Florence

I was thankfully allowed to use the work phone and managed to call mom for a ride. I thanked Gus, the current manager on shift before making my way to the parking lot where I waited for a familiar car to pull up.

I sat down on a public bench and watched as a black SUV pulled up right next to me. I panicked just the tiniest bit and shot up from my seat.

A man got out and I recognised him as one of Neil's bodyguards which put me at ease, but the fact that Neil was approaching me didn't make my anxiety any better. The man himself stepped out wearing a neck brace and a limp to match. I rolled my eyes and crossed my hands over my chest. I was positive his fall wasn't that bad.

"Florence, you are just the person I was looking for," he greeted while swatting away his bodyguard. I tried to refrain from frowning but I nearly had a stroke doing so. "I'm glad you're okay. I heard about your little fall," I said, eyeing off his neck brace. He readjusted it and cleared his throat. "Yes. It was quite traumatic. Anyway, a little birdie told me you've spent an evening with both Eurus and Rian." He hummed, giving me that smug look he always likes to wear. I'd usually reply with something witty but I got the feeling this was a serious matter.

"Y-Yeah. I guess they have a thing for hanging out with me." I remarked. He let out a boisterous laugh that somehow made me a little more insecure. "Don't flatter yourself. They don't hang out with people like you. They gain connections through you to people like me." He said with a small snicker. "Now, I suggest you disassociate yourself with them. They're powerful men who don't want anything to do with you."

I wasn't going to lie, they were menacing and kind of scary but having some sort of new attention felt nice. That's normal, right? Normally his words didn't affect me that much but his words cut deep this time and I was left speechless. He was triumphant this time, and he could tell by that shit eating grin he had on. "Sir, you're about to be late for that conference with Evolve." His body guarded chimed in. He made a gruff noise before spinning on his heel and headed towards the hotel.

Another vehicle pulled up and thankfully it wasn't someone I wasn't expecting. Mom opened the door for me with a frown and I instantly knew she had questions. "Where the hell where you last night, Florence?!" She questioned. I bit my lower lip. Yeah, she was totally pissed off at me. "Eurus tried to take me home but he wasn't able to get inside, and apparently you were asleep." I said in one quick breath. The slight twitch in her eye told me she wasn't pleased with my answer. "And then what happened?" She pressed further. "And then nothing?"

"Florence Baker!"

"Jeez, calm down. He took me to his hotel room."

She groaned loudly. She was silent which was another sign she was more tired than she was angry which. "Your grey hairs are showing," I joked in a pathetic attempt to lighten the mood. "Do you not hear yourself, Flo? It was bad enough he invited us to this party, but taking you to his hotel room? People are going to talk." She carried on. "Attention from these people aren't good." I sunk back into the car seat and blew out a lungful of air. Why did everyone care that they were noticing me?

"All Eurus did was invite us to a party. A lavish one. We should be thankful." I grumbled, just as we pulled up our driveway. "I am thankful! It's just your father always talked about those Wyverns. They'll do anything so that we're in debt to them. Right now, we're in debt." She ranted. "He didn't have to pay for our stuff, but he did. He didn't have to take you in, but he did. He didn't need to pay attention to you, yet here we are."

I made a frustrated groan and unbuckled myself. This paired with my conversation with Neil wasn't helping my self-esteem at all. Here I was beginning to think they just simply wanted to talk to me but apparently others saw it different. It made me question my own logic. Was I even thinking right? Maybe I was delusional for thinking they wanted to be buddy buddy with me.

"Whatever. I'm going out later." I mumbled as I slid out the car. "Florence- wait! I didn't mean-" She yelled out but I didn't let her finish. I just went straight inside and headed for my bedroom. I rolled out onto my bed and stared up at my ceiling. Should I just listen to Neil and avoid them all together? I felt strange knowing the possibility that they just wanted to friends was slim. Maybe I was being played by Eurus this whole time and I've just been too stupid to notice.

Doubts started swimming in my head and I began rethinking going out with Remus. The sudden realisation struck me that unlike Eurus, Remus hadn't thought about giving me his number so I couldn't even cancel. Anxiety replaced doubts, and a the shallow pit in my stomach became a trench full of second thoughts.

