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  "Ross it wasn't her fault" I tried to say.

  "if this happens again Carol, I will fire you. There are many women out there who will love to have your job working for me. You only take orders from me and Eden understood?"

  "Yes, boss I am so sorry it won't happen again," She said crying as he ushered her away with his head.

  He closed the door.

  "where were we babe?" he said.

  "Let's go out to the terrace," I said.

  "I can't take the smell either." He said.

  "You were a bit harsh on her it wasn't her fault," I said.

  "Eden..." he started saying opening up the terrace door. He led me outside to the most beautiful view of the water. His boats were there. The view from his room was truly the best.

  Compared to where we lived this was paradise. I loved the water. I loved his house because it was so close to the water.

  "Eden why don't you start worrying more about you and less about others okay," he told me with a serious face.

  "Okay, then I will get straight to the point. why on Earth didn't you help my family stay?" I said with tears in my eyes.

  He was leaning on the porch rails looking at the boats in the water.

  "What do you mean? I gave them money I helped them as much as I could I told them to stay here if they wanted too they chose to leave not my fault"

  "You have contacts here Ross I'm sure of it you could have called one of your dad's friends to help my parents out with a job and my siblings as well Ross you know I have been trying tirelessly to find a job but no one will spare me a chance not even wiping floors at the local hospital. " I said teary

  "That's because those jobs are not for you babe that's all" He grabbed me by the waist, but I pulled away.

  "That's not what I mean. I have been trying to find a job to help in any way I can my family and I haven't found anything because no one will hire me." it was true, and it was a sad reality. I had applied to dozens of jobs within a week or less and nobody called me back not once.

  "Your parents wanted to leave Eden, they wanted to move to Sydney where there are more opportunities, what did you want me to do? tie them to a chair lock them in their room? I offered to help them find jobs with people I know but they said no." He said.

  "What about my siblings why didn't they stay with me?"

  "Same thing Eden you know Joseph is a huge baby and will always tag along with your parents wherever they go and Lysa is a free-spirit always off doing her own thing. she wanted to explore and live in Melbourne she has a friend there, so she left to live with her what is the big deal?" He asked.

  "The big deal is that I am left here alone while my whole family leaves to not just another house but to another city altogether! without me!" I broke down. I almost fell to the ground if he wouldn't have held me with his strong arms around me.

  "Love you have been through a lot these couple of weeks why don't you allow your mind and body to rest. Tomorrow we can figure something out. I will help you find a job if that's what you want" He said holding me tight.

  "Yes, yes please yes help me find a job," I said hugging him. He smelled so good. The new Giorgio Armani cologne I smelled at the mall. His watch was so shiny and beautiful like gold and diamonds on his wrist.

  "You like it?" He smiled noticing that I was staring at his watch.

  "yes, very much," I said. I loved watches. My dad was such a watch fan he collected all the watches that he could get his hands on. Of course, they all got destroyed in the fire no doubt. He gave me a white beat up watch a long time ago when I was seven and I never took it off. One day I did, and I lost it I cried for months.

  "get some rest love I will help you," he said.

  "Thank you," I said giving him a kiss on his cheek. I had hope. I had dreams. I hope to be able to help my parents soon in any way I can, and Ross was going to help me. He knew so many people I had no doubt I will find a job soon. For the first time in a long time, I was going to sleep good tonight.

  ROSS POV

  "How is Earl doing?" I asked Rock

  "Well considering what happened and what we did to him, not so good," Rock said.

  "Well, at least now he knows never to cross me again or say anything out of place again" we all laughed.

  "Oh, and one more thing Rock"

  "Yes, boss?"

  "send Mr. Deepsuhu or whatever his name is his money wired"

  "You never told me what that money was for boss?"

  "Just getting rid of extra baggage" we smiled.

  Chapter 9.

  Eden POV

  Two weeks had passed, and I haven't heard anything from my scholarship or any potential jobs. Ross had given my CV to many of his friends and nothing.

  I had presented the dish to the judge this woman from the school and she seemed to have loved the dish. She said she will call me back to set up the interview at the school in Switzerland but that was for sure a win. She said. But I haven't heard anything. I went outside for a walk. Ross wasn't around he got up early for a meeting or something. I was alone.

  I went to the kitchen to talk to Carol who was cooking. It smelled so good.

  "Eden, why don't you ask Ross to pay you for cooking here?" Carol said.

  "What?" I was surprised.

  "Yes, you do most of the cooking all the time. You help me around quite a lot. Why don't you start charging money for it?"

  "I couldn't. Ross already does so much. He lets me live here for free he gives me money for my clothes and personal stuff I need like shampoos and things I can't ask him to pay me I live here" I said and meant it. How could I?

  "I know but he always goes with you to buy the things you need or sends his pet Earl to watch you and take you shopping. You don't have any freedom" Carol was right. But still, I couldn't ask him for money no way.

  "Speaking of Earl, he is always quiet anymore he doesn't talk," I said.

  "I noticed the same thing. So, I asked him he didn't answer. It seemed like he couldn't even open his mouth to talk"

  Carol said.

