𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓪 𝓚𝓲𝓼𝓼

-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐-

 I am so late! Quickly, I slip on my shoes as I scramble down my foyer. I grab my keys and open the front door. My mind is in utter chaos, as I lock my door. "You're late." I jump at the sudden voice. I searched around and there, leaned up against the wall, smoking a cigarette, is Dante.

No. Absolutely not. I cannot deal with that, especially not today. "What do you want?" I peer at him, still fiddling with my lock.

"Just doing my job." He smiles sweetly, taking another puff of his cigarette. Now I need a cigarette. Finally clicking my lock shut, it has always been tricky. "It looks like you need your lock fixed." He inspects, throwing his cigarette to the ground and smashing it with the bottom of his shoe.

I ignore him as I make my way to my car. I need to get to work. Looking in my rearview mirror I see Dante getting on his motorcycle. Is he really giving up that easy?

I finally make it to work, and I stretch for a moment before walking toward the building. "Wait up, doe." There is that voice again.

"Did you follow me?" I snap, whipping my entire body in the direction where the voice came from.

"Yeah, that's kind of my job." He states nonchalantly.

"You could have at least told me that you were going to follow me." I huff, already wanting another cigarette. He really makes my blood boil.

"What do you think my job is?" He snorts with a smirk on his face. Whatever. I don't have time for this conversation. I turn back around, pushing down the urge for a cigarette and vodka. Walking the rest of the way to the news station, I can hear another pair of footsteps behind me.

"No, you can't go in there with me. Just wait out here and you can follow me if I leave." I demand. There is no way he is coming in there with me. I have work to do and even more than usual because I'm late.

"No can do, doe. I've told you-"

"What did you just call me?" I mumble. Not believing my own ears. I thought he called me that earlier, but at the time I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me.

"Doe." He mutters, questionably.

"Don't call me that." I scolded. My voice is agonizingly intense.

"Ok..." He trails off.

I stomp in the direction of the news station once again. Today is not my day.

I got most of my research papers done and covered a script for the upcoming newscast, but there has been this pestering parasite named Dante. He doesn't listen to a word I say, in fact, he does the complete opposite. Surprisingly though, he's been behaving, but him sitting there shaking his foot, cracking his knuckles, and loud exhales every now and then, just bothers me. I wish people weren't such psychopaths, so I didn't need a bodyguard and could live my day-to-day life in peace.

I have a few things left on the agenda: 1. Interview Mrs. Lawson about the tragic death of her grandson. 2. Go to a company dinner with Star Magazine to see if we could get a news article section in their upcoming launch. 3. Get rid of Dante. Number 3 will be pretty simple because Judy has been gawking at him for the past 3 1/2 hours. As soon as I stand up Dante follows shortly behind. I walk up to Judy's desk and ask for the interview questions to ask Mrs. Lawson as well as the contract for Star Magazine. "So, Judy, how have you been? Any new dates lately?" I spark up a conversation hoping it will lead to the exemption of Dante Black.

Her cheeks flush, "Oh, you know how it is. There's been a few dates, but none really worth my while." She wavers off, handing me the contract while looking for the interview questions.

"What's your type, then? I'll keep an eye out for any new eligible bachelors." I coaxed, already knowing that Dante was just Judy's type.

She hands me the interview questions, "You know the phrase, 'tall, dark, and handsome' that's how I would describe my type," she glances at Dante for a split second, "but I would really appreciate your help, I feel like at this point I'm going to die alone." She laughs off her insecurity.

"No, not you, Judy. In fact, I have the perfect guy for you. Tall, dark, and handsome? Look no further." I gesture my hands at Dante, and he looks absolutely mortified.

Judy blushes as she and Dante make eye contact. "Well, it's very nice to meet you. My name is Judy Halloway. Athena, you really shouldn't put people on the spot like that because he looks scared." She looks from me back to Dante. "Darling, don't feel obligated to go out with me." She smiles sweetly at Dante, but she is absolutely ruining my attempt to get rid of this parasite.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Halloway, my name is Dante, but everyone calls me Jawcrusher." He extends his hand in her direction, "By no means do I feel obligated to go out with you and I hope that you will go out with me on your own accord and not simply because Ms. Maddson suggested it." Well, isn't he just charming. I look at him disgustedly as he smirks at me.

"Oh, my goodness, aren't you just a sweetheart. I would love to go out with you Mr. Tall, dark and handsome." She giggles a bit and reaches for a piece of paper, writing what I am assuming is her number, "Here, you are. Just text me, when you feel like going out." She hands him the piece of paper and I groan internally. Well, there goes my chance of burning off the parasite.

I walk out of the news station with Dante, the day still not going my way. I wonder if I could reschedule the dinner with Star Magazine so this day can just end.

"You in a bad mood because you couldn't get rid of me?" Dante taunted.

"I was not trying to get rid of you." I protested, stopping in my tracks and crossing my arms defensively.

He laughs, "You think I don't know when someone is trying to get rid of me? My father has been trying to do it my entire life." I'm not sure if he's joking or not. I ignore his comment and head for my car. "Where are we going?" He chimes all too cheerfully.

"Mrs. Lawson's and don't be all broody, she just lost her grandson." I step into my car, shut the door and look up at him out of the window.

"I know how to be nice." He hisses.

"We'll see." I hum. Starting my car and pressing on the gas. I race down the road, hoping I lose him in the traffic. 

--A/N: Would you all like shorter, faster updates or longer updates that might take a little longer? Or do you like the updates as they are? Also, if you see any corrections, I need to make in my writing please let me know. --