"Where the HELL have you been?" Nadia asked with a frown as Grace walked into her apartment.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Grace said, stopping just a few feet into the living room and looking around with confusion. "Did... when did you get new sofas?"

"Christmas." Nadia said, "which you would know if you had been around. Jesus, Nadia- I haven't seen or spoke to you in weeks. Had I known the last time I saw you that I wasn't going to see you until the next year, I would have given you your Christmas present."

"There's been a lot going on." Grace said with a deep sigh as she walked by the sofa, her hands grazing it admiringly. "These are nice."

"Thanks." Nadia muttered, moving into her kitchen. She usually resisted getting new furniture, trading in her car or even just getting new things in general because it always seemed to cause some awkwardness with Grace. Nadia knew that Grace didn't have much of her own and it made her feel guilty when she had always had so much. "So what's been going on?"

"How about coffee and presents first?" Grace said, turning to her with a chipper smile. Nadia nodded, letting a soft smile form on her lips.

"I'll get the coffee, your present is under the tree." Nadia said, prompting Grace to clap her hands together excitedly and run towards the tree. Nadia always gave her the best presents- she knew her so well that she never got it wrong.

"You know, you should consider taking your tree down." Grace said, "it's already the 5th."

"I like Christmas. I'll take it down whenever I'm ready... maybe after the superbowl." Nadia said bringing the coffee mugs to the coffee table. Grace always teased her about it, especially since Nadia did usually wait until mid to late February before taking the thing down.

"Of course." Grace said, taking a seat and unwrapping the present. "Oh these are so nice."

They were a pair of expensive... very expensive vegan leather gloves that Grace had admired outside of a department store in the city. Grace had extremely expensive taste, which meant she rarely got what she wanted.

"Thank you." Grace said as she slipped one on and flexed her fingers in them. "I love them."

"I'm so glad." Nadia said, only half honest. The real truth was that with Grace as absent as she had been for the last several weeks, Nadia had found herself a lot less stressed and a lot more light hearted... except for the whole thing with Luke and Echo. She really had to make it a point to go see her and apologize for that entire mess.

"Whats wrong?" Grace asked, making Nadia realize she had been frowning.

"Nothing, just thinking about some work stuff." Nadia lied. "Speaking of... do you realize they took you off the schedule?"

"Oh?" Grace asked seeming extremely disinterested as she continued to fiddle around with the gloves.

"Grace, that's serious. I wouldn't be surprised if they're fired you. They already hired a replacement, I can't think they're still giving you leave." Nadia said and Grace sighed.

"Well of course they're not, I wasn't there very long, was I?" Grace asked, seeming a little frustrated. "They called me to let me know before Christmas."

Nadia stared at Grace as she continued to play with the gloves. How could she be so nonchalant about all this? She'd gotten fired, how was she going to pay her bills? She'd always known Grace to be a little impulsive and irresponsible but this was an entire different level.

"So now what?" Nadia asked, raising her brow and growing frustrated.

"What do you mean?" Grace asked without looking at her.

"Grace, what are you going to do? Are you looking for another job?" Nadia asked and Grace shook her head.

"No, I have something." She said simply, taking the gloves off and placing them back in the box.

"You do?" Nadia asked.

"Yep." Grace replied simply. Nadia stared at her for a second, waiting for her to elaborate.

"Well, what is it?" Nadia asked, finally losing her patience. Grace turned to her, giving her an unsettling smile. In the past, Nadia was usually blown over by Grace's grins but today, today they made her extremely uneasy.

"Let's just say... I met someone who is helping me out." Grace said simply.

"You met someone?" Nadia asked, confused. Then she remembered. "Do you mean that man I saw you with?"

Grace frowned.

"What man?" She asked.

"I saw you in the city on Christmas Eve. I tried calling out to you but there were so many people. Anyway, I saw you talking to a man. He seemed familiar... darkish hair, didn't see the eyes but he was all in black." Nadia said, trying to remember what he looked like. Could it be that Nadia had simply met another guy to pay for her things?

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Grace said suddenly, looking down. "I wasn't with any man. Are you sure it was even me?"

Nadia frowned.

"Of course, I'm sure. I'd recognize you anywhere." Nadia said as if it was a dumb question.

"There were a lot of people around." Grace replied.

"You stick out anywhere you go. Are you telling me you weren't in the city?" Nadia asked and Grace shrugged, looking down at her watch.

"I was out a lot, Christmas shopping, you know?" Grace said, "It's getting kinda late."

"I could have sworn it was you." Nadia muttered to herself. Grace laughed.

"Sorry, Nadia. I have no idea what man you're referring to." Grace said, "although, I do get approached by a lot of men."

"I suppose that's true." Nadia mumbled to herself. "Okay, sure you won't stay a while longer?"

"No, I should get going." Grace replied. "I have someone I have to visit."

"Ugh, me too." Nadia said, remembering that she needed to go visit Echo.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked.

"Echo." Nadia blurted out, regretting it. She really needed to get that under control, why was she always just spitting things out like that?

"Oh? Something wrong with Echo? Trouble in paradise?" Grace asked, raising her brow. Nadia turned to her, shaking her head.

"No, actually. I just talked to Luke a couple of days ago and everything seems perfect. They're going on their honeymoon soon, and I'm keeping Adelia with me for a few days before she goes back to school." Nadia replied.

