** Third Person **

"His name is Damon. They were having lunch and got into an argument." Mike said moving his keys from one hands to the other while he finished explaining the earlier events to his boss.

Nickolas placed a finger on his forehead. "Did he hurt her?"

"Not physically. But they had an argument. Sh-she was crying." He said clearing his throat awkwardly.

"What did he say to her?" He snarled moving his finger over his temple.

"I'm not sure. But it was about Kaden. He thought I was working for him." Mike said. "He acts and thinks like a kid. He doesn't know when to talk or when to keep his mouth shut."

"Well he's gonna have to learn how to keep it shut, or he'll get himself in trouble." He said as he felt his irritation increase.

If she cried, it's because he said something that hurt her. The last thing she needs is someone being stupid enough to push her limits, when her situation requires patience. But like Mike said, that little fucker doesn't seem to know when to keep his mouth shut or when to open it.

"Do we need to do something about him?" Mike asked.

"No. He may be stupid but he's harmless." He said pushing his rising anger back inside. "So, don't do anything. For now."

Mike nodded as a knock came from the door before it opened. Sean walked in with a tablet in his hand.

"I got things for you, Nickolas." He said.

"Thank you, Mike." Nickolas said and the man nodded before walking out.

Sean waited until the man walked out to turn to his boss.

"I got things about Kaden." He said closing the door.

"New?"

"Yep. There was a woman with him last night." Sean said pacing as his fingers moved on the tablet's screen.

Nickolas looked at him feeling his anger coming back. "I said 'new'."

Sean raised his eyebrows at his friends' obvious anger but continued. "Well this woman was also meeting him in hotels here."

"And he took her to Italy?" He asked.

"No. She joined him last night." Sean said before letting out a scoff. "That son of a bitch."

"Who is she?"

Sean scrolled down the screen. "Samantha Wilson."

"Samantha." Nickolas said with a shake of his head enticing his friends' curiosity.

"You know her?"

He nodded with a displeased look on his face. "Maya's best friend."

"Are you sure it's the same Samantha?" Sean asked stopping all movement scrutinizing his friend's face.

"I don't believe in coincidences like this." Nickolas spoke and Sean could practically see the wheels turning in his head. "Tell Matteo to get me pictures."

Sean nodded as his fingers moved on the screen. "So, Kaden's sleeping with his wife's best friend. Why do you care about what he does?"

"I don't care about what he does, as long as it doesn't affect Maya."

"Maya. Maya. Maya." He groaned dropping on a chair and throwing the tablet to the side.

Nickolas fought a smile back as he saw his friend close his eyes with a dramatic sigh.

"You know if you've finally decided to unfreeze that cold heart of yours, I'll support you." Sean smiled placing a hand on his chest.

"Also see if you can find anything out of the ordinary about Damon Wilson." Nickolas said dodging his friend's questions as usual.

"Who the fuck is that?" He asked loudly. "Wait. Let me guess. It has something to do with Maya."

"He's her childhood friend." He said standing up. "Let's go."

Sean stood up shaking his head. They both walked out of the office before Sean spoke again.

"So, if I understand this whole situation and your behavior. From now on, what Maya says goes right?"

He was met with silence.

"So, when am I officially meeting her?" He pressed. "Frieda met her."

Nickolas ignored him again walking toward his car. "Is Matteo already at the club? You know you don't have to this meeting, so don't start anything there."

Sean kissed his teeth in annoyance at Nickolas' reluctance to answer his questions. "Yes, he is. And I won't start anything. So, you're not gonna tell me anything about Maya?" Sean asked.

"There's nothing to tell."

Sean raised an eyebrow at that answer. "Does she know who you are?"

"I told her." Nickolas stated.

"And?"

"She thought I was joking." He said earning a chuckle from Sean.

"Well at least, she can't say that you didn't tell her." He uttered. "You're always secretive, and I'm used to it. But I need to know about Maya. I want to meet her."

"Why?"

"Why not? I'll be nice." Sean smirked, knowing well that "being nice" wasn't one of his strengths.

"I don't think so. But I'll think about it." He smiled lightly slowing down as another man approached them. "Ortiz."

Ortiz nodded at both men. "Boss, I think we may have a little problem."

"Problem?"

"The guy you sent there is getting way too comfortable with the Colombos. His name is Kaden, I think." Ortiz explained crossing his arms over his chest.

"I know. That's why I sent him there." Nickolas stated earning a confused look from the man.

Ortiz looked from Sean to his boss. "Boss, by saying comfortable, I meant that he could be siding with those motherfuckers."

"I know." Nickolas said again confusing the man even more.

"You're just gonna let him live after that?" Ortiz asked, knowing that nobody lived to see another day after turning their back on Nickolas.

"Not a chance."

Ortiz let out a small breath before speaking again. "Then what?"

"I don't trust the Colombos. I want to know what they have in mind. And that little bitch's gonna help us find out." He said and Ortiz straightened his back, obviously liking the answer.

