After my ordeal on Friday night, I was elated to have the weekend to myself. Well, of course Cage was included in myself but after he got the job at the bar and grill, he's been weird. Working extra shifts... stuff like that, leaving me all alone to enjoy the luxuries of the hotel. Knowing my brother, it's some girl who probably frequents the eatery.

Oh well, his lost, people would kill to spend the day with me, scantily clad in a one piece bathing suit with cut outs at the sides. He's ignored my questioning on every occasion I've broached the subject. Should I find out on my own, it's not like snooping, it's just sisterly concern... and me wanting to know if she's potential sister-in-law material.

But it can wait until I utilize this pool. It's Saturday evening and most people are out, so it's only me and a few other people on the shallow end. Grinning, I plunge into the pool, letting myself sink to the bottom before rising and floating. From this angle the sky almost looks the same as back home.

"Hi!" the grinning face of a red head drags my head out of the clouds, in shock, I lose my cool and sink, getting a tasty mouthful of chlorinated water.

The girl looks horrified as I splutter and ever knocks me generously on the back, the bone of her wrist grating against my shoulder blade.

I stop choking; anything to cease the pain of her bony hands. "I'm fine." I say.

She sighs in relief and says, "Sorry, I'm Paige and it's been nice..."

"Choking me?" I offer with a grin.

She grins back, "Beating you on the back was like, way more fun."

"Really, I want to try." I lift my hand to slap her but she dodges and my hand rebounds against the water.

"I'm Angelica." I say, "You live here?"

"Yep, a year now." She replies, "You're obviously new, anything you want to know?"

I pause to think, this is the perfect opportunity to ask about Ruspin, "How about Ruspin-"

"Garrison!" she exclaims, "Okay, I'm an expert on him. Arguably, the richest man in the world and king of anti-spendthrifts. He appeared in the business world two years ago, a bachelor... no interest in women whatsoever. His success is due to his ability to be cutthroat and have no qualms about it. He lives in his office, and only ever leaves for business trips."

"Oh, I see."

"Why?" she asks.

"Well, I'm his new business partner... but I'm on probation."

Paige stares at me so long that I fear she's become brain dead, then she shrieks and grabs my arm, dragging me out of the pool. "Unbelievable!"

She drags me out of the pool area and into the freezing lobby, "Quickly, we have to get you dressed! You can introduce me!"

My legs become paralyzed at the thought of this energetic girl meeting Mr. Killjoy. "Um, I don't think he takes kindly to visitors."

Her face falls, then brightens marginally once more, "I can meet him through you."

We go back to my room and I try to scrounge up something nice to say about him, but all I end up with is that he saved me from murder by calling off his goons. She perks up at this, "They're his body guards, and they're always with him no matter what. What was this signal that he gave?"

I shrug, "All he said before I was attacked was 'good night.'"

We mull over this for a while. What could the significance of pleasantries? They're used by people all the time... hardly right for a kill signal. Maybe he inadvertently made a hand gesture or something. Then it hits me: Mr. Garrison is rude and doesn't care who knows it. That bout of manners should've struck me as strange... but he said that he didn't give a signal. After discussing it with Paige, we come to the conclusion that the point needs further investigation.

I decide I want to visit Cage at work, but I don't want to look suspicious so I ask Paige to tag along. We get a terrace table this time, much to my delight and the only other person out here is a petite woman with a cute, but haggard face and a chubby child with her. Luckily, the kid is way past the crying and screaming age... maybe six or seven years. I don't think that my eardrums can take a battering today.

Cage walks onto the terrace and almost veers into the door on spotting me.

"Angel, what are you doing here?" he hisses lowly. I glance at the woman who observes silently... oh no, Cage can't get himself involved with her that brings into play a whole lot of trouble with the father of the child, her inevitable trust issues, his trust issues... "I'm here for a smoothie, dearest brother." I glance at Paige, "This is my friend Paige."

She waves at him, more concerned by the menu. "What's the best tasting thing?" she asks.

Cage stops to think, but I know what he'll decide on, "The lasagne."

"I'll have one of those and whichever smoothie Angelica's having."

