"What the fuck dad?" JR bellowed. They had literally thrown out the manager of the hotel out of his office and knowing who they were the poor man had left claiming to need a drink anyway.

"Watch your tone boy. And your language in front of your future wife." Jim said casually. He clearly didn't care that his son was angry or that the woman at the door looked at him like she wanted to tear him apart.

"Don't change the subject. You know what I mean. Why would you announce my marriage to the world to a complete stranger?"

"You have two months to know her and a month to plan the wedding. There problem solved." taking a seat Jim stared at the two of them concluding that he had made the right decision. They truly would make a wonderful couple and beautiful children which is the main reason as to why he took such drastic measures.

"Say what now?" Hayley decided to jump in the conversation. She had tried to leave earlier after the announcement but some suits had prevented her. Who knew bodyguards blended in with the crowd so well? She really should have ignored that knock at the door. Maybe now she wouldn't be trapped in a room with two crazy men who had issues. Because JR was right. Who marries his son to a total stranger?

"You heard me. Now instead of trying to argue with me you two should be making out in front of the cameras and selling it. Off you go now" Jim said dismissing them.

"You don't get to order me around. I'm not ten anymore dad. If you like her that much then you marry her because I sure as hell won't." JR finished his rant then headed to the door practically shoving Hayley out of the way.

"Listen Jim I really like you and I did enjoy your company the last time we met but this is just going too far. You can't make such decisions and expect us to just play along." Hayley tried to appeal to him.

"I'm not changing my mind. And before you say anything, I do know you. I even know what you ate yesterday and the day before that." He raised his eyebrows in a challenging way.

"So you had me investigated. That doesn't mean you know me."

"That's why you're moving in with us tomorrow. There is no better way to know a person than living with them. And am saying that from experience."

"Clearly you've lost your mind and I'm going to leave. It was nice knowing you and I hope you get well soon." Hayley said and left him in the office.

Maneuvering through the throng of people Hayley looked for the exit. Around here she was sure she could get a cab quicker than she would be able to say 'stop'. Spotting the exit she headed towards it only to be ambushed by the Paparazzi.

"Hey Hayley smile for us"

"Yeah. Where's your fiancé?"

"How did you guys meet?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"Who are you wearing?"

"Let's go." a voice from behind her said into her ear causing a shiver to pass through body. He was so close and she was sure the paparazzi could see the blush tainting her cheeks. Thank you so much 'future husband'. The guys awed and oohed while JR pushed through them to get her to the exit. The chauffeur that brought her to the gala was standing there waiting for her.

"Thank you for helping me back there." She told him.

"I wasn't helping you. I was preventing you from saying something stupid to the press." And with that he left her standing there gaping at his retreating figure.

"Dick." Hayley said and turning to the driver and asked him if he could take her to her house first before dropping her off to the hospital. Better use their resources to the fullest after the shit show they put her through.

After changing, Hayley headed to the hospital where she spent the night. The doctors had said if all was fine then Alexis would be able to go home with her the next day provided she had a face mask to prevent her from catching any infections. She had been advised to give her healthy foods and lots of fresh fruits. Alexis had been at the hospital for a few months and both of them were excited to go home. Although tiny, she had cleaned her house and made sure everything was sparkling in order to accommodate her daughter and make her comfortable.

It was the next day and after signing all the necessary paperwork, Alexis was allowed to go home. The shocking news was that her bills had all been settled and the doctor even went as far as to tell Hayley not to worry about future payments as they had been taken care of. Alexis would need more chemo to ensure the cancer was really gone and for someone to have paid for all of that in advance was both a blessing and a curse. Hayley knew Jim was responsible and she hated the fact that now she owed him.

Truth be told she wouldn't have been able to settle the hospital bills all by herself. Most of the money Jim had paid her was already gone and if it weren't for the gala and the events that took after clouding her mind, Hayley would be freaking out right at that moment. She was so wrapped up in yesterday's events that everything else had slipped her mind. But now thanks to Jim she had no worries. And surprisingly the chauffeur was waiting for them when they left the hospital.

"Were you here all night?" Hayley asked thinking no one paid the guy enough money to wait on her.

"No ma'am. I got here half hour ago. Where would you like me to drop you?"

"Mom who is this?" Alexis voiced.

"This is Mr.... I don't even know your name. I've already turned into one of those snobby rich wives." she said shaking her head.

"Zachary Briggs. Call me Zach." he supplied amused by her and trying his best not to laugh. The Rutherford's had no idea what they had gotten themselves into.

"Right. Zach this is my daughter Alexis and we would really be grateful if you dropped us home and then have a nice life. Yeah?" Hayley said with a sweet smile that wasn't so sweet.

"My pleasure ma'am." Zach replied getting the point but bracing himself for the drama that was about to go down.

The windows were tinted and Hayley was thankful that no one could see her face from the outside. Her expression conveyed horror. Had she forgotten to pay rent? The car had come to a stop in front of her house and she was shocked to see people emptying her house. Men with a 'movers' logo printed on their overalls were busy taking everything from her house and stuffing them in the truck parked not far from where they were. Jumping out she instructed Alexis to stay put and headed toward the men demanding to know what was going on.

