

### Calling Forever

(Xander Barns Series Book 3)

BY

Sarah Tork

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Warning: This book contains dark and crude humour, bad language, sexual scenes, and includes scenes that may be offending. Recommended for ages 18+

Copyright ©2020 Sarah Tork

Smashwords edition

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

Photo from Dreamstime.com

### Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

### CHAPTER 1

MARISA

Here goes nothing... Forty seconds later.... HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND!

Shit. Shit. Shit!

What the hell was I thinking!

On what planet, realm, or dimension would working for Xander Barns ever be a good idea!

It was sheer lunacy!

Fucking insane to the tenth degree!

And I needed to undue it.... NOW!

Marisa: Ha – ha – ha! Just kidding!

Wow. That was a close one. I sighed in relief and practically collapsed, taking a seat in my used leather chair, feeling my body battery bar at a negative.

I almost just made the worst mistake of my life.

My track record in the mistake department was already at a high, but this one would have tipped the scales. This mistake would have been catastrophic, even life ending, maybe.

Xander Barns was a loose cannon, sketchy playboy fuck, who did things without remorse (as it seemed).

The best decision I've made so far was as of right now, and that was by mentally flushing his proposal down the toilet, and happily declining my admission to Xander-land.

When I sighed in relief again, my phone vibrated and chimed loudly, making me jump. The screen lit up, displaying his name.

Ugh fuck... I should have blocked his ass. Just play it cool, calm and collected. Be clinical, non combative, and cold. He likes messing with me if he knows he can.

Xander: That's too bad.... we could have had some fun together. By the way how much does that ice cream place pay you per hour again?

Marisa: It's minimum wage if you have to know. The job is only temporary and it's easy, two things I probably couldn't say about working for you.

I waited anxiously for his reply.

When he didn't reply in the same timely manner as his previous text message, for some very weird reason, I was getting the vibe that I'd maybe... hurt his feelings. Bullshit.

I pressed the power button on my laptop and the screen popped up with my email account in the window, just the way I'd left it this afternoon before leaving for work. There were two new emails waiting for me. The first one was from Darcy and the second one was from... Ben?

What the hell did he want?

I thought we had our closure... or whatever that was last Saturday?

Ugh... whatever. I'll deal with him last.

I opened Darcy's email first.

Marisa!

I've been asked to grade eight prom! OMG! OMG! His name is Wesley and he's on the soccer team with Cameron. He's taller than Cameron. He has blue eyes and blonde hair. He's so cute. I've had a crush on him since September! I really like him! I said yes!!!! You have to help me pick out a dress! The formal is in one month! Look for dresses online and send the links to me please, this is the biggest moment in my life, and I need it to be perfect! Email me back big sis!

Ummm – excuse me?

A crush?

Since September?

How come this was the first time I was hearing about this?

Wasn't it mandatory for little sisters to always tell their older sisters whenever they had a crush on somebody? Especially when it was a really cute guy?

Totally pissed!

Oh shit!

My eyes watered fast and tears were rolling down my face. My baby sister was all grown up, and I wasn't there to see it. But that was life, and I made the decision at the end of the day to be here, while she was still back in Ottawa.

Self-reflecting sucks balls. This adult maturity shit is brutal!

I wiped my face, blew my nose and opened Ben's email next.

Dear Marisa

I don't know where to start this letter.

But here goes.

I'm an idiot.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for betraying you.

For cheating.

For treating you like shit in the months leading up to Halloween.

It's all my fault. All of it.

I ruined us.

I ruined our five-year relationship because I was too fucking dumb to see what I had. And now, it's too fucking late.

I lost you...

I lost you.... My eyes immediately shut. A wave of intense pain shot through my body, leaving the monster of pains in my throat. I tried to gulp it back, but my lips were no match for what came out, a giant sob. Breathing turned hard, but I quickly sucked in a breath to help calm the quivers down. I couldn't destroy myself, not now.

We were supposed to have closure last Saturday.

Why was he fucking with me like this?

That shit was supposed to be over and done with.

The rim of my eyelids stung as they reopened. I had to read the rest, even if it destroyed me. Six months ago, what happened at Kyle's party, left me dead inside. If I was being honest, I hadn't really recovered.

Sitting here in this average sized room was supposed to be the rebirth of me. But it was all bravado. I was still the same, still scorned, still emotionally devastated. I hadn't grieved, hadn't even cried like a maniac whose life was thrown upside down. I hadn't allowed myself to. I couldn't show them all the satisfaction of my teary breakdown.

I wiped my cheeks with the sleeve of my favourite sweater. It was ratty and filled with holes, but I'd never throw it away just because it wasn't perfect anymore.

Just like I wasn't.

And just like I never would be.

I eyed the screen again. It's been black for a while. Moving the cursor, the screen popped back up with Ben's email in the window. I started from where I left off.

I lost you...

And I feel like I'm dead inside.

I mean it. I'm not alive.

Since that night in the park, when you broke up with me, I've been a mess. That night and Kyle's party were the worst nights of my life.

If I could go back to that night, I would have begged for your forgiveness first, and then begged for you to not break up with me. I would have thrown myself in front of a moving car to even show you how sorry I was for what I did. I'll be sorry for the rest of my life.

My pride cost me everything.

I fucked up, and there's no repairing the damage my stupidity caused.

I hope one day we can be a part of each other's lives again, as friends of course. But I guess that's a privilege I'll have to earn over time.

Hope to talk to you soon.

We can talk about anything you want.

I just want to hear back from you.

Love, Ben

My forehead hits the top of my desk. The pain of the collision was nothing compared to the pain my heart was feeling. Salty tears dripped down my face, colliding into a puddle on the hard wood.

All I kept thinking was... Why?

I had kept the pain of that monumental event hidden inside my hallow heart for the last six months. Why did I have to feel everything now?

"Why?" I breathed.

As always Ben, perfect timing.....

*~*~*

The next night at work, it was Déjà vu; only the pits of hell looked a lot better than 4Scoops ten minutes before closing.

"Why?" I groaned loudly, wiping the counters behind the display. My future at 4Scoops hadn't disappeared like I thought it would when I mistakenly accepted Xander's job proposal last night.

I was still stuck here.

It was all fucking good though.

So I'd have work for minimum wage for a bit longer, this shit job was only temporary. You know what wasn't temporary, a deal with the devil.

Tossing the rag into the sink, I felt somewhat better, because the logic made fucking sense. You know what didn't make sense though, the letter Ben had sent me. That letter ruined me, and it ruined my day. Even though Ben meant it to be heartfelt and a gesture of good will, it left a deep mark, one that I haven't been able to shake.

First order of business.... snap out of this shit! Your man cheated after five years of being together, and then he denied he did anything wrong. Then six months later he apologized in a deep heartfelt letter. There, that's your closure. Now get over it!

Checking the 4Scoops branded clock, I sighed in relief. I was three minutes away from freedom. Or so I thought.

Chiming loudly, the front door opened.

How dare a customer walk in this late!

It's almost closing time!

Instead of sharing those feelings with the latecomer, I plastered on a fake smile and turned to address the customer with the usual 'welcome' slogan.

The words however never made it out, and I gasped instead. Standing in the doorframe, wearing a black cashmere sweater and perfectly fit black jeans, with a three-day-old beard growing on his beautiful baby soft skin, was the troublemaker king himself, Xander Barns.

Staring at me, amused nevertheless, his gorgeous, trouble infused blue eyes sparkled.

"What are you doing here?" I stuttered, grabbing the edge of the stainless steel counter for support

"I'm here for you." he said smoothly, gliding towards me and halting in front of the ice cream display that separated us.

"Here for... me?" I repeated warily once the shock of seeing him again wore off. My blood boiled, fuelling the spunk inside of me, what made me... me. And it was all thanks to him. Xander woke me up.

I was back, bitches. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Xander leaned his elbows on top of the display and grinned. "There's my trusted little sidekick."

My eyes bugged out. "What did you just call me?"

"It seems, Uncle Xander has got himself in a little doo – doo, again." he confessed, blinking a hundred times like a doll would.

Stop trying to play innocent!

"Again?" I asked, astonished. This guy got into trouble more times than a third time parolee on a crack charge.

His fingers playfully danced across the glass display, making finger marks that I'd have to spend a good deal of time wiping off again. Thanks douche, more work for me!

"Stop doing that, I have to clean that!"

Not grinning anymore, his eyes widened as he lowered his hand off the display.

"What happened this time? What did you do?" I accused.

"I've been thinking about that job proposal I gave you," Xander began.

I interrupted him. "I declined, don't you remember? I don't have time to deal with your shit, add daily shit to that equation, and I couldn't run far enough."

He smiled slyly at me. "I assumed so, but now that I think about it, I don't really need a personal assistant every day, I mean I'm barely in the city for more than a couple of weeks out of the month before I have to go and check the other branches of my hotel again."

He owned a hotel?

"Wait, what?" I gasped. "You own a hotel?"

He wiggled his eyebrows playfully and grinned. "Yes, don't you remember? I invited you over last Saturday."

My jaw dropped. "The Ogall Hotel in Ottawa really belongs to you?"

"My family actually owns them and not just in Ottawa. We have other boutique hotels in the franchise, one in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. We're venturing into the states soon. We've recently acquired a piece of land in downtown Miami." Xander grinned knowingly.

He knew he had power.

He was loaded, really loaded. That's why those manager guys at the hotel last Saturday didn't do anything to him. They worked for him.

"Fuck me...." I whispered, feeling astonished.

Xander gave me a sketchy smile. "Anytime."

Scowling, I flung my arm up and pointed to him. "Stop, you can't speak to me like that anymore. I don't owe you anything."

"Can't I?" Xander chuckled, cocking an eyebrow. "I need your skills, Marisa."

My arm lowered, grabbing the edge of the counter tightly. "My skills?" I gulped.

He sighed. "You have a gift."

My eyes narrowed at him. "And that is?"

"You're mean." Xander answered nonchalantly.

"I'm mean?" My eyes bugged out again, gripping the counter even tighter. "Fuck you, I'm not mean."

"Are you sure?" Xander asked apprehensively.

Ugh – excuse me! Hell no!

I slammed my other fist on to the counter. "Go fuck yourself you piece of shit! I'm the nicest person you're ever going to meet! Who else would have put up with your shit last Sunday?"

"I'm glad you mentioned Sunday, because I kind of need a similar service from you." Xander explained, completely disregarding my anger.

"A similar service? I'm not working for you!"

"And you don't have to, but how about we do this, instead. If I have a problem, I'll just call you and you go fix it. You can be my own personal 'problem' solving consultant." Xander smiled, thinking he had it all figured out.

Wrong bitch.

I shook my head. "Nope, not interested."

His smile stretched into a sly grin, like he had another card up his sleeve. "Oh really? Well then, how about this. I'll pay you a thousand dollars for every problem."

My jaw dropped. "A thousand dollars!"

"That's right. And these particular problems wouldn't take you more than a day to fix, promise." Xander explained like it was all no big deal.

What a total crock of shit. Did he not remember the last 'problem' I handled for him? That fucked up head case Demetria, which he'd paid me five thousand dollars for. And even with that much money going into my pocket, I was still emotionally damaged from dealing with her.

A thousand bucks a problem? Is this freaky prick trying to low-ball me right now?

"You paid me five thousand for handling Demetria." I reminded.

Xander crossed his arms over his chest and grinned slyly. "That money was also because you were my date to my mother's spring garden party."

I nodded sarcastically. "Oh I see. So you paid me that much money, because I also went with you to your mommy's spring garden party? Just like an escort?"

"No." he answered as if that notion was crazy.

I jerked my chin back. "No?"

Xander leaned over the display. "No, an escort would have had sex with me afterwards. In fact, for the money I paid, I think I got the raw end of that deal. In fact, you still owe me."

The fuck I do!

"Get your fucking hands off my display, you're making it dirtier!"

"Really.... how dirty?" he purred, biting his bottom lip again.

Why is he such a perv?

"Ugh, you're so annoying. You need to leave, it's closing time." I pointed to the clock. He backed away, shrugging like he didn't know what else he had to say to convince me to agree. "Think about it. I'll be in touch... darling."

He left the store and I was too stunned to scream 'Fuck off forever!'. The only thing on my mind was his offer, and what I was going to do about it for the second time.

A 'problem' solving consultant, specially suited for Xander Barns? I don't remember that fucking job on career day back in high school.

*~*~*

Thanks to the lasting of effects of Xander Barns, it had taken longer than usual to clean the store. However I made it within seconds of the bus leaving.

There was only one thing on my mind, and that was getting home and checking my email. I got home around 10:45 p.m. My phone didn't chime with any incoming emails, so in case there was a technical difficulty with my provider, I turned my laptop on as soon as I entered my room. My heart plummeted, disappointed when the email account showed no new emails, just the ones from yesterday. Darcy's and Ben's.

Ben's email.

He asked me to write him back, that he just wanted to read my words, whatever they were.

I wasn't ready to have a normal conversation with him yet. But I'd send him an email. Just so he knew I'd read his words and appreciated them.

I wrote him a quick email.

Thank You for the email, your words mean a lot.

From Marisa.

My mind was shutting down. That was the last bit of emotion I had left. I had already gone over his letter in my head a thousand times during my shift at 4Scoops earlier. Adding to that fucked up mix, was Xander's surprise visit. I was exhausted and it was safe to say, I was done for the day.

Before going to sleep, I watched some Anime online, which may not have been the best idea since it was all action and smidge sexual. Shutting my eyes anyways, my mind even though I wished it wouldn't, went through everything all over again. My weekend from hell, Ben's letter, and then Xander's job proposal.

Before drifting off to sleep, I imagined soft ocean blue eyes.... A fog opened.... pulling me inside it....

His face dipped into the curve of my neck. "I'm going to make you scream. I'm going to take you until you pass out from exhaustion, baby."

"Liam!" I panted. "Now, please. I need you now!"

"Hush, my sweet. Soon." he whispered into my neck. His hot tongue slid across my neck, sending a deep intense shiver through my body. He quickly took us inside his bedroom, slapping the door shut with his foot. He dropped me to the ground and turned me around, pushing me against the wall.

I was his prisoner.

All of a sudden, sex making RnB music played from the ceiling.

His lips come to my ear, licking the bottom lobe with his hot tongue. "Baby, if you think I'm just going to finger fuck you again, then you have no idea what's about to happen."

The room became blurry as heat penetrated every inch of my body. As I relished the feel of it, Liam's strong hold softened, and I turned as familiar honey brown blurred over ocean blue, stalling me into shock. "Ben?"

"Baby..." Ben whispered, standing naked in front of me, gently caressing the edge of my jawline. "I missed you so much."

"Ben? What are you doing here?" I stammered, my heart about to burst out of my chest. "How'd you get here?"

"I came for you...." he whispered, leaning in and pressing his lush lips on top of my quivering ones. "I missed you...I missed you, Marisa."

"I love you." I murmured into his lips, grasping both of his shoulders to pull him closer. "I love you so much."

"I've been waiting...so long to hear those words. Thank you." he whispered against my lips.

I pulled back, pleading to him with my eyes. "You still want me?"

"Always baby, I'm always going to want you. You should know that I've always wanted you. Always wanted." Ben stated softly.

"Always...wanted.... always, right back at you baby." I smiled. He smiled back and I leaned up and kissed him deeply.

"Marisa...I love you." Ben murmured against my lips and then leaned back. I blinked once as he held me up and leaned in again, stopping a breath away from my lips. "I'm sorry..." he whispered.

My eyes widened. "What?"

My room turned dark and Ben's arms around me vanished, making me cold instantly. "Ben where are you?" I yelled as I fell backwards on to my bed.

The fog opened again...and I stepped out.... My eyes jerked open, wired and alert as it gazed around for Ben's naked body. He wasn't here, he never was.

I pounded my mattress, angry that something.... something so wonderful was just another figment of my imagination.

I wiped tears from the corner of my eyes and jumped out of bed, heading straight for my laptop. I needed to read his letter again. It was the only semblance of warmth I had left. I just needed to read his letter, and everything was going to be okay again.

I opened my email, scouring the list for the last email from Ben, only I couldn't find it. The last two emails I'd received were from Darcy.

My head shook fiercely. "No!" I frantically searched again, clicking my mouse as if it were capable of Morse code. "Where is it!"

Ben's email was missing. I checked my junk mail and my trashcan. There was nothing there.

I jumped out of the chair with my fingers running through my hair.

What was going on?

Where was Ben's letter?

I'd just read it a day ago.

I checked again, even checking my sent pile to see if I could find the 'thank you' email I replied him with.

My jaw dropped, it wasn't there either.

Hyperventilating, I frantically paced my room. "No, no, he sent me a letter, I read it!"

My heart was beating so fast; I thought I was about to have a heart attack. My face was feeling hot and my vision was turning wonky, making me dizzy.

"Where's my letter! Where's my letter! He sent me a letter!" I cried loudly, banging against the walls. "Why? Why?"

I slammed my back against the wall, sliding down flat on my ass, sobbing hysterically into my palms.

Why me?

Why did this shit have to happen to me?

Finally something good, something I thought I deserved came my way and it was a fucking dream.

He never sent me a letter.

I must have imagined it, or hallucinated. That had to be it. It was the only logical explanation. I've been so emotionally fucked these past six months, I've started to see things.

A loud knock on my door startled me.

"Keep it down!" someone yelled from the hallway.

My eyes opened, angry.

I've had enough!

Wiping the snot away from my nose and the tears from my face, I jumped up and yanked the door open into the wall.

"What the fuck!" I snapped at the back of none other than Miss Sheila, my neighbour extraordinaire. The bitch was just about to enter her room.

Running away, how dare she, especially after all the noise coming out of her room late at night. Loud disgusting noise, that I didn't make a peep about it.

Oh she's going to get it!

"Bitch, turn around when I talk to you!" I ordered her, marching to her back. "Turn bitch, you pound your nasty ass hands on my door, disrupting me!"

Sheila's the same height as me, but her face, ugh, don't get me started, she was nasty. I guess when the best you could get for opening your legs was a fucking hamburger, you kind of were expected to be ugly as shit.

"It's early!" Sheila's bleached blonde hair flew into my face as she faced me. "You were making a lot of noise!"

"And you don't!" I yelled, flabbergasted. "I'm up half the night because of you, fucking your brains out. You stupid whore!"

Sheila's green eyes widened. "What did you just call me?"

I jerked my chin up. "You heard me, slut."

"Fuck you." Sheila hissed, stepping closer into my space. "Fuck...you."

"I don't have money right now.... so I guess you'll have to bark up another tree for your hamburger breakfast... bitch!" I snapped, practically spitting.

Sheila sneered, crossing her arms. "At least I get some, nobody wants to fuck you, loser!"

Everything went white as I grabbed her shoulders, pushing her into her half open door. She collided hard into the door and fell down onto the ground with a loud thud.

"No fighting in here! I'm going to call the police!" our landlord Mrs. Lee called from the stairway.

Sheila had other plans. She jumped up and slammed herself against me. I lost my balance, falling backwards with her on top of me, pulling at my hair. "I'll kill you!"

"I'd like to see you try!" I laughed as I punched her side.

"I'm calling the police!" Mrs. Lee yelled.

We didn't stop fighting. I'd been keeping this shit inside me for months, and this bitch needed to be taught a lesson. Unfortunately our fight didn't stop and the police showed up, having to break us up. Sheila decided to take one last hit at me, curling her nasty ass hands into my hair and pulling it. I tried to grab her hair, but I mistakenly scratched the cop who was trying to hold me back. I should have cut my nails sooner, because he lets go of me, yelping in pain, holding his eye as blood gushed from every angle.

Shit.

Now I was really in trouble.

### CHAPTER 2

MARISA

Saturday, May 11

Two weeks and an assaulting an officer charge later...."YOU BITCH!"

You didn't get your own room here, which was odd and stupid considering this was where they sent very bad misbehaving women. How wise was it to put a few of them into one room and not expect a fight?

I needed to share a little fact about myself. That for the majority of my life, I've shied away from confrontation.

Wink, wink.

Two weeks ago when I had my 'moment', it awoke something deep inside of me I thought I'd put to bed a long time ago, and that was an insane and angry bitch. Naturally bravery followed those two traits, skills, assets and I swore from that point, I could knock a bitch out for even trying to disrespect me. But not all opponents were made equal though. Bravery, confidence, pride, crazy, psychotic, it all came at a price when common sense got pushed to the side and the need to show those who made you angry that.... NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THAT!

Now, if let's say the girl who's disrespecting you was also six inches taller and weighed a good hundred pounds more than you did, well my brain told me as she was kicking the living shit out of me, that it really wasn't a good idea to mouth off to Godzilla's illegitimate human child.

"You wanna say that again, BITCH!" Mona yelled into my ear as she held me in a headlock.

My two other polite female roommates, Gigi and Tilla sat comfortably on their top bunks parallel to one another. Judging from the huge grins on their faces, they thought they had the best seats in the house.

When we arrived at the reformatory or women's correctional facility, or whatever they liked calling it at the moment, we were placed with a movement monitor wrapped around our ankles. If any fights were to break out, we could easily be found by the tracking system.

By the sound of the alarm, thirty guards should be busting through those doors any second now..... any second now. Since the guards would be here any second now, I thought I'd throw in one more jab to inflate Mona's blood pressure.

"I'm sorry I took your cookies. I didn't know you were going to eat them later when we we'd all gone to bed, and by the way you may want to forget about cookies for a while if you plan on living with me." I sort of got all that out in one breath, but her grip tightened around my neck. I hoped those guards arrived soon. My brain felt like it was floating on water. I was feeling a little dizzy now, too.

"She looking a bit loopy eyed, Mo." Tilla assessed, leaning over her bunk. Mona didn't budge on her grip though.

"You think you can disrespect me?" she screeched into my ear with her deep voice.

That's my line! She's gonna get it now!

"Well... why don't I, go eat a hundred pounds of chicken, and then we'll call this a fair fight, huh?" I stammered out in short breaths. It was kind of hard to bust out sentences while I was being choked out.

Yeah, that didn't work at all.

Her grip didn't falter and I had no more strength to fight her off. I wasn't seeing clearly anymore and I was probably going to pass out. I looked up to see Tilla and Gigi laughing at my demise when I heard multiple loud footsteps running through the hallway toward our room.

Finally!

The heavily locked stainless steel door slammed open and Mona lets go instantly. She knew this game all too well. She rushed away into her bottom bunk under Gigi.

"I didn't do anything. I was helping her up, honest." she claimed, but the guards knew who she was, and what she was clearly capable of. They snagged her fast and swiftly.

"Let me go!" Mona shrieked at the guards holding her like the wild bear she was.

