"So, as you see, I didn't send this in," I explained to to the principal at the school where I teach. Or where I used to teach unless they disregarded this resignation letter.

After the awkward non-double date dinner on Saturday with Ryan and Danielle, Jackson and I actually had a really enjoyable date of our own in our hotel room. Just like he promised.

We spent our last night away from the city relishing in the pleasure of each other's company. Jackson had taken me over and over again that night. And I definitely wasn't complaining. Sometimes it was fast and rough, like I liked it; and others it was slow and tender.

Something was different that night between us. It was as if we both knew that once we returned back to the city, things are going to be different. Not necessarily between us, but just different in general. I didn't know if it was because we were planning on telling Ryan, or because my job was at stake.

When I got dropped off to my apartment on Sunday evening, I immediately wanted to leave again. Just as I feared, my troubles would be waiting for me when I got back. There was a note from my mom on the table, which basically stated that I better not be running. And I also noticed my shattered cell phone was still on the carpet.

Jackson and I ended up stopping on the way home and picking up a new phone for me. I didn't turn it on until this morning. I knew that once I did, I would have probably ten or more messages from my mother.

"I see," Principal Morgan said, bringing my thoughts back to the current issue. "Well, we definitely don't want to lose you. Can we be sure this mistake wont happen again?" She asked with a firm tone.

I knew this whole mess was extremely unprofessional and I was completely embarrassed by it. Once I saw my mother, we were definitely going to have words. This was no big deal for her. For me...it was everything.

"I promise this won't happen again," I vowed.

Principal Morgan stood from her desk and offered her hand to me with a smile. "We'll see you in the fall, Miss Lewis."

"Thank you." I shook her hand as I sighed with relief. Bullet dodged. For now. I still had other issues to deal with.

As I left the school and started walking towards my car, I pulled out my cell phone to text Lanie. She had been worried about what was going to happen with this. We worked at the same school, and she was going to speak on my behalf if needed.

Me: Looks like I got a job in the fall :)

Her reply was instantaneous.

LanieCakes: Yes! I'm so happy you got it worked out. Victory drink later?

I'm glad she offered. With everything that happened over the weekend, I definitely needed to catch her up on some girl talk.

Me: Yes :) I'll text you where and when.

After I sent the message, I got an incoming call from Jackson. I smiled as I answered the phone and put it to my ear.

"Hello?"

"How'd it go?" He asked with concern. He had been just as worried as I was regarding this meeting. He offered to come with me this morning, and even though I appreciated the sentiment, I needed to do it on my own.

I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I unlocked and climbed inside my car. "It was a little awkward, but I'm so happy that I get to keep my job. I promised them that nothing like this would ever happen again. God, Jackson, I was so embarrassed in there. This whole thing was so unprofessional."

"It wasn't your fault, Princess."

"I know," I said as I started driving towards my mom's, "but it was my job and I didn't stop this from happening. So that makes me look bad, not her."

He chuckled on the other the end of the line. "I'm sure you won't let her get away with it. Let me guess, you're on the way there now?"

"Yep, and I'm definitely going to give it to her. I'm tired of all this drama and their precious merger. I really don't want to go through with this."

"Neither does Ryan," he said and that caught me off guard.

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah," he groaned and I knew he was probably stretching in bed. "He is smitten with Danielle. I think he's trying to figure it out."

"That means..."

"That's right, Princess. If he can figure out a way, you can live your own life."

Which means this thing with Jackson and I might be over. I knew he wasn't the relationship type. After all, our deal was to not catch feelings. I broke that and I can't get mad at him for doing what we agreed.

"Yeah, free to fuck anyone I want, right?" It came out a little harsher than I wanted, but I think I delivered.

"Princess..."

"Ryan's calling me," I interjected, "I'll talk to you later, Jackson. Thank you for calling to see how it went."

"Okay, call me after, please."

"I will," I promised before flipping over to Ryan. "Hey, Ry."

"Hey, how did it go?" He asked.

I told him the same thing. I told Jackson. That everything went well, and I was able to keep my job. I explained that I was on the way to see my mother to have some words with her.

