Chapter 2

Cornelius POV

"Oh come on Niks, I think I'll have to sit this one out. I don't do well with rich snobby folks," I complained taking another lane as the green traffic light changed to amber.

"Do you hear yourself right now?"

"You know what I mean, Niks. I won't fit in"

"Cornelius Powers you better attend my show or else..."

"Niks? Krrrrrkrrrrr. Niks. I'm losing you...I can't hear you krrrrrkrrrrrkrr"

And I hung up, I'm sure Nicole would get the message eventually. Attending my cousin's show all the way in Vegas wasn't in my agenda. After we laid dad to rest,I wanted to be far way from my family as possible. With dad gone, I knew very well that they would try to console me, try to make me feel alright when nothing was alright to begin with.

I needed space. I needed time to process that the man I had tried so hard to impress was gone. I needed time to process that I was on my own from now on.

It was me and me alone.

I took the lane down Mane Street thinking of it as the fastest way to get to my company by avoiding traffic. The drive was smooth, I knew that within half an hour I would be back at my office swinging in my swivel chair as Bosco laid down the agenda for the day.

But...but I spoke too soon.

Infront of me was a black SUV, with the owner kicking one of the rear tyres with her sharp five inch heel. I contemplated whether I would stop to help or drive away just like the rest of the cars did. Come to think of it, why would I help a woman who smashed my balls not once but twice?! She smashed my balls twice. Twice I tell you!

One with her foot at a Met Gala and the other one she actually smashed my balls with a baseball bat inside my office during an interview. Just the mere thought of those two occurrences made me shudder. Or how about the time she splashed vodka on my face, my eyes stung like the Dickens!

By the time I was done thinking about that, I had already stopped my car observing the woman in the navy blue skirt and polka dot blouse. The face might have covered her devil face but I knew her. Lydia Hayden was a monster in the making. The devil's daughter. Satan's little helper. The reincarnation of Beelzebul inform of a woman.

And no I was not being spiteful but honest. I understand we had a rocky start, she found me pleasuring her boyfriend but so what? That's why the phrase 'forgive and forget' was introduced right? You just forgive and then forget. But she...she had never forgiven me and it's been two freaking years already.

Sighing I got out of my car.

'I am so gonna regret this'

Putting up my fakest smile I approached her from behind.

"Ms, do you need any help?"

She turned to me, her eyes that were earlier gleaming with worry filled with unbelievable fury.

"You? I don't need your help!" she said coldly and I bent down examining her flat tyre.

"You've got a flat tyre,"I said casually ignoring her icy eyes.

"Look at me,"she started and I stared,"Am I missing an eye? Or better yet am I missing both eyes? Do I look like Blind Bartimaeus to you? If you came to state the obvious then you can leave"

And here we go again. 

"So you do need help?" I asked trying to calm myself down.

"I do I really do but if it's coming for you, I better wait for Jerry to show up"

Oh brother. This was what I was talking about. The woman was so bitter, so cold that even breathing the same air she was, made me contagious of her bitterness.

I scrunched my nose in disgust walking away from her.

"When your car gets fixed you better visit the candy store. You'll need a whole bucket of candy to fix your bitter personality. It's not a insult sweetheart, take it as a piece of advice" And with that I walked away.

Well at least I tried before she blocked my path.

"Excuse me! You...you piece of..." She stopped her eyes catching glimpse of something behind me.

"Oh my God. Umm... kiss me! Kiss me now" she squeaked.

Umm... Was that an insult? Why was her hands on my neck? Why was she getting closer to my body that I could smell her Lavender perfume?

"Are you bipolar or something. Back up. There's no way in hell I'm kissing you"

"Believe you me I'm not thrilled with this either,"she said and before I could protest further her lips smashed mine.

My eyes bulged out in surprise, my lips tried to part from hers but she held me captive to whatever wormhole she was pulling me into. I was kissing Lydia Hayden. I was kissing Lydia Hayden? Technically she was kissing me.

"Dia, is that you Dia?"

And she parted from our kiss, leaving a confused me to stand next to her.

"Bob, I didn't know you were in town" she smiled but that statement was so fake that even this Bob guy must have known.

The guy Bob didn't seem like much but I could see it in his face that seeing me with her must have cut him deep.

"Well. It's LA who doesn't like LA?" He gushed and the woman next to me smiled clinging to my biceps.

Was I missing something?

"Ooh, I almost forgot this is Justin. Justin- Robert Sanders. Robert - Justin"

I had a question, who was Justin? And why was she gesturing towards me everytime she said Justin?