Sebastian drove me to a nearby restaurant and we sat in awkward silence. I caught him looking at me several times but I didn't vocalize it. I didn't want to get into a conversation and have it somehow shift to what happened in the dining room. I didn't know what happened was a secret to my mother, but I tried my best to push it far back into my mind.

Sebastian looked at me and gave me a warm smile. "I've really missed you, Queen."

I found myself smiling back at him and nervously twiddling my thumbs. "I've missed you too. Even though it's been less than a month.

He laughed, leaning his elbows onto the table and moving his blonde wavy hair out of his face. "You look even more beautiful than I remember."

"You're so dramatic." I laughed softly. He tilted his head in my direction, his eyes speaking the thousands of questions he didn't say out loud and I sighed. "I'm okay."

"No you're not," he whispered, taking my hand into his. "But you will be as soon as we get you out of that palace. I can't help but think that you don't need to be so close to this story. Syn only knew about that man because of his connection to you."

"C-connection?" I stuttered. "What do you mean connection?"

"You and Justin's connection," he clarified. "Syn only knew about him because of you. And I'm not blaming you for anything, but I'm worried about you."

"Sebastian, I'm fine," I assured him. It was far from the truth, but I didn't need him all in my business. "I'm safe, and you can't interrupt my workflow. Vullons forbade it."

He sighed, shaking his head. "That better be one hell of an expose, Queen."

"It will be," I muttered, picking at the edge of the magazine. Liar. I had no idea what I was going to write on Syn. The more I talked to him, the more I forgot about work, therefore digging me deeper and deeper into my predicament. I liked him a lot.

My thoughts drifted to him, and I cursed myself for it. It felt almost wrong to think about him while I was here with Sebastian. Almost sinful...my thoughts were completely Synful. I smiled to myself as I realized what I had just done. His name was going to be the butt of many jokes that ran through my mind now.

Sebastian's phone began ringing and he took his hand from mine and reached for it. A look of confusion flashed across his face as he read the contact, but he plastered a smile on his face and looked up at me. "I'll be just a moment. I need to take this call," he said as he stood up. "Order the pasta for me if they come to take orders."

"Okay." I nodded. I looked back at the menu and tried to choose something, anything, but I was completely indecisive. My wandering mind thought back to the events in the dining room and I thought about the way Syn noticed me when everyone else was consumed in the chaos. He sent me away with a man that I was sure he didn't like from the way he shot daggers at him in the room because he somehow could tell that I wasn't feeling good. I knew it didn't feel the best for him to do that, but the fact that he did it...it was making me feel things.

I remembered the look on his face when he saw Sebastian grab my hand, yet he didn't stop us. If Syn hadn't done what he did I was sure I would fully implode.

A smile appeared on my face as even more thoughts of Syn infiltrated my mind once again. When my father stepped up to Syn I thought that Syn was going to hurt him, but he stopped when he saw me.

How could almost all of his actions point to being somehow that actually cared about me, yet his bitter words would tell me he'd use me until he was bored. The man was messing with my mind way more than I wanted him to.

I pulled out my phone, finally getting the chance to go through it after a few days of drama
I opened his contact and leaned into the table as I read his text.

Syn: I'm sorry for the things I said earlier, Queen. The truth is you're way too good for me and I know you deserve someone like Sebastian. Someone who'll spontaneously call you beautiful on a whim or know when to comfort you just by looking at you. I'll never be that man, but I do want you.
If you wake up one day and truly decide you are done with me I'll let you go. I want you to be happy more than I want you with me.

P.S. This is a mess but...deal with it. Also when I say that I'll let you go I don't mean that it will be easy...for you.

My eyes watered as I read the message and I rolled my eyes at the Syn-like parts of the text. I knew that it couldn't have been easy for him to say what he did, but the fact that he did made my chest warm.

I hadn't fully given myself up to him because of my job and Xyla, but I was beginning to second guess both of those. Xyla couldn't care less about me for some reason, and Vullons was asking me for the world and slowly sucking away any happy moments I was having.

