"So how is he, or do I need to slap some sense into him?", Jordan asks, and I laugh. It has been three weeks since I moved back in with Xavier, and it has been total bliss. Of course, Jordan only allowed me move back after he had properly threatened Xavier, and given him a full detailed account of all the various forms of torture that he would endure if he broke my heart again.

Jordan is the brother that I never had. Sometimes, he makes me wonder about my sister, Ava. Would she have been this protective of me? I barely remember anything about her because I was so young when my parents kicked her out.

"Xavier is treating me well", I reply to Jordan's question. We are shopping at Tiffany's. Jordan got accepted into a huge fashion company, and we are throwing a party tomorrow night to celebrate it. Of course, this is also going to be the moment when he asks Linda the big question, and he is nervous about it. I don't know why though – it's quite obvious that she is going to say yes.

However, Jordan is still nervous, and I've endured weeks of him getting cold feet. Now, as a salesgirl brings a ring, he shakes his head.

"For goodness' sake, what is wrong with that ring?", I ask exasperatedly. "It's all wrong. It's too big and the diamonds don't bring out her eyes. You don't understand baby girl. I don't want to ruin this moment just because I picked out the wrong ring."

I smile. Jordan is cute when he is flustered. Looking down, I check my watch. It is five thirty, and I am to have dinner with Xavier and Louis by six. So I have fifteen minutes to help him find a ring.

"Let's get serious", I get up.

After what seems like hours of finding rings that are either too big, too small and too gaudy, Jordan finally finds it – the perfect ring. It is sleek with small diamonds, tightly clustered together to form a huge gem. Frankly it is beautiful.

"The price is beautiful too.", I gasp as I take in the sight of the price tag. Of course such a beautiful ring will have such a huge price.

Jordan waves me away. "Price is irrelevant when it comes to the lady you love. Also, my new job pays me a fortune."

Saying that, he carries the ring gently to the payment counter, and hands over his credit card without batting an eye. Despite his confidence, I wince, full of pity for his bank account. Linda is sure to say yes now.

Laughing, Xavier and I make our way to the exit.

"I'll see you at the party tomorrow right?", he says, as he hugs me.

"Of course. Xavier and I will be there unfailingly."

"Remind me again; where are you and Xavier going for your date?"

Just as I open my mouth to reply that we are going to the Cosmopolitan, I get a text on my iPhone – Xavier returned it to me when I moved back in with him.

Xavier: Change of plans. I'll meet you at the house. See you soon.

I show Jordan the text, and smile.

"I should probably get going. I don't want to be late."

Jordan frowns a bit. "Remind Xavier that if he so much as breaks your heart..."

"...you will, quote unquote break both his arms and make him wish that he was never born.", I finish with a smirk. "Don't worry Jordan. I'll be fine."

We hug again, and he enters his car, while I go to the car that Xavier gave to me. The driver – Alex – is in the driver's seat waiting for me.

"Where to miss?", Alex asks. No matter how many times I ask him, he refuses to call me Candy or even Candace.

"Back home Alex". I smile at how natural the word 'home' feels. Living with my parents, I never felt like it was my home – it was just the house of expectation. However, a few weeks at Xavier's place has practically removed those memories from my mind.

I smile with my thoughts as we drive for a few minutes before we finally arrive at Xavier's house. My home.

Just as I am about to open the door to my house, I see a child hugging her parents and I stop, overcome with emotion.

It may seem odd, but I miss my parents a lot. I tried to make contact with them during the past three weeks, but they blatantly ignored all my calls and texts. They didn't even come for my graduation. It hurt to know that I had been so removed from my parent's life that they didn't even care about me finishing high school. Sometimes, I feel tempted to crawl back to them and beg for forgiveness, but I remind myself that they kicked me out for falling in love with Xavier – they made me choose between them and the man I love.

I am happy with my choice.

Sighing heavily, I open the door. The whole house is in darkness, but this does not surprise me. Xavier loves to hide in dark corners and jump out at me to surprise and scare me. He is childish that way, and I love seeing the carefree side of him.

"Xavier!", I call out as I move into the house. "Where are you?".

I walk into the sitting room, and see a shadowy figure sitting on the chair. At first, I think it is Xavier, but I notice that the figure is too short to be him.

"Who are you?", I call out, suddenly filled with a feeling of indescribable fear.

"Do you really not know?", a familiar voice says.

No. It can't be.

I switch on the light and the whole room lights up to reveal Beatrice sitting comfortably in an armchair.

In her hand is a gun which is pointing straight at me.

