Teddy owned one nice suit and he only wore it when he was visiting his mother's grave, ever since then he had been growing so much that he had a new and then old suit every year. This was no different. After training so much with Abe, he was growing even more. His current suit could no longer handle the muscle mass he had accumulated. Zoe was impressed when she saw Teddy's white dress shirt strain around the muscles in his arms and his glorious chest, but it created some problems. If Teddy was going to attend any social event with his famous girlfriend—as her mother's henchmen—he needed a properly fitting suit.

So Abe was tasked with taking Teddy shopping. Zoe basically pouted when she found out she couldn't go with, since she had a photoshoot on her schedule, but it was easy for Teddy to be thankful for her absence when he thought about the last conversation him and Abe had in private. It was about time they resumed that conversation, and Zoe couldn't be around when they did.

"You're awfully quiet," Teddy said, attempting to break that awkward silence that had lingered between them since they left the house. He looked at Abe in the mirror as he fussed with the tie the tailor just wrapped around his neck.

"I don't enjoy shopping," Abe replied, his eyes glued on the busy streets through the window of the store.

"So you're pouting?" Teddy joked.

Abe turned to Teddy, his expression void of humor. "I'm mourning."

That was an unexpected response. It took Teddy by surprise. "For who?"

"You."

Teddy sighed with defeat at that answer. So he wasn't actually mourning, he was just being condescending. It was good though. Teddy was glad to know that him and Abe were thinking about the same thing today.

"Nothing is going to happen to me. I wouldn't go to war if I didn't think there was a possibility of winning."

"Run me through this then, Morgan. Explain to me how you're going to thwart God, herself," Abe bitterly commanded.

Teddy scoffed and shook his head. "I don't know, Abe. There is no first step until I know I have people watching my back. Like you, for example. I'm not making any moves until I have a team of people I trust."

"Okay, assume you have a team of people you trust. What happens then?"

Teddy was silent for a moment as he thought of the right answer. It's not like he hadn't thought about it before. It's all he had been thinking about since Hiro's men found him. There wasn't a singular comprehensible answer to Abe's question though. There was an endless possibility of things they could do to end Rin's rule.

"We would need to find an opportunity where she's vulnerable. Publicity is a big concern. If it could look like an accident, that would be ideal. We could run her off the road or something. That would welcome the least amount of suspicious questions. Rin is smart though, like you said. A plan like that would require precision and she might catch on. So, if we can't pull it off for whatever reason, there is also the option of war. We corner her and her Hives, fight to the death, and tell the media that she fled to Cuba or something. Maybe a throw a money laundering scandal in there. I'm sure she's got a skeleton like that in her closet," Teddy explained.

Abe tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair he was sat in behind Teddy, letting his mind drift as he processed Teddy's thoughtful plans. He had obviously been thinking a lot about his horrible, horrible death wish. It was good to know that he wasn't as careless as he was suicidal, but it was still worrying. Abe didn't like how dangerous this entire conversation was. It made his skin crawl.

"Do all of your plans involve Rin dying?" Abe reluctantly asked, his voice unintentionally quieted. He glanced toward the door to the back room of this fancy suit shop, hoping the tailor wouldn't walk out while they were discussing manslaughter.

Teddy shrugged. "I don't know. I guess so. I can't imagine us winning if she stays alive. We could get rid of her Hives and leave her alive, but then convincing her to hand over the company would be difficult."

"Why do you need the company? I thought you just wanted to free all her slaves, but you're actually after her career?"

"No," Teddy quickly retorted. "I don't want her career, but it's her career that gives her power. We could kill all her Hives and free everyone that wants to run, but then what's stopping her from regrowing her unwilling army? What's stopping her from chasing after everyone that ran? What's stopping her from manipulating her helpless daughter? I thought about blackmailing her. We tell her to give up her career or we'll report her to the police, but that wouldn't work. She has just as much blood on her hands as everyone she's enslaved. Taking her down like that would take everyone down. Killing her just... makes everything easier."

"Easier?" Abe scoffed. "You're talking about murdering the mother of the girl you're in love with. That's easy for you? Did I really underestimate you, Teddy?"

Teddy spun and shot a heated glare at Abe. "Don't call me by my first name."

Abe's tapping fingers stilled and he held Teddy's stare for a silent moment. The tension between them thickened as Abe rose menacingly from his seat. He held Teddy's stare, silently challenging him with a smug glare.