My vision cleared slowly as I remained still on the ground. I looked up and Gigi and Tilla were no longer laughing, being thrown off their bunks by the guards, and then carried out of the room. Mona on the other hand was a bit harder to drag out. She was putting up a good fight in between the doorway, and four more guards later; they successfully dragged her out, but not without one last sweet goodbye.

"You think you got this! Wait and see! Wait and see!" Mona yelled one last time on her way to the bad girl room.

"I champion the Lobotomy method, anyone else?" I croaked to the empty room, wincing in pain because even near unconsciousness Marisa Gellys would always get the last word out in style.

It didn't look like anyone was coming back to check up on little ol' me. Not that I blamed the staff, as they were all busy taming Mona's psycho ass toward solitary.

It was a struggle, but I got up and climbed in to my bottom bunk. Imagine putting four messed up girls into one room and expecting them not to fight. Honestly, I could see the vision the prison board had.

Really, I did.

They probably thought, HEY, LET'S PUT FOUR FUCKED UP GIRLS IN ONE ROOM WHERE THEY CAN BOND, SHARE DEEP DARK SECRETS, AND BECOME BEST BUDDIES FOR LIFE. I placed my bruised head on my pillow and smiled.

Why can't we all just get along and be best friends forever?

Speaking of best friends, I haven't had one since I was seventeen years old....

A memory from my last month of high school resurfaced. That month was important, not because I'd graduated high school, but because that's when my ex best friend Ronnie and I became enemies for life.

Where the fuck was Ben when that bitch was backstabbing me?

I massaged the bruise on my forehead. Memories were coming up, barely making sense. I remembered bits and pieces of that day, that I showed up to school slightly drunk, and then later in the evening having an all out bust up outside of a Chinese restaurant with Ronnie.

Oh yeah... the day I got arrested for the first time.

I laughed at the memory.... "Ah sigh... good times."

"Marisa what's up with the fists?" Ronnie asked me nonchalantly before her thin, chapped, cock-sucking lips smirked at me. "Were you planning on teaching me a lesson or two right now?"

She tossed her long dark brown hair behind her shoulder, revealing the real bitch inside of her. Her head bobbled up and down, an action she probably perfected over the last week repeatedly. From the very moment she showed her true colours to me, I've had a list of insults ready for her.

I smirked at her skank ass face. "Why don't you have that head checked out, it's moving up and down a bit too much if you ask me. It's clearly bobbing. You must be doing this too much." I bobbed my head up and down rapidly.

She must have understood my visual reference, because her blistered fingers grazed over her chapped lips.

"I have a cold sore, what does that have to do with anything?" she snapped back, and then tucked her bottom lip in her mouth before gliding her slimy longggggggggg tongue over her upper lip.

"Keeping them moist huh?" I smacked my lips loudly. "For later right? You guys don't want to buy dessert in the restaurant, because I heard they have excellent range of ice creams." I unfolded my fists and crossed my arms. The lava slowly reverted to being idle again. Behind Ronnie, hiding behind the wall I heard someone laugh loudly.

"Called one of your new friends to come and back you up?" I yelled accusingly at her. This was supposed to be one on one.

"I don't need my people to take you out, besides they wouldn't come three feet near you. You smell like shit." she yelled at me while insinuating a stink by waving her hand in front of her nose.

"You're a fucking loser!" She pointed at me. "I'm only sorry that I humoured you for this long, because we were never friends!"

I unfolded my arms and formed fists with my sweaty hands. She thought she could talk to me like that and get away with it. "What you call me, you whore!" I screamed and marched right in front of her.

"Oh, you know...." She turned her head to check behind her, and then all of a sudden her blistered hands grabbed onto my sweater and she pushed me back with all her might, grunting at the same time. I tripped backwards from the push and fell to the ground, hitting the pavement hard on my ass.

"You fucking bitch!" I got up quickly, erupting inside at full blast. Before I stood all the way up, Ronnie was running out of the dirty alley. The back door to the restaurant opened as I ran after her.

"You guys...... cannot be here......no fighting, I call police....here soon!" he screamed at us.

Running, I turned the corner and slammed into two arms pushing me back onto the ground. I fell on my ass harder, this time it was in front of the restaurant. The wide window in front showcased the entire inside of the restaurant, and if I could see everyone inside, then they could see everything going on outside, too.

The window quickly crowded up, customers of the restaurant excited now that there was a show to go along with their dinner.

Among the nosy customers, one looked very familiar. A tall dark haired idiot, Ronnie's new boyfriend and part of the reason we had falling out. He looked out with the rest of the customers and saw that it was Ronnie against me.

"Kick her ass!" he yelled through the glass window. He backed up from the crowd and ran out. Before he made it outside, a newly motivated Ronnie swung her leg into my stomach. I rolled over in pain, screaming from the impact on my ribs.

"That's what you get for not knowing your place!" she yelled at me while I lay on the sidewalk grunting. I looked around and random people had stopped in their tracks to see what was going on.

Bitch face Ryan finally exited the restaurant and grabbed Ronnie, kissing her immediately. "Yeah baby, you showed her."

With her back turned and occupied with his slobbery kisses, I got up quickly and pushed her out of his embrace. I guess he wasn't holding on to her tightly enough, because she fell onto the sidewalk, her ass making a bigger thud sound then mine did.

"Stay out of this!" I yelled at Ryan. "This is between her and me." It was my turn to play with her ribs. I swung my leg and hit her in the exact same spot as she hit me.

An eye for an eye after all.

"You fucking bitch!" she screamed out loud.

This was all happening so fast.

Ryan charged at me, but two guys standing about, obviously enjoying the show, grabbed a hold of him and pulled him back.

"Stay out of it bro, it's one on one." They warned Ryan.

Ryan didn't seem to care about the concept of one on one as he desperately tried to get out of their tight hold and come after me. But his strength was no match against two men.

Ronnie got back up. "Baby, its okay. I can finish this loser on my own." Her arms rose to eye level and her hands formed fists. She thought she was a boxer now and that she could take me out like Muhammad Ali.

I heard the faint sounds of police sirens, but I wouldn't be the one to run away first and look like the pussy in front of everyone. We circled around each other with our fists never leaving our faces.

"Come on bitch, make your move." Ronnie screeched.

"Speak with your mouth open, it must be hard though, opening and closing it, you've worked it out too much." I yelled back, making everyone around us laugh.

All of a sudden, Ronnie charged at me, grabbing a fist full of my hair, as my arms made contact with her face.

The police sirens were growing louder. They were going to be here any second.

"Feel that bitch! I'm going to make your skull bleed!" she screamed into my ear, pulling at my hair tighter.

"I think I'm the one who's going to make your skull bleed, bitch!" I yelled, scratching her face. She let's go of my hair and punched me in the face, making me taste my own blood.

Fuck, I was bleeding.

The police arrived and the bystanders ran away, leaving Ronnie and me wrestling on the sidewalk.

"Let go, let go right now." The police officers yelled at us. I felt a pair hands grab my shoulders, pulling me away from Ronnie.

We were pushed down on to the ground and the cops quickly cuffed us.

"This is her fault. She's the one who attacked me." Ronnie screeched at the police officers. There was no sign of Ryan anywhere.

What a coward.

"Hey Ronnie, where did your tall, dark and handsome prince go?" I cackled. "Didn't take long for him to bow out and leave you stranded. What a loyal boyfriend you have... not!"

"RYAN!" she screamed, and then began crying hysterically.

"Welcome to the betrayed club. I hope you finally and deservingly enjoy your stay with us!" I sang as she cried louder.

My eyes snapped open as the memory finished. It's been awhile since I've rehashed that night.

Because I wasn't eighteen yet, the police had just given me a warning as punishment instead. It was a slap on the wrist, and that should have calmed my nerves, but after being picked up at the police station by my mom and dad, well let's just say, things weren't 'calm' when we got home.

Mom had ripped my ass a new one.

Dad was just disappointed, barely speaking to me.

And when Ben found out, well.... he almost broke up with me. He wasn't interested in dating a wild animal with no social skills or decorum. But, he'd eventually gotten over it by making me feel guilty for months. Which was bullshit, because he should have seen things from my side, and that my retaliation was justified, almost biblical. My best friend had ditched me for another guy, accused me of trying to steal him even though I already had a boyfriend, and then proceeded to spread rumours around campus about me being one giant dirty slut, all to save face because her piece of shit boyfriend wasn't loyal... if you catch my drift. The truth was, that disgusting pig was a big fat cheater, and when I tried telling her this, even after we stopped being friends, it turned into a much bigger thing.

Ronnie was blinded by love, and no one was going to change her mind about that. Not even me.

And now we were enemies for life.

But whatever... Loyalty was a façade anyways.

Love was worse.

And that ladies and gentlemen, was why yours truly didn't have any friends.... especially best friends.

### CHAPTER 3

MARISA

"Inmate Gellys? Please report to the visitor's station immediately." Security guard Rhodes screeched over the telecom. I got up from my new bunk in the east wing, where the girls were a tiny bit less deadly. I gazed at my fellow inmate's confused faces as I went to the officer standing at the doorway.

"It's not visiting day." one of them yelled from behind as the officer guided me out.

"What's going on?" I asked Jon, one of the officers who regularly watched over us during the weekdays.

I've been locked up at Pure Valley Correctional facility for sixteen days. After I assaulted (which was a mistake, but they did not care here) the officer who was trying to detain me during my fight with Sheila (who was not here, because I hit her first and I also hit an officer, but I heard her hoe ass was serving time for solicitation at another place), I went to jail.

They asked if I wanted to call anybody to come and help. I thought about it for three seconds and said no. God help me if I called my family to come and bail me out again. I'd take jail over that any day. Besides them, I really didn't have anybody else to call. Plus, I didn't really have a lot of money for a good lawyer, so I opted out for a minimum sentence of four months, which I was lucky to get because the judge saw that it was an accident, but nevertheless I still did the crime, so I had to do the time.

There was also a possibility that I could get out next month if I was good.

As for telling my parents, I'd face that demon when I would get to it. Dad was probably wondering why I wasn't answering my phone. I called Darcy using my one phone call. Thank God there wasn't an automated message that followed first from the police stations payphone or else my baby sister would have been traumatized with the news that her big sister was going to jail.

Again!

I told her my phone was in repair and my internet would be down for a while, so if she didn't hear from me, she shouldn't worry and as soon as I had my phone and internet back, I'd contact her. I told her to tell this to dad so he wouldn't worry.

As for my room back at Mrs. Lee's building, she was more understanding than I thought she'd be. I came up with an arrangement with her, paying her four months in advance until I got out and could move out.

I was not a good tenant. I was too disruptive and a potential danger to the other three tenants.

Whatever.

Anyways, back to Jon. He was cool, not that strict, answered questions when he could without being an ass.

"You have a visitor. A guy." Jon informed.

"A guy?" I repeated, confused.

We rounded the corner in the hallway, stopping in front of the visitor room door. Jon opened the door and I gasped when I saw who was sitting all by himself inside.

"Xander... Barns?" I screeched.

"Well hello there. Look who's in jail?" Xander smirked. "Marisa, I'm shocked, I didn't know you had it in you."

Jon eyed me. "You have fifteen minutes." He left, shutting the door behind him. I walked over to Xander, sitting in a stylish black suit, with his dark hair combed back.

I gulped looking at him. It's been awhile since I've seen a good-looking man, even if it was Xander.

I took a seat across from him, eyeing him warily.

I crossed my arms. "What do you want?"

"Nice uniform." Xander grinned, eying my plain cream-coloured tracksuit.

I exhaled out my nose. He was annoying me already. "Why are you here? Or the better question, how the fuck did you find me?"

"Oh I have my ways." Xander winked.

I raised an eyebrow. "And that would be how?"

"Well, after not hearing from you for an entire week, which was really hard surprisingly, I've gotten quite used to you being around my trusted little side kick, I went to 4Scoops to see if I could catch you there and was surprised when your boss said that you had quit. Luckily after a little persuasion following a fifty dollar bill, he gave me your home address." Xander explained as if he was revealing a treacherous plot to kill.

"What!" My eyes widened. "How could Mr. Dennis give you my address? That shit is supposed to be confidential!"

"Not when there's money involved." Xander smirked. "Anyways, I dropped by your place, hoping to catch you there, by the way your phone's been shut off. Your landlord answered the door and after giving her a fifty dollar bill, she kindly explained what had happened. And voila, here I am and here you are. What a very interesting situation we have here."

I groaned loudly. "The next place I work and live better keep my shit a secret from nosy people like you." I was so exasperated that my landlord and my ex-boss willingly gave out my info to just any rich stranger.

Xander smiled knowingly. "Money talks Marisa, I thought you'd realize that by now."

"What are you here for, Xander?" I exhaled, my shoulder slumping pathetically. I had no fight left in me. I've been trapped in this hellhole for over two weeks, all because of a stupid accident.

Xander clapped his hands and grinned. "I'm glad you asked. I'm here to save you."

My head jerked up. "What? What do you mean?"

"I'm going to get you out." Xander grinned. "Well, my lawyers will."

"How....why would you want to do that?" I stammered, my brain feeling like it was short-circuiting.

Xander shrugged. "Because you don't belong here. It's tragic really. Anyways," Xander began to say as he got up, buttoning the bottom of his jacket. "My lawyer is going to speak with you next, sign the paperwork, and I'm sure you'll be out in no time."

As he passed me, I grabbed onto the edge of his jacket. "Wait, what is this going to mean, after I get out?"

Xander leaned down, whispering. "It means.... you owe me now."

Shit.

*~*~*

A week later....

I changed out of the nasty sweat suit the facility made us wear and into the jeans and sweater I came here in. I rubbed my face against the cotton of my shirt as if it were heaven.

I left my old stuff on my old bed and headed out with Jon who escorted me down the hallway. We crossed the hallway, about to pass the rec room where Mona and her lackeys were playing dominos. I decided to leave a farewell message, seeing as I was leaving right now. You know, just to be polite.

I knocked on the door.

"Hey Mona!" I sneered, twiddling my fingers at her. Her head snapped up, instantly scowling with fury.

"What do you want, bitch?" she growled.

"I just wanted to tell you something before leaving," I grinned.

"And what would that be?" Mona grunted, amused, like I wouldn't dare say anything smart to her again.

Little did she know.

"I just wanted to answer that question you asked me a few days ago, and the answer is, no." I grinned, shaking my head at her confused expression. She eyed her minions, Tilla and Gigi, seeing if they knew what the hell I was talking about.

"No?" Mona repeated.

"Yeah, no, as in NO you can't lick my dirty asshole you nasty bitch!" I laughed loudly, pointing at her.

Mona's eyes flared open, eying the room as everyone burst into laughter. "She's lying, I'm not like that. Shut the fuck up!"

"She's the one who's lying. I suggest you all keep your asshole's in check, you know, just in case Big Mona here gets hungry later!" I laughed again, pointing at her. And like the raging bull that she was, she knocked her seat back jumping up, charging towards me.

"Gonna get it now, bitch!" Mona screamed with Tilla and Gigi right behind her. I took a step back and before the terrible threesome had any chance at taking a nice swing at me, the stainless steel door abruptly shuts, locking them in. They furiously pounded at the door, trying to jerk it open.

"Let me out!" Mona screamed. "I'm going to kill that bitch!"

I chuckled, going to the window beside the closed door, waving one last time, mouthing goodbye. I turned to Jon who was also grinning. "Thanks Jon."

He chuckled. "Any time, Marisa. That was fun."

Jon took me to the front counter where I got my personal belongings back, my fab leather bag and everything that went with it. I signed the last of my paperwork and was officially discharged.

Thank God!

I exited the building and a burst of warm air circled me, making me sweat.

Shit, it was hot. It was practically summer after all. It felt like I'd been trapped in that place for forever.

I rounded the corner facing the curb, instantly the big black SUV caught my attention.

Gee...I wonder who that could be.

Approaching the SUV, a welcoming face popped out of the driver's side, giving me a huge smile.

"Hey Daniels!" I rejoiced.

"Welcome back, Ms. Gellys." Daniels said, approaching the back door.

"It's good to be back." I sighed, stopping in front of him. He opened the back door and sitting comfortably in the plush black leather seat, in a black shirt and blue designer jeans, was the troublemaker himself, Xander Barns... on the phone.

He eyed me, grinning, lowering the phone from his ear. "Welcome back to reality, darling."

### CHAPTER 4

MARISA

"What do you mean you moved me out?" I yelled at Xander as Daniels drove us into downtown Toronto.

"It means I moved you out." Xander rolled his eyes. "Your landlord wanted you out, she was threatening to empty your room and rent it out to someone else if you weren't back soon."

My jaw dropped. "That bitch! I paid her four months in advance. We had an agreement."

"Well, then, you're lucky I came around when I did. I saved the day, yet again." Xander smirked.

"Saved the day? You touched my stuff!" I snapped, opening my window to let in some air despite the A/C running on blast. I needed air that Xander wasn't contaminating.

Xander breathed, sounding exasperated. "I did you a favour again and you're yelling at me? Not fair."

"Please!" I sneered. "You didn't do this for me, you did this for yourself. So I'll owe you!"

Xander stifled a grin. "Well what do you know, she's figured it all out. You're so smart. I'm going to make great use of you."

My eyes widened. "I'm not sleeping with you!" I declared, pointing a finger at him. He grabbed my hand, lowering it.

"Wouldn't even dream of asking you too, besides I don't make women sleep with me just because they happen to owe me, there's a long line of women who would kill just to have me lay a finger on them." Xander sneered.

Awww...have I struck a nerve?

I smirked, looking away. "Don't I know it."

"What was that?" Xander pressed.

"Oh, I'm just remembering something based on that statement you just made about women killing just to have you touch them, brings a certain destructive psychopath to mind, I think she goes by the name...Demetria!" I snipped, jerking my chin forward.

Got him now!

"Get used to it!" Xander exclaimed, jerking his chin forward.

I jerked my chin back. "Get used to it?"

Xander sneered. "That's right, get used to it. Because from now on, thanks to your amazing skills, I will no longer need to worry about having any more run-ins with women of that sort."

I grimaced. "And how am I going to help you do that?"

Xander grinned. "I'm glad you asked. Say hello to your new best friend." He pointed to himself.

I blinked, grabbing the door handle for support. "Best friend? What the hell are you talking about?"

"That's right, Marisa. You and me, best friends, forever." Xander breathed, sounding hopeful that from now on everything would be okay.

Umm...fuck that shit.

I leaned over. "Why the hell would you want me to be your best friend? And why the hell would you ever think I would be yours?"

He leaned in. "Because,"

"Because what?" I snapped.

"You're a package deal, dear. Having you around constantly means I get more than your pretty face, but your big.... luscious.... mouth, too." Xander said smoothly. "Best friends always watch each other's backs, right? Think of it as being a privileged security guard."

I leaned back into my seat, shaking my head. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"I do," Xander smirked. "And it's already a done deal."

My eyes rolled, not taking him seriously. "Yeah, okay."

"Doubt me if you want, but I'd like to remind you of something." Xander began to say with a sneaky smile.

"And that would be what?" I probed, feeling annoyed.

"Uncle Xander got big bad Marisa out of pussy prison. You should see the bill my lawyer gave me for it." Xander explained, as if he had an ace up his sleeve.

"So what!" I snapped. "You're the one who offered."

"And you're the one who accepted." Xander countered. "Understand...darling, you owe me."

I breathed nervously. "This is not fair."

"Isn't it though?" Xander smirked. "My help comes with my rules, and first order of business, you gladly accept the title of being my new best friend who'll gladly look out for her most favourite guy in the entire world. Because you care, just like I did when I took time out of my very busy schedule to come and bail you out of the trouble you got yourself into. Which I might add had nothing to do with me and had everything to do with your lack of self-control."

I cringed thinking about it. He was right. "Whatever." I huffed.

"Not whatever," Xander said. "You have to say thank you. Don't you think I deserve a thank you?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Thank you." I told him slowly, gritting my teeth.

"For?" Xander smiled.

"For getting me out of prison." I replied, as if it pained me to.

"What kind of prison?" Xander smirked.

"Pussy prison." I answered, feeling tortured, shaking my head in disbelief. "So is this how it's going to be from now on? Just because you helped me get out of prison? You say jump and I say how high?"

"Pretty much." Xander nodded, putting on his sunglasses.

"For how long?" I gulped.

"Looking at all the time I put in to getting you out, plus all the lawyer fees, I'd say, I'd get the pleasure of your company for at least a year." Xander answered as if he were solving a complex equation, equalling to that final conclusion.

Xander, plus lawyer, plus money, plus charm, equalled a get out of free jail card. Given to me, with a huge price tag attached to it. And that was my time, my freedom and my common sense, all to help him avoid... certain troubles.

My jaw dropped "A year!"

Xander sighed loudly. "I know, I should have said longer, but I'm too nice."

"Dog shit!" I snapped, pulling at the door for it to open.

"It's locked." Xander informed.

"I can't breathe!" I yelled, slumping down into my seat. "You're trapping me!"

"Calm down." Xander said bored like. "You'll see in the end, everything will work out, you'll get to experience a new life and I'll have someone watching my back for me."

"Where are you taking me now?" I asked, sliding back up.

"To your new home." Xander answered, looking out the window. Daniels turned the SUV on to King Street West.

"And that would be where?" I cringed, taking short breaths.

Xander turned, smiling at me. "Say hello to your brand new neighbour."

*~*~*

I entered the plush, one bedroom condo, mesmerized by its large size and beauty. It was on the fifteenth floor in a King Street West skyscraper in downtown Toronto. We were standing in the living and dining room with large windows rounding the entire space. There was a beautiful glass dining table with six chairs. Beside it was a luxurious looking, grey leather sectional with matching small pillows, and in front was a huge 80 inch LCD plasma TV screen.

"Fuck me." I murmured, shell shocked that this was my new home, well, at least for the next year.

Unfortunately for me, Xander heard my astonishment. "Anytime."

I turned, giving him a scowl, finding him smirking as he leaned against the long island which had a very beautiful (according to him one of a kind) green marble counter top.

"I'm not fucking you!" I snapped, pointing at him firmly.

Xander rolled his eyes. "We're best friends, what kind of best friends fuck?"

I jerked my head back, confused.

Where the hell did this guy grow up?

He should know all of this shit.

Maybe he's playing with me.

I answered anyways. "Friends with benefits, that's who."

"Well, since you mentioned it." Xander grinned.

Ugh...walked right into that one.

"I didn't!" I snapped.

"Alright, alright, no need to lose it. You're the one who brought it up, geez." Xander said, holding up both his palms and then laughed.

"You think you're so funny, you're hilarious!" I snapped.

He nodded. "I do."

