"Just wow! Can this night end very badly?", I mutter

"Can I come in or are you planning to leave me here to freeze?"

"I don't have any other choice do I?",  I whisper and let him in.
I shut the door behind me and slowly walk towards him.

"Wilder, Macaulay! Macaulay, Wilder!" I introduce them.

"No need to tell me. Wonderful to see you again Nicholas", Eric states and embraces Nicholas.

"Eric! What a pleasant surprise. How are you? What are you doing here?"

They exchange pleasantries and I just stare in disbelief.

"Can someone explain to me what is going on and what you guys are doing in my house?" I exasperatedly say, swinging my hands in the air.

"I believe you owe me an explanation Samantha? Or should I say Simone",Nicholas murmurs as he takes his seat.

"And you also owe me an explanation too?", Eric butts in.
I remove my wig and apron and throw them into the kitchen. I nervously munch on a cookie.

"No! I do not owe any of you any fucking explanation. How did you get past security Wilder and how did you find me Nicholas?"

Eric laughs and Nicholas cracks his knuckles.
"Why don't you have a seat?", Eric suggest.

"I don't want to have a seat! I am already having a cookie", I state and emphatically throw a cookie into my mouth.

"Well if you must so badly know how I got past security...", Eric begins and gestures for me to sit down. I sit down beside Nicholas who runs his fingers through his hair. Eric on the other hand clears his throat and I munch nervously on my cookies.

"I am the richest kid in the world"

"You mean you are the kid of the richest man in the world?", I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"I have my own money. Now if you'd let me finish"
I nod and from my peripheral vision, spot Nicholas shaking his leg maybe out of habit or impatience. He runs his fingers through his hair multiple times again and now I'm guessing that's out of habit.

"...and then I wasn't sure if it was you guys..."

Great! Now you weren't paying attention.

"I'm sorry. I didn't get that", I say throwing another piece of cookie into my mouth.

Marco comes running towards me and sits comfortably on my lap.

"Excuse me", I mutter and carry Marco into the kitchen.

"Is my baby hungry?", I whisper ruffling his fur. I open the cupboard and take out a pack of biscuit bones. I put it in his dish bowl and immediately, he sets to work on that. I add water to his water bowl and leave him alone.

"Sorry fellas!"
I say, entering the living room.

"I was starting to wonder if you..."

"Don't think about it. Just don't",I say, cutting Nicholas off from making a sarcastic comment and settling down on the couch.

"So where were we?"

"I was telling you how I got past security"

"Right! So..."

"The point is I'm rich and I have my ways"

"That's it Wilder? You are rich? Wow I didn't realize and you Nicholas? How did you find me?

"Well... I am rich and smart. When I figured that you were not really Simone and you were Samantha, I knew I just had to find you so I started tracking the Montero Mansion. I mean it is the grandest house and most protected in Chicago, Illinois"

"And that's it? You found me just like that? And you had to come all the way this night. I could have had a major panic attack" I say chewing my last piece of cookie.

"Well you didn't. So now tell us why you are running away from the FBIs", Eric states.

"Okay hold up... You guys found me in the span of 48hours and the FBIs and MIs have been tracking me for five years? Wow I gotta give you guys credit. I hope this is not a plot of some kind?"

"Trust me it's not" Nicholas says with a reassuring smile on his face.

"I should trust you? I don't even know your middle name and I should trust you?" I exasperatedly say

I don't trust these two men. I can't just trust them! I only just met them. One is a rich smart ass and the other is a rich douchebag.

"Look if this was a plot, I could have brought in the Federal Bureau Investigation Agents with me and your sorry ass won't be here" Eric states rather blandly.

I wince from his tone of voice and sigh. He is right.

"Good so why are you running from the FBI agents?" Eric asks again

"Oh uh let's see... I'm running away from them because they refused to give me cookies in prison" I reply throwing another cookie in my mouth and Nicholas soon burst out laughing.

"Hmm right okay! Laugh all you want" Eric sadly states, obviously not happy at my sarcasm. Man you better get used to it.

"Come on man... Can't take a joke?" Nicholas asks still grinning from ear to ear.

