✿ Reid's POV

She huffs.

“What have I ever done to you?”

I tilt my head.

“Well, you slapped my credit card out of my hand and pushed a cupcake into my—”

“Hey!” she scolds. “That was a rhetorical question, Armani!”

I nod.

“My bad—”

“But since it's very important to you there is an answer, I'll go first,” she tells me and moves away from the table.

“Actually you don't have to—”

“You cut me off on the road and nearly killed me!” she cuts me off. "You ruined my cupcakes, insulted me, and nearly ruined a nice girl's engagement party.”

My goddaughter... but that's not important.

“Then you—”

“You abused me with cupcakes” I interrupt.

“A cupcake!” she defends. “You, however, abused me with several cupcakes!”

“Oh please” I scoff. “You didn't eat everything.”

“Because I threw it all up!” she defends. “I missed work and I had a terrible tummy ache! You put my perfect teeth in jeopardy, do you understand that?!”

I exhale deeply.

“Look, Lee—”

“Woah, woah!” she stops me.

I flick my eyes back and forth.

“We're not friends, freshie.”

“Freshie, Armani, pick one already woman” I mutter.

She narrows her eyes at me.

“You have no right to call me Lee. We're not friends.”

I nod.

“My apologies... ma'am.”

She rolls her eyes at me and returns to whatever she was doing.

“What do you want?”

I sigh.

“I need your help.”

“We're closed on Sundays. Come back tomorrow.”

“Wha... no. I don't need a baked good.”

“Like you'd even pay” she scoffs and mutters loud enough for me to hear.

“I need a favor... a huge favor.”

“What?”

“I need you to come with me.”

She tilts her head to the side and quietly watches me. Then she sighs and shakes her head before speaking.

“Are you high?”

I frown.

“What?”

“Are you high, Armani?”

I straighten my face.

“No, I—”

“Good. There's the door.”

She turns her attention to the dough she's kneading.

“Look, if this wasn't important, I wouldn't come here.”

“Of course, you wouldn't. You'd just trick me into delivering a cake to an old people's home and you'd slaughter me.”

I let out an exasperated sigh.

“Come with me.”

She laughs and wipes the beads of sweat off her forehead. She was starting to frustrate me a little.

“And why would you think I'd go anywhere with you?” I ask. “You've tried to kill me twice already, unplanned. And I look stupid enough to get in a car with you? No way, freshie.”

I fill my cheeks with air and glance at the time on my watch, before slipping my hands slowly into my pockets.

“Look, I went to a party yesterday and I might have mentioned to everyone present at the party that I'm engaged.”

She chuckles and sprinkles something white on the dough before continuing to knead it.

“And you want me to come with you to see if she's a good match for you? Since when did we become acquaintances?” she laughs.

I let out a breath.

“You know, I don't care, but I already feel bad for this person you tricked into getting engaged to you. Your kind doesn't deserve good women. Unless she's a psychopath like you, then you're good to go.”

I let out a guilty laugh.

“Actually no,” I say.

I gulp and brace myself, my eyes unconsciously darting around the room to see if there was a weapon in sight. She did exhibit some psychotic traits but I didn't want to have to confirm it. I catch sight of one of those heavy-duty stand mixers with a dough hook attachment at the back.

Why is she using her hands then?

I look away and face her. She was busily adding more white substances... flour... it was flour.

“I...” I began. “I told them I'm engaged to you.”

She stops kneading the dough and snaps her head up to look at me.

“Wait!” I cry out as I hold out both hands the minute she reaches out and grabs a rolling pin.

Of course, she can turn anything into a murder weapon!

“It doesn't even have to be real,” I say.

She lets out an annoyed laugh.

“Because it's not real! Why would you tell people something like that?! I despise you.”

“The feeling is mutual you know, but you're the first person that came to mind, okay.”

“Well undo it because I'm not going to play your fake fiancée. I've seen too many movies and I know exactly how it all ends.”

Me too.

“They end terribly because both main characters suck.”

“Yeah well, I'm not going to test that theory.”

I sigh.

“Please?”

“No.”

“What am I supposed to do? I can't undo it. It's out in the media. It'll ruin me if it gets out that I lied just to get back at my ex for getting engaged!”

“Hire an actress then!”

“I can't... wait no that could work,” I say, thinking about it.

