Their shocked faces were priceless. For the second time that day, Jim wished he had a camera to snap the expressions on their faces. He knew it would come as a surprise for everyone after they found out he and Alexis knew each other but truth be told, he didn't want Hayley to find out the connection just yet. She would run for the hills before his plans took off. Of course he knew what he was doing and he didn't do anything without a reason.

"You're here. How are you monkey?" Jim asked her.

"Ew no. Let's find another nickname. And I'm hungry but mom is over there fighting with that guy. Who is he anyway?" Alexis told him. She had been keeping secrets and now she was afraid to turn around and look at her mom. It was too soon to tell her anything but knowing Hayley, she would try and grill the answers out of her.

"That's my son JR. Don't worry about him, he's a big bear once you get to know him. Now let's go fill your tiny stomach. I'm sure Nancy can sneak us some appetizers before lunch." They walked hand in hand not even sparing a backwards glance. Jim was bubbling with excitement. Anyone who saw the two could feel the tension between them a mile away. He didn't care if it was good or bad tension. So long as it was there then everything was going to be fine.

"This is not over... Alexis stop right there. What did I tell you about strangers?" Hayley told JR and ran after her daughter. Was it possible everyone had lost their minds or was she living in a parallel universe?

"Relax mom. He's not a stranger I know him. He's Nick's friend." Alexis said brushing everything off.

"Nick? Who is that?" Hayley asked then kneeling down she tried to talk some sense into her daughter. "Sweetie this is how children get kidnapped and sold to other countries. What have I taught you about trusting people you don't know?"

"But I know Jim and Nick. Besides why would pops here sell me? So dramatic."

" Ugh stop saying that. I am not a drama queen." Hayley yelled but Alexis was practically skipping away with Jim.

"Why doesn't she get a punch?" JR mumbled somewhere behind Hayley. She hadn't noticed them following her in the house. Standing up she shot him a glare then noticed the man standing next to him. They were both tall and built like bodybuilders and on a normal day, she would be ogling them. After all she wasn't blind, these two were hot. Not that any of that mattered now.

"Excuse me but what did you say?" Hayley dared JR to repeat what he had said.

"I said why doesn't she get a.... "

"Shut up man. Unless you want another shiner." Nick told his friend. JR could be so dumb when it came to women.

"What, she asked" he retorted then followed his father and the gun obsessed girl.

Shaking her head Hayley followed him. She didn't know how Alexis knew Jim. It seemed like they were friends even and as much as she taught her daughter to be friendly this was just too much. What if they brainwashed her? At that thought she skidded to a halt so fast she she didn't see Nick behind her. And thank the almighty for his reflexes because he would have plowed into her and probably earn himself a broken face.

This woman was not the same person Nick had met at the hospital months ago. That one had been scared shitless and although pale she was stunning and soft and she had this aura that begged a man to drop everything and take care of her. The woman standing in front of him today thinking God knows what, intimidated him. She was still beautiful and she took his breath away, but she scared him too. Here was a tiny woman that could break or build empires, countries even. He would go as far as to say worlds because as much as she looked sweet and loving, she had an unbreakable personality. Strong enough to take on the Rutherfords and still be able to stand straight with head held up high.

"Why are you following me?" Hayley asked the mountain of man behind her. She hadn't seen but felt him behind her. And turning around he had this look on his face she couldn't describe.

"I'm just going to the kitchen." Nick stumbled then walked ahead of her. He couldn't be alone with her.

Hayley stood there wondering what happened to her life. She was homeless and if that wasn't enough, she was expected to live with these crazy annoying people. She had to leave. Making up her mind, she followed the voices and ended up in a kitchen that distracted her for a minute. It was bigger than her whole house and had every equipment a chef would need. She thought how nice it would be to have such things at her disposal. She could try out all those new recipes she had written down and it would be easy. Because she wouldn't have to worry about how expensive some ingredients were or how she didn't have that electric mixer.