"Excuse me but what the hell is going on?" Hayley yelled even though no seemed to have heard her.

"Out of the way woman. We are on a tight schedule here." One of them told her while going around her and shaking his head in disapproval.

"You tell me what is going on?" She grabbed a young man and upon inspecting the box he was holding she was mortified to find it full of her underwear.

"The owner is moving out to some rich guy's house and we were hired to help with the move. The new owners are over there waiting to move in and that's why we're in a hurry." The man said pointing to a truck that was parked down a few houses down that Hayley hadn't even noticed was there. Feeling anger bubble up she stalked back to the car and felt a wave of shock upon not seeing Alexis where she left her.

"Alexis....." she yelled only for a 'here mom' to sound from the hood of the car. Sighing a breath of relief she wondered if anyone was going to listen to her today. "What happened to stay put?"

"Chill mom. Besides you never told me were moving" Alexis replied.

"Honey I didn't know we were moving." zeroing in on Zach next to Alexis she growled "Let's go."

"Where to ma'am?" Zach realized his mistake a second too late. He shouldn't have asked her that.

"Where to? Oh I don't know. How about to my new residence? The address you ask? I don't freaking know because no one bothered to inform me before moving me out of my own house. And that stupid traitorous landlord that just decided to cut short my lease and lend it some pathetic losers? I hope a bus hits him." She finished her rant breathing heavily.

"Feel better now?" Alexis mocked. She might not understand what was going on but it sure had her mother tied up in knots. She wasn't a crybaby and if things didn't work out then Vince was a call away. She tried not to worry about anything because her mother overreacted a lot. Since she was just yelling at poor Zach, she figured it would be better if she just sat back and saw where they ended up.

"No. I don't feel better. But don't worry baby I will after I drown the Rutherfords and send them straight to where they came from."

"And where is that mum?" Alexis humoured her.

"Hell. That's where those monsters came from"

One hour later they were standing in front of a huge Victorian mansion that someone would pass for a hotel. The four white pillars standing proudly were well complimented with red bricks and white window sills that just added to the beauty of the place. There was a large fountain that looked like an angel and water was spewing from its eyes creating the illusion of a crying angel. The door opened and JR walked out speaking on the phone rapidly while a vaguely familiar man followed him.

"You! What is wrong with you people?" Hayley yelled at him feeling stupid for being distracted by a building. It was a pretty house. So what? She was homeless and it's all because of the man standing in front of her and his father.

"I'll call you back later." JR said to whoever was on the line and turned to face the spitfire yelling at him. She was dressed in a fitting pair of jeans that highlighted her legs and hips deliciously. He raked his eyes over her then settled on her face that was currently masked in anger. "Miss Barret. I would say lovely to see you but I would be lying. How can I help you?"

"Help me? Did I ask for your help you crazy bastard?" His calm demeanor was only fueling her anger.

"I don't like Drama Miss Barret. Save it for someone who cares." JR said wanting to walk away but physically couldn't. How come she always smelled so nice? He thought if she shut her mouth, he could learn to like her. But clearly that was impossible.

"Drama? I'll show you drama you sonofabitch." She said then punched him square in the jaw. If he were any other man, the force of the blow would have sent him sprawled out on the floor. But he wasn't and the only sign he showed of having been punched was his split lip.

"Shit. What did you do that for?" JR was surprised. He hadn't seen that blow coming otherwise he could have avoided it. Where did his father get this crazy woman from anyway? And why did he find it hot that she just punched him?

"Okay kids. Play time's over. I'm hungry and tired so let's go young lady." Alexis told her mother startling the pair. They hadn't seen her coming which is why it took them a few seconds to register her presence.

All this time Alexis had been talking to Nick. She found out he was friends with the guy his mom had punched and they had grown up together. He was amused by Alexis's prediction that if he didn't remove his friend from her mom then he would regret it. So no one was more shocked when Hayley threw that punch. Even more shocking was that JR hadn't ducked meaning he hadn't seen it coming. That small fact caused Nick to freeze in his spot. How had a tiny woman got the better of JR? Damn I should have recorded that. And made it my ringtone or wallpaper or just play it back and forth in his face. Stay sharp Nicky.

"Who are you?" JR asked the tiny person standing in front of him. He didn't dislike children. He just disliked their childish ways. Funny, because weren't children supposed to be childish?

"Argh Alexis. Why can't you follow simple orders?" Hayley groaned. She had told Alexis to stay in the car but clearly her instructions went in one ear and left from the other.

"Because I'm not a robot. Besides there was no way I was going to miss this show. That was so cool. Now am thinking I should have insisted Vince teach me that instead of guns." Alexis told her mom and turning to JR asked "Do you have any guns around here?"

"What are you the mafia? Why do you need a gun?" JR asked seriously believing his dad had gone mad. Where did he really find these crazy people?

"You're here. Why are you standing outside?" Speak of the devil.

"Pops" Alexis yelled while running then threw herself at the old man knocking him back a few steps.

Both Hayley and JR looked at each other to see if they had missed something. Since when did Alexis know Jim?

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

Yay let the drama begin. 👊 'Ow sorry.'

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