Ryker Fox

Ryker's Penthouse

Sheila  stood at the doorway wrapped in a black coat, looking at me like she was waiting to be invited in.

I stood blocking the doorway with the door barely cracked open, not willing to budge. "Answer me Sheila, what the fuck are you doing here?"

She seemed startled by my hostility, which made me laugh. But there was no humor in it. It came out resentful, and bitter. Not that I think anyone would blame me.

"I talked to Dexter earlier today." She finished the sentence like there was nothing else that needed to be said. Her tone sounded harsh and angry.

"Well, when you talked to him did he happen to mention that I wanted you to fuck off?" The sarcasm in my voice had never been more apparent.

She seemed to be genuinely offended and her mouth dropped open in shock. But the way she awkwardly looked away from my face, I was willing to bet that Dexter  had told her something very close to that.

"I'm having your baby. Let me in so we can talk like reasonable adults." She held onto her purse and waited for me to move out of the way so she could come in, but I refused to move a single step.

"Reasonable?" I raised my eyebrows like the word somehow made no sense, because coming from her? It didn't. "Yeah, Sheila. Why don't I let you in so you can plant another camera?" She stomped her foot and narrowed her eyes at me, grunting like I was getting on her last nerve. I was on a roll though, so I didn't stop. "How's this? I'll have a talk with a reasonable adult as soon as I find one."

Just as I could see she was beginning to yell, I slammed the door in her face and locked it. I could hear her screaming and pounding on the door, and I immedietly pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Dexter.

"Hello?" Dexter  answered the phone, his voice sounding like his mouth was full like he was eating.

"We have a problem, Dex. Sheila just showed up and she's demanding I let her in. Pounding on the door and shit." I was getting more annoyed and angry by the minute and I could hear Dexter's signature stress come back in his voice.

"For Christ's sake, I told her that I had to be there. Is that what all the noise is in the background?!" Dexter  almost sounded annoyed as I was, and Sheila  would not be ignored. She was still pounding on the door demanding I let her in.

"I'm on my way, Ryker. In the meantime, maybe you should let her in." I was quiet for a long moment, my brain refusing to believe what Dexter just said.

"No. You know what? I don't mean no. I mean hell fucking no. She's not stepping one foot in this house and I'm not going to be alone with her even for a minute." Dexter  sounded annoyed with my stubbornness and I heard him let out a frustrated sigh. But this was something I would not budge on.

"Think about it. We don't need her making all that noise drawing attention to herself. The press would have a field day." He sounded like he was having a nervous breakdown just thinking about it. While I understood what he was saying, it's not going to happen.

"She planted cameras in my fucking house, Dexter. She's not stepping foot in my house again. I don't trust her." I couldn't believe he didn't already understand why I didn't want her in my house.

He thought about it for a moment, while I tried my best to block out the obnoxious pounding on the door.  "Open the door and tell her if she doesn't leave, you'll have her escorted out of the building."

"I thought the idea was to not draw attention to her because of the press?" I was confused, because that seemed like the opposite of what he had just said.

"Ryker, just do it. I'll be there very soon." Dexter hung up and I shoved my phone back in my pocket, more frustrated than ever. But reluctantly, I unlocked and cracked open the door. Sheila's face was red and she looked enraged.

"It's about fucking time, Ryker! God, you are such an asshole!" She flipped her black hair back looking entirely annoyed by the inconvenience of having to wait out in the hallway.

"Yeah. You planted a camera to spy and then released a personal, private video to the public..but I'm the asshole for not trusting you enough to let you in my home again." I shook my head, wondering if she actually ever listened to herself talk.

For a brief moment, she looked like she actually might feel guilty. Dare I say, even emotional. Call me a skeptic though, but I still wasn't buying it. "I shouldn't have done that. I think that's going to be one of those things that I look back as the worst thing I've ever done.  I felt desperate, Ryker. You are so much more powerful than me." Her voice started cracking and her eyes filled with tears. I noticed for the first time that there were bags under her eyes like she hadn't been sleeping.

