chapter 7

Trish POV

Life has to move on. I tried applying for a job but who would hire a high school undergraduate. I ended up working at a small diner. The pay was enough to get me through the day. I also tried to have the spare room in my house rented but without any luck. Mikel has always been supportive and even gave me extra cash. Liam never showed up again and I felt really disappointed. I know I can look for him at the club but there was no way I was going to run after him. He was just a good distraction from my crazy life. For now, back to reality.

The last thing I could think off was him showing up at my workplace but one day he did. It's been what five weeks, three days since I last saw him. Anyways who's counting? I'm pathetic I know. I end up laying in bed with him speechless after he fucked me. I mean, I had no word to explain what happened. It was just amazing. But I wasn't going to tell him that. I wasn't going to feed this man's ego anymore considering how easily he got to fuck me after not showing for a couple of weeks. I am a cheap easy slut. But I'm not complaining. It was perfect.

"Hi." I greeted him when I woke up around 10:00 AM.

"Good morning, love." He kissed my lips tenderly. 

"How can you look so good in the morning," I stated and embraced him tightly. "I'm hungry. Do you want something to eat?" I stood up and put on my robe.

"I'll eat you for breakfast if you'll let me." He stood up and embrace me. 

"Maybe later. For now, I'll make breakfast." 

"I'll just buy breakfast and you can freshen up." He offered.

"Okay. Even better, I just realize I haven't gone to the groceries this week yet. Thanks."

"I'll be back as fast as I could." He stated as he put on his clothes.

I showered and enjoy the cool water running down my body. I felt sore from our early morning activity and I was thinking of wanting more. I stare at myself in the mirror and looked at the love bites Liam left on my body. I got dressed and fixed the bed. Then I notice two small holes in my pillow. I heard a car parked in from of my house. I looked out the window and saw Liam getting out his car. I went downstairs and welcomed him. We ate breakfast together.

"So do you have any plans for today?" He asked casually.

"No. But I have to look for another workplace. I hate being Mikel's charity case. He always hands me extra cash and I can't even say no since I really need it." I admitted.

"Would you take money from me?"

"You'll pay me for having sex with you," I replied seriously.

"No, I can have sex with you for free. Don't get me wrong but we did have sex without any arrangements." He stated calmly. "I just want to help you out. I think going back to school would suit you better. After that, you can find a better job."

"What are you, my dad? I'm not a kid." I stated in disbelief. "Why would you want to give me money? We're not related. I'm just some random girl you had sex with."

"Well, I won't give it to you for free, consider it as a loan. You can pay me back when you're more stable financially."

"Or I can just have sex with you for money," I replied playfully. "Are you feeling guilty because of what happened between us earlier. Listen, we both wanted it. I may be only 21 and you what 30-ish but trust me, you did not take advantage of me. So you don't have to offer me anything in return for a one-time thing. I'm mature enough to make my decisions."

"What one-time thing? I don't  think I'll ever want to stop being around you." He responded. "I'm not offering my help because of what happened between us. I'm offering it because you deserve it. You have a long way to go in life."

"Thanks but no thanks. I appreciate the concern but my financial problems are not something you should worry about. I'll figure something out."

He seemed upset with my rejection but he didn't insist and just stayed quiet. I didn't want to rely on another man for money. I already did that once with Stanley. Yes, the guy that seems to have existed only in my imagination. But I had a feeling that he really did exist. I even googled him once but there were so many results that I gave up. There was no way I'm using my body again for some cash. I can't stoop that low. My trains of thoughts were then cut when my cell rang. 

"I need to go to meet Mikel. He said he had good news for me."

"Can I come?" He replied smiling at me.

"Sure. Let's meet them for lunch." We arrived at the restaurant and Mikel immediately spotted me and run in my direction. 

"Hey, baby girl." He embraced me tightly and literally drag me to their private room. "Guys, here she is the infamous Patricia Louise Andrews. Of course, you've met Sam, Benjamin, and Oliver and they are Lexy, Tanya." He introduces them to me and they all smiled at me.

"This seems to be a very interesting group you're meeting," Liam spoke announcing his presence and all of them seemed surprised by his presence.

"Oh fuck." I forgot to mention to Mikel that I was bringing Liam with me. "Liam, sorry. Mikel this is Liam. Liam this is Mikel and his friends."

"I know them." He stated seriously. "Pleasure to finally meet you." He extended his hand to Mikel and smiled at him.

"Pleasure is mine," Mikel replied blushing. 

"You know them?" I ask Liam once we were all seated.

"Yes. Don't you remember, I told you before that Mikel left with Samuel and that Oliver was his brother. From the club?" I frowned trying to remember. "You're too young to be very forgetful, love." He chuckled and I laughed along with him.

"Sorry, I had so many things in mind. I don't really remember." I felt everyone was looking at us so I decided to change the topic. "So, what's the good news?"

"I told them that I know someone who used to organize the best events ever. They need someone to help them organize a masquerade. And I recommended you." He said excitedly.

"Really? I haven't really been organizing anything for a long time. My life is even so disorganized I can't even piece things together. How can you expect me to organize anything?"

"Snap out of it, bitch," Mikel stated playfully. "Your panicking relax. The events in two months and you can have all the help you need."

"The masquerade?" Liam butt in. "Have I approved that? It seems like it's the first time I'm hearing this."

"Mikel, I'm sorry," Sam replied. "I think we need to discuss it with Liam first before we can push through with the plan." They seemed nervous. 

"When were you planning to tell me, Samuel?"

