Chapter 3.

"I just don't see why I have to dress up. It's your job-interview-meeting thing!" I spat angrily.

If there were two things that fucked me up, it was dressing up and getting up early.

And here I was doing both.

Mom burst into my room at the crack of dawn like a hurricane with make-up and dresses and shit and once she was satisfied off we went to... wherever here was.

And from what I could see of this mystery place, we sure weren't in Kansas anymore.

Big. Immaculate. And screaming MONEY were all the buildings and homes we passed with cars that cost more than a house in every driveway and parking lot.

I'd never felt so uncomfortable in my life. And I was in a dress. And heels. Wearing make-up!

I clucked my tongue again, crossing my arms tight over my chest. This was a load of BS.

"This is the first time, I've ever heard of a job interview allowing "moral support" inside." I huffed. "What kind of job is this any- oh, shit!"

I stumbled as the heel of the pump I'd been forced to wear lodged into a crack in the sidewalk sending me flying through the air before crash landing face-first into a particularly hard patch of grass. As I struggled to gather back all of the air that had been knocked out of my lungs only one thought roared to life in my head: KILL.

"Oh my God! Cash, are you okay?!"

My vision was tinged in red. I could taste bile, hot and bitter on my tongue. Fury, thick and bubbling, boiled its way through my veins.

Do I fucking look okay!?

My fingers dug deep into the thick grass until I felt a sharp pain shoot through my nails. With a grimace, I forced myself to suck breath after breath of the crisp morning air, until the heat crackling in my chest died down. 

Without a word, I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, not caring if I flashed anyone, and considering how short the stupid dress I wore was, it wasn't a total impossibility. As I got back on my feet, mentally assessing my body for any injuries, I could feel the anger numbly pound away at the back of my head. It wasn't completely gone but at least it wouldn't cause any trouble.

For now.

As I took a step I realized I was missing a shoe. I almost laughed at the stupidity of it all. 

"Fuck," I muttered. "And this is why I don't wear stupid shoes like these."

Mom looked me up and down, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of my bare foot.

"Wow, and I thought that only happened in cartoons." She chuckled. "At least you can say, this day really knocked your shoes off, huh?"

I glared at her.

She bit her lip, clearing her throat nervously. "D-don't worry, I'll look for it. Just give me a minute."

As she hurried off in search of the missing heel, I heard the unmistakable sound of a giggle trailing behind her. It was all I could do to keep my tightly balled fists at my sides and keep breathing slowly in hopes that the anger I'd just managed to hold at bay wouldn't overflow again. The steady burn of embarrassment flooding my cheeks was definitely not helping though.

Ugh! What the hell am I even doing here?! 

I grit my teeth so hard I swear I heard my jaw creak. I wanted out. I wanted to leave! Now. Nothing could be worth being made a fool of.

Not even being mom's "emotional support" for the day.

Who the hell was she even kidding with that excuse?

"Mom-"

"Found it!"

All of the fury just sort of drained out of me at the sight of her, all red-cheeked and breathless as she jogged towards me with the single black pump in hand. I felt like a deflated balloon-overly stretched and out of gas.

"Here." she smiled warmly as she held out the heel to me. "I'm sorry Cash, I should've gotten you a smaller size. Are you okay, though? Any scrapes or cuts?"

I would've milked the victim card just to get back at her a little, but when I saw how her eyes crinkled at the corners as she examined me from head to toe, I knew I couldn't. There was too much genuine concern in her eyes for me to do that.

In that moment, she was every bit the mom I knew and loved... no matter how pissed I was at her.

Drawing in a deep breath, I sighed, taking the stupid shoe to slip it on.

"I'm fine, mom. Let's just get this thing over with, okay?"

The look of relief that flashed across her face was blinding.

"You sure? Your ankle doesn't hurt? What about your knees- your chest? You landed pretty ha-"

"Mom. I said, Let's. Go." I hissed through clenched teeth. "Before I change my mind again."