After my episode of slightly depressing thoughts I charged my phone and set an alarm an hour from now and slept. I was too tired to do anything and my sudden motivation was sucked out of me like a hurricane.

**

After my nap I reluctantly got ready for wherever Remus was taking me. I just had a quick shower and got dressed in just a boring white-shirt-blank-jeans combo and slipped on some airforces for good measure. I had no idea why but I still felt tired from earlier. Maybe it was the party, but I was usually a quick recoverer when it came to sleep.

I grabbed my phone and sat on the couch while I waited for someone to show up. I slept right through my alarm and was out for a few more hours. It was only quarter to seven and luckily no one had come by yet. Maybe I should've asked more about where he was taking me- hell, maybe I should of asked when he was even picking me up but I guess it was supposed to be a surprise.

Mom was cooking quietly in the kitchen when she interrupted the silence. "Florence I didn't mean to hurt your feelings earlier. I hope you know that." She hummed. I glanced up at her to confirm she was staring at me and unsurprisingly enough her soft eyes were pointed right at me. "I don't want them to hurt you, understand?" She sighed softly. I managed a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. I guess." I muttered.

There was a sudden knock at the door and I shot up instantly. "I'm guessing that's for you. I want you home at ten- eleven latest! And tell Josh I said hi!" She called out as I made my way to the door. I hadn't told her I was going out with Josh but I didn't think she would like it if I told her it was Remus. "Yeah, love you." I called back before practically leaping out the front door.

I bumped into a hard surface and looked up. My heart stopped for a second as I registered the face and made the connection. "Midas?" I tried. His sapphire eyes sparkled with something devious as he smiled. "Indeed. Remus sent me to pick you up." He informed and I smiled awkwardly. "Oh, thanks.."

He started walking off without any indication and I quickly followed after. He was driving one of those vintage looking cars that gave off way too much smoke but looked fancy. It was almost frightening to sit in since everything was kept in such neat order. "You know, I almost didn't recognise you in those clothes." He spoke with a small groan as he hopped in the drivers seat. The entire car rocked and for a second I thought we were about to topple over.

"You remember me?" I blurted out. He chuckled, then started the car. I groaned to life and the engine started sputtering. "Do I remember the boy that nearly wrecked my party and attracted every camera within a ten mile radius? Yes, I do remember you." He laughed. "S-Sorry about that.." I muttered, my face feeling hot. I was so stupid for getting drunk at that party, especially with Remus.

"It's perfectly fine. A couple hundred thousand and those photos vanished. It's amazing what a little money can do." He remarked whilst lifting a hand off the wheel to you with a gold chain around his thick neck. "Anyway, you managed to get Remus to socialise, I'll commend you on that." I looked up at him with a questioning look. "H-How do you know Remus?" I asked. He quirked his mouth to one side before answering. "He and I are related. Cousins, although he doesn't like to talk about it."

Cousins? That explains what Remus was doing at a his party with seemingly no one. "How do you know him?" He questioned with genuine curiosity. "He just talked to me?" I answered truthfully. He barked out a laugh and I frowned. What was so funny? "Surely there's more to it than that. Remus doesn't just 'talk' to people. Was it a fling? He's only had a few of those in his life but it's entirely plausible." He thought aloud. I scoffed. What was with this man and thinking I was a fling to everyone?

"Anyhow, we're here now. Tell Remus he owes me now, okay?" He waved me off, parking in front of a rib house. He practically shoved me out the car as the minute I set foot outside the door slammed closed and he sped off. I didn't even get to thank him for the ride.

I nervously made my way inside the rib house where I was stopped by a women at the front. "Any reservations?" She asked in a bored tone. I froze for a second. He didn't tell me about the name for a reservation! I thought for a second and she look up at me from her hostess stand. "Uh, reservation for Slade?" I tried. Her eyes fell back down and began scanning for something. My stomach churned for a minute and I started thinking I walked into the wrong restaurant when she nodded. "Right this way," she said and guided me to a table where Remus was idly sitting and staring out the window.