  "Oh, how weird," I said

  "Yes, Earl has always been a weird lad. Ross brought him to the house when he was 10 Ross was 9. Earl was homeless he was living on the streets with an uncle. Ross and he became close friends. He became part of his gang and the rest is history. He's always been quiet."

  "What a sad story" I had tears in my eyes. I couldn't imagine living on the streets at that age. He was still a child! What kind of parents would allow that? Good thing Ross took him in. He did have a heart after all.

  As I spoke is like I brought him with my thoughts. He was there with red shorts on and no shirt. His muscular body was breathtaking. Only a couple of tattoos but not very many. He was a sight. His body was a sight. I felt a weird feeling inside me. Like I wanted to know what it was like to be in bed with him. But not temporarily. I wanted to be there forever.

  "Like what you see babe," He has always called me that. I never mind.

  "Rock is going to take you shopping. We're having a big party tonight to welcome our new members into the knight lions" he said drinking a glass of water.

  "What about Earl?" I asked.

  "What of him?" He asked surprised.

  "Well, he is the one who is always taking me places and being around. I mean I don't need anyone around I can go myself shopping" I tried to reason with him. I didn't need a babysitter.

  "Earl hasn't been feeling good lately" was all he said about that.

  "Buy something purple. I like that color on you. I’m off to do business, Rock will pick you up at around 2 be ready and I'll see you tonight"

  He put his glass down and gave me a kiss on the cheeks and left. God, I wish my cheeks we're my lips.

  I got dressed in a yellow flower dress I had. And waited for Rock.

  It's weird. I've only seen Rock a couple of times, but he barely spoke to me and now he was taking me shopping. I was surprised. Why couldn't I go alone?

  2 o'clock came and I w
aited outside. He pulled up on a gorgeous car it looked so expensive

  It was beautiful. I got in. Rock was a very handsome guy. He was young too like Ross. Probably the same age.

  "Hello," I said. He looked at me and smiled. Said nothing. After a while he finally said something

  "What mall will you like to go too?" He asked.

  "Umm the closest one and actually we can just go to any store that sells cheap dresses," I said embarrassed because I didn't have much money. After giving my savings to my parents I had nothing left. Ross gave me money, but he always came with me or send someone with me to get the things I needed. I couldn't save much these days.

  "We go wherever you want. Ross said to pick out whatever you want doesn't matter how expensive it is. He wants you to always look your best"

  "For what?" I asked. He just looked at me and smiled. He said nothing. Why would Ross want me to look good? I was only his friend. Monique was the one who was supposed to look good all the time not me.

  We got to the mall. It was huge. I always wanted to come to this Mall but didn't have the money well, not enough for me to spend on material stuff for myself. It was a bit far as well about 2 hours away, but it was the best mall in Queensland. We lived in such a small town it barely had anything no wonder my parents left.

  "Want me to go in with you?" Rock asked.

  "No, I can manage on my own. How long can I be?"

  "As long as you want," he said.

  "You're going to wait here for 10 hours?" I asked jokingly.

  "If that's how long you want. Boss gave orders I follow. Here is the money" he handed me a white envelope stuffed with money. There must be at least 3,000 in there.

  I was afraid to take it.

  "How much money is in here?" I asked.

  "5,000 if you need more let me know"

  "MORE?!" this is way more than I need this is enough for a down payment on a car!

  "I can't take this," I said.

  "Talk to Ross, he told me to give you that envelope to buy yourself new clothes. And whatever else you need. Since all of your clothes got destroyed in the fire"

  "But he already gave me money for that stuff," I said.

  He looked at me and smiled. "He must not have liked what you bought"

  Pause for a minute we both stayed silent.

  "Look Eden just take it, if it's too much then you talk to Ross about it later when you see him, I am only following orders that's all"

  "Thank you," I said. He nodded and put his shades on pushed his driver seat back so he can relax and laid there waiting for me to finish.

  Why was this handsome young man working for Ross when he could be a model or actor or something like that. He had the height and the looks well so did Ross. It was just weird.

  I went inside the mall to my favorite store. "Aida Light" this store sold beautiful foreign dresses from all over the world. There were dresses from India, Japan, Spain, America the UK all in one store. Designers from all over. I spotted a beautiful purple lace dress didn't Ross tell me to buy a purple dress well this was it.

  The dress wasn't exactly Ross style. It didn't show enough anything, but it was classy and sophisticated, and I liked it. I didn't want to spend all day shopping. I felt bad for Rock waiting outside for me. I purchased the dress went to a couple of other stores and bought a few more things. Shorts, t-shirts. I found a note in the envelope when I opened it to take out the money to pay. It had a credit card Inside "more money?" I told myself.

  "Buy yourself the watch of your dreams"

  -Ross

  Apart from giving me 5,000, he was giving me more money on a credit card for a watch. No. I couldn't. It was tempting very tempting. I always wanted a fancy watch I loved watches, but I couldn't accept. I just couldn't. I couldn't take more money. If he was my husband things would be different, but he isn't. I felt weird buying clothes with the cash he gave me let alone use more money of his. If I was working this would be my money I was spending.