"That's funny... It's almost like you understand the true meaning of our little name game now that your head is full of irreversible sins. I told you we switched to first names after someone loses their innocence, but you know that's not the full truth, don't you? Now you understand why Burgess wants to keep his last name. It's not because of his innocence, it's because of his daughter. It's because he wants to believe he's redeemable." A taunting smile stretched across Abe's face. "You know that killing Zoe's mother will be irredeemable, but you don't want to admit it to yourself. Hell... you won't even let it stop you."

Teddy gulped, attempting to swallow the horrible ball of guilt and fear in his throat. It didn't go down so easily. In fact, it made his stomach churn. Teddy kept the dread off his face though, and masked it with stoic anger. He wouldn't admit Abe was right.

The tailor suddenly returned from the back of the shop and halted Teddy and Abe's very tense conversation. He had already taken Teddy's measurements and only needed some style references, so he could fit multiple suits to Teddy's style. Teddy took the giant binder from the tailor, politely thanked him, and watched as the tailor scurried away again. He muttered something about shoes as he went, but Teddy didn't really catch it because he didn't care. He was too focused on Abe.

"Doing this will save people, Abe. That's redeemable," Teddy said when they were alone again.

"To Zoe?"

"It's redeemable! It has to be! Zoe will have everything she's ever wanted and maybe she'll finally realize how controlling her mother has been all her life. Zoe needs her freedom, they all do..."

"But the price for that freedom is pretty steep, don't you think?"

Teddy gulped, keeping his eyes on the small squares of fabric in the binder. "Maybe... It's extremely dangerous for us and it's going to hurt Zoe, but it's necessary. Rin is a tyrant, Abe. She's murderous and cruel and that needs to change."

Abe slid his tongue over his teeth as he looked around the shop they were in. He wasn't looking at anything in particular, he just needed a moment to think. He still couldn't believe he was entertaining this train of thought with Teddy. It was a fucking pipe dream. Even that was too generous a label. But for some reason, Abe was right there with Teddy, unable to stop thinking about it. Teddy referring to his plans as war tactics is the only thing that made Abe consider a single word he said.

Feasable leverage, the element of surprise, higher number of bodies and weapons.

It could work if everything was well thought out. And that was crazy.

"When would you even execute this "plan" of yours?" Abe asked with air quotes.

Teddy rolled his eyes at Abe's condescending air quotes and shrugged. "I don't know. I told you, the plan hasn't been thoroughly discussed, but I have faith that it's possible. We just need more guys on our side and as soon as we see a window, we strike."

"We..." Abe shook his head and took a deep breath. "Who exactly do you think we is, Morgan? You haven't even worked here that long and you think you can convert a bunch of guys to work for you instead of the actual devil?"

Teddy looked up from the binder to meet the eyes of his mentor. Hope flooded his eyes and poured from his mouth as he spoke. "That's why I need you, Abe. I need you to guide me through this. You know who to trust, you have guys who are loyal to you, you have all the information I need. You don't have to get your hands dirty if you don't want to, Abe, but I need someone to point me in the right direction. You're my mentor, right? Isn't that your job?"

"My job is to keep you alive and make sure you follow orders. Your plans sound like the complete opposite of what my obligations entail," Abe retorted.

Teddy sighed and looked down at the binder in his arms again. He flipped through a couple pages, half heartedly finding something that drew his attention. A lot of the options given to him involved the inner lining of his suit jacket and pocket squares and material textures. Teddy didn't really speak this language but he was sure Zoe probably did. She should be the one picking out his suits, especially since he would only be wearing them around her. He wanted to look good standing next to her at fancy events but he didn't know if his taste was up to par with the events he would be attending.

"Not a single word of your plans can be spoke around too many people," Abe suddenly declared. Teddy looked up again. "You speak to people face to face, one on one, in private, but never without me. You keep it short and sweet. Not a single person steps out of line until all the stars have aligned and we're ready to strike. Do you think you can handle operating under the radar like that?"

Teddy closed the binder, never lifting his eyes from Abe's. He let Abe's words settle before finally nodding. "I can do that. I have to."

"And I'm not saying I'm on board with this plan. It's just a hypothetical that I'm willing to entertain... until I see that it can be real. Then, and only then, will I agree to risk my life, as you have."

"I understand."

Abe ran a tattooed hand over the prickly hairs of his buzzed haircut and took a stressed breath. "You're a brace kid, Morgan. Stupid, but brave."