"Oh." Grace said, sounding surprised. "Honeymoon? Wow. That's nice. When are they leaving?"

"A couple of day." Nadia replied. "Why?"

"No reason... just curious." Grace said with a nod. "I'll call you."

"Okay... don't be a stranger." Nadia called out as Grace disappeared behind her door.

Nadia stared at the door for several minutes before she moved towards it and locked it. She had been desperate to speak to Grace, needing something, anything to make her feel better. She'd been worried sick over her. She should be relieved, right?

But for some reason, after all that, Nadia couldn't help but feel more worried. She didn't know what it was but sitting with Grace, even for that short while made her feel sick to her stomach.

---

Luke hit decline for what seemed like the hundredth time today. He was frustrated, thinking maybe he should just turn off his phone. What did he have to do to get Grace to get a clue?

He'd already written her a message, telling her that the other night was a mistake and that she needed to keep her distance from him and his family. She hadn't responded that day, but the day after, the nonstop calls started back up followed by texts where she flat out told him she wouldn't be ignored. He couldn't help being nervous. He's already decided to tell Echo, but he was being selfish as he figured out how to say it.

"What about his one?" Echo asked, making him look up from where he sat on the bench in the closet. He smiled, thinking she looked adorable trying to place a hanger back on the top. She had the stool right next to her and somehow she still decided it was best to hop up and down like a maniac.

"Need help with that?" He asked, preparing to stand as he tucked his cell phone back into his pocket.

"Nope, I got it." She said, smiling as she finally landed the hanger back in it's place. "This one?"

Luke sighed. Echo had insisted she would take care of packing for the both of them. He didn't know why, she just told him that morning that she would take care of it and he could just tell her what he wanted to take.

"Sure." He said with a smile, watching as she took it off the hanger and tossed it onto a pile. "You know, I'm actually pretty good at packing. I'm kind of a neat freak."

Echo turned to him with a grin.

"You? A neat freak?" She teased. "Of course you are but this is good practice for me."

"Right, maybe you'll learn to organize your drawers better." He said with a frown, turning in the direction of her side and shaking his head. For someone who had lots of little controls tics and anxiety issues, Echo could sure be a slob. It was a good thing they had housekeepers to help her out or he would be after her constantly. "In fact, if you want, I'm happy to help with that."

It was true, Luke took pride in keeping his space clean and neat, he actually really enjoyed tidying up after himself. There was something very relaxing about it.

"No, thank you." She said, "I appreciate the offer but I promised myself I would learn to be more organized, and I'm determined to do it on my own."

"Alright, alright." He said, "Don't forget a swimsuit."

January would make for lovely weather in the Riviera. It wouldn't be too warm and they could still enjoy the beaches. It had been so long since he actually took time off- and now he'd get to spend a couple of weeks with Echo in paradise. It was perfect.

"I already packed two." She said.

"Well pack more. Two weeks, Echo. We're going for two weeks." He said, reaching into his pocket and frowning. Another call. He slipped the phone back, wishing he could turn it off but he needed it on in case Marco called. He hadn't heard from in in almost a week and it was beginning to make him nervous, so much that he'd almost considered cancelling the trip. Last time he talked to Marco, he said everything was under control and he had warned him that he might be out of touch for a while.

He watched Echo, knowing what he had to do. He needed to tell her. She needed to know.

"And here I thought you'd want to buy me a few more while we were there?" She teased, making him laugh.

"Obviously," He said, grinning mischievously, "If you let me pick them out."

Echo blushed, already thinking of the type of swimsuit would pick out for her.

"I'll grab another..." She said, heading back to her drawers and growing even more red as Luke burst out laughing. "Shhh do you hear that?"

"What?" he asked.

"I think there's someone at the door." She said, listening.

"So? Plenty of people work in this house." He said, standing and walking over to her. Echo smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Echo, I need to talk to you about..." Luke began but Ech again shhh'd him.

"There." She said with a sigh as they heard the doorbell going off once and again.

"Lord." Luke said, rolling his eyes in frustration. He landed a quick peck on her lips before turning towards the closet door. "A house full of staff and no one can answer the door. I'll be right back."

Echo stared after him as he left the room, a stupid smile on her face before she heard the vibrating. She looked around, noting his phone on the floor and not recognizing the number. It must be important if they kept calling. Echo sighed, deciding to take to it Luke, after all- she couldn't answer it herself, what if it was about business?

Then, as she made her way down the hall, she heard it. The sound of two people arguing. The sound of Luke and a woman whose voice she didn't quite recognize arguing.

"You can't just ignore me, Luke. You can't just pretend nothing happened." She hissed, making Echo frown.

"Oh yes I can, as far as I'm concerned, nothing did happen." He said. Echo peeked around the corner, catching a glimpse of Luke as he grabbed the woman by the arm and tried to pull her to the door.

"Just because you had too much to drink and don't remember, doesn't change the fact that you spent the night with me. In my bed..." She said, trying to pry herself free from him.

"How about the fact that no matter what happened, I want nothing to do with you." He said as she tore her arm away. Echo felt her heart begin to flutter rapidly in her chest and without thinking her feet began to carry her slowly towards them.

"I'm sure your wife will feel the same way." Grace said, turning to Echo with a smile. "Right?"

Luke froze, refusing to believe that Echo was behind him but then he heard it, the sound of something hitting the floor, the sound of something smashing loudly. He turned, noticing how she stared at him, so pale she could be a ghost.