The angry sex I had the other night with Mr. Hale didn't excuse the fact of his moral compass was broken. I hadn't interacted with Mr. Hale since the ordeal. A strict go to work and come home agenda was in affect since clearly men were more of an issue to him than trying to fall in love with me. Maybe I underestimated his ability to actually care. Our sexual connection was stronger than our emotional or mental connection. The thought of him asking me to be his again— officially, kept playing over in my mind.

Another event approached before I was able to even enjoy the first event. I chose to dress moderately this time even though I knew that prying eyes would still happen to gaze upon my existence. Mr. Hale would just have to swallow his pride, jealousy, and monotonousness to see the bigger picture. This was business.

The navy colored dress still hugged that of my curves, breasts, and bottom still not revealing as much skin. I still felt this dress was in much moderation than the last. My hair was up in a tight, but messy looking bun with two strands hanging up from the sides of my face. If I wanted to be respected as a woman I had to start acting like a woman.

Mr. Vasquez volunteered to escort me to tonight's event which I was obliged to accept. He had been a very kind man to me since I first started working for him. It's no wonder why he is well respected in his field of work. "I must say every time you come to an scheduled event you look magnificent," he praises me placing a kiss upon my cheek.

I flush slightly nodding at his compliment. "Why thank you, Mr. Vasquez." He's wearing grey suit accompanied with a burgundy tie that stands out. His face is just freshly trimmed as I smell the after shave once his face is near mine.

"Mr. Hale will be meeting us upon around rival," he states opening the door for me to step inside of the vehicle.

I roll my eyes disregarding the information. Mr. Hale wasn't my concern anymore. Tonight I would enjoy myself at the event. I even hoped that Dr. Brennan had been present for I could use the company of a male worth holding an actual conversation. I should have been worried about how it would affect Mr. Hale, but I don't think he cares how things affect me.

"I just want to enjoy tonight. Perhaps learn of the different sponsors we have funding our project," I admit to myself more than towards Mr. Vasquez.

"If something is—ever, bothering you Miss Donovan. I can have it fixed immediately," his facial expression is neutral and I feel the intimidation radiating off of his tone.

I don't know if I should speak of Mr. Hale or not because it would solve nothing. The thought crossed my mind for a minute. "Everything is fine." I reassure him smiling faintly. "Fine..." I utter low enough for only me to hear.

We arrived outside of a skyscraper. Once again overwhelmed by the wealth of it all. Mr. Vasquez has his arm just a few inches from the small of my back guiding me inside of the glass giant. We reach the top where people were chatting in unison it was at least 50 or more people attending. I'm amazed about the view of the city from here. I step outside onto the wooden patio surveying the area. A pool was on the lower deck in which no one seemed to want to enjoy.

I can't remember the last time I had swam in a body of water. The beach seemed welcoming at this point. I missed home very much. "Miss Donovan," a calm voice called from in the distance. My reverie interrupted as it is Mr. Vasquez standing with Mr. Hale and Dr. Brennan. I take a deep breath as I walk over to join the three of them grabbing a glass of wine from off of a waiters tray.

As always Mr. Hale's eyes study my physique and he's not even being modest about it. His eyes dissecting beach curve, indent, and bump. "You look beautiful," Dr. Brennan raises a glass to toast to it. It's overwhelming thinking about how some men found me profoundly attractive. I knew my ego could feed into the attention of these men. It almost seemed welcoming, but I couldn't come to play those 'playing hard to get' roles. That wasn't apart of my agenda at all. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

"Thank you," I'm flushing slightly at the moment. "This is a magnificent view." I change the subject to look over the darkened sky and marvel over the sea of lights. "I could stay up here forever." My eyes closed as I breathe in the scent of trees, perfume, and wine.

"If you love this view then you would love, Spain." Dr. Brennan comments. "Have you ever been?"

"No not at all," I chuckle slightly.

He seems puzzled at my laughter. "I've never really been outside of the United States, let alone another country. I would love to travel, but—" I stop my babbling before I make the mistake of cursing my job which has blessed me with many things.

