Chapter 7

I parked the car in our garage in an angry haze and immediately stormed to the stairs, having my fair share of elevators for the day. Sebastian not only pissed me off with bringing my ass hole of an ex-boyfriend, Hudson into the picture, but also made me stay an extra hour to talk to Niles Berke about his son, which all pieces of information I knew of already. As long as I knew that Hudson and Alejandra's presence still lingered in the building, I couldn't focus on anything properly. All that Berke said over the conference went in through one ear and out the other. Still, I sat still in the conference room, stared at the small computer screen and pretended to listen to everything he said.

"He's a member of Parliament, and you ignored the words coming out of his mouth?" Darcy asked.

"I had more pressing matters that were more important." I mumbled in response, stuffing my address book filled with previous client's numbers in my bag.

I fished my keys out of my bag and flipped through the various ones for my house key attached to the key chain I purchased from my trip to Italy, unlocking my front door once I found them. The apartment was dark and quiet. Surprisingly, Beth wasn't in the living room watching TV like I usually find her when I get home. I looked at my phone; it was 10:47, maybe she was video chatting with Louis? Of course I wouldn't know what time it was in France at the moment.

I threw my purse on the purse rack and sighed. I wanted to vent, and Beth was my primary option since Sarah was, again, with her tattoo artist friend Matt who referred to me as "flake" for missing out on fajita night last week.

"Beth." I whined. I flicked on the hallway light and noticed her bedroom door wide open, with the lamp on.

"Beth, you will not believe what happened today at the meeting." I walked into her room, finding her on her computer watching something. She took out her earphones when she spotted me.

"Oh hey. What was that?" She said.

"I said you won't believe what happened at the meeting today."

Her eyes enlarged once I repeated myself. She closed her laptop, set it on the ground and patted the empty space next to her on the large black and white floral comforter. I landed weightlessly on the bed and clenched my jaw at the memory of that morning.

"What the hell happened?" She asked anxiously, leaning over my face; her blue eyes darkened with every passing second I stayed silent.

I swallowed before replying "Sebastian needed a lawyer for the contract renewal. Guess who he hi-"

"That son of a bitch!" Beth grabbed the small burgundy pillow by her arm and through it at the wall.

"It was fucking horrible. I was so angry I couldn't...I couldn't..."

"What did you do when you saw him?"

I sat up, feeling nauseous suddenly "Well first off, it wasn't just him. It was Alejandra next to him too."

"Oh no he didn't!"

I nodded my head rapidly "Yes he did, and it get's worse. Sebastian tried to bring up the fact that we 'knew' each other. In front of Mr. Anderson and his lawyer. As if it was some social gathering where everything is put on the table. Hudson and Alejandra couldn't even look at me without blushing or sweating bullets, Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Keening looked confused, and Sebastian looked beyond amused. I wanted...to die."

Beth wore a sympathetic look on her face. She pushed her self off the bed, adjusting her black sweats in the process.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm going to see if we have any ice cream-"

I waved my hand in opposition, feeling anger grow once again inside of me "No, not this time. This made me realize what Sebastian wants," I scooted up towards the edge of the bed and looked at Beth, "he wants me to break. He wants me to become this...this emotional train wreck because he's trying to push me away."

Beth raised an eyebrow at me.

I stood up "We had an intense argument in the elevator on Monday. The way he was talking, it didn't sound like him, it sounded exactly like...Garret."

"So you're saying that Garret had something to do with this?"

"Yes. The night of the address, he walked out of the office smirking, the office that's now Sebastian's actually. Anyway, after putting everything together I just knew he had something to do with this. He's trying to push me away, because Garret has convinced him that it would be the best. I don't know the details, but I know he brainwashed him somehow."

"But if this is Garret's fault, why retaliate at Sebastian?"

I began pacing the room, thinking all of the details over in my head for a moment "It seems as if Garret has convinced Sebastian that I'm not good enough for him, which in turn made Sebastian think that he needs to push me away."

Beth cooed in understanding "I see, now! I mean think about it. This, gorgeous, rich guy who has had mommy and daddy issues his entire life? He doesn't know what love is. You think he's afraid?"

"Exactly. He doesn't know how to control himself."

She snapped her fingers "That's why he wants to make you hate him so he will push you away-"

"-but that isn't happening. Definitely not. After this, no way."

A smirk slowly grew on Beth's face "Leslie, ar-are you saying what I think you're saying?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and fixed my eyes on my cell phone on the bed "He wants to play this game with me, I'll play too. I'll be a bitch if he wants." I reached for my cell phone and searched for Sarah's contact number when it was in my hand, tuning out the sound of Beth's excited squeals.

I pressed the call button and waited; she picked up within seven seconds "You alright, Les? I wanted to call but I didn't know if you were going to kill me or somethi-"

"You're right."

