It took a couple of days for me to get sober, and now that I am, I'll be on a mission today to fix the mess that Alexandra created, a mess I fell for, and then do everything in my power to work on getting the love of my life back.

Hannah isn't too happy with me, and I don't blame her. I'm not too pleased with myself either. I should have known my actions would create the mess I'm in. I knew it was wrong to do it, but I did it anyway. Now, after dealing with Hannah yelling at me these last couple of days, bringing up my past, Tawny's past, and Tawny's present, I've realized that I could've handled the issues at the club much differently.

Hannah may be my baby sister and hasn't been around as long as I have, but if I were, to be honest, she's much more intelligent than me in areas where I thought I was smarter than her, so I give her credit for helping me open my eyes more than I thought they were. So I owe her a lot, especially since she took the rest of the week off from the resort to help clean my house after the tornado—me—had ripped through, destroying the kitchen and my living room.

She also left my poor mother in charge of everything at the resort. My mother running the resort makes me nervous, but I know my mother can handle it herself. The biggest problem I have is as lovely as she is, I worry guests will take advantage of her laid-back ways. Hopefully, Jason does as I asked and will step in and help if needed.

Now, I'm on that mission to take care of business.

My first stop is to see Isaac and Andrew after my drunken ass missed the Monday morning meeting. Well, it was because of me; Tawny missed it. But since I was the idiot who fucked up that morning, it's me who needs to fix it. And I will not allow Tawny to lose out on another golden opportunity because of me.

She doesn't deserve that.

Not at all.

I proudly carried Tawny's paintings under the pit of my arm, securing them from getting wrecked as I walked into the building. After entering the conference room, I placed each picture on the easels provided. Then I sat in a chair, waiting for the two men to arrive.

The door opened, and in came the two brothers. "You look like shit," Andrew said as he sat across from me.

I rubbed my chin. I haven't shaven since Saturday, and after my shower, I never combed my hair, as I was in too much of a hurry to get things done. "I'm going for a new look," I groaned. I didn't care how I looked at the moment. All I wanted to do was get Tawny's paintings to where they needed to be. Here, for Isaac and Andrew's eyes to see her beautiful work, with hopes they're sold on them so that Tawny will have more money in her bank account.

"Where's Tawny?" Isaac asked, looking towards the door after he looked around the room.

"She's not here, nor will she be coming. But I did bring her paintings," I enlightened, my arm extending towards the easels. "Those are the paintings she wanted you to see."

Both Isaac and Andrew looked at the paintings; they made notes, then Isaac curiously asked, "Who's that little girl between the man and woman, smiling while they swing her into the air?"

I looked at the painting and adjusted my tie, trying hard not to choke up. It was a beautiful painting of the three of them, all with smiles, along with beautiful landscaping in the background—a mixture of fall-colored trees, a lake, a boat tied to a dock, and a string of fish in her father's other hand. Looking, they had just come back from a day of fishing. "That would be Tawny. The woman on her right is her mother, and her father on the left."

Andrew took notes, then looked up and said, "We will need release forms signed by her mother and father before it can go into production."

I nodded. "Okay, we can get that for you. But, unfortunately, except for Tawny's mother's signature," I added, "she passed away a couple of years ago. Will that be a problem?"

Isaac shook his head. "No. Her father can write a written statement authorizing it."

Something Alexandra said quickly came to mind. So I asked, "I have a question about Tawny's first painting. Why didn't you ask about the guy fishing in the water? If he was real, wouldn't he have had to sign a release form?"

Isaac shook his head. "Not exactly. There's no face. Well, there is. But it's not clear. No detailed features are showing who he is."

My lips slowly curved upward. "Thanks, that's good to know. It's also what I thought the case might be."

Gotcha bitch...

Isaac and Andrew both stood, then walked over to the paintings, studying each one. One by one. "These are very good, incredibly detailed, and very realistic. Do you know the location of the other two? Or are they just painted using her imagination?" Andrew asked, turning his head my way.

