"Okay, okay. Just move it a little left. No, actually just a smidge to the right. You know what? I think it was straight in the last position." My roommate laid idlily on the couch, directing me like an orchestra conductor.

I gave the picture frame one sharp tug to the left, throwing my hands in the air. "I think this is just about straight."

I was exhausted enough having spent the entire night attempting to put various pieces of furniture together.

"Eh, should have tilted it more to the right," She turned her head, further analyzing.

"Candice, you know you're always welcomed to put down that wine glass and do it your damn self."

She took a last gulp, emptying her glass, and flipping through her fall issue of Vogue magazine. "You know I would just mess it up."

A knock on the door interrupted me before I could roll my eyes. I didn't know Candice very well. We began to sort of bond since moving in together, but I still couldn't tell if she behaved in a joking manner, or was really stuck up. I guess that's what I got for finding a roommate through the internet.

I moved to unlock the door, a smile overtaking my face when my mom appeared before me.

"Wow, after twenty years you finally got a day off and decided to use it to visit me." I held my hand to my chest.

She gave me a playful whack on the shoulder, rolling her eyes. "This is nice, I like it". She walked through, examining our newly decorated living room. "You're picture is crooked."

"I told her, but she wouldn't fix it," Candice sighed.

"How about we all forget about the stupid picture, yeah?" I said. "We instead should celebrate me seeing my mom after six months. With our track record, I didn't expect to be able to show you my place for at least another three."

She had the usual bags under her eyes, even more pronounced now due to age. Her back hunched a little, the weight of the world still firmly pressed against her tiny shoulders.

Mom shot me the same intense glare she always gave, right before she would blow up. "Why are you like this, Bella? You know me and your dad had to work long hours to put food on the table. So what you had to eat some dinners alone? Big deal."

Candice saw this as her cue, grabbing the half empty bottle of wine off the counter and scurrying to her room.

"Mom, with all due respect it wasn't just a few dinners alone. It was me having to stay behind everyday after school because no one would be home to help with my homework. It was me running as fast as my little nine year old legs would allow, to get home before the sun came down and the gangbangers came out to play."

My mom shrugged me off as usual. I appreciated the sacrifices they made to provide for me, but I wished she showed a little compassion for what I went through as well.

"I want to see what your room looks like." She changed the subject, pulling my arm.

"It's nothing special." I opened the door to my small room. It was a little messier than I would have liked. I was still trying to figure out where I wanted everything placed.

My phone, which laid on my bed, suddenly buzzed against my sheets. I went up, gagging when I saw the caller ID belonging to the dozens of missed call notifications.

"Go on, you can answer your call." Mom continued to look around.

I cleared all the notifications, sighing. "No need."

"Well, who was it?" She asked.

I hesitated, letting out a heavy breath. "It was Michael."

Her face suddenly lit up with a cheerful grin "That's great! Have you guys been communicating? I always knew you would find your way back to him. You know, it's not everyday someone like you gets a man like that."

"Which is exactly why we're never getting back together. The communication has been completely one sided on his part."

"Well why?" She asked.

"Because, I felt like crap throughout our entire relationship and instead of easing my feelings, he only helped enforce them." I reluctantly shared for the hundredth time.

My mom knew full well why Michael and I broke up. She just felt the reasons were trivial and refused to accept it.

"He wanted you then and he clearly still wants you now. Relationships are never easy." Her tone turned into a desperate plea. "We came from nothing, there wasn't much your father and I were able to give you, but Michael, he's a man who could give you whatever your heart desires. If I had your chance I would never give it up.

Heat rose through me as I slightly shook with rage. She definitely hit a soft spot. "Am I not capable of giving myself what I want? I'm going to school and making big moves all on my own. Besides, his family treated me like scum on earth and he never once had my back. He said if it came between me and his inheritance, he would leave me in a second. No amount of Cartier bracelets will undo that.."

"You know gender studies won't earn you any money. As long as his family don't disinherit him, there's a good chance he'll marry you and you'd be set for life. You should take that chance in my opinion."

"I'm not going to school for gender stu- You know what?" It was my time to change the subject. "I should cook some dinner and send you on your way. I know you must have things to do."