Before departing he stops and pats the boy's head. The child goo's at him and he grins. When I return to myself I find the strangest curvature occurring on my face... no, I cannot be smiling in a situation like this. She's probably some sort of vulture who needs a rich guy to take care of her and that kid. The mere thought is enough to wipe any joyful expression from my face.

When he returns a few minutes later Cage returns with our order just as the little pest steps into his path. There's a burst of cold as the smoothie crashes into me. The lady immediately rushes over and grabs the kid, "I'm so sorry," she says to me, "Let me pay you back for the top, he's only..."

That idiotic grin returns and I collect some of the ice no my finger and suck it, "It's fine, I'm not going to die or anything."

Cage looks on in shock, he probably expected me to cause ruckus because I don't like her, but the fact is that he hasn't been truly happy in a long time and if this woman is it, then I'll just have to stop meddling, but still keep an eye on her. I mean, I would've been mad if she was the one who tripped Cage... but that pestering ball of wonder; he's a different story altogether.

The kid tries to approach me but she holds him back, "What's his name?"

"Jesse." She says, eyeing me warily.

"Hmm," I say before turning to Cage, "I'll take this order to go." And I lick a bit more of the smoothie off my top.

I stand to leave as Paige protests, "You're not going to walk around in that?"

Shrug, "Why not, it's hot out. You're paying for that smoothie." I tell Cage sweetly. I don't think he minds though... probably still reeling at my generosity. Paige and I part ways at the hotel and I take a shower, trying to process what possessed me to be that nice. All throughout the weekend, Cage walks on eggshells around me until I'm so frustrated that I can't take it any longer.

"Just tell me about her already!" I huff.

His face breaks into such a blinding smile that I almost regret asking... almost.

"She's amazing." He says, "She's funny and actually critiques my cooking. By her suggestion I've tweaked some of my recipes making the food taste even more delectable..."

In the next hour I've learned all about Celeste. Her past times, the kid, what Cage has planned for their relationship...

"What about the father?" I ask.

He cringes, "I'll deal with that when the time comes."

"Don't you think you should have a plan... for when you meet him?" I ask.

He gulps, "I will. Oh and that party we were talking about, it's set for next week."

"And I presume you've completed all the necessary planning." I say mockingly, "Got a guest list and all that"

He winks at me then says, "You know that I'm a last minute person, that isn't about to change any time soon."

Monday morning, I take my usual break on the fifteenth floor and since I'm early I decide to so some exploring, after all this is the company that I'm helping to manage. After my first two days here, I've learnt that wearing heels is a no go if I want to maintain healthy legs for the remainder of my life.

This corridor is has more drafts than the other floors and on further exploration, more embellishment. There's no one on this floor and I don't believe that Mr. Cheapskate would ever purchase a painting, much less one of a couple having a romantic dinner. Suddenly the painting attacks me. I jump back almost knocking into the opposite wall. What was that? Paintings don't attack people.

The painting shifts once more and I feel the cool breeze. A secret passage? Maybe. Worth investigating. I glance up and down the empty corridor, hoping that no one is looking, I pull the painting back and heft myself into the opening. The painting falls back into its original position, blocking off any light. I retrieve my phone from my pocket and let the light illuminate my surroundings. The small opening I'm in now crouched in widens into a bigger corridor made of stone. It isn't all that wide, but it does get me out of this crouched position.

My legs carry me down until the passage branches into three paths. The straight one is the easiest to remember so I head that way. I wonder if Mr. Garrison knows about the secret passageways in his building. Then I realize how stupid that is... he probably had them built to support his money making dictatorship. Hopefully he doesn't mind me snooping around. Hmm, yet another stupid musing. Did I neglect to turn my brain on today?

The corridor curves, but there's a door directly before the bend. There's a strange muffled noise emanating from behind the door, and being such a good, snoopy citizen of England I open it. Only I'm so unprepared for the sight that greets me that I almost throw up or faint, because what the bloody hell is Bellamy Durco doing locked in metal cage in my employers secret passageway.