***

I try to stay calm, which is very hard considering the fact that there is a mentally unstable blonde holding a gun on me.

"Beatrice.", I say, my voice warm and welcoming. I have watches a lot of shows and victims are always advised to be as pleasant as possible to their captor or torturer. 'Keep them talking' is a term I hear very often as it is a tactic to buying time – though I don't know what I am buying time for.

"How did you get in?", I ask her, still keeping my cool.

"I hacked Xavier's phone of course, and sent you the text telling you to come here. Then I broke in and waited for you to show up. It was quite easy.", she says with a laugh.

My heart sinks. If she hacked into Xavier's phone, then that means that Xavier and Louis are still waiting for me to arrive at the Cosmopolitan. I have no hope of getting out of this alive. '

Suddenly, an idea pops into my head. It's risky, but this is the moment for taking risks.

"It's a bit hot in here. May I turn on the air condition?", I ask her, already moving towards the remote which is kept near the TV stand.

Just as I come in contact with it, Beatrice yells out, making me jump.

"Don't try to play smart with me little miss.", she sneers. I know that Xavier has burglar sensors all over the house, hon. Do you really think that I am stupid?", she gets up, walking towards me.

"Of course not.", I soothe her. "I am the stupid one"

"Yes, you are. I can't believe that you actually thought that you could take my Xavier away from me. You're such a worthless little snake aren't you?"

"Yes, I am", I respond. I have to keep her talking. Maybe I'll be able to think of an idea.

Just at that moment, my phone begins to ring. I know that it is Xavier calling me. Before I have a chance to pick it up, Beatrice walks over and plucks my phone out of my pocket, then drops the phone on the floor and aims her gun. There is a loud bang as she shoots my phone.

"Xavier is mine.", she laughs manically, while waving the gun at me. "Do you hear that. HE IS MINE."

"Of course he is.", I say comfortingly. "I was stupid to think I could get in between you guys'...", I almost choke "...love."

"Yes. He loves me. He was going to marry me before you came on the scene. You're a man snatcher Miss Greene. You're a HOME WRECKER.", she yells, while pacing, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I apologize for wrecking your relationship – it will never happen again. Just let me go and I'll never get in your way again.".

Beatrice pauses for a while, as she considers it. Then she shakes her head.

"I can't do that. He loves you now, so he'll probably find you – he is very persistent that way. However, if you're dead, he'll be depressed for a while, but he'll eventually get over you." She giggles sickeningly. "Sorry girl, but you have to go."

She points the gun at me, and her finger curls around the trigger.

"Drop the gun, Beatrice."

We both stare in shock at the entrance of the room where Xavier is standing in the doorway.

"Xavier, what are you doing here?", Beatrice stammers in shock.

"When Candy didn't pick up her calls, I called Jordan, and he told me that she was at the house because she got a text from me, even though I didn't send her a text.", Xavier says, slowly walking towards Beatrice. "I knew instantly that it was you. stop this Beatrice. Louis is on his way with the cops. You're outnumbered. You can't win."

"You don't understand", she says, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm doing this for us. For love."

Xavier shakes his head. "I never loved you Beatrice. I know that you thought so as I child, and I am sorry for leading you on, but I honestly never knew how you felt."

"That's not true. You're only saying this because she is here." Beatrice swings the gun at me. "Once she is dead you'll love me."

Suddenly, in the distance, there is the unmistakable sound of sirens – the police have arrived.

"It's over Beatrice.", Xavier is in front of her now, and he places his hand on the gun. "You can't escape this. But I can help you. Just promise to leave Candy alone."

At the sound of my name, Beatrice looks at me, a look of fury in her eyes.

"YOU!", she yells. "This is all because of YOU. I don't care if I go to jail. You are going to die now."

And she swings the gun at me and fires.

I scream, at the same moment that Xavier drops to the floor, blood pooling from the wound in his stomach where the bullet hit him.

Xavier jumped in front of a bullet for me. To protect me.

I run to him and kneel by his side, cradling his head in my lap.

Beatrice screams. "I didn't mean to do it", she wails, as she drops the gun. She keeps screaming in a corner, while I keep stroking Xavier's gorgeous dark hair.

His eyes open faintly and train on my face for a few seconds.

"I love you", he mouths towards me, before his eyes close again.

I am oblivious to Beatrice's screams, oblivious to the police breaking down the door and arresting her, oblivious to the medics checking Xavier up. It is only when Louis hugs me as Xavier is rushed into the ambulance, only when I feel the warm moisture of tears falling from Louis' eyes that I allow myself to cry.