Okay, so maybe she might feel bad about what she did. Good. She should feel bad. But she was not  the victim here, despite what she thinks. "Sheila, stop talking about me like I'm some predator who overpowered you. You're the bad guy in this scenario, however you want to look at it." My words seemed to piss her off, then again..what else is new?

"You made me fall for you when you had no intentions of catching me!" She waved her finger at me, a tear running down her face. "Then you're all over the first slutty cleaning lady that comes in to replace me?!  Taking her out on the town?! You never took me out!" Her hurt switched back to anger and petty jealousy, obviously she had seen the pictures the paparazzi had taken of us on our date.

"First of all..I 'made' you fall for me?" I airquoted around the word 'made,' ignoring her glares. "How? Before we hooked up I warned you that it would never be anything else. You should have walked away then if you weren't okay with that!" She looked pissed but there was an awkwardness in her eyes that told me she knew I was right. She would never admit it in a million years, though.

"Nothing should have ever happened between us. I assure you, I regret that choice every single day. " She looked at me like she was slightly hurt by that, and I knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear. "But you had no right to do what you did. You have no right to talk about Emma, either. " That last part really pissed me off. I had a protectiveness when it came to Emma  I couldn't quite explain. Whenever anyone mentioned her, I immediately became defensive.

She scoffed like I had said something ridiculous. "'Emma?' Is that your cleaning lady's name?! How precious."  She laughed and I clenched my teeth, trying to control my temper.

"Emma is my girlfriend..and it's none of your business, anyway." Her jaw dropped in shock and her eyes widened. "Now can you leave, before I have someone come and escort you out?

A sadness washed over her face. Her voice came out small, and insecure. "Girlfriend? You actually made that woman your girlfriend?! You told me that you didn't want a relationship!" I would have almost felt bad for her, if she hadn't caused so much damage. She was obviously very unhappy.

I sighed, feeling completely exhausted already. "Sheila, I am not obligated to explain my relationship to you. All I can say is, hurting anyone was never my intention." This was my one attempt at being civil, so for her sake I hope she takes it.

She was quiet, staring down at the floor. "What does she do for you that I didn't?" Her voice sounded sad and bitter. It was becoming increasingly obvious this was about much more to her than an alleged pregnancy.

"Sheila, are you pregnant with my child or not?" I asked straight out, trying to make her get to the point. I really had no interest in talking to her about Emma. Emma  or not, nothing is ever happening between Sheila  and I ever again.

She did not look happy about the not-so-subtle subject change. She folded her arms over her chest, her lips stuck out like she was pouting. "Of course I'm pregnant." She finally said in a quiet tone.

"That's not exactly what I asked, Sheila." I pointed out, suspiciously. "Are you pregnant with my child?"

I tried desperately to read her face, trying to find a hint of the real answer either way..but her face was unreadable. "Can you just let me in, please? It's very rude leaving me out here in the hallway."

She can't be serious. I rolled my eyes, taking her hedging as the answer I was expecting. "I knew you were full of shit."

She looked at me, once again offended. Not like I gave two shits. "I am not! I'm just tired of having a conversation with your goddamn door!" She started to get emotional again, much to my dismay. Dear God, was she always this much of a mess? Wait..what if it's hormones? Nah, she's probably just a few fries short of a happy meal. Or...maybe both?

"It's like I'm sure Dexter already told you, we don't talk unless he's there..and you will never be allowed back in my house." She stomped her foot, like she was about to throw a fit again. I continued blocking the doorway, returning her glares with some of my own. "Oh, and you never, ever talk about my relationship with Emma. Unless it's about this alleged pregnancy, I don't want to hear it. Keep it to your fucking self. Alright?" I rolled my eyes as she stared screaming again. She really had become unhinged.

She was always a bit sensitive, but she was never quite like this. Though I was angry with the way she's handled everything, and I was pretty positive she was lying about the pregnancy..I couldn't help but feel guilty.

I should never have hooked up with her in the first place. Sure, I didn't know it would lead to this. How could I? But I knew on some level that she had deeper feelings for me. I could see it in her eyes, she wasn't a girl who could handle casual. I didn't listen to my gut, or Dexter  for that matter and listened to my dick instead. Now, she had turned into this.