She really wasn't making this easy.

"O-okay," she said, following behind me. "Wait- again?"

I sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

~

The luxurious building in front of us was imposing as fuck as it stood there sparkling in all its splendor. If this didn't scream rich stinking wealth, I didn't know what did.

I mean, it was gilded in gold for fuck's sake!

Unbelievable what rich snobs did with their money.

But even though just staring at it was annoying as hell, there was something more pressing on my mind. I bit my lip and forced myself not to wince at the searing pain that ripped through me with every step I took. Every step was like a knife twisting deeper and harder into my ankle, like someone kept shoving inch after agonizing inch of cold steel deep into my bone. Yet I said nothing, slipping on a mask of indifference so mom wouldn't notice. She was the type to make a big deal out of nothing... and I had neither the patience nor desire to deal with that today.

When we reached what I could only assume was the front desk, my eyes widened.

And I say assume because it was very much not like the front desks I was used to.

Big was one word to describe it. Intricate was another. Stupid was my choice of word.

This meeting was a big deal to mom, some sort of job opportunity or something, I didn't really pay attention. I guess, I didn't realize how much of a big deal it actually was. 

This was on another level.

Mom smiled at the young woman seated behidnthe massive desk. "Hi, we have an 11 o'clock appointment with-"

Oh, my God. There was a fucking gold here on the walls too! What? Was this building made of the stuff?!

"Of course," the blonde receptionist smiled sweetly. "Please follow me into the wating area. He should be down momentarily."

The receptionist emerged from behind the marble structure that was supposed to be a desk looking far more glamorous than any receptionist I'd ever seen. With her hair all coiffed into a neat yet intricate hairstyle, impeccable make-up and pencil skirt attire, it was one of the few times I could easily use the word shabby to describe myself.

Even the way she walked as she showed us to the waiting room, was perfect, if that was even a thing. All hips and straight back.

We reached two of the tallest doors I'd ever seen, and that she somehow managed to push open with ease. With a smile, she swept an arm out, motioning for us to enter first. "Please, take a seat. Mr.-

Woah. 

This... this was insane.

Just what the hell had mom gotten herself into?

Seriously.

That she needed me here for "support" was one thing. I mean, yeah, right, support? Give me a break. That I had to dress up and suffer through an hour-long makeup session, was absurd. I mean, I don't think it was of utmost importance to make sure I was presentable, wasn't she the one supposed to be in the spotlight? But now... as we walked through those massive double doors and into what the receptionist lady had hilariously called a "waiting room", I started to put two and two together.

"Is this some kind of seedy undergound drug pyramid shit?!" I blurted, my voice echoing endlessly within the massive gold and red room.

Mom looked positivley appalled. The receptionist, to her credit, merely looked confused.

"I beg your pardon?" she cocked her head to the side.

Mom jumped in front of me, shutting me down before I even had the chance to reply. "She's kidding! Haha. Just a weird joke. Don't pay her any mind. You know how writers are, huge imagination."

The receptionist's eyes widened with genuine interest. "A writer, how inspiring! What do you write?"

"Books." I deadpanned from behind mom, earning an annoyed cluck of her tongue.

Blondie smiled awkwardly. "Ah, yes, I see. A- anything you'd recommend?"

"Actually, yes. I think my latest work, From Beyond The Grave, would be the perfect read for you. Tons of bloodshed and cannibalism, there's even a chapter where the protagonist has to disembowel her own friend to-"

"Uh, could we trouble you for some waters, dear?" Mom cut in, her voice on the edge between friendly and collected and right about to lose her shit.

I snuck a peek at blondie again and found her rosy cheeked face overtaken by an ashy green, her brown eyes wide in shock. She struggled to swallow as she nodded, "Y-yes, of course. P-please, make yourselves comfortable."

You'd think we were contagious the way she practically ran out.

"Dammit, Cash! Could you, for once, at least pretend to be pleasent?"

