A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop. Also, this next week's chapters are being posted early since I will be going to multiple events this Halloween weekend. Thank you for understanding, and I hope that you all have a good evening/afternoon/morning. Also, happy early Halloween ^-^!

Softly, (f/n) breathed in and out as she thought about that awful conversation between Kaleb and Tristan. "I didn't see them; I didn't have to." She crossed her arms and stared ahead at her door. "Their voices were enough. What they said was enough." A shiver ran up her spine, and her hands instinctively tightened their hold on her upper arms. Lee remained sitting on the bed. His forearms were on his thighs as he listened. "Anita gave Kaleb a picture of me ... a compromising one."

Such news hadn't been new to him. If it wasn't a picture, it was something else to bribe another person. This time, though, it was different because he wasn't trying to kill (f/n). She had sworn to him that she wasn't like Anita, and he knew that she wasn't lying. Though if for some reason, she had managed to fool him out of nowhere, she would suffer grave consequences. Her death wouldn't be quick by any means. Doubtful that would happen, however, he felt his dislike of Anita grow all the more, same for Kaleb.

"She took it when I wasn't paying attention. It was after work. I was exhausted." She stared at the floor as though it would erase the picture. "I had undone a few buttons on my shirt to be more comfortable. She gave that to him." Another shiver traveled up her spine. Not the most compromising picture he's seen, but he was ... relieved that it wasn't something worse.

"Tristan's comments made it worse. He said that 'he wouldn't mind making me that exhausted.'" Her hands gripped her skin tighter, and she eventually turned around to sit back down on the bed. That time, she didn't sit close to Lee, and he could tell that she wanted to curl up into a ball and hide at the memory. "If I hadn't heard him, I would've ... I would've ..." She shook her head lightly, and Lee didn't respond; he waited for her to continue.

"Well, he erased the pictures of all those women. I knew he was acting, but if I hadn't known that, I might've fallen into his trap. And, Anita wouldn't have gotten me out. She'd just watch." She brought her knees up to her chest. "It made me feel so sick. Even now, I feel sick about it."

Was there anything else? She set the note aside after she read it. His right hand rested on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. (F/n) assumed it was an attempt to console her. He did remove his hand shortly after, though, and she released a light sigh in the process before she nodded.

"Kaleb mentioned his parents and them being happy about what Tristan was doing. They know each other through their parents. Anita never met Tristan at a bar. Otherwise, she would've given Tristan the picture, not Kaleb." She tightened her fingers around her knees. "I should've been more suspicious about Anita not mentioning him before now." Lee was kind enough not to mention that she should've listened to him from the start.

Sitting up straight, Lee began to write another note. Curious, she looked over, but he soon passed the note to her. I think I know what they're planning given all of the pieces and Tristan's involvement. Now, it was her turn to sit up straighter, and she watched him write more down. Kaleb mentioned you working for his company if you wanted, but I doubt he wants that. He's still the scumbag that he always has been based on what I heard from the conversations between Anita and you. I also think that his parents don't want someone who has badmouthed their son in their company. Pieces were coming together for her now too.

"So, you think they brought in Tristan so that I'll want to work in his company?" That would make sense and would align more with Kaleb's personality. Not to mention that Kaleb and his parents probably didn't want to have an employee that hated them because they kicked her out of her own business.

Not just that. If you were to fall in love with Tristan, there's the chance that you'd want to leave the café and work with him willingly. It'd make things easier for Anita and Kaleb. They'd never have to get rid of you from the café, and they'd never have to disclose their secret to you. That also made sense. She'd be living a lie and never know any better. In fact, she already had been living a lie since apparently her dream with Anita only had been a dream. Anita was willing to toss her out to bring Kaleb in. He was the successor to an investment company, and with that kind of investment ...

Again, her heart ached. A bitter smile fell upon her lips. "Anita's selling me out for recognition and money. I ... She played me good, didn't she?" Her (e/c) optics glanced over to Lee, and he nodded.