Shaking my head, I returned scouring the condo I was being forced to stay in for approximately one year. One of Xander's condo's, which conveniently was located right across from his condo. It literally took two steps to get to his place.

"Why do you want me to stay here? You're losing money by not renting it out?" I spread my arms out, gesturing at the size of the condo. It was massive, way over a thousand square feet. My room back at Mrs. Lee's building was only three hundred square feet. What would I even do with all this space?

"Nobody stays here, I don't rent it out." Xander explained, sounding bored, and looking away.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because, no neighbours, means no noise complaints." Xander faced me again and winked.

"I'm sorry I asked." I turned back around, shaking my head. "Where's all my shit?"

"Your shit?" Xander repeated and then smirked. "How I love the way you speak."

"Well?" I asked again, impatiently.

"Since you had only one bedroom worth of things, my movers placed them in your new room and my designer arranged everything." Xander explained.

"She touched my shit?" My jaw dropped, horrified. I didn't like it when people touched my shit. I had attachment issues.

"He actually did." Xander corrected. "And don't worry, everything is as we found it, not an item missing."

"For your sake, I hope so." I told him, walking towards the bedroom. Then I remembered I had no bed or desk, all I had was my used leather chair. I paused before entering. "I don't... have a bed or a desk. The ones from my old room belonged to Mrs. Lee."

Xander walked up to me. "Don't worry about that, I fixed that." We stared at each other for a few seconds too long. This guy was driving me crazy. He's fucking disgusting, but at the same time, he's kind of sweet.

Ugh... I can't believe I just.... Xander Barns is not sweet!

I looked away, stifling a smile. "You're still a perv."

"Never said I wasn't that, too." Xander said and my smile erupted.

"Let's see what your designer guy did. And there better not be a panty theme going on in there either." I mentioned before opening the door.

"Damn...that's a good idea. I wish I came up with that before." Xander exclaimed 'sadly' as the door opened and I gasped, shocked at the room before me.

"Oh my God!" I screeched, taking in the huge room decorated in soft shades of purple, green and white. There was a queen-sized bed with a lush purple and green floral patterned comforter, and four matching pillows. I had a long glass desk with my laptop nestled on top with my used leather chair in front. Beside the bed was a chestnut dresser as high as I was. I turned and gaped at Xander. "I don't understand?"

"Do you like it?" Xander asked, looking serious.

I gulped. "Yeah," I said breathily, turning back to take in my new room. I walked all the way in and immediately pointed to a pair of double doors. "Is that a closet?"

"Open it." Xander instructed, smiling.

I opened it and gasped. "It's a fucking... walk in!"

"That's right, it's a fucking walk in." Xander said breathily, right behind me. "Tomas arranged everything inside here, plus a few things I had Harmony pick up for you."

My jaw dropped.

"Anyways, relax and look around. I have to go and make a few calls regarding tonight." Xander explained.

"What's happening tonight?" I asked on his way out.

He stopped and turned. "We go out for dinner. I'm going to need your help with a client... bestie."

"I'm not fucking anyone for you!" I snapped.

"I wouldn't dream of it. Anyways, if it were that easy to win people over, I already have acquaintances in that line of work. So no worries." Xander smirked and left the room. I heard the front door open and close.

I placed my leather bag on my new desk, running my fingertips along the edges of the smooth glass.

Damn...this is fancy.

Grinning, I took three leaps and jumped backwards into my new huge ass bed. I fell into the heavenly comforter, curling the fabric into my back.

Oh my God, this felt amazing. Especially after sleeping on a hard mattress with thin sheets for almost three weeks.

Fuck me, how did that even happen?

Did I actually go to prison?

It felt like a nightmare, like it didn't even happen.

Unfortunately it did, and sooner or later, I was going to have to tell my family.

But not now.

Fuck it...maybe not ever.

*~*~*

I hoisted my newly reactivated cell to my ear and smiled. "Hey Darcy!"

"Marisa, you're back!" Darcy rejoiced.

"That's right I'm back. I just got my phone back."

"Thank God. Dad has been going crazy. He keeps asking me questions, thinking I'm lying. But I kept telling him that your phone was broken and was being fixed. Then he was like... well then, why doesn't she just use a payphone, and then I was like... I don't know, you'll have to ask her the next time she calls. Then he was like.... well why doesn't she email, and then I told him that your Internet was cut off, too. Then he was like, well, why doesn't she just go to the library, it's free there and I'm like, Dad, you're just going to have to ask her." Darcy was panting by the end of it.

"Slow down." I laughed. "Wow, I really made him worry, huh?"

Darcy sighed. "Yeah, you did. But everything's okay, right?"

"Yeah, everything's fine now." I sighed and lay down on my new bed.

"Good. Wait a minute, Dad's here." Darcy began to say. "Dad, Marisa's on the phone!"

"Marisa?" Dad answered the phone instead of Darcy. "Are you okay?"

"Hi Dad, yes I'm okay."

"What happened? I've been worried sick."

"I'm sorry, I just fell behind on my Internet bill and my phone was in repair." I explained, hoping he'd really believe it.

"Do you need money? Because I can send you some money."

"No, I'm okay, everything's been sorted now. But thanks anyways."

"Hold on a second." Dad said, then from the sounds of it, he was answering someone. "It's Marisa, you want to talk to her now?"

Dad came back on. "Marisa, your mother wants to talk to you."

My eyes widened, horrified. "Why?" I jerked up into a sitting position.

"I don't know, anyways, here she is."

Shit!

"Marisa!" Mom's screechy voice pierced my ears.

"Hi Mom," I said back.... apprehensively.

"Well, I hope you're happy." Mom screeched.

And it fucking begins. Shit...not even a fucking hello first.

I winced. "Happy about what?"

"I just came back from Gwen's house, and let me tell you, she's horrified! And it's all your fault. Jesus Marisa, why on earth do you have to be so selfish?"

"What are you talking about?" I slid off the bed and onto the cream coloured carpet.

"I'm talking about Ben!" Mom yelled. "He's been in a constant state of depression since you left three and half weeks ago!"

"Ben and I hashed things out already. If he's depressed right now, it's not because of me."

"You are so selfish, and blind. How can you look at yourself knowing the chaos and misery you left behind? It's all because of you!"

"Because of me? It's not because of me!"

"That boy does not need to be feeling like this!"

"And I do?" I snapped back.

"You did this!" Mom screeched. "You are nothing but trouble!"

I felt tears in my eyes, and I couldn't hold them back any longer. I lay on my back and held the phone next to my ear as she screeched uncontrollably about how much of a disappointment I was. I should have hung up, but I wanted to say goodbye to Dad.

"And Ben, that poor boy, he was always too good for you. We all thought you were lucky to have him. I knew one day you'd ruin it. He's got everything going for him. He doesn't need the likes of you to bring him down!"

"Are you done?" I sighed, desperately trying to contain myself from exploding.

Mom gasped. "Excuse me?"

I took a deep breath. "I said, are you fucking done?"

She gasped again. "I can't believe you just said that to me. I'm your mother."

"Are you done?" I asked again.

"What kind of a daughter are you?" Mom hissed, sounding shocked, as if she just found out I was a criminal. I was, sort of.

But I couldn't hold myself back any longer. "Not yours that's for sure! Give the fucking phone back to dad!"

"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" Mom screeched. "I'm your mother and you will listen to what I have to say!"

"You're not!" I snapped, my voice beginning to sound hoarse.

She gasped again. "Excuse me?"

"You are not my mother! You don't act like a mother, and you haven't for a while! Now give the fucking phone back to Dad!" I snapped, my voice getting rougher.

"I can't believe you just said that to me, that language, how could_" Mom cried before I interrupted her at the first sound of sadness in her voice. She had no fucking right to sound sad.

"I said give the fucking phone back to Dad!" I screamed.

Mom hung up.

My jaw dropped as the dial tone echoed hauntingly into my ear.

"You fucking bitch!" I screamed into the receiver before tossing the phone across the room, thankfully not breaking it. I curled my face into my hands as a wave of tears streamed down my face.

"It's not fucking fair." I cried, shaking against the floor. "I didn't do anything!"

After a while, my tear soaked face dried, but not without leaving that beautiful leftover sticky feeling, a reminder of what had just happened. I needed to wash it off. But I had no energy to get up and go to the bathroom. I probably looked like a fucking disaster.

Three tiny knocks startled me. Without inviting anybody in, the door creaked open slowly, showing Xander hunched behind it.

"Hey," he said, and then walked in and lay down next to me.

I thought this was my place?

I guess not.

There would be no privacy anymore.

Whatever, I didn't care.

I didn't care about anything anymore.

"What is it?" I whispered after a few minutes of him staring at me in silence.

I heard him exhale before answering. "I heard...the conversation."

"Yeah...well my mom likes to yell at the top of her lungs when she knows it's me on the other end of the line. Kind of gives her joy, you know." I turned to my side and faced him. My body was numb, my heart was black, and my mind was done. I was done.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, tucking loose strands of hair behind my ear. The tears started again, pouring down my face before I could answer.

I didn't want to cry in front of him again.

Damn it!

"No," I sniffed, wiping the tears away.

"Don't," Xander said, gently pulling my hand away from my face. "Let me."

He gently wiped my tears away as they continued to fall freely all over my face. I couldn't stop them. We lay on the floor in silence as his fingers gradually caressed my face, soothing my skin.

"I'm so tired," I said all of a sudden, feeling anger course through my veins as memory after memory resurfaced, reminding me of all the shit I had gone through.

It wasn't fair.

I was a good person.

So why did I always seem to get the short end of the stick?

I couldn't win with my mom.

That's why I moved.

Even in another city, she had found a way to destroy me emotionally.

"Of what?" Xander asked, pulling his hand away.

"Of being the 'fuck up', out of everyone my family knows." I cringed.

"That's it?" Xander snorted, like he didn't get it.

I blinked, taken aback by the sudden lack of compassion. "What do you mean that's it?"

"If you think you're a fuck up, then what the hell am I?" Xander grinned knowingly. He knew the answer to that question.

I pretended to think about it for a few seconds before answering. "More fucked up." I offered, grinning back.

"Lies!" Xander countered playfully. "I'm a God! How can a gorgeous being like myself, be the 'more fucked up' one?"

"You want the reasons by category or alphabetical order, because I've got them." I smirked.

Xander grinned and tugged a few strands of my hair delicately. "There she is."

I gave him a small smile. "Thanks." I whispered.

"My pleasure." He smiled gently, but quickly turned it from thoughtful to suggestive by biting his bottom lip.

I looked away and shook my head. "Oh God, I knew you wouldn't last."

He laughed loudly, falling to his back. "And how are you going to repay uncle Xander for his heartfelt words?" he said smoothly, turning back onto his side and leaning forward.

Feeling more like my old snarky self again, I decided to play along, my way that is, the fun way.

I leaned toward him, taking him by surprise. His eyes widened, amused.

"What would you like, baby?" I purred, biting my bottom lip.

Xander quickly closed his eyes, leaning his head back. "For you, to never, ever, stop, using that voice with me."

"Anything else?" I leaned a bit closer and before he had a chance to pop his eyes open, I pushed down on his shoulders, taking him by surprise. He voluntarily went down, and then surprising him even more, I quickly hovered over his body and straddled him.

"Surprise." I whispered, placing my hands on his face and leaned closer.

"I like this." Xander purred, gazing at my lips as if he were being hypnotized by them.

"How much do you like this?" I purred back, going closer, stopping a few inches away from his lips.

"More than Christmas." Xander breathed.

"And?" I murmured.

"And birthdays." Xander continued.

"Wow, birthdays, huh?" My eyes narrowed and I continued, whispering as if I was the one amazed now. "That's a big deal."

"It's not the only thing that's big." Xander grinned, playing with his eyebrows. He pushed his hips upwards. "Feel that?"

I jerked my chin back, pretending to be confused, even though I could feel his dick getting hard. "Not really." I shook my head, trying not to laugh. He was so sure of his manhood and the size of it, I knew this would probably bother him.

His eyes widened, clearly astonished. "Lies!"

I burst out laughing and he quickly did this karate move that placed him on top, straddling me. I didn't stop laughing as my hands were pinned over my head.

"How dare you!" Xander hissed playfully.

"How dare I what?" I smirked, staring into his amused sparkling blue eyes, which surprisingly, after knowing exactly who he was, gave me the butterflies.

"I'm disappointed in you, Marisa. I thought you, better than anyone would have known, to never, ever, joke about the size of a man's hard on." Xander threatened, playfully.

"Guilty as charged." I bit my lip. "How are you going to punish me?"

Xander raised an eyebrow, all of sudden looking deadly serious. He leaned his face all the way down, stopping an inch away from my face. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

The bastard smiled and jumped up off of me. He took out his cell and tapped against the screen. "You've got one hour to get ready, and then you and I, we have a dinner to get to. Got that, bestie?"

As he left my room, I yelled out a concern. "What kind of dinner?"

He stopped in his tracks and turned. "I need you to look like a nanny out on the town, looking to be fucked in every way possible."

My jaw dropped. "You're not serious!"

He started laughing all of a sudden. "You're right, I'm not. Which is a damn shame, because that would be a sight I'd never, ever forget. Dress nicely, not enough to get fucked, but enough to warrant a double take."

"A double take? I'm not sure anyone's ever looked at me like that." I informed him, trying to remember a point in my life where a guy, or a girl, looked at me more than once.

"As always Marisa, your humour amazes me." Xander chuckled, shaking his head as he walked out of the condo.

"I'm serious, I'm not trying to be modest you asshole! And don't think you can barge in anytime you want. If I'm going to stay here for a year, I need my privacy, bitch!" I yelled as the front door shut.

Exhaling, I got off the carpet and opened my new walk in closet. All my clothes were neatly hung along with a few other pieces I didn't remember owning. They must be the new pieces Xander had his personal shopper get for me. I pulled a black cocktail dress out from the new section and held it against my body in front of the full-length mirror.

It wasn't slutty, and it wasn't too modest either. This should do it.

But before I could indulge in taking my first private shower in weeks, I had business to attend to, thanks to my mom.

She practically screamed my ear off, stating that Ben was all depressed because of how I'd left things. Since that princess boy puts everything up on Facebook, I'd just pop open my laptop and check his old page. I pushed the power button on my laptop, squealing at the sound of the gadget working.

Being locked away, and denied every single electronic, fucking sucked. And to make sure that never happened again, there would be no more fighting, and no more assaulting officers from me, from now on.

Before leaving for Toronto seven months ago, I deactivated my Facebook account, not wanting any contact with anyone from my past. I opened Facebook, reactivated my page and quickly spied on Ben's page.

Not surprisingly, I was no longer listed as his girlfriend and he's single and looking for women. I scrolled down his page, stopping at a recent photo album he had just updated.

'Movie Date'

Movie Date?

I opened the album and twenty pictures popped up. I leaned back in my chair, shaking my head. "Mom, exaggerate much?"

That fool had his arm around a tall blonde, grinning from ear to ear.

I checked the tag box to see what this bitch's name was.

"Reilly." I read off the screen, rolling my eyes. "Seems like someone's moved on and not really that depressed over losing me, after all."

I went back to my page, and shockingly, I still had Ben listed as my boyfriend. I thought I had changed it the moment we had broken up. Maybe it was a technical problem with the website? I quickly changed it to single and...

I burst out laughing first.....then changed it to single and looking to meet women.

I grinned and pressed save.

Damn, I wish I could be there when they saw this little update in my information.

I leaned back and stretched my arms out. "All in a day's work."

*~*~*

An hour later...

I had my first private shower in three weeks, adding to that, it was in a very luxurious, all marble bathroom. Not only did it look amazing, it felt amazing, too. I used the majority of the hour under the showerhead, soaking up the glorious hot water, feeling free of nosy eyes.

"Not bad." I complimented as I examined my reflection once I was all put together. The black cocktail dress fit me perfectly. After adding a pair of blue high heels, I didn't look anything like a prison inmate anymore.

I still couldn't believe that happened. I guess it'd just be one of those... funny stories I'd tell people later on.

The front door opened and I heard Xander humming as he made his way into my room with his hands tucked behind his back. He wore a beautiful fitted light blue jacket, a white button down shirt that was opened at the collar, and a pair of dark jeans.

Can you say expensive?

"What ever happened to privacy, or knocking?" I asked him as he stopped in front of me, scouring every inch of me, and then smiling suggestively making me think he approved of the ensemble I put together.

He glanced at me, perplexed. "Why would I need to knock to come inside my own condo?"

"Because I'm the one who has to live here. What if I'm naked the next time you decide to barge in unannounced?" I snipped, crossing my arms.

"Then I'll count my lucky stars I got a glimpse of that...beautiful body of yours." Xander purred, eying me suggestively.

I cringed. "Ugh, don't be disgusting."

Shaking his head, he smiled back normally. "Then lock the bedroom door, I can't get in here, as there's no key for that door."

I noted that little piece of information, quickly eyeing the door lock. "That's good to know."

"Here you go." Xander handed me a black box. I took it from his hands, eying him warily.

"It better not be anything funny, or else... no dinner out, for either of us." I made a fist and pointed it to his dick.

He licked his lips and grinned. "Yes, please."

Shaking my head, stifling a smile, I opened the black velvet box. Inside, nestled in a small satin pillow was a gold headband with a variety of colourful jewels.

My jaw dropped as I gazed up at him in shock. "What is this?"

"This is my gift to you." Xander said, taking the headband out and placing it delicately over my beautifully blow dried hair, which I did all myself. I glanced at myself in the mirror, the shining jewels captivating my visuals. I gave the bastard a small smile and turned to face him.

"This is lovely, thank you." I told him and then raised an eyebrow, thinking I figured out his game. Xander Barns didn't do shit for nothing. "But I'm still not giving you my underwear!"

His grin dropped instantly. "You're no fun!" He stalked out of the room, pouting like a spoiled child being denied his toys.

That's what I thought! I shook my head, chuckling.

I grabbed my phone and clutch, but before leaving to join Xander as he sulked in the hallway, I took a selfie on my phone.

You know, since I look so hot.... I examined the picture and after finding no faults, I uploaded it, changing my profile pic with it.

Hello, surprise number two!

### CHAPTER 5

MARISA

"Thank you Daniels." I stepped out of the SUV, surprised, that for the first time my door was opened first.

Xander rounded the SUV, joining me on the sidewalk right in front of a very beautiful Japanese restaurant near the beaches. The name of the restaurant was Serenity Gardens, the entire front looked as if you were about to enter a Japanese inspired spa. They probably didn't just do your standard California rolls here.

This was another league.

Yet again, Xander's rich world included the best restaurants.

Now it was a part of my world, all thanks to him.

"How polite," I smirked at Xander, looping my arm through his as we entered inside the restaurant. "Letting Daniels open the door for a lady first, quite frankly, I'm shocked."

"I know...I'm amazing, thoughtful and kind. Glad you finally noticed." Xander smirked, wiping the smirk off my face.

I shook my head. "Amazingly weird and thoughtful as in you'll let the girl give her panties to you, and kind because you'll give them back once you're done with them. Right?"

He faced me, arching an eyebrow. "Wrong."

"Wrong?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

He leaned in. "Yeah, wrong. I wouldn't give them back. Once it comes within my grasp, it's mine forever."

"Then what, you keep them hidden like they're buried treasure?" I asked warily.

Xander cringed. "No, I throw them out. Jesus Marisa, don't you know anything about hygiene?"

My jaw dropped and before I could retaliate, the hostess spoke. "Welcome to Serenity Gardens."

"We're here for Mr. Franklin." Xander said.

She nodded right away, clearly mesmerized by him. She was blonde and about my height, and wore a red kimono with 'Serenity Gardens' engraved over her left breast.

"Right away," she said breathily, stumbling a little as she turned to lead the way down a dark hallway.

"Um.... where the hell are we going?" I asked as Xander tugged my arm and led us down the hallway, which seemed to be getting darker as we went deeper.

"Why are all the lights off?" I whispered.

From what I could see, he was leaning his head down. "That's because this is one of those restaurants where you eat in the dark."

My jaw dropped. "No shit!" I gasped a little too loudly. I covered my mouth and whispered. "Sorry."

"It's okay, just because we eat in the dark, doesn't mean we have to be quiet. Kind of reminds me of different circumstances, same actions though." Xander smirked. I could practically see the suggestiveness, even if I couldn't see him.

"Hey, how about a rule, no nasty talk when we're about to eat, okay?" I suggested.

"That will be not a problem," Xander assured. "We'll be so busy eating, we probably won't even have a chance to talk."

"Who wouldn't have a conversation at a restaurant, though? There's going to be a lot of down time to fill as they prepare our food, too. We're obviously going to talk. Aren't we meeting someone, too? Mr. Franklin? If this is a business meeting, why'd you bring me along?" I asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Xander smirked, or I thought he was by the slight giggle coming from his side.

I bumped my shoulder into his. "Listen jerk off, there better not be any funny business. I'm telling you, any repeats of that weekend, and you're dog meat."

"I swear on my life, there will be no repeats of that weekend, even though it was a great weekend, but not to worry, this meeting is all about me and Mr. Franklin." Xander explained.

"Who the fuck is this guy anyways?" I asked.

"He's the chief of new property development in my father's company." Xander explained.

"Shit. He's not a client, he's your co-worker." I told him, already feeling wary of the situation we were about to walk into. "I swear to God, Xander, I better not wake up tomorrow, screaming."

Xander chuckled. "Oh Marisa, how I love your dirty talk. Not to fret my dear, from now on, any time you find yourself waking up screaming, it's going to be because of one very good...extremely good...reason."

"I'm afraid to ask." I shivered.

"Well, I'm guessing, you already know what I mean. But fret not, best friends don't blow each other, unfortunately." Xander assured, chuckling.

"You are one horny dude," I told him, shaking my head.

"Yeah, and proud of it." Xander chuckled.

I bumped my shoulder into him again. "Hey! That's my line."

"Great minds think alike, similar catch phrases and all. We do what we want, when we want. We really are a match made in heaven. I'm a genius for turning our supposed arrangement into an actual reality. Trust in uncle Xander, always." Xander chuckled.

"Trust in you? Fuck that, I still have shit I want to do before I die." I hissed.

All of a sudden, a red light from above blinked on and off for a few seconds. Our hostess stopped and turned to face us. I could see some of her thanks to the light.

Where the fuck are we eating dinner? I thought as her haunted face smiled. "Your room sir. Mr. Franklin is already seated inside. Please follow the railing inside. A server should be in shortly to take your order."

She hits something on the wall and a hydraulics system pumped loudly, overpowering our ears. The hostess walked away and from what I could see, the door slid open like an elevator would. A small amount of steam came flying out, smelling like strawberries. I grabbed Xander's shoulder, giving him a deathly glare underneath the flickering red light.