I sighed. "What? You bring me to a place like this an expect me not to question it? You know as well as I do that this kind of place is run by money. Loads of money. And what other kind is there but dirty money? I'm just saying."

Mom shot me an annoyed glare before turning back to marvel at the room we found ourselves in.

Ignored and forgotten, just like that.

Hmph. Well, whatever.

I'd think of some way for her to make it up to me later. Maybe I'd have her make me some lasagna. Or some fresh baked cookies and brownies...from scratch.

Maybe...

I'd put her in charge of keeping Nico at bay for the next few months... while I was busy finishing the next manuscript, of course. Couldn't afford to be distracted. I smiled at the last idea. Yeah... that would do. Five- no, six months of pure uninterrupted bliss... Oh, I could hardly wait!

"Come on, let's take a seat over there by the fountain."

I blinked.

Fountain?

No way there was a-

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as I looked to where mom was walking to.

Fuck me...

There really was a fountain! And a koi pond and a whole damn forest with thick verdant trees, lush vibrant flowers of all colors and kinds, and even a frickin' bridge over the koi pond itself.

How in the hell had I missed all of this?

How did this all even fit in here! What was this a TARDIS?

Just where the hell were we?!

"Mom?"

Had we somehow stumbled upon a rabbit hole and fallen in?

She turned and flashed me a smile, strangely unaffected by the grandeur around us. "Come on, Cash, hurry up!"

With a groan, I followed after her.

The shock of the extreme wealth surrounding us occupied my mind so completely I'd forgotten about my busted ankle... until that exact moment when I stupidly stomped after mom.

The sudden burst of pain that exploded in my ankle was enough to make me cry out... or I would've if I hadn't quickly swallowed it down before it could escape my mouth. Sucking in a sharp breath through clenched teeth, I grabbed onto a nearby table for support. It took every bit of strength in me not to collapse into one of the nearby chairs.

Fuck!

"Cash?"

My head snapped up. I quickly wiped away the thin layer of sweat over my forehead. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to put on a brave face as I turned to look at mom. My hands tightened around the thick tablecloth for all of five seconds before I willed my feet to move. 

"Y-yeah," my voice was strangely hoarse. "I'm coming."

Mom's head cocked to the side as she watched me, her brows furrowing when she saw me push away from the table. "You okay?"

I nodded, swallowing down the groan of pain still lodged in my throat.

I counted five- no, ten seconds before mom finally shrugged and turned back to make her way to the fountain. After a handful of shaky breaths and a few tentative tries to step on my throbbing right foot, I

followed after her. It was a good thing her back was to me or I wouldn't have made it without giving myself away. Every step had me biting and chewing on my lip so hard I was soon tasting blood.

As we made our way towards the table near the center of the massive banquet hall, ballroom, "waiting room"- whatever you wanted to call it, I couldn't help but stare in awe. I might not necessarily enjoy the idea of a high, ritzy glam life but that didn't mean I couldn't stare open-mouthed at it.

Everywhere I looked, there was some sort of high end, fancy, expensive-looking wonder to marvel at.

The dangling crystal chandeliers, for example, that I kept telling myself just looked like they were solid gold. Then there were the shiny marble floors, stone pillars, and walls all around us, glinting a brilliant shade of white dusted with flecks of gold. The tables, about twenty of them, covered in brilliant white, gold, and red tablecloths that felt thick yet silky to the touch were each flanked by six sturdy high backed chairs. As we passed these, my eyes instantly narrowed in on the golden sheen of... paint, yeah... that was it, gold paint gilding each and every one of them a glittering shade of 24 carats. And when I looked up at the high ceilings, that I wagered had to be anywhere between twenty and thirty feet, I couldn't help but be completely overwhelmed by what I saw there. The moldings surrounding it were painted a dazzling shade of gold, encasing the beautiful angels and cherubs, fluffy white clouds, and fluttering wings within the massive golden frame. If I didn't know any better, I'd go so far as to say the glittering streaks on the cherub's hair, the angel's trumpets, and the halos above each of their heads were made of real gold. So far, nothing had indicated otherwise.

