FIVE

The loud knock that came to the door startled me to say the least even though I knew who was right behind it. I got the call a few minutes before but still wasn't prepared. It was an alien thought to me have someone care so deeply for Joy and I that they took the earliest train to London to be here with us.

"That guy told me you're awake!" More pounding on the door but I could still hear her words clearly over the sounds. I smiled to myself just as Joy's head snapped to the door. She wasn't exactly paying attention since she was so engrossed in her breakfast and her TV show.

"Is that aunty Alexa?" She said, moving of the bed where she was seated. I was already walking to the door and answered her.

"It sure is." I said as I came to the door and opened it. And there stood the aunty Alexa herself.  She didn't wait for an invitation and just barged inside, pushing me away to get to her Joy.

"Joy!" She screamed just as my daughter screamed back. They collided together and Lexie dragged Joy backwards until they both flopped back on the bed. I closed the door and quickly walked towards them, smiling as I could only see Joy's small hands grasping the back of Lexie's cashmere coat, and her small head peaking out from the other side and laughing hysterically.

Lexie shoved her head in Joy's neck and blew into it loudly,  causing Joy to squeal away - or attempt to do so.  After a while, Lexie pulled away from Joy, breathing equally heavy as Joy.

She then turned to me but didn't get up off the bed. "You have some major explaining to do."

I frowned at her. "I told you everything last night!"

My friend Alexa, although mainly known as Lexie was a beauty. With sunkissed skin, beautiful facial features and long dark hair that fell straight down her back, she reminded me of an exotic princess. Her style was amazing and she passed it right to me, dragging me to the shops and allowing me to discover my own personal style.

"You didn't share how unbelievably good the men look."

I understood what she meant. "Men? You saw someone else other than Mace?"

She nodded and she shook her coat off. "Some guy named Errol. And between the two, they said less than five words."

I wasn't entirely sure who Errol was but if he was with Mace then he was probably one of Lucian's guys. "I thought you swore of men after Adam?"

Lexie raised her dark eyebrow at me. "Just because I'm sworn off men doesn't mean I can't appreciate beauty when I see it. Plus I appreciate female beauty as well. How else would you explain me dealing to be around you all these years?"

I sat down on the bed besides her and ignored her teasing. I knew our friendship ran way beyond looks. We had this instant connection the second we met - which was the second I came to Brighton since she was my neighbour. We bonded over our own past mistakes and life choices.
Lexie had ran away from home when she younger and had been living on her own since she could. She was a year older than me and she was engaged to Adam until he cheated on her and drained her bank account dry before leaving her.

Although we tried everything to track him down, it seemed impossible and every time we got close, we just didn't have enough evidence to really get him back. So we settled on making his life a living hell until he actually - for the cheek - managed to get the police to threaten us both with repercussions if we tried anything. Which wasn't a surprise, since his whole family was in the police force. I obviously aborted everything because I had a daughter and I couldn't be doing something so reckless. And Lexie pretty much gave up after that.

"I've got to get Joy to her daycare and then we'll go to the lawyers office together."

I knew Lexie would be coming today since she did tell me before she hung up last night, even though I told her not to and that we would back to Brighton the second it was possible.

"Sounds good," she smiled at me warmly.

Another thing I appreciated about Lexie is that so far, she didn't mention the whole business about the man wielding a gun. I knew she wasn't going to say anything in front of Joy but the instant we were alone, she would want me to tell her everything all over again.

Although I told her not to come, I couldn't lie and say I was annoyed. I was more than happy, extremely ecstatic even knowing that my best friend was here to have my back and essentially protect me from whatever she seemed to be harmful to me.

****

I was itching on my seat, nervous for meeting the lawyer at any second. I've known a while that I'd be here but now that I was a second away from seeing the lawyer, everything started to become unreal. I felt Lexie's hand tighten around mine and I looked at her to see she had an encouraging smile plastered on her face. "You can do this." She whispered to me.

Just as I expected, Lexie had waited until we had dropped of Joy at the daycare and were strapped in the car and going to the lawyers office to ask me again about the men.

"I swear I have never seen them before and I don't know what the hell they want from me." I had told Lexie as I drove, keeping me eye straight on the road.

"Did Mace and his boss not tell you why they're after you?"

I shook my head. "I don't think they know the reason yet but they still provided me with all types of security. Something I know I wouldn't get from the police." I had answered her question from last night again, regarding why I hadn't called the police. I watched enough movies to know that the police hardly do anything but only when it's too late.

"Link came yesterday." I blurted out quickly.

I glanced at Lexie and saw she had her wide, hazel eyes on me with her mouth dropped right open. "Say what?"

"He came last night and I don't even know how to describe the whole encounter expect that it was beyond awkward and I hated it."

Lexie also knew all about Link. From ever gruesome detail and her feelings towards him were clear as daylight. She was not his number one fan and probably thought he was the reason why I hightailed it out of my city. He was partially the reason but there was my family's involvement as well.

"Of course it would be awkward! What'd you expect?" She scoffed out, dropping her hands on her jeans clamped laps. "Some bullshit made up style reunion? You guys have this effed up past and nothing is actually solved between you two."

I nodded quickly, in total agreement with her. I mean, I still could remember the last time I saw Link and what was spoken between us two. Although our lips did a lot of moving, not much was actually said.

"I hope to everything pure that I don't ever have to see him again."

I heard a small laugh come out of Lexie. "Even I know that's not going to happen."

And now I was here, waiting patiently albeit on edge at the waiting room of the lawyer's office and trying my best to believe the words Lexie was whispered to me.

Could I really do this?

I didn't have enough time to ponder on that thought since the door opened and out came a lanky man, with silvery hair and round glasses perched on the bridge of his long nose. "Ms Shea?" He said, looking around the room and landing on me when I shot up off my chair.

Lexie stood up as well, not letting go of my hand. She took the lead and dragged me towards the door since I somehow forgot how to walk. This was really happening. Right now. Shit.

Back in Brighton when I had heard the shocking news, nothing actually penetrated inside of me. I just accepted what it was and planned to come down to Brighton for this reason only. I was doing it all in a robotic manner, nor allowing myself to feel anything.

I was seated in front of the lawyer's desk and had the paper in front of me long before I could process everything fully.

"Ms Shea," the lawyer stated my name carefully. I didn't know his name - I probably did but in that moment I couldn't quite remember what it was. "I have your Father's will here with me and it states clearly to only discuss what's inside with you."

Your Father's will.

Damn.

The lawyer carried on speaking, reading the content of the will from his own copy in front of him. I listened as he stated every single penny my Father had left for me to do what I thought was right. I dropped my head down at the paper in front of me and trailed my eyes after the words that the lawyer said out loud.

Every estate was left in my name. Every material possession in his estates where left to me. His savings where left to me. His business was left to me. His life long working earnings were all left to me.

I couldn't process any of it since I could only focus on breathing. I had to, unless I would collapse to the ground due to lack of oxygen reaching my vital organs.

"How much is everything?" I asked on a small voice.

The lawyer stopped reading off the paper and looked up at me through his glasses. "Ms Shea-"

"I know you've talked to his accountant and financial advisor." I interjected. "So tell me how much everything is."

The lawyer sensed the finality in my voice and skipped all the unnecessary stuff I didn't want to hear. I listened carefully as he stated a number I didn't even know existed. How my father had that much fortune was beyond me. I knew he was rich and I knew my Mother would constantly drown him out but I thought he had given her everything. Clearly it wasn't close to lose change he was giving her.

I pushed myself off the chair. "Give everything to charity."

****

We walked out the lawyer's office quietly. Lexie gave me a few moments to myself which surprisingly I really needed. I had to gather my thoughts which I tried so hard to keep focused on one thing, but it kept derailing towards all sorts of things.

I got my car back this morning before we left hotel. Mace assured me that someone was keeping an eye on Joy at the day care and another man was keeping an eye on Lexie and myself from a distance but only a second away if needed.

"I'm sorry about your dad," Lexie said in a soft voice as she pressed her side against mine.

I leaned into her. "I don't know why he would give me all of that."

Lexie's hands found mine and she gave me a tight squeeze. "You were his only daughter."

"And that's all I was," I reminded her. After he gave me that generous money six years ago, we've never spoken to each other. He didn't come find me, nor did I go searching for him. I didn't even go to his funeral, scared to my bones that I would run into my Mother or physically break down with everything that would be unavoidably thrown in my face.

I had only convinced myself to come to this meeting to have my own form of closure.

"For him you were more Ori." Lexie said but her I heard her voice die out towards the end just as we both spotted a young woman, in her late twenties coming to us with a panicked look.

She didn't stop her speed walking until she was practically pressed against me and I had to take a step back to put some normal distance between us.

"Girl, you okay?" Lexie spoke up, grabbing her by the arm to steady her and also to push her back a little bit.

The woman didn't pay attention to Lexie and instead zoomed right into me. "They know your father is dead and they want their money. They know you have it. They won't stop until they have it. They don't care that Lucian Frey is involved. They won't stop."

I heard every single monotoned word that spilled out this freaked out woman's mouth. I heard every warning behind them. And I heard the fear, the real fear that laced every single word.

Lexie dropped the woman's arm as if it burned her and the woman took that moment to inch closer. I saw her dull eyes stare at me. "Orianna, they will come."

And then she turned around quickly and ran away, her long thin legs carrying her.

What on earth was that?

"Mace, you said call if-"

I snapped my head to see Lexie talking quickly into the phone. She was there when Mace said to call if anything happened. And that's what she was doing. I heard her replay the whole scene to him and then she went quiet.

"Okay." I watched her as she listened to what I assumed were instructions coming from Mace. She turned to me and quickly pointed at the my car that was parked a few spots down.

I started to walk as well, forcing my own legs which felt like jelly to push through. It wasn't fast enough for her and she started dragging me with her hand on my arm. How she was keeping a cool and seemed so in control was beyond me since all I was doing was trying to not freak out.

She hung up just as we got to my car. "We got to get to Lucian's office. Errol is behind us and getting in his car and going to follow us. We got to move quick."

I nodded and unlocked my car and shoved my body inside it. I didn't turn around to see this Errol person but if Lexie and Mace said he was there, then he probably was. Why he didn't step in before the woman was unknown to me. Then again, she did talk super quick and was gone the next second.

Lexie got in on the side and sat on the passenger seat. She was strapping herself in whilst shouting, "Go!"

****

We were standing at the end of the hallway, close to the door that led to Lucian's office. I don't know how I managed to drive both Lexie and I over to this place but somehow I did so with no accidents. Mace had called again to let me know that Joy was being brought to me right now. Truthfully, knowing that I would have her in close reach soon eased some of my tension.

Lexie suddenly reached for my shoulders and quickly covered her face behind mine. I frowned at her, wondering what prompted this out of her. She moved an inch so she was looking over my shoulder. "There is a guy coming your way. He's tall and dark haired and tattooed and he is looking at you way too pissed off."

My back straightened up. I told her plenty already about a certain someone that was tall and dark haired and tattooed. "Lexie take me-"

I saw her eyes widen. "He just pushed past Mace and Errol and he isn't stoppping."

"Oh my god." I breathed out.

She stopped peeking over my shoulder and looked at me, a clear glint in her eyes. "It's him right?" She asked, her voice dropping very low which told me that Link was probably very close now. She didn't like him! Why was there a glint in her eyes?!

I didn't bother to answer. Instead, I began to move my feet towards Lucian's office. He was walking towards me but I was walking away from him.

"Not so fast," I heard his deep voice mutter from behind me as his strong hand wrapped around my wrist.

His much longer legs allowed him to walk past me swiftly and he did just that without letting go off my wrist. He physically dragged me into Lucian's office ahead of me, only turning to slam the door over my head.

I glared up at him and snatched my wrist out of his hold. "You can't slam the door in my friend's face." I said to him even though I knew Lexie hadn't moved an inch from her spot.

"She wasn't behind you." He stated simply.

I moved away from the door towards the chairs that were pushed into Lucian's desk. "Is Lucian okay with you occupying his office as if it's yours?" I said, sarcasm dripping out of me.

I heard Link starting to move behind me. "He's not here yet."

"Look-" I started to say but was interjected by Link grabbing both my arms and easily turning me around. Now I know I weighted a few hefty pounds so no one could actually turn me around like that easily. Which was probably why I had an explanation for the soft gasp that came out my mouth.

"You look," he said sharply. I now could see what Lexie had said early. Link looked way too pissed off. And to be quite frank, it scared me shitless. "We know whose behind this which is why from now on you'll be sticking close by to me. You won't go anywhere without me. You don't move without me. You won't do anything without me."

I stared at him as if I could see him losing all his marbles one by one. "You don't honestly think I'll happily say yes to that?"

"Not happily but you'll say yes regardless."

I shook my head at him. "If there has to be someone who I need to be with constantly then I pick Mace."

Something flashed over his dark eyes. "Sorry Honey, you don't have that choice."

I let out a sigh even though I was holding a tight grip onto myself. I was dangerously close to snapping and since I had been on edge since this morning and by the hour things were getting worse, I would snap and cause havoc. "Link, I don't want to be with you anytime ever. We are not cool and I won't pretend we are any different."

"Shall I remind you how our last conversation went before yesterday?"

I leaned away from him, unsure where the direction of this conversation was heading. "I remember I asked for an explanation but instead got a kiss."

I saw the side of his mouth curl up. "Which you didn't stop if I remember."

He was enjoying this. How he was I didn't know since seconds ago he was fully pissed. I, for own sake, did not fuel this dangerous conversation further. "We're not kids not anymore. I won't go back and forth with you."

I moved away him, having enough distance between us so I could speak clearly and lay out what I wanted to say.
"You won't go? Fine. I'm not a fool to see I need help and security. And I'm not a fool to waste time arguing about something irrelevant as who will be the one giving that to me. If it's going to be you, then fine. But that doesn't mean I have to talk to you."

"That's fine to me," he said on a shrug. "I'll just talk to your kid."

I visibility trembled at his words. "Don't you dare." I sneered at him, a side of me that I've never seen before surfacing.

Link seemed completely unfazed. "Why not? Isn't it good for her to learn how to communicate with others?"

"You're a stranger to her." I snapped and now I was just angry. This wasn't the first time he was ending a conversation before inserting my daughter in it. And he had no right at all.

Another smirk, one that I was starting to cook up real hate for. "Not for long." He said confidently and it didn't ease me that Joy was on her way right now.

////

> I could have gotten this up days ago but I've been feeling sick these days. Snotty nose and all of that ugly things :( So I'll leave you with this as I go watch Fantastic Beast with my blanket and warm food <3