"What the fuck is this?" I hissed quietly, squeezing him tightly. I could see his pearly white teeth sparkle with a hint of redness.

That smile.

No.... that evil grin.

What the fuck was he up to?

Fuck my life!

He caressed my hand as I kept it in a tight grip over his shoulder. "Not to worry, we're here for dinner. Nothing will happen to you, nothing except a great meal." he assured.

"I pray that you're telling the truth, but I'm about to walk into a black hole blind. You tell me not to worry and to just trust you. I'm finding it a little hard to." I hissed, eying the darkness we were about to step into, apprehensively.

Xander picked my hand easily off his shoulder and held it tightly in his grasp. Shit, he was strong. I tried jerking it back, but my force was no match for his. "Let go of my fucking hand."

"No, now shut it...bestie." Xander said sternly. "Let's go, my guest is waiting and it's rude to make a guest wait, don't you think?"

"He's not my guest." I told him.

"He is though, because you, me, we're one now. My problems are your problems, just like your problem when you went to jail became my problem and I got you out, didn't I?" Xander reminded.

"You're going to bring that up for the rest of my life. You're going to hold it over my head as many times as possible. It's never going to stop." I said bitterly to him.

"Pretty much, now come on." He tugged my hand forward, forcing me to follow behind him into the dark hole.

"Eugene, are you there?" Xander called as soon as we stepped though the doorway. A rush of hydraulics overtook our ears again and the door slid closed right after I was out of the way.

I was talking inches. My skirt was nearly ripped off.

I shook it off and held on to the railing on the wall and slowly followed behind Xander.

A low and nasally voice called out from below. "I'm here, Alexander."

"I'm terribly sorry I'm late. I was waiting for my companion to finish getting ready. You know women." Xander chuckled.

Eugene chuckled back. "I do. My Celeste takes ages to get ready. I'd be lucky to make it fifteen minutes past the initial arrival time."

"Eugene, I'd like to introduce my companion for the evening, Marisa Gellys." Xander introduced, squeezing my hand.

"Hello there, Ms. Gellys." Eugene called out.

I cleared my throat. "Hi, nice to meet you, even if I can't see you. Call me Marisa."

Eugene bursts out laughing. "She's something, Alexander."

"That she is." Xander chuckled back. "Shall we sit?"

"Please do." Eugene said. "Be careful, it's a steep climb down."

A steep climb down?

"Not to worry, I've been here before, don't you remember." Xander reminded as he let go of my hand. I felt his body lower down.

"Of course, you found this place, stating nothing but amazing things about the experience. I'm your guest as always." Eugene said.

Amazing things.... Where the fuck have I heard that before? Those words made me nervous all of a sudden.

"Marisa, grab my shoulders and take a step down." Xander ordered just below me. I couldn't see a thing.

"I can't see anything." I exclaimed, finding his shoulders. I stepped one foot out and nothing was there. "What's down there?"

"It's a bench." Xander informed. "But it's steep. So be careful."

I held onto his shoulder for support as I stepped off the ledge and my foot touched the bench awkwardly. "What the hell is this place? It's bad enough that we have to eat in the dark, but why they gotta make it difficult to find your seat, too?"

Eugene bursts out laughing again. "She's hilarious, Alexander!"

Xander chuckled back. "I know. She's my trusted little sidekick."

"Hold on to that one, before someone else snatches her up." Eugene stated, making me feel weird. Something about his tone of voice made me uneasy, like something a predator would say.

The sliding door abruptly opened, a glimmer of red light flashed before what looked to be a woman sashaying inside.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for choosing Serenity Gardens for your evening's pleasure. My name is Makino, and I'll be taking your order this evening. Have you had sufficient time to make up your minds on which meal plan you'd like for this evening?" Makino's voice was raspy and just loud enough for us to hear.

I nudged Xander. "I don't know what to order, I can't see a menu." I whispered.

"Don't worry, I'll order for you." Xander whispered back. "I'm ordering for Eugene, too."

"But you don't know what I like. I'm a picky eater." I whispered, growing annoyed. I did not like people picking my food. I had a hard enough time choosing my own meals. "I don't like onions, eggplant or squid, you got that?"

"I got it." Xander whispered. "Makino, thank you for having us. As for my two guests, this is their first time here and I will be ordering for them."

"Very good, sir." Makino purred. "Three orders for this evening, seats one, two and three, four is absent, correct?"

"Yes, that's right. Seat one and two, we will be having the white plate special, seat three will have the blue plate special." Xander said.

What the hell?

How did he know what to order?

And what the fuck was in the white and blue plate special?

"Very good, sir. Your white plate appetizers will arrive shortly, please prepare yourselves accordingly." Makino said, shuffling her way out. She stopped just outside the threshold, turning to face us with the red light flickering behind her. "Thank you again for choosing Serenity Gardens, have a very... pleasant evening."

The sliding door shuts and I nudged Xander hard in the shoulder. "How come I don't get an appetizer? She said the white plate appetizers were going to arrive shortly. How come I don't get an appetizer for the blue plate special? And what the fuck is in the blue plate special?"

Eugene bursts out laughing again. "She doesn't know, Alexander?"

"Know what?" I screeched. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," Xander chuckled. "You won't like the appetizer we are going to get for the white plate special, trust me."

"I wish I could, but you guys get to eat first. I'm starving." I exclaimed, dramatically.

"Oh don't you worry, we'll be quick with our appetizers, very quick." Xander assured.

"Yes, Marisa, I'm very hungry. I'll be sure to finish quickly, just for you." Eugene assured as well.

"Thank you. I am starving." I told them. "But you didn't tell me what's in the blue plate special, and what's in the white plate special?"

"It's a surprise. I'm sure you will love it." Xander explained, making me feel wary again. What was going on here?

"I see," I said, not sure what else to say. This was one fucked up restaurant. Surely they charged a fortune, too.

I was also getting weird vibes sitting here.

All of a sudden the sound of loud hydraulics overtook our ears. "What's going on?" I yelled towards Xander.

"Our appetizers are coming!" he yelled back.

"How, the door didn't slide open, no one's come in with food!" I yelled back.

"It's all electronic here, Marisa! Our meals will be arriving via technology in the form of a lift from the underground, where they prepare everything!" Xander explained.

"No shit!" My jaw dropped. "Fucking crazy!"

"I love this girl!" Eugene laughed. "She's special!"

"That she is my friend!" Xander rejoiced. "Now enough about that, are you ready Eugene, just like I explained before?"

"I'm ready, have been even before you arrived!" Eugene answered.

"Ready for what, and how?" I asked, confused. What the hell were these guys talking about? How do you get ready to eat food?

"No need to worry about that, Marisa. Our appetizers are a few seconds from arriving from underneath the table!" Xander explained.

"Really?" I kicked underneath the table, my feet hitting a board. The lift must be inside of it.

This technology was crazy. I was so out of my element, it was unbelievable. I never knew they could do this shit. The most technologically advanced place I ever ate at was at the drive through.

The loud hydraulics stopped, but then the table began to shake. I heard something moving up, then a tiny gadget opening.

"They're bringing it up now, right in front of me and Eugene." Xander said.

"What did they give you?" I asked.

They didn't answer, instead all of a sudden I felt steam fall from the ceiling. It smelt like strawberries again.

"Shit, that steam thing is coming over us again. We're going to smell like strawberries when we leave here." I said, flabbergasted, waving my hand through open dark space, feeling the warm steam swim around my body.

It could be worse. Smelling like strawberries wasn't the worst thing in the world to smell like. I'd smell nice and fruity.

"Hey, this is fun!" I exclaimed.

"I'm glad you think so." Xander breathed. "We're just about to enjoy our appetizers. We'll be done really quickly."

"Okay...." I said, warily. "You can take your time you know, don't rush on my account. I can wait, it's not a problem."

"Oh no, Marisa. We wouldn't want you to wait because we couldn't be quick enough. Don't worry, we'll be quick with our time." Eugene assured.

"You see there's no problem, Marisa." Xander added.

"Okay...." I said, warily again. These guys were making me feel weird. What was going on? How could two men make eating appetizers feel so sketchy?

The table stopped shaking. It's so dark in here I couldn't see anything, but thankfully a few seconds later a small light dimmed on the wall. It got brighter by the second, showcasing shadows of trees and monkeys.

What the fuck!

"What the fuck is that?" I screeched staring at the shadow version of a jungle, displayed all over the wall. "Where are they projecting that from?"

"It's part of the package," Xander explained. "Now hush, it's about to begin. Right Eugene?"

"Oh yes, it is beginning." Eugene breathed.

Huh?

Why'd he answer like that? Like he was almost out of breath? I couldn't see what was actually going on, the only thing any of us could see were the shadows on the walls.

All of a sudden opera music began playing.

"Hey I know who this is.... that famous opera guy." I said, swaying my body to the music.

"Yes, that's right. That famous opera guy." Xander breathed hard.

What the fuck was going on?

Why'd he answer like he was out of breath again?

We were sitting, and last I checked, you didn't lose your breath while sitting.

"Isn't this your favourite song by that famous opera guy, Alexander?" Eugene chuckled over the rising volume. The music filled every inch of the room.

"That it is Eugene, I could listen to Pavarotti all day and night." Xander chuckled, again breathily.

You'd think they were running in a race by the way they sounded.

What the fuck?

What's going on with these guys?

And why was the music gradually getting louder.

We couldn't talk normally with the music on this loud.

"Is there a remote in here?" I yelled over the loud instrumentals.

Nobody answered, which was odd. I stretched my arm out hoping to feel Xander's shoulder. When my hand felt his shoulder, it shook as if he was laughing hysterically, but I heard no laughing right now.

"What's going on in here? Xander, why are you shaking?" I yelled over the music.

This time Xander bursts out laughing. "I'm shaking, because I'm laughing, Marisa, geez, can't a guy enjoy his appetizer without disturbance?"

"An excellent appetizer by the way!" Eugene added loudly, his voice slightly vibrating.

I eyed the dark space where they were sitting warily, something really wasn't right. "This isn't fair, you guys get to eat appetizers first. You're clearly enjoying it, and I'm fucking starving!" I yelled, exasperated, even though I told them to take their time.

"Soon!" Xander answered.

"Yes, very soon!" Eugene answered right after.

"Soon what?" I yelled, confused as hell.

"Soon!" Xander yelled.

"Yes.... soon!" Eugene followed.

I cringed at the sound of their voices. If I didn't find out what was going on, things were going to get physical.

All of a sudden the music turned off, and the sound system started playing loud jungle music that consisted of drums, leaves rustling, with monkeys and elephants screaming.

"It's like we're at Jungle Jungle Cafe!" I rejoiced loudly.

"Except this isn't a family restaurant." Xander chuckled, not out of breath.

"No, it is not." Eugene snickered.

The jungle music stopped and RnB music began playing.

"Okay...." I said, warily. "Interesting choice of music they have here."

"I kind of like it." Xander exhaled.

"Yes, it's soothing, especially after our appetizers." Eugene said. The sound of hydraulics overtook our ears again.

"They're taking your bowls away?" I asked in Xander's direction.

"Yes, they are being taken back downstairs." Xander answered. "That was good."

Eugene sighed, sounding content. "Yes, it was as you described it to be Alexander. I'll never doubt you again."

Xander chuckled. "Trust that you don't my friend. I always tell the truth."

I snorted. "Pulease! You don't tell the truth all the time. You're a natural born liar!"

Eugene bursts out laughing. "Oh Alexander, she really is a firecracker!"

Xander chuckled back. "Didn't I tell you Eugene."

"Whatever," I snarled. "Anyways, what the fuck did you guys end up eating?"

"Chicken noodle soup." Xander answered and my jaw dropped.

What a crock of shit!

"I like chicken noodle soup! How come you said I wouldn't like your appetizer? This is bullshit! Why would you think I wouldn't like chicken noodle soup?" I yelled, exasperated.

Eugene bursts out laughing again. "She's got you there, Alexander. Care to explain to your trusted little sidekick why she was denied one of the most delicious appetizers I've ever had in my life."

Xander exhaled loudly. "As always Eugene, not one to make the problem go away, but enforce it to a point where I see nowhere else to turn."

"Speak English!" I ordered them. "Fucking hell, you guys are weird!"

Both of them laughed again.

The sound of hydraulics took over the room again, blaring over the music easily. This time however, since I knew what the sounds meant, I was jumping with joy.

"Fuck yeah! Our meals are coming, right?" I yelled over at Xander.

"They are," Xander yelled back. "You'll know what you're eating with the first bite."

"It better not be anything nasty, or else, I'm warning you guys now, I may puke." I declared.

Eugene bursts out laughing again. "Oh my word, she's hilarious, my stomach is in turmoil from all the laughter. Alexander, bring her around more often."

"That's the plan." Xander chuckled.

I snorted. "I'm not your guys' entertainment!"

"Correction, you're my entertainment, and since Eugene and I work together, I'm sharing." Xander explained.

"Is that all you guys share? Things just got a little more interesting." I sneered.

"What did you mean by that?" Eugene asked seriously. "Alexander, what did she mean by that?"

Okay, what just happened?

This guy just got all serious.

"Oh nothing, Eugene, she meant nothing by it." Xander explained, laughing him off. "She was referring to our meals, weren't you, Marisa?"

There was only one answer to that question, the way Xander was hinting in his voice.

"Of course, sharing food, sharing is caring." I answered, unsure if everything would be all right again with that answer.

Eugene bursts out laughing again. "Well, I'm not sharing my meal. I'm famished!"

I slumped into my seat, sighing in relief that I dodged that bullet. But then again, why was EUGENE getting bent out of shape over a little comment about sharing.

I was just joking...sort of.

I mean, he had a wife (his Celeste), so obviously it's nothing sexual.

Or... was it?

Who knew what they have planned afterwards? All I knew was, if it was anything dirty or nasty, or involving fondling genitals, I wasn't in. Whether I owed Xander or not, there was a line and I wasn't going to cross it.

Good thing we were at a restaurant, as they couldn't do any sexual shit here. Adding to that, we were in a confined space, and we had to eat in the dark.

I was good for now.

The sound of hydraulics stopped and I felt the table vibrate.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Xander said. "Dig in."

"It's here?" I asked, licking my lips. I was so hungry.

"Delicious, Alexander, you didn't say that they served Chicken a la Gordon. The last time I ate this was at this tiny bistro in Old Montreal. My mouth is watering from the smell." Eugene gushed.

"You got chicken in the white plate special?" I asked Xander.

"Yes, it's a specialty here, on old French classic." Xander explained. "Enough talking, I'm famished. Dig in, Marisa."

"I want fucking chicken, too!" I groaned. "I'm scared, what if I got something nasty?"

"I doubt that." Xander said.

I leaned over my area on the table, looking down in the dark at the spot where there was supposed to be food. I reached down with one finger and it collided into a soft circular surface.

"Bread!" I screeched. I patted the top and then traveled around it. I bent over the plate and took a giant whiff. A meaty smell overtook me, making me happy. "It's a fucking hamburger!"

I patted the rest of the plate and sure enough, there were chunky fries resting beside it. "And fries!"

"Congratulations." Xander muttered, sounding unimpressed.

"Hey, how would you feel if your first meal out of the joint was a hamburger and fries? I've been eating shit food for the last three weeks!" I yelled, grabbing my burger, opening it up and making sure the condiments were to my liking. There was lettuce and pickles and a tomato in it. I flung the tomato off and searched for a ketchup bottle, and sure enough I found it by my plate.

There is a god!

"The joint?" Eugene stuttered, apprehensively.

Xander laughed him off. "She has trouble with words, Eugene. She meant diet. Right Marisa, you've been on a diet for three weeks and you're finally having that burger you've been craving for almost a month?"

I eyed their direction warily.

What was going on?

Every time Eugene got a little freaked out by what I said, even though I swore like a sailor, my story needed to be quickly changed just to accommodate his distress.

For the second time, too.

I'd answer the way Xander wanted, for now. But I was going to get some answers later.

"That's right, a diet. I'm fucking starving. All I've been eating is salad this past month." I explained.

"I see." Eugene breathed.

"Anyways, no more talking from me, I'm digging in." I declared and picked up my burger. I took a huge bite and almost fainted as every taste bud in my mouth came alive. It was that good.

It's so yummy.... It makes me want to cry.

*~*~*

"Hey, you've got some explaining to do." I bumped my shoulder into Xander's on our way back to his building from the restaurant. After eating the most delicious, well deserved hamburger, dinner came to an end and Eugene bid his farewell first. Xander paid the bill by telling them to charge it to his account and we left shortly after Eugene did. I didn't even know what the guy looked like. He was a strange guy, laughing loudly one minute, then the next second all serious.

Xander knew some strange people, me included.

I was strange, I knew it and he knew it, too.

But you know what, I was proud of it.

"Eugene is a private man." Xander explained. "You'd do well to take note of that for yourself. Keep the fact that you've spent three weeks in prison to yourself. Most people wouldn't be as forgiving as I was. They'd look at you as a felon."

"Fuck that shit. I'm not happy or proud that I went to prison, but it was only for three weeks." I snapped.

"Thanks to me you were only there for three weeks, could have been much longer." Xander smirked.

"That sentence was a total crock of shit, taken completely out of order, and exaggerated for no reason." I snapped.

"You scratched a police officer's face off." Xander smirked again.

"That wasn't my fault. He put his face in front of my fingers!" I snapped again.

"Right." Xander said.

My eyes bugged out. "I'm not a felon!"

"Okay, whatever you say, geez the slammer changed you." Xander chuckled.

I scowled at him and slid down the seat so that I was nestled closely to the door, far away from him.

"I thought you were cold?" Xander grinned, his fingers dancing towards me along the seat. I slapped them away.

"Don't fucking touch me, bitch. And I'm not cold anymore." I crossed my arms, rubbing my bare arms. There was a strong wind tonight and it wasn't a warm one. I came out tonight in only the dress with no cover up. Getting inside the car, Xander offered to keep me warm. I sat closer than necessary as the car heated.

Now, I knew that was a bad idea.

"Are we going back?" I asked, looking out the window as Daniels drove us through downtown Toronto.

"Are we going back home you mean?" Xander smirked.

"You know what I mean." I groaned.

"You're going back home. I have some place I need to be that takes precedence for the rest of the evening." Xander said, taking out his phone.

I snorted. "Oh really. Let me guess, one of your side pieces called you up and offered to spread her legs, free of charge?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Side pieces? I don't call my women that. I prefer ladies in waiting."

My eyes rolled. "Whatever you want to call them, I hope they're at least getting paid."

"Why would I need to pay to have sex?" Xander scowled.

I shook my head and looked away. "I don't know."

"Look at me." Xander ordered, grabbing my arm, pulling me around. "Do I look like I need to pay for pussy?"

"Maybe." I smirked. "You are kind of freaky. Maybe most women don't like that kind of shit."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Trust me, there's more than enough women that love doing the things that I do. A long line, baby."

I yanked my arm out of his grasp. "Do whatever the fuck you want to do with your long lines of fucked up women."

"Oh I see," Xander nodded, as if he just understood something. "You're jealous that I'm leaving to spend time with other women."

My jaw dropped. "Jealous?"

"It's okay, I understand completely. Not spending enough time with me does warrant jealousy. You've been without me for weeks and now that I'm by your side, you don't want to let me go." Xander grinned.

My arm shot up in response and my middle finger jerked upwards, right in his face. "You see that mother fucker, you see that?"

He grinned. "It's right in my face, it's kind of hard not to."

"You know what this means? It was means go fuck yourself with your whole 'I'm jealous' scenario." I hissed.

He cocked an eyebrow. "I did,"

"You did what?" I hissed again.

Xander reached out and easily lowered my arm. "As in, I did. I had a release before leaving tonight."

"What?" I stared in horror at his hand over my arm and then yanked it out of his grasp. "Get your nasty ass hands off of me!"

"Hey, you're the one who brought it up." Xander smirked, shaking his head. "Let me explain a few things about a man's need to ejaculate daily. In my case, I need two or three releases a day, or else."

"Or else what?" I cringed.

"I become angry Xander." he said. "Ever see the movie 'The Shining'?"

"Yeah."

"Then you know now, not to ever deprive me of a well-deserved jerk and release." Xander eyed me sternly. "Got it?"

"Okay...." I jerked me chin back, confused.

Why was he telling me this?

If he wanted to do his thing in private without ever telling me about it, I was just fine with that, in fact I preferred that.

He probably thought this was information I needed to know, because I was his eternal servant. "Don't worry boss, you ever get that close to losing it because you haven't spilled your load, I'll have porno's ready at your disposal."

I took my phone out of my clutch. "Now what kind of porno's did you say you liked jerking off to again?"

I pretended to tap keys on my phone. "Oh how about these, 'Biker Bob and His Panty Fetish' or 'Big Bertha and the Mount Cockinu Quest'? You choose the one's you like, and I'll have them ready to go when you start getting the shivers, okay? What a delicate little man you are." I grinned at him.

Xander narrowed his eyes at me as he reached inside his pocket. He took out a key and black card and held them out for me. "Take these."

"What are they?" I eyed his open palm.

"This is the key to your condo, and this is the key card for the front entrance." Xander explained, looking out the window. "I'm going out now."

I took the items from him. "Is that code for get out?"

"Yes." he said dryly.

I snorted, shaking my head. "Shit, you weren't lying when you said you get cranky when you need a release."

"I'm waiting." Xander muttered, eyeing me and the door impatiently.

"Alright, I'm leaving." I smirked. I got out of the car, but before shutting the door, I decided to send him off with a few choice words.

"Remember, when big John wants to shove his hard dick up your ass, to spread those cheeks as wide as possible, okay!" I yelled.

His jaw dropped and I slammed the door shut, running inside the building before he decided to jump out and seek revenge.

Yes. Yes, I did do that in public.

When I made it inside an elevator, knowing I was safe from his fury, I burst out laughing.

That's what he got for kicking me out of a warm car just so he could go and get his dick sucked a few seconds faster.

I couldn't believe that guy. The only good thing about tonight was the burger and that I got a key to the condo.

Hopefully the only key.

Once I was inside my condo, I changed into pajamas and turned on my laptop, checking Facebook. There were no new comments on my page, probably because everyone thought my page was still inactive, or maybe there was a glitch in the system. I checked Ben's page and scowled when I saw that he was tagged in some new pictures by 'Reilly'.

"Who the fuck is this bitch?" I muttered at the screen as I opened the photos. The first photo popped up, it was of 'Reilly' in a light pink tight sleeveless dress with a few other people standing outside a building. One of those people was Ben and his arm was around her waist.

