"What's up?" Archibald asked, sitting in front of me.

I was reading an e-book on my phone and drinking a cup of tea sitting behind a circle table in the yard; While Joseph, Samuel and Ashley were having a privet video chat with Alexander and Ricardo.

"Not much." I said turning off the screen, putting my phone on the table.

"Were you texting your boyfriend?" He asked with an smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes. "He is asleep right now. It's not even 10:00 a.m. here and Miami is six hours behind. How you expect him to text me?" I hated it when Joseph's friends talked about Jason. They talked like I'm committing a sin by being with him and not with Joseph.

"Yup. Right." He said then bit his lower lip.

I took a sip of my tea.

Archibald held his left hand up. One of the men, standing there, came closer.

"Bring a pot of tea, a cup for me and some cookies."

The man nodded and left.

"How long it's been that you're dating him?" He asked, putting his elbow on the table.

"More than a month. Why?" I asked, holding my empty cup between my hands, looking in to his eyes.

He broke the eye contact by looking at the building then cleared his throat. "Just trying to make a conversation."

"Oh. Good." I said looking down.

We stayed silent for a few seconds. "What about you? Any lucky girl?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Well. If all of the girls were as beautiful and smart as you, it would be easier."

"How you know I'm smart?" I asked with an smirk on my face, raising an eyebrow.

"I had heard a lot about you." He said, looking in to my eyes.

"Oh. Really? I would like to know what you had heard." I said, leaning forward, putting my elbows on the table, resting my head between my hands.

"Sir." A tall blonde girl in a uniform said, putting the tray on the table, filling an empty cup for Archibald.

"Tea?" Archibald asked looking at me.

"Yes. Please." I said.

The girl poured some tea for me too. Then put the plate of cookies and the pot on the table.

"You can leave. Thanks." Archibald said looking at the girl.

I realized his gaze on the girl's body while she was walking away.

"Sorry. Where were we?" Archibald asked moving a little on his sit, looking back at me as soon as the girl was out of sight.

"You were going to tell me what you had heard about me." I said, tucking my hair behind my ear thinking about how much guys could be pervert and thanked God that we didn't have a young girl housekeeper.

"Oh. Yeah. Right." He said, nodding rapidly. Then cleared his throat. "Ummm. Well. I heard how you had reacted when you got kidnapped. I heard you had gone to Joseph and talked with him about everything. Then went shopping with him and had a lot of fun. When Joseph was describing all these things to me he used the word "brave" to describe you but I use "smart". Of course you had to be brave to do such a thing specially when you're just a tiny girl and you have to deal with four muscular men. But you should be smart at the first place to think about such an amazing trick." He said. Then took a sip of his coffee.

"I'm not sure what you mean." I said confused. Was he really accusing me of playing Joseph or taking advantage of him?

"As I said you are a smart girl and you exactly know what I mean. You treated him kindly and didn't take it hard on him so he wouldn't take hard on you as well. So he could fall for you more and more and did whatever you wanted to. I think I should clap for you. You're a great actress." He said. Then started clapping.

"I never had played him." I said angrily.

"Oh. Really?" He said with a smirk on his face. "He may have became blind because of the feelings he has for you. But I'm not blind, lady. Oh Joseph I had really missed you. Oh, Joseph. Are you okay?" He said two last sentences, trying to sound like a girl.

"You're disgusting." I shouted.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He said, smirking.

"You know what? I don't care what you say. Neither do Joseph." I said, getting up.

"Hearing the truth is always hard. Isn't it?"

I took a huge step towards him and slapped him hardly.

He got up, laughing. Then moved his jaw and got closer to me. I got scared, but I didn't want to show it. So I stayed still.

"You're stronger than I thought." He said, looking down at me.

"Yeah. I am." I looked up in to his eyes, not showing weakness.

He laughed loudly. "I would have liked that if we were in bed."

"Well. We're not." I said raising my eyebrows.

"Now I see why he likes you. You're wild."

"Wilder than you can even imagine."