Even before she had gotten married Hayley liked to be in the kitchen. As a kid growing up with her father, she had been content with the food he cooked for her. Until she went to her first sleepover and Alicia's mom had fed them the most amazing lasagna she had ever tasted. Ever since then she had taken over the kitchen and it was her little heaven where she tried out everything she thought of. Adjusting recipes was her favorite pastime. After Jeff she had less time because he always insisted that they eat out and later she just didn't have that luxury.

"It could all be yours." Jim said from beside her.

"What?" Asked Hayley. When had he gotten so close?

"Everything. I saw the twinkle in your eyes. You were thinking how nice it would be to have all this. And you can so I don't see why you're being stubborn." A little more convincing and she would agree to everything. Jim was having the time of his life.

"Can we talk? Somewhere private?" Hayley thought maybe it was time to tell him the truth.

"Yeah. Let's go to my study. Munchkin I'll be right back. Don't move"

"Okay I'll be right here." Alexis told him. It annoyed Hayley how her daughter was so comfortable here. Why didn't she make a fuss about how she didn't want to live with strangers? The perks of having a kid that's too grown up for her age.

"I can't stay here. You people are filthy rich obviously and from what I gathered yesterday famous too. I have a past that the press would have a field day with and it will lead to scandals that am sure you people don't want. So please just tell my landlord to give me back my house and you will never hear from me ever again." Hayley thought that was a nice speech she had given him.

"That was a horrible speech. You would make a lousy public speaker BTW. And I know all about your past. Anything else?"

"Jim please be reasonable. You can't just force me to stay here." Hayley could feel her anger boiling. Who did this man think he was?

"Hayley you will find out that once I make up my mind, I rarely change it." Jim said. His face had transformed into that of the ruthless business man he was and it scared Hayley a little. These people could change their faces whenever they wanted. One second they're sweet and the next, you don't know who they are. Sensing her fear Jim schooled his features and got up from the chair. He liked Alexis and he wanted to spend more time with her. At the door he stopped and looked at Hayley then said "One more thing. As a Rutherford no man is ever going to lay his hands on you. Not even your own husband."

That did it. Out of nowhere Hayley broke down. Everything was too much and all the tears she had been holding in came rushing out. The fear of Alexis not getting better. Being alone and having no one to confide to. Being forced to do things that led her here. And her old fear of going back to the way things were with her husband. Whatever promises Jim made her didn't matter. People changed. Always. And this time she wasn't alone. She had Alexis and the thought of her daughter going through what she did made her sick and that made her cry harder. Why was life so unfair?

That was how JR found her. Curled up in a chair in the office crying. He had wondered where she was. For a moment he thought she had left his daughter there. Alexis was fun and she wasn't like any other kids. Not that he knew what other kids were like. He wasn't around children much. And the thought of her mother leaving her there appalled him. After all it wouldn't be the first time a mother abandoned her child with strangers. That's why he went in search of her. If that infuriating woman had left he would hunt her down and...

He didn't finish that sentence. He heard sobs and following them he found her crying in his father's study. His first thought was to pick her up and soothe her sorrows away. He didn't like seeing her like that even though she had punched him and his face still hurt. He walked over to her and sat on the desk next to her chair. He raised his hand meaning to brush her hair but stopped himself. She might decide to rearrange his face and he liked it the way it was. So he cleared his throat and asked "How can I help"

"What?" Hayley croaked. She heard him come in and his cologne confirmed it was him. It would have been nice if he had wrapped his hands around her. Somehow she knew that would make her feel better.

"I asked how I could help. You're crying which means you obviously have a problem and I'm known for solving problems. So how can I help?" JR asked surprised by his soft voice. He didn't know he could be that....... He couldn't find the right word to describe it.

"I don't know. Buy me a house. I don't want to live here no offence."

"None taken." JR said. Then left.

"Thank you so much for your help." Hayley told him sarcastically but JR wasn't listening. He was on his phone with a realtor.

***************************************

Yay. I want a house too

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