Okay, so she was probably unstable to begin with and I just didn't pay close enough attention to the warning signs. But in all reality, my bad decision didn't help.

"I'm sorry, Sheila." She was thrown out of her hissy fit and blinked at me a few times in shock. I'm willing to bet she wasn't expecting an apology. "I'm sorry that I was so careless with your feelings. I should have left you alone. Nothing ever should have happened between us." She didn't necessarily look relieved in any way by my words. In fact, she seemed saddened by them. Which was the opposite reaction I was going for.

"You've changed. She's changed you." She observed, not making any effort to hide how bitter that made her. She wanted to be the one that changed me. Then, something in her eyes shifted. "You're wrong, by the way. About us. We would be so great together Ryker, how can I make you see it?" I eyed her suspiciously, not liking where this was going.

She started fumbling with her jacket she had been wrapping tight around herself, and opened it up to reveal she wasn't wearing anything underneath.

I covered my eyes and looked away. "What the fuck, Sheila?! Close your jacket for God's sake!" She acted like she didn't hear what I said, taking a few steps closer to the door.

"Whatever she does for you, I can do it better. Just let me in and I'll prove it." Her voice sounded utterly desperate, begging me to look at her. To show some kind of interest.

I have to be honest and say, she's not unattractive..physically I mean. Which is why I hooked up with her in the first place, as much of a pig as that makes me. It's not as if you get into a relationship and suddenly become blind.

But all I could think of, besides all she's put me through..was she wasn't Emma. "Sheila, you deserve more than this. You're embarassing yourself." I said, still covering my eyes. I could hear sniffling, giving away she was getting emotional again.  But I was too afraid to look at her.

"I should be your girlfriend, not her. That should be me in those pictures with you, not her!" The volume in her voice was starting to increase as her anger was getting the best of her. "It's not fair! You can't just discard me like this! I'm having your child! We're supposed to be a little family!"

I was starting to lose my patience. This whole situation was getting sadder by the minute. "Sheila, leave. For the love of God. Just close your jacket and walk away from the door."

She started sobbing, and I let out a frustrated sigh. Where's Dexter  when you need him? "Make love to me, Ryker. Make love to me like you make love to her. Please!" Oh my god. This is so awkward and cringy.

"I'm closing the door and calling someone to escort you out of the building, Sheila." I warned as I began shutting the door. She put her foot in the door, preventing me from shutting it. Now she was getting on my last nerve.

"You can't shut me out. I'm not leaving." Her voice sounded hostile and stubborn as she foolishly tried overpowering my grip on the door. I started pulling out my phone to call for help, because this was obviously a situation that had become much bigger than me.

"Oh no, you're definitely leaving." Just as I was dialing, I heard Dexter's  familiar voice coming from behind Sheila  in the hallway. I breathed a sigh of relief as I cracked the door open again to find the two of them glaring at each other.

"We both know there are multiple reasons why Mr. Fox could take legal action against you. So I suggest you leave while you still can." Dexter's voice sounded firm, and frankly..pissed. He was in full-on 'you shall not pass' assistant mode, and for once I appreciated it.

Sheila  stomped her foot again and screamed in Dexter's  face, as if things were going so well before he had showed up. She took one last look at me before finally closing her jacket and stomping off.

Dexter  and I looked at each other wearily, both of us knowing it wasn't over. I stepped away from the door and motioned for him to come inside. "Thanks, Dex. I was starting to fear for my life."

He mumbled some sarcastic remark about me 'knowing how to pick em' and walked past me into the house. I couldn't even be offended because apart from Emma, he had a point.

I sure hope her day is going better than mine.

Emma Riley

Lakeside Apartments

I was sitting at our kitchen table with a huge cup of coffee and my laptop open. I had managed to apply at several different jobs online and I was rather proud of myself for doing something productive.

Of course, none of the jobs was something I was actually excited  about. As much as I'd like to have a career I'm passionate about, considering I don't know what my passion is that's not going to happen overnight. I needed something soon so I could pay my bills.