"I honestly don't know. She never said. If anything, since they were an outdoors type of family, they're memories of wherever she went as a child with her parents. And what I've figured out with Tawny is that she seems to enjoy painting special memories." I looked at the paintings, studying them once again and wondering if it could be possible that out of the three images is where Tawny could have run off to.

Although, that might be too easy as well. If anything, Tawny could be right under my nose by still being here in Minneapolis.

Isaac and Andrew agreed to take on the paintings. So now all I had to do was find Tawny to sign more paperwork.

Shaking their hands, I smiled, saying. "Thank you. We'll be in touch." I started heading out the door, then stopped and turned towards the brothers. "Oh, is there any way you can do me a favor? Can you keep Alexandra and Jefferson away from those paintings? They're up to no good, and I don't trust them. Not in the least."

Andrew chuckled. "Don't worry. They'll be safe and secure here—just an FYI to ease your mind. We refuse to deal with them, anyway. They're the rudest people we've ever dealt with."

Whew.

That's a relief. "Thank you."

The next step is to visit with Tawny's dad. Hoping he can brief me on a few things.

"Hello, Ian," the old woman, Nancy, said behind the counter.

"Hello, beautiful. Am I able to see Roman today?"

She looked at her screen, then up at me. "Roman's in therapy today. He's also under doctor's orders of having no visitors."

"What happened?"

"I'll have his doctor come out to speak with you. Why don't you take a seat?"

Great, that's all Tawny needs is Roman going off the deep end and doing as her mother did.

I saw Doctor Creighton walking towards me and stood, holding my hand out for him. "Good afternoon, Ian. What brings you by?"

"I came to visit Roman. I have some questions for him, but Nancy told me that he's not allowed, visitors. Can I ask why?"

"Of course, follow me; we'll talk in my office."

I followed the doctor, and when we got into his office, I immediately took a seat. "Did Roman try ending his life or escape again?"

"No," he responded, taking a seat at his desk. "Ever since Tawny visited him a few weeks back, he has had a setback."

"What happened?"

"Tawny left him something before she left. Since then, he has refused to get out of bed, refuses to eat, and refuses to talk. Including with his other children."

Huh.

"What did she leave him?"

"She left him a picture she painted—a beautiful painting of her mother. I finally got out of Roman about what that picture meant to them both. Apparently, it was a favorite memory of Tawnys. One she'd often bring up to Roman."

"Have you talked to Tawny about this?"

He shook his head. "No. She hasn't been here since that day. Nor has she called."

I sighed.

"She's been going through a lot lately. So when I talk to her, I'll have her call."

I'm sure Tawny left him that picture to show what he had and lost due to his selfish ways. A woman he claimed to love dearly. And in Tawny's eyes, she feels he didn't love her enough to stop him from having children with another woman.

Fuck.

Two very different situations, but in a way, what I did to Tawny is the same as what Roman did to her mother. I still did something I shouldn't have done. I knew it was wrong, and I still did it, anyway—selfish with not wanting to lose money for one night.

I'm a fucking piece of shit.

Tawny, seeing what I was doing with her best friend, made her think of her mother and how it was no different from what her father did to her mother. I may not have slept with Skye, nor would I ever, but the fact remains, I was doing an act with her best friend when I could have tried harder at finding someone else to take over.

I had more issues to fix, and feeling like more of a piece of crap than what I did when first arriving here, I stood. "Well, I don't want to keep you from doing what you're here to do. Thanks for your time. Please have Roman call me whenever he's up to it."

"Will do."

Next, I stopped at the cell phone store, hoping to fix my screen after shattering it the other night. "Sorry, mister Lockwood, but this screen is beyond repair. I'm surprised it even works."

I looked at the phone. "Yeah, I'm surprised myself." I shouldn't have whipped it across the kitchen as I did. "Sell me a new one, then."

"Any phone you have in mind?"

"Preferably one that works," I said, being a smart ass, "but if you have anything identical to this one, I'll take it."