“Hang on. Did you just say you lied to get back at your ex?” she asks.

I shrug.

“Maybe.”

“Oh my gosh. Why...” then she gasps loudly.

I look around.

“What?”

“It was at her engagement?!”

I groan.

“Oh this is interesting” she laughs. “But why would she invite you to her engagement party? That's terrible.”

“To rub her bald Aussie fiancé in my face.”

She chokes on a laugh and I furrow my brows at her.

“What's funny?”

“Nothing. You just look really stupid right now” she laughs.

“This is serious, okay?”

“This is why you should never put yourself in a position where you'll be tempted to create a problem for yourself.”

I groan.

“Look, are you going to help me or—”

“I'm not. Get out.”

The curtness in her voice hits me.

“Oh hey, c'mon. Please. I'll do anything. What do you want? A car? A house? Mon—”

“Why do you keep associating everything with money?!”

Because everyone needs money and you can never have enough money?

“Money isn't everything.”

“Mm,” I hum. “So you'll think about it?”

“No. Now out!” she cries, shaking the rolling pin at me.

I give her one last pleading look and she just stares blankly at me. Then I let out a defeated sigh and take out my wallet.

“Don't you dare offer that ridiculous black card because I swear—”

“Relax, I wasn't” I cut her off and push my business card toward her on the surface of the table. “In case you change your mind—”

“I won't. Get lost.”

I close my mouth.

“For what it's worth, I apologize for cutting you off the road and possibly giving you mild diabetes.”

She doesn't laugh at my joke and I nod stiffly.

“Okay,” I whisper and turn away.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

“What?! What do you mean you're home?” I ask, holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder as I lock up the shop.

“I'm sorry, Lee. But my mom's making me clean my room and you know that if I could get out of doing it, I would” she sighs, “God, I'm such a mess” she adds in a whisper.

“So how exactly am I supposed to get home? It's late.”

“Get a cab. Order an Uber. Play loud gangster music while you walk.”

I finish locking up and hold the phone to my ear with my hand.

“I can't walk two miles back home... and at night!”

Natalie groans and yells something at her mother.

“Sorry, Lee. She's really on me to do this. I'll call you later.”

And like that, she hangs up. I groan.

How am I supposed to get home now?

“Lee?”

I squeeze my face.

“What have I done to deserve this today?” I murmur.

I fix my expression and turn.

“Lee! You're here!” he cries excitedly and moves forward to hug me.

I step back and hold a hand towards him.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He drops his outstretched arms and fixes his posture.

“Sorry, I... I'm just glad to see that you're okay.”

“Mm,” I hum.

Geoffrey frowns.

“Wait, when did you get out of bed? I was at your house not long ago and Mrs. Wilmore said you were asleep.”

I shrug.

“I'm awake now.”

“And you got here so fast... how? I don't even see your car.”

I eye him.

“I don't recall ever owing you an explanation, Geo. Goodnight” I flash him a fake smile.

I turn around only to have him tug me back.

Why are his hands so sweaty?!

I quickly snatch my hand away.

“Please don't touch me, Geo. Seriously.”

He threads a hand through his long hair and looks at me.

“Why are you doing this, Lee?”

I shake my head.

“Why am I doing what? Trying to get home?”

He sighs.

“Okay. Let me drive you.”

“No thank you, Geo. I can get home by myself.”

“Lee c'mon, please. I really like you and all I want is for you to give us a chance. That's all.”

I chuckle.

“There is no us, Geo.”

“Lee—”

“Look, Geo. I'm sorry but this...” I gesture between us, “... is never going to work.”

I step around him only for him to block my path.

“Why not, Lee?” he asks. “Is there someone else?”

I furrow my brows.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you seeing someone else?” he repeats. “Is that why you're denying this tension between us?”

He closes the space between us and I take several steps back only to bump into a hard chest.

“I believe she said goodnight, bro.”

Seriously?!

I look at the tall figure behind me and he smiles over my head.

“You okay?” he whispers.

“I don't need your help, Armani. I can fight my own battles” I whisper back.

“Mm... well that might be true but two minutes ago you weren't doing a very good job” he whispers again.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“Who the hell are you?” Geo's voice breaks my glare.

I turn to face him.

“And how do you know Lee?”

Armani chuckles.

“How I know her doesn't matter. What's important here is that she's fine.”