Fixated, I stare at him until he notices me. The panic in his eyes spurs me into action, but it's too late, I hear voices and heavy footsteps echoing throughout the area. I glance at him and whisper, "I'll come back." Then I turn and start walking in the opposite direction of the voices. I shut my phone off and slam into a wall... a wall that grunts.

Arms grab me even as I try to resist. I don't have time to process what this means about Mr. Garrison. "Shut up!" hisses the voice. His hand remains clamped along my mouth as someone else approaches, his form is as unsure as my next breath. They're going to turn me in... no, no, I can't...

"It was just the prisoner making ruckus." Says the man. "We can leave." His friend grunts in consent and marches back down the corridor. When he's gone the man releases me, "Wait a minute then walk down that corridor and you'll find an elevator."

I nod, numbly wondering why he's even bothering to help me. Back home, no one aided anyone else without expecting something in return. Either way, I don't mind owing this stranger something as opposed to being carted off to my family. True to his word, I find an elevator down the hall and I press the button to the top floor.

The exit is directly outside Mr. Garrison's office and I almost catch a stroke waiting for the doors to close. Hurry up, dammit! The door shuts and withdraws into the wall, as though it was never there. I allow myself the luxury of wilting against the wall in relief before scurrying over to my office.

He must know. He must at least suspect it. Poor Bellamy, probably came here to look for me only to be captured by that monster. I should quit, immediately, Cage and I are in danger... but what about Bellamy. Even if Mr. Garrison suspects it, he'll have no proof. Our family was never mentioned in the papers, no one knows the names of my siblings or I... one of the few perks.

I drop into my chair, but it does nought to alleviate the ache inside me. I thought that I'd finally found a place where I could fit in, a boss who was a bit odd, but paid me... family, friends and now I'm back to what I escaped from. Doubting every soul I come across and being conservative for fear that someone betrays me.

That man from the tunnels won't tell him, that I'm sure of. But I'm equally positive that he won't help me free Bellamy, and I can't chance speaking to him again, least he change his mind and betray me. I spend the next few minutes trying to decide on a plan of action and calming myself down. Neither yields any significant results.

The cursed man has already left me a message. The trumpets do nothing to amuse me today.

Ms Periwinkle,

Meet me in the garage, there's a situation at one of my offices that demands our urgent attention.

Mr. Garrison.

I grab my bag and dash down the stairs. Maybe if I get a good look at his face I'll be able to tell whether he knows or not. Maybe those bodyguards of his are kidnapping people without his knowledge...yes, they shoved him into a closet just the other day, what's to say that they take the same liberties with other people. Maybe if I tell him, he'll have him released. But I can't afford to place any trust in him...

"You took you time." Remarks Mr. Garrison.

Ignoring him, I climb into his death trap.

His eyes flit between me and the road so much so that I clutch the door-handle, maybe when we crash it'll buffer me a little so I don't face-plant into the airbags. But with my luck today, I think I'm asking too much.

"I don't appreciate distracted employees." He says.

"I'm not an employee." I say, "I'm your business partner. Besides, I never asked you to appreciate me."

"The situation is at a marina." He says, "The dolphin, Fluffy, has been stolen."

There're a number of things wrong with that sentence: the fact that someone would name a dolphin 'fluffy' and most importantly, the face that Mr. Garrison said the word without first uttering a complaint.

"Have you told the police."

He nods, "They've been informed." He says, pulling off into the car park of 'Blue Water's Marina.' "But I don't expect them to find anything."

Oh, so the police here are just as useless as they are in England, wonderful... I can't even depend their assistance to free the imprisoned man in your building.

"So what are you doing?" I ask absentmindedly.

"Annalise and Monty will investigate."

"Who."

"My bodyguards." Ah, names for my witness report.

I try to push Bellamy out of my mind, it's hard but I mange, knowing that if I'm distracted, he'll probably notice and become suspicious.

"What's your goal in life sir?" I ask.

"You won't believe me if I tell you, 'to become a successful businessman?'"

"No." I say, "You've already achieved that."

"How about, 'to maintain my reputation as a successful businessman?'"

"Try again."

