-Maddox's POV-

The sun shined through the grey curtains onto Maddox's bed, it alerted him of the time instead of his alarm- that he turned off three times already. He rolled out of bed and got up feeling revitalized, his body didn't ache like it usually would when he got no sleep. His head didn't have that terrible ringing after he'd bolt out of bed with nightmares, after a long time he finally felt relaxed enough to jump into the shower and get ready for work.

Maddox swiped his hand across the mirror that was fogged up from the steam of the hot shower he just had, he gazed at his appearance and noticed the remarkable change that sleep provided for him. Maddox regarded the small glimmer on his hand caused by the ring Blair had given him so generously. He had his doubts in the beginning over whether or not the ring could actually help him, but he had completely forgotten that he even had it on when he went to sleep last night because of what happened with Blair.

Maddox still clearly remembered the expression on her face when she had woken up and acted like she had seen a ghost. Blair's crystal blue eyes which were always vibrant of life had turned cold and distant like she hadn't recognized him, and that bothered him.

Maddox quickly shaved and got dressed because he was determined to ask Blair what happened last night over breakfast. He eagerly left his room and arrived the kitchen but it was empty. There was no noise, no laughter or that light that filled the room whenever Blair was around.

"Good morning, sir," Tony appeared from the office room that was under construction. "Hope you slept well."

"Good morning, Tony," said Maddox fleetingly. He sauntered into the living room and expected to find Blair on the couch with her laptop, but yet again no one was there.

Tony moved around him. "What are we looking at?" He asked jestingly.

"I was just... Nothing," mumbled Maddox.

Tony's brow arched. "Looking for a woman with big blue eyes."

Maddox strode past Tony's smug smile and prepared the coffee machine to brew himself a hot cup of expresso for this lovely morning although Blair wasn't here.

"I can tell you where she is, if you're curious that is?" asked Tony.

"I'm not curious," Maddox shrugged off.

Tony rolled his eyes. "She told me to tell you that she will be working from her shop today," he informed.

Maddox wondered if she left because she didn't want to talk to him about yesterday. "Will she be returning this afternoon?"

"I'm not sure," said Tony. "Would you like me to ask her?"

"No," Maddox bit his lip.

"You know you can just call her," suggested Tony.

Maddox froze because he didn't even have Blair's number. "It's fine," he told Tony. "Let's just go."

Tony opened the door and they entered the elevator together to head to the meeting room where all the staff for the hotel had gathered. Maddox wondered what type of day laid ahead of him without Blair around his space, it occurred to him how normal it got with having her around that it almost seemed strange without her and that he craved her presence, he could almost picture her bursting through the doors with a smile or with a curious expression. Maddox figured these weren't ordinary feelings and that he should control them before they control him.

-Blair's POV-

Blair stood behind the counter at her shop as pedestrians walked past the two glass doors. She was thankful that no one walked in because she wasn't in the mood to talk right now. Blair had escaped from Maddox's apartment very early this morning because she had no strength to face him after what happened last night. She had let her guard down and when Maddox had touched her she was sure he felt her magic, although he didn't know what he felt and probably described it as a surge of heat, but whatever it was he was sure to feel suspicious of her.

Blair grumbled, when suddenly, a gust of wind passed by her. "I'm not in the mood," she complained towards the uninvited guest.

"Oh, that's upsetting to know," said a raspy faded voice. "Tell me what happened, little witch."

Blair faced a woman dressed in an evening gown with expensive pearls hung around her neck and they dangled from her ears like droplets of rain. The woman's hair was tied up in an intricate chignon but it was slightly ruffled like she fell asleep on it. But aside from the melancholy veil over her body, the most horrific sight was the bullet wound in her chest that still had blood staining the remarkable gown. Blair's grandma communicated a lot with the dead when she was still alive, Blair had done the same as well but instead of her contacting them, the ghosts and spirits would somehow always find her.

"It's getting hard to keep lying," she told the ghost because for some reason it was easy talking to a ghost about problems.

The woman draped herself on the lounge chair. "Then stop," she advised simply. "One thing I've learned is lies get you killed," she pointed towards the gun-shot wound. "It's not worth it."

"I can't tell my secret," said Blair. "If my own parents couldn't accept my powers, how can a complete stranger understand?"

"You underestimate the heart," said the ghost. "If that person truly cares about you they will accept you."

"I wouldn't say he cares about me," scoffed Blair.

The woman tilted her head. "Then show him something he has no choice but to believe you."

"That's easier said than done," retorted Blair.

The woman fixed her pearl necklace. "I think it would be nice to have someone who knows all my secrets," she said fondly. "That way I always have someone to come back to."