  I took the opportunity to ask around different stores if they were hiring. Sure, it was 2 hours away from home, but I could get an apartment around here and workday and night to pay the rent. If the scholarship wasn't going to happen, I had to start looking at other options to get my life moving and, in a track, and I had to work. I couldn't live off of Ross for the rest of my life it wasn't right.

  I only stayed about 2 in a half hour and I thought that was too long, but I was filling out applications most of the time. didn't want to stay long.

  I went outside and as soon as I was about to walk to the car, I get an email.

  "Dear Miss Alicante,

  Congratulations, you have secured a spot for an interview at our school "the grand petit chef school in beautiful Geneva Switzerland" below you will find all the information you need in an attachment along with the boarding pass information for your flight in a month. We look forward to welcoming you into our school should all go well with the in-school interview. Again, Congratulations and good luck. We can't wait to meet you."

  Sincerely,

  Brenda Bath

  Head judge of scholarships.

  Oh my GOD!!! This was it!!!! I couldn't believe it. This was the opportunity I was waiting for!! I was one step closer to that scholarship. My mind went blank. I almost forgot where I was going. As I stood there in the middle of the huge parking lot, I heard a beep...BEEP!!! again. A loud beep from a car.

  "MOVE OUT OF THE WAY YOU BITCH!"

  An angry man yelled. But that wasn't all. He parked the car on the side and got off very angry heading towards me.

  "I’m sorry sir I was reading something on my phone and..."

  "Stupid girl! Don't you see I almost hit you with my car! I’m not insured nor have a license you could have sent me to jail and all because of your stupid phone! You dumb young people now and days with your head in those damn phones! Can't even see where you are going anymore!" The man spat. He was an older man about 50.

  "I’m so sorry sir you are totally right I..." he didn't let me finish.

  "Shut the hell up!" He said taking my phone.

  "Please sir that's my phone I need it"

  "Yeah? Well, maybe you can see better without it!" He made to throw it on the phone, but a strong male voice stopped him.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you!". Rock. Thank God!

  "mind your own business and keep walking," the man said to Rock

  "Give the lady back her phone," he said calmly

  "No, this bitch almost caused an accident. If I would've knocked her pretty head off, I would be the one in trouble not her dumbass!" The mad said very angrily

  "I’m going to count to three and that's being generous if you don’t give the phone back to the young lady you are going to wish you had listened the first time I told you to give her phone back one...two...three"

  "Piss off," the man said

  "Okay, Eden you might want to close your eyes," Rock said.

  "Rock please don't..."

  But it was too late. The man was on the floor bleeding before I could say anything, and my phone was in my hand.

  Chapter 10.

  Eden pov

  The man was there barely breathing barely moving blood everywhere. I think Rock hit him with something. But I don't know what he hit him with.

  He was on the phone with someone.

  "Get here now!" He was saying to whoever on the phone.

  I just stood there my arms covering my body. It was hot outside, but I felt chills all over my body.

  "We need to get him out of here before someone calls the cops!" He was saying on the phone.

  Rock had instructed me to say that the man was my uncle and that he was suffering some sort of seizure. I just said he fell on the floor and hit his head on the floor which would explain the blood, but that he was okay, and we were calling for help. The people that asked seemed to be okay with that. I wouldn't know what to make up if I was alone. But then I don’t know what would've happened if I was alone.
The man might have broken my phone and probably hit me who knows. He was so angry. I was glad Rock was there to help me.

  He walked to me. "Everything will be okay Eden I called for backup"

  "Backup for what? Let's just leave him here...maybe call an ambulance" I said.

  "Are you crazy?! He saw my face he knows what I did. I can't take that chance" he said

  "What did you do?" I asked.

  He just looked at me "saved your butt" he said. And I left it at that because in part it was true.

  "I'm going to move him out of sight. People are looking too much. We are in the middle of the parking lot have you been saying what I told you to say?"

  I just stood there staring at the ground.

  "Eden" he tapped my shoulder

  "Yes...yes I said what you told me to say"

  "Good"

  "We're you calling Ross?" I asked.

  "No, no he is in a meeting I can't interrupt him plus he would do something worse to this man if he saw how he was treating you," he said.

  I was even more alarmed now. Worse like what? What could be worse? I didn't dare ask.

  Rock moved the man all the way to the corner of an empty parking lot. Close to the main one. We waited there for whoever Rock called. About an hour later 4 men drove up in a beatdown car. They looked like gangsters.

  They all got out of the car and came towards us. Rock saw them and walked to them. I stayed there. I didn't want to be a witness to whatever they were going to do but I wasn't going to let them do anything bad.

  "What do we do? He saw my face?"

  Rock was asking the men.

  "What does Ross say to do?" One of the men asked

  "I haven't told him, he's in a meeting," Rock said.

  "Well the only thing we can do is the same thing y'all did to Earl," one man said

  "Of course, why didn't I think of that!" Rock said. "Good well do it out of sight"

  "He can still identify you, draw you to the cops if he is into that you never know. He might be a good artist. I say we also take care of that problem" another man said.

  What the hell were they talking about? What we're they going to do? I didn't want to know.

  But I had to say something.