But... hey, what did I know. I was just some random girl checking out some amazing artwork. I mean, there was no way it could be real gold... right?

Right...

Making our way deeper into the hall, the rushing fountain made of a pure white stone, that I instantly knew was marble, finally came into full view.

And what a fountain it was.

It was huge. Like... really huge. Like everything else in this golden cage.

I think the center pillar alone was as big around as three of me put together. And there was a beautifully sculpted cherub with a tiny little bow and arrow in each of its chubby hands affixed right to the very top of it. I had to force myself not to snort in derision. 

Cupid... really? 

Someone's into romantics.

Still... it was pretty. Too pretty if you asked me. But the water looked so cool and inviting that before I knew it I was already making my way towards it.

Reaching out a hand to feel some of the water that burst from the cherub's mouth I nearly jumped out of my skin at how icy cold it was. Behind me I heard Mom snicker but when I turned to flash her a death glare she was already facing the other direction, as if nothing had happened.

Hmph.

"Oh, Cash, isn't this all just so... beautiful?" She breathed dreamily.

Shaking my hand dry, I turned my gaze skyward, and snorted. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, it feels like I have to pay someone just for standing here. Wherever here is. Anyway, wasn't your meeting supposed to start, uh, 10 minutes ago? And just what kind of company are you getting yourself into? This is like high class- like waaay up there high class, if you catch my drift."

With a frown I turned to look at her. "Seriously, what kind of people are you supposed to be meeting anyway? You're still gonna sit there and tell me this doesn't have money laundering and drugs all over it?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake! Like I would ever be involved with the drug underworld." she clucked her tongue.

Hm, well, she had a point...

I would've said something more but then the blonde receptionist made another appearance, a gold tray in hand with two intricately made flute glasses of what I could only assume was wine and another two flutes with water. I couldn't help but notice how hard she was trying to avoid looking at me as she neatly placed each flute in front of mom.

It made me want to mess with her again.

"Hey," I smiled sweetly. "I didn't get to finish telling you about the book." I leaned back into the fountain, my back pressing into the cold hard marble there as I got comfortable. "I'm telling you, it's gonna blow you away... just like in this one chapter one of the character's accidentally lands on a hand grenade and BOOOM he just goes up in a spray of blood and body parts and brain matter-"

"M-my apologies, Miss Huxley," she squeaked, cutting me off, as she held the tray against her chest like a shield. "I really must get back to work. P-perhaps another time."

I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest and shrugged. "Yeah, sure. I'll hold you to it."

Wait. How did she know my name?

"How did-"

I looked to mom, who didn't say anything until the poor girl had wobbled her way out. Then she flashed me an annoyed look.

"What?" I shrugged pushing away from the fountain to make my way to the chair across from her. "I was just trying to offer her a good read."

"Yeah, right. More like nightmares." Mom shook her head. "Really, Cash, can you please try to hold back a little. Just for today." She flashed me those puppy dog eyes, her lips all trembling and shit.

I was annoyed with the whole but couldn't even begin to think about saying no.

Even I wasn't that fucked up.

So I offered her shrug.

Mom knew enough about me to understand this was as good a promise as she was going to get.

"So, who's this mystery person you're meeting anyway?" I yawned. "You'd think that someone rich enough to afford this place would be on time."

Mom smiled, staring of in the direction of the fountain. "Do you think that's real marble?"

I raised a brow. "Uh, what? No, mom, we're not talking about the fountain right now." What the hell? Why the sudden change in subject?

She waved me off, the bangles at her wrist clinking against each other in a way that nearly drove me over the edge. "Oh, relax Cash, they'll be here. Why not just take in all this splendor while we wait? Oh, it's just too good to be true! I mean, can you believe that ceiling? God, it must've cost a fortune!"

