Done Being Friends (31 page)

Mrs. Taylor gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “No one knew it was him. The letterhead was the only clue. They only found out it was Wilson recently.. That’s why everyone is so tight lipped about it. Other than investigating the claims from what seemed to be your company, they were trying to find out who was the one who actually sent it.”

Mrs. Taylor went on to give her the name of the company that supposedly conducted the inspection and found the problem. “There are quite a few major problems. Every party involved is pushing the blame, and they are in some sort of denial. I’m not quite sure; I just know that it’s a headache.”

A part of Faith wanted to give herself a pat on the back for getting the information that Zac needed, but she knew it was Dylan who really deserved the praise.

After that, she allowed her mother and grandmother to exchange other information with Mrs. Taylor, taking away the focus from her. Still, Faith nodded and got involved whenever it was appropriate. She had just realized the importance of the wives’ network, and she was going to behave nice and sweet to all these ladies from now on. Her mother was right; you never know when you would need some information.

Chapter Nineteen

When the tea party finally dispersed, she went straight to Zac’s office, getting there just before the end of the workday. Mindy greeted her and informed her that he was having a meeting.

“I have some vital information for him.” She scribbled on a piece of paper from the notepad on Mindy’s desk and tore it off.

The information you needed - Leonard and Hurst.

The company that supposedly found the problems in his buildings. She folded the note and using her most authoritative voice, commanded that the note be passed to Zac immediately.

Mindy got in and out of the office, and as she was stepping back to her desk, she nodded at Faith to let her know the message had been conveyed. She sat down on the couch and a few minutes later, people started trotting out of the office; followed by Zac. He walked right up to Faith, and not caring that his employees still had a clear view of them, he pulled her in and kissed her.
 

When he finally broke off the kiss, he asked, “How did you get this information?”

Faith smiled and shrugged. “An afternoon of tea, with some manipulation and acting, and help from my mother and grandmother.”
 

Zac laughed, Faith could see that a huge load was lifted off his shoulders. He gave her a tight hug and kissed her again. “I need to settle this immediately.” Zac waved the paper in his hand as he spoke.

Faith nodded. “I love you.” She tiptoed and kissed him on his cheeks.
 

“Will you wait for me? I want to drive you home.” Zac was walking away from her, but stopped when Faith hesitated.
 

“You don’t have to, you can go settle your work, I drove.”

“Get George to pick up the car. I want to drive you home.” Winking at Faith, he walked toward the lift and disappeared out of sight.

Faith couldn’t contain a broad smile in return to the wink. It was great seeing Zac back to his usual teasing self.

Half an hour later, Zac returned to his office and found Faith reading a book on the couch.

“Sorry love, shall we?" He strode across the room and stretched his hand out for Faith.
 

As Faith took his hand, she said, “Yes, but we need to make a stop somewhere first.”

“Where do you want to go?” Zac asked, curious.

“Dylan’s house.” She had to laugh at his look of surprise. “He was the one who gave me the idea, Zac. He told me to get my mum and grandma involved. He was the one who told me to use the wives network. So, I can’t claim the credit.”

It took awhile for the information to sink into Zac, he couldn’t comprehend why Dylan would step in to help, especially not after what had happened the last time they met. “You asked him for help?” Zac knew that it wasn’t possible, but there didn’t seem to be other explanations.

“No, I went there to give him a piece of my mind and...” Faith bit her lips, embarrassed. “I thought he was behind this; I thought he caused it. So, I went there to confront him, or rather, to vent. I was rather awful, I said some really mean things to him.”

Zac chuckled. “Really? I would like to hear some. Tell me.”
 

Faith scowled at him.
 

“I’m sure he’s over it. If he were still angry with you, he wouldn’t have helped, right?” Zac assured.
 

“Yes. Still, I should apologize. I was wrong, this time.”
 

Zac narrowed his eyes. “This time?”
 