"But what?" Mr. Hale seems intrigued. "Finish."

"I was just going to say that I have obligations here that I do not have enough time to really enjoy the wonders that the world has to offer.... yet."

Dr. Brennan shakes his head. "Now that just won't do. Excuse me.." He says removing himself from our group. I don't know if I have upset him in some shape or form. I want to apologize before he leaves, but he is already gone.

"I apologize if I have said something to offend him," I look down at my wine glass.

Mr. Vasquez has taken a sip of his wine. "I don't think he was upset at your honesty, my dear." He seems unsure of his answer though.

I glance up at Mr. Hale through my lashes to find him looking back at me with those blue iris's. The water reflects off of him making it seem like a picture perfect moment where he's the most serene being on this rooftop. "Excuse me," I whisper.

I lean over the balcony side holding my glass of wine in my right hand. "Are you ignoring me?" Mr. Hale asks his presence sending shivers down my spine.

"Is it working?"

"Very much so..." he says a matter of factly. "You never told me you wanted to travel."

"That's because we never really held a conversation about our likes and dislikes," I almost want to laugh considering that most of our conversations never really focused on anything dealing with our actual personality.

"I will be traveling to Seattle soon to hike in the mountains in the summer. My mother would love it if I would find someone— to accompany me."

"Do you want me to come with you or are you only asking because your mother requests that you have a love interest to tag along?"

"Ellie."

"Don't Ellie me, don't," I breathe almost shaken up by all the overwhelming feelings rushing through my head. "Do you really want me to be there?"

"Yes.. yes, I do. I don't see how anyone else could keep me company but you." He breathed.

A tear almost could have fallen from my eye at that moment, but the unexpected happens that catches both of us off guard.

"Mr. Hale, Ellie." The voice familiar comes startling us both. It's.... Sebastian.

We turn around to a well groomed Sebastian who's wearing a black suit and aquamarine colored tie. It matches his eyes which have a certain determined look.

"Sebastian," he says informally coming face to face with him. "You should be honored to be attending this event. Now you and your people can stop badgering about the healthcare being unaffordable to younger homeless teens."

Sebastian had been mentioning about the healthcare for young mothers and whatnot for months before we parted ways. I didn't realize the coincidence of all of this happening. Did Mr. Hale intentionally lead this project because of that?

"Don't do anything rash, please," I whisper holding onto Mr. Hale's arm softly. "These people are major benefactors for the companies you are assisting." We stand adjacent to Mr. Vasquez and Dr. Brennan talking with a group of people. I didn't want the two of them to cause a commotion if it was not needed. Whatever vendetta they had could have waited until after the event.

"You just don't want me to tell your boyfriend..."

Sebastian's arms have crossed one another seeking respect from the man who might have took ruined his relationship. "Tell me what?" He asks.

I roll my eyes trying not to entertain his sadistic thoughts. "We were seeing one another is that what you are trying to infer."

"Were?"

"Indeed..." He states taking a sip of his champagne as if I had been lying to him.

First, it was the internet chatroom conversation and friend relationship. Now he was funding a project that Sebastian was very passionate and motivated about. I found it all this to be very unsettling.

"You were prodding into my private life, weren't you? How else would you have known that he would be here? That's why you've been distant? Because you seem to be everywhere else except minding your own damn business."

I have now stepped away from Mr. Hale unable to wrap my head around it.

"Now, now Miss Donovan when did we start lowering our language barrier. It's unladylike of you to use such profanity."

"I don't give a damn!"

Sebastian is shocked by my sudden outburst. It would have seem that I was a totally different person than the one he met a year ago. "Ellie, stop," he tried to coo me placing his hands on my shoulder. That only makes Mr. Hale tense up with anger.

"Don't touch her," he takes a step forwards.

I place myself between the both of them before it turns into a brawl. No one needed to know what the other was capable of. I certainly didn't want to see either of them behind the bars of a police station over me. A pathetic woman like me who would come to realize that even though these men seemed cold and heartless at times that they had their amusing ways of showing compassion. Sebastian no different from Mr. Hale, and Mr. Hale no different from Sebastian. Everyone had their different agendas of asserting what they felt upon someone.