Teddy couldn't fight the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He felt infinitely better about this hypothetical plan with Abe by his side. He couldn't do this without Abe. Teddy was still the new guy around here and they all still called him by his last name. He had no credibility. He needed Abe to help him get guys on his side. And now that he had agreed to entertain the idea of this plan, he had to get him to talk to Hiro's men, since they had more details and had explained why Teddy was so important to their plan.

This could work. It had to.

Until then, Teddy had to figure out what he was going to say to his girlfriend about potentially murdering her demonic mother.

-

Rin declared that Teddy be out of sight when Zoe was working and she was to never leave his sight when he was working. Zoe had already worked a hosting gig and he was nowhere in sight. It was easy but unpleasant for them to be away from one another. Tonight was different though. It was time for Zoe to never leave Teddy's sight, and they were both excited about it. It would be their first public outing as an official couple, a luxury Zoe had never experienced and was was beaming with joy over.

Paparazzi greeted the Yang's and Teddy with violent enthusiasm when they arrived at the event. Teddy helped Zoe out of the car when they arrived and did not let her go as he lead her carefully away from the cameras and into the building. He didn't think he would ever get used to the cameras. They were so bright and the people behind them were so loud. It was jarring every time.

Inside of the event was a lot calmer, naturally. It was a formal benefit of some sort, where people dined and thanked one another for donating large sums of money towards whatever organization this party was for. Teddy didn't really get it. He didn't speak the language. Zoe explained it to him like she was fluent in whatever language she was speaking and he was impressed by that at least. He knew this was Zoe's world and she had grown up with the cameras and the money and the snooty rich people, but this side of Zoe was something he never got to see.

Zoe gasped after they passed a few tables, turning away from whatever she spotted and pressing her front against Teddy's. Covering her mouth, she looked up at Teddy with guilt in her eyes. "Mr. Graham is here," she whispered between her fingers.

Teddy's eyebrows jumped and he looked over Zoe's head to spot the old man. He had only seen the man once, when Rin ordered her men to drug and beat him for hiding Ezra. It was easy to spot him though. He was in a wheelchair at a blue silk covered table near one of the bars, talking boisterously with those around him. He was still injured. That made sense, since he was old and abused without mercy. He obviously hadn't turned into a sour old grouch though. He was laughing and talking happily with the others around him.

That struck Teddy as slightly odd. Mr. Graham was a hard man to pin down. Teddy heard Zoe speak fondly of him all the time, and then he housed their greatest enemy. Rin beat him until he was crippled, and now he was at an event with the Yang's and had a bright smile on his face. Teddy didn't like his vibe.

Maybe that was just the part everyone here had to play in this world. No matter what kind of darkness was lingering behind your eyes, you had to smile bright enough to hide it.

Teddy never smiled to hide his pain. No wonder people always told him he was a bad liar. He had no practice. He always presented himself as he was, sad and angry and alone.

Teddy dropped his eyes back to Zoe. "We'll avoid him tonight, then."

"Okay. He'll likely stay there if he's stuck in that wheelchair, so if you end up at the bar, go to the other one," Zoe insisted as she pointed at the bar on the opposite side of the room from Mr. Graham.

"I don't and can't legally drink, silly. Why would I go to the bar? I'm not a rule breaker like you," Teddy teased with a chuckle.

Zoe made a face at her boyfriend's unfair jokes, opened her mouth to bicker playfully with him, but shut it when someone approached. Teddy turned to see it was Rin and felt his shoulders tense. She stopped right beside him, looking in Mr. Graham's direction as she stripped of her suit jacket. A Hive behind her took it and laid it carefully over his arm.

"You're among friendly associates, Teddy. Nobody is going to tattle." Rin's eyes met Teddy's and he felt a chill surge through him when her stare pierced his soul like an icicle. "Benefits like this are nothing more than pointless celebrations where rich people jerk each other off for donating money they can't even spend in their lifetime. And drinking is a social activity, so if you want to fit in, by all means grab a glass."

In the next moment, Rin walked away. She strutted confidently toward the bar closest to Mr. Graham, completely ignoring his presence as he stared at her. Her bodyguards—or her Hives—stared Mr. Graham down with zero sympathy, as if warning him that they would hurt him again if he tried anything. Teddy frowned at the wicked old woman and tore his attention away from her.

"If she thinks so lowly of these people, why did she come?" Teddy asked Zoe.

Zoe glanced about the wide open, dimly lit room full of well dressed rich people. "We know everyone here and everyone here knows us. If we didn't donate or show up to celebrate, we would be harshly judged. And if I know anything about my mother, she needs to people to love her or hate her. There is no in between."