"Okay. But, don't you already have men infiltrate their circle?"

"Yes. But I want Kaden to become the Colombos' target." He said unlocking his car. "I'm not trusting Kaden with my business, he isn't in charge of anything. He's just a pawn."

"So how long?"

"We'll see. Get in." He commanded before getting in the car.

** Maya's POV ** 

"I thought you were supposed to go see Kaden. What are you still doing here?" I winced when I heard my mother's angry as soon as I passed through the door.

I groaned lightly before closing the front door of my parents' house. I was hoping that she wouldn't be here when I come. She's almost never here and she had to be here one of the only time I was really wishing she wasn't.

"I came to see my dad." I said turning around to face her as I put my keys in my purse.

"You didn't answer my question. Why aren't you in Italy?"

"I didn't go." I simply said and she looked at me hardly pressing her lips together.

"Why not?" She asked in a calmer voice, but I know she was just trying to stop herself from exploding.

"Because I didn't want to go." I said trying to walk past her.

She angrily grabbed my wrist yanking toward her. "At what game are you playing at, Maya?"

I looked into her eyes trying to yank my wrist from her hold. "You're hurting me."

"I'll do more than hurt you if you don't get your head straight. What makes you think you can just stay here after he asked you to go." She snapped tightening her hold on me. "Do you want us to lose everything?"

"I wanted to stay here." I said into her eyes.

"It's not about what you want, Maya." She said as I tried to pull my hand out of her hold.

"It's about what you want."

"Yes, it is. Like I said, I didn't want to go." I hissed forcing my hand out of her hold and she looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"What is wrong with you?" She hissed. "Is it Sam that is putting those things in your head? I told you she had a bad influence on you. You two are not from the same class."

"She's my friend. Damon and she are the only ones I have, because of you."

She took a step forward and I could practically feel the heat radiating off her skin as she stood in front of me. "Watch your tone. I'll deal with you later."

With that, she turned around and walked toward the stairs. I let out a small sigh of relief before walking on the opposite direction.

And as usual, I was greeted by Christine's animated voice, complaining about God knows what.

I stopped by the entrance of the living-room silently watching as she paced in front of my dad rambling about something.

"And then she had the audacity to tell me that she would call the police. The woman must be crazy, because she was the who continued driving after the light turned red." She said and I bit on my lower lip to keep myself from laughing.

Of course, every time she got angry about something was because she went behind the wheel. She would always argue about something on the road.

I shifted my gaze to my father to find a small smile on his face as his eyes followed her movements.

"People have no respect and she stayed there talking about people like me always causing her trouble on the road. I should have punched that bit-" She stopped when she looked up to find me standing there.

I moved closer giving her disapproving look. "Watch your language, young lady." I said moving closer. "You're always complaining about something."

"It's not my fault." She said as I stood in front of her.

"It never is." I kissed her cheek before facing my dad to place a kiss on his forehead. "Hello, father."

"How was the appointment?" I asked and my father raised both his eyebrows making me gasp. "He moved both of his eyebrows." I laughed and Christine nodded.

"The new doctor seems to be more effective." She grinned.

I laughed as my father did the movement again before looking up at her. "New doctor?"

"Didn't I tell you? His doctor has been changed." Christine informed.

"But I took him to the appointment two weeks ago and it was still the same guy." I said turning back to look at my father.

"I know. It was changed after that."

"Oh." I nodded sitting down before grabbing my father's hand. "Why is that?"

"I'm not sure. They just changed him. But the new doctor's method is quite different. I think your father likes it." She smiled looking down at him.

I grinned when I saw a small smile stretch on his face.

"That's good. I'm gonna have to meet him then, on his next appointment, so I can meet him." I said and she nodded.

Kaden was the one who recommended the other one, but if the new doctor's method is more effective and it seems to be, then the rest doesn't really matter.

"I'll go prepare lunch." Christine said and I nodded as she walked out of the living-room.

"I'm happy to see you." I smiled kissing his cheek before moving behind him. "Come on. Let's go get some air." I said and started to pushing his wheelchair toward the garden.

I opened the glass door and slowly pushed him out and walked a few steps before stopping him in front the table. I sat down facing him. I grabbed his hand slowly running my fingers over his knuckles.

"You know. I made a new friend." I said as he just looked at me. "His name is Nickolas. He's really nice." I said and the corners of his lips turned up a little. "He's a little secretive, but that's a good thing." I said and he briefly raised an eyebrow at me making me chuckle. "Show off."

The first time he moved his lips to smile or frown, he kept moving them for days nonstop. So, I wouldn't be surprised he would do the same with his eyebrows.

"He's Kaden's boss too." I said and he raised both his eyebrows this time making me roll my eyes with a smile.

Real show off.

"I can't wait for you to be okay again." I said placing my hand on his. "And you're going to be. I'm sure of it."

****

A week.

Sam was gone for a week and she just got back today. And what surprised me is that she called me from the airport when she got back because she wanted to meet up. So, I just decided to go to her house.