For the past few days since he told me what I had to do, I had been in a numb state. I'd wake up dreading talking to anyone, and just going on my phone had been a constant fear. If it were up to me, I'd just quit. I mean, I had enough job experience to get hired anywhere else, but what about the jobs of the people at The Garden?

I needed advice...not just regular advice, but advice from my favorite person. My mom. I dialed her number and held my phone up to my ear as it rang. "Queen! I'm so sorry I didn't know." She sobbed. "Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Mom, it was so long ago," I said. "Justin is gone now so all I want to do is forget it." I could hear the voices on her line and rushed movements as my mom sniffled, and I frowned.

"You don't want to go to therapy? I'll pay for it. We can go to a pastor and pray for-"

"Mom." I stopped her rant. "All I want to do right now is talk to you. Please listen to me."

"Okay, okay." She took a calming breath. "I'm listening."

"I met someone," I told her.

"A boy?"

"Yes." I bit my lip. "And I seriously like him a lot."

"Hmm, is he handsome?" She let out a sad laugh that ended with a sniffle and my heart broke for her. I wished I could reach through the phone and hug her.

"Very."

"Go on, I'm listening."

"He's a little guarded, but he treats me really well...like super well. He umm...I feel super happy around him, but he's one of those boys that you would warn me away from."

"Oh Lord," she whispered. I giggled, shaking my head at her tone. "Would God be ashamed of you if you were to be with him?"

I thought about Syn...the literal devil's son. "Umm, he may be a little peeved."

She sighed. "Go on."

"If I be with him the way I want to, my job would suffer. I mean...I could potentially lose it, but they're asking me to do something that could hurt him. And I don't want to do it, yet the company says that I along with everyone I work with would lose their jobs if I don't. What should I do?"

"Hmm...did I ever tell you about Luke Jennings?"

"Yes, mom. You have." Multiple times, I wanted to add.

"Point is, we all have a phase," she said, "where we hang out with the wrong crowd, do the wrong thing, kiss the wrong boy..." she trailed off. "I always hated that you never had one of those stages, Queen. Sure, you were with Sebastian but you both got together so early. You didn't get that rebellious stage. You have no idea how many times I wanted you to come home past curfew so I could yell at you."

"Mom, seriously?"

"What? I don't know about other parents, but I used to be a teenager and it was one of the highlights of my life. I wanted the same for you. So if you're having that stage right now, go for it. Live, love, fuck up! Fuck up your life, Queen! I'll be here to catch you when you fall, but you need to let go."

My mouth dropped at the use of her language and I glanced around the room. My mother was one of those women that never said much. When she was around my father, her job was to stay by his side and look beautiful for the cameras. With one hundred percent certainty, I could say that I have never once heard her cuss.

"You're too young to be settling down into that job, my love. Stress gives you wrinkles," she said. "You're human, Queen. I don't like making you feel different from us, but you are. Your life is short. I have money, your father has money...why spend the little life that you have working when you can be living?"

"I don't like taking money from you guys," I reminded her.

"Ugh! Sometimes I wish you were a bit more selfish, my love. But I love you, so much. And if you need me I'm here for you always. If that job is hurting you emotionally or mentally, then you need to leave. There are millions of jobs in the universe. You can find a new one and the people at that company can find a new one. They are not your responsibility."

I knew she was right, but I still felt guilty about it. "Alright, mom. Thank you."

"Don't thank me," she said. "Go to this boy and run away together or something. If he breaks your heart, and leaves you in the middle of the road with only the clothes on your back and a plate of barbecue, call me and we'll go vandalize his house."

"Mom!" I laughed. "What the hell have you been through?!"

"How much time do you have?" I laughed again and we spent the remainder of the call talking about Syn. I remained vague with the details of who he really was, but her advice sank in.

