Xavier's P.O.V

The echoes of the door slamming filled the room as I walked into my living room. Without a care in the world or the frame that was threatening to fall, I stormed upstairs into my room because it was time to reflect. It was time to seriously think about everything and anything, to open up the closed casket of thoughts, let it engulf me and to filter out my priorities in life. Because right now I am a mess. Sometimes, I even puzzle myself. Even I know I have done some harsh things in my life, but, I can't for the love of everything that is holy, understand why I am acting like this.

I locked the door of my room and sat in front of it. Clutching my head and closing my eyes, I thought about Erica and how I reacted towards her. The funny yet frustrating thing was that she didn't do anything wrong, she was merely being polite to me but I was too angry to be thankful, so I took it out on her. I don't tolerate my employees being rude to each other, however, here I am doing the exact same thing.

This is just useless. No matter how much I try to hate her, to avoid her or try to deceive myself, I always end up feeling something for her and every time I see her that 'something' increases. It is just so confusing. Here I am vowing my allegiance and my love for Sapphire, yet I'm thinking about a person I met at a restaurant. That day seems so long ago. But then, Erica isn't just a person, she is like my princess. That isn't a good enough excuse for my behaviour towards her but I can't help it. Her resemblance infuriates me even more at times, it's not her fault but I can't help it either... I just can't. But no, it was wrong of me to shout at her regardless of my personal life and I need to apologize to her for my behaviour somehow. But how?

I smiled knowing how I was going to ask for her forgiveness, yet somehow nervous.

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ERICA P.O.V.

Roner truly knows how to cheer someone up, after being bellowed by Xavier and that crazy encounter with Liz, I went to him. He proposed that we go to dinner in which I instantly said yes! There is no attraction there, I mean yes, he is hot but I only see him as a friend. There also was the fact that I was hungry, but I really needed someone to talk to since Liz walked out on me. Why is everyone acting weird today? Speaking of Liz, funny how I haven't seen her all day, usually I would see her on my floor scurrying around doing errands. But, after her little slip-up, it was as if she never even existed or worked for Xavier.

I forced Roner to go to an Indian restaurant, I needed comforting and not him, so I wanted food that was to my liking. He didn't exactly like the choice, constantly whining, but I wouldn't be deterred.

As we entered the restaurant Roner thought it was time to whine again, "Well, what's so special about Indian food Erica?" He spoke dejectedly.

"Everything!!" I squealed. What was there not to like? From the spices to the soothing lassi, from the tangy achaar to the colours of the curries. Okay forget being poetic, the food just tastes so darn good.

"You, young lady, need to see a psychiatrist"

"Why?" I just love my food, it's not a crime.

"Because you're crazy! " he laughed.

I laughed with him.

"I mean how can your mood change so fast? You practically wanted to kill Xavier, and now your so happy about eating Indian food." He looked confused.

"Well Roner, my friend" I placed my hands on his shoulders, "Let's just say I'm bipolar, but in a good way, just don't talk about that ba- I mean Xavier." The thought of him was already boiling my blood.

"Sure," He said, before walking towards the maître d' so we could be seated.

Suddenly something clicked in my mind, but I waited before we were seated at a table before I asked him. I was nervous but determined to get answers. I didn't have to wait long because after 10 minutes we were given a table.

"Roner, can I ask you something?" I spoke after we had settled into our seats.

"Call me Ron, Erica," He spoke as if he had told me 100 times before and it pained him to say it again.

"Oh yes, sorry. Ron can I-"

"Yeah yeah, go ahead" He cut in. He was too occupied with looking at the menu, he looked visibly distressed with reading the dishes which made me giggle inside. I didn't need to look, I had been here many times before, back when I had more money. I felt like I knew the menu by heart.

"You said something about Xavier taking away your fiancé, can you tell me the whole story?" I blurted out. The tension was eating me up inside and I felt like I was going to explode if I didn't ask.

Putting his menu down, he looked at me like I'm some ghost. I saw his expression and generally his whole demeanour change. He was angry, but then I saw his eyes becoming shiny with tears which were threatening to spill out. It was then I instantly regretted ever asking him about it. I just can't keep my mouth shut can I?

