I don't have time for this (Edited)

Amy pinched her forehead. "I doubt I have the time for this nuisance. Why should I get to know you? You're crazy, insane, and obnoxious, why don't you use that time to visit a mental doctor?"

Jeff remained rooted in the ground before he could counter the woman's toxic words. "I know you hate me, but don't you think we should at least prepare for the party?"

Amy rolled her eyes. Why was this man even hosting the party again and what could she do? She was studying music and not party planning! Realizing that there were great things she could do with her time, "I'll be back by noon."

She quickly left before he could say something insane again. Her day with Lucy in the amusement flew and before she knew it, she was sitting back in the villa looking at workers set up for the party. Jeff was nowhere to be seen and she couldn't help questioning where he was.

As soon as her eyes fell on one of the housemaids she ran to her. "Where is Jeff?"

The maid bowed. "Ma'am, he is in his room, he has been there since morning." Since morning? Was he serious about not going to work and making it up to her? Sigh! How was she supposed to hate this guy?

She walked to his room, knocked and when she didn't get any response, she pushed the door open a little and saw him lying on his bed staring at the ceiling blankly.

"Jeff?" she called not taking a step from the door. He tilted his head and she blinked, there was this lost look on his face, one she had never seen him with it. Was something wrong with his company? Remembering his behavior from yesterday, she inwardly shivered, were they connected and he was just using her as his scapegoat for not going to work? "Is everything okay?" she found herself asking. Biting her tongue, she cursed the little curious demon b*tch inside her. Jeff slowly sat up and leaned on the headboard tapping beside him. Amy gulped, was he asking to sit on the bed next to him? "I am fine standing," she walked to the bed and stood by it.

Jeff smiled bitterly and she cast her eyes down. "Am I that bad Amy?" he asked in a voice that sounded cracked and painful. She clenched her fists letting her nails dig into her palms forming crescent shapes. Why was he playing hurt, urgh!

She dodged the topic. "Why are you this way is it about the company?" Jeff quietly looked at her. She continued asking. "Is it about the man you thought I knew about? I am sorry but, truly, I don't know him. I swear." Not getting her answers, she looked up and met Jeff's intense gaze.

"The party is for business people, your father forced it on me threatening to make sure I go down. He announced to everyone that I married his daughter and if he can prove that I have mistreated you, he can make me lose a lot. Either way, I am on the losing end." He threw his head back and Amy caught her lower lip between her teeth.

"You don't need to pacify my father, I will announce to everyone that I hate my father and that he forced me to get married, I will also confess that I have been a burden to you and confess my stupidity and naivety. You only have to bring Stephanie to testify, I am sure she can convince everyone."

Jeff looked into her eyes, searching for anything. "You are willing to do that?"

Amy nodded. "You've treated me better than my family and I can't let my father use me as his stepping stone to success."

Silence reigned in the room before Jeff shook his head. "No, you cannot do that, you have a future ahead of you, you'll be ruining your reputation, and the media will be there."

Amy laughed lightly. "I have been through worse Jeff."

Jeff studied her face and saw resolve, no, this woman, why was she so tough, he couldn't even stop her. No, it was time to be a man. "Why are you this way, Amy?"

Amy gave him a confused look. "How?"

"Tough and all that."

She sat on the edge of the bed, maybe opening a bit to him might help him get over whatever he was going through her eyes slowly turned distant "You see Jeff not everyone was born in a gold bed like you. Some people like us grew up in slums, with single moms who were called whores and husband snatchers. I grew up knowing that things came from working hard, tell me how could I not be tough when my mother worked her ass off and people called her a husband snatcher which she agrees with, she even told me that it was true.

From an early age, I knew how difficult things could get, and being a softie was only going to cost me. From there, I landed in my father's home. Whom I had never seen before and not as a daughter to his house, but a half maid." She laughed a bit crazily at the memory. "Do you know how it is studying through scholarship while your father is considered wealthy? I had to check my manners, deal with bullies and make sure my grades were up because I couldn't afford to lose the scholarship that I had done everything to get."

Jeff put his hand on her shoulder and surprisingly she didn't move away. "Your high school?" thou, he knew everything; it was still interesting to listen from the horse's mouth.

"I got a scholarship there too. That kind of involved studying late into the night but with my mom who gave me all the support, I kind of managed."

Jeff rubbed her shoulder lightly. "You're strong and tough. Don't be too hard on yourself." Because I am here for you, he thought and then wondered what he was thinking.

Amy tilted her head and backed away a little when she noticed how close they were. "This isn't a big deal for me."

"But promise me you won't say anything. You can just remain silent, please Amy?"

Amy sneered a bit. "I don't do promises but I will handle it my way."

Jeff gave her an approving smile and that was when it dawned on her that she had never been into his room. It was one big room, in white with heavy grey curtains drawn aside. He had a direct view of the front yard and the backyard, ouch while she only had a side view! The bed she was seated on was a king size with a grey duvet and the furniture beside was grey and looked really great… "Falling in love with my room?" he asked teasingly.

Amy almost blushed at being caught red-handed, almost, she quickly scurried away.