Considering my real experience is in cleaning, I applied at a few janitorial jobs, housekeeping at a hotel, things like that. Although, I wasn't entirely sure how well it was going to work. Something told me I couldn't count on my old boss Carl  as a reference. Besides, I was fired from my cleaning job.

A sort of sadness swept over me as I realized..who the hell is going to want to hire me? Then the whole issue with my face being in the public, I knew it was only a matter of time before my name got out. Then, I would no longer have the luxury of being 'anoymonous.' 

What if I'm considered to be more drama than I'm worth? Or..what if it's the exact opposite? What if someone hires me just because I'm dating Ryker Fox?  I wasn't sure which one was worse.

I rested my elbows on the table and covered ny face. I was quickly realizing that apart from my relationship with Ryker, my life was in the crapper.

I was pulled out of my self-pity when I heard the sound of the front door open. Soon Gina  walked into the kitchen carrying a bag of groceries in one hand and her purse in the other. She looked downright shocked to see me sitting at the table. So much she almost dropped her groceries.

She set her purse and grocery bag down on the kitchen island,  and scrunched up her face like she was deep in thought. "You..." She wagged her index finger at me, and I wondered where she was going with this. "..you look really familiar."

I set my coffee cup down on the table and scoffed, realizing she was attempting to throw shade that she had actually managed to find me at home. It never stops with her, does it? She's lucky I love her.

Her eyes lit up and she squealed, her sudden intensity startling me. "Wow! Emma, right?! Oh my god..like, hi!" She waved obnoxiously, ignoring the glare I was throwing in her direction. "Remember me?! It's Gina!"

I put my lips in a thoughtful pout and rested my chin in my hand as if I was thinking hard. "Gina, huh? Hmm.." Her eyes narrowed and she looked at me tongue-in-cheek when she realized I was countering her sarcasm with my own. "It isn't ringing any kind of bells. Got a last name, Gina?"

She nodded sarcastically as she took off her jacket and let it rest on one of the kitchen chairs. "Sure do! It's Gina HeinousBitch, ever heard of me?"

I slapped my head with my hand as if remembering something obvious. "Of course! Gina HeinousBitch of the Baltimore HeinousBitches! Your mama works the corner of fifth and kennedy right?" Her mouth dropped open in surprise and she actually looked rather impressed. Even I had to admit..whenever my sarcasm beat Gina's, it made me kind of proud.

We stared at each other for a moment, before silently calling a truce and cracking up with laughter. Gina  quickly pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge and joined me at the table.

"So, what are you up to?" She gestured towards the open laptop in front of me. "Are you googling sex positions to try with your boo thang?" She wiggling her eyebrows and I rolled my eyes at her.

"I was just applying at a few places online. Just some cleaning jobs. But I'm not holding my breath, though." I squeezed the bridge of my nose, getting a headache thinking about it. Gina  looked at me sympathetically as she took a sip of her water.

"You're going to find something,  Emma. It's only a matter of time." She sounded so sure and I wished I had her positivity. While I worried about everything, Gina  seemed to worry about very little.

"I just hope it happens soon, or I don't know what I'll do." I wiped sweat off my forehead as I peered down at the laptop and was surprised when I heard Gina  snicker.

I looked at her inquisitive and she studied me up and down like I was full of it. "Come on Emma, you're worrying for nothing. We both know Ryker would be willing to help if you needed it. Like he did with our rent." She started to take another drink of her water until stopped and stared at me like she saw something in my face. I avoided her knowing eyes, wishing she would just this once not be a mind reader.

"He already offered and you said no, didn't you?" She guessed right just as I was taking a sip of my coffee and almost made me choke.

"Goddamnit Gina. How do you do that?! I didn't even say anything!" I set my coffee down on the table and shook my head, feeling myself flush. Gina  laughed and flipped her hair back, congratulating herself for being a genius.

"The real question of the day is, why the hell are you so stubborn?!" She shook her head at me, disapproval all over her face. I heard the judgment in her voice and I could tell she did not approve of my decision. "If that man wants to help make your life a bit easier, let him! He can afford it, and I'm sure he wouldn't offer if it were a problem."