He giggled. "Whatever. Let's don't be enemies. It doesn't matter that I think you're playing my friend, and I should admit I really do hate it, but you're his girl and I should respect his decisions. After all you're under his control no matter how hard you try to play him, at the end of the day you're still his and he can do whatever he wants to you and no one can stop him. So let's be friends. Huh?" Archibald said.

"I don't think we can be friends after this discussion. But we don't need to be enemies either." I said.

"It's better for you to shake hands with me and be my friend, beautiful." He said, reaching his hand out.

I pressed my lips on each other hardly and shook hands with him.

"Great. You see. you're smart." He said smiling.

I gave him a fake smile, narrowing my eyes while looking up at him.

"And if you be smart enough, you would think about what I told you." He said.

I could swear to God that if he used the word smart one more time I would throw up on him.

"And if you were smart enough you would know that I'm not acting. At least, not after you met me personally."

"You know what? Okay. I'll not judge you, anymore. Let's think that you are a good girl and whatever you do for him is from the depth of your heart. But would it sound logical to you if you heard someone is taking care of her kidnapper, enjoys being with him and get's worried for him?"

"Well. Nothing is impossible. You just need to let magic works it's way through."

He stared in my eyes for a few seconds without a word till Joseph called us. "Hey. What are you two doing?" He asked.

Archibald looked away. "Just talking." He said, looking distracted.

Joseph put his hand on my shoulder. "What had happened to your face Archibald?" Joseph asked, confused.

Archibald scratched his face were I had slapped him. "Nothing. My face had got itchy today. I can't stop myself from scratching."

"Oh. Well. I had told you to get ride off that beard. It may have bugs in it." Joseph said, smirking.

"Oh. Shut up." He said. "Any way. I have lots of things to do. So excuse me." Then he left in hurry.

"Is everything okay between you two?" Joseph asked looking at me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

Joseph sat on the chair that Archibald has sat on few minutes back and took a cookie from the plate. I sat in front of him. "How did the chat go?" I asked.

"Good. Alexander and Ricardo had talked with grandpa last night after they got sure that you're here with me and safe."

"Oh. So your grandpa accepted the deal?"

"Well. My dad and grandpa are not at the best place right now. They have some problems. That makes the deal easier. You met my grandpa. He is old and he needs someone to be come the leader after him."

"Isn't your dad going to become the leader?" I asked, confused.

"Grandpa believes that dad had lost his mind and doesn't have control on his feelings anymore. Specially after what happened few days ago. He doesn't think that dad can be a good leader so he needs one of us."

"Please don't say that you're that person." I said, terrified to imagine what kind of person he can become after becoming the leader.

He laughed. "Nanno doesn't trust me that much. He wants Ricardo."

"Ricardo?" I asked, amazed.

"Yeah." Joseph said taking another bite of his cookie.

"But what about Samuel?"

"Grandpa says Samuel listens to dad a lot. He is worried that if he hands his kingdom to Samuel he won't be able to control dad and they'll destroy the empire that our great grand fathers had built."

"But why Ricardo?"

Joseph crossed his arms. "Ricardo had been on a lot of missions. More than any of us. Grandpa trusts him. He can manage terrible situations better than any of us. He can make people obey him easily. And most importantly he never takes actions before thinking about the consequences carefully. Also he never ever listens to dad. That means he can become the best leader."

"Oh. So does Samuel accept him too?" I asked, wondering would Samuel let Ricardo take the leadership while as much as I knew he had been the person who wanted it the whole his life.

"Samuel is okay with that. Besides it's not like he has another choice."

"So what's the deal exactly?" I asked, wondering what the great Mr. Gabrielle would want to get from them that he doesn't already have.

"Ricardo had always refused to sign the papers that will assure his leadership after grandpa. If he doesn't sign them dad will become the leader according to the rules of the gang. If grandpa guarantees mom's safety, Ricardo will sign them."

"Does your dad knows about the papers?" I asked thinking about how he would let that happen.

"No. Not yet. But everyone will find out after Ricardo signs the papers." Joseph said.

"Isn't it dangerous for Ricardo? Your dad can kill him."

"No he can't. Even if Ricardo dies the leadership will transfer to one of us, his brothers, not dad. Also if dad tries to kill him, grandpa will kill dad."

"Oh Joseph. What kind of a world you're living in. Fathers kill their son, sons kill their father. Bothers betray each other. What the hell." I said looking down, shaking my head in disapproval.

He chuckled but said nothing.

We stayed silent for a few minutes. I thought about Archibald's words. What if Joseph thought I'm playing him? What if he really thought that I'm using him?

"Joseph..." I called him, while he was looking at another direction.

"Yes?" He said, turning his face to me.

"What do you really think about me?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" Joseph asked, leaning forward putting both of his elbows on the table and locking his hands in each other.

"What kind of person you think I am?" I said trying to make my question more clear.

"You're lovely, sweet, caring and kind. Why?"

"Do you think I'm manipulative?" I asked, looking down playing with my fingers.

"No. Absolutely not. Why would you think that I think about you that way? Had something happened?" He asked concerned.

"No. I was just wond-..." Joseph stopped me. "Archibald had said something. Right?"

"No. As I said..." He didn't let me continue. "Don't deny it Kate. I know he had said something and you slapped him. Didn't you? That was why his face was red with finger marks on."

"I just couldn't control myself for a second. I'm sorry." I said biting my lip

"He is the one to be sorry. Not you. He deserved the slap. You know he had talked with me about this too. I can understand him. He is just concerned. I would think like that too, if I was in his shoes. Of course I would have tried to warn my friend, but I would never talked to the girl about it. It's just that he doesn't know you. But I know you and I'm sure you would never use me."

"I really don't know what I should say. I swear that I'm not using you. Whatever I do is from the depth of my heart." I said, not sure what Joseph does really think about me.

He got up and walked towards me, took my hands in his and kissed them softly. "I know sweetie. You don't need to worry. Okay? I will talk about it with Archibald."

I nodded. Then got up and hugged Joseph. "I wanna go back home. Where everything was easier."

He stroked my hair. "We'll get back soon. I promise. If everything goes well we can get back tomorrow. Then you can cook me the dinner you had promised. Huh?" He said the last part laughing.

I chuckled. "Okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Christmas is almost here. Had you bought gifts?" Andrea asked loudly, while Dave, Jason, Gabe and William were playing video games in Jason's living room, Andrea was watching them and I was trying to concentrate on the novel that I had to finish till the end of the week for the English class.

"I hate Christmas. So no." Gabe said.

"How is it possible to hate Christmas?" I asked, surprised putting the book on the couch.

"If you had to spend the whole holiday with your wild, uncivilized, crazy cousins every single year, you would hate Christmas too." Gabe answered.

"Shit." Jason shout and throw the control at the corner of the room as he lost.

"Are you crazy?" Andrea shout.

"Shut up." Jason said getting up the floor to sit beside me. Then put his arm around my waist and drove me closer.

"Hey there." I said, smiling.

"Hey." He smiled back, getting closer to kiss me.

I kissed him back, passionately.

"Disgusting." William said throwing a pillow at us as he had just lost the game and his hands were free now.

"You are more." Jason said, throwing the pillow back at him. I leaned against his chest while his arms were around me.

"Do you wanna come to New York with me for the holidays?" Jason asked, looking at me.

"New York?"

"Yeah. My family can meet you finally and see how wonderful you are." Jason said while his eyes were shining from excitement.

I pressed my lips on each other then looked down. "I don't know if Joseph will allow."

"You don't think Joseph will allow or you don't want to come yourself? I think the best thing for you is to be with me, your boyfriend, on new year holidays. Not with your kidnapper." Jason said quietly but harshly.

"I had told you at least a hundred times that you can't call him that." I shouted.

"Like I'm lying." Jason said looking away biting his nail.

I got up and took my book. "I'm leaving guys. I have lots of things to do."

I left to Jason's room to take my bag. I was putting my book in my bag that Jason came in. "Okay. Don't leave. I'm sorry."

I zipped my bag. "I should go."

He walked towards me and stroked my arm. "I'm sorry, baby. Please don't go. I had missed you."