"Shit." I muttered sadly, not knowing why. He could do whatever he wanted, he was a free man, and had been for a while now. I had no right to be pissed, even though I was. I shut the laptop, not caring if I scratched it. I turned off the lights, got in my new bed, and was ready to go to sleep.

No more thinking for tonight...I shut my eyes and.....a cloud took me... "I have to go." I yelled across the pathway at them. Dad quickly waved goodbye, mom looked away.

Whatever.

"You're just going to leave without saying goodbye?" Ben said behind me, making me jerk in surprise.

I turned around to face him. "Yeah, I have to get to work you know. My boss is coming back early and I'm sure he has plenty of work for me to do."

"I'm sure." Ben murmured, looking back at me accusingly. The ground began to shake, and Gwen's hedges grew a foot taller, surrounding us completely. After a moment, a sad song began playing again from the hedges.

"Did you do this?" I pointed to the hedges.

He shook his head. "Why would I want to be alone with you, while that song plays?"

I gulped. "Isn't this our song?"

He shook his head again. "It was our song. Not anymore."

My eyes felt watery. I quickly wiped them. "Not anymore? Did you ever even like the song?"

"Who said I don't like the song anymore? I love this song." Ben sneered, looking away right as Reilly stepped into his embrace.

"It's our song now." Reilly smirked, leaning in to kiss Ben. They kissed for a few seconds before facing me again. Reilly cocked an eyebrow, shaking her head.

"Aren't you pathetic?" She snickered. "He's my man now. He's done with losers like you."

She turned to Ben, laughing loudly. He joined her, also laughing loudly.

"You really are a loser, Marisa!" he yelled. "Always. Never forget that baby."

Tears streamed down my face all of a sudden. "I'm not a loser!" I yelled at them as they continued to laugh.

"I'm not a loser!" I yelled again as they turned, walking away, his arm around her waist. "I'm not a loser!"

"I'm not a loser." I stammered, feeling dizzy all of a sudden, feeling my body sway drunkenly. The sky turned dark. A giant dark cloud was quickly engulfing all the white ones, growing larger by the second.

"No." I gasped as the dark cloud got closer, slowly consuming the backyard, before hovering over top my face as an evil grin... and my eyes snapped open as I screamed. "No!"

"No." I panted once more, holding a hand over my racing heart. Blinking a few times, I grabbed parts of my new bed, reintroducing reality to myself.

"It was just a dream." I whispered to myself, gulping once. I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet lid, trying to calm my breathing. "What a fucked up dream."

I washed my face with shaky hands before exiting the bathroom. I checked the time on my phone. It was just after midnight. I didn't want to go back to sleep, not after that nightmare. I needed to calm down before I even thought about going back to sleep.

What I needed was a drink.

### CHAPTER 6

MARISA

Don't cry! I ordered myself as I perched over the counter in a bar called 'The Round View'. This was where I headed right after waking up from that horrible nightmare.

And now, I was on drink number five, which included four shots of Vodka and my current drink, a cranberry vodka concoction.

I was smart you see.

I wasn't going to mix alcohols, and I'd do that by only sticking to vodka tonight.

Things were getting a little blurry and I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. If this fucking bar wasn't as packed as it was, someone would have noticed that I was not 'good' and would have tried to help me.

Talk to me, come on to me, try to sleep with me. Damn it, why did this bar have to be so busy tonight? I mean I knew it was Friday, but couldn't a girl get some love, some attention at least.

Shit.

Sometimes I wished I had a dick. It would have made this 'life' thing much easier. You know who was having it easy?

Ben was.

That asshole was probably laying back and getting his dick sucked by that skank who kept calling me a loser in my nightmare.

Fucking bitch! She's lucky I was nice Marisa in my nightmare.

I slumped further down, my face inches away from the wooden counter.

"Miss!" The bartender yelled at me, making me jerk upwards.

"Yeah?" I narrowed my eyes at the blonde bartender.

"You okay?" he asked, smiling.

I smiled back. Finally, someone gave a shit. "Yeah, I'm cool. Can I have some water please?"

"Sure thing."

He slid over a cup of ice water with a lime in it.

That was nice of him. I tipped him five dollars for it, even though the water was free. He's working hard tonight, he deserved a little extra, but then again, I've already tipped him over twenty bucks.

God I was generous.

And kind.

And amazing.

So why the fuck was I always alone?

I was always fucking alone, always.

I was so alone, a fucking hermit crab would probably try and give me advice. 'Get your shit together before you end up all alone and die!'

I laughed imagining it.

"Keep your voice down, you almost turned me deaf, bitch!" A girl screeched beside me. My eyebrows shot up, surprised that someone actually had the gall to speak to me like that. Even though I was drunk, it wasn't a good idea to speak to me like I was shit. I slowly twisted my neck to my right to eye my accuser.

And just as suspected. She was indeed a fat angry bitch.

"What are you looking at, lesbo?" she snapped, giving me a once over, flicking her ugly, dyed bright red hair to the side.

I smiled at her, relieved.

I needed this.

It was as if someone up there was listening and sent me a target to have fun with and explore my creative side.

You know the kind that burned.

"Stop looking at me like that, you dumb stupid bitch!" She sneered, eyeing her skanky friends, who were wearing barely any clothing. Maybe they came here to find some work, you never know these days, the economy wasn't what it was a few years ago. Her friends came here to find work, but what about big thunder here, what kind of work did she think she was going find here?

I didn't even care about that. The way she was looking at me, it was really, really, making me mad.

I cracked my neck once and began singing my magic. "I think I know what the problem here is."

She cocked her insanely thin black eyebrow and placed her hand to her hip. "Oh really?"

"Yeah," I told her, and then drank some water before continuing with a 'straight' face. "You're still bitter about that time five years ago when you were kicked out of 'The Golden Geese Goose' for over eating their little breakfast buffet thing at five in the morning. I probably look like one of the managers that kicked you out and you're taking years of pent up anger and resentment out on me."

Her jaw dropped, eyeing her friends in confusion, but I could see she kind of got it by the way her face started turning red.

Feel the burn bitch, feel that hot, sweaty burn. There's more where that came from, because I was just getting started.

This was going to be fun.

My way that is.

"Bitch, do I look like a fucking manager to you?" I slurred.

"What?" she screeched angrily, now bright red, matching her nasty ass hair.

It's working!

"Well that's gotta be the only reasonable, only logical explanation why you are being a fucking bitch to me!" I snapped, jumping off my stool to stand in front of her.

"Hey, no fighting in here!" The bartender warned.

"Like I could take jumbo here down. I'd crack a rib!" I slurred loudly as laughter ignited around me. Yeah I low blowed her, but fuck, she started it.

I was the innocent one.

She's the evil one.

Really, honest to God.

"You better shut your mouth, tardo!" she warned, taking a step closer to me. She was so angry, she started shaking.

Success!

I grinned sloppily at her. "And you better think next time before wanting to take your shit out on someone who had nothing to do with that buffet banning you for life. Bitch, I know it said all you can eat, but damn! I wasn't even there and I can feel it in my bones that you tore that place apart, no food left in sight. It must have been so sad." I sniffled at the end, igniting a higher volume of laughs from the spectators.

"You better shut the fuck up! I will fuck you up bitch!" she warned, itching closer. "I'm warning you!"

I snorted. "Like I'm scared of you. Bitch, the only person who would ever be scared of you, would be the pizza delivery boy! For two reasons, pizza and dick!"

Everyone around us laughed even louder. Even I busted out a few chuckles. That last line...that was good one. You know who didn't think it was a good one, the very angry girl in front of me.

"No fighting!" the bartender yelled again.

Why was he saying that again?

It's not like I was going to hit her. For one, I wasn't that stupid, she'd kill me.

"I'm not going to _" I began to say to the bartender but was abruptly interrupted when a chunky ass hand slapped my face, sending me flying into a row of stools.

Oh my God that hurt! I thought as I peeled my face off the metal base of one stool on the floor.

"Take that, bitch!" she screeched out joyously.

Yeah, that wasn't going to work for me.

"What you call me, crack whore?" I groaned, getting up and wiping blood off my forehead. Thank God I changed into a black shirt and jeans.

Fuck! That's going to leave a mark.

I wiped the blood on my jeans and faced the yeti.

She sneered, positioning herself to fight, fists up. "Learned your lesson, lesbo?"

Awe, she's so cute.

Didn't she know anything about physics, the bigger you are, the harder you fall. I did my version of the roadrunner and slammed myself into her. My arms encircled her waist as we tumbled backwards.

She broke my fall and it was like landing on a fluffy mattress.

Yay, this is fun!

"She's killing me!" she screeched dramatically at the top of her lungs. I pushed myself up into a sitting position and slapped her across her face, making ripples. I should have made a wish.

I wish for world peace.

Before I could get another hit in, I felt a hand grab my hair and pull it back. I screamed in pain. Another hand grabbed my hand, stopping me from hitting her. I got a look at my attackers and it was her friends, screaming and cursing at me, while trying to hit me at the same time.

That wasn't going to work for me either. I yanked my arm out of skank two's hold and then hit her in the cooch. She jerked back in pain, falling backwards over a chair showing the entire bar that she wore no underwear.

"Should have worn underwear bitch, could have been a shield for you." I laughed loudly.

Skank number one still had her nasty ass hands jerking my hair back, moving me off a very disgruntled, now very disturbed and emotional damaged red head.

She should have known better. You never, ever, mess with the drunken sad girl in jeans and a t-shirt, drinking at the bar by herself. Jeans and a t-shirt, if that wasn't fighting gear, than I didn't know what was.

I was yanked off her completely, but I had the power of my legs to help me now. I turned around and punched this bitch in her stomach. Her bear claw released my hair as she screamed in pain.

"Ahhh, did I make a boo – boo for you, so sorry....NOT!" I rejoiced.

"Stop fighting!" the bartender yelled.

"I'm not fighting, they're fighting! They hit me first!" I glanced around the room at the crowds of happy and amazed faces. It was drinks and fights tonight, courtesy of moi.

I bowed quickly and then made a run for it, exiting the bar.

"Hey you can't just leave, come back! Somebody get her!" One of the skanks yelled as the front door closed behind me. It was a good thing Xander's building was conveniently located right beside the bar, taking me less than twenty seconds to jog over. I laughed as I made my way into the building's lobby, ducking my head down to hide my wound, making my way to the elevators.

I hurried inside an elevator cart and slumped backwards into the railing on the way to the fifteenth floor, panting and chuckling to myself.

That was fun!

Still going to hell though.

*~*~*

As soon as I entered my room, I headed to the bathroom inside my bedroom and yanked off my clothes. I stood in just my black lace underwear and matching bra, examining my injuries.

My shirt and jeans had blood all over them, but I'd have to try and get the blood off after I fixed the wound on my head. I grabbed a towel and pressured it against the wound, but then all of sudden, I felt dizzy. I knelt beside the bed, pressing my head against the mattress.

Shit was getting real right now.

I felt pain everywhere, especially my head since I was wounded in actually three places there, my cheek, my forehead and the back of skull.

I breathed slowly, trying to calm myself. The quiet of the room helped zone out the pain. It was so quiet in the room I didn't hear when someone had walked in.

"What's going on in here?" a familiar voice demanded. I turned my head slightly and a tall figure stood in between the doorway. "Marisa?"

That's when I noticed who it was.

Sparkling, but mad blue eyes.

"Liam?" I murmured unsure, squinting.

Shit!

"What happened?" he snapped, dumping his bag on the ground and hurrying to me. My heart pounded like crazy as he knelt beside me, touching my skin. "Turn around slowly."

I did as he said, not caring that my bra was all lace and that he could probably see my nipples.

Oh well.

"What happened?" he asked again softly, examining my wound.

"I got into a fight at the 'The Round View' bar, the one nearby." I groaned, closing my eyes. The bright light of the room was really bothering me now. "Can you turn off the lights, they're bothering me."

"No," he growled. "You got into a fight at a bar?"

"Yes," I answered timidly. Shit, I hoped his family didn't own that place, too. He's going to think I disrespected his establishment. "You guys don't own that bar, right?"

"When?" he demanded, ignoring my question.

"Like twenty minutes ago." I muttered, opening my eyes again.

"And nobody tried to help you?" His eyes widened, looking furious.

"No," I answered, then slurred out the rest of my answer. "But it wasn't a fight where I needed help. Because... I took that bitch out!"

He gaped. "Are you drunk?'

"Maybe." I giggled, hiccupping. Maybe that's why I got all dizzy, because of the booze and the hits to my forehead. My brain was off for the night, maybe even for tomorrow night, too. Which was not good, because I needed my brain tomorrow.

Sigh...too bad there wasn't someone I could depend on to help snap me out of this state.

Eying Liam suggestively, I bit my lip. "Are you going to take care of me, Liam?"

His eyes widened at my sultry tone. "What? You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" I smiled at him, crawling on to the bed and lying down with the towel on my head. "Why are you in my room anyways?"

"Your room, darling? This is my room." he grumbled, getting off the ground. I heard him go into the bathroom, then the mattress depressed. His warm hands grasped my shoulders, turning me towards him.

"Hey!" I groaned. "I'm trying to heal here!"

"Shut it!" he barked, putting a wet towel on my forehead. "The wound isn't that deep, but it's going to take some time before it heals."

"And you're the expert on wounds healing, considering the way you and Xander fight. I'm surprised your face isn't plagued with scars, but you're lucky, your face is perfect." I told him softly, my hand reaching up to caress the side of his face. Surprisingly he dipped his face into my palm, allowing me to hold him, feel him. "You're taking care of me Liam? That's nice of you."

"You're drunk," he stated softly, jerking his face back. "You can have the room. I'll leave."

"No!" I yelled and he stopped in between the doorway. "Don't leave me. I don't want to be alone tonight."

"What do you want me for?" he turned and asked, warily.

"Take care of me. That's it. I'm not asking much, am I?" I whimpered, pouting to him. I could see him greedily scour my body with his beautiful blue eyes, hungrily, as if he were in pain.

"You like what you see, Liam?" I lifted my leg towards him. He walked over and took my leg, caressing the skin with the tips of his rough fingers.

"You're drunk Marisa. Your wound is clean. Just go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning." Liam said, lowering my leg back down.

"You don't want this?" I pushed my hips up. "I know you want this."

"Who wouldn't?" He smirked, shaking his head. He leaned down and whispered. "Go to sleep, baby."

He kissed me on the forehead, and caressed the side of my jaw before turning the lights off, closing the door and leaving me to instant sleep.

*~*~*

"Wake up!" Xander laughed, lightly tugging a strand of my hair.

Ugh... so much for having the only key.

I groaned loudly in pain. "Don't do that!"

"I've been thinking." Xander started. "Tonight after dinner, we should have a pajama party."

"Fuck off." I muttered into the pillow.

"I'll wear my tight black boxers and you can wear this little number again, unwashed. Then because you're a good little girl, you'll give uncle Xander a turn with your delectable undergarments." Xander chuckled.

"You're disgusting and that's not going to happen." I replied nonchalantly. I'd heard all this shit before from him and it didn't affect me as much anymore. I was becoming immune to his speech. His power lay in his words, and his ability to shock people with them.

"We'll see." Xander murmured. "By the way, your boobies look fucking uh-mazing in that lace bra, my compliments to Maria. Her taste as always is divine."

"That would probably be the closest thing to a compliment that's ever going to come out of your mouth, that's not completely disgusting. So, thank you." I said then cringed after brushing my fingers over my wound.

"You hurt yourself last night?" Xander murmured, caressing my forehead. I wasn't all there right now, so I didn't fight his touch since it was in innocent territory.

For now at least.

"Yeah, got into a fight last night at 'The Round View' bar." I explained.

"Oh really, well I'll have to go there later and ask for a recording. Knowing you, it was probably entertaining. Then again, you're not supposed to be fighting; it's violating the agreement my lawyer made with the judge handling your case. But tell me now, who won?" Xander grinned.

"Who do you think won?" I countered, eying him.

"My trusted little sidekick that's who!" Xander yelled joyously. "I knew I picked well, choosing you as my closest confidant, my most beloved ally for a reason. There's no job, no task you can't do, no obstacle that you can't take down with your own bare hands."

"Yeah, something like that. Can you close the curtains and go away, I want to sleep." I said, tucking myself back into the pillow.

"Absolutely not! It's two in the afternoon." Xander exclaimed.

"So what if it's two in the afternoon. I'm a free bird. I can sleep in if I want to." I mumbled into my pillow.

"Agent M," Xander smirked. "I'm calling you in tonight again. You better be on your best game tonight."

"I'll be good for tonight. Let me sleep." I groaned.

"Darling, you've got five hours to get ready." Xander explained.

"I can get ready in two. There, happy? Now let me sleep." I groaned again.

"What about the wound? How are you going perform with a big gash on your forehead?" Xander asked.

"It's fine, you should have seen it before, it was much worse. Thankfully, with the room mix up, all was good." I muttered into my pillow.

"What are you talking about?" Xander asked, sounding confused.

"You said no one used this condo, but this is Liam's room. You put me in his room." I explained.

"What are you talking about? Liam never takes rooms on the fifteenth floor anywhere, that's my territory. His territory is on the sixteenth. After I bought my condo's here, older brother decided he wanted one too, but he bought his a floor higher. It's his lucky number." Xander explained. "He was really in here?"

"Yeah, I guess I forgot to lock the door. He cleaned my wound for me." I explained. The bed bounced and all of a sudden Xander pushed me on to my back, pinning my arms down while straddling me.

"Did he see you in lingerie?" His eyes widened, looking furious.

"Yeah, I had blood on my clothes, why?" I squinted through sunshine. "Close the fucking curtains!"

"I'm the only one allowed to see you in this!" Xander growled.

My eyes rolled. "Fuck off, you're not my man! You're just my 'best friend', sort of."

"He's not allowed to see you like this, only I am. You belong to me!" Xander fumed.

"I belong to no one. Now get the fuck off of me before I have you arrested for sexual assault, you bastard! Or, before I kick you in the balls!" I snapped.

He jumped off the bed and adjusted his shirt, then turned around and adjusted something else.

"Liam is not who you think he is. Stay away from him and don't talk to him." Xander demanded.

"Why?"

"Because, he's out to get me. He thinks he can get information out of you by playing prince charming." Xander explained.

My eyes rolled. "He's out to get you how?"

Xander snorted. "Trust me, you wouldn't understand, but it's a little something called jealousy."

"I'm pretty sure he's not jealous of you. Why would he be jealous of you?"

"Because, I am a god, that's why." Xander grinned, closing the curtains. "You have a few hours to sleep, then I'll be back to prep you for tonight."

Xander exited the condo and I went back to sleep, pretending our conversation never happened.

But not before a few pressing thoughts plagued my mind.

Did I come on to Liam last night?

Shit... I did.

### CHAPTER 7

MARISA

After sleeping for a few more hours, I woke up around 5 p.m. with sweaty hair peeled against my face that smelled like shit. Taking a shower with a healing wound turned out to be more difficult than expected. Turned out, hot water and a head wound didn't go well together. In other words, it was absolute torture.

But I got through it. Barely.

After getting dressed, I covered the wound by wearing my hair down with the headband Xander gave me yesterday.

"You look cute tonight." Xander murmured next to me in the back seat of the SUV. We were on our way to his hotel for a 'special' dinner.

That's all the information I was given about tonight's event.

"Thanks." I eyed him warily, smoothing the skirt of my short sleeved, ivory cream dress.

"You look like a sexy Librarian." He smirked and then bit his lip, running his finger along the hemline. "Are you wearing anything special underneath?"

I slapped his finger away. "What difference does it make, it's not like you'll be seeing anything, anytime soon."

He grimaced, adjusting the cuff of his navy suit jacket. "What about the lingerie you wore this morning?"

I stifled a smile. "Oh those, I put them in the washing machine before showering."

His jaw dropped in horror. "Why?"

"They were dirty." I explained with a giant ass smile on my face.

"I can't believe you..." Xander hissed. He faced the window and shook his head slowly. "How could you?"

I chuckled. "They were really dirty."

"So!" Xander yelled, facing me again. "That's how I like them. Have you forgotten already?"

I laughed at his sullen expression.

"It's not funny!"

"You're right, it's not." I sighed.

"It's an outrage!" Xander roared.

Was he being serious?

"I'm too nice." Xander exclaimed, scowling at me.

I snorted. "You and I have two different definitions of what 'nice' means then."

He leaned in. "Oh, I know what nice means, and you're not it. You're mean."

My jaw dropped. "Fuck you, I'm not mean. I'm the nicest person you're ever going to meet."

"You're right actually, you're not mean." Xander sneered. "You're cruel."

I shrugged. "Surprisingly, I'm okay with that."

"We will be discussing this later." Xander promised.

"Sure, whatever." I shook my head at his over exaggeration. It wasn't funny anymore. "Anyways, I've been meaning to speak to you about all this."

He cocked an eyebrow. "What about all this?"

"I can't just go out with you any time you want. I need to find a job."

He waved me off. "You have a job. It's me."

I shook my head. "I need to make money."

He jerked his chin back. "Why? I've taken care of your accommodation and I'm also paying your phone bill and for your food."

I exhaled. "I need to have money saved after the year is over."

"Well, I was going to give you an allowance." Xander said.

My jaw dropped. "An allowance? Fuck you, I'm not your child."

He smirked. "Aren't you though?"

"Fuck no." I growled.

He sighed. "Whatever you'd like to call it, allowance or pay, I'm okay with that. As long you're available whenever I need you."

I snorted. "That's just great. I'm another version of a whore."

"That's a lie." Xander snorted.

"Excuse me?" I scowled.

"At the end of the day, a whore is still someone who spreads her legs at the end of the date or the beginning. You don't spread your legs, unfortunately. You're my companion, my most trusted ally and my trusted little sidekick." Xander explained.

"I'm too trusting." I sighed.

"I know, me too." Xander added in a similar tone.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's my pay?"

Xander smirked. "Well that depends, how much of a good girl you are."

"This is bullshit." I hissed.

"No, it's reality." He grinned. "You do Uncle Xander favours, proving his trust for you, a suitable reward will follow."

"It better. And it better be all legal, too. I'm not going to jail for you, mother fucker." I muttered.

He leaned forward and sneered right in my face. "Oh, really? Who got you out of jail, again?"

"Fine!" I snapped.

He leaned back, grinning. "Just reminding you, if it had not been for Moi, you wouldn't be here in this very comfortable environment."

"Comfortable environment?" I shrieked at him.

"That's right!" Xander declared smugly. "Your delectable bottom would have been in those nasty prison sweats, sitting by yourself on one of those flat cots, wondering how fast three months could go by."

Well shit, I was speechless again.

He leaned forward again and declared. "You owe me."

I gulped. "For a year."

