"Please tell me then how I can make my father understand that this is not going to happen?I can't remember the last time he was that hung up over a woman."Zak banged his fist on the table making Mariyah’s heart jump from fright.Fuck… Olivia needed to shut her mouth right about now.
"Make him understand, otherwise he's a dead man."Zak stormed outside and Mariyah braced herself.
"Did you enjoy yourself at the party?Ha?Now you have a fucking drug lord lusting over you.Is that what you were after?Had to aim big?"Oh he looked furious.Caleb sat casually leaning back in his chair, he seemed so okay…
"I told him you would kill me if I took him up on his offer.I also told him that I was in a serious relationship."
"You are fucked up in the head.Do you know what will happen if I go to war with him?Your little fucking exhibition is enough to start an all-out war.So tell me how do you expect me to fix this?"Mariyah bit her lip, she didn't know what to say."Nothing, you got nothing?You can never seem to keep your fucking mouth shut, now that I want you to fucking use your mouth you have nothing to say?"
"Why does it have to be a war?I don't want him can't he accept that?"Zak shook his head.
"Men like us don't accept rejection.You haven't realized that yet?How the fuck did you ever have teaching as your career?"Zak was trying to hurt her with his words.She just shrugged her shoulders not wanting to make this into something."Fucking women."Zak stormed inside.
"Always in trouble.It's actually quite refreshing having somebody else deal with you."Caleb smiled and winked at her.
"Shut up…" It was true she always got herself into so much trouble only it wasn’t Caleb to fix it this time… Zak was taking the responsibility now.
***
Mariyah noticed that Zak and Caleb were spending a lot of time together.Always in the office or on the phone or talking to each other without anybody overhearing.Even Eric was in on it.Mariyah hoped that Caleb wasn't going into business with Zak.So when she got a minute alone with her brother she asked him."Caleb are you working with Zak?"He looked uncomfortable.
"Mari, it's got nothing to do with you."
"Don't you remember the last time you worked for people like him?This is a bad idea Caleb, a really bad idea."
"Nothing is going on, what's with your paranoia?"
"I know something is going on.I'm sure of it."
"Don't pry Mari, it will only get you in more trouble."
She was going to get to the bottom of it.What were they up to that was so secretive?Bad news that's what.
That evening after dinner Mariyah noticed that the men were outside discussing something, looked like it was top secret, Mariyah casually walked outside forgetting she was only in her cotton shorts and her single with no bra."What ya doing?"She asked as she took a seat beside Caleb.
"Mari what the hell are your walking around in?”Mariyah’s face heated up.
"For fucks sake."Zak said almost simultaneously.
"Okay, gees I didn't realize."She was too embarrassed to go change.Zak took off his tee shirt and threw it at her.She quickly put it on, it came to her knees and smelt of Zak.Looking at his bare chest all tattooed and muscly Miranda almost fanned herself to cool down.Zak caught her look and she once again felt her face heat up.How could she still be attracted to him, after everything he did to her how could she still miss his touch.The thing that she missed most was his embrace, the warmth and the security she felt in his arms.Reminded her when her and Caleb were on the run and he would have her head on his chest telling her everything was going to be okay.Mariyah missed Betty, she was one in a million.She gave Caleb the tools to be able to look after her.
"Anything wrong?"Caleb whispered, she shook her head.
"Just remembered Betty.”He smiled at her.
"I miss her too."Mariyah didn't want to cry so she up and changed the subject.
"So what are you men doing out here?"It went silent."That bad huh?"
"Mariyah this isn't for you."Zak got straight to the point.
"Is Caleb working for you?"She could get straight to the point also.
"Caleb and I are working together."Okay then.
"Doing what?"She wanted answers.
"Nothing that concerns you."