“Well, I'm not a creep so you can fuck off and let me go back to talking to my girl!”

I frown.

“Hey! I am not your girl, Geo!” I scold.

His eyes flick away from Armani and rest back on me.

“This is why you constantly refuse to have anything to do with me? Because you're with someone else?”

His voice comes out pained and full of sorrowful emotions.

“No. But I don't owe you any explanations if otherwise, Geo.”

He shakes his head.

“Does Sophie know you're seeing someone else?”

I frown.

“I'm not seeing anyone. I just don't like you. And again, I don't owe you any explanations.”

“Because your boyfriend here is the only one you owe explanations” he scoffs. “Why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone else?”

“Wha... I'm not seeing anyone...” I turn and hit Armani's arm, “Tell him we're not seeing each other.”

He fakes a frown and shakes his head.

“I can't do that.”

“Wha... why not?!”

“Because it's true, Lee” I hear Geo say, his voice cracking.

I turn and it looks like tears have his eyes.

Oh, you have got to be kidding me!

“Geo—”

“Just stop, Lee” he cuts me off. “If you want, I can take you home and maybe we can talk about this.”

I give him a confused look. Wasn't he brokenhearted two seconds ago?

“That's okay, I picked up my fiancée at home, it's only fair I take her back,” Armnai says over my head.

I watch Geo pale then he frowns deeply and clenches his fists.

Oh crap!

“We've gotta go,” I tell Armani and yank his arm.

He chuckles.

“I wasn't expecting you to accept this easily.”

“I haven't. Now shut up and point to the car before Geo loses his shit!”

“Oh your boyfriend has anger issues? Yikes.”

“He's not my boyfriend!” I retort.

“Mm,” Armani hums and pushes the unlock button on his car key.

The headlights flash on a dark emerald Rolls-Royce and I roll my eyes.

“What?” he asks.

“Of course, you'd change your car” I reply and hurry inside.

“What's the hurry?” he chuckles, getting in beside me. “And I've taken my other car for maintenance.”

“Sureee. Your car gets full maintenance. But the person you nearly killed with that car doesn't even get a first aid kit. Nice.”

He scoffs.

“I apologized.”

“Just start the car” I frown and fix my seat belt.

“And you're in a hurry because?”

“You can't take a punch from Geoffrey,” I tell him.

“Your boyfriend.”

“He's not my boyfriend!” I snap and exhale deeply.

“Mm,” he hums unbelievably again. “Which way?”

“Maple.”

“That's two miles on foot, you know that, right?”

I look at him with a frown.

“Just drive.”

“Yes ma'am” he nods and pulls out of the parking lot.

From the side mirror, I see Geoffrey standing there and as we drive further and further away, his image grows smaller and smaller.

Is he going to tell Sophie?

I groan.

“Why the hell did you say I'm your fiancée?”

“I thought I'd already explained it to you?”

“To Geo!”

He glances at me and then fixes his gaze back on the road.

“Are you sure he's not your boyfriend? Because you're being very defensive over—”

“Hey! Answer the question!” I scold.

“Are you always this terrifying?” he asks with a look.

I narrow my eyes at him and he sighs.

“I kind of need you to be my fiancée right now, Lee. That's why I didn't leave. I was waiting for you to get out then I'd convince you but your boyfriend...” I shoot him a look, “... not your boyfriend... beat me to it.”

I sigh.

“Please, it doesn't have to be—”

“No. I already said no and I'm not changing my mind” I stop him. “Just come clean. You're not the first person to lie. They'll get mad at you for two weeks and that's it. Nobody will remember because an even bigger douche will tell a bigger lie and yours will be history.”

“I can't risk that. My reputation is on the line here” he sighs.

I shrug.

“There's still the option to hire an actress” I remind him.

“You're not a baker by day, actress by night?”

I hold back a chuckle.

“No. I'm a full-time baker” I tell him. “Pull over. This is me.”

He slows down the car and looks out the window.

“This is quite the architecture” I hear him chuckle as I unbuckle my seat belt. “Looks like something Alexandra Graham would design.”

“Why don't you ask this Alexandra Graham person to play your fiancée?” I suggest.

He looks away from the house and at me.

“She's an architect, not a baker. But she's less scarier than you are so she might just work... if she wasn't married with kids.”

