"If you don't wake the hell up right now. We don't have fucking healthcare." I hear Jess grumbling to herself as I lay drowned in the bathtub fully clothed.

"This is how you decide to wake me up?" I spit the nasty water out the silver dress mocking me from the corner of the bathroom where I decided to throw it changing before Jessica came over.

"I am not a medic, I asked people what they want to drink for a living. This is the best idea I had."

"You have google."

"And you have a lot of bullshit coming from your mouth towards someone who saved you." She places her hands on her hips standing back up and away allowing me to stand from the tub soaking wet.

"What happened to the check?"

"It's in your wallet. I figured it was the safest place to put the lottery."

"I have to rip it up. I can't take that from him!"

Jessica raises her hands in the air shaking them wildly, "Look I know I joked about selling myself. But here I'm serious. Think about this. That could be the down payment on a home, or a nice car, or even college! This money could give you a chance to better yourself and really be free. What's one meeting with the guy?"

"He could kidnap me."

"He won't. You have a paper trail indicating exactly where you are going. Easy to track. And hey, if you get the okay, I can go with it. Make it a little adventure."

A check for my inconvenience? What kind of man sends a woman he has met twice that kind of money? Is this like sneezing money to him?

"I can't believe I am about to agree with you."

Jessica laughs, but almost in a maniacal way, "Look, other than money for tacos and ice cream, excluding today, we don't have money ever. We can't enjoy life. Hell we can't even travel because we are so broke and can't get a car. You need this money, you need a life. James took so much of you life from you, and your parents ran you into debt. This is... this is your chance."

It took me three years and a lot of blow jobs for James to pay off that debt.

"Okay, okay. You're right. But if you can go with me, I need you too. I can't do this alone."

"Deal. I got your back bitch."

I pull her into a soaking her, her hands going to hold mid air away from me, "Girl this is gross." She groans while I rub my wet hair against her face.

"Thanks savior."

~

Ares 12:03 a.m.:

Tomorrow, noon. Lunch?

Ares 12:04 a.m.:

See you both at noon. Main City, 12th and 2nd.

~

"I can't believe we are really doing this." Jessica says as we take a turn onto 2nd street, the main city branch coming into view.

"You don't believe it?" I barely have time to process before a gentlemen in an all black suit steps out into the walkway looking directly at me. My jeans and t-shirt aren't that out of ordinary, so what the hell is he starting at?

"Are you Veronica Smite." His deep voice stop us both in our tracks and he checks my face against something on his phone.

"Uh... yeah."

"And you, Jessica Flounder?" He turns to her sliding over on his phone to study her against it.

"Yes. I assume you're with Mr. Gray?" She questions trying to peak at his phone.

"You would be correct made. I serve Mr. Gray as head of his security. You both will be with me today. And please stay close, he doesn't want your lunch to get cold." The guard turns walking directly into the building, Jessica and I close behind him.

He twists and turns through the customers and we follow closely attempting to keep up with him in some way, but he's fast and has a confidence that has people moving for him. Jess and I look like we should be on a college campus while surrounded by business people.

Big difference.

"What do we call you?" Jessica yells out as we get through the main foyer, the man pausing at a security check.

"My name is Daniel, now please, will both of you scan your retinas."

"My eyes?" I sputter backing away with one foot, "Absolutely not."

Daniel taps an ear piece speaking under his breath before turning back to us both, "He gave you special clearance without it and apologized for asking. Come, ladies."

What?

He types in a code to a key pad, the door swinging open immediately after. The three of us walk into the smaller hallway together that has an elevator at the end, "This is Mr. Gray's private entrance to his office. Only people that he cares about are allowed to enter here freely, so please be respectful of the space. However, Mr. Gray also informed me to give Mr. Smite anything she desires. So I assume that punching a hole in the wall is included."

The guard gives me a small smile, one that I return. So he does have a sense of humor.

"Here, I stop at the elevator. Enter and go to floor 45, that is his office."

"Thank you Daniel, you've been a pleasure in the short time that we have gotten to know you." Jessica rambles off entering the elevator to drag me in with her. I smile at Daniel and he waves back.

"What was that?" I look at Jessica who shrug.

"Never a reason to be mean to the help. He was only doing his, while rather creepy, job. Felt he should know we have a good ten minutes with him."

"Fair."

She throws her hair behind her shoulder before looking back at me, "Did you hear the part where he said 'whatever she wanted'."

"Yeah isn't that freaky?"

She nods, "Very. Have me worried. I, on some small level, hoped it was an exaggeration."

The elevator ding gets us focused on the opening doors where Ares Grey, Tyson, and the male that hit on Jessica stand around the glass table.

"Welcome. Please, come in." Ares smiles reaching out his hand to grab mine from the elevator. I ignore it and walk around him into the beautiful window focused office that gives a beautiful view of the big apple.

Jessica stares intently at the man, his thumbs shoved into his front pockets, smirk across his face, "Hello, Jessica."

"Hey... Josh. What are you doing here?"

"I serve under Mr. Gray. He wanted me here for the meeting."

Jessica grabs my arm from looking at the window and turns me to face her, I give her my wides eyes trying to stay calm, but now we are really fucking out numbered and the only way in and out of this office is that elevator that doesn't have an plain down button in sight.

I take a swallow, looking back at the men, "Hello, um, ready to get this over with?"

Ares smirks looking me from head to toe, "Of course. Please, let's eat."

Silver trays line the table, and I take a seat at the farthest end with Jessica on my left. The men waited till we sat, Ares on my right, and Josh on Jessica's left. Tyson, that fucking idiot, sat in front of me with a smile.

"Hey Lu-Veronica! How you doing since you last stabbed my table?"

"I was great until I was bribed to be here." Ares spits his water back into his cup setting it down onto the table quietly.

"It does be like that." He remark pulling his napkin over his lap, both my friend and I doing the same.

"So why are we here, Mr. Gray."

Ares meets my eyes and takes in a deep breath, "Let's eat, and then we will discuss."