"Ma'am please keep away." said the young male security guard behind the closed gates sizing her up. "This is private property."

"Yes." said Brielle desperately. "I need to make a phone call, that's all. I'm stuck in a predicament."

She knew she didn't look anything like a respectable woman. But the security guard was the only person she saw in the vicinity. She was certain that in the wee hours of the morning, she could count on him to help her.

"Ma'm its 2 o' clock at night. Please come in the morning." said the security guard, scratching his head. "The building is more or less empty. It's just me on the grounds here."

He was clearly in a dilemma. He wanted to help her, but was afraid he would lose his job.

"Can you call the police saying there's a trespasser?" Brielle asked, an idea forming in her head. She was shivering as the water on her skin rapidly evaporated. The breeze on her naked body felt freezing. Should she be arrested, she would be granted a night's stay in a warm cell, at least. Perhaps even a hot meal.

"But you haven't trespassed." said the man perplexed. He was not catching on and Brielle was honestly too tired to explain. She slumped against the closed gate, her tired legs barely managing to keep her standing.

Brielle looked up at the tall building, feeling hopeless. A room on the fifteenth floor was lit up, but as her eyes found it, it suddenly became dark. Someone had switched off the lights. Someone was leaving the building. Someone could possibly help her.

After what seemed like hours to Brielle, but was actually only a few minutes, a big black Sedan drove up to the gate noiselessly. The engine was of high quality, the high power white lights tore through the darkness and fell flush on Brielle standing at the gate. She blinked unable to see.

"Ma'am get away from the gates. I have to open them." said the guard firmly. Brielle's aching body obeyed her mind as she stepped away beside the boundary walls.

But, when the guard had finally unlocked the gates, Brielle didn't see any car come out. Instead she saw a familiar figure come running through. The man's silhouette looked left and right, across the street and beyond, before he spotted Brielle right behind himself.

"Brielle," he said as he rushed towards her. She looked up to see Jack, the very man who had cautioned her. The only man who had truly cared.

Jack swiftly took off his grey coat and slung it over Brielle's shoulders, warming her immediately. She looked at him, gratitude filling her soul. He didn't despise her for the state she was in, or for not believing him.

"Jones?" he asked huskily searching her eyes, as though wanting to know if the very person was responsible for her condition. Brielle was surprised he even knew Zachary's surname. He always referred to him as 'sissy' or 'blondie'. She nodded in response.

He tilted her face to look into her tired eyes, with his own bright ones and then lowered his lips to hers. Brielle was too shocked to move. Jack was kissing her, when she smelled and looked foul, she'd been assaulted and molested and was standing on the streets all alone and in her underwear. She couldn't understand why he would even want to touch her.

He held her neck with one hand and traced her cheeks with the other as he tried to deepen the kiss. I want to kiss him back, but... Using whatever strength she had left, Brielle pulled away.

"I don't feel good." she said simply. Jack nodded immediately as though chastising himself for kissing her.

"Sorry." he said pulling her into a tight hug, her body pressed against his. Does he not care that his suit's getting ruined?

He released her after a few seconds, Brielle thought the time was in nanoseconds, and pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her face gently. Brielle couldn't bring herself to speak, her throat had gone dry.

"Doctor or bathroom first?" he asked while wiping away the grime on her face.

"I'm not physically hurt much." she said calmly. Jack raised his eyebrows. "In comparison to my heart, that is shattered to itsy-bitsy pieces." she added with a small smile.

"All right." said Jack. His eyes were dark and brooding, as though angry and terrified at the same time. He suddenly bent down and scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his waiting car. His arms felt so secure and comfortable. He carried her the way that made her feel special, unlike the hooliganism that Zachary had displayed.

The security guard watched in shock as Brielle, wearing his boss's coat appeared within Jack's arms and was gently laid down in the back seat.

"I'm so sorry," the guard said hurriedly. The poor guy thinks he'll definitely lose his job now.

"That's okay." she said with a weak smile, as she lay down on the leather seat, her tired head finally able to rest.

"Ben, lock the gates. Next time should anyone be in distress, help them. Being humane to people can never cost you your job when you work under me." said Jack curtly getting into the front seat and slamming the door shut.

"Y-yes Sir," stuttered Ben as he obeyed Jack.

The black majestic car rolled out onto the deserted street, the cool night air whizzing past. Brielle fought with her tiredness to stay awake. It wouldn't do to fall asleep while she was under someone's hospitality.

"Sleep if you like, Brielle." said Jack looking behind at her through the overhead mirror. "I'll wake you up when we reach home."

"Thank you." she said softly, sitting up to reach his ear. "For everything. I'm sorry I ruined your clothes and this wonderful leather seat. Please forgive---"

Jack suddenly stopped the car at the edge of the street and took off his seat-belt. Turning back to face Brielle, he pulled her close and pressed his lips against her own.

"Jack?" she said confused as he pulled away. Her lips were tingling and she was aching to kiss him back. But she didn't know why he was acting the way she was. All she knew was that it wasn't right, even though it felt perfect.

"This is all my fault, Brielle." he said huskily turning away and restarting the engine. "Don't feel sorry for anything. You should be hating me right now."

"Why would I ever hate you?" she asked in surprise, her sleepiness forgotten.

"Drink this." he said passing her a can of Mountain Dew from the cabinet.

"Thanks." she said immediately opening it and taking a big gulp. The sugary liquid gave her instant energy as she listened to Jack.

"Remember the contract I told you about?" he said pressing the accelerator. The car was gradually picking up speed.

"Yes, in exchange for the money your distant uncle loaned you, a contract was made to humiliate your father and company. Naomi said you had less than a month left to get married and once you do you can't divorce. If you do, you forfeit the company to him."

"The problem is that my company wasn't supposed to have been this successful." said Jack. The apartments and closed malls were whizzing past quickly as the car powered through the empty streets. "And now the only way my uncle can get his money back is if I pay him myself."

"Then you should." said Brielle immediately. "You ought to repay a loan, once you are able."

"You are so naive Brielle." said Jack as he took a sharp turn and climbed onto a flyover. Brielle looked in awe at the shuffling waves of the river below. "My uncle won't be happy with the measly sum he gave me all those years ago."

"What does he want?" asked Brielle leaning towards the front seat, her face only a few centimeters away from Jack. She suspected that her breath was tickling his neck, but since he said nothing, she stayed in her position.

"He wants the whole company. And every other side business or investment I may have. He wants it all." said Jack as the car rolled through the majestic bridge. The intricate steel pillars flew by as they looked through the windshield.

"Oh." said Brielle. She wondered what all this had to do with her and Zachary.

"He has an asshole for a son." said Jack gruffly as the car finally got off the bridge and the lapping of waves on the supporting pillars could no longer be heard. In the sudden silence, Brielle's heart beat was loud and clear as she struggled to understand.

"That bloody bastard who hurt you is my cousin." said Jack glumly.