After the crazy night, I didn't get much sleep.

Two hours in bed and I had to get up for a job interview at 7-eleven. The manager, Thomas, was very nice, and I hope he will hire me. He asked me to wait for his call and because I still didn't have my own phone I gave him Casey's number.

There was another thing I had to do today. I had to meet with Axel Evans.

The lawyer who once worked for my parents. After they died I met him once at the funeral. He gave me his business card and call him if I ever need help.

The funny thing is tho. I called him once. When my adoptive parents died. When I was the terrified teenager who desperately needed help to get custody over Casey and he wasn't there for me.

He left for work in the UK. He came back to the country a week ago as he told me when he was asking me to come to his office.

He was working as a corporate lawyer, he was one of these business sharks they would make legal TV series about. He had some fancy office in the city center.

"Axel, it's nice to see you," I said drily.

"Pleasure all mine. I still remember you as a little kid Eliana you've grown so much. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. Please sit. Do you want something to drink?"

"There's no need. I don't have much time"

"Understandable. How have you been doing lately?"

"I mean my cousin and uncle are trying to kill me but other than that great," I said dryly.

To my surprise, his eyes shined with a mix of worry and guilt.

"I'm sorry. I should've been here for you. My mother got severely sick and I had to stay in the UK to take care of her. Because of that, I couldn't keep my promise to Axel to take care of you"

Now I felt guilty for expecting him to be here for me. Axel had his own life.

"Oh... I'm sorry," I played with my fingers nervously.

"I should be the one saying this to you but it won't change anything so let's go to the business instead," he said firmly "I'm back in the States for another six months. I want to make sure you receive everything your parents left you so I'd like to represent you at the probate court hearing if that's okay with you"

"I'm sorry but I don't have enough money to pay a fee"

"You don't need to pay me anything. I will do it pro-bono"

"R-really?" I looked at him with wide eyes.

"Of course. That's the least I can do. Bring this case to the end. I regret convincing your father to add that part about age to his will. I'm terribly sorry Eliana but if you need someone to hate, hate me"

"I already had enough people to hate. Like Harvey and Ethan"

Axel's eyes furrowed.

"What happened exactly?"

"Ethan came to my house drunk and drugged and started talking about me giving up my rights to inherit or else. And I wouldn't budge under his threat so he beat me up"

"Did you report the incident to the police?" Axel asked.

"Police told me I can file papers for a restraining order"

"That's always something"

"Not nearly enough. If Harvey asks him to kill me he will, any time. It's not like a piece of paper will stop him"

"Do you have a plan?"

I looked at him, wondering if I could really trust this man. He was working closely with my father for many years. So I decided to tell him everything.

"This will sound crazy, but I didn't have money to hire security, so I decided to get creative... perhaps too creative. I will get married"

Axel had many follow-up questions, so I shared with him the plan we crafted with Eva and how it changed when I approached Rafael Vincenti. Axel's eyes widened in disbelief

"Are you mad?" Axel stood up, looking at me in disbelief.

"I know this is dangerous"

"This is... an understatement" he rubbed his temple.

"I needed to do something. I didn't know what. I feel so helpless. I know it's a long shot, I know it will backfire"

"You need to consider very carefully what this man's intentions are, why is he decided to help you?"

"I offered them 50% shares of my company"

"Eliana, that's a lot. Did you try to negotiate?"

Um... shit.

"Yeah, of course," I lied in an unnaturally high voice.

"Sweet Jesus..."

Axel covered his face with his hands, completely disappointed with my choices. Okay, I am hopeless, I know. Then he sighed heavily.

"Have you signed anything?"

"Not yet. That's why I came here. Rafael invited me for a dinner to discuss the agreement between the two of us. Later he wanted the meeting with lawyers to negotiate and sign the papers where everything we agree on is included. That's why I wanted to ask you if-"

"Of course I will come"

"There's a fee issue. I don't have money now... Is it possible for me to pay in installments?"

"Eliana, your father paid me enough. I don't want your money"

"No, I have to pay you"

"You don't," he said simply, "I will do everything I can to help you, I owe this to Oliver. And since we're on the topic of me helping you, I don't think marriage is a good idea. There's a safe house your father build. I can buy you a plane ticket and make sure you have everything you need there. You can wait for it all to end there without anyone knowing where exactly are you. You will be perfectly safeac and you will go back in six months"

"No" I responded firmly, my eyes sharpened, and I felt anger rising inside me.

"Listen, this might be the best option. You won't lose the part of the company that way"

"But I will lose Casey. I have temporary custody which means I can't just move her to another country and I'm not leaving without her"

"Just for a little while, you will come back to her in a few months"

"Absolutely not" I will never leave her again, that's what I promised myself. I couldn't take her abroad, not until the custody case was fully settled, and it dragged on for months already and still would for other months to come.

"So you're willing to lose half of your company just so you can stay with her this half a year"

"Yes"

He shook his head in disbelief and smiled.

"What? Am I funny to you?" great, another person who laughs at me.

"No, I just think your sister is lucky to have you"

&&&

After I left Axel's office, Casey's called.

"That guy from 7-eleven contacted me, he asked to let you know that you're hired" oh that's right. I still don't own a phone, so I gave Casey's number to the manager who interviewed me at the store.

I have a new job. Finally, something good happened.

&&&

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for your interest in this story. Please, let me know what you think. I take criticism, suggestions, questions.

To be honest I'm not sure if this story is even worth writing... I wish my writing style was better. I might rewrite the first chapters at some point or just give up on it.