"What I mean is..." Eric begins trying to explain but I cut him off

"I know exactly what you meant. Why do you guys give a fuck? The world has already drawn a conclusion that Samantha Montero is the murderer of Asher Hudson. Why would anything I say matter to any of you?"

I say getting up and going into the kitchen. I grab a glass of water and gulp it down immediately. I carry two glass cups and a pack of fruit juice to the living room.

"Here you go", I say handing them a glass of fruit juice.

"We might be of help", Nicholas states

"Speak for yourself pal. I got work to do", Eric chimes in taking a sip of his drink.

"I can see how much work you have to do Wilder", I reply sarcastically, brushing my short hair with my hand.
I suddenly miss my long hair.

He rolls his eyes and taps his fingers against his knee.

Nicholas looks at me straight in the eye and I feel my heart drop to my stomach. How can a human being be so fucking good looking?

He takes my hand in his hand and I suddenly start to feel insecure about my calloused palms.

"I wasn't kidding when I told you I felt the connection between us in the plane and for some strange reason, I have the sudden hunch that you are innocent"

And the awkward moment begins!

"What of Stefan?" I ask shifting away slightly from him and withdrawing my hands.

"He's with my mother"

"Ahem! I'm still here!", Eric clears his throat, craving attention.

"I didn't realize Mr-my-daddy-is-rich-so-am-I, I thought you had work to do"

Nicholas bursts into laughter and I smirk at Eric.

"Okay jokes apart. What happened that fateful day?", Eric states sipping his drink, avoiding the awkward moment for him.

"Oh Lord! Where do I start from? How do I even go about it?"

"Shh relax Sam. Just tell it exactly how it happened", Nicholas comforts.

I breathe in and breath out heavily. I begin recalling every moment of that fateful day. How I had a disagreement with my mother before leaving the house. How I got into a little disagreement with Jack at the hotel. How I was ordered to go to Asher's room.

Every detail, I recalled, it felt like I was reliving that day all over again. The memory still fresh, it brought fresh tears to my eyes and when I was done, I cried so hard and choked on my own tears at some point.

Nicholas looks pitifully at me and hands me a handkerchief. I wipe my tears and blow my nose.

"I'm sorry guys. I'm usually such an emotional wreck"

"Oh it's okay and hey listen. We'll try to figure out the real killer", Nicholas comforts and I give a raised eyebrow at Eric.

"I'm not kidding when I said I have work to do but I'll try to help too", Eric says and takes me by surprise by engulfing me in a hug. Nicholas joins in and I feel my tense muscles relax completely.

Mm! Nicholas smells of minty chocolate and Eric smells of blueberries. The combination of the delicious smells makes my head twirl in delight and my stomach grumble in hunger.

"Oo someone's hungry?", Nicholas asks.

"No way! She just gobbled down a whole pack of cookies", Eric utters in disbelief.

"Well some people have a very fast rate of metabolism which aids digestion and..."

"Blah blah blah! Don't start with the doctor lectures Nicholas and besides it's way past midnight"

I roll my eyes and smile at the duo. I wonder how they know each other so closely. I slip away from them and into the kitchen.

"I wonder if they are hungry?" I mutter to myself aloud as I bring out the spaghetti.

Don't you think you made a big mistake by telling them about that day?

"I don't know. I was cornered and I don't see them helping me in any way"

"Who are you talking to?", Eric's voice resonates through the kitchen, startling me a bit.
I turn to face him and he stares at me and sits on the kitchen island. Nicholas walks into the kitchen and relaxes his back on the kitchen cabinet.

Wow! Two rich and famous guys in my kitchen. Who would have thought?

"I was talking to my subconsciousness. She is the reasonable one out of the two of us", I answer his question seriously and concentrate back to what I'm cooking.

Eric bursts out laughing which only infuriates me the more. I turn and glare at him and noticed concern etch the corners of Nicholas's face.

"How long have you noticed that you could talk to your subconscious?", Nicholas asks.

I continue what I'm doing and shrug nonchalantly.

"We blend very well. It's just my thought", I reply.

