His Contract Wife (Zayn Malik)

16; Magazines and Cuts

~Zayn~

"Really? Is there anything you can fucking do right, Zayn?" Warren yells, throwing the GQ in my hand right at the table. It makes a thud followed by a squeak as the magazine slides over the table and falls at my feet. I look down at it before glaring back up at him because nobody, when I say nobody it includes my bloody fucking PR manager disrespects me like that.

"I don't even remember when I fucked her, Warren," I say. "She's probably running low on money and that is the reason she sold out the story of how I fucked her three, probably four years back... You've dealt with worse."

"Zayn, I can't keep cleaning your mess every time," Warren scolds and I roll my eyes.

"This is an old story... Just let it be," I suggest, before going through some files that Mira had left for me to sign.

"Well, your dad doesn't think of it as such.." Warren says and this immediately catches my attention. I widen my eyes at the mention of the three letter word that started and ended with the same letter and an 'a' connecting them together. A word that's only supposed to remind you of love and connection and respect.

Dad.

Something that should probably remind me of something that I have almost forgotten... Something that every person living in this world, good or bad, deserves. Family. I want to say that it is because I am busy but that would be, me lying. I am distant from them because that's what they expect me to be. The earning, successful, popular, rich, arrogant, famous son. Not the son that loves art and loves staying indoor with his family.

I owe them my success because they pushed me. They pushed me to do, every time. Taught me to outdo not only others but also myself. I am the Zayn Malik that I am today because of them. Because that's what both my mum and dad wanted me to be... But, that's the thing... I am what my parents had wanted me to be.. not what I had wanted and want to be. I had forgotten how it feels to just simply be you for a day. To see your family every day... How it feels just to chill at home.. but again, in all honesty, it's not normalcy that I am looking forward to, but I realize and know it does no harm to in fact be 'normal' at times.

"Zayn?" I come out of my trail of thoughts and look at Warren.

"Okay, now he cares? All of a sudden? Suddenly he cares about something other than how much my profit is and how many companies I've brought under my control?" I quiz.

"Adeel cares about your image, Zayn. News like this can affect your business in the long run and.."

"That's what I expected... Of course, he gives flying fucks about my personal life because when it becomes public, my so-called image will be ruined... Of course. Sounds like him.." I snarl.

"Don't disrespect your father, Zayn. He wants what's best for you... He's your father.."

"You-" I jab my pointer finger into Warren's chest."-work for me."

Warren sighs and pushes my hand away. "You pay me, son. In the end, don't we all work for your dad?"

~Mira~

Zayn is in trouble and for the first time, I see him being bothered. The unshakeable Zayn Malik is stressed and frustrated. Nobody has visited his cabin except his public relations representative and Zayn haven't stepped out of his cabin the entire morning. It's three in the afternoon and I finally gather every ounce of courage and wit I own to walk into his room. I need it. Zayn is horrible. A frustrated Zayn? Do I really need to elaborate on it?

"Sir?"

"What?" He barks, his eyes cold and fixed on the cool glass top of his table, his fingers tapping it in a rhythmic fashion. I stand there watching him fall apart and somehow it hurts my heart. Just a tiny weeny little bit. Only because I have never seen Zayn like this. As satisfying as it is, it's equally unnerving.