Sighing, Faith told him that Dylan was the one who planned the picture with the Smith girl. She thought Zac would blow a fuse, but instead, he only grinned blissfully.

“What are you smiling at?”

“You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
 

“What?”

“The whole time, when you were talking about what happened, you called her the Smith girl. It’s not like you to be this rude. You really don’t like her, do you?”

Faith glowered. Of all the words that came out of her mouth, he was paying attention to how she addressed the Smith girl.

“I don’t care what you call her,” Zac clarified, before Faith jumped to the wrong conclusion. “I just love it that you are jealous.”

“I’m just going to ignore you.”

When they go into the car, Zac’s jovial mood suddenly turned serious. “Love, I’m extremely thankful at how things turned out, but next time, if you need to confront someone, please wait for me. I will go with you. Don’t go running off to scream at someone by yourself.”

Faith grinned, and she tenderly ran her fingers along his cheek. “You’re cute when you’re being protective.”

Zac grimaced. “I’m serious, Faith.”

Chuckling, Faith replied, “All right. I will make sure that you come along with me the next time I need to yell at someone.”

Zac nodded and as he started his car, he asked Faith for a detailed account of what happened. He laughed and shook his head, amused at the things which Faith did and said. He understood how difficult it must have been for Faith to sit through an afternoon of gossiping, and having to reveal her own private information to someone she barely knew.
 

Faith’s heart lightened, and she was elated to hear his laughs. His carefree laughter was a vast difference from the Zac she had seen the night before.
 

As they pulled to a stop outside Dylan’s house, Zac smiled apologetically at Faith. “I’m sorry you had to go through an afternoon of torture just to help me.”

She shook her head.
 
“Zac, ever since we have known each other, you were always there for me whenever I needed you. It just feels like I’m always depending on you, and this one time that you needed help, it hurts that I couldn’t,” she paused and smiled. “It was nothing to sit through an afternoon of tea to finally be able to do something for you.”

Zac smiled wryly. “Is that what you think?” he asked as he lifted her chin. “That only you depend on me?”

“Yes,” she whispered.
 

“You’re wrong. I depend on you too, Faith.” He pushed her hair behind her ear, running his fingers down her hair. “Your smiles, your hugs, your presence,” he paused and beamed at her. “All of that gives me strength. When my mother left, you were there. You convinced your parents to open up their home to me. When my father passed away, you were right beside me. When the whole world said that I was doomed to fail, you believed in me.”

Cupping his hand behind her neck, he leaned in. “You have no idea how much you have done for me, Faith.” Then he kissed her slowly, tenderly, letting her understand all that was in his heart. “Faith, you are all that I need.”

Then pulling her in for another quick kiss, he sat back and opened his door. “We should go.”

Taking Faith’s hand, they took walked up to Dylan’s door like they had a million times before, but everything was different, so much had changed among the three of them.
 

Zac gently squeezed her hand as they rang the doorbell and waited. “Don’t worry, he will be elated to see you here.”

“Hey!” Dylan exclaimed as opened the door. “Here to thank me properly?”

“Actually, she’s here to apologize. I don’t really see the need, you were after all, a complete ass,” Zac replied with a grin. “I am, however, here to thank you. So, thanks.”

Faith smiled. “I’m sorry Dylan. I shouldn’t have said the things I did.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, and I deserve every bit of it.”

“Shall we bring this conversation inside and order some takeout? I’m starving,” Zac stated.

They chatted while eating pizza and watching television, just like they had when they were in college. Dylan scanned through the channels and stopped at the news, broadcasting a press conference that Zac’s company held.

“Joshua Brown, head of PR,” Zac stated as they watched.

“Why didn’t you do the press conference yourself?” Faith asked.

The corner of his lips turned up. “I prefer to spend my time with you.”

Faith glared at him and both Dylan and Zac laughed. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting, and…There’s no need for me to personally make the threat of a lawsuit.”