I decided to do something easy and cook a roast beef. My mom did all the talking during dinner, as I endured her agonizing lectures about relationships and my future. I did the best I could to appease her, coming to the devastating conclusion that she didn't know me at all. I didn't really know her either, I suppose.

"Well, I should be heading out now, I just picked up a late night shift at the hospital." She gave me a quick hug, leaving before she could give a concrete time on when we would meet again. I found myself more relieved than disappointed.

Candice came waltzing through the living room the minute she heard the door slam shut. Her jet black hair which usually fell in cascading waves past her shoulders was wrapped in swooping towel.

"I would have joined you, but I heard the arguing and aye-yay-yay. I love my abuela, but this is why I'm glad she's in Puerto Rico and I only have to see her once a year." She made herself a plate.

I threw myself onto our blue couch, taking deep breaths to ease my anger.

Candice pulled my legs, moving them to the side to sit besides me. My phone, which I placed on the coffee table, vibrated again with incoming calls I continued to ignore.

"Who's blowing up your phone?" She asked.

I was exhausted at this point. "It's my ex."

"And you're not gonna pick it up?"

"Nope."

She shook her head. "He was a jackass wasn't he? You know what you should do? Just build up all your anger and frustration and take it out on him. Curse him, his mom, his one legged grandma, whomever. Trust me, once you go full batshit he'll be running for the hills. I know this from personal experience."

I should've chosen to go about things in a mature way being as I was classified as an adult in the United States, but my 22 year old brain did have a tendency to revert back to its 16 year old form.

"That might be just what I need at this moment," I let out a deep breath.

Suddenly I started to feel just how small our apartment was. I didn't know if it was my mom, Michael, or my unsettled nerves about college and my potential failure, but I found myself suffocating and desperately needing some fresh air.

I grabbed my phone, throwing on some fuzzy slippers. "I need some air. I'll be on the rooftop if you need me."

"Kay, just don't trip and fall over. If you die there's no way in hell I'd be able to pay next months rent on my own." She yelled as I shut the door.

This earned a chuckle from me. I think Candice and I will be great friends.

My breathing hitched again, as I hunched over, holding my hands on my knees. The two flights of stairs I took to get to the roof winded me more than I would have liked. I could definitely use a few more trips to the gym.

A gush of wind suddenly hit, and I moved to the ledge getting a good view of downtown LA at night. Things were moving so quickly around me yet I felt stuck nonetheless.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling to the contact I was looking for. After two rings he picked up.

"Bella, is that you?" He sounded relieved.

"Yes, Michael. Caller ID has been around since like the 90s, you don't need to guess."

"I know, it's just, I've been trying to reach you the last few weeks and I was starting to feel like I'd never get in touch with you."

"You helped me pick out this apartment, so you know where I live. If you really wanted to, you could have paid a visit."

He began to stutter in the way he did when trying to find a quick excuse, "I would, but you know I've had so much to do with my dad's company and everything. It's such a long drive from Brentwood as well."

I let out a sigh, "what do you want, Michael?"

"I want to give things another go," He said.

"That's not happening."

"Well why not? What we had was special."

"You literally don't even know anything about me. What's my favorite food?" I quickly asked.

"Umm... I know this. It's fried chicken isn't it. Yes, I remember you really liked KFC."

"I hate KFC, and fried chicken is certainty not my favorite food. I think you're letting stereotypes cloud your judgement. 

"That was just a little thing. We had a great physical connection and it was much deeper than something stupid like your favorite food."

I choked ironically. "Oh I get it. You don't want me back because you liked me as a human being, but because you missed me in bed right? Well I don't miss you nor your crappy family."

"Come on, you have to admit our sex life was great. You're still mad about what happened last dinner party I see."

"Not just the last one, but everyone since I've met your family. We dated for a year and in that year I met them a handful of times. Yet, whenever I would go to a gathering, your family ended up handing me their empty plates and champagne glasses because they mistook me for the help. They'd literally slow their speech and limit their vocabulary because they thought I wasn't intelligent enough to understand them, and lets not overlook the fact that your mom clutched her purse for dear life whenever I was in her vicinity, like I was gonna snatch it from her any moment and run for Mexico."

"I get it but-"

"Nope." I immediately cut him off "I've had enough of you and my mother today. We will never get back together and that's final. Don't bother trying to call me again because you'll be blocked." Another gush of wind hit the minute I hung up, almost like the universe was giving me a pat on the back.