Teddy scoffed at how quaint Zoe made that issue sound. It wasn't just love and hate with that woman. It was life or death. Teddy saw Zoe's point, however. Rin put a lot of work into her reputation, even going as far as using her daughter to make herself look better. A benefit like this, that she had no interest in, could be used to her advantage and she wasn't going to waste a single opportunity. That woman was all about opportunity. Every minute of her life was a game that she intended to win.

"I want him to drink," Rin impatiently demanded to the man sat at the bar beside her. "You get that boy to the bar, you introduce him to your drinking buddies, and you make him drink. His father's mistakes have steered him away from adopting a liking to liquor, so he might resist. If he does, you distract him with a joke or a story or questions—I don't really care—until he's drinking again."

"You're trying to give a minor alcohol poisoning?" Smith chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder at Teddy. "I don't even work for you, Rin. What exactly do I get out of this."

Rin refrained from rolling her eyes. "Twenty kilos reserved under your name arrive in two days. If you want your business to continue smoothly, you will help me with mine."

Smith stiffened and took a breath as he considered Rin's words. She didn't mess around when it came to those kilos. That business was under the table work that nobody ever spoke explicitly of, and thus, it needed to operate smoothly. One bump in the road could put lives and businesses at risk. If Rin was serious enough to threaten the delicate balance of drug dealing, Smith would agree to treat her requests appropriately.

"I'll give the kid some drinks, fine, but if you want him dead, you have guys better equipped for that," Smith tensely muttered, glancing at Kenneth and her Hives.

"I don't want him dead, I want him drunk, and I can't use my own guys for that while we're here. Just do me this favor, Smith, and business shall continue without trouble." Without another word, Rin waltzed away from the bar with her Hives and Kenneth in tow.

"What will getting the boy drunk achieve?" Kenneth asked Rin, his eyes stealing a glance toward Zoe and Teddy.

"It will give me answers," Rin answered simply. "The boy's father is a drunkard, has been for many years. I want to see how Teddy handles the opportunity. If he rejects the drinks without hesitation and walks away, I'll get a taste of his willpower. If he gets drunk and sloppy, hopefully I've raised Zoe well enough to witness a bit of strife in their relationship. Maybe it will draw them apart when Zoe realizes Teddy doesn't belong here."

"And if Zoe accepts his drunken foolery?" Kenneth asked.

Rin's expression hardened, her gaze lethally sharpening. "Then she will have me to deal with. I will not allow my daughter to tolerate or fall in love with sloppy imbeciles."

Rin continued on her way, but Kenneth paused to steal a glance at Zoe and Teddy. He silently wished them luck as they mingled cluelessly with other attendees. So far, they looked happy. Zoe looked happy, at least. She was smiling a big, cheesy grin and hugging Teddy's arm as she introduced him to others. Teddy tried to smile and appear comfortable and casual, even though he felt the complete opposite on the inside. This world was foreign and intimidating to him. He was trying his best for Zoe, though.

"Oh my god! You actually brought him!" Elyse shouted with excitement as she wiggled through people to get to Zoe. She grabbed Zoe's arm as she looked up at Teddy. "He's even more handsome in person, Zo. Good catch."

Zoe beamed even brighter. "I think he's handsome too."

"Yeah, uh..." Teddy stammered, "I'm Teddy."

"Oh, I know," Elyse emphasized. She tossed her king, brown hair over her shoulder as she looked Teddy up and down with judgement. Teddy could tell she wasn't eyeing him sexually, but trying to figure out his demeanor. There was faint distrust but a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. "I've seen the viral videos of you and Zoe all over the internet. You're a act-now-think-later kind of guy. I see how you managed to capture Zoe's attention. You're lucky. She's a good one."

Teddy felt strangely bashful meeting someone who saw the viral videos of him. The only people he knew that had seen those videos were his classmates. It was weird to be face to face with someone that knew him outside of his small bubble in Cincinnati. All of this was strange, really. So many people wanted to talk to Zoe and that meant he had to talk to them to. Teddy couldn't remember the last time he had to engage with this many people at one time. How Zoe could keep up with this in her everyday life was beyond him.

"I think she's a good one too. I feel very lucky." Teddy smiled at Zoe when she let go of Elyse's arm to return to his. As much as he wanted to swoon over her, he tore his attention away and looked up at Elyse again, trying to be polite. "All I know about you is that you got my girlfriend drunk last night," Teddy joked.

