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  "No, problem boss that's not the issue I mean Eden is a nice girl and very pretty but she’s no Monique," Rhino said.

  "If I was looking for someone like Monique, I would ask Monique to be my wife. I owe it to Eden after all the bad things I have done to her."

  "nobody has to know about it," Rock said.

  I turned and looked at him straight face. "I do" serious expression so they knew I wasn't playing games.

  "I will wait until her birthday. It is in two days. That's when ill propose. Also, Jack do you have the keys to the place I asked you to purchase?"

  "Yes, boss about that, they want more for the place," Jack said nervously.

  "Ugh, how much more?" I asked.

  "2 mil more," he said again nervously.

  "Fine get it I don't care is for her"

  I went outside to smoke. Rock followed me. I knew he wanted to say more, and he was like a brother to me, so I didn't mind anything he had to say.

  "Ross, do your parents know you are getting married?" He asked looking at the ground.

  "No. this is all so sudden," I said which was the truth.

  "Does Eden know about what we really do?" he asked with a serious expression this time.

  I looked at him and then at the distance.

  "No, she doesn't know the full extent. She thinks I am just the leader of a gang or something, but she doesn't know what my business really is about"

  "DO you think she will accept it?"

  "Rock what is this? twenty questions with Ross Lyner. She has no choice but to accept it" I said as a matter of factly. I must've pissed him off because he got loud right back.

  "It matters Ross. You know I give my life for you, and for this business. You are my brother for life. This business is my life is all I know. You are the most honest man I have ever met. You took me in when I had no one with my piece of shit parents being the way they were. You and your parents gave me a home. I owe my life to all of you. I will not stand and watch some nobody spoiled little bitch destroy you and everything you have!"

  "She won't destroy me Rock you can calm down," I said.

  "she already has your heart whether you and her know it or not," He said.

  Was he right? I had no idea. Maybe he was. Maybe I wanted to hide my love for Eden. Maybe there was more than wanting to make up for all the harm I caused her by marrying her. Maybe I secretly wanted nothing more than to make her my wife.

  "I just don't want to see you hurt Ross. I have never met anyone to make you hurt I don't want her to be the first"

  "What do you have against her?" I asked. Getting irritated. why did it bother me so much to hear someone talk bad about her?

  "I have seen girls like her play games. They act all innocent and sweet when they are really wolves in sheep's clothing. I don't trust her. You do so much for her and look at how she treats you she has no respect for you"

  I had to sympathize with him. His mother was an abusive alcoholic who used to lock him in his room so he wouldn't bother her, and his dad was just as bad. Rock didn't have a normal happy childhood, so I understood why he was so distrusting of everyone.

  As I was getting ready to tell him more. I see a red Audi pull up. My red Audi.

  George the new driver I assigned for Eden came running to me flushed face sweaty and red. He looked as if he was about to explode or something as if he had a bomb attached to his shirt he couldn't breathe. He looked nervous. He threw himself at my feet.

  "sorry Ross, I'm so sorry," he said holding on to my pants crying. What the hell?

  "what the hell happened?" I asked.

  "Is the girl boss, the girl she's...she's gone".

  Chapter 18

  Ross POV

  "So, are you sure you want to marry that brat?" Rock asked.

  "I'm going to kill her before I even make her my wife." I was pissed beyond reason. What now?

  What the hell was her problem? Why was she doing this? I understood she was upset about certain stuff, but it gave her no reason to behave this way!

  Who knows what I will do to her when I find her! I went to my car immediately while I gave instructions to my men to search for her all over the mall where she went last. Some of the guys went inside to look for her while others searched for her around there. I knew Eden better than anyone. I knew she wouldn't hide inside the shopping center or inside the stores. But I would tear down all of the stores in there until I find her.

  I knew she would go running to the streets somewhere. She had no friends so that meant she couldn't go anywhere far. She better pray my guys to find her before I did because right now how I felt I could punch a fucking lion right in the mouth!

  EDEN POV

  I sat there for hours just swinging like a child. Like the child, Ross thought I was for sure. I couldn't go back to that house where that woman would-be the boss pretty much. Monique will never allow me to live there in peace. She would remind me every single day what a nobody I was and how I had nothing.

  But my heart was broken. More than anything else it was shattered into a million pieces or probably more. First, I lost Julio and now Ross. Both were a fantasy too good to be true. Too out of my reach. They were the diamond I could never wear on my finger and the golden watch I could never afford to buy. They were the Aston Martins and Lamborghinis. Both I loved dearly. Julio was only a childhood crush I thought at the time. He never looked at me as anything other than his little friend more like a sister he had to protect and Ross, well Ross was something totally different. I loved Julio as a child and Ross as a woman. But was I a woman? Or still a child in the body of one.

  "Are you lost?" A female voice threw me off track and pulled me away from my thoughts. I almost fell off the swing.

  "Umm no, No," I said nervously when I finally looked up, I saw it was a tall brunette woman.

  "Hi, my name is Liz. I saw you from my window just sitting here for a long time. You look like you can use someone to talk too."

  I could but not a stranger I wanted to say.

  "I'm fine. My name is Eden nice to meet you" I said looking down again. I was so awkward.

