Maggie -

I lock the door to Jack's penthouse behind me and start jogging to my car. It's an unusually dreary day and I'm attempting to move quickly and avoid the sting of cool air until I see her.

Fucking Julie.

Julie is casually leaning on her convertible mustang staring at me with one arm across her chest and the other holding her phone up to her ear. I didn't know she had such an expensive vehicle, but then again I never cared enough to ask. It's probably her fathers anyway, she seems like the trust fund type.

Despite the gloomy weather, she's looking awfully cheery with her shoulder-length platinum hair in perfect curls and a revealing bright green summer dress. What the hell could she possibly want here and how is she not freezing?

I try to hide before she sees me but it's too late. She tucks her phone into her Chanel purse and darts towards me with a smile. I cringe and hastily look away, fully intending to ignore and walk past her until I hear her speak.

"Hey! Megan right?" She asks with a noticeably fake smile and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"It's Maggie." I correct her flatly.

"Oh that's right, how are you and Jackson?" She asks and I'm actually happy we bumped into each other now, I get to tell her to back off. I know she wants to hear that we broke up, so I'm looking forward to disappointing her.

"We're doing really great actually. I've got the last of my stuff moved into his penthouse." I add the last bit just to twist the knife.

"You've moved in?" Her voice raises an octave but quickly composes herself.

"Yep, like I said, we're doing amazing." I respond with a brighter smile than she could possibly muster now.

"Well I hate to be the one to tell you but you're not going to change him." She warns.

"Excuse me?" I'm shocked by her lack of tact, but I honestly shouldn't be. I mean, it's Julie.

"I used to dislike you because Jackson showed a slight interest the night we met, but now I just really pity you. He's going to break your heart." She feigns sympathy.

"Thanks for your concern, but no thanks." I say as I start to turn around.

"You don't have to lie to me hun, I can see you're obviously leaving him." She says with smug satisfaction as she plants her hands on her hips.

"What?" I ask, irritation clear in my voice.

"I knew he would be too much for your little good girl act to handle." Julie smirks.

"What are you talking about?" I ask but follow her eyes to the duffel bag I'm holding and realize she thinks I'm leaving Jack.

"Marley, I mean it. If you think you can change him, think again. I've tried but he just goes back to being Mr. Playboy. He won't settle down with anyone and he'll never fully open up."

I'm irate now, she just doesn't know when to stop. I've tried being cordial but it's not working, I guess I'll have to be blunt. I take a step closer to Julie to be sure she hears every word and I have her full attention.

"For the last time Bimbo, the names Maggie. This is absolutely none of your business but I'll let you know anyway. He's already shared his life story with me, I've moved in with him because he wants me around and he's asked for me to be his girlfriend exclusively. Oh and not to mention he tells me at least once a day how much he loves me." Julie stands in silence and I continue to speak.

"Jack didn't ask you for any of these things because you were nothing but an easy lay to him. So yes, we're doing fabulous." After I blurt everything out I begin to regret being so harsh, until I see her mouth turn into a shady smile.

"For now." She adds.

I'm ready to take her in my hands and shake the shit out of her. I've never intentionally hurt another human being before, but so help me god today might be the day. This woman is on my final nerve.

I do not want to be dealing with her right now, not when I'm about to drive hours to meet my father for the first time in decades.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask through grit teeth as my phone begins to ring. Jackson's name flashes across the screen and I debate on answering it but Julie speaks again.

"He's never going to give you what you need." Her words actually sound softer, almost kind. "You strike me as someone who wants a partner in life, someone who you can rely on, someone who will take care of you and be there when you need him. Jack is not that guy." She almost fools me into thinking she's worried about me.

"You don't know him." I spit.

"Oh honey, I know him more than you ever will. He's not capable of giving himself fully to someone. He's a broken man and I give him exactly what he needs and yet he never has to feel pressured by me." She says and reaches out to comfort me but I pull away and feel my phone vibrate again.

She eyes my phone and gives me a sly smile. "You actually think this infatuation will last forever. Well, I suppose we'll see." Is all she says as she walks back to her car.

Shit.

Please tell me I didn't start some mean girls war or something, I just wanted her to back the hell off. My phone rings again and this time I answer it.

"Hey, Charming!" I answer with enthusiasm as I get into my car.

I'm hoping my voice isn't shaking as bad as I am. I'm not sure if I'm trembling with anger from Julie, or just because I'm freezing. Either way, I don't want to ruin Jack's trip by having him worry about me.

"Are you okay?" He asks and I realize I wasn't convincing enough. I turn my car on and blast the heat.

"I'm absolutely fine." I say attempting to warm myself up and calm myself down.

"Maggie, do you need me to come back home?" He asks with worry laced in his voice.

"No! Absolutely not." I say.

"Where the hell are you going? Did I do something to piss you off?" He panics.

I'm about to answer until I realize I never told him I was leaving. I made up my mind on my own and there was no way of him knowing unless he had cameras hidden in his penthouse somewhere.

"How did you know I was going anywhere?" I ask puzzled.

The line goes silent besides the sound of bustling people in the background.

"Jack?" I ask suddenly more than a little concerned. "What are you hiding from me?"

"Fuck." I hear him shout. "Fucking Julie called me."

I suddenly understand why he didn't want to tell me. That must have been who she was on the phone with when she spotted me. I feel the little green jealousy monster start to rare it's ugly face inside me but I push it down. Well, do your fucking best Julie, because you are not breaking us up.

"Why the fuck were you talking to her?" I ask in the most controlled voice I can muster despite the fact that my heart is beating out of my chest.

"Where the fuck are you going?" Jack counters.

Touché

"I'm going to find my father." I state and I hear his footsteps suddenly over the phone.

"I'm coming with you." He says and I panic.

"Jack, no. I told you to get on that damned plane! I'll be fine!" I exclaim. There's no way I'm letting him miss that flight.

"You're waiting until I can go with you when I get back or I'm not getting on this flight and I'm coming home to go with you now, but you're not bloody doing this alone." I can hear his accent get thick with anger.

Uhg.

After a few seconds of silence, I hear his breath begin to calm and his voice is gentler when he speaks.

"Maggie, please do me a favor and look at yourself in the mirror."

I can sense some sort of motive but I do as he asks anyway. I pull the car mirror down in front of me and cringe as I catch a glimpse of myself.

"You haven't showered yet have you?" I can hear his smirk through the phone.

"No." I simply pout into the phone as I examine myself.

My eyes have dark purple rings around them and my hair is in a complete rats nest on top of my head. Then I find myself wondering if I've even brushed my teeth. I rushed out of the house so quickly determined to meet my father that I hadn't even thought of what I looked like, or smelled like.

This will be the first time my father sees me in almost two decades. Do I want him to think I'm some kind of homeless streetwalker with drug problems? Because that's the impression I give off.

I lean back in the driver's seat in defeat. "Fine."