Peyton Griffin's POV

"I regret not taking up that offer I came up with and gouging out my eyes." Charlie whines beside me.

"Peyton, Penny for your thoughts?"

I tear my gaze from my other half, dancing with a man that looks old enough to have birthed our father. The fake smile that we both share is plastered on her face.

"Father has really outdone himself. I expected to see men in nothing but thongs serving us cocktails." I glance around the well-decorated room.

No matter how annoyed I am at Lola for agreeing to this madness, I hate to admit that the decorum and guests take things higher. And I'm still wondering what Father told her to make her agree to this madness. It takes a lot to get Lola to do something against her own will.

Danny lets out a wolf whistle as a curvy redhead passes our table.

"If you do that again, your mouth will be the same shape when I'm done with you." Charlie seethes her jealousy clear as day. All these years, I have never met someone as blind as Danny.

"At least I will have a mouth when you go down..." Danny says into her ear but loud for me to hear as well.

"Now, I will rethink ending your bloodline if you stop at that." I glare at him. "We are supposed to be well behaved," Even I joined them to let out a snort at that, "Not trying to gag each other with insults."

"I don't know, Penny, that meal over there would look better with nothing but a rag in her mouth." His eyes were still trained on the redhead of before.

"I need a drink; if I am to get out of this without having my mom ring up my lawyers when I am charged with homicide." Charlie gets up to make her way to the buffet table.

"A sexy asshole, you mean," Danny calls after her.

Charlie wastes no time flipping him off and makes her way to the buffet table.

"How long will you keep up this act?" I ask when I am sure that Charlie is out of earshot.

"What are you talking about?" He furrows his brows.

"Don't play dumb with me, Torent. I know you're not duller than the weather to not notice the tension between you and Charlie." I glance back at the said person to see her flirting with one of the cute waiters.

With my focus still trained on them, I don't miss when Danny bends a cutlery fork.

"You were saying?" I reply with a smile that could put the cat in Alice in wonderland to shame.

He looked away to avoid my questioning gaze, "She deserves better. And the sooner she knows about our planned wedding, the sooner her heartbreak will come, then will she get over me and find true happiness."

I don't know whether to admire his honesty for a split second or slap him upside the head.

Sure. To him, Charlie is oblivious to the arranged marriage, but it takes a lot of power to hide a big rock on your finger. Especially when you have a friend as observant as she is. When she even heard the reason for my sudden clothed finger, she let out a laugh that could be heard from Ariel down in the ocean.

So in summary and in her own words, "Danny will tie the knot when you cut your hair."

I was about to make a comeback with a teasing comment when Joey beat me to it.

"Honestly, I was hoping they would fall in love soon, Troy."

The disapproving gaze my father sent my way didn't falter as he and Joey took a seat in front of us at the table.

"They would be changing their minds very soon." Father dearest said grimly.

"So you know, Danny and I won't go through with our engagements, so what's the next plan? Because I swear if you hurt Lola, your heir would be the least of your problems." I scowl.

"Easy Peyton, I could never hurt a part of me, but I can't say the same for you though." He scoffs, "And honestly, we came here to talk and not threaten you."

That comment would have hurt if I was younger, but after all, I've been through. It's going to take more than that to get me to break.

"Yes, and my new name is little boy blue." Danny cut in.

The fire brewing in Joey's eyes was clear as day as he shot daggers at his son.

"Regardless, Peyton," He turned his attention from Danny to me, "I presume you have seen Kendall."

I reminded myself that little children may be nearby and decided to nod in reply.

"Good." My father smirked and motioned for a man whose back was turned to us to give us his undivided attention.

In a smooth red suit, Jordan had his black hair slicked back and his hazel eyes danced with mirth as he took in my dress.

Again the children present should thank their lucky stars that the only colour on his suit was just the material.

"Make your decision, it's either you marry Kendall or Danny." You need no Einstein to hear the distaste in Father's voice.

"I can see old habits die hard."

It was a stare-off between daughter and father; it was as if we were the only ones in the room.