Elyse smirked and slung her arm around Zoe's shoulder, stealing her away from Teddy again. He fought a frown, already jealous that she wasn't clinging to him any longer.

"Zoe and I get along well. She's one of my best friends around here, which means I'll always treat her to drinks." Elyse pointed a finger at Teddy as she narrowed her eyes. "You better take care of her, Teddy, or I'll cut you."

Teddy gave a chuckle. "You don't have to worry."

Zoe wanted to jump into their playful exchange and brag to Elyse about the promise ring on her finger, but she thought against that idea. Elyse really was one of her best friends around here. She might be Zoe's only real friend when it came to this side of her life. Elyse was kind of shallow and high maintenance and materialistic, but none of that made her a bad friend to Zoe. All the other girls they knew were the same way. Elyse was just nicer. Her heart was kinder.

"Speaking of drinks," Teddy locked eyes with Zoe. "I think I'm going to need one to make it through this evening. Do you want anything?"

Zoe was surprised by Teddy's quest for alcohol. She told herself she shouldn't be surprised. Teddy didn't like alcohol because of what he had seen from his father, but he had also drank at multiple parties. His stance of alcohol wasn't really clear to Zoe, so she wasn't going to pass judgement. If he was stressed in this environment and needed a drink to calm his nerves, she understood. Like he mentioned, she did come home drunk last night, so it wasn't her place to speak against it.

"I'm alright. Thanks, love." Zoe smiled.

Teddy stepped passed Zoe and planted a kiss atop her head as he made his way toward the bar. Zoe's smile broadened at his small gesture of affection. Elyse cooed about how cute they were together and then dragged Zoe away to take a few selfies around the beautiful venue they were at. Zoe looked helplessly toward Teddy, wondering how he was going to find her again if Elyse pulled her away, but followed her friend anyways. The venue wasn't that big. They wouldn't lose each other.

As soon as Teddy reached the bar, he unintentionally captured the attention of a few older men. They teased him about being old enough to drink, and just when he was about to retreat without liquor, another random man slapped a hand on his shoulder and reassured him one drink couldn't hurt anybody. Teddy was reluctant now, but he accepted the drink he had ordered. Rin said it was alright and these guys were only teasing, after all.

Teddy wasn't able to return to his stunning girlfriend when he got pulled into the conversation with all the older men. They spoke of golf and football like they were telling epic legends of folklore. They talked about their shopaholic wives and joked about mistresses, although Teddy wasn't all too sure how many of their jokes were.. well, jokes. It wasn't hard to tell how sleazy these old guys were. They were rich and privileged, which meant they could do and say whatever they wanted, and they happily did.

The men tried to ask about Teddy too, which is what forced him to stick around. They asked about college and sports and what his parents did for work. Teddy could tell they were looking for grander answers than he could provide, which made him want to curl back into himself. He wished he could tell them that he was headed to college as a skilled sportsman with parents that worked as lawyers or something, but he had no such story. He was here, temporarily living this luxury lifestyle, because he unintentionally wooed the richest girl at his school.

What a story....

Teddy couldn't help but wish—for only a moment—that he had riches to brag about. The only time he ever wanted money was for revenge. This time it was different. He liked this fancy place and his pretty girlfriend and felt an unpleasant urge to impress these sleazy, rich men with his things. He just didn't have things...

Before Teddy knew it, he was talking to these older men like they were friends of his father from decades passed. He learned their humor and had adapted quick enough to interject a joke or two as they talked, which earned him boisterous laughter and slaps on the back. They accepted him and Teddy accepted them in return, despite the fact that he could relate to nothing they were saying. He didn't even realize when the topic of their conversation rolled over into the next or when the bartender handed him another drink. He was enjoying himself in the most unexpected environment.

"Love," a gentle voice spoke at Teddy's side. His eyes moved with the rest of the small crowd's as their attention was drawn to Zoe. She gave a friendly smile to the men and then looked up at Teddy. "They're only playing a few more songs before the speeches begin. Want to dance with me?"

"Dance?" Teddy asked, his voice loud and full of surprise.

Zoe nearly flinched. He never spoke so loudly unless he was mad, and he looked the opposite of mad.

Teddy turned to the rest of the room to see there was a small section in front of the stage where a few couples were dancing. The song playing was upbeat but the couples still danced with their hands linked and chests pressed together, like a waltz. Teddy could spot Elyse across the room, gesturing wildly to the small dance floor and bickering with a man sat at a table. He looked like her boyfriend, not that Teddy would know. He could tell he was refusing to dance by the way Elyse frowned and gestured so angrily.

