There was someone in her room. Someone familiar. But Shanya didn't want to lift her eyes long enough to identify the person. She wanted to sleep... just sleep. So instead, she laid still, listening to her breathing. The intruder was a woman. She could tell by her perfume—a perfume that was also familiar, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why. She wasn't even sure she wanted to find out.

The woman simply sat silently, watching her as if she had all the patience in the world. It pressed on for several minutes until Shanya was positive the woman wasn't real. Maybe she'd been pumped up with so much sedative she couldn't tell hallucinations from reality.

But then the voice spoke.

"I had hoped we'd meet in a more favorable condition. But I'll take what I can get."

Her tone was clipped and indifferent. There was something about the slur in her words that seemed as though they were dipped in a sea of utter condescension. But that wasn't what made Shanya finally lift her eyelids. She did so because she knew inextricably who that voice belonged to.

Miranda. A part of Shanya still believed this wasn't real. Hoped it, even. Anything was better than that cold gaze Paris's mother was sending her way. As if she'd rather be anywhere but here. As if coming here at all had cost her an arm and a leg. But Shanya disregarded it and managed a smile despite her aching muscles. Dream—scratch that—nightmare or no nightmare, she was going to behave like the dutiful fiance.

"Miranda... how nice to—"

"Shh... save your breath, just listen. And that's Mrs. Boden to you."

Shanya frowned, but did as she was told while taking in Miranda's appearance. It was excruciating. Everything she wore, including that damned perfume screamed superiority and Shanya had the distinct feeling it was deliberate. This was no social call. No, no, her dear soon-to-be mother-in-law had a bone to pick with her. The question was, why?

Miranda, as deadly as she was good-looking, clasped her hands together, regarding her son's fiance.

"If you're as smart as I suspect you are, you must be aware of why I'm here."

"I haven't the slightest clue, Mrs. Boden," Shanya drawled, still trying to decipher if her mind was so messed up it had conjured up the evil mother-in-law just for the heck of it. "Although I would like to think it's because you care for my well-being."

Shanya's voice didn't feel like her own. Her mind was fuzzy and she felt disoriented, but she knew something bad had happened to her and she was not in her home. She must be somewhere else. But try as she might, Shanya couldn't get herself to see anything beyond the Ice Queen sitting on the brown couch across from her. Or maybe it was because she was too distraught to look at anything else but her. She felt like a deer, trapped beneath the ensnaring fangs of a lion.

"You don't fool me, Shania. I know exactly who and what you are."

No, Shanya didn't think this woman could be fooled at all. There was a feral look in her gaze. One that resided in suspicion and distrust. Her heart pounded just a little faster at the mere sight of it.

Miranda leaned in, the buttons in her black blouse glowing amidst the moonlight. "My son... he's gullible. His taste in women even more so."

"Mira- Mrs. Boden, I really have no idea what—"

"I've come across many a girl like you. Girls who are tired of their mediocre lives and would do anything to change their situation. Even if they have to sell themselves to the highest bidder." Her words stung with malice yet she remained calm, forthright. As if she'd indeed dealt with this situation a thousand times and Shanya was just another girl she needed to get rid of.

"This poison charade may even be just that—a charade. In order to elicit more money from my unsuspecting boy."

What poison? More to the point, was Miranda insinuating that she'd intentionally poison herself for money? She would've laughed out loud if her throat didn't hurt so much. What strange hallucinations her mind cooked up.

Shanya fought to keep her eyes open. "If I wanted to kill myself, I would certainly come up with a less painful, more creative way than poison."

The Ice Queen smiled at her, but there was no warmth in that smile. In fact, it only served to make Shanya more alert.

"How you choose to die is no concern of mine. What is my concern is my son, whom you have wrapped around your gold-digging finger and weaved with marinated lies."

"If you think so little of your son then you don't know him at all."

The woman raised an eyebrow as she leaned back. But it was gone in a flash. That was probably the first emotion Shanya had read from her all through this entire bizarre meeting.

"Spoken like a true parasite. My son sure knows how to pick 'em."

Parasite? Really.

"Look, Paris is a grown man. Fully capable of fraternizing with whomev—"

"Not with lowlife scums like yourself who are only in it for the money. Now, how much do you want to stay away from him?"

What a bitch. What a massive bitch. Shanya could barely contain the anger tripling by the minute as it didn't help that in a way, Ice Queen was right. She was doing this for the money. Yet Shanya knew that their little engagement of convenience had become less about the money and more about the unrelenting feelings growing within her.

Her anger surprised and confused her, though. If this was a hallucination, why did she feel the rage so intensely?

"Save your pride," Miranda was saying, her gaze pinned on Shanya's, "For someone with your past, and a mother equally as scandalous and immoral, you can't afford to miss this opportunity. How's twenty-five thousand look like?"

"Pounds or dollars?"

"Dollars."

"Huh. Paris would be disappointed he's worth so little."

Miranda simply held her gaze unflinchingly. There was nothing in that look. Only precision and a fierce will. "My dear girl, do us both a favor and stop pretending this is hard or that you care. In the end, you always take the money. If there's any dignity left in you, spare us this entire ordeal and name your price. I'll write you a check right now and we need never see each other again."

Shanya tried to sit up straight but it was an effort. Her muscles were aching something bad and her head was beginning to pound. Miranda's words were like ice and flame, playing catch and release inside her mind.

"I can't be bought."

"Everyone can be bought. It's only a matter of knowing the right price. Fifty thousand dollars?"

Shanya said nothing.

"Seventy-five?"

"Does Paris know you're here?"

"Of course. It's a shame I can't change his mind. He's completely besotted with you and I can't for the life of me imagine why. But no matter, in time it will fade. Girls like you never hold my son's attention for long."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about."

She squinted her eyes at Shanya, that cold smile playing on her lips. "You're right. Either take the money I'm offering or I'll have you removed from his life."

Shanya did not miss the blatant threat in her words or her gaze.

"I'm not afraid of you, Miranda. I don't want your money, and I don't appreciate being talked down to in this manner. Neither do I take kindly to threats. So if you don't mind, I'd like to rest. Please leave."

Shanya shut her eyes and willed herself to wake up from the frustrating hallucination. She reached down for whatever she could use to shroud herself in and settled in bed more comfortably. Within a flash, the sweet embrace of sleep sang in the recesses of her mind and she gladly held unto it.

But not before she heard the subtle click of the door.

A/n: Before you move on, a quick vote please:-)