"What's your name?" asked Blair.

"Mary-Anne," the ghost answered.

"How'd you pass away, Mary?"

Mary-Anne rolled her eyes. "My secrets killed me," she answered vaguely and then she vanished from the store.

"Thank you for the advice, Mary-Anne," mumbled Blair when a group of girls wandered into the store to buy some vintage accessories for a fair price.

"Excuse me," a voice called out for Blair.

"Yes," Blair answered and looked up from her book and found an attractive young lady with freckles sprinkled across her pointed nose and rosy cheeks, she had greenish gold eyes that resembled an elegant feline, her hair was cut to her shoulders which still looked freshly styled and it was the colour of auburn caramel almost copper.

"I'm looking for a gift," she said. "And I needed some help."

"Of course," said Blair. "Do you know what you're looking for?"

The woman contemplated for a moment. "A watch, maybe?"

"Great choice," said Blair. "Is this for a boyfriend?"

"No," she enthusiastically denied. "It's for my brother."

"Oh," said Blair before the led the girl towards a small rack that displayed a very keen selection of wrist watches. The woman took her time and observed the display, she pulled them out one by one and tried them on herself, and then, she would put them down.

Blair noticed the clean spirit this young girl walked into her shop with, this aura had purity but sadness amongst that smile. She wondered what the girl had locked up in her heart that no one ever had the chance to see.

"I would recommend this one," said Blair as she pointed to the vintage classical watch that had a dark black leather strap, a pearl white dial and golden bezel that continued around the back of the watch. "It's suitable for older brothers."

The girl's eyes widened. "How'd you know it was for an older brother?"

"A watch is a gift for someone much more mature and responsible," explained Blair. "I'm guessing your brother was very protective of you."

"He is," she answered. "Always was. I'll buy it then."

"Of course," Blair cleaned up the display and headed towards the register counter. "If you don't mind me asking because I don't think I've seen you here before, how'd you come across my shop?"

"I'm visiting my brother who moved just here," she answered. "I didn't want to meet him empty handed so I went around town looking for a gift. And then I saw your shop, it gave a warm feeling and those girls looked like they were having a lot of fun here." She pointed towards the chirpy group of friends.

Blair smile broadened. "Well, thank you for coming by," she handed the girl the receipt. "Since this is your first time here, I will wrap your gift and box it up nicely for you."

"Really, thank you," she answered. "I'm Melinda, by the way," she stuck her hand out towards Blair.

"I'm Blair, keeper and owner of this shop." She accepted Melinda's outstretched hand when a warmth wrapped around Blair; it warned her that this person was harmless and safe but outgoing and youthful. Blair got to wrapping the watch as Melinda sauntered off to explore more of the shop.

"You have a beautiful collection," she said from the necklace display.

"Thank you," said Blair. "I made some of them myself."

"I've always wanted to craft jewelry," said Melinda brightly.

"It's not that hard... unless you're putting a spell on them," mumbled Blair.

"Hmm?" puzzled Melinda.

"It's not hard at all," Blair came around the table with the wrapped gift and handed it to Melinda, when she noticed something strange; a blueish white mist surrounded a delicate pink opal pendant necklace. Blair saw the opal wink in the sun like it was calling for Melinda's touch again.

"Thank you for wrapping the gift," said Melinda.

"No worries," said Blair as she grabbed the necklace and the magic swirled around Blair's hand urging her to give it to Melinda. "Excuse me," Blair opened the gold clasp and politely fastened it around Melinda's neck.

"What's this for?" asked Melinda.

"A gift for visiting my shop," said Blair. "It's a pink opal."

"Opal?" Melinda viewed the pendant with curiosity.

"It will help you heal what you carry in your heart," said Blair.

Melinda's eyes which looked remarkably green in the sun turned sad. "Er- how did you-" she stuttered with the words that failed her.

"I hope your brother loves the watch," said Blair. "And it was nice meeting you, Melinda."

"Thank you," muttered Melinda in awe. "I hope to see you again."

"I'll be here," said Blair, but then, she remembered that she had to return this evening to finish the renovations. Melinda left the shop and immediately more customers strode inside and the quiet store became noisy unlike Blair's thoughts that kept winding back to Maddox.

-Maddox's POV-

Maddox returned from the office meeting with the hotel staff managers, everything was running smoothly like he had expected and that was one of the many reasons he purchased Magnolia Hotel. It was a quiet resort with no frenzied paparazzi or scandalous celebrities like his Steele Hotel back in New York. Maddox returned to the office and took a seat behind a desk that had piled up work from the last couple of weeks, he hadn't really paid much attention since he was so busy with the renovations and Blair. He had been trying to get back to work but he had only dipped his finger into the pile that needed attention. On top of that, Mr. Ainsley had invited Maddox over for dinner.