"For a year." he repeated, leaning back, eying my dress again. "By the way, I really, really love that dress. Your legs look positively... delicious."

I shrugged, stifling a smile, remembering Liam all of a sudden. "I see, but maybe you're not the only who thinks my legs are delicious."

"Who?" he demanded to know. "Liam?"

"Maybe." I smirked, crossing my arms.

Boom!

He snorted. "Don't tell me, you like him?"

"He's nice." I grinned, smugly.

"He's not nice, I'm nice!" Xander hissed, pointing to himself.

"Okay, whatever you say." I cackled.

"Don't 'okay' me. You don't know Liam. He's not nice. Far from it."

"Why?"

"Why? You saw it with your own eyes. He was in my condo last night without my permission, snooping about."

"Why would he be snooping around your condo?"

"He's always looking for ammo to nail my coffin shut, once and for all." he explained bitterly.

"Why does he hate you?"

"He doesn't hate me, he loves me." Xander grinned and then burst out laughing. "Okay, that was a big fat lie. He can't stand that I have better ideas than he does. Growing up in our father's eyes, it was always him who was the serious one about the family business."

"And what were you in your father's eyes?"

Xander looked away, not answering.

"The party guy?" I guessed for him.

He looked back. "You could say that. Anyways, I became serious about the business six years ago and older brother didn't like that."

"Because that was supposed to be his thing?"

"He didn't like that all of a sudden, I was putting my nose in our family's business, even if my ideas were better."

"Ahhh, I get it, it's a spotlight issue. Who's going to get daddy's attention by doing the better job." I concluded.

"Bingo. That weekend, he thought he finally got me when he barged into my room with the three of you." Xander said.

"Didn't he? That night was really messy." I reminded, shivering at the memory.

"It was also in the privacy of my own room where he had no business being in. If there's one thing our father believes in, it's respecting the privacy of one another." Xander explained.

I cocked any eyebrow. "Oh really, is that a motto you follow, too?"

Xander smiled guiltily. "With my father and Liam, yes."

"And with others?"

"Then it's open season all year long." He grinned, wagging his eyebrows.

"Great," I rolled my eyes, sinking into my seat.

"Enough, this conversation depresses me." Xander groaned.

"Fine, what's on the agenda for tonight?"

"A special dinner at the hotel, my father is hosting it with his personal assistant and mistress, Cheryl. It's really a birthday party for her." Xander explained, crossing his legs.

My jaw dropped. "But he's... married."

"So he is." Xander shrugged.

"Does your mom know?" I gulped.

"She does." Xander nodded.

My eyes widened. "Doesn't she care?"

"I don't know!" Xander moaned, shaking his head. He took a deep breath and continued. "Anyways, let's discuss tonight's mission, Agent M. You have to hang around Eugene."

"Why do I have to hang around him?" I jerked my chin back, confused.

"Because it'll make him nervous." Xander smirked, his shoulders shaking next to me. "Did you notice he was off and on last night?"

"Yeah." I answered warily.

"Well there's a reason why. Before arriving to the restaurant last night, he took a special pill." Xander chuckled.

"Why'd he take it?" I grimaced.

Xander grinned. "Because I told him to."

I shook my head and slid closer to the door. Daniels pulled the SUV to a stop in front of the Ogall Hotel. Surprisingly, my door was opened first again.

"You told him to?" I asked Xander as he rounded car, joining me on the sidewalk.

"Yes, he expressed a desire to let loose and relax for an evening." Xander explained, buttoning his suit jacket.

My jaw dropped. "And you told him to take drugs?"

"Yeah." He shrugged as if there were no other answer.

"Why?" I screeched.

"Because, it had the desired effect he wanted. And now that I've scratched his back, he's going to scratch mine." Xander said.

"And me?"

Xander smiled slyly. "You were a witness to the after effects of his drug use. He'll realize that once I introduce you again to him."

"That's... mean." I told him as he grabbed my arm delicately, pushing us towards the doorman.

Xander burst out laughing. "That's mean? Look who's talking."

My jaw dropped as we entered the hotel. "Fuck you, I'm the nicest person you're ever going to meet."

We headed down the front lobby to their in house restaurant 'Fire'. In the back of the restaurant, we entered a private room filled with red roses and guests standing around bar style tables filled with an array of cocktails.

"That's your dad?" I whispered, noticing an older version of Xander and Liam wearing a black suit jacket over a white button down shirt. He was standing within a group of suits across the room.

"It is." Xander murmured, not taking his eyes of his father.

Standing beside his father was a tall woman with dark red hair and big boobs, grinning from ear to ear.

"That must be Cheryl." I noticed, staring at her giant jugs, which were out for full view in her tight black cocktail, spaghetti strapped dress.

"How observant of you. What gave her away?" Xander asked, leading us around groups of suits, smiling and saying hello every few seconds.

"Her jugs," I answered, fighting a smile. "They're massive."

"They are, just the way daddy dear likes them." Xander sneered.

"He's a boob man." I declared quietly.

Xander faced me and winked. "We all are." He bit his lip suggestively, making my face heat up.

We were in a room with his colleagues and he was acting like this.

Had he no shame?

Wait, this was Xander I was talking about. The answer was obvious.

Hell no, he had no shame!

"You're at a party with your colleagues, have some humility." I warned, bumping my shoulder into his.

"But it's too much fun, especially now that I know you're going to be around me all night. I don't think I can hold myself back." He smirked.

"If you don't stop that shit, I will say something nasty to your dad and Cheryl. I'll embarrass you." I threatened quietly.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Then I'll just have to punish you later, my way that is."

I snorted. "You could try, but you'd fail. You've met your match, Mr. Barns."

He grinned, tightening his grasp on my arm. "So it seems." He stared at me intensely until a deep voice broke through.

"Alexander!"

We glanced up, following the voice to Xander's father, who stared at us with a smile. "Excuse me gentleman." Xander's father said to the group of suits surrounding him, pulling Cheryl around her waist toward us.

"Father, how are you?" Xander shook his hand and then turned to kiss Cheryl on both her cheeks. "Happy birthday, Cheryl."

"Thank you, Alexander." she gushed, pouting her glossy pink lips.

"Who do we have here?" Xander's father asked, grinning and staring at me.

"Father, Cheryl, I'd like to introduce my personal assistant, Marisa Gellys." Xander introduced.

Not knowing what to do, I held out my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barns."

He laughed and shook my hand, eyeing Xander. "Alexander, you didn't mention your personal assistant was incredibly beautiful."

I felt my face heat up again as his hand squeezed mine.

Xander laughed back. "I've been keeping her a secret. She's my trusted little sidekick after all."

"Oh really?" Cheryl pursed her lips and cocked a thin black eyebrow. "How nice."

That was about as genuine as her lips. I smiled back nevertheless as I pulled my hand back and shook Cheryl's hand. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to say, Mr. Barns."

"Well father, Cheryl. I need to whisk Marisa away and introduce her to a few more people this evening." Xander said, pushing me away.

"Nice meeting you." I smiled at Mr. Barns and then to Cheryl, whose eyes narrowed on me.

"Why was Cheryl giving me weird looks?" I asked Xander once we were out of earshot.

"Oh, don't mind her. She wants my cock for her birthday." Xander explained, nonchalantly, making me stumble.

My eyes widened as his arm rounded my waist, stopping me from falling. "What? But she's your dad's mistress."

"She's been after my cock for the last two years, and she knows about my mom. Do you think she honestly cares?" Xander sneered. We came up to a group of men and women, standing around a table filled with a selection of desserts.

"Work time." he whispered.

He cleared his throat. "Eugene?" he called as we stood behind a short, round man who was balding. He wore a brown suit jacket and a pair of dark jeans.

Eugene turned around slowly, shoving the rest of a green macaroon into his mouth. "Alexander, you actually came."

"Don't I always." Xander smiled slyly, making my eyes roll at the dirty innuendo. I knew the second Eugene made that comment, Xander would have responded like that. "Eugene, I'd like to introduce my date for this evening, Marisa Gellys."

Eugene's brown eyes widened as he stalled chewing. He gulped and put his plate of tiny desserts down on the table. He held out a hand. "Nice to meet you again." he stuttered.

I smiled at him. "Nice to meet you again Eugene, or would you prefer, Mr. Franklin?"

"Please call me Eugene." He cringed and looked over my shoulder. "Will you look at that, Rompkins from accounting is here, if you'll excuse me."

"Of course." Xander said, moving out of the way. Eugene smiled nervously at us, then grabbed his plate and rushed away without another glance.

"What happened?" I asked Xander, staring at Eugene rushing across the room to a tall brunette man in a maroon suit. "I just asked him one question."

Xander chuckled. "You did more than that. That question reminded him of a few things he should have thought of last night, especially before swallowing the pill I'd sent for him."

"What else?"

"What do you mean?" Xander's eyes narrowed.

"You said a few things, but you just said one. What were the rest of the things he should have thought of before taking your drug?" I asked, eying the tiny desserts. My mouth was slobbering at the gorgeous sight of them. After eating nothing today, I was so fucking hungry.

"Drug is a harsh word for what I gave him. It was merely a relaxer. Anyways, what I meant was, his sense of responsibility was pushed to the back burner last night." Xander explained.

"Sure, whatever you say." I muttered, not caring anymore. The only thing I cared about were those beautiful cakes. They were calling at me to eat them. "I'm fucking starving."

"Awe, how rude of me. I should have fed you before." Xander exclaimed. But he was full of shit.

I snorted, glancing away from the desserts to his smirking face. "You would have fed me? You must have me confused with big titty Cheryl. Your cock wouldn't be a meal for me, hell, it wouldn't even count as a taster."

"And that's a damn shame." Xander smirked again and I bumped my shoulder into his shoulder.

"Stop being nasty. I'm about to eat." I smiled, reaching for a plate and loading it with a selection of goodies. I shoved a tiny Black Forest cake into my mouth and had to fight the urge to moan loudly from how delicious it was. Chocolate, cherry glaze, whip cream amazingness!

Xander sighed. "I'll leave you to your dessert gorging. I've got to make a few rounds in this room before I can sit comfortably without a care in the world and eat desserts."

"Oh," I muffled, chewing and gulping down the rest of my cake. "Were you looking for some words of empathy from me, big boss man? Because now's not really a good time."

His eyes narrowed at me. "Always the funny one Marisa, aren't you?"

"You're damn right I'm funny." I smirked, holding out my plate in his face before pointing it to the empty round bar table in front of us. "I'll be right here, eating, comfortably, without a care in the world. Alright, boss?"

"Remember," he said quietly. "You're on a mission."

"I remember." I told him. He nodded and walked away, joining a group of suits where he instantly had them laughing.

"He's the life of the party." I murmured to myself, picking up a green macaroon and examining it.

How do they make them green? I wondered when someone stopped right beside me and cleared her throat.

"Who's the life of the party?" a familiar voice asked.

I shoved the macaroon in my mouth, feeling my face heat at an unprecedented rate. I turned slowly, coming face to face with an overly pouty Cheryl.

"Hi." I gasped quietly, grabbing another green macaroon.

Her green eyes narrowed on me, giving me a death glare. "You and I, we need to talk."

I looked away and closed my eyes, groaning quietly. Not another fucking psychopath!

### CHAPTER 8

MARISA

"Excuse me?" I narrowed my eyes back at her, dropping the macaroon back on my plate.

She checked and made sure no one was around before facing me with a scowl. "What exactly do you think you're doing here?"

"I'm... eating... cake." I said slowly, pointing to my plate. "Cake is good."

Cheryl's face was turning beet red. "I know. I selected them and had them imported from 'Pearl's Bakery' just for my party. What I mean is, what the hell do you think you're doing here?"

Awe.... how cute. This dumb ass skank is trying to power play me.

I don't fucking think so...

I cleared my throat. "I like cake, a lot. I saw people at the dessert table filling their plates with cake. They like cake. I like cake. I grabbed a plate and took some cake for myself. I thought it was okay, because cake is great. Pink, green, red, any colour in the rainbow, I love cake so much__"

"You think this is all one big joke. You're playing me right now, aren't you?" Cheryl fumed, her nostrils widening.

"I can see up your nose, you need to trim those nose hairs, girl." I informed her nonchalantly, eyeing my macaroon again. It looked good, and lonely.

"You... disgusting little cock roach. How dare you. This is my party. How dare you insult me." she hissed, clenching both her hands tightly.

"How did I insult you?" I jerked my chin back, still eyeing the macaroon, wondering when she'd go away so I could eat it. Hopefully soon, because once those growls in my belly hit a higher octave, angry Marisa would come forth. Angry Marisa would take no prisoners, not when she's hungry, not when there was yummy cake right in front of her and she couldn't eat it.

"You said my nose was big." Cheryl stated quietly. "I don't have to tolerate this kind of behaviour. I'm going to have you removed from my party."

What was her fucking problem? What the hell did I do to her? I was just standing here, minding my own business, about to enjoy another bite of cake.

I was being treated so unfairly, there was probably a fucking telethon on TV collecting donations for innocent victims like myself.

"Fine, do whatever you want. Just leave me alone, so I can enjoy the rest of my cake." I informed her, reaching for my macaroon with glee. Yay, back to business.

All of a sudden, before I had a chance to grab anything, my plate was yanked away. My jaw dropped, horrified. I followed the pasty hand holding my desserts captive back to Cheryl.

That bitch!

Did she want to die on her birthday?

Because it seemed like it, the way she was acting.

"These cakes are not for you." she hissed, dumping the plate in the trash right behind us. She retuned back to the table, smiling smugly, like she got me good.

This bitch needed a few lessons on manners.

My way that is.

The fucking fun way.

I leaned toward her, practically snarling. "Bitch, do I disturb you when you're sucking cock?" Cheryl gasped and her puffed out lips gaped, looking like full on duck lips.

"No," I answered for her, before hissing out her main infraction. "Then why the fuck, are you disturbing me when I'm eating cake?"

She jerked her chin back and eyed the space around us in a panic.

I leaned closer and whispered. "Cake eating 101. Where are your fucking manners? Who raised you? You've ruined the simple act of eating cake!"

Cheryl's nostrils flared again. "Excuse me, this is my party." she hissed, crossing her arms.

"Don't I know it, I've been informed of your status." I smiled slyly at her and leaned back.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she hissed.

"It means, I fucking forgot to buy you a birthday present. Then again, what do you buy an older woman/side piece like yourself? How about a package of adult diapers or a shiny new cholesterol monitor? The good thing is, I can find all of those things at the drug store, right next to the blood pressure machine in the back, next to the pharmacy." I informed her, stifling a huge laugh.

She shook her head, quickly disregarding what I had just told her. Which was a damn shame, because I wanted to know, out of all those products, which one had caught her interest.

I was being serious.

Really, I was.

She leaned forward, eyeing me deathly. "Stay away from Lexy."

I jerked my chin back, smirking at her nickname for Xander. "Lexy? That's a girl's name."

"No it's not, it's unisex and it's adorable." she snarled quietly.

I winked at her, nodding my head like I 'agreed'. "Okay."

She let out an exasperated breath, looking away as she fluffed her long hair. "I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with the likes of you. You're disposable. I'll have you fired in no time."

I tilted my head to side, cocking an eyebrow. "How? Are you that good at sucking cock, that old daddy would force Xander to fire me because of it?"

Her eyes widened. "Xander?"

"My nickname for him." I informed her smugly.

"He lets you call him Xander? Only Liam calls him that." she stuttered.

"Yeah, well, were close like that."

She shook her head, like nothing made sense anymore.

Yeah, I do that too bitch!

"It makes no sense." she hissed, looking repulsed.

"Why, because your 'Hoe' calculations didn't pan out like you anticipated. Why don't I recalculate for you then. Your loose, floppy vagina, plus your big fake ass titties, multiplied by the easy access you have available around the clock..." I pretended to calculate everything by counting my fingers. "You know what that equals to? It equals to nothing, because you're nothing."

She pursed her duck lips, and her body visibly shook from anger. "I can't believe Lexy brought you to my party. You're a lunatic."

"Then go ask him, see whose side he picks." I told her, holding my arm out, motioning for her to go for it.

"You won't get away with this." she hissed one last time before stalking away.

"I won't get away with what? I didn't do anything to you." I muttered to myself, eyeing the empty spot on the table, where my dessert plate was sadly missing.

This is ridiculous!

That bitch violated the first rule of cake eating. Rule 101, you never, ever, disturb a hungry bitch while she's eating her cake.

And now there was no more cake, not unless I went and grabbed some more.

It's a tough job, but I was willing to do it. I made my way back to the dessert table, mentally envisioning what my new plate would look like. I was too busy daydreaming about my new plate of goodies, I didn't notice when servers came out and began clearing the table before I could get to it.

NO!

I rushed around groups of people trying to get to the table faster. But it was too late. I was too late. All the cakes were gone.

The servers quickly cleared the rest of the table, and then brought out platters, placing them side by side on the table.

This is so unfair. I thought, staring glumly at the covered platters.

Well, fuck that bitch.

So what if they took all the cake and brought out more food. Actually, I was glad they took it all away. I didn't want to eat anything at her stupid party anyways, not if she picked it all.

Besides I had a job to do.

I scoured the room, searching for a short, balding, round man in a brown suit jacket. "Eugene, where are you?" I murmured to myself. From the corner of my eye, I saw the covers being pulled off the platters, quickly resulting in a stampede of guests rushing toward them.

That's when I found him, rushing about in the midst of the stampede. "Hey Eugene!" I called, waving at him. His eyes bugged out at the sight of me. He grimaced at the sight of my waving hand and quickly looked away, pretending as if it didn't happen.

What did I do to this guy?

It's like I scared him away.

So what if I knew he took drugs, it wasn't like he ran someone over last night and I witnessed it.

Something weird was going on, because there's no reason why he should be freaking out like this, especially when all he did was take a pill.

I needed to get to the bottom of things.

Now.

I scoured the room for Xander, spotting him not too far away, smiling at one of the servers. I shook my head, because he really had no shame. I strode over, circling around groups of people, not taking my eyes off Xander as he winked at the poor girl who was now struggling to hold her tray of drinks. My focus was entirely on Xander, so much so that I collided with another guest.

"I'm sorry." I told the person before getting a look at them.

"That's okay." a familiar voice said. "You can bump into me anytime."

"Excuse me?" I muttered, turning and coming face to face with Liam.

"We meet again." He cocked an eyebrow. "What's the rush?"

I stared over his shoulder at Xander, who was still wagging his eyebrows at the poor server. Why was she still serving drinks around him? "Nothing, I just needed to find Xander."

"You need to find Xander?" he repeated slowly.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm here with him."

"Well then, I wouldn't want to keep you from him." he snipped and quickly strode away.

Wait, what?

What did I do now?

I shook it off and headed towards Xander. I needed some answers.

"We need to talk." I demanded, coming to a stop right in front of him. He sighed sadly and broke eye contact with the stumbling server.

"What now?" he muttered, clearly exasperated that I ruined his latest conquest. "Can't you see that I'm busy? And don't you have a mission to complete?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about, in the hallway. Now!" I demanded, pushing him towards the exit.

"You're going to explain right here, right now." I ordered him outside the private room in the hallway. "I haven't said more than a few words to Eugene, but every time I've come anywhere near him tonight, he's looked at me like he's seen a ghost."

Xander hunched over and rubbed his face, chuckling. "It worked better than I could have ever imagined."

"What worked? The drug thing? He thinks we're going to expose him?" I probed, feeling my stomach churn uncomfortably.

Xander smirked. "Bingo, blackmail at its finest. You made a great witness."

I jerked my chin back, holding out both my palms, motioning for him stop. "Wait, I don't understand. You're using last night as a means to blackmail him? Him taking one pill shouldn't be grounds for blackmail. It's not that scandalous."

"You're right it's not, but thank goodness that's not all he's guilty of." Xander grinned.

My eyes widened. "What else is he guilty of? Eating in the dark?"

"No, for cheating on his wife." Xander answered.

I jerked back in surprise. "But I wasn't there when he did that."

"What are you talking about, of course you were there." Xander said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked quietly, hearing my heart beat harder against my chest.

"At the restaurant." Xander answered.

"When we ate dinner?" I asked, feeling a wave of dizziness consume me.

"No, not when we ate dinner, before."

I gasped, holding a palm against my chest. "Chicken noodle soup?" I practically whispered.

"Chicken noodle soup." Xander answered.

I held both palms against my chest now. "No." I whispered.

"Yes." Xander nodded.

"No." I whispered, shaking my head.

"Yes."

"How?" I stuttered. "You can't be serious?"

"I'm a hundred percent serious right now." he declared, a ghost of a smile on his face.

He probably thought this was funny as hell.

"Xander...please, don't play me right now, everything's starting to get dizzy around me." I screeched breathily, feeling my body sway.

He grabbed me by the shoulders, rocking me still. "It's no big deal. I sent Eugene some prescription painkillers that made him a little loose, a little off his rockers. Then invited him to Serenity Gardens where he was told to pop his dick out for the best glory hole blow job he would ever experience." Xander explained, nonchalantly.

"And dinner?" I screeched, practically panting.

I was on the verge of throwing up.

"And then we ate dinner." Xander concluded.

"You guys were getting your dick sucked right beside me?" I whispered, bewilderedly. "Please tell me it's a joke."

"It's not."

My head twitched. "No." I gasped.

He smiled innocently at me. "It's not a big deal, it's not like you could see anything. The entire room was dark."

I moaned loudly, like I was in pain. "You did it right next to me! The both of you! That guy's been giving me funny looks all night." I hissed, yanking my shoulders out of his grasp.

"My plan worked better than I thought it would."

"Your plan?" I grimaced.

"I needed him." Xander explained, as if that were enough to warrant his actions.

I leaned towards him, pointing to myself. "Like you needed me?"

"Exactly, now he owes me."

"You're a piece of shit, you know that?" I snarled.

He waved me off. "You're over exaggerating. Marisa, it's not like I asked you to suck his dick."

My eyes bugged out and I pointed my index finger at him. "I'm going to kill you."

He scowled. "Calm down."

"How can I calm down knowing what you did?" I yelled, about to lose it and beat the shit out of him.

"What's going on out here?" a familiar voice demanded behind us. We both turned in unison, facing Liam with his arms crossed.

"Nothing of your concern, older brother. Just bit of a lover's quarrel." Xander sneered, putting an arm around my shoulder.

Liam's eyes narrowed at Xander's arm around my shoulder. "Why don't I believe you?" He shook his head.

"Not my problem if you believe me." Xander sighed, tightening his hold over my shoulder. I would have yanked myself out of his hold, but I was frozen.

"Really, I wonder what father would think knowing you and your girlfriend were fighting at his dinner party." Liam purposed, like it was an ace up his sleeve.