This isn't the first time we have butted heads, and it won't be the last. I refused to bend to his will, no matter how many things he put in place to make me fall. I sometimes hope that I will never fall, for I fear I won't be able to pick myself back up.

"Let's get one thing straight, father dearest," I glanced around to see Charlie and Lola looking at us from a distance where they would not hear us, at least not clearly.

"If I do this, Lola gets to divorce the Grandpapi over there." I nod my head to my new brother-in-law.

He smirked at me, "Depending on whom you choose to wed."

"I pick Danny." I held his gaze.

"Fair enough, but allow me to add some tweaks to your statement. If you and Danny commence in holy matrimony, there will be no backing out, and the money stays in this family. And you two would have to obey my every word."

I have many words that I could use to describe my father right now, and I'm pretty sure that most of those words would put me in prison in some countries, but I held my tongue at bay for now.

"And," Here comes the unreasonable part of this bargain, "I get to pick the day of this marriage."

Seriously it would be cool if I could use my eyes to strangle him with his tie.

I looked heavenwards, knowing fully well that I may regret this. But to the vow I made to always protect my sister, I went on ahead.

"Deal."

"The wedding may commence the day after Lola gives me my first grandchild."

Time slowed down as I processed his words.

The day after Lola gives me my first grandchild.

A trap wrapped up in a present and it's not even Christmas. It was a loophole; he knew that Lola would never agree to conceive for a man she did not love, and therefore we were both powerless in this situation.

The children were the least of my worries. The same goes for the possessive hand that I ripped away from my waist as I stepped back. I don't know how my brain works, but I know that the noise around me faded as I kicked off my killer heels and ran away from my problems.

Who would have thought this was only the beginning of an endless race?

I ran as fast as I could to avoid the truth but little did I know the truth was far from being uncovered. I broke my vow to Lola. I was supposed to protect her from our monster of a father, but I utterly failed.

I allowed the first set of tears to fall as soon as I closed the door to Aunt Nicole's apartment. I half expected her to come and have our usual WWE because I banged the door too loudly, but I was welcomed by a voice I knew all too well.

"Mi Amore, why so sad?" Jordan said as he looked at me from the shadows.

I flicked on the lights and was greeted by Jordan was still in his crisp red suit from earlier with his hair slightly dishevelled. Around him stood men, who I'm guessing were in the Spanish Mafia with him.

"Why don't you take a seat?" He gestured to the chair opposite him, "We have a lot to discuss."

I swallowed not with fear but with hesitation. Sure I won't go down without a fight, but if there's one thing I know about this particular Mafia is to always take note of their reactions to the littlest things.

"I think I'd rather stand because if I have to be stuck staying in the same room as you. I should at least be as far away as possible."

He was up from his chair and had me pushed against the wall. He held me in place with his body as his breath fanned my face.

"Mi Amore, I'd choose my words carefully..."

"Or I'll face the big bad wolf." I mocked his way too old threat.

"You're impossible, you know that, right?" He said as he glanced at my lips and began advancing nearer to them.

Bloody idiot, "If you plan on having an heir to this Mafia of yours with the big bad wolf. I suggest you take a step back." I grit out.

He let out a breathy chuckle; his breath smelt of the mint and chocolate that I once craved, but now it was making me disgusted.

"You are already thinking of our kids, lovely. Tell me, Mi Amore, have you ever seen yourself with that donkey, Torent?"

"I don't know. You are the only donkey I ever dated." I reply with a sly smile and honesty in my tone.

Jordan moved away from me. And the Don of the Spanish Mafia had the pleasure of giving me his one million dollar smirk.

"Now we have skipped the pleasantries," I rested my back on the wall and crossed my arms and ankles, "Tell me why you decided to give me a slow heart attack by coming here. I thought your various sluts kept you well pleased."

"So he did get away with it, "Jordan said more to himself than to me.

"Dare I ask what is going on in your share of the ostrich's brain?" I lifted up a brow.

"Your family is full of idiotas incompetentes."