My eyes moved to the door as Sebastian walked back inside and I said goodbye to my mother. He smiled at me as he approached me and I sucked in a nervous breath, clasping my hands together. "Hey. I need to talk-"

"Hold that thought?" He held up a finger. "I really need to use the restroom."

"Oh, of course. Go ahead." He scurried away, disappearing into the long corridor and I picked up the menu, still not knowing what to order. If Syn was here, he would've known. I smiled at myself as the thought came to mind and I shook my head. He would've taken the menu out of my hand to stop me from stressing.

The waitress came to my table and smiled at me. "You look happy," she said.

I smiled at her and nodded "I am." A ton of shit was going on from this stalker, to my mother just finding out about Justin, but I felt like I was floating. My body and mind were no longer tethered to any problems or worries. I was just here.

"I'm glad. He seems like a great guy," she said.

"Oh, we're not together," I said as I realized she was talking about Sebastian.

"You should be," she said with a small smile and I gave her a nervous one in return. "Anyways let me do my job. What can I get you?"

"Umm, he wants this pasta," I said as I pointed to the menu. "And I would like the burger and fries please." She wrote the order down and began to walk away but after my day I think I deserved to be a fat-ass right now. "Can I also get a vanilla milkshake and turn the fries into cheese fries?"

The girl nodded at me with a grin and walked away. I pulled my phone out and looked at the time, it was only three pm and I realized I had been out with Sebastian for over two hours.

I sat in boredom since Sebastian still hadn't come out of the restroom, and I took my phone out again. I didn't know exactly what to say to Syn just yet, so I sent a message to Xavier.

Me: What you up to?
3:03 p.m.

I put my phone on the table but picked it up when it vibrated almost instantly.

Xavier: Movie w/ my boys. View image
3:03 p.m.

I clicked on the image and saw Xavier holding up a peace sign and grinning. And behind him in the picture, I saw James laying in Syn's arms as they watched some animated film on TV.

Me: Adorable<3
3:04 p.m.

Xavier: I know I am hehe. Btw when you get home Syn and I won't be here.
3:04 p.m.

Me: Aww, you guys are going on a date?
3:05 p.m.

Xavier: If only life were that good, but nope. Syn is taking me to a club to mend my broken heart ;(
3:05 p.m.

Me: Who hurt you? Do I need to fight them?!!
3:05 p.m.

Xavier: You can't fight a pregnant woman.
3:06 p.m.

Me: JESSICA?!
3:06 p.m.

Xavier: Mhmm. What a...
3:06 p.m.

Me: Nice girl that we love.
3:07 p.m.

Xavier: We?! Goodbye Queen.
3:07 p.m.

Me: Mwah!
3:07 p.m.

Xavier: I'm telling Syn.
3:08 p.m.

I laughed softly at his text messages and shook my head. Xavier was one of the funniest people I knew and I was thankful I met him, regardless of what happened the other day. My phone vibrated on the table again with a text from Xavier and I looked at it.

Xavier: I will karate chop girls from him tonight. Trust me, I'm on the job. No need to worry.
3:09 p.m.

Me: And if they're into the karate chops?
3:09 p.m.

Xavier: Then they won't be going home with Syn. *insert wink*
3:10 p.m.

I choked on my drink from Xavier's text and burst into laughter, making a couple of the guests look back at me. I held a hand over my mouth, sending them apologetic looks as I tried not to laugh, and shut my phone off.

Sebastian walked out of the restaurant and slid back into his seat. "What's so funny?"

"Just a friend of mine," I replied. "Are you staying in Jeradua long?"

"For a few months, yes. I came here for something important and I don't plan on leaving until I get it." He smiled at me and gave me a look I couldn't understand, but I nodded.

"Well, I hope you get what you came for," I said with a smile.

"Do you think I can?" he asked softly.

"I think you are one of the most capable people I've ever met," I said with a shrug and his smile grew larger as he leaned back. "Just don't give up, you know?"

"I don't plan on it."

I nodded, slightly uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me and I cleared my throat. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" He leaned forward.

"I'd like to submit my two-week notice. I quit."