"Um...Hi is Samuel home?" I ask.

"Yes, but he's sleeping." She says and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're her aren't you?" She says and I'm even more confused.

"I'm sorry I don't und-"

"You're Tatum. The girl who can't leave Samuel alone. Well you better stop whatever you're doing because Sam and I are together now." She says.

"Together? Wait who are you?" I ask.

"I'm Sabrina. Samuel's fiance." She says and show me her ring. My ring.

My eyes laid upon the heart shaped amethyst and memories came flooding in. The day he gave me that ring, how amazing it felt. Then the bad memories came. The day I left. The day of the accident and now this. My heart aches at the thought of the situation.

He gave her my ring? They're together? They're getting married? This must have been his plan to get me back for lying to him. He wants to hurt me the way I hurt him.

How could I have fallen into this trap.

I look up at her. She's in a white robe. They...no.

My breathing becomes unstable. This can't be true.

Why did he do this?!
I can't breath, I can't stay here.

I feel a tear slipping down my cheek. I knew it was too good to be true.

I took one last look at her and the ring to make sure I wasn't hallucinating,but it's real. It's all real.

I turned on my heel and left. I got into my car and took a moment to process everything. He did this. He wanted to hurt me. Just when I thought things were finally going right. He played with me.

I wiped my tears away. I won't let this break me. I've been through way worse. You're stronger then this Tatum. This is beneath you. Fine Samuel, if this is how you want to write our story. This is how it'll be.

This is what happens when you're too nice with people. They use you and then throw you away like you're nothing but trash. All my life all I've ever tried to do was the right thing and look where that got me. Life has always been a bitch to me,but I won't take this shit anymore. I'm done being the nice guy. I'll show life what a bitch I can be.

I got my shit together and then drove off to a new beginning.

Next morning...

I asked my dad to pick me up and I told him that I don't want Samuel to be my personal driver anymore. So Eric will call someone else for me. Although, I didn't tell my father why. I don't need a lecture and I definitely don't need my mom to tell me those horrifying four little words "I told you so."

"Goodmorning Eric." I greet as I walk into my office.

"Goodmorning Miss Cornelius." He says.

I say down behind my desk and took a moment to take everything in.

Okay, honestly. It's hard to be a bitch.
I can't be mean to everyone. I'd say being a bitch isn't in my nature, but then I remember:"Oh yeah, my mom's a bitch."

The telephone rings and I pick it up immediately.

"Yes?"

"Miss Cornelius...uh- Samuel is here and he - " The call cuts off and Samuel and Eric bursts into my office door.

"I tried to tell him that he needs an appointment but-" Eric starts, but I cut him off.

"It's okay Eric." I nod and he leaves and closes the door behind him.

"Where were you Tatum? I was waiting for you and you're not answering my calls. I called your dad because I was worried, but he told me you drove with him." Samuel says.

Huh, him worried? He puts up a pretty good act.

"I just had a few things to do." I say vaguely.

"Why didn't you just call me? You know I would've come earlier if you needed me."

"Samuel sit down. You're making a big deal out of nothing. So how was your night after I left you." I ask him and watch him closely.

He sits down in front of me and says, "Same and always."

Same as always?! Okay, okay calm down.

"And you,what were you up to?"

"Nothing. Were you alone last night? You could've called me if you wanted company." I say.

"No, a few of the guys came over last night." He says simply.

A few of the guys. It amazes me how easy it is for him to lie to me.

"Are you sure?" I ask in hopes that he'll tell the truth. The truth about everything.

"Yes. Of course."

"I'm just asking because you seem really tired Samuel."

"Yeah. It was a heck of a night. You know how they are." He says and I nod with a smile.

I gave him the chance to tell me. I was hoping that maybe I was misunderstanding the situation.

"Can I see you later? I have to get back to work." I say and he nods.

He stands up from his seat and moves over to me. He pecks me on the lips and says goodbye. Even his kiss tastes bitter. I can't believe I fell for it. I fell for his lies,but I won't let this reach me.

I called Eric to my office and he immediately appeared at the door.

"Come in and close the door."

"Miss C-"

"Miss nothing. What did I tell you Eric? My name is Tatum."

"Okay sorry Tatum." He says and sits down opposite me.

"Eric. Let's talk."

"Talk? About what?"

I stand up from my office chair and move around the table. I sit halfway on my desk in front of Eric.

"About you." I say and he scans me up and down.

He clears his throat and looks at me straight in the eyes.

"What would you like to know?Was the information in my application not enough?" He asks.

"No it was enough, but there is one question I've been trying to figure out the answer to." I say.

"And what is that?"

"What is a handsome and smart 25 year old man like you doing here in Miami working as an assistant?" I ask.

"Handsome?-" He asks, but quickly cuts himself off.

"I just love traveling and I'm doing this just to pass time."

"Really? So you don't need this job. You're just doing it just because."

"You are correct Tatum, but I do enjoy working for you." He says and smiles.

"Do you Eric? Do you enjoy working under me?" I ask as I move closer to him.

His eyes darken and I know his mind is wandering now.

"Tatum I-I do enjoy working...under you." He stutters.

I stand up, rest my hands on the sides of his chair and lean over him, whispering into his ear," Liar, how could you enjoy it if you've never actually been under me?"

I back away a bit to look at his reaction.

His eyes are wide, shocked at how daring I am.

