"I cannot believe you're denying me."

"Sooner or later you'll learn that I do whatever I want, whenever I want."

I crossed my arms and gave him my best 'go to hell' look. What a tease. He adjusted his pants, looked at me with a raised eyebrow, and then drew me closer.

"You look cute when you pout."

"Go to hell."

"Only if you're going with me. I've got someone interested in your car."

"Really?"

"Yeah, drive it to the office so I can park V in the garage when I visit."

"Will do, Sir."

He nibbled on my earlobe, then whispered, "Will you ever stop driving me crazy?"

I pulled away from him, studied his plump bottom lip, and looked into his eyes. "Not happening, ever."

When Finnley kissed me goodbye, I didn't want him to leave. I loved this side of him. His warmth, soft touches, and hands on my waist… I wanted to stay that way with him. But he left me in the kitchen wanting, needing, desperately aching for more of him.

I waited thirty minutes, put the fire engine red lingerie on under my clothes and grabbed the keys to the Honda. Little V called me with her sexy-ass curves and shiny rims. The Aston and I were going to have a good time; I already knew that.

The Honda purred with excitement. Truthfully, there was a lot of sentiment that would be going with the car, like the fact that it was my graduation present from my parents. But it was just a vehicle, and I couldn't keep it forever. Someone else would be happy driving it. It wasn't me, not anymore. The old Jennifer died with my parents. She became nothing more than a memory when I moved to Vegas. I'm not that person anymore. I was the planner who didn't have a plan, and the thought of that was exhilarating.

After waiting in traffic by the Strip, I parked the car in the fire lane by the entrance to The Elite. There was no way Finnley would have me towed, or maybe he would just to fuck with me. He did things like that.

I took one last look at the bubbling tint and the small stain on the floorboard in the backseat, then I sucked in a deep breath, said my silent goodbye, and walked inside of the building.

Mindlessly, I pushed fifteen and made my way to Finn's office. I grinned at the thought of all-business Mr. Felton. While that man still existed, I had discovered and unlocked another part of him.

The secretary wasn't at her circular desk when I passed, so I made my way to the golden plaque with the big curly F's. Before I opened the door, I listened for movement inside. Silence. The goal would be to wait by the window in my bra and panties for his return. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he caught sight of me. Naughty Jennifer would come out and play.

I smiled and opened the door.

Inside, I saw Jesse in front of his desk… topless. Finnley stood with Jesse's open blouse in his fists. When his eyes met mine, his jaw tightened. Then Jesse turned her head and the most sadistically sickening grin covered her face. My breath hitched. I slammed the office door shut and ran to the elevator.

Finnley chased after me, yelled my name and begged me to stop, but I couldn't. It was either fight or flight, and at the moment, I just wanted to get the fuck away from him, Jesse, and the whole fucked up situation. Abbie had been too much to handle, and now this?

Best friend to arch enemy, what the hell?

I ran through the lobby to the Honda and struggled to unlock the door. My feelings were in too much of a frenzy, and I couldn't steady my hand. Finnley ran out of the building at a full sprint toward me, yelling.

"Stop, Jennifer. Please." He wasn’t even out of breath and I knew he had taken the stairs.

"I can't keep doing this to myself."

"Please… let me explain," he said.

My heart broke, leaving a heavy pressure on my chest. I was on the verge of losing control of my emotions.

Jesse's laugh reverberated in the streets as she followed behind Finnley. He turned and scowled at her, but kept his attention on me. When he reached out to grab me, I moved away from him. I forced open the car door and stuck the key in the ignition.

"Jennifer." He slammed his hand against the window. I refused to look at him. Instead, I placed the car into drive and sped on. In the rearview mirror, I saw him standing outside of The Elite building, watching me drive away with his hands balled in fists. Emotions fueled me forward. I turned a corner and was on the road to nowhere. I just had to get away.

My phone rang; Felton popped up and I threw it in the seat. I couldn't keep doing this. Did I really accept that the guy I had feelings for sold sex for a living? Would I feel second par forever?

I replayed the facts that I had witnessed. Finn's hands were on Jesse's shirt. He stood in front of her. Did he look like he enjoyed it? Not really. But what were they doing? Why was she smiling so big?

I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. Anger filled me, then sadness, then anger again. I should have grabbed Jesse by her hair and forced her out of his office, then beat the shit out of her. But that was assault, and I wasn't a violent person, as much as she made me want to fight.

I pulled over on the side of the road, ran my fingers through my hair, and leaned my head against the steering wheel. Control, I had to find it before I got lost in a mind spin of rage.

My phone rang again. I picked it up, but before I rejected it, I saw that it was Luke. My heart dropped, and for a moment I thought about not answering, but... fuck it. What did I really have to lose?

"Hi," I said with a shaky, small voice.

"Jennifer, I wanted to… wait, is everything okay?"

When I sucked in a breath, my nose burned and I thought the tears would come, but instead I masked my feelings from him.

"No."

"Where are you?"

"I don't know. On the side of the road somewhere."

"Do you need help?"

Silence lingered.

"You can't help me. Everything is fine. Just a little upset."

"Well meet me somewhere. We need to talk."

"I can't, Luke. Really, I need time alone."

"Come to my house. I won't take very much of your time. I promise."

"Alright." I hung up the phone, made a U-turn, and headed toward Luke's house in the Valley. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I would say when I got there. The emptiness in the pit of my stomach swelled. The thoughts of Finn and Jesse sickened me.

When I saw Luke's house in the distance, my nerves went haywire. The last time I saw him, he was running away from me. Now here I was, running to him.

I sat outside for a few minutes and tried to recoup, to swallow it all down. Put on that pretty face and hide the sadness that lurked in the shadows. After I took a deep breath, I looked over and saw Luke walking toward me in loose fitting jeans and a t-shirt with the sleeves shoved to his elbows. Paint splatters covered his hands and shirt. He must have been working.

I stepped out of the car and he drew me into his arms and hugged me. I didn't know if the tears would stay at bay. I knew once they started, they wouldn't stop.

"I'm sorry for treating you the way I did the other day."

I took in his familiar smell of summer, paint, and creativity. He pulled back and searched my face.

"What's wrong? I can tell something isn't right."

I swallowed. "I deserve to be treated badly by you. I'm a horrible person, and I'm sorry."

"You're not. You can't help who you love."