~~.~~ MIRACLE'S POV ~~.~~

We get to IHOP and start eating pancakes. I'm actually surprised he is letting me eat this stuff. I cautiously pick at my food.

"Dad are you sure this is okay?" I ask, eyeing our plates, feeling guilty for even thinking about consuming this meal.

He focuses his deep blue eyes on me, realizing my worry. "Don't worry Miracle, I'm not worried about food like your Mother. I'm gonna tell her to lighten up a bit." He assures me, smiling.

I smile back, finally catching a piece of the food with my fork. The dream from last night isn't far from my mind as I sit eating with my Dad. Almost makes me cringe. I don't know why he is in such a good mood. He hasn't called me by my real name since I was nine years old and hasn't done anything nice for a very long time.

"Time for school." He beckons, standing across from me at the booth.

He drops me off at school, waving me off. Everyone notices that I'm in a good mood. Especially Mr. Smith. He catches up with me in the parking lot after classes are over.

"Hey Miracle. So I guess you're feeling better?" He asks, examining my new demeanor.

I smile. "Much better!" I exclaim, not feeling this much excitement in ages.

"Great." He smiles back, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Dad honks and I wave Mr. Smith off as I am going home. Dad immediately goes to his room when we get home, leaving me to feel Mom's wrath. I feel her glare from across the room as I set my book bag down on the coffee table in the living room.

"Where were you this morning?" She asks, keeping her voice down, but the tone of her voice tells me she isn't in a good mood at all.

"Dad took me to breakfast..." I reply, taking my homework out of my book bag and avoiding eye contact.

She mocks me. "Daddy took me to breakfast' aww! Don't expect any special treatment from me! I should slap you for eating food I didn't make!" She raises her voice, scowling at me.

I stand by the couch, hoping she doesn't come into the room, but she doesn't. She storms upstairs and I take a sigh of relief. I don't have to deal with her anger for a little while. I begin doing my homework, praying that Daddy can distract her enough tonight.

~~.~~ MICHAEL'S POV ~~.~~

I rub my temples as the girls scurry about my house again. I whistle through my fingers and they immediately halt, walking into the living room and lining up. I am not going to let them make a mess of my house before they get to work. I do have a business I have to run here.

"Okay girls I would like for us to be very comfortable with each other here, so go down the line and tell me your names." I say, looking over each of them, not bothering to get any of their names in the beginning.

"Selena." Latina.

"Kezia." Piercings.

"Shelley." Sweet.

"Ja-Quaya." Trap Queen.

"Naomi." Big Nose.

"Farah." Ginger.

I glance over the room. Someone is missing.

"Where is Christina?" I ask them.

Ja-Quaya folds her arms, frowning hard. "She left. Again." She emphasizes.

I look at her. "Problem?" I snap at her, rejecting her attitude. She drops her arms, looking away. "Look, I know you girls are young and excited, but I will not have jealousy and cattiness okay? Any problems you have with each other, we will resolve them now. So does anyone have a problem with Christina?" I ask, meeting eyes with the girls.

Shelley speaks up. "She is a nice person and a hard worker, but I didn't have as much help and slack as she did when I was trying to raise my son. They let her go and do whatever she wants and it's not fair." She protests kindly.

I nod. "Who here has children?" I ask. Shelley and Kezia raise their hands. "I will cut you girls some slack, but she is watching her siblings. She didn't lay down and get a child that she had to take responsibility for. No offense ladies." I say, putting my hands up. They nod. "No more stripper names. No 'Lollipop' this and 'Magic' that. Got it?" I ask. They nod. "Does anyone have any specialties they would like to tell me about before I place you?" I ask, looking around. I can only imagine what they will be showing me.

Naomi smiles. "I'm great at working a pole." She comments, batting her eyelashes at me.

"Well this isn't a strip club." I retort, seeing her proud expression turn to regret. I shake my head. "Baby, this is the big time! You gotta really show me what you can do." I reply, hoping one of them will step up and show me something that will impress me.