I give him a look.

“Pity.”

I grab my stuff and open the car door.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Lee wait!” he calls out after me.

I settle back into the car. The seat was impossibly comfortable. Armani reaches into his pocket and takes out his wallet.

I frown.

“If you're about to attempt to bribe me again, I suggest you—”

“I was going to give you my personal card this time,” he says. “I know you said you won't and you seem like a woman of your word. But just in case.”

I eye the white card for a while before plucking it out of his hand. He gives me a small smile.

“Goodnight, Lee.”

I get out of the car and shut the door. He honks and drives off, the tires of his car screeching loudly against the tar.

“Lord help me” I mutter and push the car in my back pocket.

I walk towards the house and all the lights are still on.

“I'm home!” I call out as I step through the front door.

I lock it and move through the hall.

“Nora? Bon?” I call out. “Where's everyone?”

I move towards the kitchen and they're seated there with depressing looks on their faces. I flick my eyes back and forth.

“Who died?” I ask.

Bonnie looks up at me with a frown.

“You know that question is never funny, right?”

“Oh good, you can talk. Meaning it's not serious” I smile and set the things on the counter. “Where's Papi? I made him some pita bread and hummus. He's going to love it.”

Nora and Bonnie exchange glances and my smile fades. I frown.

“What? Don't make me ask the question again” I warn. “What is it?”

Nora stands up.

“Ravenside was here again.”

My stomach sinks.

“And Hank got into a heated argument with them and this time... he nearly had a heart attack.”

I open my mouth but no words come out. Why wouldn't these people just leave us alone?

“Where's he?”

“Not in bed resting as the doctor said!” Bonnie calls out loudly, aiming at my uncle to hear.

I sigh.

“He's in the garage,” Nora tells me.

“I'll go talk to him” I whisper and pick up the snacks I made for him.

I stand by the doorway and watch him mutter angrily at something in the car's engine. I take in a deep breath and tap on the door.

“Special delivery” I grin.

He looks up.

“You're back” he smiles, trying to sound cheerful.

“I brought you pita bread and hummus.”

“Thank you sweetheart. Just leave it there. I'll eat it when I'm done.”

“Papi—”

“Don't worry. I'll eat it. I promise” he chuckles.

He's trying to avoid it.

“Papi I want to —”

“Pass me the wrench will you, sweetheart?”

I frown.

“Henry!” I scold.

He looks up at me.

“You've got to stop.”

He sighs.

“Nora told me what happened with Ravenside.”

“If she didn't add that I handled it then listen; I handled it.”

“Papi—”

“No, Lee. I promised my brother that I'll take care of his only child as if she were my own. I promised him and your mother that you will receive your legacy—”

“And you have done that, Papi” I cut him off. “But not at the cost of your life, no way!”

He looks at me.

“I am not going to let you risk your life for my legacy,” I say firmly.

“I promised them, Aileen. Do you understand that?”

“Yes. But I am not going to let you kill yourself in the process. Do you understand that?” I retort. “They are not swiping that property from underneath us. Not if I have anything to do about it.”

“Lee—”

“No, Papi. No” I stop him, stepping closer to him to take his hands in mine. “You have taken care of me since they died. Let me take care of you now” I whisper. “Let me fight this, Papi. If something happens to you, I will never forgive myself so let me fight my own battles. You've thought me how to... so let me.”

He smiles at me and nods his head.

“You radiate your mother's spirit.”

I smile.

“I've been hearing that for twenty-one years, Papi.”

“And you won't stop hearing it even when I'm dead” he chuckles and wraps me in an embrace.

I squeeze into him and smile.

“I love you, Papi.”

“Me more, Lee.”

“Now stop fiddling with that junk and let's go eat” I chuckle as I step away from the hug.

“Just like your father” he lets out a laugh and I take his hand and lead him away.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

Someone knocks on my bedroom door and I hear the door close.

“Out here!” I call out, snuggling deeper into the sheets.

Nora steps through the sliding door leading to the rooftop balcony and I wave at her from the bed.

“Are you ever going to sleep indoors?”

“When I get a skylight, Nora” I chuckle.

“You're sure you don't need to continue therapy?” she asks.

I smile.

“It never worked, Nora, you know that. I'm still claustrophobic.”

“So you just accept it?”