"Ron! I'm sorry, please! Don't cry" I didn't know what I could do or say to make it better for him, all I knew was that Xavier hurt him badly and it was too painful for him to speak about.

"No it's okay, it's just that I loved her and-and, let it be. Let's just eat, we'll talk about it later." He picked up the menu again and acted like nothing had happened.

"Sure," I said guiltily as ever.

After that tense conversation, well an attempt at a conversation, talk soon diverted to food. I knew what I was going to get, Roner, on the other hand, could not make his mind up. After reassuring him that the chicken tikka curry was not too spicy, I ordered one main dish as well as rice and naan because he couldn't make his own mind up. We shared our meal, Roner scattered minuscule amounts of chicken tikka curry on the bed of rice, whilst I had the naan and the rest of the curry to myself. I dared him to have a bit of the naan with the curry and the wuss that he is, he ordered a glass of milk to douse the chilies. I thought the amount of chili in the curry was decent, I think it could have been a bit spicier but that is my preference. Roner was successful in taking my mind off Xavier, he made me laugh so much when he realised water only made the burning sensation worse. After eating, Ron and I exited the restaurant. On our way back, Roner and I went to the park.

We were silent the whole way and it only made me think about earlier on, I felt guilty for asking him something so personal and I felt like I needed to say something.

"Ron I'm sorry" I apologized again.

"No, it's okay Erica I'm not mad at you." He looked preoccupied and after that, it was silent again.

All I could hear was the sound of our feet crunching on the gravel walkway. On a normal day, it would be classed as peaceful but as of this moment, it created a tense atmosphere. The soothing sounds of the wind calmed me, leaving me in my own thoughts.

"Her name was Cassidy." He began to speak. '' Well she was my everything and we were to get married. I couldn't believe I had finally found someone who I loved and who loved me. On our engagement day, everyone was at the party at my house. Even Xavier was there. We all got very drunk, but not I, I had to make sure Cassidy reached her house safely. Around 4 a.m. people began to disperse signaling the end of the party so I began looking for her. I remember being worried about her because I knew she was drunk and I was frantic in trying to find her. I looked everywhere for her, the kitchen, the living room, the backyard and I couldn't find her. All that was left was the upstairs bedrooms. I opened the door to our bedroom and saw Xavier and Cassidy making out. I mean he was all over her, but they stopped as soon as they knew someone was in the room. After seeing me, Cassidy ran and hugged me. She told me Xavier was the one who pushed her into kissing him and that he tried to...tried to rape her. I was beyond angry. I was furious, so much so that I didn't know what to do. I mean Xavier was close to me and this is what he did to someone I loved. I hugged her back believing her, but I kicked and punched the living daylights of Xavier. He was unconscious and heavily drunk but I didn't relent. I wasn't drunk but I still had drunk a hefty amount, enough to make me go crazy on him." I was shocked to see what he was saying. But I didn't stop him, he needed to speak and I needed information. I felt like he had this bottled inside him and he needed to someone to listen.

"Cassidy was shouting for me to stop and then my other office members came. They stopped me from thrashing him to death, once I started beating him, I just couldn't stop, all I saw was red but the funny part was, knowing how strong he was, he never did once hit me. After that he was taken to the hospital. Around 10 in the morning, I got a call from Cassidy's mother telling me that the marriage was called off. I was shocked but depressed because everything was going so well, so perfect. I was going to marry the girl of my dreams and one by one everything kept on going wrong and I didn't know how to stop it. I tried everything possible to contact her but I had no luck. Finally, she called me and told me she was pregnant with Xavier's baby and wanted me to marry her. I loved her so much I couldn't resist. I was shocked and I regretted not killing Xavier that day but I was overwhelmed with happiness because she came back. We decided to get married. Xavier didn't call me and neither did I, I left the job as well. But one day Xavier called me and told me whatever she said was a lie. Nothing else. I retaliated by abusing him and told him to stay away. He got angry at me and asked me to check Cassidy's whereabouts if I was so sure." The hatred he had for Xavier was evident in the way he spoke. His eyes had glazed over but I could see the detestation he had for him.