"Yeah, she deserves it," he said with a laugh.

"Hey, Ryan, Jackson said you were trying to figure out a way out of the marriage. Is that true?"

"Yes. To be honest, I've fallen in love with Danielle. I haven't told her yet, so please don't mention anything. I want her to hear it from me. But don't worry, I'm not going to back out of the wedding unless I can find a way to make sure your parent's business is safe."

Yet again, Ryan had shocked me with his kindness. "You really are a good guy, Ryan. I honestly hope you can figure this out. Not only for me, but you and Danielle deserve to be together."

"Thank you, Anne," he said before we said our goodbyes.

I turned on my mother's street and took a deep breath after I pulled into the parking lot and got out of my car.

I walked up to the front door and hesitated before knocking. My mom answered the door just a few minutes later, and I didn't miss the look of surprise on her face.

"Harper, what are you doing here?" she asked.

I pushed inside her home and walked into the living room. "Surprised to see me? I don't see why after you left me twelve messages."

She shut the door before turning towards me and crossing her arms over her chest. "I was worried about you. I didn't know where you were."

I knew that was bullshit. If she was that worried about me, she would have called Ryan looking for me. She knew I didn't want to speak to her. Besides, judging by her messages and the note she left, she wasn't concerned at all. She was trying to make sure that I wasn't going to do anything stupid regarding the wedding. "I needed some space after the stunt you pulled. And I broke my phone."

"I don't want to argue about it anymore, Harper. What's done is done."

I smiled darkly and took great satisfaction in what I was about to say next. "Actually, Mother, what's done is not done."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked curtly.

"Ryan was able to work out something with his dad. So, it's no longer mandatory that I work for him. Which means, that I get to keep my job at school."

The complete and utter shock on her face was well worth the drive over here to do this in person. I originally was going to do it over the phone, and then I thought that I deserve to savor my victory.

"But they have already received your resignation."

I scoffed at her statement. "I managed to get that squared away. I also made sure that they knew nothing like this would ever happen again. So don't get any more ideas."

I started walking to the door and I stopped when she called out, "I hope you're happy, Harper."

With my hand on the door, I answered, "Oh, Mom. I'm fucking ecstatic."

When I got inside my car, I didn't feel like calling Jackson right now. Instead, I sent him a text to let him know that it went just how I wanted it to go, and that I would talk to him later. I told him I was going to meet Lanie right now.

I also sent Lanie a text telling her where to meet me, and about thirty minutes later, we were sitting at a bar enjoying some drinks.

"I wish I could have seen the look on her face." Lanie laughed as she took a drink if her beer.

"Yeah, it was totally worth it. She really thought she didn't do anything wrong," I stated.

"Even I'm surprised by the way she's acting. That is definitely not the same woman who used to sneak us into R-rated movies when we were teens."

She was definitely right about that. I didn't notice a change in my mother until this whole arranged marriage situation began. But that doesn't excuse her from doing the things that she did."

"So, are you going to tell me what's really bothering you?" Lanie asked.

I sighed at her question. There's no point in trying to deny it. "Ryan said he's in love with Danielle and he's trying to figure out a way for us to get out of the marriage and for my parents to keep their business. Or, at least a way where they don't get screwed."

I had called Lanie when I was in Ithaca and told her about Ryan and Danielle. It had been such a major bombshell, that I couldn't keep it to myself. Luckily, Lanie was the Queen of Secrets.

"Well, that's good, right? You've wanted to get out of this arranged marriage since the beginning."

"I know, and you're right. I have been wanting to get out of the arranged marriage. But..."

"But you are worried about what becoming an official single woman will do to your arrangement with Jackson. Because you love him."

"Yes. I'm worried that if there's an actual possibility of a future, he's going to end it," I said quietly.

"Maybe, maybe not. But Harper, if he already broke his own rules by being with you more than once through this whole arrangement, don't you think it's possible that he may also want something more?

I knew she had a point, but I also knew Jackson. I knew that he cared about me and I definitely cared about him. But the thing that terrified me the most about Ryan being able to cancel this wedding, was losing Jackson forever.