I rested my chin on my knuckles as if posing to be the thinker, "Funny, I once dated an incompetent idiot."

"Mi Amore, please believe me when I say I didn't sleep with Lola."

"Can you return a favour by believing me when I say I have a thing for my aunt?"

"That's sad." He snorted, "She is on the kitchen floor with a couple bullets through her head."

I yawned, "Should have been me. It would have saved me the years I'm losing talking to you."

"Would you stop changing the subject so that I can..."

"Get back to those piranhas of yours, please go on." Like an excited child about to open her Christmas gift, I took a seat farthest away from him and stared at him with big eyes.

"I didn't sleep with Lola; Joey did."

There was nothing funny in that statement, but I found it oddly amusing. I mean come on, Joey Torent is a forty-year-old man with a struggling drug company who married my father for...

It was then it clicked.

They got married for money. Not love but a deal my father didn't want us to know about. I always found it odd how my father could switch sides on the playing field so fast. I intend to find out what deal those two motherfuckers struck; that put me and the people I cared about in harm's way.

That's why there were so many moans that night.

"But wait, isn't he gay?" Self-denial is what may help me not lose my sanity right this moment. I speak on behalf of Joey because if you haven't noticed. I'm more familiar with his son than him.

"So I thought until I walked in on him having a quickie with an unconscious Lola a few weeks before the wedding."

"Knowing you, you struck a deal for that big mouth of yours."

He gave me a guilty grin, "Yes, Joey offered enough money to feed a nation, in return that I make it look like I raped her."

"So the money was all you could think about. You never thought I would be heartbroken, hearing that my sister and boyfriend had a...."

I couldn't even bring myself to say it. I agree that it's pathetic; that after all these years. I am not over Jordan, but can you blame me. He was the only guy that I could love. Despite my father's wishes, I went ahead to date him, but it seems obvious he never gave two damns about me.

"Mi Amor, I.." He let out a string of curse words in Spanish.

I got up intending to do a favour for Aunt Nicole, but some of the bodyguards came to surround him.

"It's okay." Jordan side-stepped them, stood in front of me, cupped my face and made me look at him.

"He made me promise that you wouldn't know. I did it so he could talk to Troy to let us be. Mi Amor, I am crazy about you and I didn't..."

He pressed our foreheads together and urged on to kiss me, but I turned my head away, so his lips landed on my cheeks.

"I need you back Mi Amor. I need you back so much. I know what I did was pretty fucked up, but I did it for us. Please just," He paused to wrap an arm around my waist.

The moment is broken when Lola kicks the door open and walks in with a very ripped white dress. Danny's suit is slightly torn; what a pair of siblings I have.

I retracted from Jordan and stood still.

"Peyton..." Lola reached to touch my shoulder, but I moved away; hurt and guilt were in her eyes.

"Who did you sleep with?" I asked as my patience was growing thin.

"Peyton, allow me to explain.."

"For fuck's sake, Lola! Who the hell did you sleep with?!" I whipped my head to look her dead in the eye and silently dared her to lie to me.

"You weren't supposed to find out, especially not this way." She looked down as she said that last part quietly.

"So much for halves before brain-deads, eh?" I humoured.

"As awkward and sad this is, we gotta go," Danny said as he cast a hateful glare at Jordan.

"You know Mi Amor there is still time to find out more if you want," Jordan seethed, "But for that to happen, I need something from you."

I know making deals with lunatics is clearly off my radar, but I've gotten here so far. What else could possibly go wrong?

"I'm willing to listen in exchange if you get one thing done for me."

"What will that be Mi Amor?" He stroked his chin.

"In my old room back at the Griffin estate, I need the old brown leather book under the rug."

"In exchange for that book you and I get married...."

"You're out of your Mexican tacos if you think Troy and I will allow that!" Danny takes a step closer to him, but he is blocked by the bodyguards.

"Easy. Troy can easily be indisposed off, and if you think I see you as a threat you have had one too many redheads." Jordan states with a scoff before he faces me squarely, "Do we have a deal mi amor?"

"Penny, please tell me you are not out of your mind."