"This is enough..." I sound exasperated my hands on both of their pecks with the distance limited. "We are not doing this.."

Life seem to pause in that exact moment. I had to choose right then which one of these men I was going to dedicate myself to. A had to be woman enough to admit my wrong doings. I knew one of them were going to be upset in the end. I run both of my hands in between that of Sebastian's slowly when my eyes reach his I pull him away from Mr. Hale's proximity. I don't even glance back at Mr. Hale afraid to see the pained look in his eyes. Sebastian and I walk hand in hand towards the other side of the pool.

"Sebastian," I pause for a moment trying to gather all my thoughts together. "I made a mistake." This would either go one or two ways. "I love him—in love with him, and I used you. I can never forgive myself because I wasn't thinking of anyone besides myself. I used you as a crutch because you had been so kind, considerate, and respectful towards me. I needed that in my life because I was so torn of him leaving me."

Sebastian seems as if he doesn't want to hear what I have to say but he forces him mouth into a thin line. "I can't be with you because I don't love you, but I care so much for your happiness that you can hate me for however long you choose. I know I don't deserve your kindness." I admit the tears starting to trickle down my face. I was disgusted with myself for playing these love games in which I knew in the end I would hurt myself more.

"Ellie," he sighs pulling me into a hug. "I understand." I feel like I was losing sight of who I was being manipulated by lust.

Sebastian exchanged a few words before making his exit. It hurt more seeing him disappointed in my true feelings, but I couldn't keep him in the dark hoping that I would never see him again. Now I had to deal with Mr. Hale. I couldn't even imagine what would be said once we were face to face. I press down on my dress smoothing the wrinkles, and quickly rubbing my fingers under my eyes so that I didn't appear to be crying in his presence. A few deep breaths along with a glass of wine and then I return to the exact spot where I left Mr. Hale.

"May I have a word?"

He nods placing down the glass. I walk ahead of him nodding towards Mr. Vasquez as well as Dr. Brennan as we make our exit. There is another side of the rooftop venue where limited people stand drinking and conversing. We stand near the edge where more buildings of lights can be seen, but the wind is welcoming. I take my hair down from the bun seeing as it will not stay for the wind will just blow it everywhere.

"I broke it off with him."

I don't know what announcing it to Mr. Hale would prove, but he needed to know if I honestly was going to give him all of me. "Are you done with these childish antics, Ellie?" He scolds me as if I'm a child.

"You haven't been making this easy on me!! How am I the one playing games? It is you who will not come to see how much I love and needed you a year ago."

Mr. Hale doesn't seem to want to hear of my explanation. I cannot even seem to keep his eyes from looking off to the distance. "A year ago you wouldn't have wanted to be with me."

"But I did!"

"I wasn't the man for you that I am now," he projects the tone of his voice louder than I am use to. It makes me flinch slightly. "I wasn't good enough for you. I didn't want the obligation of being in a relationship, or the responsibility of making one happy or watching what I do. That's what you what? A man who was unable to commit?"

That moment I realized why he left, but unable to rationalize everything my hands balled up into fists. I pound my hands against his starched royal blue dress shirt over and over. My wavy curls slinging back and forth slapping my face every now and then. "Why? Why are you doing this to me!?" I'm breaking down beneath him.

I was a love sick puppy. In love and demanding of his attention, his love, his stability. I cry within his arms sinking down to the floor while he cradles me. I couldn't fight all the unwanted feelings when it came to him. He was my undoing in many ways than just one. My heart was finally breaking open to accept everything for what it was.

I wanted him when he didn't feel like he was good enough for me, but when he wanted me I refuse to give in to his love. I was afraid. Afraid that he would run away from his true feelings once more. I thought the whole year that I had been gone he had just been enjoying the sexual pleasantries of life, but he had been working on himself. For me.

"Ellie, I'm ready to give you the world... including me. I am just sorry I didn't do it sooner...."