"I didn't trust him. One day I went to Cassidy's house for inviting her for lunch, only to see her making out with another guy.  Being shocked was an understatement. I didn't say anything to her, I just went away that time and later called off the marriage. She tried to contact me but I never talked to her again. I just couldn't believe it, I was a fool but love blinded me. That night, Cassidy took Xavier to the room and forced herself on him, also she wasn't pregnant with his son but someone else " He didn't speak after that, signaling the end of the story. I was too taken aback to say anything, I didn't know what I could say to him... What would I say?

I didn't know one person could cause so much destruction. I saw him crying and I just hugged him. They say actions speak louder than words, and it couldn't be truer than right now.I felt bad for Xavier too, he did not deserve al the hatred.

"I'm sorry Ron, I wish I could change things, but I can't. Just don't be sad. Everything happens for a reason, she didn't deserve you" I assured him. I really wish I could change things for him.

"I know Erica, but I loved her."

"So why do you still work for Xavier after everything that happened?"

"I work for him because I'm in need of money. I need to support my family and even after me beating the death out of Xavier, he asked me to work for him. I don't know why, but he just did and I had no option but to say yes. I can't help but feel indebted to him, if it weren't for him, Cassidy would still be cheating behind my back" He spoke with a shrug.

Wait, Xavier asked him to continue the job even after Ron almost killed him? Why would he do that?

"What happened to the baby?"

"From what I heard, she married another guy who is pretty rich, unlike me" His voice broke toward the end and he began crying again. Cassidy must have meant a lot to him, Ron is a pretty nice guy and she was a fool to let him go.

"Ron please don't cry, everything will be okay! Promise!" I hugged him once again, he needed comforting more than me.

"I know Erica, well let's get going I'm getting late. Mom will be waiting for me." With a forced grin, he wiped his tears and hugged me back.

"Ahah! Big boy is living with his mom huh?" I nudged him as I tried to diffuse the atmosphere.

I saw him blush to crimson red as he smiled lightly. I was glad to see him smile.

"Okay so let's go before mommy gets angry" I teased again.

"Yeah, whatever" he smirked.

After bidding our goodbyes, I set off for home when I checked my phone. I felt my eyes bulge out from their eye sockets - 39 Missed calls and 14 messages!

I scrolled down my notifications to see who they were from and to my surprise but irritation, they were ALL from Xavier! I decided to call him back once I reached home, he deserved to wait a little longer and wallow in misery.

After closing the door behind me I went to the kitchen to see a note from mom on the refrigerator telling me she won't be home till next month because of her job. This was usual stuff from her, my mom was a hard worker. So I was used to her leaving for lengthy periods of time.

I sighed and went to take a shower. After the shower, I decided to call Xavier and put him out of his misery. Although I didn't know why he was so worried, he clearly didn't care about me. He must need me to do some work because he likes to call me when I'm not at work to do something for him, but I guess that is my job.

*Ring* *Ring*

"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU ERICA?! I WAS SO WORRIED! WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK UP THE GODDAM PHONE?? DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE THAT THING" He yelled through the phone literally deafening me.

"Xavier why were you worried?" was all I asked. He had no reason to be worried. I was nothing to him and even if I was, he sure didn't show it, also i ignored his last remark, that smartass.

I heard him sigh over the phone.

"I want to ask you something." He sounded, nervous?

"Yeah go ahead" I was a little apprehensive, this wasn't like him.

"Will... will you go out to dinner with me?" He spoke hurriedly.

"DINNER??" I literally yelled over the phone. Not that I was annoyed but I was shocked yet excited! He expressed an emotion other than rage, I felt like we were getting somewhere.But wait,  what am I thinking? He's "The Bastard", nonetheless, I was delighted. But I felt like he didn't deserve a meal with me, he doesn't deserve company.

"It's an 'I'm-sorry' dinner nothing else," He explained after I didn't comment further.

Then it clicked! He's trying to apologize for what he did back in office. I wanted to say no but I found myself saying, "Yes I will".I love free food, i mean who doesn't

"Oh, okay I'll pick you up at 8 tomorrow. See you" It sounded like he was just as shocked as me. I think I zoned out because I heard the dialing tone to know that he had hung up. I groaned in irritation because I knew what I had gotten myself into, why I said yes was unbeknown to me.