"Perhaps it could be you have an alter ego from multiple personality disorder. Your alter ego must have been created during a very terrible incident that must have taken place in your life. It can be rectified by the help of an experienced and certified psychiatrist"

Nicholas says and for the love of cookies, I couldn't help it when I burst out laughing.

I laugh so hard, I begin to feel my sides hurt and my eyes water. I fall to the ground and hold onto my sides. I spot Eric smiling amusedly at me and Nicholas's ears turn red from embarrassment.

"What's so funny?", Nicholas asks and Eric shrugs in confusion.

"Okay I'm sorry", I manage to breathe out but soon burst out laughing again. After few minutes of laughing, I gradually catch my breath and put the pot of spaghetti down.

Nicholas prods his bottom lip with the tip of his tongue and hangs his hands above his hips.
He doesn't seem too happy now.

"Everyone has a subconsciousness dude! Mine isn't any different. I've always talked to myself out loud since I could talk. So it's no big deal"

I say shrugging and dishing out the food on the plate.

"I'll let it slide for now", Nicholas says.

"Okay who's hungry?", I ask carrying the food to the dining table.

"Not me"

"Me neither"

"Good for me", I say in a sing song voice.

"Okay so how do you guys plan on helping me?", I ask through a mouthful of spaghetti.

"Well why didn't your lawyer just use the self defense", Nicholas asks watching me eat.

Eric just seems bored.

"How do you mean?"

"Your lawyer should have said you killed Asher in self defense because he tried to rape you"

"Oh yea and in that case, a jury would have been the one to determine your acquittal or conviction and an acquittal would have been easier"

Eric chimes in and I drop my fork in wonder. Eric takes it from the plate and takes some food and puts it in his mouth.

"How does this information help me?", I ask after swallowing. I suddenly feel my appetite dissipate like it was never there.

"It doesn't!" Nicholas states

"I think he just wants you to realize that... You would have been a free bird if you had gone for that" Eric butts in helping me finish up my spaghetti.

"And I'm pretty sure your lawyer knew that he could have gone for self defense if he was truly experienced" Nicholas says as if expecting me to understand.

Eric rolls his eyes so hard and sighs.

"Your lawyer didn't want to win the case", Eric exclaims.

"What! Uncle Austin? No way!"
I exclaim in utter disbelief. He has been an attorney since I was in elementary school only losing his first case with me.

Realization washes over me, causing me to have goosebumps all over.

"Hold up! Your uncle tried your case?", Eric asks, amusement brushing his face. Nicholas brushes his fingers through his hair and rubs his eyes sleepily.

"You don't let your family try your case", Nicholas states as if talking to a child.

"Well that's in the past. What now?", I ask yawning and trying to keep my eyes open.

"Now, we sleep and talk about this further tomorrow. Maybe pay a visit to uncle Austin or perhaps we can ask your mother since it's her brother after all" Eric yawns.

"Right! Since you guys are sleeping here, why don't I show you to the guest rooms?", I murmur getting up dizzily.

They follow closely behind me as I lead the trail up the stairs. I take them to the rooms beside my mother.

"Here is where you'd be sleeping for the night. Everything is in it already. Good night", I yawn and make my move to leave.

"Where will you sleep?", Nicholas asks still staying by the door. Eric goes inside not caring or not interested.

"In my room?", I state.

"Where is your room?"

"Somewhere in this house", I say leaving, not giving him a chance to ask further questions.

I open my mother's room and find her sleeping peacefully. I smile and gently close the door.

"Mom has got to do something about the bright colors of the room", I mutter and go to the secret room.

I make sure no one is following me before unlocking it.

Once inside, I remove my clothing and put on a very big shirt. I turn on the security camera and turn up the volume.
One can never be too careful.

I fall on the bed and immediately my body hits the bed, I drift off into nothingness.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Samantha: what just happened?

Author: I have no clue

Eric: I think your uncle was bought

Nicholas: what are you planning to do about your alter ego

Samantha: I do not have an alter ego!!

Author: how would you know dumbass

Samantha: *rolls eyes* thank you so much everyone for reading. What do you think of this chapter? Please leave your comments and don't forget to vote and share. I love you all 😍