There was a long pause on the other line "Well, you've got to be more specific because I'm right about everything."

"The breaking point? It...it's happened."

Silence.

"Is that the flake?" A masculine voice asked in the back round.

"Yes, Matt" Sarah began, "And you'll get to meet her in ten minutes. Leslie, get your ass in your car, bring your friend Brittany and come to my place."

"It's Beth-"

"Now." Then she hung up.

**

"Beth, can you read me the address again? I think we're on the wrong street."

Beth reopened the crumpled sticky note that contained Sarah's address on it from last week. She looked out of her window and pointed to the light blue apartment building with two palm trees on each side of the gate.

"No I think this is it, 3454."

I spotted a parking spot a few spaces away, grateful I could find one so late at night. I parallel parked in the spot and turned off the car.

"Hopefully Sarah will know what to do." I worried.

Beth set a hand on my shoulder "It will be fine. Sarah's always full of bright ideas and plus, she's...honest. We will figure out how to turn you into a boss ass bitch."

I grunted "I'm not turning into a boss ass-"

Beth stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut before I could finish my sentence. I frowned.

I met up with Beth in front of the metal gate, which proved as a road block from the courtyard of the building.

"Is there a buzzard?" She asked, looking around.

I shrugged "She gave me the apartment number, but no buzzard location. Wow." I felt around the walls in the dim lighting, yet no buzzard.

"Never mind, I'll just call-"

Suddenly, a silhouette of a man running up from behind the gate startled us. I jumped at the sight of him.

"Don't worry I'm harmless, flake." He said, opening the gate.

I smiled faintly "Oh, Matt. I'm...Leslie. Well you already knew that."

When we walked through the gate, I could finally get a better look at him. The very first thing I noticed were his tattoos, which were absolutely amazing. Vibrant colors completely landscaped across both of his arms, and a bit visible on his chest.

He reminded me of a hipster in a sense, yet had the grunge look mixed in with it as well, rocking rugged brown boots, Levi jeans, and a navy blue short sleeve buttoned up shirt with a dark blue beanie to match.

When I finished scoping him out, he smiled at me "Of course I know you. You're the one who bailed out on fajitas. To be honest, they were store bought but don't tell Sarah I told you." He winked.

"Don't worry, I won't." I assured.

"And for the record, don't let the tattoos fool you, I'm not as intimidating as I look."

I laughed "I'm glad to hear that, I was starting to get worried."

He pointed to a set of metal stairs on the left of the garden that sat in the center of the court yard.

"After you." He told us, gesturing his hand outwards. I climbed the case first, Beth followed my lead.

At the top of the floor, Matt squinted his eyes in my direction.

"Wow, I didn't realize how tiny you are." He said.

I blushed. It wasn't the first time someone commented on my 5'0 height, but every time I didn't brush it off. It seemed the heels I wore still didn't bring me to average height, where I wished I was at.

"Yeah, I get that a lot." I responded.

"Do you have any tattoos?"

I laughed "God, no. I could never get a tattoo."

Matt looked appalled "What? C'mon, I can imagine you getting one. Maybe like a little butterfly or something."

I smiled widely "Or a skull surrounded in fire, I would love that."

Matt laughed "That would be perfect. You know I said I would never get a tattoo and look at me now."

He pulled up his shirt sleeve, revealing more of his inked, muscular arms.

"Those are just amazing. How lon-"

Beth cleared her throat dramatically "Thank you so much for introducing me to this random stranger, Leslie I-I really appreciate it."

I turned around, feeling guilty, even though Beth had a grin on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Um, this is Beth. Beth, this is Matt."

They both shook hands.

"That's funny, Sarah said your name was Brittany."

She rolled her eyes "She always gets it wrong."

Matt faced the apartment unit we all stood in front of "Speaking of Sarah, we're here."

Sarah's apartment was a far knock out of the park from what I expected. Instead of black painted walls and a deer hanging above the fireplace, her walls were a simple shade of light brown, with black suede couches to match. Pictures of her family and friends, as well as artwork, covered most of the walls. Once inside, we were hit with the powerful smell of lavender.

"God it smells crazy good in here." Beth said as she took off her coat and hung it on the wooden coat rack by the small dining room table. She began snooping around the rest of the apartment, looking at the photos and eventually walking into the kitchen.

"Lavender. She has different scents everyday, she's obsessed with candles it's ridiculous."

Matt plopped down on the couch and picked up a dark glass bottle from the table. He waved his hand, catching my attention "You know, you don't have to stand forever." He smiled a toothy grin while patting the empty space next to him.

I walked over to where he was and sat next to him nervously. He tipped his bottle back and took a swig of his drink. I rolled my eyes.