An hour later, I was finally walking out of the store with a new phone. Note to self. Don't throw your phone around like it's a cheap piece of plastic.

Lastly, I ended up at the club. Still embarrassed for what took place days earlier, I ignored the greetings when I walked in and through the club. Finally, I got to the second floor, saw Arnie restocking the bar, and walked over.

"My office, now," I ordered, walking by and without looking at him.

Arnie came in with a glass of scotch in hand, setting it down on the desk. "No alcohol for me. I've had enough to last me for a while," I groaned, still avoiding looking at him.

"When do Cody and Zach work next?" I asked, logging into my laptop.

"Tonight."

"When they come in, send them immediately to me, please. Also, when does Skye work next?"

"She quit Saturday night. She wanted me to give you this." I looked up, and my stomach instantly fell to the floor. Arnie has two black eyes and a bandage over his swollen, very colorful nose.

I broke my brother's fucking nose. All because of something I could have handled differently.

I took the folded piece of paper from Arnie's hand, saying. "I'm sorry for punching you. I should never have done that."

"After seeing how upset you were, I never should have stepped in your way, either. I should have known it was coming since I was the one who insisted you performed that night. And I want you to know I'm sorry."

"I'm the one who's sorry," I admitted, looking down at the paper from Skye. "I could have said no, that I wouldn't do it and shut the second floor down for the night."

Arnie sat, then sat quietly for a moment before saying, "Hannah told me she's in town and that you admitted to her about the club."

"I did. I felt it was time for Hannah to know."

"She's very disappointed in you. In us. And feels you have an unnerving and twisted sex addiction and that you need help."

I chuckled. "Just because I own a club such as this doesn't mean I have a twisted sex addiction. But I know Hannah's disappointed in me. And she should be. I've let her down. I've let Tawny down. And I've let myself down. So now I need to prove to everyone I'm not this monster they think I am."

"Are you going to sell this place?"

"It's been on my mind, yes."

"What then?"

"Work on getting Tawny back."

Arnie sighed, "I'm sorry. I blame myself for you losing her."

"Don't," I groaned. "It's not your fault. It was all mine."

I leaned back in my chair and looked at Arnie with my fingertips together. "But I do have a question, and I need you to answer honestly. And if you don't, I'll break more than just your nose."

He slowly gulped. "Okay?"

"When was the last time you spoke with Alexandra?"

"I don't know, a couple of years ago, maybe? Why?"

"How about Jefferson Thomas?"

"Not since the night of your art soiree."

I repeatedly tapped my fingertips together. "Is there anything you need to tell me about?"

He shook his head, looking confused as to what I was trying to get out of him. "No," he nervously said. "Should there be?"

"I don't know; that's why I'm asking." Arnie still looked confused, so I explained the situation and then warned, "If I find out you had anything to do with this, I'll paralyze you for life."

Arnie's actions, including his facial expressions, told me what I needed to know and that he had nothing to do with ruining me. So, I let him leave. Then I opened Skye's letter.

Ian,

I'm sorry for what happened tonight. I, too, should never have gone through the act with you. And I feel fucking terrible. Tawny's been my best friend since sixth grade after she stopped another one of her friends from kicking the shit out of me.

Tawny didn't deserve me betraying her. Nor did she deserve your betrayal, either. I felt that you going through the act with me would have been far better than you going through it with another woman. And I was wrong. Way fucking wrong. We both should have agreed to say fuck it and not do it all.

I'm ashamed of myself, embarrassed and remorseful for what happened. I regret everything that happened tonight.

Had I known that you were my boss from the start, I would have immediately quit. But, anyway, now that I know you are the one who owns Erotic Playground and who is my best friend's boyfriend, I will no longer work here. Effective immediately.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that I haven't lost Tawny as a friend, and I will hope and pray you haven't lost the one you planned on marrying, either. You two are good for each other. So please accept my apology for what took place.

