Stuck With Him

Chapter twenty - three [ 23 ]

Chapter twenty - three: Only In Rosedale

"This is actually a good thing, kitten. Now we can plan our next move."

I let out a long and begrudging sigh. "I don't want to plan my next move, I want it to be over with", I whined.

Mary had no mercy for me. "Yes, well, as it has been pointed out quite frequently, it won't just be over with. You will have to survive the storm and that's that."

"I'm going up to the Flores' ranch for the weekend. Can we hold off with the war planning until Monday?"

Mary didn't sound pleased. "Harper, we have just launched a nuclear weapon. We can't just take a day-off, let alone a weekend. You know that Alex's PR team won't rest so neither can we."

"Mary. Please. I can't do this right now", I pleaded in the most heart-aching voice that I knew she couldn't resist. See, Mary may seem like a tough-as-nails agent (and that's what she is) but I am her weak spot which is why she looks a lot of my crap through her fingers. Her other clients would be torn apart if they even suggested a weekend-off during a time like this but Mary was actually a big ol' softie when it came to me so I knew I could get my way.

She sighed. "Fine. I'll keep them busy for the weekend but after that you won't get another holiday until Christmas", she threatened then.

"I accept that. After this weekend you get to call the shots, my dearest Il Duce."

"A good tyrant reference is always a great way to start my morning. Until Monday, Harper", she said and hung up. I shook my head, wondering what I had agreed to but then decided to worry about it on Monday. Right now I was supposed to be picking Mason up so I checked out of my hotel and headed to my car.

Since this is still Rosedale, of course I didn't get there smoothly.

"Care to comment on the newest rumor that says that you're a vampire who just sucked Alex Vega's blood - I mean really, we have all noticed how pale he has become since he started dating you - and now that you've nearly drained him you're looking for another lover?" Andrew, that goddamn wannabe paparazzi asked as he appeared in front of me and flashed a photo of me.

I sighed and I was going to ignore his ridiculous 'rumor' but then an evil spirit took over my body and I heard myself saying: "Yup, it's all true. Would you like to be my next victim?"

I then let my dark hair fall in front of my face and gave him my most bloodthirsty glare. The middle-aged and beer-gutted man let out a bloodcurdling screech and nearly peed his pants before taking off, dropping his camera and smashing the lens in the process. I smirked smugly and continued walking. I had feared that due to all the acting nice that I had had to do with Alex I would have become less scary. It was good to know some things never change.

Cheryl the librarian shot me a look, she was sitting at a terrace of a cafe I was passing by. "You didn't have to be so cruel, Harper dear", she scolded softly.

"Yes, well, us Children of the Night are a rather evil bunch", I replied dryly.

Zara, the least mean realtor of the three bitches, turned to smile at me over her shoulder. She was sitting with a man that most certainly wasn't her husband. She had gotten married the second high school ended but I guess that didn't last. What a shock. "I thought it was pretty funny", she said.

"Yes, well, you thought marriage vows were pretty funny too", Mellie Miller pointed out sharply and that was how I remembered who Zara got married to: Mellie Miller's only son who was of course the biggest Mamma's boy in the entire town. I gave mad props to Zara for staying in town after ditching the town mayor's son. Obviously, she had a thicker skin than anyone else I knew, including myself.