I sighed, not liking the idea of having to explain my reasoning again. "I just got done trying to make Ryker understand this earlier, and I still had to promise I'd think about it for him to drop it. Could we just let this go for now, please?" I could hear a slight desperation in my own voice as she studied me suspiciously. Unfortunately, I could already tell she was doing the mind reading thing again.

"What's wrong? You seemed stressed out, and I get the feeling it's more than the job thing." I looked at her, feeling weary as I remembered the text messages from Sam  that managed to put Ryker into a rage. The texts I never actually read. The texts..that were still finding a way to taunt me.

I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to tell Gina. In ways, I feared her reaction even more than Ryker's. Ryker doesn't know Sam  so it would be harder for him to track him down. Gina  on the other hand..could find him in two seconds. She's not at all too good to get her hands dirty either,  if you catch my drift.

On the other hand, I knew her well enough to know I couldn't just not  tell her. She wasn't just my best friend, she was my roommate. I told her everything. It was only a matter of time before I caved.

"Remember when Sam texted me earlier?" I finally said. The second she heard his name her face fell and she leaned back in her chair.

"Please tell me you didn't cave and reply back to that fool?" She finally said, shaking her head.

"No, I didn't." It came out sounding more defensive than I had intended. "That didn't stop him from texting me again, though."

She startled me as she grabbed my hand in shock. "Oh my God! What did he say?!" She exclaimed excitingly. Not excited happy, excited like she was looking forward to having another reason to punch him in the throat.

"I don't know. I didn't read it, Ryker did." Her mouth dropped open as she realized there was more 'tea' than she had originally thought. So I quickly went over the whole thing with her.

How I had gotten out of the shower and walked in to Ryker huffing and puffing like a mad man, and how I had ultimately decided I was better off not knowing..though it was still bothering me.

"Holy shit! Let me see! I need to see what we're dealing with here." She held her hand out, asking for my phone. I wasn't sure that was a good idea. I didn't need her losing her temper and get herself in some kind of trouble. She rolled her eyes as if hearing my thoughts somehow. "I won't go postal, okay? Just let me read it."

I sighed as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and handed it to Gina. "You really need to put a password on your phone." She mumbled as she searched for the text messages. I had to admit to being nervous, even if I had no idea what the texts actually said. Considering how pissed off Ryker was, something told me Gina  wouldn't be happy either.

I stared at her face while she looked down at my phone, studying it. I knew the exact moment she read the text messages, because something in her expression changed. A sort of silent rage took over as she stared at my phone longer than necessary.

When I saw her beginning to type, panic set in my heart. I tried to make a grab for the phone, but she was too fast for me. She got up out of the chair and started pacing the room with my phone in her hand. "Wait Gina, no! What are you doing?!"

She shrugged as if it was no big deal, but I could see anger in her eyes. "Relax. I just want to have a talk with Sammy boy." She put the phone up to her ear and waited, like it was ringing.

"Oh my God, stop! Please! He's..he's not worth it! We are..we're above all that!" I didn't know if I was convincing myself or her, but she didn't seem to be listening to me. She was too angry to be reasoned with. But it wasn't a loud, obnoxious anger, it was quiet.

A slow burning, simmering rage. Knowing her like I know her, it was when she got quiet was when you should really be concerned. Her anger was silent but deadly, like a fart. Would certainly explain why her attitude stinks. See what I did there?

"Maybe you're above it Emma, but I'm not. No more. I'm putting a stop to this now." There was an edge to her voice that made me believe her. Sam was about to get his ass handed to him.

"Yeah don't get your hopes up prick, it's not Emma." Gina's  voice got louder as soon as she heard his voice on the other end, her anger starting to take over. Her rage bubbling and threatening to erupt, much like a volcano.

"Listen up, you narcissistic, scrotum breath having, useless trash bin!" Gina's  voice had risen to a shouting level.

Oh, God. This could be bad.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this chapter please, don't forget to vote! :)