I could only describe life as bittersweet. It seems that these moments where it seems to good to be true that I end up regretting the decision I make to feed into the bittersweet moments. I'm naive. Naive isn't even the word. I sigh heavily unable to give the answer I want to give him.

"You left me the first time. I'm more than sure it was because your mother wanted the commitment more than you did. Now you want me?"

"This time it is different," he admits. This time his eyes never leave mine. "I came to the realization that I had overreacted about the whole idea. This is hard for me to say to you..." He sighs heavily seeming to get frustrated between trying to find the words and opening up his bottled emotions.

"Every time I wake up it's as if that nightmare is what's going to become of my life. The physical abuse and emotional toll that someone would have to deal with a fuck up like me. How could you ever come to get use to how I am?"

"You are not your father. You are your own person, Xander.. and you can't keep beating yourself up about something that may never happen. I know you wouldn't put me through that."

Mr. Hale cannot begin to speak a sentence by my outburst. "Your aren't making this easy for me." I feel as though it's useless to keep having the same conversation over and over.

All this back and forth is making nauseous. "Commitment isn't when you want it, Xander. You cannot come and go as you please. That's not what someone who loves you and wants you would do. I must get to work. The banquet is tonight. I'll see you then." The bile rising in my throat makes it unable to manage. I quickly shift my stance nearly sprinting towards the bathroom. The contents from last night had been spewed into the toilet bowl.

The thought of what might be crosses my mind. I cannot be. It's possible. Then again I would surely scare him away if he hadn't noticed already. "Everything alright Ellie?" I hear his knuckles tapping against the bathroom door. This was the type of situation where I needed to keep calm and think every possible thing threw. A doctor's appointment must be scheduled immediately.

Once I exit the bathroom Mr. Hale's general concerned look makes my heart melt. The way his brows were low to his eyes in which it felt as if he was trying to conceal the emotion through out his whole body. "I am fine. Just feeling a bit under the weather. We will talk about this later. I must get going now."

"Ellie."

"Yes?"

"Think about it. Please."

I don't think please is apart of his everyday vocabulary. This time Mr. Hale had been serious. If commitment had been a serious for him then the least I could do was think it over. It reminds me of that bitter moment where he didn't want me. I could replay the moment over and over again. I replay the same heartbreaking words like a mantra. The look of disdain on his face will forever be a haunting image for me.

"But.. I thought you loved me...."

"I didn't... I don't."

"But you told me—"

"I will," I reassure him. "I promise."

The banquet that was being hosted by Hale Inc. and Array Digital followed by a few other sponsors had been held in a venue just outside of the city and closer to Rochester. No doubt it was at someone's expensive estate. I couldn't picture Mr. Hale as a man with spacious living apart of his personality. Modern, yes. Colonial, not at all. I admired the decoration of candle lights spread among the dinner table. This had been one of the most well organized banquets I had been to. Definitely not like your average garden party.

The plethora of people gathered here made it sort of overwhelming. Lawyers, Doctors, Business owners, CEO's, President's, and even law enforcement officers were here. A buffet of wealth. The benefactor of this estate had been very well respected, a doctor perhaps, maybe even a lawyer. "Thank you everyone for coming, help yourself to the bar. My bartenders are extremely rewarded for the gratitude of your service."

A young man dressed in a tuxedo with dark hair that didn't really fit him. He appeared to be younger in age compared to Mr. Hale. "Dr. Brennan," a man grabs the attention by walking up to him. Doctor. The dark haired, green-eyed, 5"9 young man waltz over to the crowd. I am genuinely surprised with the amount of older people at this function who seemed to have known him well enough. Does every young guy acquaint themselves around older people? Business tactics for sure. Mr. Hale does it, and I am sure this young man did as well.

My mother's gold necklace draped around my neck accompanied with the matching earrings looked beautiful with my Prima Donna red wine colored dress. The bottom of my dressed split enough to show a freshly shaven leg. I had begin to wonder if I had undressed for this event. This dress is a bit floaty for tonight's festivities. Plus the eyes of married men with their wives have seen to be relishing over the new flesh of someone they've never seen. I really don't enjoy being eye candy at these events, but my job requires me to be social to those with even less standards than my own.