They just stand awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot, looking at the ground.

I roll my eyes. "I guess no one knows what they can do, so I will have to place you. Don't get upset if I put you in something you don't like. Ya'll can run your damn mouths all day long, but won't tell me what you can do. Farah." I call and she steps forward.

I rub her cheek gently. "One of my babies." She blushes hard, her freckles are so cute. "I will start you out on the dates with..." I look around and point to Naomi. "My other baby, Naomi." I finish and she steps forward.

"What are we gonna be doing on these dates Michael?" She asks, her voice kinda squeaky.

"Tell you later. Go pick something out to wear." I respond, waving them off.

They race eagerly to their rooms. The babies are fun, in the beginning.

"Kezia." I call. She steps forward, ready for a command. "My sexy metal girl, you wouldn't mind being on call, do you?" I ask, looking into her confused eyes.

"What is being 'on call'?" She asks.

I ignore her question. "Great! Go get dressed." I say, waving her off as well.

Her look of confusion remains on her face as she slowly leaves the room. I like the compliant ones.

"Selena." I purr. She sashays towards me and I smirk. "Sexy Selena. How do you feel baby?" I ask.

She shrugs. "Good I guess..." She replies, playing with her dark, curly hair.

"You... will be our floor show girl." I decide.

"So it's just like stripping?" She asks.

"No. You won't be stripping at all. Just dancing and dressing up and maybe doing other things... it's new so I havent worked out the kinks yet. Just get an outfit that looks appetizing." I say, trying to piece together her act in my mind. She skips away and I shake my head. I hope she can dance. I look at the remaining girls and eye Shelley.

"Come here baby." I coo. She shyly walks towards me, which makes me smile. "Don't be shy. I'm here to help you baby."

She shakes her head. "I've been through lots of strip clubs, so I just hope this is worth all of that wasted time." She says, concerned.

"Oh I'm sure it will be worth your while." I say, biting my lip as I am checking her out. She isn't a baby and I'm tempted, but she has a son... "You and Ja-Quaya will be escorting. You will only work nights though so you can play throughout the day." I smile. Shelley returns my smile, eager, but Quaya looks at me like she isn't buying it.

"What exactly do you mean by 'escorting'?" She asks.

"Whatever you want it to mean baby." I reply. She folds her arms. Oh she is fiesty. I like that. "I will not force you to do anything that you don't want to do." I assure her.

She sighs and seems to be relieved. Good, because I'm not promising shit. "Are you two happy with this?" I ask, looking at both of them. Shelley nods excitedly and Quaya nods in agreement. "Good because I'm not disputing this." I add.

Quaya walks away and Shelley hangs back. "We dont have to work until nights, right?" She asks.

"That's right honey."

"Well..." She starts.

"Yes?" I raise my eyebrow at her.

"Can we hang out with you then?" She asks sweetly.

I cock my head to the side, amused. Aww, she wants to spend time with me. I take her hand and kiss it gently. "If I'm here and as long as you don't try to sneak in my room." I say, biting my lip.

She nods and smiles. I grab my coat, opening the front door.

"Where are you going?" She asks, longingly.

"Out. Don't leave. Got it?" I ask, meeting her eyes. She nods and I smirk. "I think we're gonna get along quite nice Shelley." I say.

She blushes and I leave out to my car to drive around. I make sure my girls are all in their designated posts when I find Rashida. She looks like she is freezing. Aww.

I open the door. "Get in." I command.

~~.~~ MIRACLE'S POV ~~.~~

I finally finish my homework, having migrated to my room when my parents drifted into the kitchen, but now I need a drink of water. I sneak downstairs, hearing the argument between my parents, trying to be quick about it and not involve myself in this.

"You bitch! That's why I can't even stay here!" Dad yells at Mom, his face turning a bright shade of red.