“No more shrinks, no more wasting money” I answer. “It's a win-win.”

“For who exactly?”

I laugh.

“I'm fine Auntie,” I tell her. “Is everything okay?”

She sighs deeply and settles at the edge of the rooftop balcony bed.

“Ravenside” she states. “What are you going to do about them?”

I sit up.

“Not let them take what's mine.”

“How?”

I sigh.

“I don't know but they're not taking away my property.”

“They're going to involve the government, Lee.”

I sit up.

“What?”

“Why do you think your uncle had a heart attack?" she asks. "He knew he couldn't fight this because your parents didn't secure that property under your name. There is no evidence that you're the sole heir to all that property, Lee. So how are you going to fight this because this ain't a game, child.”

I feel the knots tighten in my stomach.

“They can't take it away from me auntie. It's all I have left of them. I won't let them take it away. I can't let them” I whisper.

She holds my shoulders and looks me in the eyes.

“Then do what you have to do to secure that property. Because Frankie and your mother didn't work so hard for a bunch of stuck-up rich people to reap where they didn't sow.”

Rich people.

The door to my bedroom opens again and my uncle calls out my name. Nora stands up.

“We're in here!”

He steps out onto the balcony with Camari in his arms who lifts her head from his shoulders and holds out her arms to me.

“She's not sleeping in our bed,” my uncle tells me as I take his daughter from him.

I chuckle.

“You two get some rest” Nora whispers to us, kissing both of us on the forehead before walking out with my uncle.

Camari snuggles into my side.

“Can we go inside and get another blankie, Lee?” she whispers.

“Why do you keep sneaking into their bed?” I ask.

She looks up at me.

“I'm not letting them make me a sibling.”

I laugh and pat her thigh.

“Let's go get another blankie, only child.”

She giggles. I follow her back into my room and head for the closet.

“Sky blue with pink stars or plain purple?” I ask.

I hear her grunting and I turn and she's tugging at the sheets on my bed.

“That's the one you want?” I chuckle.

“Yes, it's so fluffy!” she groans.

I laugh.

“Okay, okay. Step away from the bed” I tell her.

She does and I remove the covers off the bed.

“Can you carry it?” I ask her as I pass it to her.

“Yes. Of course I—” she yelps and falls on her behind knocking my purse off the bedside table.

I chuckle and gather the sheets into my arms so she can get up.

“Thank you!” she lets out an exaggerated gasp.

“Just drag it outside this time, okay?”

She nods and grabs one end. I turn to pick up my purse from the floor when I see the cards have fallen out of my purse. I pick them up.

“Paragon” I read on one card.

I make a face.

“Isn't that the ps4 game?” I mutter turning the card around in my hand. “Ohhh, Paragon Scapes” I chuckle.

“Are you talking to yourself?” Camari asks me.

I turn and she's looking at me, her head tilted to the side.

“No” I reply and turn back to look at the white card he gave me the second time. "Reid Dalton" I read.

I narrow my eyes and move across the room to get my laptop.

“Lee, a little help, please?” I hear Camari whine.

“One second,” I tell her and type in 'Reid Dalton'.

His information pops up on the screen and I read through it.

“Reid Benjamin Dalton... ew Benjamin?” I mutter. “Born June 15th. Education... Collegiate School, New York City, Melbourne University, University of Hawaii, Manoa... overachiever” I scoff.

“Lee?” Camari calls out, a yawn following.

“Yes, yes. I'm coming” I say and scroll further.

“But you're still seated!” she whines.

“Parents... Portia and Eros Dalton... who names their child Portia?” I laugh.

“Aileen...”

“Hey isn't your principal called Portia?” I laugh, turning to Camari who was now pouting at me.

She frowns.

“Alright, alright. Lemme just—” the rest of my laughter dies in my throat as my eyes hit his net worth. “Oh. my. God” I let out slowly and stand up.

He's freaking wealthy!

I slowly turn around to face Camari.

“Cami, what are stuck-up rich people most afraid of?” I ask.

“You... because you're willing to let me stay up past my bedtime” she frowns.

“Wrong answer,” I say and move up to her to lift the blanket.

“Well, then what are stuck-up rich people most afraid of?” she asks, tugging me outside the room to the balcony.

I smile.

“Even richer stuck-up people.”

And Reid Dalton is just the person I need.

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter