In case you've noticed, I'm trying to merge all three books in the series together, I hope that settles any confusion you might have. Btw, the last book in the series is finally out. You can check out 'Some Like It Tangled' on my wall, or wait till I complete the merger, IDK how long it'll take 😀😀

'Keep Your Ego To Yourself'

"I can't believe this! It's outrageous." Philip paced around my bedroom like an imprisoned lion. Occasionally, he raked his hand through his already disheveled hair to show his frustration.

He had shown up at exactly ten minutes after I called him, and in an effort to prevent mom from waking up, I led him to my room and played the recording on my phone.

His current mood was a consequence of being aware that his sister and his brother were partners in crime.

"Calm down, babe." I tossed my phone away and walked to where he was by my closet.

"Why should I? Do you know how bad that sounds? You're not safe, neither is your mom. What pains me is the fact that I was stupid enough to let my guard down when your dad got arrested..."

I placed a finger on his lips and my other hand on his shoulder. "Stop saying things like that. It's not your fault, nothing is your fault. I want you to stop taking the blame for everything that has happened."

I stared deeply into his eyes as I tried to unravel the emotions buried there. He was so furious, I know, but blaming himself for everything wouldn't solve the gigantic problem in front of us.

"It's my fault."

I silenced him by placing a gentle kiss on his lips. He responded by pulling me closer and kissing me back.

I pulled away but he groaned. "Don't stop." He whispered against my lips.

"We have more important things to worry about."

Philip shook his head and turned me around so I was resting against the wall. "Don't start what you can't finish babe."

I gasped when his lips crashed against mine with so much intensity. His kisses were as suffocating as his touch. His arms roamed greedily around every inch of my body while our lips were preoccupied.

When his hands got under my shirt, our eyes flickered open. He silently asked for my permission which was granted with a nod. He reached for my bra and skillfully unclasped it before pulling my grey t-shirt over my head.

A little bit ashamed, I covered my breasts with my arms and looked up at Philip who had a questioning look on his face.

"Why?" He whispered.

"I...I...um." I stammered, unsure about what to say next.

"Tell me."

"I've never done this before."

Philip's eyes widened and he lowered his head, but it wasn't out of disappointment, it was from surprise.

He raised his head. "Seriously?"

I nodded, shuddering when his fingers came in contact with my bare skin.

When he didn't say anything else, I bent to pick my discarded T-shirt and used it to cover my exposed body.

"Why are you so calm?" I asked, a little bit irritated by the way he was staring at me like he hadn't seen me before.

"It's a little unexpected, but I'm pleased." He licked his lips and winked suggestively.

I pushed him away from me in annoyance.

"Perv." I mumbled, holding onto my T-shirt as if my entire being relied on it.

I edged backwards towards my bathroom and smiled sheepishly at Philip as I opened the door and disappeared through it.

I took about five minutes to resettle. I tidied up my messy hair and splashed water over my face that looked like a train wreck. I threw my shirt on and patted it down before walking back to converge with Philip who had his back on my bed, glancing through the blue diary I usually left underneath my pillow.

He knew I hated him rummaging through my personal stuff, so he purposely picked my diary to annoy me. He was like that at times.

"So...let's talk about the situation at hand."

I guess some things would just have to wait.

Philip scratched the back of his head and dumped my diary on the bed. "Sure."

"So..." I trailed off.

Philip breathed in deeply, searching for the right words to use. "I'll think about what to do later, but now, I think  you and your mom need to move to some other place safer."

I rolled my eyes. Knowing my mom, she wouldn't agree. She'd use the fact that she loves the house too much as an excuse not to leave.

"I doubt my mom would agree. It would take a little coercing and cajoling on yours and my part to get her to step an inch from this house."

Philip sighed. "She's identical to my mother in that aspect. The obstinacy is just too much." A faint smile stretched his lips as he reached out for my hand and pulled me down to sit on his thighs.

"I'll try to persuade her. But then, what about the maniacs?"

"Play cool, and do not disclose your moving out to either my  cousin or my sister."

I nodded and prayed Alice and Peter held their plans till when necessary actions could be taken. They were as unpredictable as weather and the last thing I'd wish for is to lose another member of my family to the cold, bare earth.

Philip kissed the side of my head. "I'll stay for the night if that makes you more comfortable." He suggested.

Oh yes, that certainly will.

"Judging from the twinkle in your beautiful eyes, I'll take that as a yes. By the way, we have some unfinished business to handle." He grinned widely with a wink.

I smiled and moved my legs so I was straddling him. "I think we do."

💭💭💭

Philip was already awake when I stirred the next morning which was a Saturday. He was standing in front of my window looking at the horizon with keen interest. That's another thing I've learnt about him, he was a keen observer, he liked studying things like his world depended on them and he paid attention to every slight detail. No wonder he excelled in the business world.

"Could I take your order?" His eyes were transfixed on me by the time I broke loose from my thoughts.

"A single dose of you." I bit my lips and watched him smile.

"I believe that can be arranged." He came over to the side of my bed and went on his knees before leaving a light kiss on my lips and on my forehead afterwards.

"What's the time?" I asked, forgetting about the clock hung above the window frame.

Philip picked my phone from my bedside side table and turned it on. "It's seven."

I ruffled his hair as he focused on me again. "Thanks for staying over."

He nodded his head. I climbed out of my bed and moved to the bathroom where I carried out the needed activities there.

I wrapped my towel around my body and edged out of the bathroom. Philip's eyes were trained on me long before I realized it.

Blushing, I snatched a blue tank top and a pair of shorts from my closet. I walked back to the bathroom and changed into my clothes.

"Mom should be up by now. Let's go down...Wait, aren't you gonna take a shower or brush first?" I asked after reemerging from the bathroom.

"Nah, I'm good. Besides I don't have morning breath." Philip said as he strode towards me.

I rolled my eyes and opened the door leading outside my room. "Keep your ego to yourself."

"I think you need a healthy dose of it everyday, it helps."

"You know... " I halted my speech when I realized mom was heading in our direction.

"Good morning mom."

Her eyes flickered from me to Philip and back to me.

"I would have asked why but there's no need to, I guess. Better hire the cleaners to clean out your room."

I snickered and watched Philip's face turn beet red. "Mom, stop it." I whined and followed her to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, I was in a tough battle with mom trying to persuade her to leave the house and move over to my new house in Manhattan which I successfully purchased a few months back.

Well, since I bought the house, after major renovations which including removing some unpleasant trees and replacing them, I wasn't able to move into it because of the numerous activities going on then, planning for my sister's wedding and helping mom run Florence. My time was really eaten up and for awhile, I forgot about my house until Tanya made reference to it during one of our recent discussions.

My house at Manhattan was the safest place I could think of. Tanya didn't know the exact location, Alice either, so mom and I would be pretty safe there until Peter is taken care of.

With all the events happening in our lives, I really needed the vacation Tris suggested the last time we met up at the bar. My life was getting really complicated and I needed some form of release. I needed it badly.

"Give me one good reason why I should leave to someplace?"

My thoughts had blocked out every other thing going on around me. Philip and mom were in a discussion of their own.

"Because you don't want to lose your only daughter or yourself." Philip replied bluntly. With the way mom's expression fell, I would have scolded him. I didn't because his words created the impact I needed.

"Fine, when are we moving?" Mom placed a glass of water next to Philip and he flushed it down his throat in three gulps.

A knock on the door distracted us from our conversation.

Philip motioned us to be quiet and walked out of the kitchen. I followed him silently. He looked through the peephole and muttered some words under his breath.

"Alice and  Tanya." He whispered before opening the door.

Alice and Tanya marched inside carrying along their usual flair of boldness. Alice was looking no bit of the devious snake she was, instead, her face was as innocent as a lamb's and that irked me.

When I stood rooted to the spot even when they had hugged mom and Philip, my boyfriend gave me a hard nudge in my side to reawaken me from my reverie.

"Hey girls!" I hugged Tanya and then Alice.

Philip whispered into my ear that he'd be upstairs and I nodded as he picked his way away from us.

"You're looking so vibrant today." Alice commented in her usual cheerful manner. If I hadn't overheard her scheming discussion with Peter, I wouldn't have believed she could even hurt a fly, talk more a human.

"Oh yes, I am. I decided gloominess wouldn't do me any good, so... here I am."

...planning my escape from you.

Well, I didn't add the last part.

"Where are you both coming from?" I pointed at the bags in their hands.

"I ordered some chinese dishes for the non-vegetarian members of this household..." Tanya moved to the kitchen as she spoke while Alice and I followed her.  "...and to see my cousin here. What a lovely surprise."

Tanya placed the bags on the marble slab and washed her hands under the tap in the sink.

"It came as a surprise to me too." I replied, opening the refrigerator and taking out a giant loaf of bread and jam.

Tanya and Alice watched me carry the bread to the toaster like I had lost my mind.

"What do you intend to do with that?" Alice referred to the bread which I had started slicing.

I cut off a small piece and threw it into my mouth, relishing the taste. "What does it look like? I'm getting real food."

Alice's eyes widened. "This is a miracle!" She exclaimed. Mom hurried in just when I was tucking another bread crumb into my mouth.

"Stop!" Mom rushed towards me.  Tanya concealed her grin with the back of her hand while Alice snickered at mom's reaction.

"What mom?" I demanded.

"Are you crazy? What happened to you? The little girl who said she's not eating anything apart from fruits?"

I smiled tenderly at mom. "I just realized change isn't bad."
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Well, hello dear readers...

*Scratches head* I really have nothing to write here. Lol. 😀