I snorted a reply, "Deal."

-

I walked out of the apartment and sat by the swings in the nearby park. Clearly, in need of fresh air, it's not every day you find out that your twin sister slept with your step-father and your ex-boyfriend then she lies to you about it.

"And to think we thought you were dead," Danny said dryly while taking a seat in the next swing.

"You know after today nothing will ever make sense again?" I look up to the starting clouded sky where I hope my mom is watching me.

"True but nothing has ever been sensible since..."

I really don't like to talk about that god-awful day so with a grin I switch the topics, "Can I crash at your place for a while? My caretaker is on a trip down to Mississippi."

"Let me guess Jordan put her out of her misery?" He grinned.

"Should have been us," I took a sip from the soda he had passed to me earlier, "If you think about it, she had a good run."

"Yes, cheers. Cheers to the hundred-year-old lady who could not only put up a good fight while intoxicated but also be among the girls from mean girls when high on her booze."

We both clacked our drinks together and downed them. We sat in comfortable silence until around midnight before we decided to call it a night.

-

I honestly don't know how I got to own such clean and soft sheets but hell can freeze over before I get up from my slumber.

Clearly, Charlie hadn't gotten the memo because she chose this exact moment to choke me with her very long brown hair.

I groaned and sat up, "If you do that again, I will get enough redheads for Danny that could fill the titanic."

Her once mischief-filled eyes turned thin as she looked down at me, her light brown eyes getting darker.

"I see we have a deal." I grinned at her and lay back down.

Before I could go back to wonderland, I felt like I went for a swim. I shot up from the bed to see a giggling Charlie and an empty bucket beside her.

I don't usually associate myself with many people but when a person like Charlie Sandel walks into your life, it's kind of hard to shake them off.

I have known this mischievous brunette since high school when we both got caught creating a new perfume in a chemistry lab. Trust me when I say our Principal looks very pretty with his multi-coloured hair up until now.

The only reason why we met more than the usual detentions we spent together was that her mom was on a boat to sail to my father's plants. As you can see Joey put a ring on that finger before she did.

So Mrs Sandel made us stay together along with Lola and Danny and we clicked.

"Okay you asked for it Charlie this means war!" I let out a battle cry and charged for her but she easily pinned me down in under one minute.

"Now that I have your attention," She pauses to examine her claws or nails, "Mr Rogers called for his end of the deal."

"Took him long enough." I snorted.

Remember when I said that Danny had given me some money to open a shop; that shop turned out to be a babysitting place called A Kid's paradise.

Sure at first, it was meant to take care of little kids, but as times grew harder, we had to up our game. So we brought in dogs.

Mr Rogers is one of our loyal customers; his daughters can be walking bulldozers, but he pays handsomely.

Meanwhile, we owe him because he owns a bar across from our shop. One day told us to help him run it, and Danny ended up going down on a stripper the moment he walked. It's a miracle he trusts his daughters with us.

"So, are you planning on making me the next human doormat, or are you going to let me up?" I look up at my cunning friend.

"I would, but my shoes look good in your hair."

I roll my eyes and flip us over. Now is the time to say that I am grateful to Mrs Sandel for making Charlie and me attend that karate class.

"I know about it." She suddenly said. I got off her and helped her up.

"What exactly do you know about, Charlie ?"

"That you, Danny and Lola keep me out of the loop for my safety. I want you to know that I completely understand, but at times I do feel a little left out. It became pretty obvious when Danny insisted on dropping me home before he and Lola went looking for you." She played with the hem of her shirt to avoid eye contact with me.

I immediately felt a bit bad, but it's not my secret to tell. And the less; she knows the less she would get into big trouble with anyone that resembles the pig's ass that I once dated.

I pulled her into a tight hug, "If it makes you feel better, I will owe you a deal where you have nothing to lose but your patience with my sitcom of a life."

Her lip twitched into that mischievous smile that I was very used to, "Deal." And I knew it would end with me doing something that I would later regret.

Yup, it's official, I just dug my own grave and my shovel was a word.