"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. The shower goes over me, then ice cubes that she's recovered from my freezer. One of them goes directly against my nipple skyrocketing me awake.

"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. The ice cube melts quickly even with the ice-cold shower water pouring over me.

"I am not a medic, I asked people what they want to drink for a living. This is the best idea I had. Not like you could've done any better. You are fucking idiot." Her anger comes from pure worry. A smile comes over me, and I poke her forehead trying to lighten the mood.

"You have the internet."

"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. Jessica hands me a towel letting me squeeze out the water in my clothes, then wrap it around myself for warmth.

"What happened to the check?" That crazy bastard.

"It's in your wallet. I figured it was the safest place to put the winning lotto ticket." She snickers covering her eyes when I get naked in the shower. I've tossed the towel over the shower rod after a slight realization of how much water these sweatpants are holding.

"I have to rip it up. I can't take that from him!" Or anyone. No sane person writes a check like that for a woman they've known for less than a day. Least of all a woman that runs out on a first date with horrid things said.

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. If you look at the bigger picture, this is your chance to become everything you've wanted and more. 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. We can tell Gus, even our good for nothing manager. And if you want, as I've already self-invited, I can go with to help make it easier. A mediator of sorts." 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? And Jessica's points are valid. I hadn't thought about just how much this could do for me. I could finally live away from the influence of hardships. Maybe become successful enough that if James were to find me, he couldn't touch me.

"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 your 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. This guy is obviously off his fucking rocker. I'll need a sane human to help me through it."

"I got your back bitch."

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

"Thanks savior. I love you."

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're really doing this." Jessica says as we take a turn onto 2nd street the following day, the Main City branch coming into view. People of all kinds are rushing over the streets of New York to get where they need to be. Not a moment of peace is found on these sidewalks, and with a huge learning curve I've finally figured out how to navigate it without being almost punched in the face by people taller than me.

"You don't believe it? I'm having trouble breathing." I barely have time to process before a gentleman 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?

"Is your name Veronica Smite?" His deep voice stops us both in our tracks and he checks my face against something on his phone. The scrunch is notable when he peaks between both, then slides over to check Jessica.

"Uh... yeah."

"And you, Jessica Flounder?" His eyes are stern, jaw set. Nothing about him seems calm and collected in this moment while over analyzing us. It would be nice if he'd introduce himself, however I guess we're having to go off pure assumption to make it through this meaningless conversation.

"Yes. I assume you're with Mr. Gray?" Jessica questions trying to peak at his phone and see what he's looking at. It's not like Ares had taken any photos of me, nor of Jessica so what in the world are we being compared to? What is he checking?

"You would be correct. 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 with ease. 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 businesspeople. Big difference.

"What do we call you?" Jessica yells out as we get through the main foyer, the man pausing at a security check. Silence surrounds us once we've exited the chaos of customers and loud employees trying to get things across to the older generation.

"My name is Daniel, now please, will both of you scan your retinas." His hand waves over to a special device. Personally, it looks like something that will stab me the moment I get too close. It would make sense for someone like the CEO to have this for his vault, maybe even a room full of valuables, but to his office it seems rather extreme.

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

Daniel taps an earpiece speaking under his breath before turning back to us both, "He gave you special clearance without it and apologized for asking. Come, ladies." What? Will I ever get a straightforward answer from these men? Will anyone be upfront and honest telling the full truth instead of constantly cryptic responses?

He types in a code to a keypad after scanning his retina, 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. I assume that punching a hole in the wall is included." The guard gives me a small smile, one that I return. He does have a sense of humor.

"I stop at the elevator. Enter and go to floor 45, that is his office. He has a couple other gentleman with him."

"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." The elevator dings as we cross each floor. The number jumps increasingly quickly. I don't think I've been in one that moves this fast.

"Fair. I forget you can be a nice person."

She throws her hair behind her shoulder before looking back at me, "Did you hear the part where he said, 'whatever she wanted' talk about swoon if it wasn't weird."

"I thought Daniel was funny. I might just punch a hole if I can do anything."

She nods, "Might as well, right? You're here for this, then we're on our way. No more, no less." The elevator slowing 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. His suit is tailored perfectly to him, the colors working well with his hair and skin tone. I almost gasped at the sight. Staring out over the city is a perfect way for me to collect myself before I toss all good, and morally right, thoughts from the window.

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

"Hey... Josh. What are you doing here?" She's nervous. I can tell from the twitch of her ears and tap of her toes right as I turn my head around to survey the rest of the situation.

"I serve under Mr. Gray. He wanted me here for the meeting, and I'm more than thankful for it."

Jessica grabs my arm from looking at the window and turns me to face her, I give her my widest eyes trying to stay calm, but now we are really fucking outnumbered. The only way in and out of this office is that elevator that doesn't have a 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, "Such a way with words, love. 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 are you doing since you last stabbed my burger?" Do none of these idiots know my name?

"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. All the men snicker at his reaction while I eye daggers at him. I'm not going down easy Mr. Gray. But that's the sad trick I'm telling myself. The more I stare at him, the more heat that pools within me. I don't doubt that if he gets close enough, I'd fall to my knees begging.

"It does be like that." He remarks pulling his napkin over his lap, both my friend and I doing the same. Something seems more off than normal. The weird smile all the men hold, the way they wait until Jess, and I have our silverware before moving.

"Why are we here, Mr. Gray?"

Ares meets my eyes and takes in a deep breath, "Let's eat, and then we will discuss. Matters of business should always be spoken over a full stomach."