My head snapped to. "He's not my boyfriend." I snapped.

"Oh, I'm sorry, your employer. Has he employed you for later tonight as well?" Liam sneered, eying me acidly.

"Leave Marisa out of this, Liam." Xander growled, dropping his arm around my shoulder.

I held an arm out, stopping Xander from itching closer to Liam, who clearly wanted a fight.

"Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror." I counterattacked, shaking my head at him.

"This doesn't concern you." Liam snipped.

"It concerned me when you called me a whore. Look at yourself, you're the sneaky one." I told him, acidly.

"You don't know what you're even talking about." Liam snarled.

"I do, because I've seen it with my own eyes. Last night in Xander's condo, you were snooping around." I accused.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Wouldn't father love to know that little piece of information. How disrespectful. Do I enter your property without your permission?" Xander sneered.

"I know what you're up to, and one day, it's all going to come out." Liam promised, staring at Xander before narrowing his eyes on me. "And you, you're going to get everything you deserve for helping him."

"Screw you, Liam." I told him quietly, and then started pushing Xander towards the door. "Come on Xander, you have a 10 p.m. blow job appointment with one of Liam's ex's."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Xander grinned, eyeing his brother.

Once we're in the main lobby, Xander sighed. "So where are we meeting this appointment?"

"News flash genius, there is no appointment. I made it up." I explained, lifelessly.

"Well that's a shame. You had me all excited for no reason." Xander sighed.

"Screw you too, Xander. I'm leaving." I snipped, beginning to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.

"Hey remember. I got you out of prison. There was no one else willing to save you, except for me." Xander reminded. I yanked my arm out of his grasp and exited the Ogall Hotel without another glance at him.

I didn't care anymore. I'd been called a whore, one too many times tonight.

I had enough of everyone!

### CHAPTER 9

MARISA

The weather was really warm tonight, so I headed down to Harbour Front, thinking a nice walk along the pier was just what I needed to calm down.

I was on the verge of blowing. How many times could a person be called a whore, before losing it?

I wasn't a whore!

So why did Liam have to go there? He knew that Xander and I were sort of... just friends.

It wasn't fair.

And don't get me started on their dad's mistress, who, funny enough, was actually a whore.

So many venomous people....

I sat on a concrete block that stretched along the pathway next to the boats. After fifteen beautiful serene minutes, I felt someone take a seat next to me.

By the smell of his cologne and the close proximity of his body next to mine, I knew who it was. After a few minutes of silence, I broke the calm. "Why do you always have to screw me over?" I asked, staring out at the lake.

"I'm sorry." Xander said quietly.

"Do you even mean that?" I sighed, not taking my eyes off the water.

I felt his hand caress my elbow. "It's never been my intention to screw you over. Everything that happened... happened coincidentally." Xander explained in a low tone.

My eyes remained on the lake, focusing on each boat. "Everything that you've done, all the fucked up things, how could they just happen? You had some part in planning them."

I felt his body lean in closer. "Yes that's true, but my intentions were never to hurt you." Xander said closer to my ear.

I exhaled, still not taking my eyes off the water. "What about after we left Lethe and then the morning after?"

"Honestly, I was a little drunk too." Xander explained.

I shook my head. "Bullshit."

"It's true. Would I really have traded a beautiful lace thong for basic black undies?" He chuckled, squeezing my shoulder with his arm.

I snapped my head to him and scowled. "Screw you, that thong was cheap as shit. My black undies are made out of a hundred percent cotton."

"You see then, it wasn't all that bad." Xander hummed into my ear, squeezing my shoulders again. I should have yanked them out of his hold.

Really, I should have.

But it felt nice.

I needed nice right now.

Even if it was from him.

News flash... Marisa Gellys is also fucked up.

"Oh yeah, what about later that night with Irina? And then Demetria?" I reminded him.

"I had no idea Demetria was feeling like that. We had an arrangement that I ended last December when I noticed she was getting too attached, even then we'd barely done anything." Xander explained.

"What about psycho Irina?" I continued with his list of infractions.

It was a long list.

"I like blondes and she did whatever I wanted her to do." Xander reasoned.

"Then why'd you make me come over just to hand you my underwear? Are you really into that shit? Do you even put them on?" I asked the question that's been haunting me for almost a month.

Xander started to laugh. "Oh I do a lot of things with them, but putting them on, I don't think they'd fit on me. I'd rip them."

"I told you they wouldn't. You've got a fat ass." I smirked.

His jaw dropped, but it was clearly a joke. "How dare you! My ass is smaller and firmer than yours."

I quickly eyed his behind, before looking at him again. "Screw you, it's not." I smirked again.

"It is, feel it." Xander turned, lifting his ass towards me. "Feel my ass. Feel how small it is."

"I'm not touching your ass." I informed him, feeling my face heat up as I scoured the area. We were in public and there was people walking around us. "We're in public, control yourself, panty boy."

Xander sighed. "Okay fine, I guess you can just touch my dick then."

I smirked, shaking my head. "Why, because it's small and firm too, like a mushroom dick?"

"Take that back!" Xander growled.

"Fuck no." I whispered, grinning.

"Take....that...back!" he demanded, eyeing me deathly.

"Fuck...no, mushroom dick!" I laughed, shaking my head.

"No, it's not a mushroom dick. It's more like a lion's dick. It growls, it's that strong and mighty! You, like many others, will bow down to it." Xander assured.

"I don't think so." I sang loudly, not caring anymore that we were in public.

"Then how about this, I'll be the one doing the bowing." He eyed me suggestively.

"You know what, that's a great idea. Go fetch me some ice cream, slave boy." I pointed to the ice cream stall a few meters away.

"I'm your slave boy now." Xander grinned.

"That's right."

"Good, I like the way that sounds. What flavour would madam desire this evening?" Xander bowed.

"Chocolate and Strawberry."

"My flavours." Xander said to himself.

"Your flavours?"

He grinned, putting an arm around my shoulders. "We really are a match made in heaven, Marisa."

I shook him off and pointed to the ice cream stall. "My ice cream, slave boy. Don't make me wait any longer!"

"Right away." He snapped too, leaping off the concrete block towards the stall. He came back a few minutes later with two small containers of chocolate and strawberry ice cream.

"Taste good?" he asked as I ate my first spoonful.

"Yeah." I answered with my mouth full.

"How good?" he whispered.

I looked up, swirling the spoon in my mouth. "Really good."

Xander sighed. "God, I'm generous, kind and loving. There's no one out there like me."

"You know for once, I agree. And to prove how kind you are." I took out my phone and turned on the camera, pointing it to us.

"Our first photo together?" Xander grinned.

"Yep, now look cute, my ex-boyfriend is going to see this." I ordered, positioning myself.

"Not a problem, I'm a knockout, a replica of Adonis himself. I pity your ex once he sees my worldly face next to yours." Xander said.

I saw his face on the screen, and he was biting his lip. "I told you to do cute, not whipping boy."

"Oh, okay, how about this?" He smiled small, squinting his eyes.

"Better." I smiled and snapped our photo. I placed my phone back in my bag and picked up my ice cream. I was about to take another spoonful when a song began playing in the background, catching my interest.

"What?" Xander asked, noticing me stalling.

"Nothing, I just know the song?" I smiled as the melody made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

"You like Nancy Adams, too?" Xander asked.

My jaw dropped. "You know her?"

"I loved Robin Hood growing up." Xander said before doing something horrendous. He started singing along to the song.

I shook my head, horrified. "Stop it. You shouldn't be allowed to sing songs like that."

He kept singing, even with ice cream in his mouth.

"Oh God, that's just great, thank you. You just tainted Disney! You've ruined Disney for everyone!" I groaned and then Xander stopped singing to laugh at my hysterics.

When he didn't stop laughing, I couldn't help myself and joined him.

I guess it was kind of funny.

And ironic.

*~*~*

The next day, after going through thirty pictures of Xander and me at Harbour Front, I uploaded five pictures.

How do you like me now? I smiled as I typed the Album title. 'Ice cream at Harbour Front'

I wasn't going to tag that douche though. I didn't even know if he had a Facebook account. But I wasn't searching for him. The less the people back home knew about him, the better.

In fact, maybe I should just leave these photos on private for now.

Yep, the less people know about Xander Barns the better.

After shutting down my laptop, I grabbed my bag and headed out. I was on my way out to the mall. I still had some money from the five thousand Xander gave me and I needed a change in scenery, one that had nothing to do with rich bitches and pretty boys.

But before heading towards the elevators, I knocked on Xander's door. He opened it a few seconds' later, half naked, wearing just black sweats that hung dangerously low.

"And where do you think you're going?" Xander hummed, leaning against his door, flexing his muscled chest.

It was kind of hypnotizing and yummy looking...if only.... Wait...what...no!

I was here on a mission.

A well-deserved mission, and one that Xander deserved.

"Out, but I just thought I'd stop by and tell you something." I stepped closer, snapping out of the trance.

His eyes narrowed on me. "And you couldn't have texted it?"

I shook my head. "No, it had to be done in person."

"Oh yeah? Well, what do you need to tell me?" He smiled, scouring my body.

Did I mention what I was wearing today?

A fabulous, pair of tight skinny jeans and a tight black tank top that showed everything I needed for him to be momentarily captivated.

It distracted him, while I stepped closer to him.

"This." I whispered quickly and then smacked his balls hard with one hand. He hunched over and groaned in pain.

I leaned forward as he panted loudly, holding the door for support. "That was specifically for Serenity Gardens."

"Ow!" he groaned in between breaths.

"And as a measure of good faith and my gift to you, I've decided that all the other times you've screwed me over, are gone with the wind now." I told him.

"Ow." he cried, still hunched over, gasping for air.

"This girl right here, she just decided to buy a leather jacket. You know why?" I whispered, leaning in closer.

"Ugh, why?" he stammered, holding his crotch area.

"Because she's a fucking bad ass and it's about time she looked the part. Anyways, I'm off to the mall, have a nice day." I chuckled, leaving him while he basked in the ball smacking pain I've generously only decided to give him, despite his many infractions against me.

On my way out the building, my phone chimed. I checked the screen, and it was Xander.

Xander: Go to this address, your leather jacket awaits you.

Marisa: It better be.

Xander: I think I love you.

I took a picture of my middle finger and sent it to him.

Xander: Scratch that...I really think I love you.

I burst out laughing, shaking my head as I reread the text.

This guy is most definitely not normal!

I tucked my phone back inside my bag. When I looked up, a black SUV came to a stop in front of me. The back door opened and I came face to face with Liam. He stepped out of the car, wearing a tight black shirt and blue jeans. His blue eyes looked tired as he noticed me. He took a step forward, looking sorry.

But it was too late. I looked away, pretending I never saw him.

"I'm sorry." he yelled at my back as I walked down the sidewalk

He called me a whore one too many times.

I didn't care what he had to say.

He was no longer the normal twin in my eyes.

*~*~*

An hour later, I stood in a dressing room at an expensive department store, trying on leather jackets.

"How about this one?" the sales assistant asked, holding up a beautiful black leather jacket that looked like it would go passed my hips.

"I don't know... it looks really expensive." I stammered, eying every detail in the jacket.

There were too many.

Which meant it really was expensive.

"Just try it on first. Anyways, you're not paying for it. The price will be okay with him. He gave my manager a cap. This is nowhere near it." the sales assistant assured.

"Okay, I guess I could try it on." She held the jacket open and I slid my arms through it. I turned, facing the mirror. Once I took in my entire reflection, my jaw dropped. "Wow."

"Dude," The sales assistant began to say, and then checked around her before continuing. "You look fucking awesome."

"Really? Thanks...err?" I stalled.

"The names Betty." She smiled, pointing to her nametag.

"Thanks, Betty." I grinned as my phone chimed loudly.

"Ugh-oh," I muttered, pulling the phone out of my bag, staring at the screen.

"Is it the sugar daddy boyfriend?" Betty screeched ditzy like all of a sudden, making me laugh.

She probably wasn't allowed to talk to customers like that. But I didn't care. It was funny. She was spunky and I liked it a lot.

"No, it's the sugar daddy boss." I chuckled, replicating her ditzy airhead tone.

Xander: Agent M...I'm calling you in. A short brunette is currently stalking me inside my hotel. Somehow she's managed to sneak her way to the fifteenth floor. I need you to come and get her out without making a scene. I've sent Daniels to pick you up.

"Great." I muttered.

"You look worried. Is there a problem at the office?" Betty asked, fixing her dark red hair into a tight bun.

"Yeah, I'm being called in to work. There's an issue with one of his old girlfriends." I groaned, tucking my phone back in my bag.

"You fix his shit?" Betty grinned, wagging her eyebrows playfully.

"I'm a special consultant that deals specially with cases like these." I smiled slyly at her.

She nodded like she got it. "Oh, I get it. Bossy got himself into a little trouble. What he do? Open his mouth and say something stupid to one of his lucky ladies?"

"Yeah, something like that. Anyways, I should get going. I'll think about the jacket. I think it's a little too expensive." I sighed, staring at my reflection sadly. I took the jacket off and handed it back to her.

"Why? He's making you work on your day off. You might as well get overtime." She held up the jacket. "This is your overtime."

She was fucking right. I've been through hell and back. Today was supposed to be a chill day where I could relax and shop a little without any worries of being mentally abused by one of his past or present skanks.

I fucking deserved that jacket.

Betty was right.

I grinned at her, taking the jacket from her hands. "You're a Genius, Betty."

Her brown eyes widened as if I'd just called her something out of the ordinary. She quickly shook it off and grinned slyly, showcasing her pearly whites. "Don't I know it."

### CHAPTER 10

MARISA

After settling the bill for the leather jacket, Betty took off the tags, put them all in the shiny shopping bag and then held the jacket open for me to slide on.

"You have to wear this, like now." She grinned as I slid my arms through the sleeves.

"You are absolutely right, it would be a tragedy if I didn't wear this beautiful jacket right now. It's officially mine after all." I smirked, adjusting my shoulders.

"Especially in that skimpy tank top. Damn girl, what were you thinking going out in just that?" Betty's eyes widened, staring a bit too long at my chest. "Was it for the sugar daddy boss?"

"You could say that." I smirked. "It did what I needed this morning."

"Duh," Betty whispered, leaning in. "Bitch, you got yourself a leather jacket. I'd say, it worked better than you could have ever imagined. Work it girl, got no shame in that."

My jaw dropped. "This jacket was overtime, because I worked hard. Remember, it's my day off and he's making me work?"

She smirked and waved me off. "Alright, I hit a cord. I'm not serious. I'm just playing. You look awesome though and yeah, it's totally worth the overtime."

"Yeah," I checked my cell. "Well I should get going, a psychotic clinger awaits me."

"Hey can I see your phone for a second?" Betty asked.

"Sure," I handed it to her and she tapped at the screen for a few seconds before handing it back to me.

"What did you do?" I asked, confused as I stared at the screen.

"I put in my number, we should totally be friends." Betty smiled. "And because your life sounds interesting, especially with what you do for living, I need people like you around me. I need a good laugh every now and then."

A friend?

Me?

Really?

"Really?" I asked, stunned by her honesty and forwardness. I hadn't had a serious friend in years.

"Really." Betty smirked as if the shock on my face was amusing. "Text me, please. I need to know what happens. Actually, it's a requirement. It's all I'll be thinking about."

"Okay," I told her slowly. "I will."

"Good." she said.

I gave her one last nod and left.

That was interesting. I thought as I exited the building, noticing the black SUV parked right in front of the store. The street was full of cars, but Daniels popped out of the driver's side and quickly rounded the car to open the back door for me.

"Hello Ms. Gellys."

"Hello Daniels," I gave him a small smile. "Duty calls as always."

"Yes it does." Daniels said as I slid into the back.

"If it's alright with you, we'll be heading to the Ogall Hotel right now?" Daniels asked after he slid into the driver's seat and fastened his seatbelt.

"Lead the way Daniels, a headache...I mean work awaits." I grumbled, rubbing the leather fabric on my sleeve.

"Very good." Daniels said, quickly manoeuvring the SUV through busy downtown traffic.

Despite rush hour traffic, we made it to the hotel in less than fifteen minutes.

"I got the door Daniels." I told him before he could unbuckle his seatbelt. Surely he had things to do and cars were already lining up behind ours, awaiting valet.

"Wait, Ms. Gellys. Your instructions are to go to the front desk and tell them your name. The front desk concierge will give you a key to a room where Mr. Barns needs you to attend to the issue in a timely manner." Daniels said as my hand stalled on the door handle.

"Got it Daniels, head to the front desk, give name, get key, go to room, deal with problem, then make a quick exit. See ya later." I exited the car and entered the hotel. I went to the front desk and told the male concierge my name. He handed me a key card in an envelope and I took it without another word. I gave him a nod and headed straight for the elevators. I knew where I was going.

Xander said she was on the fifteenth floor, trolling around for him.

Hopefully, this was going to be fast.

On my way to the elevators I quickly scoured the busy lobby for Xander. I couldn't find him. He was probably chilling somewhere getting his dick sucked, waiting for me to finish his dirty work.

Why wasn't Hotel Security handling this?

I guess it was because word traveled fast around here, and the news of his latest stalker would have been music to Liam's ears, making its way to their father's in lightning speed.

I was here to protect his dirty secrets from getting out, especially from Liam, whose motives were becoming clearer as the days went by.

That asshole.

Calling me a whore.

Shows how much he knows.

Shit Liam! I worried, remembering all of a sudden that the both of them ran this hotel with their father.

Liam could be in this lobby right now.

What if I ran into him... again?

Ugh... I can't believe he called...or implied I was a whore again.

He clearly knows I'm not one!

Why the fuck was this bothering me so much?

I shook off the horrible sting and pressed the elevator button. When the elevator doors opened, despite the many bodies walking around me, no one else waited for an elevator. The door opened completely and I held my breath, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

I felt like I'd been here before.

Maybe in that crazy dream I had a few weeks ago? I shook it off and waited as the passengers exited. I entered afterwards, and thankfully no one else joined me. Once I arrived to the fifteenth floor, I scoured the hallway nonchalantly, not wanting to make my presence known in case she was stalking him in the hallway.

The hallway was empty, except for a cleaning cart parked right outside the room that my key card was for. Room 1502.

Maybe the stalker left? I thought as I scoured the hallway one more time for the brunette stalker before heading to room 1502. As I stood in front of his door, there was a 'Do Not Disturb sign' hanging on the doorknob.

If the sign was still up, why was there a cleaning cart right outside his door?

I entered the key card inside the slot. Once the door light lit green, I slowly turned the knob and opened the door very slowly.

"Hello?" I called, peering through as I opened the door all the way. The suite was similar to his suite back in Ottawa. A large living room with a plush white leather sectional, a mini bar and flat screen television hanging off the wall. Right beside the living room was a pair of double doors. One door was closed completely and the other was resting against the frame.

"Hello? Um.... Xander, are you here?" I called out again and heard someone gasp from behind the closed door.

Who was that?

The brunette stalker?

The Maid?

My jaw dropped...or was it.... Xander, the brunette stalker and the maid, getting it on?

I shook my head slowly, praying silently that scenario wasn't what I was about to walk into. Xander knew I didn't like walking into that shit, especially with what had happened last April.

He didn't have a death wish as far as I was concerned.

Hell, I gave that bastard a nice 'tap' on the balls this morning. There's no way he would pull a stunt like this. No fucking way. Not unless he wanted me to turn psycho, too.

I slowly made my way to the door and my hand paused on the doorknob.

Here goes...please don't let it be disgusting!

I opened the door and sighed in relief when I saw the maid using a feather duster around the side table. "Hi?"

Her body instantly stilled. After a few seconds, she slowly turned around, showing me how young and pretty she was.

Interesting?

She cleared her throat. "Um, this is Mr. Barns' room."

"Yeah." I told her, narrowing my eyes. "I have a key to it."

Her eyes widened and that pushed the red stalker button in my brain, making it shine bright.

Ladies and gentleman.... let me introduce to you... Madam Brunette Stalker.

"Why?" she croaked and the feather duster dropped from her hand.

I'd shocked her.

I gave her a side smile and entered the room. "Because, I'm his fiancé and that's what people in relationships do, they share rooms."

Her jaw dropped. "What?"

"Are you done?" I dropped the shopping bag to the floor and my leather bag on to the table.

"Am I done what?" She gulped, looking horrified.

"I mean, are you finished cleaning?" I took off my fabulous leather jacket and hung it off the back of a chair.

Her bottom lip started to ripple as she blinked her eyes away. I guess something got stuck.

The waterworks.

"But I've never seen you around?" she said, doing her best not to sound like she was about to cry.

"That's because I just got into town. I'm from Ottawa, just like Xander is." I explained, even though I didn't have to.

She was a nosy one.

I was on the cusp of getting her out of the room and out of Xander's life, once and for all. I'd better nip this baby in the butt.

Ohhh, a baby!

I patted my stomach lovingly and then gazed at her smiling. "Ohhhh, wow.... that was intense."

She gazed at my stomach in confusion. "What was?"

"The baby kicked." I sighed.

"The baby?" Her jaw dropped again. "Mr. Barns and you are... having a child."

"Yes." I smiled as if I were a woman in love, looking into the far distance as if Xander was there..... being smacked around by an overbearing nurse with bear claws.

It was beautiful... sigh.

"But...but!" she stuttered.

"But what?" I jerked my chin back, scowling. "Are you done in here.... Maid?"

Wow... I really am a bitch.

Her jaw clenched and her eyes were starting to get teary. She nodded and dropped her gaze, rushing quickly out of the room.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you." she whispered on her way out.

"No problem." I said, watching her exit the room.

She shut the door behind her, but the door closing didn't mask her loud strangled cry.

Damn...she was really crazy about him.

So far there's been a pattern.

So either Xander was a big fat liar, leading these hopeless "romantics" on, or he was just unlucky in the "ladies" he chose to interact with. Maybe he was straight up with them right from the get go and they chose not to listen, thinking their growing love for him would be enough to warrant a change in heart?

It sounded like bullshit to me.

Because one thing was as clear as daylight.

Xander Barns didn't do commitment, not now... hell...maybe not ever.

*~*~*

I was ready to get the fuck out of here.

But a girl had to pee first and there was nothing like using a freshly cleaned hotel bathroom in a suite. The seat had a warmer too, which was nice, especially after having to deal with that stalker maid. Honestly, if the toilet seat hadn't given my derriere that lovely surprise, than I had half a mind to call up that prick and scream his head off for playing with yet another girl's feelings, and that he also needed to give me a raise.

This shit was dangerous.

The stalker maid was not entirely psychotic, but if she was, choosing to slice and dice me, pregnant or not, just to be the only woman in Xander's life, well in my books... that constituted a mother fucking raise. If I have to fight off potential killers, psychos or aggressive ladies under the delusion they're soul mates with panty boy, well then... my hourly rates were going to have to change.