I decided to stay on the rooftop for a bit, while I got myself together. I found an amusing game in calculating the speed of each car that zoomed by, guessing which one would inevitably be stopped by the cops who always drove around this area.

The sound of a man loudly clearing his throat suddenly got my attention. I ignored it, until he cleared his throat again.

"I'm sorry man but if you want the roof to yourself, that's not happening. I pay the overpriced fee for it just like everyone else." I didn't bother turning my head.

"Bella." The man said assertively.

There was a rasp to his voice that was familiar, though there was also a smoothness that seemed to replace the rough tone I was used to.

What the hell would he be doing at my apartment?

I slowly turned around to two men in suits right in the middle of my roof. I couldn't see their faces very well in the dark, but I could immediately see their contrast in height. Either one was freakishly tall or the other really short.

The men stepped closer and closer and I began to notice I was the short one, as they both towered over me.

I knew it was him but something felt different. Dominic Moretti wasn't a full suit type of man, he always stuck to dress pants and a button down at most. He adjusted his watch like he always did, but this time it was placed on his right wrist, not his left. I guess he decided to finally retire his beloved silver watch and opt for a black one instead.

Despite these changes, there was no doubt that it was Dominic who stood broodingly before me. I just wasn't familiar with his new bodyguard.

"Yes?" I winced, trying to make sense of their presence.

Dominic's face was set in a straight line. I couldn't tell if he was happy, angry, or even horny, which was quite unusual.

"There's been an issue," He said.

I almost didn't hear him because I spent too much time looking at the humongous man by his side. He stood straight with his hands behind his back and his head held high. I went up to the guy, realizing my head reached his lower belly.

"Damn, where the hell did you get him from, build-a-giant?" Curiosity overtook me as I pocked and probed him to make sure he was a real human.

The man didn't budge nor look down at me. It was like I was a microscopic bacteria, unnoticeable to his human eye.

"What do you mean there's been an issue? I know you've missed my food, but If you're here to get me back, then you've wasted your time. But thank you for thinking of me." I nodded and rushed to walk towards the door without another word.

I suddenly heard a low whistle and the big man ran and whisked me off the ground before I could take another step.

This wasn't good at all.

"Dominic, what do you want?"

"There's been an issue, and we need you back at the mansion." He reiterated with more vigor.

"What issue could you have that I'd possibly be able to fix? Did my replacement forget how to turn on the stove or something?"

He clenched his jaw, tapping his feet like he was trying to muster some patience. "I can't discuss it right now, but just come with us and we'll show you.

When he pressed his lips, I saw the dimple I swore was on his left cheek, suddenly appear on his right. Something was very out of the ordinary with him tonight.

"I don't work for you anymore, therefore I'm not obligated to help with any of your problems. Now if you'll excuse me, there's an episode of the Vampire Diaries I need to get to." I rushed for the exit, groaning, when my second attempted run was once again intercepted by the bodyguard. This time he kept me hanging on his arm like a rag doll.

"I'm having a dinner party with a client who's specifically requesting your food. If you come with us I'll pay you five grand for the night." Dominic rubbed his temple.

My nerves began to ease at his revelation. He wasn't here to kill me and throw my body at the bottom of some river. I rocked back and forth in big mans arm, thinking his proposition through.

"You'll give me five thousand dollars for one dinner party?"

"Y-Yes." He almost struggled to get out.

"Okay. Let me go to my room and get changed real quick." There was no denying this was a great opportunity for me to do a little work and add to my savings.

The big man began to put my body down when Dominic suddenly shouted "No!" Causing him to scoop me back up.

I rubbed my neck giving the man a death glare. "You're gonna give me whiplash if you keep throwing me around like that, you hobbit!"

He finally acknowledged my existence, his voice so deep it sounded computer generated. "Hobbits small. I big, very big." I he also had a thick Italian accent.

"We have no time for changing, I need you at the house right away," Dominic said.

"You're such an impatient man. You really want me walking around your kitchen in my bunny slippers?"

He looked me up and down, slowly surveying my body. "Yes." He usually had this wicked grin whenever he checked me out, but this time his poker face didn't falter.

I gave the big man two pats on the back "Alright, lets get going. I might as well take advantage of this ride." He slung me over his shoulder and we headed down the stairs.