I put my bag on the bed then rubbed my forehead, looking down. "Look. I really hate it when you talk about him like that. He is a nice guy. He doesn't deserve those words."

"It's just killing me that you go to him, go to his house every single night. I hate it when you call his house, your home. I hate it that you go home to cook him dinner not me. Who the hell is he that you need to get permission from? He isn't your father." Jason said chewing his lower lip.

"That's just how everything works right now. I will understand if you don't want to continue. But if you still want to be with me, you should accept me with my current situation. I can't deal with more problems." I said looking up at him.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Okay. Fine. I understand. I will try to control myself. I'm sorry. I'm just jelaose you should understand me too. You left for two days without saying a word. Then you came back for a night and left the next morning for one week. And the problem is that you don't tell me what had happened."

"I'm not gonna talk about that with you. I told you it was a family emergency."

"Since when you are a part of his family." Jason said angrily.

"Baby stop being jealous." I said getting closer, taking his hands. "It doesn't matter that I live with him or cook dinner for him. I love you. I want to be with you. It doesn't matter who I get permission from. You are my man. Besides he would have cooked dinner if he could come home earlier." Then I stood on my tip toes and kissed him gently.

"I love you." He said quietly, stroking my hair.

I smiled.

"Let's get back to the living room." He said taking a step back.

"I should finish this book and I can't concentrate there. You go. I'll stay in your room and study."

"Okay. Is Joseph's home? Should you go back there soon?" Jason asked.

"No. He will hang out with Sebastian today. He said he'll come back late." I said , sitting on the bed.

"So what about you stay here for dinner. We can spend some time with each other. I can drop you off later." Jason offered.

"Oh. Okay. That would be great." I said, taking my book out of my bag.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Do you want some help with the dinner?" I asked getting in to the kitchen.

"No honey. I'm almost done." Jason said, smiling.

"Okay." Then I left a kiss on his cheek.

He smiled. I wiped the lipstick mark on his cheek. "I'm in living room then. Call me if you need help."

"Okay babe."

I sat on the couch and turned on the TV, but I couldn't find a good show to watch.

"Babe, can I use your laptop?" I shouted.

"Yeah. Sure." Jason shouted back from the kitchen.

I took his laptop that was on the table in front of me. I hadn't bought any gifts for Christmas yet and it was getting on my nerves. There was not so much time left and I had no idea what I should buy for Jason and Joseph. So I decided to get some help from the most useful thing in the world, Google. Well, as always Google had a lot of excellent ideas. I knew Jason was obsessed with the star wars and I could find him two perfect gifts. Star wars Droid and The R2-D2 coffee press. I ordered them online and started searching for something suitable for Joseph. He was different from Jason. Jason was more like teen boys than Joseph. He loved technology. Video games, phones, laptops were his thing while Joseph was more like a grown up man. More like a businessman. He loved dressing up and gave a lot of effort to his look. As I couldn't find something suitable for him in the list I gave up and decided to think about his gift when I want to sleep. You can't imagine how amazing ideas can hit your mind when you're in bed, buried your face in the pillows and try hard to get in to sleep. I got up and left to the kitchen.

Jason was taking two plates out of the cabinet.

"Ummm... It smells good." I said looking in to the pan. The food was fried eggs mixed with corn, chopped shrimp, onion, potato and tomato.

"I hope you like the taste, too. I'm not a great cook , tho." He said, putting plates on the table.

"I'm sure I would." I said, taking a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.

"Don't you wanna drink some soda?" Jason asked taking out two sodas.

"No. It has a lot of calories." I said sitting behind the table.

"I had bought diet soda." He said, sitting in front of me, throwing the can to me to catch.

"So you're going to New York?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's not like I can see my family everyday." He said putting some egg in his mouth.

"When you're leaving?"

"Few days later. As soon as the holidays start."

"Oh." I said looking down at my food.

"Would you talk with Joseph about coming to New York with me? Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No. I'll talk with him myself." I said, biting my lip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey sweeties. How are you?

Here is the chapter I had promised. The next update will be on Christmas with a Christmas theme.

Please don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE.

Love you all. Bye.