Maddox had no desire to go to such an event, but Mr. Ainsley had stayed at the Magnolia hotel for a handful of weeks now, so Maddox thought of it as a courtesy to agree to dinner. Maddox had approximately six hours to finish work and then get ready.

"Get your mind off Blair and concentrate," he scolded himself.

-Blair's POV-

Blair had been running back and forth at her shop that she didn't even realize the time until the sky outside had turned bright shades of orange, pink and lilac; it was exactly six o'clock in the afternoon. Customers had been coming to her shop nonstop and she quite enjoyed the distraction, but now it was time to face what she avoided all day.

But then she realized that she didn't need to return today, the renovations were almost done and Tony could just let her know when all the heating and lighting in the office was completed. That may seem unprofessional but she couldn't meet Maddox tonight, her heart didn't have the strength to tell another blatant lie.

Blair packed up her purse and was just about to lock up the shop to head home, when she noticed a dark figure whoosh by her side. Blair jolted from surprise and inspected the back room but nothing was there. Blair stood silently and waited for just a moment and the dark figure returned like she had expected. She knew it wasn't a ghost because it didn't have that soiled and dim aura, the magic she felt was ancient and not of this realm. She hurriedly opened the back window and summoned her magic around her body, so the spirit could find her easily. A tough gust of wind tousled Blair's hair and she heard strong flaps behind her, she turned to find the same crow with those peculiar red eyes.

"Hello," she greeted the crow. "Alright buddy, why do you keep visiting me?" She asked the crow but she didn't really expect an answer because these spirits always spoke in riddles. The crow's head tilted to the side and he showed her a clearer view of his crimson red eye, they reminded her of the fires of hell or the blood of the pure. She saw this crow at least three times now, the first was when Tony visited her, the morning when she helped Maddox through the nightmare and now. She pieced together all the events and nothing really correlated except that this crow only appeared since Maddox appeared in her life.

Was Maddox the key? She pondered.

"Do you know Maddox Steele?" she asked the crow and again no answer was expected, when suddenly, the crow's red eyes gleamed. "Do you want to meet Maddox?" she asked him, but no answer. "Do you need me to go to Maddox?" The crow ruffled his feathers and it made her understand that she needed to go to Maddox, but she didn't really feel like doing that. "I can take you there tomorrow," she told the crow, but then the crow started flapping it's wings viciously. "You want to go now?" she asked grouchily. "But why?" The crow flapped his wings until she started to feel a little concerned. "Is he safe?" The crow flew around her. "Is Maddox in danger?" she asked the crow more strictly, but the crow flew right in front of her with its majestic wings fanned out and his eyes flaming with intensity.

Blair grabbed her purse and ran out of her shop as quick as she could, she jumped in her car and drove to Magnolia Hotel with the crow following her closely. She didn't know if she could make it on time, so she called Tony.

"Hello," Tony's voice spilled through the speaker.

"Tony," Blair answered. "I need you to listen to me."

"Is everything alright?"

"Where's Maddox?" she asked.

"He's at home," he answered. "Why?"

"I need you to keep him there and wait for me," explained Blair as she took a hard right towards the highway.

Tony paused. "Blair, you have to tell me what's going on?"

"I will," she stepped on the race and hoped no police caught her breaking the speed limit. "Just tell him to wait for me." Blair cut the phone because she couldn't concentrate on both tasks.

-Maddox's POV-

Maddox had a little time before the dinner, so he just poured himself a drink in his empty house and wondered if Blair would return tonight. He twisted the ring on his finger and his gut sank for some odd reason.

"Sir," Tony appeared from the door. "Er- I don't know how to say this?"

Maddox cocked a brow. "What's wrong?"

"Blair just called me to tell you to wait for her," he said.

Maddox tilted his head. "Excuse me?" he bemused.

"She seemed really concerned," said Tony. "I don't know why, but I think you should listen."

"I'm going to get late," said Maddox. "Besides, Blair ignored me all day and now she wants me to wait for her. I don't think so."

Tony's face hardened. "Blair has never given us a reason to not trust her," he pointed out. "See what she has to say before you leave."

Maddox didn't understand what the hell was going on, but Tony was right about Blair. She has been right about many things and has helped both of them with problems they thought were incurable. If anyone deserved the benefit of the doubt, it was Blair.