Hopefully, the storm will pass, and we'll both see a beautiful rainbow emerge afterward.

Stay strong, as will I.

Skye

Skye quitting is for the best. Had she not, I would have asked that she immediately resign. Not because she's a horrible team member, but because of who she's friends with.

Cody and Zach entered my office, both looking nervous as fuck. As they should, with them both knowing how fucked they are.

"You wanted to see us?" Zach asked.

"Yes. I. Do."

As they each grabbed a chair, I walked around my desk, then leaned against it with my arms crossed against my chest. My eyes wandered from Zach to Cody, trying my best not to want to kill them.

Both were squirming in their chair. Both had fear in their eyes, and both of their Adam's apples bobbed up and down.

Finally, I said. "I'm sure you both know why you're here."

They looked at each other, then at me.

They both remained quiet.

My eyebrows raised. "Well?"

"We're sorry, boss," Cody finally said. "Those people said if we didn't comply to their demands, that they would destroy us! Claiming they would not only destroy us but our families' lives!"

"Why didn't you call me before deciding to destroy mine? Hmm? How much did they pay you, anyway?"

"We each received five hundred thousand, sir," Zach admitted, swallowing hard.

My hands tightened into fists. So ruining my life was only worth a million dollars.

Just lovely.

"Was it worth it?"

They both shook their heads slowly.

"Why do you think that way? Hmm?"

"Because we acted on greed, which now means you're going to kill us," Zach admitted.

My lips quickly formed into an evil grin, and I chuckled. "It's good to know you know how I think," I said, my fists tightening firmer. "However, as much as I do want to kill you both, I won't. My life is fucked enough as it is, and I don't need two more fucking pricks ruining it more than it is. So instead of killing you like I wish to, I'll do this," I said, punching Zach hard in the face, then Cody's both falling to the ground. "Get off my fucking property and don't bother ever coming back!" I yelled, kicking them each in the stomach. "I hope the money was worth it."

It took a lot of power for me not to kill them. Everyone who knows me knows I don't take kindly to people fucking with the ones I care about or me. And had I killed them, it wouldn't do me any good sitting in prison, either. I'd for surely lose Tawny for good.

Now that I got all of that out of my system. It was time to figure out how to destroy the lives of the two people who wished to destroy mine. And I have a strong feeling of where to start.

Curious to see if Jefferson was a member, I logged into the system, clicked on the members' list, and scrolled down the list. There was no Jefferson Thomas, but there were initials of a J. T. listed. I clicked on the initials, saw he had one of the rooms reserved for tonight, and grinned.

You're busted fucker.

If that's even Jefferson, but something inside me is saying, don't leave. Wait for him to arrive. So, I did.

Ten o'clock came around, and I finally left my office. I walked around the second floor, looking for Jefferson's face to appear. And once he did, I stepped back, watching from afar, all while holding my phone, ready to bust his ass cheating on my least favorite person.

I know the saying, two wrongs don't make a right. But in this situation, I have to get Jefferson back. He did me wrong, Alexandra did me wrong, and now it's time to hit back on the people who ruined mine and Tawny's lives. Besides Tawny taking me back, what will make me happy right now is ruining Jefferson and Alexandra's so-called happy lives.

Jefferson looked around, most likely looking to see if I was around. And when he thought the coast was clear, he entered the room with not a woman but with four men.

It's showtime...

I raised my phone, snapped as many pictures as I could, then sent them all to Alexandra's phone with an ecstatic Cheshire cat grin on my face.

It's party time.

It took Alexandra about thirty minutes to get to the club, and I couldn't help but smile as I watched her enter the room.

Did I feel bad for her or for what I did?

Fuck no, I didn't.

Did I feel better about what I did?

You're fucking right; I did.

And I felt even better when I watched her storm out of the room in tears, with Jefferson chasing after her wearing nothing.

My dirty work is done.

Now it's time for the real work to begin, and that's getting my sugar lips back.

I hope the chapter was okay!!🤞🏻🤞🏻