Teddy would've probably been that boyfriend too, since this world was so foreign and intimidating, but he was in an unexpectedly good mood tonight.

"I'd love to dance with you, baby. Let's go before this song's over," Teddy said, setting down his drink on the bar and taking her hand in his.

Zoe was surprised. She expected a fight and was prepared to whine and beg. She definitely didn't expect Teddy to say goodbye to his new friends and drag Zoe across the room to get to the dance floor. She could barely keep up in her high heels and had to cling to the sleeve of his suit jacket as she skipped behind him.

Once they made it the dance floor, Teddy let go of Zoe's hand to loosen his tie and shed his jacket. She stared wide eyed at him until he explained himself. "I'm too hot to dance in a stiff jacket like that." He tossed his jacket on the back of a chair nearby, hooked an arm around Zoe's waist, and held her fast against him with a grin on his face. "Much better."

Zoe nearly yelped as he moved her swiftly on to the dance floor and began moving to the music. He didn't loosen his grip around her waist, keeping them impossibly close as they moved with the music. Zoe grabbed Teddy's shoulders to stable herself and ended up giggling at Teddy's excited tempo. She didn't expect this from him. He had caught her completely off guard. She liked it, but she was equally as confused.

"Oh my goodness," Zoe giggled as she tried to keep up with him. "What's gotten you in such a good mood? I thought you'd be miserable by now."

"Miserable? How could I be?" Teddy grabbed Zoe's chin and lifted her gaze from their feet to his eyes. He touched her bottom lip as he bit his own, displaying his temptation to bite hers. "No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I'm happy with you, baby."

"We've been apart for nearly two hours and I've never seen you happier," Zoe jokingly argued. Teddy scoffed and returned his hands to Zoe's body again, keeping them close.

Zoe's eyes narrowed as she stared up at Teddy. As her suspicion raised, so did her hand. She touched the back of her hand to Teddy's cheek and he looked down at her with a cocked eyebrow, chuckling with confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"You're hot and happy..." Zoe placed her hands on Teddy's shoulders and forced them to part when the revelation hit her. "You're drunk!"

Teddy paused, as if considering the truth behind that claim, but visibly shrugged it off. He grabbed Zoe's arms and pulled her close again. "That's ridiculous, baby. I'm not that irresponsible."

Zoe was about to argue with Teddy before the song switched. She looked up at the speakers, surprised that the tempo had gone from upbeat to somber so suddenly. The couples around them slowed their pace and embraced each other in an intimate slow dance. Teddy didn't let Zoe wonder in silence for long before he captured her in his arms again. He pressed their muddled together, rested his hand on the small of her back, and took her hand in his other. Zoe looked up at him with her beautiful, naive, doe eyes but didn't protest as she fell into his slow steps.

Teddy held Zoe's stare, silently admiring her as they moved. His gaze was charged with sexual interest that left Zoe was transfixed by it. There was love in his eyes, but there was also so much more. He looked at her like Zoe always wanted to be looked at and it made her stomach erupt in a chaos of butterflies. A look as charged as that shouldn't be used out in public. It was cruel. Zoe didn't want to be all hot and bothered with so many people around.

Teddy leaned down to press his lips against Zoe's ear and whisper, "did I tell you yet that you look beautiful tonight, baby?" Zoe nearly melted at the salacious compliment, but her spine stiffened the second she felt Teddy's hand fall to her ass.

"Okay..." Zoe reached for Teddy's hand and forced it up her back as she glanced around to see if anyone was looking "So you're a happy drunk and a touchy drunk?"

Teddy lifted his gaze heavenward as he shook his head and chuckled. "I am not drunk, Zoe. Do you really think so little of me?"

Zoe opened her mouth to reassure him that she didn't think so little of him, but her mouth snapped shut when she felt Teddy's hand on her ass again. She glared at him, even though he wasn't meeting her gaze. She reached for Teddy's hand to pull it away again, but Teddy only dig his fingers into the fabric of her dress. Zoe bit back a surprised, slightly pained yelp and slapped Teddy's shoulder. He looked at her, clearly offended, and finally relented. Zoe forced his hand up her back as they glared at one another.

"Act appropriately and I won't think little of you," Zoe muttered, trying not to make it obvious to those around them that their jovial mood was turning sour.

