Loving can hurt

Jem had been sitting in front of her mirror for over twenty minutes subconsciously staring at her reflection. She felt too miserable to at least try to apply a bit of makeup to her face to look a lot more presentable. She was more worried about her meeting with Matteo Valdez than she was about her looks.

She kept thinking about all that's been going on in her life. She was still trying to get over a rough breakup when Matt came into her life. He seemed so nice and understanding. She trusted him and enjoyed every moment they spent together. She didn't realize that underneath all that there was a demon waiting for the right time to unleash itself.

It's hard to explain what happened and why suddenly changed toward her for no reason. He is making it seem like she had no right to be mad at him whatsoever. Despite him knowing he is the cause of everything she has been through.

She missed the times he cared for her, his charming smile yet cold. His soothing husky voice. How he makes her feel safe around him, his powerful and intimidating presence. She got so close that she fell in love with everything she feared about him. She fell in love with him.

She hopes that tonight changes everything. She wishes to reconnect with the angel she met a couple of months ago and change his mind.

She sighed as she picked up her purse and turned around to leave the room. She was immediately startled to see Arie had been standing there staring at her. He wore a faint smile as he stared at her reaction to his sneakiness.

"Are you trying to murder me?" She said holding her chest while panting. How she hates surprises.

"I didn't want to disturb you." He taunted.

She frowned at him. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Ten minutes."

She wasn't feeling his joke about surprising her, she didn't even pretend to laugh about it she just walked right passed him and headed straight for the entrance door.

Her attitude killed his enthusiasm, he followed behind thinking of another trick to lighten up her mood but there wasn't any. He just needed to make her feel confident about her meeting with Matt.

"Jem I know you'll be able to change his mind." He said as she was about to go through the front door.

She gulped and forced a smile.

"I know Matt cares about you, he won't have the heart to say no to your pleas."

She nodded not out of her confidence in what he said but because she hopes the good guy she met a few months ago will surface and change his mind about her mother's bakery.

"Can you drop me off please?"

"Yeah sure."

"I want to see my dad first."

"Do you know where he was taken to?"

"I'll check the city's police custody, he's got to be there."

"If you say so."

They entered his car and rode into the street. It was a 20-minute drive to the city's police department. She and Arie walked into the building and approached the reception desk. A police officer was standing behind the desk staring at them as they approached him.

"Good evening officer," she looked his name tag. "Klaus"

"Ma'am."

"My dad was arrested yesterday. I'm here to see him. Can I see him, please."

He smiled at her humility. "What's his name?" He took a register and started flipping through the pages.

"Jake Stacey."

"What's your name ma'am?"

"I'm Jem Stacey."

"Alright Jem. We do have a man by that name but it's past visiting hours."

"Please, I have to see him."

"I understand. How about you come back tomorrow."

"But,"

"Jem I'll bring you here tomorrow, it's already late." Arie said holding her shoulder.

"I have to see him." She mumbled to him.

He held both her shoulders, trying to soothe her. He ensured their eyes were locked in a gaze.

"Hey hey listen to me. We'll come tomorrow to see your dad. First, you need to talk to Matt and find out his plans for your father."

She nodded. "Thank you officer."

The man smile as he watched them exit through the door.

***

Matteo stood up from his mattress and took up his car keys inside one of the drawers on his nightstand. Thinking hard about everything that has happened so far with Jemima makes it harder for him to go through with his decision about her. But it's either that he watches her lose everything.

He walked out of his bedroom went downstairs and head for the entrance door. He had no idea his evil brother was lurking in the darkness behind him. He was about to open the door when he heard his brother call out his name.

"Matt." He stopped walking for a bit to listen to his cocky brother but didn't turn around to look at him. He could already guess the direction he was speaking from.

Matt's silence and ignorance made his brother smirk only very briefly.

"I don't see any reason why you should be mad at me" His brother sounded so sincere, Matt knows his brother too well to fall for that attitude.

"I'm not mad." Matt mumbled gritting his teeth.

"Sounds like you are. Anyway, I just wanted to say good luck." He raised his glass to Matt, smiling his sarcastic, vicious smile. Matt couldn't see his brother's face but he could predict the expression he had on.

"Thanks," Matt said thus left. This attitude broaden the smile on Trevor's face which only lasted for a second. He then took another sip from his glass of wine.

"Just don't mess this up." He said with a steely look on his face.

***