"Are you sure you're in the right place?" A soothing gentle voice asks me.

I'm overlooking all the wealthy people laughing and conversing. "Why do you ask that?" I glance next to me to see Dr. Brennan holding a glass of scotch in his hand. I admire the olive in his eyes being careful not to stare.

"You don't look like you would mingle with people of our stature," he takes a sip of his scotch.

"What's your stature?"

"I apologize if I am coming off a bit condescending. My name is Dr. Brycen Brennan, and you are?" His name rolls off the tongue perfectly.

"Ellie.. Ellie Donovan." When I expect him to shake my hand he unexpectedly places a kiss upon the top of my hand.

The gesture of a true gentleman in the presence of everyone. Even when he lifts his head to look at me the presence of his lips still remain.

"Join me for a drink, Miss Donovan?"

I'm mesmerized.

No words able to come out of my mouth. Damn. I nod quickly in response. "Of course," My voice lighter than a whisper.

Dr. Brennan smiles softly wrapping his arms around my waist and we proceed to the stairs down to the crowd of people. "Why have I not seen you before?" He doesn't stop smiling towards the guest who look at the both of us.

"I work for.." Just as I'm attempting to tell him my occupation Mr. Vasquez has accompanied us with Mr. Hale standing next to him mouth pressed in a thin line. I've never been so nervous.

"I'm impressed," Mr. Vasquez looks in awe making me blush slightly. "You look beautiful, Ellie."

"Indeed she does," Mr. Hale intercepts my praise never taking his eyes off of me.

Dr. Brennan removes his arm from around my waist "I found her mingling by the balcony. Mr. Ford would have been very inclined as to make a move had I not been accompanying her," he chuckles slightly.

"Dr. Brennan," Mr. Hale extends his hands out. Dr. Brennan nods shaking his hand. Another gentleman acquainted with Mr. Hale sends red flags all around.

"This is my secretary or shall I call her lifesaver. I assume she is keeping you company," Mr. Vasquez smiles towards the both of us.

I keep quiet to let them converse among one another. "Miss Donovan was just telling me how she had never been seen at one of my banquets before." It's as if he volunteered me to take the floor.

"I'm not one for organized events." I admitted feeling a bit uncomfortable with Mr. Hale's perplexed look. "I'm also never invited to these types of events."

Mr. Hale seemed to not be as vocal in the conversation. I wonder what he must have been thinking in the company of this many men. Mr. Hale had not been that social unless it came to business. Even when his family tried to communicate with him it was as if he was trying to avoid any connection he had with anyone. It made me rethink about the word relationship and what it was to him. "Nonsense, you are much to beautiful to not be shown to the world." Dr. Brennan dismisses the negativity immediately.

"Miss Donovan is definitely not a trophy." Mr. Hale finally puts his input into the topic at hand. It made me add a few points to my dignity. "She's tenacious as she is independent." He adds.

Dr. Brennan seems pleased with Mr. Hale's answer. "Well, if Mr. Hale has nothing but positive things to say about you. That means you have made an impression on him. I am intrigued. However, I cannot leave my other guests unattended. Ellie, you must join me for dinner some time." His proposition sudden and unyielding.

I am speechless.

"Dinner?"

Dr. Brennan chuckles again showing his dimple in which I didn't notice at first. "Dinner, yes." I look down at my fingers nervous if I should answer him. "I don't know.." This is how I ended up at the hands of a tyrant. Business and pleasure once again mixing with one another.

"I'm sure Mr. Hale and Mr. Vasquez won't mind. That is unless you have a boyfriend..."

Dr. Brennan surely knew what pressure was and how to use it. "No I don't." It wasn't completely true nor was it completely a lie.