Damn... I could have gotten stabbed, or even died right now.

"Eh, whatever." I shrugged and quickly grabbed my jacket and the rest of my things. "Could have died, could have been injured, but Marisa Gellys has made it out of yet another fucked up scenario." I cackled to myself on my way into the living room only to jerk back in shock. "Oh my God!"

My jaw dropped at the sight of Liam lounging casually in a crisp navy blue suit, tieless and his white button down shirt open at the top. His blue eyes flamed at the sight of me.

I held a hand where my heart was racing. "What are you doing in here?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing." He stood and sauntered to a halt in front of me. "What are you doing in Xander's suite?"

"I have a bad bladder. I had to use the bathroom."

He looked at me like he didn't believe me. "We have facilities in the lobby you could have used."

"Well, that's an easy answer. I don't like using public bathrooms; you know dirty toilet seats and all. And I've used his before, so, I called big pimp boss daddy a while ago and he told me to use the one in his suite. Got me my own key card and everything, so problem solved. Anyways, I've got shit to do." I tried to step around him, but he blocked the way.

"I own this hotel." Liam stated, coming closer into my personal space. I moved backwards until my back hit the wall. He came to a stop an inch away from me. "Is that anyway to speak to the boss?"

I sneered, dropping the shopping bag and my purse to the floor, crossing my arms over my chest. I may have squeezed out my boobs a little more, you know, to use whatever advantage I had to make him stumble. His eyes practically bulged at the sight of them. These babies always got me out of trouble. "Don't you mean one of the bosses?"

He pushed his body into mine, his chest moving over my crossed arms, pushing into my boobs. "That's where you're wrong," Liam hummed, amusement in his eyes. "Baby, I'm the only boss here."

I blinked, my breaths becoming shallow. I pushed him back slowly and he obliged by taking a small step back, leaving barely an inch of open space between us.

"Good for you." I said. "Now if you'll excuse me." I tried to move away, but he leaned into me again, now pinning my entire body with his incredibly hard, incredibly muscled body. "What do you think you're doing, Liam?"

He took a step back again. His eyes hardened as they peered into mine. "He drives me crazy." he murmured, as if it pained him to. "My mind was all over the place, because of him. I didn't mean to call you_"

"A whore." I answered for him. My anger from the night before surged my veins. I glanced at my jacket for a few seconds then looked back up at him. I knew what I had to do. "Do you like my jacket?"

He looked confused for a second. "It's nice." he answered, not looking at my jacket. He pushed his body into mine again and my arms dropped from the force of him. We were now touching chests. I could feel every hard muscle....everywhere. I'd have to be a fucking robot not to feel desire right now.

Fuck, it's been a long time since I've had sex. I feel like I'm about to burst.

I needed a way out...like now.

But I also needed some justice.

Liam needed to be taught a lesson: Marisa Gellys Style.

"Your brother bought it for me." I whispered, my eyelids drooping.

Liam's jaw clenched, pushing his body deeper over mine. "Did he now?"

I inhaled a deep breath and bit my bottom lip. "Yeah," I whispered, sensually. "You know why right?"

His nostrils flared as a low growl left his sexy mouth. "Stop it. I told you I was sorry."

I tilted my head back, pushing my boobs up higher. "Don't you want to know what I had to do to earn this jacket?" I murmured. "I know you do."

Liam's mouth found my chin. His tongue licked the tip. "Stop it." he whispered and continued to lick me. The slight stroke of his tongue was wet and warm, sending tingles all over my body.

Damn... this feels good.

"You like what you see, baby? You like what you taste?" I murmured.

My skin was blazing hot under Liam's touch. Our eyes connected, pushing forth intensity as his blue eyes pierced, wild with desire. His pelvis pushed up, smothering overtop the crotch area of my pants. I could feel everything, even as his dick hardened behind his dress pants.

"You wanna fuck me right?" I murmured, staring straight at him. "You wanna take me over your knee and show me who's boss, baby? You want me to beg?" He pressed himself closer, pushing my back further into the wall. Words were pointless, not when the sound of his breath turned rough and wild, like a lion in view of its mate.

I caressed the side of his strong jawline. "Well.... do you wanna fuck me or not?"

And.... here's the part where I get my revenge.... initiating fucked up vault number 666 in my mind.

The plan was perfect. .

And that was to have Liam walk around his hotel...with giant blue balls for the rest of the day.

Get ready to feel that ache, Liam! Get ready!

Finally, he opened his mouth to answer but I smiled sinisterly and interrupted him. "It's too bad for you, because this is as close to me as you're ever going to get. Now get the fuck off of me!" I growled and raised the hand that caressed the side of his face. I slammed it back down, slapping the shit out of his cheek. The force of it surprised the crap out of him and his body flew a few feet away, leaving me free and a little cold.

Shit, maybe I'm the one who's going to be walking around with blue balls today.

I grabbed my purse and shopping bag and threw it at him. He blocked it with his forearm and looked at me with his jaw down, shocked as hell. I shook the edge of my jacket at him.

"Don't you want to know what I had to do to earn this jacket? Why your little brother thought I deserved compensation? I take care of that bitch ass and all the trouble he brings! But know this...I've never fucked him. And I don't plan to, just like I don't plan on fucking you. Ever. Asshole!"

I grabbed my shit and marched to the front door and stopped, my hand resting on the knob as I faced him. "Enjoy your blue balls for the rest of the day. Know this little piece of advice. Don't mess with a fucking warrior, old man. It'll be the biggest mistake you'll ever make in your poor little rich boy life. You'll be on a spear roasting till every piece of shit on you is charred...charred to dust. Goodbye!" I opened the door and left with a huge ass smile on my face.

This wasn't the first time I'd left a Barns' boy twitching in a hotel room, so I rushed to the elevators and pushed the button. Sure enough, one cart opened right away and I got in, slouching immediately against the railing. Boom Shakalaka, Mother Fucker!

*~*~*

"Twirl." I told my laptop screen.

"Marisa, Mom's calling me." Darcy exclaimed on my screen.

"Just one more, please." I begged, clasping my hands into a ball.

"Alright," Darcy groaned, but then smiled as she took a step back from her desk and twirled in her violet, A-line, floor length, side strapped gown for the formal she was going to with Wesley tonight.

"You're a star, Darcy!" I grinned, amazed at how fast my little sister was growing up.

"Coming!" Darcy yelled at her door and faced the screen again. "I gotta go, Mom's going crazy."

"Alright, but take lots of pictures for me! And of Cameron, too. I want to see him in his tux, too." I sighed, leaning into my chair.

"Got it. Later, big sis." Darcy whispered.

"Bye, have fun!" I rejoiced at the screen before our video chat disconnected.

Well, that was just great.

Another momentous occasion and I wasn't there to witness it. Mom must have been so happy I wasn't there to 'ruin' Darcy's big day.

Like I would ever do that, as that was Mom's role. She was probably stressing Darcy out, telling her what not to do, and how to act, and all that shit. I wished I were there to stop Mom from drilling her bullshit into Darcy.

I would have told Darcy to forget everything that came out of that woman's mouth, and to just have fun. And if Wesley tried anything with her that made her uncomfortable, she should just slap him across the face and run screaming out the room.

Damn it, I forgot to tell her all my amazing advice!

What kind of a big sister was I?

I sighed out my distress, and then answered. "A shitty one."

I got off my chair and marched into the living room, heading to the balcony. I haven't used it once. The weather today was nice, a gush of warm wind enveloped me as I slid the door open and stepped outside.

"This is nice." I murmured, resting my wrists against the railing, overlooking downtown Toronto. Despite today's unfortunate scene with Liam and the stalker maid, I smiled feeling a tiny bit happy. "It's a kick ass city full of fucked up people...."

"You've got that right, darling." Xander chuckled from behind me, making me jerk back in shock.

I shook it off. "Dude, a little warning please."

Xander shut the balcony door. He was in dark jeans and a white shirt, and it shamed me to admit, but my heart fluttered for two seconds at the sight of him.

Grinning like his sneaky self, he joined me by the railing and looked out. "Mission accomplished, my trusted little sidekick?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Unfortunately, yes. I saved the day for you, yet again. How'd you survive before me again?"

He grinned wide and looked at me. "I know this may shock you, but this admiring obsession has been happening as of more recently."

I snorted. "Bullshit."

His jaw dropped, humour still in his eyes. "It's true. I've never had to deal with women like this before."

I rolled my eyes and looked away. "You're full of shit, you know that?"

Xander leaned his shoulder into mine, nudging me playfully. "Darling, I'm full of a lot of things. Cum, being one of them."

"Shit, damn it!" I stuck my tongue out in disgust, making a gagging noise. "You are fucking disgusting."

"Dinner in a couple of hours then, we're having lobster." His laughter exploded and he pushed off the railing, heading back inside. He stopped midway. "Before I go jerk off, I just want to say something to you before I forget."

I turned and leaned against the railing, eyeing him warily. "And what's that?"

He smiled at me. "Thanks for today. Thanks for not falling for his charms."

My eyes bulged, gripping the railing tightly. "How'd you know about what happened with Liam?"

Xander stepped inside and grinned. "I have eyes everywhere, darling."

### CHAPTER 11

XANDER

"Is this a present for me?"

I loved red lace. The delectable skin tight thong showcased this brunette's Brazilian beautifully.

"Reginald." she moaned, sounding delirious.

"Tell me what you want, baby." I stroked, digging into the dampened lace fabric with the both of my thumbs, making her quiver uncontrollably. "Is this the greatest gift you've ever been given?"

"Shit!" she moaned, grabbing and twirling her fingers through my luscious locks. "I want... fuck... more."

More she wanted, then more she would get. I pulled her thong up higher, squeezing her clit.

"Regi_" she moaned, leaning into the wall.

"No, I'm talking now." I commanded her, bending in to say hello to the most beautiful combination of skin and fabric I'd ever seen. "You wore this for me, baby?"

"I did." she moaned, grabbing one of her large boobies, squeezing it. Her other hand dug into my scalp, pushing me in closer. "I knew you were going to come today. You've been here every day for the past week. Same time."

I leaned in and she wrapped her long sweaty legs around my neck, pushing her flaming heat while I licked at a very slow, mouth-watering pace...

Fuck... I was getting hard.

"I told you to tell me a story with a happily ever after, you sick fuck!" Marisa cringed, even though her eyes were still closed.

"I was just about to get to it, but you rudely interrupted me. Geez, rude much!" I readjusted my elbow into the pillow next to hers. "As I was saying, I licked her pussy, slowly, methodically, until she came, groaning loudly, Reginald, Reginald, I'm.... I'm exploding!"

"Jesus Christ, you're disgusting." Marisa muttered, tucking her face into the pillow.

"She came on every inch of my face, and after I licked her dry, it was her turn to return the favour. She deep throated me and sucked me dry. It was so.... beautiful." I sighed, remembering eight months ago when I had to spend more than a week in Vancouver because of Liam's antics. "She gave me her panties after, got dressed back in her coffee shop uniform, gave me my coffee and I left. Happily ever after."

"Hey, panty boy..." Marisa mumbled into her pillow.

I got off the bed and moved around to where she lay cuddled underneath her purple duvet.

"Yes, my darling." I murmured, turning her side lamp off. "You want to hear another beautiful story?"

"Fuck no." she mumbled, barely coherent. "I left you a little gift in the bathroom. Happy jerky jerk."

"Oh really." I grinned, heading into the bathroom and spotting lace blue panties inside the sink. I scooped them onto my index finger. "Baby, you shouldn't have."

Back in the bedroom, her cute snores roared as I headed to her laundry basket, dumping the panties inside. I walked back to her, knelt on the floor beside the bedframe and tucked loose strands of hair away from her face.

"I really do you know...." I whispered, leaning in slowly and kissing her forehead softly. "I'm going to take care of you forever, my trusted little sidekick."

### CHAPTER 12

DEMETRIA

"MOTHER, do you hear me?" I hoisted the disgustingly filthy receiver closer to my tragically gloss free lips. "I want out of here this instant!"

"If you don't, you'll spend a lifetime making it up to me, I promise you!" I screeched directly into the receiver, hoping her foolish ears bled as a result. After all this time, she still hadn't learned, I was not one to be messed with.

The beeping sound took over, followed by an automated message. "To record this message press one. To delete and start over, press two."

I pressed one.

"Message recorded, thank you." A dial tone quickly followed.

"Ms. Demetria, please put the phone back down, your turn is over." A disgusting ogre like voice dared to order me. My message to Mother for the week was over, and I didn't even come close to relaying how I really felt about being sent here.

Meadow Hills, described as a home for "troubled" privileged females that needed a break from society to distress.

But why am I here?

I slammed the bacteria infected phone into its portal. My beautiful eyes connected with the ones that dared to address me in my fragile state.

Unbelievable.

Did she not know who I was?

I was Demetria Rose Williams, daughter of Richard and Dorothy Williams, FUTURE WIFE AND SOUL MATE OF ALEXANDER BARNS.

"Who do you think you are?" I snarled quietly to the oversized short nurse with pathetic ugly short brown hair.

"You know who I am!" The ogre nurse hurled back.

Ridiculous! My eyes widened at her tone.

I slammed my fist on the small table that separated us "How dare you speak to me like that, you commoner!"

"Now, Ms. Demetria, remember?" She pointed her stubby finger, eyeing me deathly. "Remember what happened the last time you acted out?"

Sadly yes, I did remember and was APPALLED by the behaviour of this disgusting establishment. Whatever happened to professionalism these days?

My mother paid good money for them to take care of and fix me.

Not that I needed fixing, but still, I should have been treated like royalty. Instead, I was being dealt with as if I were a disgusting ugly commoner.

"The red pills?" I gulped.

The ugly nurse nodded sharply. "That's right, I have it right here, waiting for you." She jiggled up a small white cup with small red pills juggling out.

"I don't want to swallow those!" I stammered, shuffling backwards, my eyes widening at the horrible concoction of pills. They made me sleepy, resulting in an uninterrupted sixteen hour sleeping fest. I couldn't sleep for that long. Last time I woke up with bed hair.

Bed hair!

The pudgy nurse smiled knowingly. "Then you best be quiet and quickly make your way to group before you're late, again."

"I'm going to sue you." I hissed at her.

She put a hand to her oversized hip and raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

How dare she raise an eyebrow at me!

"Nothing." I sucked in a deep breath and held myself from saying more.

"That's what I thought, now get to!" she snarled like a beast.

I turned quickly, my wild curly brown hair flying out as I rushed to my room to get my diary for group.

That ogre will pay one day.

One day.... very soon.

*~*~*

"Ms. Williams, I'm so pleased to see you at group on time." The doctor rejoiced from his green chair. He was an older man, bordering on fifty with greyish black hair. I didn't remember his name, not that I cared anyways.

I sat down begrudgingly in the last available plastic black chair. They were spread around in a circle. I was the last one to arrive.

"Now everyone, did you all do the homework I assigned last time?" the doctor asked. "The assignment was to write three pages as if you were eighteen years old again, how you felt at that moment."

I eyeballed the all female circle and cringed at their outfits. The only good thing about Meadow Hills was that we were allowed to wear what we wanted.

I was wearing my fabulous white mink coat, a tight gold sparkly tank top that showcased my lush breasts, my fab designer black skinny jeans, and my amazing designer spiked black six-inch heels.

I dressed for comfort today knowing there was a group session, but everyone else looked like they just got out of bed.

Had they no pride regarding their appearance? Had they no shame? How could they walk out of their rooms looking like... that?

I tilted my head to the side and stared at each of them sadly. They really did need to be here. I was obviously the only normal one here.

"Ms. Kensington, you may go first." The doctor addressed a bleached blonde who I hadn't noticed before. She sat four girls to my left, their baggy clothing and dirty untamed hair shielding her from my discerning eye.

What is that! I cringed taking in her appearance. Her face was pumpkin orange, obviously from too much self-tanner and she wore way too much makeup, looking like a stripper that accepted coupons. She wore a tight scarlet red tank top that made her look like a sausage, tiny jean shorts that looked like she found them at the thrift store on clearance. When my sight traveled down her orange legs to her shoes, my jaw dropped.

She was wearing the same shoes as me.... THAT FUCKING BITCH!

Demetria.... Demetria...calm down! I took slow breaths to calm myself down. This couldn't be happening. They couldn't be the same shoes. They had to be knock-offs. How could someone like that afford these beautiful spiked stilettos, too?

They were designer!

"My name isn't Ms. Kensington." Pumpkin face scowled, rising from her seat. "It's Maris_"

My eyes flashed up at that name, quickly scouring the room in a panic.

The lesbian! She's found me!

"All right then, Marisol, please go ahead, read your diary, starting with the title first please." the doctor instructed.

Her name is... Marisol. I sighed in relief. For a moment, I thought I was in some serious trouble.

"I need you to lose today." Marisol read from her pink diary.

What? I stared at the floor, confused. What kind of diary title was that?

"Dear Jenny. Fuck you. I've known you for a while now and I have decided that I don't want you to win in life. It's not what I have against you, it's just that I can't afford for you to come and try and make me look bad. Yeah I met you last week, but I know a killer when I see one. So that's why you're on your way to loser city district 666 with the rest of the causalities. You guys can spend eternity discussing what you could have done better in life and how when someone seems so obviously out of your league, you shouldn't fuck with them. I'm not going to say what I'm going to do to you, as I don't need extra evidence against me when the police charge me with whatever happens to you. And the good thing about charges is that they can get dropped just as easily. Thanks Daddy." Marisol dropped her arm with the diary, looking at the doctor for further instruction.

My jaw dropped a little as I gazed at her, transfixed.

She's like me!

"Continue, please." the doctor murmured.

Marisol raised her diary back up, opening it again. "Dear Free Spirit. Fuck you. One with the earth my ass, you can shove it up your undeserving size zero ass and then puke it out when you feel like that masculine syrup is too much in the calorie department for you to keep down, you nasty cocksucker. Bitch, I know you have sex with trees and that you've probably given head to a tree trunk, spreading its roots and shit. I'm about to send you to a place where your pathetic attempts at attention seeking are going to get you nothing but attention, from the lonely butch crazy females in the room next door at least. Everybody loves an easy target and I feel generous. My civil duty to the crazy females of St. Songs' home for the cracks and the yahoos of the modern world, AKA my mommy wanted to send me here, but I killed her and got sent here anyways. So I'm about to do my generous deed of the year, maybe millennium, I don't know yet. I'll send you to that place, you give ass, the crazy girls will be happy, and when you kill yourself, I'll cry pure joy. Lady in the water sucks cock and has man's roots up her crotch while she sings loud jungle music in tree language. It's not like people would miss you, and more properties get to be built."

Oh my God, she's just like me!

My insides got all warm.

"Continue." the doctor ordered louder, his voice hoarser.

"Dear Marcy. Fuck you. My dream was to win this year and win hard, meaning obliterate the competition, show them who's boss, and to ultimately teach them that even if they try hard in life, when they are against people like me, they will lose. Marcy, you fucking piece of shit, you think you can get the school board to change the rules so you can become PROM QUEEN! Nobody likes your small dick, except the ugliest fat kid in school, who's so horny he'd fuck his empty doorknob hole at home. Prom queen is about females. I don't like it when an ugly wannabe thinks he can change the rules and take something that doesn't and never would belong to him ever. You stay out of my way or else you really will go and meet the countess de la shit. I'll ban you to a lifetime of lesbian porn that doesn't include dildos."

That was beautiful....

I wanted to clap loudly and give her a standing ovation, but I fought the urge by crossing my arms.

She was just like me. Okay, she didn't look like me, but we thought practically the same way. Just like sisters would.

Oh, I've never had a sister!

Someone to watch my back for me, help me, especially against evil lesbians.

"Very nice, please have a seat, Marisol." the doctor ordered, clapping his hands once. "Now let's discuss what_"

As he yammered on about the meaning of her poetry, I caught her eye as she took her seat, giving her a warm welcoming smile.

Hello sister....

*~*~*

Ridiculous!

I stared daggers at the kitchen attendant holding a clear plastic package filled with something that resembled sushi.

If this isn't fraud, then shoot me now!

I grabbed the plastic, ugh package out of her latex gloved hands and threw it on my tray. The last time I ate food off a tray was in middle school and to this day I still had nightmares. A woman of my class did not eat food off a tray like some average commoner going to a regular school. I had gone to private school, multiple ones. The school I went to during the seventh grade made us wait in line for food that we had to pay for.

Pay for!

They were making us pay for garbage.

My mother was already paying them enough and now they wanted money for their horrendous meals I wouldn't think appropriate for even the lowest of commoners. Nevertheless I ate it, like I was about to here. It's been two weeks and a few days since my arrival at Meadow Hills. I'd been forced to eat their selection of commoner made meals, daily.

I'd had to resort to vomiting after each meal. Which was fine by me, I needed to lose weight anyways. Imagining the horror on Xander's face if he saw me fat left me in tears each night. And I couldn't do that to my baby, not after everything he's been through with that evil lesbian's attempts at seducing and stealing him away from me. I had no idea what was going on in the outside world, and how bad her obsession with Xander had gotten. I was trapped in here, and there was no one to save him. I needed to come up with a new strategy. Xander's life depended on it.

I held the tray of the mock sushi and scoured the dining hall for the one person who could change everything. Sitting in the back, all alone, wearing a purple tank dress a size too small, because even from across the dining hall I could still see back fat, there she was, my sister in spirit.

I should really teach her my losing weight methods, just like a sister would! I smiled happily, walking around Nurse Frumpy, scowling at her as she smiled at me.

"How dare you smile at me you miserable oaf!" I hissed, passing her table on route to my new sister.

"Ms. Demetria, remember now." Nurse Frumpy threatened. Like I was scared of her. All she could do was make me swallow those red pills.

My face fell in horror. Not the red pills!

I shook off the dreaded feeling and forced a smile. I placed my tray on the table and sat beside Marisol. "Hello there, my name is Demetria. Can I call you 'Pumpkin'?"

"What do you want?" she murmured, putting her fork down. Honestly, sushi with a fork? God, I've got to teach her everything.

"Well Pumpkin, I think you and I have a few things in common." I informed her. "I hear you don't like the gays, well let me tell you a story about an evil lesbian that tried to steal my fiancé away!"

*****

Thank you so much for reading Book 3 of the Xander Barns Series

The next book in the Xander Barns Series is....

Forever Calling You

(Xander Barns Series Book 4)

Check out my pages online for more information about all my upcoming books!

https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahtork

https://sarahtorkbooks.wordpress.com

https://twitter.com/authorsarahtork