Teddy scoffed. "I want to touch my girlfriend. What's so wrong about that? I assure you, every other man in this room does the same. They won't judge."

"You're better than every other man in this room."

"What a high pedestal you've put me on," Teddy muttered under his breath, tearing his eyes away from Zoe to sulk.

"If you knew the men in these room, you'd realize just how very low that pedestal actually is," Zoe retorted.

Teddy knew Zoe had a good point, but he was too upset to let her win this argument. "We're at a charity benefit, Zoe. Doesn't that say something?"

"Not about them. Being here and donating pocket change does not make these men good men."

"They have more pocket change than I do."

"And yet, I still see you as the better man." Teddy's eyes fell to Zoe's again and the tension in his face seemed to melt. She held his gaze for only a moment before gliding her free hand over the shirt covering Teddy's warm chest. "Money means nothing to me. You know that. I like you because you're a gentleman with a big heart and gentle soul—" Zoe looked up from Teddy's chest and her gaze sharpened. "So behave like a gentleman."

A chuckle rumbled from deep within Teddy at Zoe's strict tone. His hand dipped to Zoe's ass once again as he leaned in to nip at the tip of her nose. "You're hot when you're mad and bossy. Can we fuck when we get home tonight?"

Zoe slapped Teddy's hand and pushed him away, forcing them to separate. She immediately took another glance around, hoping nobody had notice their dispute or that they had made a scene. Luckily, they only got a couple passive glances. Zoe forced a calm composure and took Teddy's hand to drag them toward whatever table they were suppose to be sitting at. Teddy gave no protest since his attention was glued to Zoe's ass and the way her skirt bounced as she walked.

Rin was already sat at their table with Kenneth and talking to someone at the next table over. Zoe was grateful for that. Rin didn't even notice when they both sat across the table from her. Kenneth noticed and carefully looked between Zoe and Teddy as they settled beside each other. He managed to lock eyes with Zoe and gave her a curious nod, asking if she was alright. Zoe anxiously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. She wasn't about to tell Kenneth that Teddy was a moody, horny, drunk mess right now. As far as he was concerned, they were fine. He didn't have to worry.

"I thought you were going to drag me to the bathroom, so we could escape prying eyes," Teddy whispered as he leaned into Zoe and planted his hand high in her thigh. His breath was on her ear one second and grazing her neck the second. "I'd much rather get out of here."

Zoe clenched her teeth and pried Teddy's hand off of her. The force of her strength surprised Teddy and he lifted his head from her neck to gawk at her in offense. Zoe was angry at that stupid look on his face. She warned him to be a gentleman and he was still surprised when she pried his greedy hands off of her. Was he truly so drunk that he couldn't grasp how creepy he was being? If he was, that pissed Zoe off even more. Teddy didn't even like alcohol, yet here he was, acting like a perverted fool in a professional setting.

He was being an ass and it was testing Zoe's last nerve. She thought Teddy would behave better than this. She thought he was taking this seriously. She thought better of him.

"You came home drunk just last night. I don't know why you've got an attitude with me now when you do the same thing," Teddy quietly slurred, rolling his eyes so hard that it took him a moment and a few blinks to see straight again.

Zoe watched Teddy lag like an old computer, angry and disappointed. "I didn't get drunk until the event was over and I acted like a lady all the way home. And I don't have an attitude, Teddy. You're just pissing me off."

The sound of a snap wiped Zoe's frown right off her face as she turned to her mother. Rin leveled her daughter with a glare as she pointed a stern finger at her. "Language, Zoe. And wipe that glare off your face before someone sees it. I don't care what you two are arguing about but I don't want to hear it and nobody else does either. If you want to have your boy toy here, you're gonna have to get along, no matter what. I didn't allow him here just for you to embarrass yourself by making a scene. You hear me?"

Zoe resisted the urge to sulk in her chair like a child, held her chin high, and forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Okay, mother. My apologies."

Rin held Zoe's stare for a moment longer to make sure her smile didn't falter. When Rin was satisfied, she turned around in her seat again and flashed Kenneth a knowing smirk. He didn't reflect the expression. He never did. He simply glanced at Teddy and Zoe, who were now actively ignoring each other's presence, and turned back to the conversation him and Rin were having with the table beside them. There was nothing he could do. He had to tend to Rin and nobody else, even if he wanted to take care of the kids.