"You've wanted to leave for so long! I do everything for you! You just don't fucking appreciate it!" She screams back, her arms flailing wildly.

"Don't yell at me woman! I will drag your ass all around this house if you don't know your place and get some manners!" He screams, pounding his hand on the couch.

I turn on the faucet in the kitchen, quietly fixing myself a glass of filtered water. I turn it off, tip toeing over to the staircase.

"You are a selfish bastard!" Mom screams at Dad.

I almost drop my glass at what happens next. My eyes widen when Dad's fist connects with Mom's jaw, sending her crashing to the ground in slow motion. I gasp. It's painful to witness.

"You bitch! You should have kept your fucking mouth shut!" He yells, gathering her hair in his fists.

I run up the stairs, the vision of Dad dragging Mom across the floor by her hair making my stomach churn. I close my door behind me, closing my eyes to try and drown out the cries from my Mother courtesy of my Father. After what seems like a long time, a door slams shut and I can take a breath. Mom's cries fill the house, echoing through the corridors and haunting me. I dont realize that there are footsteps headed towards my room until my door is kicked open and an angry version of my Mother is standing before me. My heart stops. She has a wild look in her eyes as she snatches me off of my bed, knocking my glass of water onto the ground. She slaps me repeatedly, every one hurting much more than the last, making my skin raw and sensitive. I don't understand what I did to deserve this, but after the initial shock has gone away, I hold my hand over my head to try and block her hits.

"Mom! Mom stop! Please!" I cry out, begging.

"You are a little bitch and I hate that you were ever born! He would have never done this to me!" She screams, sobbing while her arms are swinging towards my face.

She finally stops, storming out of my bedroom and slamming the door behind her. I hear the door slam one room over, their room. I sob quietly, trying not to be heard otherwise she might come back in here. Her sobs fill the air once again, but the pity I felt for her not too long ago has disappeared and all there is left is pain. The throbbing in my face, the tears streaming down my face, and the hatred I feel through the walls from my Mother. Every cry from her tortured lips makes me cringe, wondering if she will come back in to punish me again. I roughly wipe my tears, grabbing my stuffed rabbit, that I have surprisingly been able to hold onto since I was six years old, before all of the abuse, and I hold it close to my heart. I climb into bed, unable to stop the tears from falling. I try to turn my situation around.

"There are people worse off than I am. I'm getting taken care of. My parents love me." I whisper into my rabbit.

~~.~~ MICHAEL'S POV ~~.~~

"You better not have fucked up this time." I point my finger at her, pursing my lips.

She hands me my money and I smile. "See what happens when you listen to me? Everyone is happy. You can have the day off." I say, sticking the money in my pocket.

She looks like a lost puppy. "But... but Michael what will I do?" She asks, looking worried.

I roll my eyes. "Don't make me take it away! Get out of my car and go do something." I say, pushing her towards the door.

She gets out, looking around. I smile and wave to her. "See you tomorrow." I say, shutting the door and turning to Rome. "Take me to my girl's house."

"Right away sir."

We park in her driveway and I get out, ringing her doorbell. She better be here. I hear her throw the latch and she opens the door, smiling like a little kid and throwing her hands around my neck.

"Michael!" She squeals, hugging me tight.

"Hey baby." I chuckle, hugging her back.

She kisses me, but I quickly break it to calm her down. She's about to cream her pants already.

"Happy to see me huh?" I ask, looking into her eager brown eyes.

"You know it baby! I thought you only had time this weekend..." She says, smiling sweetly.

"I make time for my girl." I say, winking at her.

She smiles, kissing me again. Her lips feel smooth today. Smoother than normal. I wave to Rome and he pulls off. I go inside of her house and take my jacket off.

"Kelhi, baby can you give me a back rub?" I ask.

She walks over, running a hand through her silky shoulder-length hair. "Aww, is work stressing you out baby? You need a break!" She suggests.