  "Eden as in Ross's Eden?" She said. That grabbed my attention so fast I got off the swing.

  "You know Ross?" I asked.

  "Of course, who doesn't know Ross around here it is a small town plus my cousin is his girlfriend. Monique"

  "You are Monique's cousin?" I asked alarmed.

  "Umm yes is that so hard to believe?" She asked sarcastically.

  "I should go" I made to leave.

  "Can I give you a ride back to Ross's house? Monique said you are living there..."

  Because I have nowhere else to go, I bet she also said." I cut her off before she could finish.

  "Umm yeah…you know how my cousin is," she said.

  "Yes, trust me I do know," I said. Making to leave.

  "But I'm not like her. I see how she treats you. I don't know if you remember me, I was in one of your classes in school"

  Liz...Liz...no I didn't remember her. But I really never put any importance to the mean girls that hung around with Monique anyway. And she was her cousin which would make her family to her, so she was probably as evil and wicked as Monique.

  "I don't remember I'm sorry," I said truthfully.

  "I've seen you at a couple of parties at Ross's house too"

  I stayed quiet trying to process all of this.

  "I always wanted to talk to you"

  She said.

  I looked up at her "why?" I asked.

  "Because I want to get to know the girl who captured Ross Lyner's heart"

  I almost stumbled back. Who was she kidding? Her cousin Monique had his heart, not me.

  "Well, I mean you are related to her so.," I said.

  "I mean you silly," she said.

  "Me? no, you must be mistaken Ross loves Monique. So much in fact that he is proposing to her and making her his wife"

  oops it just came out. Oh, who the hell cares. The whole town will kn
ow about it soon anyway!

  "What?! No way" she said laughing.

  "Well believe it because is true, I really have to go now if you don't mind," I told her stepping away.

  "Go where Eden, if you don't mind?" she said back sarcastically.

  "Forgive me but you have nowhere to go. Let me take you to Ross's place you two can talk there"

  "Excuse me but I don't owe you any explanations," I told her. I was beginning to get upset and irritated.

  "I can tell you are upset about the wedding. You must be mistaken, if Ross were to propose to my cousin, believe me, she would be ecstatic so much so that she would be shopping for a wedding dress, picking out a venue, picking out the church, picking out her bridesmaids dresses and spilling the tea all over Australia, and none of that has happened. Nobody has mentioned anything so you must be mistaken as I said." she said.

  "Look I know what I saw, I don't need your help. Please, I have to go" I told her and left running. I was a good runner at least.

  That was so strange running into Monique's cousin. But she was right this was a small town, and everyone knew each other I guess they definitely knew Ross.

  I kept walking the streets full of houses. Some nice some not so nice. I had no idea where I was or where I was heading. I just kept walking. It was starting to get dark outside and all I could remember was the time in Spain that I almost got kidnapped. Where would I have been right now? would I still be alive? probably not.

  I guess somethings happen for a reason. At least that's what everyone says. That's what they want you to believe. If Julio hadn't been there my life would have been either over or who knows what else. I had to be grateful for stuff. I was definitely grateful to be alive. I could have been in a whole world of mess with no escape. Just the thought of it made my skin hurt.

  I saw a couple of guys approaching and I became scared. These were demons I hadn't faced before. But that was still haunting me. The thought of being kidnapped again and sold to a trafficking ring. Shipped to another country where I didn't know anybody amongst other monstrosities I could not bear to think of. I was an ungrateful little brat. I was behaving like one.

  I owed so much to Ross. He had given me so much. I wanted to get a job to prove to him that I could make it. That I wasn't a complete loss. A total failure. I had to go back. If he married Monique who was I to say anything? I loved him, yes, but part of loving someone is seeing that they are happy, and if she made him happy then I had to accept it. Even if it destroyed me in the process.

  I ran back to the park to see if Liz was still there. She had offered me a ride back to Ross’s, but I didn't accept. She wasn't there. She said she had seen me from her window I looked up at every house that was facing the park but who knows which one it was. My phone was dead I forgot to charge it last night. I was doomed. For being a foolish stupid little girl, I was lost. I had to run back to the mall and hope I make it on time before they close.

  I ran as fast as I could. As I ran a car pulled up in front of me almost hitting me. I could not see the driver, but I had no choice but to stop.

  He flung the door open and I froze in place. Ross.

  Thank God!

  I ran to hug him and kiss him and tell him how sorry I was, but he gave me the meanest look. His expression was fire. He was furious.

  "Ross...I..."

  "get in the car" was all he said.

  I did.

  We drove somewhere else we weren't going back to the mansion.

  "where are we going?" I asked.

  He took in a deep breath "I'm taking you to your parents in Sydney. I'm driving you to the airport. Here" He handed me a large blue folder "you have all the information you need to where they live and enough money to get by for at least five months. I will purchase your plane ticket and give you money for the uber to get there from the airport"

  "Ross..." I said but he cut me off.

  "Sydney is a very expensive city so I suggest you get a job fast. You should be able to find a job there. I won't be in your way anymore I'll send you more money until you are able to make it on your own."