A rush of air makes the hairs on my hand stand at attention, surely he didn't just sigh, "You'll know soon enough."

Not wanting to seem desperate for information, I drop the issue like a hot potato. With his usual gait, he enters the marina as though he's king. The marina is unlike something I'd ever envisage him owning; on only the office could look like this.

When no one seems forthcoming with a report, he jabs a finger at the nearest, scurrying person, "You! Explain."

"Well- s-sir, you see, umm, someone managed to break in and take the dolphin sir."

Nothing changes in his countenance but dissatisfaction radiates off him like gamma rays from uranium ore. "I am well aware of what has occurred. Explain how it's being handled."

"Sir, we... the tech guys, they're checking the cameras..."

His words fade as Mr. Garrison shoves him out of the way and marches past a pool of sea otters.

"I'm surprised that you've invested in a place like this." I remark.

He takes it in stride, increasing his pace, "I'm a prudent man. People love to spend money frivolously... I'm simply supplying them with the means while providing employment and making money. Quite an efficient investment if I do say."

"Where are we going?"

Making a sharp corner we head up some stairs. Unlike him, I'm not exactly in top physical condition and I'm about ten stairs behind him.

"And why are we moving this fast." I demand, breathlessly, "Surely your desire to insult these people isn't that burning."

Surprisingly, he doesn't reply, just continues at an even faster pace... some nerve he's got! I follow him into a room overlooking the marina and almost get knocked over the railing my the man carelessly flung my way.

"Ah, I know exactly who did this." He says then brushes past me.

So I walked... ran up those stairs for nothing!



Our search has led us to a preppy club. Ohh, I'm getting the chills just thinking about what sort of evil mastermind would hide here. The horrors he must commit. Selling cheap drinks or worse, allowing smoking on the premises!

Mr. Garrison moves through the crowd, parting a way for himself... but in the process, poor me gets knocked into by anyone trying to avoid his royal majesty.

"Sit here." He commands, placing me into a stool in the corner.

I don't particularly fancy this place in any case, might as well give my legs a break. From my nook, the flashing lights and masses of gyrating people aren't as prominent. It actually looks fun from this vantage... not that I'm about to join in this particular dance. A waiter approaches and deposits a glass of iced water onto the table.

Just what I need. Something to cool me off, the. The ice must be freezing because it emits a steady stream of frost, I grab it and take a sip; it tastes nicer than water... almost addictive. Mr. Garrison makes his way over to me and his eyes zero in on my glass, and he extends his hand as though I'm just supposed to relinquish my drink over to his stingy-fingers.

"Get your own water!" I yell over the pumping music.

"Who gave that to you?" he says, leaning closer.

My hormones notice how handsome he is. Sure, I've had my fair share of handsome guys flung at me by my parents, but none of them looked as spectacular as him. Maybe if he smiles I'll like his face better.

"You should give your teeth some sunshine." I say, grinning at his glare, "Smile! I'll give you a kiss! Come on... Hey!" while I was distracted by his lack of teeth, he grabbed my glass and smashed it into a wall. How typically rude of him.

"You shouldn't have done that." I taunt, "Now you'll have to spend precious money replacing that glass."

A huge bearded man appears behind him and taps his shoulder with a muscled finger. Without even looking back at the man, he grabs the offending finger, twists and flings the man onto the table, breaking it in two. This is like an action movie... in 4D!

"Again!" I shout. Some of the other dancers also join my plea, but Mr. Garrison, the tease he is, just hauls me out of the chair. Five more men approach and he stands there, staring at them. Men, no, North American knights begin filtering through the doors and everyone scatters.

Since he threw my water away, I'm still so thirsty. I dig my heels in until he stops hauling me away, "I need more water!" I demand.

"I have more in the car." He says, continuing to tug me away from my supply.

He better not be lying, if he is, I've got a big surprise for him. When he arrives at his death trap, he shoves me into the front seat and tries to drive away, but I'm not going to let him. "Where's the water?" I ask.

Mr Loquacious ignores me. So I do what any thirsty person would do. I grab the wheel and yank it away from him.