Everything recently has been an experience like never before; he met a woman with an incredible gift, she refuses to be a psychic and with just one ring she had cured his nightmares and helped Tony with his insomnia. Her shop was more even more peculiar than her, and there was this energy around her that never went unnoticed by him. Blair was a strange woman but that just made him want to understand her more, and it urged him to get under her skin, which he would because she was causing him more trouble than he'd expected and he would definitely return the favour tonight.

A lot of time had passed and Blair hadn't arrived. "I have to get going," said Maddox and he approached the door, when suddenly, it burst open and Blair pushed herself inside.

"You can't leave," she exclaimed.

"Excuse me," befuddled and amused Maddox crossed his arms. "And why not?"

"It's a little hard to explain," said Blair. "But you need to trust me."

"I have a dinner to attend, Blair," said Maddox. "I can't just skip out because you told me to."

Blair raked her hair. "With who?" she interrogated them both.

"Mr. Ainsley," answered Tony. "I'm sure you've met him before."

Blair's eyes widened. "The man from the lobby."

"Yes," answered Tony.

Maddox saw the clock's hand inching closer to its mark. "Enough of this, I need to head out."

Blair grabbed his arm. "That man is dangerous, Maddox." She gazed deep into his eyes not like how she did last night.

"Tony," Maddox kept his narrowed scowl on Blair.

"Yes," asked Tony.

"Inform Mr. Ainsley that I'll be a little late," Maddox ordered Tony and his secretary sauntered outside. Right when Maddox knew that Tony had reached a safe distance from hearing what he was about to say did he speak. "After what happened last night, you ignored me all day and now you're telling me to listen to you," grumbled Maddox.

"Nothing happened last night," whispered Blair.

"You're lying," said Maddox. "I can't trust you with this if you keep lying to me."

Blair's crystal blue eyes were earnest when they gazed into his own speculative gaze, he melted when she closed her eyes in defeat like he had asked something impossible from her. Maddox stepped closer and caged her against the closed door.

"What are you hiding?" asked Maddox.

Blair licked her plump lips. "I can't tell you, so don't ask me," she almost begged him not to ask more from her, but Maddox was just as stubborn as her. "But please don't go to that dinner."

"That's not fair, Blair," he placed his hand against the door behind her and made sure that the only thing she could see was him. "You want me to trust you, but you can't trust me."

Blair's unwavering eyes lifted and met his. "You won't understand, no one does."

Maddox felt that like a punch to the gut. "Am I that untrustworthy?" Blair didn't answer but her saddened eyes did. "I have to go."

Blair moved in front of him. "Then let me come with you," she demanded.

Maddox was taken aback. "You do understand what it implies if you come to a dinner with me?"

Blair took a deep breath. "It's just a dinner," she muttered. "If you're insisting on going then I'm coming too."

Maddox grinned at her nerve that always surprised him. "Only if you tell me your secret," he whispered against her ear.

Blair glared at him. "No," she firmly stated. "I'll do anything else."

Maddox ran his knuckles along her jaw. "Fine," growled Maddox before he crushed his lips against hers.

Maddox encircled his arm around Blair's waist and pressed her voluptuous body close to his own and he didn't know what came over him, but damn did this feel good. Maddox angled her face and deepened their kiss like all consuming fire, he possessed her and made sure to make her feel his desire. Her plump lips were soft and her sweet taste urged Maddox to show her that this wasn't a kiss to be forgotten. Maddox cupped her nape with his hand and when they were both panting he released his lips.

Blair leaned on the door for support, her dishevelled state was his doing and he liked it. "Why did you do that?" she grumbled breathlessly.

Maddox wasn't going to tell her that he wanted to kiss her from the moment she walked through that door. "You refused to tell me your secret," he remarked. "And you said you'd do anything."

Blair glared at him with those sapphire eyes that were filled with arousal a moment ago. "That was a cheap trick," she retorted.

Maddox wiped her gloss from his lips. "Get dressed," he grinned. "We leave in 10 minutes."

Blair scuffled to the guest room, and in exactly ten minutes, she sauntered outside with a short black dress on that fell off her shoulders and exposed her entire neckline, her heavy hair was pulled into a ponytail and small earrings dangled from her ears. She came beside him with heels already on but she seemed distracted as she rummaged through her small purse. Maddox admired that she looked beautiful even without any effort, he had just kissed the wits out of her but she seemed completely at ease.

"Ready," he extended his hand to her.

Blair glared at his hand and exited through the front door without him.

"If you're going to play my girlfriend you have to play the part, honey," he teased as he forcefully grabbed her hand and smiled at her. "Don't forget, this was your idea."

"I don't think you're ever going to let me forget," she rebuked.

Maddox chuckled and led her towards the elevator for their dinner at Mr. Ainsley's suite.