I heard a loud dud and realized my phone slid out of my back pocket "Wait, my phone." The big guy in fact did not wait, and instead continued down the corridor. I guess I'd have to buy a new one. I desperately needed an upgrade anyways.

This would be alarming to any normal person, but I've encountered so many bizarre situations working for Dominic, that this was just another Tuesday for me. When he wanted something, he wanted it five minutes before he even voiced his request. I wouldn't put it past him to send someone all the way to my place because he needed me to cook a meal, I was just surprised he came along as well.

We got past the front lobby without encountering another person, which I was sort of glad for since I wouldn't have to come up with an explanation.

A black SUV pulled up the minute we stepped outside, and the big man finally put me down to step in. He hopped in right after me, while Dominic got into the passenger seat.

The driver immediately sped off with such force that I flew back against my seat. This client Dominic is hosting must be a very important person.

We sat in silence for a few minutes while merging onto the highway.

"So, Dominic, any after parties tonight? I don't miss them one bit, but I gotta give it to you, you sure know how to put on a show."

He didn't turn back, but instead looked up at the rearview mirror. His stoic face gave a quick change of expression that I couldn't decipher, before he looked back down completely ignoring my question.

I went back to looking at the road since he didn't seem to be in a chatty mood. My face scrunched into confusion when the driver rushed past the upcoming exit. "Um, not to tell you how to do your job driver, but I think you missed the exit to Dominic's house."

The driver looked up at me, then focused back on the road without a word, just as Dominic had done. What the hell was their problem tonight?

Something felt off, and I could feel it in the pits of my stomach. This subdued and quiet man was much different from the vibrant and chatty one I knew for two years. I suddenly regretted agreeing to cater the party. The minute we got to his place I needed to find an excuse to leave.

Maybe if I quickly stuck my hand down my throat I could throw up and feign a stomach bug? The humiliation from hurling on myself would be morbid, but ultimately better than ending up dead or locked in Dominic's creepy basement.

As we continued the drive, the area became even more unfamiliar. We must've been in the valley. But if we weren't heading to his mansion, where the hell were we going?

We reached the end of a suburban neighborhood when the driver suddenly went off road, swerving left. We went from smooth concrete to bumpy rubble as he raced through the rocky path. I could only distinguish the bushes and trees that lined our vision.

I tried to stay calm, in spite of my left hand that refused to stop shaking. I just needed to pretend everything was fine, and figure the best way to get out of this situation. Whatever Dominic wanted from me, it was much more than a meal. Did he find out I was in his office?

The big bodyguard suddenly reached for my hand, steadying it. The look he gave me, it almost seemed like a reassuring one. "You be fine." He whispered.

This only left me further confused. It seemed like I put myself in an awful ordeal. I went back to Jackson's words in the kitchen last week. "Things have been brewing for a while and will very well start to get dangerous."

The driver continued on the dirt road, flying through the woods. Suddenly a house came into view. As we got closer and closer I was able to take in its massive size. I would have been taken away had I not been so used to the size of his other mansion, but this one did seem a little bigger.

The gates opened as the driver pulled into the driveway, and suddenly five men walked out of the front door, charging toward us.

This was the time to panic, but panicking lead to stupid decision making. If I played things smart there was a good chance I could get out alive.

"Wow, you got yourself a new house I see. It's niccceee." I let the men open my door and help me out. "It's really secluded as well, just right for a nice weekend away from all the craziness of life, huh?"

Absolute silence. Dominic stepped out and led the way to the door.

We walked in and my jaw surely almost dropped. This was much different then his other house. That one was more of a dark bachelor pad, but this, this was filled with light and reeked of elegance and class. A castle made for a king, surely.

"So where is this kitchen? Let me whip up a nice dinner and get out of your hair, I'm sure you're super busy."

Dominic stopped in his tracks, turning around slowly. The nervous smile I had plastered on my face fell when his full lips formed into a crooked smirk.

"Now that we're here, I'll explain things clearly." He stepped towards me. " But first, allow me to reintroduce myself." He bent down, his face so close to mine that I felt his minty breath blow against my cheeks as he spoke, "My name is Dario Moretti, or as some like to call me, shotgun, and you young lady will be getting to know me very well."