He was silent for a moment. I gave him a suggestive look and before I knew it he pulled me on top of him and his lips was on mine.

I didn't hesitate and kissed him back with full force.

"Tatum...wait." He says and pulls away.

"Aren't you with Samuel?"He asks.

"No I'm not." I say and attach my lips to his again.

"Wait...wait...but you were with him?"

I sigh, "Yes...I was, but not anymore."

"What happened?" He asks concerned.

I got off of him and sat on the sofa on the right side of my office.

"You just kissed me and now you want to talk about Sam?"

"Tatum. It's easy for me to read people and I know that something is not right. I would have loved to see where this all would have gone under different circumstances, but I'd rather you talk to me about your problems then have you release your anger in any other way. Tatum, you are an extremely attractive young woman and that's why I lost control for a moment, but I do really care for you and I don't think it would be healthy for you to get into a toxic sexual relationship with me. I care about you too much to let that happen." He says and once he's done speaking, I gather myself up and take in his words. He's right. Despite what Sam did, I don't think I would have been able to gone through with it.

"You're right. I'm sorry for coming on so strong-" I start, but he cuts me off.

"Don't apologize, to be honest I was quite enjoying it." He says and we both laugh.

Our laughter died down and he spoke, "Tatum what's wrong?"

I sigh, "I'm just pissed I guess. I'm pissed off at Sam. I'm pissed off at my mom, but most of all I'm just pissed off at myself."

"You're cute when you're angry."He says and I look at him pointedly.

"Okay that's besides the point. Why? What is it that makes you so angry?"He asks.

I can't believe I'm about to vent out my problems to my assistant who I almost had a sexual encounter with, but he's here and he seems to care so I might as well talk to him.

"Okay so last night I went to Sam because I was a bit lonely. So when I got there,a woman opened the door and she was standing there in Sam's robe. I didn't think anything of it at first,but then she was like hey we're getting married and I saw the ring, which was my promise ring that Sam gave me when we were younger. Sam and I have deep history, it's too much to get into now. Anyways this morning when he got here I gave him a chance to tell. I gave him two chance to just tell me, because I didn't want to believe that it was real. We just reunited after a long terrible journey, and what's worse is that his not only keeping this secret from me, but he lied to me as well." I elaborate.

"Did you ask him?"

"What?"

"Did you ask him if he has a fiancee?"

"No, I didnt, but I asked him if he was alone last night and he told me he was hanging out with the guys." I roll my eyes as I say the last part.

"You should have confronted him, what if you're misreading the situation?" Eric asks.

"How can I be misreading the situation?"I say frustratedly.

"How can you be sure that what she said is true?"

"She was at his house-"

"Tatum you'll never know unless you confront him."

I sit back into the sofa defeated. I know I have to, but I'm afraid of the answer.

"And your mum?"

"Hmm?"

"You said that you're passed at your mum as well."

"That's a story for another day." I shrug it off.

"Well I'll be here when that day comes." Eric says and stands up from the stool.

I do so too and nod.

"Thank you." I say.

"It's okay. Tatum I want you to know that if it is true and he is lying to you, which I doubt, but if it is true I'll be here for you." He says and I nod.

He pulls me into a hug and I return the hug. I really needed this. This helped more than I thought it would. When I approached him I really didn't think our encounter would end like this, but I'm happy it did.

He pulls away and looks at me.

"You're too precious for the amount of pain you receive. You're too precious for anything Tatum. I don't think Sam would let someone like you slip away." He says and I smile.

If only he knew the circumstances my life led me to. If only he knew about our history, he wouldn't be so confident.

Eric hugs me and exits my office.

I slump onto the sofa and sigh. What the hell is wrong with me. I can't believe I just tried it with Eric in my office. That's not me. That's not the type of person I am. I...I don't even know who I am anymore.

I wish that everything that has happened since I was in the accident could be a long nightmare and that I could wake up soon. My reality is a nightmare.

There's a knock on my door and I quickly collect myself.

"Come in." I say and sit upright.

"Dad?"

"Hello Tatum."

"What can I do for you?" I ask and stand up to sit at my desk.

" Tatum I honestly don't know how I feel about this..."

"What is it? Did something happen?" I ask concerned.

"No. I don't know. Lucas attempted to hang himself up in his jail cell." Dad says.

A bitter taste crawls into my mouth when I hear that man's name.

"Couldn't handle jail?" I ask and feel anger boiling up inside me, raging to come out at the thought of what that man took away from me.

"I don't know, but it's not just that. He requested for your acquaintance,but do not worry. I already told the police that it's complete madness and that you won't." My father says firmly.

"He wants to see me?" I ask confused.

"I've tried to talk to him, but he refuses to speak to me and says that he needs to talk to you."

"I don't understand. Why would he-"I cut myself off.

"I think I should see him."I say.

"Tatum no, you can't possibly face-"

"No dad. I will face him and I'll tell him exactly what I think about him."

"Tatum I don't think it's a good idea. Are you sure you're ready to see him again? You barely kept it together when you saw him at court."

"I know dad. I was grieving. I need this."

"Tatum-"

"Nothing you can say will change my mind. There's a lot I need to get off my chest."

"Fine, but call me if anything goes wrong."

"Dad-"

"Tatum I'm serious."

"Okay fine. I'll let you know if anything goes wrong." I assure my father.

What could go wrong anyways?