Chapter 20
Annalise smiled. She felt really happy to hear his compliment. But she could not stop thinking about what Nelly said. Was what Nelly said really true? Is this man really interested in her like that? Or is she just getting ahead of herself because of Nelly?
Anyway, what is she going to do if he really is interested? She just was not ready.
There was an uncomfortable silence between the both of them for a few seconds. Zayn racked his brain for something to talk about with her. He remembered what his assistant had said to him this morning.
"What High school did you attend?" Zayn asked as if he did not already know.
Annalise was surprised. Why would he ask something like this? Why did he want to know which high school she went to? Even though she was surprised, Annalise still found herself answering his question.
"High school? I went to Hillary High school. Is there a problem?" Annalise asked,
Zayn pretended to be surprised. "Really? You went to Hillary high school? I went there too! What didn't I know then?" He laughed to himself.
Annalise was pleasantly surprised. So he went to the same school as her! Maybe they didn't know each other then because he was probably her senior. "I think that we didn't know each other then because you were a few years ahead of me," Annalise said. She did not suspect anything at all. She just thought that he was asking a random question.
Zayn was happy that she did not catch on to the fact that he already knew it and he was just looking for something to talk to her about. "Wow, this is really great. In addition to our tenant and landlord relationship, we also have a senior and junior relationship!" Zayn said.
Annalise smiled cautiously. She was happy that she had attended the same high school with him but he seemed really happy about it. Something did not just seem right. But she did not want to get ahead of herself so she pretended as if she had not noticed anything at all
"You know if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask me. You are my junior from high school after all. I'm going to help you to the best of my ability." Zayn did his best to hide his laugh but it was botched work.
Annalise could not keep it to herself anymore. She felt that something was wrong and she needed to ask about it right now.
"Why are you being so nice to me? I get that you own this building and all but that's not enough reason. Why are you helping me out so much?" Annalise asked.
Zayn chuckled loudly this time, Seems like she was pretty smart after all. Anyway, he wasn't planning to keep it away from her. Now would be the perfect time to tell her.
"You really don't know the reason? Fine, I'm going to tell you. I'm finding interest in you right now. I have been interested in you since the day I saw you at your former company," Zayn said. He wasn't shy at all. He had been planning to tell her this for some time now.
Annalise was taken aback. The only thing that she could think of was the fact that Nelly was right after all. She had already speculated about it before but hearing it from him directly like this, she suddenly did not know what to say. She was at a loss for words.
Zayn decided to just ask her out properly. "Annalise, I really like you a lot. Will you go out with me?" He asked her.
Annalise was still trying to wrap her head around what he was telling her when he dropped another one. Should she go out with him? She was surprised and confused. She really did not know what she was going to do about this.
"Uh..." Annalise couldn't even bring herself to make one single sentence.
"Just a date then, please," he pleaded. He was trying to act cool about it all but he was actually very nervous. That was why he was asking her all at once. He just wanted to get it all out at Once.
Annalise closed her eyes and then she opened them again. It seemed like she had made her decision.
"I'm really flattered that you like me Zayn but I really can't give you what you want. I don't think that I will be able to go out with you. You don't need to worry. It doesn't have anything to do with you. This is all me. I think that...I don't want to get into a relationship right now," Annalise said. She just wasn't ready for it. She had been toyed with and played by men all her life, she did not want to fall victim again.
Zayn was disappointed. "What's wrong? I thought you said that you did not have a boyfriend yesterday?" Zayn asked her.
Annalise was shocked. So this was the reason why he asked her if she had a boyfriend?
"Yes, I was right yesterday. I really don't have a boyfriend right now. I already broke up with this. But like I said, this has nothing to do with you. It's all me. It's me who isn't ready to put myself out there right now," she told him. She didn't want to tell him that she had been hurt so much that she did not trust any men anymore. She did not want to tell him that she did not believe in love anymore. Love has only hurt her.
Why should she believe in it?
Zayn was relieved when he heard that. Even though he had been rejected right now he still believed that he had a chance. After all, she said that it's because she isn't ready, he just has to convince her that he is the right person for her. As long as he is persistent, she will be able to see his sincerity.
"You don't need to give me an answer immediately. Just now that I like you," he said and kissed the back of her palm.