Hmph!

I grit my teeth. She was obviously busy away in dreamland and nothing I'd say or do would pierce her bubble. But I glared daggers at her, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, as we waited for the mystery employer running over, I glanced down at my watch, over 15 mintues late now.

Relax, my ass.

The more we sat there, the stronger this nagging feeling at the back of my head kept growing. Something was definitely going on here, whether she wanted to admit it or not. I, mean, I wasn't stupid. I could smell the mischief on her a mile away. I might not know exactly what it was but somehow or another, I was going to find out. 

Just look at the facts-

1.) She made come here, to a job interview! Where in the hell was that ever allowed?

2.) She'd made me dress up and made up as if my general appreance mattered here. She should've been more worried about her own self, it was her interview here!

3.) She'd disclosed little to no information; what kind of job it was, who the employer was, why they set the meeting here, nothing! If that wasn't sneaky, then what the hell was?!

Quite frankly though, I was more pissed at myself for barely starting to put things together. I mean, it was fishy right from the start! And yet, here I was, like a dumbass, following along with every bold-faced lie she'd spouted at me.

I placed my elbows on the table, lacing my fingers below my chin to stare hard at the woman across from me. "Look, mom," I seethed through clenched teeth. "I don't know exactly what the deal is here but I swear, if you're messing with me, I-"

"Mrs. Huxley," The sound of a deep voice behind me stopped me in my tracks. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

I looked to mom, eyebrows raised in question. She wasn't even looking at me though, already on her feet, hand outstreched and a beaming smile lighting up her face.

What the hell?

Her eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree, her smile bright enough to put the sun to shame, and the sound that came out of her when she opened her mouth nearly made die from embarrassment.

Who was this woman, fricken' Snow White, all giggles and smiles?

"Oh, not at all, we just got here ourselves, didn't we, Cash?"

I looked at her. Why the hell was she asking me? I was here for support, silent support. Nothing more. Like the potential empolyer gave a shit about my two-cents.

Mom, apparently, had other thoughts.

Her gaze was practically glued on whoever was behind me.

I mean, damn sparkles were floating all around her as she grinned from ear to ear when she clasped hands with the person standing behind me. The mystery man chuckled, the deep sound reverberating down my back as they shook hands in greeting.

"Mrs. Huxley, it's so nice to finally meet you. Our phone conversations, however, make it feel like we've known each other always." He smiled. I could hear it in his voice, all pleasant and silky smooth like rich caramel. "I do hope you're doing well this afternoon."

I watched Mom as she nodded. The twinkle in her eyes growing even more blinding by the second. "Well, aren't you sweet?" She giggled again, her cheeks flooding with a pink tinge I've only ever seen on her when she was flirting with Dad. "And yes, Cash and I are both doing great. Isn't that right, hon'?"

I scowled. Again, bringing me into the sickeningly sweet conversation, that was very clearly beginning to sound like anything but a work interview.

"What about you, Rio? Everything well back home?"

Back home?

Rio?

Just who was this person and why did mom know so much about him?

And what did he mean, 'phone conversations'?

Obviously this wasn't a work thing anymore.

Just how long had these two been in contact? And why?

And another thing-

Did this guy know anything about personal space?! I could feel his damn crotch at my back for fuck's sake!

The mystery man chuckled again. The sound was like a thick wave of heat cascading over me, sending a flurry of tingles into my stomach.

The frown already furrowing my brows together deepened. The hell?

"I'm glad... excited to finally meet you. And I must say, you look even more radiant than I imagined."

My brows shot up.

Oh, hell no.

Who the fuck did this guy think he was?

I slammed my hands on the table and jumped to my feet in a rage. The sound of the chair sliding against the shiny marble white floors cut through their pleasantries as it crashed somewhere behind me- hopefully into the douchebag back there.