But, you know the truth now. You know how low Anita is willing to go to benefit herself. Personally, I don't understand why you won't just kill Kaleb and her. Of course, you'll need to plan it properly, but it still would be more satisfactory in my opinion. She couldn't hear the tone in his voice or see his expression, but she had a feeling that it was casual based on how he worded his statements.

Given all the comments he had made and what he was capable of, she had no doubt that he had killed a lot in his past, and she was fortunate enough to be on his good side. Perhaps, she shouldn't place her trust in a mannequin who had murdered many people, but he had gone through the same thing she was going through now, and he was the only one who had information and was willing to help her. He was the only one who could listen in without being suspected.

"I don't want satisfaction, but I don't want her to get her way either. Same for Kaleb and Tristan. I want them to know that I knew what they were planning and that I wasn't a fool to play into it." Her legs lowered, and she intertwined her fingers on her lap while her thumbs rubbed against each other in an effort to ease her mind a bit. "I want to show them that I don't have to depend on them to have a future."

You want to win. (F/n) supposed that was one way of phrasing it. It was her life, not theirs to mess with. She wished to stand tall and not let them succeed; she desired them to lose. By no means would it be a happy win. There would be no dancing or cheering. Instead, she'd remain hurt, but they'd know that she didn't let that control her life. Anita would see the consequences of her actions, and she'd be left without her help to suffer them.

"I want them to live with what they've done, and I don't want to have to pay any more prices for that. I already live with my best friend's betrayal; I already live with her crushing our dream of running a café together." Her fingers tightened around each other, and she hung her head a bit. "And, I think that I know a way to stop them." (F/n) locked her gaze with Lee. He remained quiet, curious as to what she might suggest. "I'll show Anita that Kaleb is only using her. I'll break them apart. Then when she turns to me for support, I'll leave her."

Slowly, (f/n) sat up straight again. "I have my degree in business management. I've set up advertisements, managed sales, everything needed to make this place successful, except for the food. It may be hard, but I can run a business again. Maybe, it won't be a café, but something that I can do on my own." She looked ahead to the wall and mustered a tiny smile. "I have my family too. They'll help if I need it. They helped with this café, and they'll understand once I tell them what happened." Her smile faded. "But for now, I'll need to act until I have proof against Kaleb."

Gradually, a smile touched his lips that she couldn't see. Take what Anita loved most and leave her alone afterwards. It certainly would leave an impact. Kaleb also would lose his tie to the café. Tristan would look like a fool, and his failure to get (f/n) might create a wedge between Kaleb and him. That might ruin their business ties too. But, it did create risks. Kaleb and his family might come after you.

"If I killed him, they'd get suspicious and might come after me too. At least this way, it's legal, and he looks the fool. Besides," she sat up tall, and her expression was determined, "let him come. There are other investment companies, and I may not even need them. I'm not going to stand by and let him ruin my life."

Now, his smile grew. He chuckled too before he looked to his lap. Lee shook his head a little. Naturally, he still preferred killing his victims in the end, but her method did sound satisfying in its own way. In fact, how she carried herself presently caused him to admire her. She rose from the ashes, and she looked beautiful.

Very well. I'll be your eyes and ears where you can't. And, I'll be here the entire time. This path is going to be rough, but you know that already. You've felt that already. Lee rested his hand on top of her head. His eyes weren't on her, but she appreciated his words. He knew what she was going through, and he wouldn't leave her alone and return to his old ways of tormenting her. Out of an enemy, she gained a friend. It was bizarre, and she still needed time to process it. But after tonight, he was all she had in this. She couldn't tell her parents, not yet anyway. Otherwise, Anita's parents would become aware. Then, Anita herself. That would ruin the plan, and she wanted it to succeed.

At the bottom of the note, though, there was another line. No doubt she was surprised by it. By the way, you look stunning tonight, and that dress suits you well. Lee removed his hand and stood up before he headed for the bedroom door. He tossed another note to her. I'll be downstairs if you need me.

"Lee," she called out, and he glanced over his shoulder. "... Thank you. I didn't expect this from you ... after everything you did." Her hands tightened around the note. "We won't go back to that, will we?" Lee faced her completely now, and a small smile was on his lips. He shook his head before he turned and left.