So, her I was, sitting on her bed, watching her unpack all the things she bought there. And the more I watched her unpack the more I wondered how she found the time to shop this much.

"I didn't want to worry you." She said explaining why she didn't tell me about her travelling, and I just stared at her.

"You still should have told me." I said. "You know Kaden is there."

"I know, but what were the chances of me seeing him." She said with shrug before opening another suit case. "Did you talk to him?" She asked pulling some more things out.

I nodded becoming more confused all the things she had. "Yes. A few days ago, from my mom's phone."

"Why would he call you from your mother's phone?"

"I don't know. He keeps saying that he can't reach me, which I don't understand." I said watching her as she keeps taking clothes and things out. "You went to work or to shop?"

"What? You thought I would never shop in Italy just because my parents are not as rich as yours." She said taking out a red gown.

I raised my eyebrows at her tone. "That's not what I meant. I just thought you went to supervise your boss' show."

And logically speaking, she must have been saving for a long time now, to buy these much clothes in Italy. And they look expensive.

"So, what's going on with you?" She suddenly asked and I looked up at her.

"Nothing new. I just stay home all day." I said playing with the hem of my dress.

"You've done nothing since Kaden left? I thought you would see that as an opportunity." She said looking at me from the corner of her eyes.

"To do what?" I asked looking up at her.

She shrugged. "I don't know."

I wanted to tell about my classes with Frieda, about my shooting lessons or even about Nickolas, but the fact that she so easily told Damon about Kaden at her parents' anniversary stopped me.

"Isn't it weird that Kaden's calls don't go through on your phone?" She asked and I looked at her raising my eyebrows.

"I'm honestly not trying to figure out what the problem is. I don't want it fixed."

"But since he left we haven't been hanging out at all. I thought we would see each other more with his absence." She said. "Or what? Do you have new friends?"

"No. But you're the one who left without telling me." I said trying to avoid her questioning.

"Why won't you leave him if you don't want him? Let him be with someone who would want him."

What is she talking about?

She must have noticed my look because she cleared her throat before speaking again. "What I mean is that he hurts you and I don't want to see you hurt, you're my best friend." She moving closer to sit beside me.

"Everything's gonna be fine." I smiled as she grabbed my hand.

"I just want the best for you. You deserve it." She smiled. "And I brought you something." She squealed before standing up.

I smiled as I watched her go to the suitcase to pull out a small box from the back. She walked back to her bed before handing it to me. I took it before opening it by pulling at the ribbon.

Inside was a thin silver chain and in the middle sat a heart with a shining pearl right in the middle of it, surrounded by a thin line of gold. I gasped taking out with a big smile.

"Sam. It's beautiful." I said. "You shouldn't have."

"Oh yes, I have to." She said smiling. "Turn around, let me put it on you."

I did and she grabbed it from me before placing the chain around my neck and securing it.

"Don't ever take it off."

"Okay?" I chuckled turning back to look at her. "I won't take it off unless it's absolutely necessary."

"I'm serious Maya. Keep it on you at all time. It would really mean a lot." She said so seriously that I could help but nod.

She kept her eyes on it looking at it weirdly and if I didn't know better, I would say that the look in her eyes was a look of envy. But why would she be envious of a necklace she gave me herself? It would be ridiculous.

She looked back at me and silently stood up to go back to her suitcase.

I looked down at the necklace with a small smile.

*****

It was already night time when I walked out of Samantha's house. It was obvious that she was happy about her trip. I've never seen her so enthusiastic, but not once did she talk about her job. She only told me about the fun things she did.

And I was still wondering how she found the time.

I got in the car thanking Mike before he closed it and went to the driver's seat.

"This is for you. It's from Mr. Orsini." He said handing me brown envelope and I looked at it curiously. "And he wants me to take you to him. If you're okay with me."

He does?

"Okay." I nodded trying my best to keep my eagerness before taking the envelope from him.

I eyed the envelope before opening it without waiting for a second. I pulled out what I stayed paralyzed as I looked down at the pictures in my hands. 

Clear pictures of Sam and Kaden in Italy. Some of them were taken outside and others were taken in a hotel room, both naked.

So that's what this is about. She has a relationship with him.

I placed the pictures on my lap as questions started rushing in my head. I closed my head and took a deep breath.

How long has it been going? Was the first question I asked myself.

The weird thing is that I didn't feel any anger. I can't even say that I care if he had a relationship with someone else.

But Sam?

Why would she talk to me like she cared and spend most of her time cursing him and crying because of me, when she was going behind my back like that?

So, all this time, she was pretending to be angry. She was pretending to be sad. She was pretended when she said she hated him.

Of course, she was. I thought looking at a picture where you can clearly see her smiling brightly at him. Him, on the other hand, had his usual expression.

Sam.

I clenched my teeth before throwing the pictures on the side and buried my face in my hands as the hurt took place. I didn't try to stop the tears from streaming down my face as I ripped the necklace she gave me off my neck.

She must have bought with his money, like everything else.