"This is my break." I explain, taking a seat on the couch.

Kel comes over to me, lowering herself onto my lap. "You wanna spend your off day with me?" She asks, being all mushy.

I kiss her on the cheek. "You know I do girl." Her brown skin feels like velvet under my fingers... like her legs.

She blushes, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't I feel special."

"I'm the special one. My girl is giving me an amazing back rub right now." I raise my eyebrow at her, hinting.

She giggles. "Okay okay Mikey I will get to your back rub." She says, getting up and coming around to the back of the couch to begin my back rub.

Her small hands dig into my skin, relaxing me instantly. "Thank you baby."

"Anything for my man." She says, really massaging my shoulders.

I turn around, ready to stretch this promise as far as I can. "Anything huh?"

She drops her head. "Michael, I'm bleeding..." She whispers.

I roll my eyes. "Oh."

"But it's okay baby! It will be over in a few days." She assures me.

"It's fine girl, I'm not crazy for some booty. Stop making sad faces when I get upset, getting upset is what I do." I say, trying not to make her feel bad, but also wishing she wasn't on her period.

"That's why you're so stiff now Michael." She says, concern in her voice.

"Yeah whatever..." I groan, wanting the conversation to be over.

"Oh! I gotta get the beans." She says, rushing into the kitchen.

I chuckle. "Beans? You're cooking for me baby?" I ask, knowing she is no cook at all.

My phone vibrates and I flip it over. Anna. I frown, before I answer it curiously.

Michael: Hello?

Anna: Michael?

Michael: You know this is Michael, what do you want?

Anna: Michael... can we talk?

Michael: No. I'm with my girl.

Anna: I really think we need to talk.

Michael: We had time to talk. Before you divorced me.

Anna: Please don't hold a grudge Michael.

Michael: What do you have to say to me?

Anna: You know I still love you...

Michael: No. I don't know.

Anna: Michael I only did that because... of the other girls...

Michael: What? Oh Anna you have got to be kidding...

Anna: Michael... I see them everywhere. All around you.

Michael: Those are my employees. They work for me.

Anna: Michael, what if I had a bunch of male employees...

Michael: That's different. You don't understand what I do.

Anna: Make me understand.

Michael: ... You could have just told me what was wrong.

Anna: You were never home. I assumed the worst.

I hang up on her, sighing to myself. Hearing her voice, realizing that was the reason she divorced me, was like a punch in the gut. It hurts me to hear her confess that. I never cheated on her. I guess it does look kinda shady though.

"Hey Kel? I will be back later to have dinner baby, I gotta run." I say, grabbing my coat.

"Aw Michael you can't stay?" She begs.

"It's just business baby." I say, putting my coat on. I lean over, kissing her gently. "See you tonight."

She smiles. "I can't wait."

Rome pulls up just as I am walking down the driveway. I feel a bit apprehensive when he pulls up into this familiar driveway. I get out, walking to the front door and ringing the doorbell. The door opens quickly, taking me by surprise. Anna stares at me for a moment, maybe not believing that I actually came over to see her. Another surprise awaits me as she wraps her arms around me, holding me close. I wave Rome off, wrapping my arms around her, taking in her intoxicating scent. I want so badly to just hold her like this and go back to the way things were, but I know that's not gonna happen. I break the hug, smiling lightly.

"Let's talk." I say.

She smiles a little, letting me into the house. I take my coat off, sitting on the couch. Everything looks the same. "You didn't do any redecorating." I comment.

She sits next to me on the couch. "I didn't have a reason to." She says, her voice just as soft and kind as I remembered.

I reach up, feeling in her sandy brown, wavy hair, staring at her pretty face. "Why didn't you tell me you thought I was unfaithful?" I whisper, knowing it's a delicate subject for the both of us.

She looks down, ashamed. "I didn't want to argue about it." She admits.

"I would have told you the truth baby. You should know that, we were married." I explain, as if that means anything now.