"Okay, no, nope. No way. Mom, it's time to go." I was raging. Fuck your "job interview", fuck this guy, and fuck all the sick flirting ya'll are doing." My cheeks were on fire. " I mean, are you kidding me?" I glared daggers at her. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're seriously going to pull this shit in front of me?!" She stared at me, slack-jawed and wide-eyed, in complete disbelief no doubt at being called out on her shit.

But as angry as I was with her, it didn't even come close to comparing with the fury I felt towards the man behind me. I balled my hands into tight fists, swerving around in a flash to confront the bastard. "And you," my word were like ice, my gaze postivitely blazing with unrestrained ire. "Why don't you back the hell off man, this woman is married, okay? So I don't know what kind of game you're playing but it stops right now."

No sooner had the words left my mouth that the sound of laughter exploded within the massive hall. And it was all I could do to keep standing.

My jaw dropped and my eyes nearly bugged out of my skull.

Okay... wait... what?

The mystery man was not at all the creep I'd been envisioning. Far from it. No, by society's standards the man was the very epitome of tall, dark and handsome. Lush full lips, a razor-sharp jawline that could cut you if you weren't careful, a straight long roman nose, and smooth fair skin were only some of the features I could make out. Because what really caught my attention and held it hostage was his height. The bastard was tall.

Really, really tall-

Like six feet plus tall.

He was clad all in black; black suit jacket, pants, button-down dress shirt, tie, and shoes. On his left wrist, he wore a black watch that looked like it cost more than dad's car. His inky black hair was slicked back from his forehead, an undercut style that perfectly suited his handsome chiseled face.

And then there were his eyes- like two pools of deep midnight blue. Staring at them was like losing yourself in the endless inky blue depths of the night sky- too much to take in and just not enough time.

"-gize."

"-it's fine."

"-not okay. Cash, apologize right now!"

I blinked. Shook my head against the fuzzy clouds there and realized my mouth was agape. I quickly slammed it shut trying to remember where I was and what I'd been doing.

"Mrs. Huxley, please, it really is fine. This is nothing more than a simple misunderstanding."

Oh yeah... I growled. This fucker...

"Hey!" I snapped. Both my mother and the stranger stopped. Mom had the decency to look embarrassed, although, I wasn't sure if it was for herself or for me. Not like it made a difference though, I could care less. The stranger in black raised a brow, a twinkle in those sleepy eyes of his. What the hell was up with his eyes?! All dreamy and shit, like he'd just had really great se-

"Cash!"

I shot mom with a glare over my shoulder before turning my attention back to the asshole.

"Misunderstanding? Really? You're gonna pull that bullshit with me?" I charged him, my entire body vibrating with anger. "What the hell's wrong with you? What, you got a thing for older women? Married women? Women with kids? What kind of ploy is this- offer them a job and they'll come running? Are you insane?!"

"Cash, wait-"

But I wasn't waiting. I was done waiting.

I was a speeding bullet train on a one-way track to utter destruction, flames and all.

"No mom, don't you dare," I warned, shooting her another scathing glare that quickly shut her up. 

Her luck had run out. There was no stopping my fury this time. "What's the matter with you? What, you just gonna stand here and let this bastard sweet talk you like that? What about Dad?"

Mom bit her lip, her golden eyes flit from me to the stranger behind us. Her brows knitting together nervously as she tried to reclaim some semblance of a smile. She reached for me, her fingers digging into my arm just enough to make wince.

"What!?" I snarled.

"Cash, can you just stop and listen for a second. You've got it all wrong hon'-"

"Like hell I do!"

"Please, just listen to me, he's-"

"You didn't tell her."

We both stopped. I could feel mom stiffen beside me as the man looked from her to me with confusion.

For some reason, this only made the anger boiling in my veins overflow. "Tell me what?" I snapped.

He smiled at me then, a smile that lit up his inky blue eyes and sent my heart all aflutter. It was the most compassionately warm smile I'd ever seen.