  He turned the radio on loud to a song called 'All night from R5'

  So loud I couldn't get a word in. I didn't know how to process all of this. I wanted to go back to my parents so badly. But now that it was actually happening. I didn't know what to say. But I know I'm not staying quiet. I reached to the radio and turned it off.

  "of course, now that you are marrying Monique you want to get rid of me! I see how you are!" I said loudly.

  That caught his attention.

  "what?" he asked.

  "Don't! I saw you at the mall buying her a huge engagement ring. You are going to marry her, take her to live in your mansion and because Monique and I hate each other you are kicking me out, sending me away because she said so."

  Tears coming down my eyes. If only he knew that I was crying because I was going to lose him forever.

  He pulled over. He stopped the engine and looked at me.

  "You saw me at the mall?"

  I said nothing. Still crying.

  He smiled and laughed. The jerk! I went to get out of the car, but he leaned over me and stopped me. He closed the door again.

  "silly girl," he said.

  "Oh, so now you want to insult me too, sure why not add more," I said.

  "That's why you left running? that's why you tried to escape again? because I'm marrying Monique?" he said.

  I said nothing. I turned my head to face the window and closed my eyes.

  "Answer me Eden is extremely important I know the truth"

  "for what? Ross, so you can laugh some more?" I said angrily.

  "so, you do care about me?" he said smiling again.

  Okay! that was it. I opened the door and got out this time. He got out too. I wanted to run so bad. But he would catch me. He was way faster than me. Maybe he wouldn't care if I jumped down this bridge we were standing on. Ongoing traffic kept passing by fast.

  "Why are you really upset Eden?" he asked. I couldn't take it anymore all of the emotions I had built inside. The pain I was carrying. The worthlessness I was feeling. I had to let it all out.

  "Because you are marrying her of all people. Someone that has caused me so much pain and anger someone who clearly doesn't deserve you and because…because...it hurts me that you are marrying her and... because...because...I love you!" I let out crying. I couldn't hold back anymore. I couldn't take it anymore everything just came out.

  He went to hold me I pulled back, but he didn't let me go.

  "silly girl" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a huge black box. He handed it to me.

  "This is for you" He said.

  Chapter 19

  Eden POV

  "What is it?" I asked cleaning the tears with my hand.

  "Well if I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise silly," he said. Placing a strand of hair behind my ear.

  I looked at the black box confused. I wasn't sure if I should just open it right away or just stare at it some more.

  What good was I doing just staring at it?

  I took a deep breath and opened the box.

  I couldn't believe my eyes. Inside was the biggest diamond ring I had ever seen. The one I saw him at the mall holding. I couldn't take my eyes off it. The sparkle was so bright like the sun. It was perfection.

  "Is this a joke?" I asked

  He looked at me confused.

  "Why are you showing me Monique's ring? What? You want my approval or something well no I don't give it, but you don't give a damn what I think anyway" I said throwing the box back at him.

  "Eden," he said grabbing me. With one hand while holding the ring in the other.

  "When I said this was for you, I fucking meant it. I'm not a liar and I wouldn't play games with you. Not with something like this. I was going to wait for your birthday to propose to you but…well you ruined the surprise" he said smiling.

  I didn't know what to say. Was this real? O
r was it a dream?

  But it all seemed real when he got down on one knee.

  "Eden Elena Alicante, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?"

  I was just in shock. The weather outside was a bit chilly or was it just me imagining things. I stood there in shock I still didn't, couldn't believe any of this. There was only one way to find out if I was dreaming. I looked down the bridge where we stood to see how far the drop was. It wasn't very high thank God. Underneath it was a small river. Well let's hope is deep enough. I took advantage that he was still down on one knee to jump off the bridge.

  "Eden NO!!" He screamed. So, did I.

  I prayed the water was deep enough. Luckily it was and I didn't get hurt. I swam back up. This was real. It wasn't a dream, or I would have woken up by now.

  "YES!!!!" I shouted. YES, I WILL MARRY YOU!!"

  "Good now get your butt up here. You deserve a spanking" he smiled and so did I.

  **2 DAYS LATER**

  MY BIRTHDAY

  The whole house was decorated with balloons and strings and a lot of stuff. I had asked Ross to keep it simple. I really wasn't into huge parties, but he was. I still couldn't believe that I was going to be his wife. It hadn't sunk in yet and I don't think it ever will.

  My parents and siblings were coming. Ross had also invited his sister whom I never met before and hid parents. He was going to announce to everyone today the big news. I was so nervous I was beside myself. I picked out my outfit. For once I was going to wear something I liked. Something that was me. In two of my favorite colors. White and purple.

  Ross always picked out my colors now it was my turn.

  I was so happy. I was finally going to have him to myself. For myself. He was going to be my husband. This was huge.

  "You look beautiful" he scared me. I was in my room fixing my hair. I turned to face him.

  "Thanks," I said.

  He came closer. I pulled back a bit. My back touched the mirror I was against the wall.

  "I hope you enjoy your birthday party," he said pulling a string of hair out of my face. He liked doing that. He was so close. I can smell him. Clean his cologne smelled so good.

  "Thank you," I said. I felt my cheeks burning red.