"Perfect, excuse me gentleman." Dr. Brennan nods again placing a chaste kiss upon my cheek. Then he's gone within a few seconds. Mr. Vasquez smiles almost impressed with the exchange between Dr. Brennan and I. "He is one of the most successful doctors located in New York. He specializes in many areas of medical operations," His praise for Dr. Brennan was a bit overwhelming. "Some people would even say it's an honor to work with him."

Mr. Vasquez's hidden meaning simply implies that to do business with Dr. Brennan would bring more wealth and praise for his industry. Array Digital had only been around for about 3 1/2 years now. It was still a fairly new business to the industry. I turn my attention to Mr. Hale who's silence could only mean two things. Either one he genuinely felt in competition or he had been angry and suppressing the need to express his feelings in this crowd.

"If you will excuse me," Mr. Hale interrupts Mr. Vasquez's squealing to remove himself from the equation altogether. Anger. "We both must be mingling with our benefactors," Mr. Vasquez insists nodding to Mr. Hale. Then he glides through a crowd of people leaving Mr. Hale and I alone.

I debate if this would be the right time to have an adult conversation. "I didn't know what to say," I admit feeling the guilt settle down. "He didn't give me a chance and I felt under pressure."

"The last time you were under pressure you were under Mr. Hurst," He chided.

The first time I ever laid my hand onto someone. The sound of the slap I planted across Mr. Hale's cheek gave us an audience of a group of people nearby. At this point, I'm ready to leave the function and return to the safety of my bed. The anger boiling beneath my skin wanted to send me in a rage to where I would just choke him, but I didn't want to get out of character.

I storm off quickly before I make an even bigger commotion. Luckily the side door of the estate had been unlock still. My head still cannot remain calm to the disgusting comment made by Mr. Hale. Commitment. Commitment my ass. The cool air from the air conditioner hits my heated skin as I walk inside of the estate. There's hardly anyone inside so I am alone with my thoughts. The nerve of that bastard. I do not bring up his past actions.

"Don't you ever do that again," his voice sounding stentorian it completely catches me off guard.

"Fuck you."

"Fuck me?"

He scoffs with a smirk planted on his face. Then he shoves back against the cool wall that sends a shiver down my spine and I am greeted with his hot, rough, and wet kisses. I am trying to find my breath, but his hands are moving faster than I can register it. My heart is racing just like a race horse on a track. When he glides his lips over my throat I try to stifle the moan that slithers through my lips.

I'm then hoisted up by Mr. Hale still pinned by the wall and blocked by his chest. I have no choice but to surrender into his assault. I place my hands around his neck with my fingers finding refuge in his dirty golden blonde locks. The pain and anger I feel when he kisses me is the realest thing I've felt. If I hated him, then I loved him.

We faintly hear chatter coming from the foyer to which we stop. Mr. Hale wraps his hand around my wrist pulling me into the guest bathroom which was more like the size of a studio apartment. He lifts me up to sit me on the counter top of the sink. The way his hips graze the inner part of my legs send a jolt of ecstasy running through my veins. This different level of excitement genuinely concerns my sanity.

He situates my dress where it's comfortable enough for his to have access. Like an animal in heat I am turned on by the force he exerts. It's rough. I'm going to orgasm before he even gets a chance to get inside. I watch him quickly undo his belt and unzips his pants. This sudden adrenaline makes it hard to keep still.

Once he frees himself I wrap my legs around his waist tightly. A swift jerk and he's filled me. I didn't want him to waste time trying to fit on a condom. I cry out holding onto him tightly. His thrust are vicious and in sync as I try to catch myself. My mouth slightly parted while I pant keeping my eyes on him. Every thrust punishing my sweet spot. A quick fuck. I'm coming undone once he quickens to finish.

I want to moan his name to give him the satisfaction, but his pounding won't let me get a syllable out of my mouth. "Fuck," he grunts forcing the rest of his shaft inside of me. The grip he has on my waist his tightens when he gets his full release. We both pant heavily.

We fucked in the bathroom of Dr. Brennan's estate.