I stand up and brush myself. I only have four months to put up with her bipolarity and hot and cold behaviour. Four-month until the three Js graduates and aim for college with scholarships to their names, four-month will be all and then I'm gone. I feel a boost of happiness at this, but then again four months for someone like me is like four hundred years. She's on her phone with someone when I enter and my sight seems to make her happy face sour. A part of me wants to know why she's changed overnight to the Paris I use to know, but then again I do not want to bring out any nasty, mean and rude comment from her. "Can I go now?" I ask as she ends the call and looks down at the files on her desk then back at me. "Not yet." She answers. What now?! "I'm leaving for Italy in the next hour." Why is she just letting me know this now? Isn't it against business policy? Who would care? Paris certainly doesn't. "Italy?" I ask with a little furrow eye. "I have to make preparations for both my engagement and marriage to Rory. So I'll have to suspend every other business schedules and follow this up." I think I understand what she's talking about. Marriage is a big thing to plan out and for people like Paris, it will be a great plan. "It's gonna be a two weeks trip and I want to let you know that Jason would be taking over from me as the acting CEO when I leave." What am I hearing?! I can barely manage Jason as Managing Director how would I survive with him as the acting CEO?! Shit just got messy. "Is everything okay, Taylor?" There is a tone of concern in Paris' voice, but I don't think it's for me. Of course, everything has to be okay with me because I'm the one without a voice here. But I refuse to keep silent. "No, you're planning on placing Jason as CEO? I won't be able to cope with him, Paris, you know very well that we do not like each other." Hell, I barely cope with you! "Well, I guess you have to put aside your dislikes and work together as a team." A team? We are literally enemies. She gets up and picks her bag from her table. "I expect a warm working condition when I return and so you know I have eyes and ears around." Is that a threat? I inwardly challenge. She smiles at me and begins to walk out of the office. I follow her out and see to it as she gets into her car. "Take good care of yourself, Taylor." She flashes me a genuine smile as her car begins to move. "I'll try to," I mumble to myself and turn to head back to my office and I see Jason at the door, grinning at a workers like the idiot he is. I can't believe I'll have to spend two weeks with Jason, I can't even begin to imagine the hell it's going to be. We are going to kill each other. No scratch that, I'm gonna kill him. I spend half of the whole day escaping from Jason the best way I can, but bad luck is always bad luck. "Hello, pretty lady." Comes Jason's annoying voice. I raise my nose in disgust and glared at him. "What is it you want?" I ask quickly, remembering Paris's word. Team. "What I've always wanted, You." I roll my eyes, "Are we going to start this now?" I ask with an expression of disinterest. "You can deny it all you want, but I know that behind those charades you do have the same feelings I do." "If wanting to break your teeth is a mutual feeling, then yeah." I get up, grab my bag and start walking to the door, brushing past him as I open the door. "Where are you going?" He demands. "It's launch break, dumbass," I reply and close the door. The next thirty minute that follows I spend in peace. I decided to check into the new restaurant which is a few blocks away and had opened just days back. I enter and I'm welcomed and greeted by a fine young man about the same age as the three Js. He leads me to a table and politely asks for what I want and I order a vegetable bugger and vanilla yoghurt. He goes away and before long he returns with my order in his tray. I smile at him and he returns the smile before going away to attend to other customers entering. I grab my bugger and begin to eat. I look around and I notice a couple probably about seventeen and eighteen smiling at each other, the girl's cheeks seem to go red with what the boy is telling her and the picture is perfect. I can tell this is the first time they've gone out on a date. So this is what a first date must be like, this is also something I want to have, but cannot. I finish my bugger and I place my money on the table, not minding for the change as a nice gentleman like the waiter earlier can use a nice trip once in a while. I stroll down the awfully quiet street, I should have taken it to mind, but I'm busy gazing at the things and building around and I marvel at how beautiful there are. The street is beyond compare because of the little big ideas put together to make the street what it is. I am so caught up in my analysis that I forget to watch my front. I bump into someone and I step back covering my mouth and hoping to apologize, but when I gaze up, my heart skips a beat and I frown. "Seriously? Are you following me, Mr Gate?" I look at him from head to toe, noticing the great difference there is about him today. He is wearing the same old jacket and the already faded blue T-shirt and his grey Jean is the same faded Jean he wore the first day we met. His hair is messy and unkept just like three months ago and something unique seems to spark up deep in me and as much as I try to ignore it, I can't. He gives me an innocent eye, and nod. I scoff, seeing his answer is not so contrary to my question, then it hit me. Mycole did warn me to stay off his path today. "Taylor stay off Rory's part today." "He's going to put you in harm's way Taylor." "I better get back–" "Why the rush, Ms Snowfall? Paris isn't even in town." He says, walking towards me. I bite my lips, getting more nervous by the minute. Paris' absence might be his reason for wanting whatever it is he wants, but I have my reasons for wanting to stay away. "I think you know and like this Rory better." He says, and I know he's talking about his clothing. "Don't you remember that night? We spend it driving each other crazy." His warm breath hit my neck where my back is turned to him and though he makes no effort, I feel like I'm melting. It takes all my willpower to move away even though I badly want to turn and kiss him. "You're right, that was three months ago, there's a lot of difference now." "Yes." He admits and I can hear the dull tone his voice suddenly takes. "I can't forget that night though... Can you?" Is he seriously asking me about the night I've been trying hard to forget and move on from? "I've.. I've got to go." I stutter apprehensively, turning to say this to him, but I immediately regret my action because his face is just inches away from my face. "I'll take you." He offers, taking my hand. I draw my hand away from his, making him halt and turn to me. "Just back off already, don't you see I'm trying to stay away from you?" His eyes raise warily. "Why?" "Really? After everything what happened yesterday do you think I'd want anything to do with you?" I scoff and roll my eyes. "I don't know what you plan to achieve by this, but I'm not stupid to follow you anywhere." "Well, you're sure about that?" He asks, taking a step closer which set me on alarm once more. Can you just stay away? Thank you. "You seriously are full of yourself aren't you?" I demand, squaring my shoulder up and shooting him a challenging look. "Well, guess what? You're full of shit and I'd be insane to take any decision which you involved in it." Anger flared in his eyes in a brief moment, but it quickly disappears and a smirk dances over his thin lips. "You've got such bad mouth that can be out to work somewhere else." I roll my eyes instinctively, but I can't stop my cheek from burning. "Work eh? Like biting your ears off right? That sound like fun." This time he rolls his eyes. "I think you know well what I'm referring to, Ms Snowfall, a lot of girls would be happy to be in your position." "Thank God you said a lot of girls, and look, Mr Gate, I am not a lot of girls, I am Taylor Snowfall and I say screw you." I push him out of my way, hurrying up so I can disappear from him. I walk on, reaching for the phone that keeps beeping in my purse, I freeze and my purse drops from my hand when I feel a swift, but as well as a powerful force field pass by me. I didn't see it because it moved so quickly and is gone before I can begin to think about what it is. Although I didn't see it, I feel like something bad is going to happen and I immediately remember Mycole's warning. "Taylor stay off Rory's part today." "He's going to put you in harm's way Taylor." I am in danger!!! I begin to panic. "I'm in danger all thanks to you–" I turn and I'm shocked beyond imagination at to what I see and my word is cut short. I see Rory's left hand pressing into the side of his rib and his hands are filled up with his blood and I see his face in unimaginable pain as he fights to stand, but he fails miserably and I hear a faint groan of "Oh God!" before he loses his balance and falls on a patch ground, writhing in deep agony.