She looks at me, clearly checking me out. "You look nice... and you smell nice." She comments, fooling with her fingernails.

I lean forward, making her body tense up. That almost makes me frown. It took me so long to get her to relax around me. I take a whiff of her scent, knowing what it's gonna be. Lilac.

"You smell nice too." I purr.

She blushes, dropping her gaze. She always smelled like that. I would lay in bed when we were marries and hold her close so I could take in her sweet scent, as if I needed to memorize it. Good thing I did.

"Anna I miss you." I admit. She looks up at me, wide eyed. I try to read her expression, she was always hard to read. She masked her emotions so well, unlike me.

"I miss you too Michael." She agrees finally, making my heart throb.

I place my hand on her cheek, she catches it with her hand. I lean in real close, waiting for her approval. When she doesnt pull back, I kiss her gently. Anything else would be too much for her and I couldn't control myself. She breaks the kiss, making me frown with anticipation. That wasnt nearly long enough. I missed those lips so much. I open my eyes, seeing tears forming in her eyes. I scoot closer to her.

"What's wrong?" I ask, but I know. She just shakes her head, wiping her eyes. I hold her hand. "Don't cry. I know."

"I was a fool Michael..." She whispers, through her tears. She brings her gaze back to me, almost breaking my heart with her red, puffy face. "Can you forgive me?" She asks, almost begging me.

I wipe a tear from her cheek. "Of course I can baby." I assure her.

She looks down. "We can't be together though Michael... you're already in a relationship." She says, sounding disappointed.

"Shh." I kiss her lips gently once more, smiling at the sensation. Only Anna could do this to me. "We aren't mad and confused anymore and that is a start." I explain, rubbing her back gently.

She smiles, sniffling. "That's right. Thank you for coming here." She says, looking deep into my eyes.

"Anything for my wifey. Do you want me to stay or will you be alright?" I ask.

"I will be fine." She says, placing a hand flat against my chest.

I nod, grabbing my coat and pulling out my phone to call Rome. As the phone rings I hear Anna sniffling in the background. I turn around, seeing her face in her hands on the couch. I hang up, it breaks my heart to see her cry, even now. I hang up my coat, rejoining her on the couch.

"Hey, what is all of this, huh? I thought you said you were okay." I ask, rubbing her arms.

"I was, but... now I'm not..." She chokes through her tears.

I pull her in, letting her cry on my shoulder. I rub circles on her back. She has always been so sensitive. Our marriage was always so passionate. Never rough or filled with animal lust. Always loving. We never yelled at each other. Funny, she is the only woman I've never had to yell at. Maybe that's why I decided to marry her.

She removes her face from my shoulder. "I'm sorry, you can leave now." She says half-heartedly.

I wipe off her cheeks. "I'm not going anywhere." I whisper.

I get up, holding her hand. I don't have to be back with Kelhi for a while, so I will enjoy this time with Anna. I lead her up to our old bedroom. It seems very empty, it must be hard for her trying to sleep here without getting depressed. Now it is filled with life because we are both here to fill it. I close and lock the door behind me, undressing slowly until I am just in my boxers. She looks at me nervously.

"Will you lay with me?" I ask.

She smiles softly, nodding once. She slowly takes off her shirt and pants, making my heart race. She stands before me in her bra and panties and I have to control my itching before I do something I will regret. I stare hard at her body. She looks even better than the last time I got to see her like this. Im yearning for the moment I get to touch her smooth skin again. She gets into the bed, laying under the covers. I lay beside her, staring at her beauty. She has stopped crying now and her eyes are glistening in the moonlight. I take in her scent, running my fingers over her skin. She shivers, her eyelids sliding over her eyes. I know she is sensitive to my touch, but I just cant seem to keep my hands off of her. She looks at me with so much passion, but I have to keep in control, not matter how much it pains me to not take her right now. I will not cheat on Kelhi.

To be continued...