“True. And it gives the sense that the worst is over when the big boss doesn’t bother to appear,” Dylan added.

Looking at the two guys, Faith was flooded with joy. She knew that Dylan was an important friend to Zac, and she was glad that they were able to mend the bridges and move on.

"With any luck, this thing will be over before the night is over." Zac draped his arm around Faith's shoulders. She smiled and leaned into his chest, glad that the whole nonsense would be over soon.
 

Dylan glanced over at the couple and returned his focus onto the television. It didn’t hurt as bad as he thought it would. Now that his bruised ego had finally healed, he knew one thing for sure - he
was
being a complete ass.

He was so focused on winning Faith that he had completely forgotten that the one person he was hurting the most was her. Plus, he never wanted to be subjected to her scorn ever again. “So, how was your afternoon of gossiping?”

Faith sniggered. "It's sharing of information."
 

They all chuckled. "Yes, yes. Sharing of information," Zac repeated as he ran his finger along her jaws.

Just slightly after dinner, Zac received a call from Mindy. She informed Zac that no official record had been found of the report and that Leonard and Hurst would launch an immediate investigation into the matter once they had cleared the situation with the authorities. They also promised that a press conference would be held the next morning to clear the air regarding the fabricated report.
 

The next morning, replays on the various comments made on the conference were made. Despite that, Zac had his own conference and informed the media that his team of people would still go ahead and conduct their checks and investigations.
 

Soon after, all the relevant authorities started coming up with statements on how everything was a mistake and that a separate investigation regarding the situation was underway.
 

The stock price that had taken a dive was soaring back up, and since there was no chance that shoddy materials were used, Zac considered the problem settled.
 

That afternoon, he took all the Preston ladies out for a nice lunch, thanking them for providing the vital information. No one harped on the subject. Instead, it was redirected to more wedding planning.
 

As the ladies chatted, Zac glanced around the table at his soon-to-be-official family. He smiled, feeling blessed to be seated at a table with people who cared, loved and trusted him. Catching Faith’s eye, he beamed the broadest smile at her, letting her know that she was his source for every ounce of happiness he felt.

“Where are we going?” Faith asked as she looked out the windows. She had always relied heavily on her GPS, but she was sure that the road Zac was driving wouldn’t lead to her office.

“My house. I’m doing an interview and I want you there with me.”

“Whatever for? I hate interviews,” Faith grumbled. “And I need to go back to the office, I have got a meeting.”

“I have already called and told Chelsea to clear your schedule.” Zac smiled when he saw the disgruntle expression on her face. “I’m going to announce the engagement. I want the whole world to know that I’m with you and you alone.”

Taking her hand, Zac kissed her fingers. “And, I want you there with me when I do that.”

Faith hated interviews, but she couldn’t say no to this one.

Stepping into the familiar living room, the reporter was already seated, with another man beside her. Both the reporter and the man stood up as they entered the living room. The young lady took a step closer and with a wide smile on her face, reached her hand out for a handshake.
 

“Hi, Mr. Hayden, Miss Preston. I’m Adeline, and this is Josh, the photographer.” Then turning to Zac, she continued. “We spoke on the phone.”

“Yes, we can start our interview. My fiancé will be joining us.”

Instantly, Adeline’s face glowed. They hadn’t yet announced their engagement officially. It had only been rumors and some photographs of Faith with her new ring. Adeline knew she would be the first person to have the news.

“That will be great,” Adeline announced as they all settled onto the couch. “Josh will be taking some photographs of the two of you while we have the interview. Is that all right?”

Zac nodded. Adeline then placed the recorder on the coffee table and proceeded with the interview.

She asked routine questions about how they got to know each other, how he proposed and so forth.
 
Faith was slightly uncomfortable with having someone snap her photograph while having the interview. She looked toward Zac, not really expecting anything, but simply because she was uncomfortable and she always looked to Zac whenever she was feeling uncertain.