"What?" He asked.

I shook my head "I just figured you were the drinking type."

He furrowed his eyebrows at me before laughing "This isn't beer, more like coke; I don't drink."

I widened my eyes "But, Sarah said beer and fajitas last week."

He took another sip "That's right, beer for her. She's always drinking something."

"I heard that, ass hole." Sarah came out from behind the hallway in the back. She spotted us sitting next to each other and smirked.

"Matt, I know she's adorable but you can't be getting' all cozies up with her, she's taken."

Matt's brown eyes softened at Sarah's words.

"Oh, I didn't know that." He said curiously.

"Sarah!" I exclaimed "I'm not taken and you know this."

She scoffed "Whatever, you both are in denial. And why is Blondie snooping around my cabinets?"

Beth popped her head out from behind a cabinet door, wearing a huge smile on her face "I'm sorry, it's just that she has like..." Beth counted silently to herself before lowering her voice to a whisper, "over 18 different hot sauces. The possibilities!"

"Yes, the possibilities to burn your tongue off. Come grab some pretzels or something and take a seat." Sarah smiled impatiently, waiting for Beth to exit her kitchen. Beth, feeling pressured, grabbed a hand full of cheez-it's and ran into the living room. She sat on the arm of the couch Matt and I were at while Sarah sat in the matching suede chair diagonal from it.

"Matt, we're about to talk about some serious girl stuff." Sarah started.

He shrugged "And?"

"That means get up and go smoke some pot or something with Kai and 'Shadow' across the way."

"Oh, come on it's not like he knows who we're talking about." Beth said.

"Yeah, you're acting like we're talking about Lucas, which we all know you hate doing." I winked at her, which caused her to freeze. Her face held something along the lines of mortification and shame.

Matt looked at me with an amused expression on his face "Wait...Lucas Frazier? Reddish hair, pretty tall, icy blue eyes?"

I nodded.

Matt chuckled "Well, well, well Sarah. I would have never guessed."

I grimaced "Wait, how do you know Lucas?"

Matt smiled "He's happens to be my little brother."

I covered my mouth with my hands out of instinct, even though I knew it was no use. Sarah rubbed her eyes.

"What ever you think Lucas and I have going on is non existent. He's weird and dorky...no offense, Matt."

"None taken. You're still a terrible liar, though."

Sarah growled at Matt, making him stand up and walk towards the door.

"Fine, fine, I'll leave. Besides, Kai's got that good Jamaican shit anyway."

Sarah smiled sarcastically "Great. And when old Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley complain to my manager about a suspicious smell coming from Apartment T and find Jamaican herbs in Kai's apartment, I never knew you."

The sound of Sarah's door opening halted the conversation. A skinny male of African descent with dreads tied into a ponytail slowly walked into the apartment, a small grin planted on his face. The smell of weed suddenly substituted the smell of lavender.

"I heard my name." He said.

Sarah fanned the air with both of her hands "Jesus, Kai what the fuck?"

He smiled sluggishly "Sorry, I heard my name. Hey everyone." He waved to everyone except Sarah. Beth and I waved back, trying not to laugh.

"You need to get your Jamaican herb shit, and Matt, and get out."

"Hey...no need for the language."

Sarah stood up "I don't give a shit. You're stinking up my-"

Kai held his hand up "Ah! I'm only of acceptance of kind words of kindness."

Beth snorted.

"You're fucking kidding me?" Sarah set her hands on her hips.

"Reform your words, and then I'll consider leaving your house." He grinned again, looking as if he was unaware of what was going on around him.

Sarah shot a look in Matt's direction. He shrugged.

"The man's got a point. Just ask him politely to leave."

Sarah sighed "Please...leave...my...house."

Kai bowed his head, stepping out of the house with Matt. Matt waved at me before standing at Kai's side, I waved back shyly.

"See, Sarah?" Kai started, "That was all you had to do. See, if everyone just loved each other equally, maybe smoke a little weed here and there, this world would be a much better place. See, if you turn on the-"

Sarah slammed the door in Kai's face before he could finish his statement.

"I...love that guy already." Beth said, sitting next to me on the couch.

"Are you joking? I have to listen to him blasting Stick Figure and Bob Marley every morning."

"But Bob Marley is awesome."

"Yes, Leslie. He is. But try listening to 'Redemption Song' every morning at 6:56...for three months straight."

I cringed.

Sarah sighed, obviously exhausted "And wait till you meet 'Shadow', hopefully you don't, he's even more annoying. Anyway, let's get down to the important details."

I took a deep breath and nodded. As Sarah was going to add on, we heard the faint sound of 'Redemption Song' by Bob Marley playing across the way.

"Dammit!" Sarah yelled.