Fuck.

Mom chuckled sheepishly beside me. "Well... not, exactly."

My hands balled into tight fists as I turned back to face my mother. The metallic taste of pennies flooded my mouth.

"Tell me what mom?" My voice had grown soft. I could barely hear it over the rush of blood pounding in my head.

She offered me a reassuring smile. "Cash, hon', I-"

"Tell. Me. What." I repeated slowly.

Mom licked her lips, taking one of my arms in both of her hands to rub it soothingly, the way she always did when she knew I was about to explode.

"Well, you see Cash, um... this meeting wasn't exactly for a job interview." She chuckled nervously.

Uh, yeah. I got that.

"So? What's it for then?"

"Um... well... oh, dear..."

Suddenly there was a heavy warmth at my shoulder. The heat penetrating past the sheer fabric of the dress I wore to seep into my bones. "Please, allow me, Mrs. Huxley."

I was forced to turn and face the guy, the jerk, the fucker who'd made a fool out of my mother, and before I could even get a word out, he spoke, this time, at me.

"I apologize Cash, from the very bottom of my heart for the huge misunderstanding. It wasn't my intention to make you upset or angry at all, if anything I only wished to bring you some semblance of comfort and ease today. Nothing more. Please, don't blame your mother. If anything, I am to blame for not introducing myself to you from the very beginning. For that, you have yet again my deepest apologies." He sighed, his heavy-lidded gaze screaming heartfelt sincerity and regret. He reached down and took my hand in his, the intense heat from it searing my flesh, then he brought it to his lips where he planted a chaste kiss upon my knuckles.

My eyes widened.

Somewhere behind me, I heard my mother sigh.

"Please, allow me to start again," He then straightened to his full height, his hold over my hand still firm as he cocked his head to look down at me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "My name is Rio Asheton, I believe you already know my father, and I am very glad to meet you, Cash Huxley. I've heard so many wonderful things about you from your mother and I'd like to learn even more if you'd allow me the pleasure in continuing this date."

I blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. I frowned. My mouth flapping open like a damned fish out of water as I struggled to come up with something- anything to say. But nothing would come out.

In. Out. Yeah... just like that Cash, just breathe. You got this... just remember- in and out. In. and out. That's it.

I looked to the hand wrapped tenderly around my own then to the pair of sparkling inky blue depths earnestly peering down at me. I looked from the lush full lips currently curved into a million-watt smile to the long slender fingers wrapped around mine. I would've turned to look at my mother too, who was no doubt swooning at what dear Mr. Darcy clad all in black had just said but the hold those eyes held over me was unbreakable. So instead, I did the only thing I could do.

I reached for him.

Tugged at my hand until it slipped through his hold then wrapped both my arms around his neck and pulled him low until the tips of our noses touched. Even with him bent at the waist I still had to stand on tiptoes to get close enough to him so that my lips could brish his ear, all the while trying desperately not to drink in the scent of his skin and cologne.

With a smile, I pressed my lips against his ear and whispered low enough for only him to hear.

"Fuck. Off."

Then I gripped the collar of his suit jacket, pulled him down lower until he was exactly where I wanted him, and rammed my knee hard into his crotch. When he crumpled to his knees with a groan I smirked before winding my arm back and smashing my fist into his face in a thunderous punch that sent him sprawling flat onto his back.

Only silence could be heard in the handful of seconds that followed before all hell broke loose.

"Cash! Cash, oh my God what've you done!? Jesus! Rio, are you alright?!"

I didn't even blink at the look of utter horror on my mother's face as I stomped past her, the stabbing pain at my ankle forgotten in the midst of my rage. With the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor I made my way to the wide double doors we'd come through bidding silent good riddance to the two people who'd made the mistake of trying to trick me.

"Maybe next time," I called out over my shoulder just before I burst through the doors. "You'll think twice before pulling this shit again."

And with that, I was gone.