Silence hung between Teddy and Zoe for what felt like minutes before Teddy started irritably tapping his pinky knuckle against the table. His eyes scanned the room around him as he licked his teeth, too pissed for his own good. His blood temperature had risen, which was making him even hotter and more uncomfortable than the alcohol coursing through his system. Not to mention, said alcohol was pushing his anger into uncontrollable territory.

"I hate when she does that," Teddy whispered through gritted teeth, speaking to Zoe without looking at her. Zoe turned her very calm and approachable expression toward Teddy. One glance at that look on her face made his temperature raise. "She shouldn't get to control your emotions like that, Zoe. You're a human, not a doll."

"She's not controlling my emotions. I'm still angry," Zoe said with a shrug, gazing at those still dancing with a faint smile. "There's no reason I should force my bad mood on to other people though. It would be selfish of me to sulk with so many people around."

Teddy scoffed. "Is that what she told you? Did she raise you on those toxic manipulations? And you're still—somehow-fucking sane?"

Zoe reached for Teddy's hand to stop his aggressive tapping and shut him up. She tried to glare at him with only her eyes, keeping the rest of her face neutral. "Don't be so loud. She's just across the table and you will lose a finger if she hears you talk like that."

Teddy leaned into Zoe, turning his hand over to squeeze hers in his grasp. "I. Don't. Care."

"Stop. You're drunk," Zoe quietly retorted.

Teddy and Zoe stared one another down, trying to argue without speaking another word. Teddy had too many things to say though, and could no longer sit at the table like an obedient dog when he was fuming with uncontrollable rage. When he could no longer handle it, he pushed out of his seat and stormed across the room, toward the first exit he laid eyes on. Zoe gawked at his broad back as he fled, feeling overwhelmed with both angry and worry.

Teddy was so mad that he would turn his back on her? That didn't say good things about their future and that realization made Zoe feel physically ill.

Forcing herself not to look to her mother for permission—because she knew her mother would say no and demands she stay—Zoe got up and followed Teddy out of the room. Just behind her, she could hear someone approach the mic and begin the actual event, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. Teddy was walking away and all of Zoe's instincts told her to follow him. Her instincts always led her to Teddy, especially when he was running from her.

Rin watched Zoe chase after the angry drunk with a growing smile on her face. She reached to bite the nail of her thumb to hide her smile, but by the look in Kenneth's eyes, she wasn't hiding it very well. She glanced at the speaker in front of the room and then back at Kenneth, keeping her voice down as she whispered to him.

"I told Teddy that Zoe must never leave his line of sight while he is working, which is what he is suppose to be doing, but now he's drunk on the job, walking away from his duties, and pissing off Zoe." Rin giggled, a sparkle of satisfaction and motivation in her eyes. "Getting rid of him without losing my baby girl is going to be much easier than I thought."

"Zoe has been mad at him before. She always forgives him. She's in love with him," Kenneth said. He didn't know if he was trying to argue with Rin because he didn't want her to get her way when it came to those kids or if he was simply plotting alongside her because it was all he knew how to do.

Rin rolled her eyes and waved a dismissive hand. "A few more of these insufferable incidents and Zoe will realize she can't have him, no matter how much she wants him. I don't care if she thinks she loves him. I care that he's distracting her."

Kenneth didn't reply to those words, because he truly had nothing to say. He understood Rin's plan very well at this point. As long as Zoe and Teddy were living in this world of fame and riches, Rin was going to use every opportunity to rip their relationship to shreds. She didn't care if they still loved each other as long as they were apart. That's all Rin wanted. She wanted complete and total ownership of her daughter and she couldn't have that with Teddy here. One way or another, Rin was going to force Zoe to let go of Teddy all on her own.

It's the first chapter of 2021! Feels kind of crazy...

I posted the first chapter of this book three days after my 19th birthday and now here we are and I'm 22... I have been writing this story for SO LONG!!! And I'm sure you guys feel like you've been waiting for an update for even longer. Sorry about the long delay! I was struggling a lot with how to move forward with this 'rebellion arc'. There are so many possibilities for this arc and i don't have a clear plan like I have with every other arc so it's been hard to lead my characters in the 'right' direction. Anyways, I'm trying my hardest to figure it out! Hopefully I can return to regular updates again!

I also uploaded a poorly edited photo of Teddy and Zoe together with this chapter so if you can see it, don't look too closely! Lmao I tried! Don't judge me!

Thanks y'all for reading this story for this long and jointing me on this long adventure through 2021! I'm so lucky to have people reading my work and even enjoying it on occasion! Lmao! Seriously, I am so happy to have you guys. Happy 2021!