EX

"Why would you embarrass me for that useless blood bag?" Aria said angrily.

"For your information, she's not a blood bag" Cole replied coldly.

"Well…what is she to you?" she yelled.

There was silence in the room as Cole had no idea what to say.

Meanwhile, Ashley was eavesdropping on their conversation just outside the door.

"Tell me is she more important than your fiancée," she said.

Ashley placed her palm over her mouth in shock. So Aria and Cole were engaged. She felt a sudden burst of sadness in her. Why would this happen when she was just starting to have feelings for him?

"You mean my ex-fiancée" Cole said. "Don't forget that you and I can never be a thing talk less of couples"

Another round of shock came over Ashley, at least she felt a bit happy about this one but she wondered why they might have broken up.

"That's why I returned," Aria said. "I wanted to sort things out between us"

"Don't even try, I never loved you and I never will" Cole burst out in anger.

"Then why did you get engaged to me?" Aria said in a heartbroken tone.

"Don't remind me that that engagement was done out of pure deception," he said. "Don't make me hold that betrayal against you"

"So you're still annoyed about that time?" she asked. "Honey, I'm sorry"

She was about to cup his face in her palms when he slapped her hands off.

"Keep to your boundaries" he warned.

He was about to walk out on her when he halted just at the door.

"One more thing," he said. "Don't mess with my things most especially Ashley," he said then walked out angrily leaving a boiling Aria in the room.

Ashley had hidden beside the door and Cole didn't see her when he passed. Almost immediately Aria came out of the room.

"I know you're there," she said in a sinister voice.

Ashley held her breath hoping she was referring to someone else.

"You must have found it entertaining to see him embarrass me like that but just to let you know," she said.

She turned to Ashley with bloodshot eyes filled with nothing but hatred,

"Cole is mine and mine only," she said before storming out in anger.

"Was that a threat?" Ashley asked herself.

She felt insecure around this woman. Her arrival into the mansion gave her a bad aura. She didn't want to get on anyone's blacklist but she also didn't appreciate her throwing herself on Cole.

**************************************

Janet sat with her head resting on the wind-up window as she admired every object they passed by.

She turned to her mother to see her already fast asleep as Janice rested her head on her bosom. A sudden rush of sadness ran through her as she thought of the embarrassment they had gone through.

A slight smile lit up on her face as she remembered how maturely Tegan had saved him. She had to pay him for his kindness as she hated favors. She had no idea where Tegan had planned to take them but she knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt them.

She wasn't able to contact Tegan as he sat in the front seat. There was a platform that created a barrier between the front seat and the passenger's seat meaning she couldn't see Tegan.

She wanted to thank him for his support so she dialed his number on her phone.

"Hello," he said right after picking up the call.

"Hey" she replied softly.

"How's it going back there?" he replied with a care-filled voice.

"We're all good" she replied.

There was silence as Janet didn't know how to say it.

"Thanks" she finally said.

"No worries" he replied. "After all you're my friend.

"Friend?" she unwittingly said out loud.

She never thought of him as a friend but how could she say that?

"Yes," he said. aren't we friends?"

"Yes…I guess" she replied with a smile. "Okay, talk to you later"

"Yeah" he replied.

Janet hung up the phone and smiled while biting her lower lips, something she usually did when she was blushing uncontrollably. To her, his voice was so cool and deep. She was starting to him differently.

**

Janet stepped out of the car a few seconds after it stopped right before a luxurious mansion. Elena and Janice's expression was unforgettable. They had never seen a house as big and beautiful as this.

"Is this your home?" Elena asked in shock.

"Yes, ma'am" Tegan replied with a respectful smile.

Janet was not surprised in any way as she had virtually lived in the Hendrix Villa. It was not surprising to her after all he was Master Hendrix's close friend.

Elena, Janice, and Janet took their heavy bags in their hands.

"No ma'am, you should leave it to the servants," he said.

"Servants?" Elena asked in shock.

The size and beauty of the house were not enough now they were talking about servants.

"Yes, ma'am"

Janet felt embarrassed by their expression. They were behaving like people who lived in dumps.

Tegan took them in and gave them lunch and a separate room. All the while, Janet had been thinking of ways to pay him back for his hospitality and the loans he had given her.