He looked up and smiled instantly. She left quickly and I took a seat informer across from him. We were in our own little booth in the corner of the restaurant, nice and quiet. "I'm glad you came," he greeted. There was a familiar look on his face like worry, as if he expected me not to show. "I hope you like ribs," he chuckled, waving the menu. "Oh, I do. I just haven't been to a place like this is awhile." I admitted. He relaxed a little and sighed.

"Was Midas kind to you? I would've picked you up myself but I get nervous on the road, especially when there's someone else in the car." He chuckled awkwardly. I nodded while brushing a piece of hair out of my face. "It's all good, I understand. Midas was nice, considering he went out of his way for both you and me." I assured him.

I couldn't help but check out his outfit, just to make sure I wasn't underdressed. Luckily for me, he was wearing a navy collared shirt with black slim chinos. I also noticed the many rings he was wearing. I decided not to ask him about them, since last time he didn't even want me touching them.

We started a conversation about the party, since he did promise me he'd tell me more about what happened. He told me about the supposed drinking game he insisted I started and how we threw our glasses off the balcony. I cringed when he said we started swearing at the top of our lungs but in the end was kind of disappointed in the fact that I couldn't remember much of it. We were both laughing by the end of his story.

"So, did you want to order? He asked as I calmed down from my hysterical laughing. "Ah.. I was thinking of just getting a pork-pulled burger." I decided. He gave me a bewildered look and pointed to the rib section. "We're at a rib house and you want to order a burger?" He asked incredulously. I snorted and shrugged "Hey, they're offering it. Plus, the ribs look they'd be too much for me to eat."

He frowned, then took a closer look at the menu. "We could always share?" He offered. I thought about it and came to the conclusion that it was just a dish, and there'd be no wrong in sharing. "If you really want.." He smiled brightly. "Not at all. I don't want to seem like a glutton." He laughed.

He waved over a waiter and I glanced at the menu to look for drinks. This evening wasn't turning out too bad, but Neil's and mom's words stuck to me. Remus doesn't seem like he has any ulterior motives, but neither did Rian. Eurus was a bit iffy but not that bad.

"Sir- sir! You can't just walk in here-" The women at the front squealed. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Another familiar voice rang out from the commotion. Remus was quietly talking to the waiter but he had stopped to look up at whatever scene was unfolding behind me so I did the same.

The man was unmistakably Rian, walking over to us with a frown on his face. My heart seized and my brain exploded into a million different scenarios as to why he was here and what he was going to do. My first thought were that he was about to declare war. Instead, he plopped down down right next to me. "See? My fucking reservation is right here," he mocked the women. I cautiously turned to glance at Remus who was tense yet again and clutching a fork dangerously. "Fancy seeing you here," Rian grumbled, glaring daggers at Remus.

The waiter was just standing their beside me as we both watched the two stare so hard at each other I personally thought they were communicating telepathically. I turned to the waiter and asked what he had so far and went ahead and finished the order. The drinks were the only thing left so I just decided on some lemonade and got the same for Remus in hopes he liked it. "And a whiskey, thanks." Rian quickly chimed in before he left.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Remus asked with a sudden edge to his voice. "Can't I dine at a rib house too?" He said playfully. "You aren't a Wyvern. Your lies suck shit."

I twiddled with my thumbs and sat silently. I was also silently praying they didn't kill each other or start a massive scene. They started bickering a bit and I was sure things were going to turn hostile if Rian didn't leave soon. Why was he even here? Neil's words popped up in my hand again. Gain connections through you to people like me.

"You better fucking leave." Remus growled.

"Or what? You'll stab me right here? That wouldn't Be any good for your alliance."

"Your alliance? You're apart of it too,"

"You know what I fucking mean!"

I couldn't help but notice that the entire restaurant had become their big audience and were all silently watching the argument go down. Some of them had phones out and were recording this go down. Even the cooks in the kitchen had gone silent.

They were both two massive ticking time bombs waiting to implode any minute form now, and I was caught right in the middle.

Aaaah, sorry for the kind of abrupt ending! I had to cut it off here since I didn't want to have a suuuper long chapter and then a tiny one right after! Plus, my word count average is slowly starting to get out of whack over here! I hope you guys can forgive me <3

Anyway, predictions and thoughts are always welcome. I enjoy reading them so much, they truly make my day!