"I think, we should give guys some privacy. Mikel and I would just be outside." I stood up.

"Don't leave." Liam pulled me and I ended up sitting on his lap. "I'm waiting, Samuel." He stated seriously as he wraps her arms around me possessively.

"Liam!" I squirmed as he refuses to let me go with his iron grip.

"Quiet, love. Let's hear what they've got to say." He responded dismissively.

"We were planning to..."

"Liam, let me go," I screamed at him really pissed that he was manhandling me.

"I told you to keep quiet. Didn't I?" He stares at me angrily and the same anger reflected in my eyes. "I'm sorry." He sighs deeply. "Please don't get mad." He let's go of me and I stood up.

"What the hell?" Mikel exclaimed. "I think you two love birds need more privacy."

"Not helping." I glared at Mikel. "Can we just please just get this over with? Is there a job that you guys want me to do?" I was really annoyed and they all just kept quiet.

"We were planning to tell you once we got everything planned out," Oliver stated when Liam looked over at him. "You always wanted things to be organized so we didn't want to present you with just a proposal but a whole planned out event."

"And it's been so long since we last had a masquerade," Tanya stated.

"Fine. If she agrees to organize the event. Let's push through with it. But I am overseeing it." He stated with all authority.

"Really?!" Lexy stated excitedly. "Please, say yes." She looked at me very hopeful.

"I'll think about it," I replied after contemplating. 

"Then it's settled," Liam stated. "You guys know I hate being in the dark so next time talk to me before making plans behind my back." 

"Please say yes. We are going to be in your debt forever." Sam stated.

"Please beautiful," Benjamin added.

"I'm not really good being under pressure. You see I just woke up from a two-year coma and even though I aged during that time I still have the mind of a 19-year-old teenager. You can't expect me to make a decision immediately. Especially if it will give him access to fucking control me..."

"Shut up! You're blabbering." Mikel laughed at me and embraced me tightly. "You're going to say yes and take this as a challenge."

"I am?" I looked at him nervously.

"Yes!" Mikel replied excitedly. "I'm going to help you just like the old times."

"Take your time to think about it. Stop pressuring her." Liam stated calmly.

"It's your fault." I glared at him. "You're the reason I'm in this situation."

"Fine. No more masquerade then." He stated and left.

"Sorry." I slumped on my chair as everyone looked at me upset.

"It's okay." Mikel embraced me. "You've been through a lot. I should have asked you before putting you on the spot. I'm sorry baby girl."

"It's not you. It's him. He's getting into nerves. I'll explain later. I promise. I need some air. I'll see you later." 

I left the restaurant and walked around the busy neighborhood. My mind focused back on the man that was driving me crazy. Why do they seem so scared of Liam? Am I ready to be involved to a man a barely know? There was something about him that puzzles me. He has this aura that people around him seems to just do as he orders. Am I ready to be just following orders from him? But then again, he never really forced me into anything. He always made me decide or maybe it's just his way of manipulating by making it looked I've made my own decision. This really sucks! Suddenly, I run into a person I thought I would never see again.

"Babe?!" Scott stated when he saw. "Is that really you?" He embraced me tightly.

"Scott?" I stated really surprised.  

"I have been trying to look for you since someone told me you woke up from the coma."

"You did?" I stated in disbelief. "Well as you can see I'm doing great. I have to go."

"Babe, I need to talk to you." He stated seriously. 

"Don't call me that! Why don't you just fuck off and enjoy your time with the bimbo you replaced me with." I stated angrily.

"So that's what they've told you. You know I'd never replace you. I just got really scared. Stanley died and you were in a coma. And someone was..."

"You know about Stanley?!" I cut him off and stare at him.

"Yes." He stated firmly. 

"Then we do need to talk," I replied. 

"Can we talk at your place?" He requested and I agreed. "Wow, nice and cozy. So when did you move out from the apartment Stanley got for us." He stated casually.

"Would you believe me if I tell you that Mikel had no memory of Stanley?" I stated as we were at the porch drinking coffee. "I remember that he was the one who introduced me to him and yet he insisted that he doesn't exist. And you are telling me that he did exist. I'm so confused."

"I don't know if you'd believe what I got to say. But I need you to listen to me. I saw a woman talking to Mikel the night before I run the hell away from the city. She was hypnotizing him or something. Telling him to forget about Stanley. I hid from them and followed her when she left. She tried to kill me. I barely escape with my life if it weren't for the police patrolling the area that shoots at her. Vampires, Trish, they existed. I had an encounter with one. Nobody believes me and so I was sent to the mental hospital. I escaped after a few months but I was scared to go back here. I got connected with the wrong crowd but when a friend told me that you woke up from the coma I had to see. I just want you to know that they do exist. And if you want to hunt down that creature that killed your parents. I'd help you. You just need to come with me."

"I can't," I stated. "I mean what's the point of chasing after a faceless creature. I don't even have a clue where to start. My life is a complete mess right now. You can't expect me to just go with you. I have tons of stuff to worry about." 

"I wish I can stay here with you to protect you but I made some crazy decisions while you were in the hospital so I have to go. I've been on the move every single day."

"Scott, what have you gotten yourself into?" I looked at him worriedly.

And before he can even respond gunshots were fired at us. I felt his heavy body on top of me and a series of gunshots. Then an explosion that made the porch roof crashing at us. Then everything started to go dark. Is this where my life ends? I just found out that Stanley did exist and that vampires could be real. No, this couldn't be the end of me! Then everything went dark completely.