zachary was there already. She wanted to bolt at the sight of him. "Yasmine," Jocelyn beckoned her inside.

"Why's he here?" Yasmine whispered, clearly displeased.

"He called Melvin this morning," Jocelyn explained.

"At least he had the decency not to show up last night," Yasmine muttered.

Jocelyn looked surprised. "You saw him last night? He came to you?"

"Yeah."

"And you didn't let him in?"

"Are you joking? Why would I let him in?" Yasmine scoffed. "I'm done playing games with him."

Jocelyn chuckled. "So, who do you want to play with now?"

"After I've had some rest, maybe I'll find some handsome model to date with. They'd be way better than him, right?" Yasmine said boldly, not caring who heard.

"Truly liberated. That's the life," Jocelyn admired, only to be cut off by Melvin's frown.

"What do you mean by 'the life'? Am I not as good as those guys out there?" Melvin asked, half-joking and half-serious.

Yasmine jumped in to defuse the situation. "If you start messing around like someone, Jocelyn finding herself a young stud or

mode is fair game. The world net

full

of good men. Don't get too full of

yourself."

Melvin laughed despite himself. "Yasmine, are you trying to drive a wedge between us?"

"I'm just giving you a heads-up.

There are plenty of decent men out

there. Don't get too cocky."

Yasmine's words were a veiled

message, with Melvin unwittingly

cast as the messenger.

Frustrated, Melvin told Zachary to leave abruptly. Bewildered, Zachary gathered his coat and headed for the door.

"Hold on," Melvin called out.

Zachary turned, waiting for his instructions.

Melvin pointed an accusing finger at his sister, "Take your ex-wife and leave."

Zachary glanced at Yasmine, his brows knitting together in confusion.

Yasmine's eyes narrowed to slits as she stared down Melvin, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? Get out." Melvin was in no mood to be polite. "Do you expect to stay the night and disrupt the peace between my wife and me?" Yasmine's mouth twitched, "You..."

"Out!" Melvin's voice was merciless, each word sharper than the last.

Fuming and itching for a fight, Yasmine pointed a shaking finger at Melvin, unable to utter any words. She clenched her teeth and stormed out.

Witnessing the scene, Zachary frowned at Melvin, "Man, you're the classic case of a guy who forgets his own sister once he's married."

Melvin just rolled his eyes, "Close the door on your way out."

The door clicked shut, and only then did Jocelyn catch her breath. "Yasmine wasn't really..."

"I know." Melvin pulled her toward the French window, gazing out, "They two are like tangled yarn, always at each other's throats. We can't keep indulging them."

Jocelyn finally snapped out of her daze, her voice laced with astonishment, "You did that on purpose?"

"What else?" Melvin's eyes gleamed with mischief, "Did you seriously want to go out clubbing with Yasmine, hunting for young studs or male models?"