"Hey babe." I coo swinging my chair to the floor to ceiling windows of my office

Did he know I'd sneaked Zoya out of school for a fun day?

In my defense yesterday she asked how the stock market was recovering from the three big pharmaceutical companies behind the opium crisis! I have no problem with a five year old knowing more than me, but she was actually truly worried! About the stock market! At five years of age! She's at my coffee table completing an assignment she'd given herself now that she was missing school today!

"Hey gorgeous, did I catch you at a bad time?" he wonders, doing that I'm calm but very worried voice I'd come to know too well

Ok, this wasn't about Zoya. I hide the sigh of relief,

"No. What's wrong?" I smile at my handsome worry wart, obviously where Zoya got it from

"Have you seen the papers? They found another body. That makes three; officially there's a serial killer...in our part of London." He reveals as I spin around, picking up today's paper

This was partly my fault. In an effort to ease his mind I had pointed out that two dead bodies was a double homicide, three was official serial killer territory. Another missing woman had been found, dismembered and mauled. They'd identified the latest victim as MaryJoe Perkins. I couldn't make light or point out that both previous victims so far had been blue-eyed brunettes which meant Zoya and I were safe. I check the photo to confirm it

"Maybe we should move out of London. It's way too dangerous." He is saying as my mouth drops, my gaze resting on the picture of MaryJoe alias Marie-Frances Dupont

Flashback

It was three days after I'd hired a choir to sing "Can we fix, can we blend, can we contour" outside Lucas' house on his birthday. I had expected some kind of reaction but got nothing and so I had decided to go sing it myself outside his house until he came out.

I'd thrown on a wrap dress over my best lingerie, one leg exposed to the horrid weather so he'd see the lace garter on my thigh. I was just about to cross the road near his house when the pendant around my neck burned into my skin. I reach for it, finding it was burning hot, scalding my inquisitive finger. Baffled, I stop when a familiar figure struts towards me, the struggling strut of a baby gazelle thanks to the shoes she had on. I stick my finger into my mouth, my neck and collar still hot from the pendant.

"Funke." a familiar french-afflicted tone says and I look up to find Marie-Frances pushing her trench coat slightly off her shoulder so I could confirm she had nothing but lingerie on underneath it

She hadn't changed much and suddenly our last encounter comes rushing in. I suddenly remembered her wise words that I'd tried to cling onto but failed.

"You think you're the first bitch to play him? You'll bore him in a week you fat pig! He'll be back!"

She'd warned me that I'd be carving SLUT into his next paramore's desk, that I'd be the hysterical ex everyone laughed at, and here I was, exactly as she'd predicted, a new addition to the cycle of eager women starving for Lucas Rowland's love and attention. He'd pursued me and slowly built a mad romance around me brick by brick! Everything had been on his terms, even the breakup! Had he done this to her too? Is this how one became a sextuplet? Was this same script different cast? The smirk on her lips, the utter pleasure in seeing me exactly where she'd predicted I'd be...

"You were right sis." I sigh, a painful smile on my face

I knew how to take an L. I should've heeded her warning. With some hair, blue eye contacts and the smoke-eye, the transformation would be complete. It could end here, I realize, or I could lurk somewhere in the shadows waiting for him to break up with whoever he fancied next. I could live my life or I could postpone it, hoping he'd call me over for some rebound sex. I could be Marie-Frances, or I could be the hot shot architect. I smile at Marie-Frances, pull her in for a hug. She was far too beautiful and this game was rigged so only Lucas won.

"Thank you." I shakily choke, making my decision

I hadn't done anything wrong to Lucas, and I couldn't guilt him into getting over the hangups of his family, into making me an exception to his intimacy and family issues. If Marie-Frances, as stunning as she was, had failed to save him from himself, who was I to cling to a dead hope? I walk away from Marie-Frances, as gracefully as I could, vowing never to come near Lucas Rowland again. Once I was sure Marie-Frances couldn't see me, I run through London weeping like a crazed banshee, rushing into the hospital to bother mum.

These were good tears, the last ones I'd cry for Lucas Rowland, a painful relief not my usual tantrum, but I could barely string the words together as mum tucked me into my crying couch, one of her residents already bringing out the ice-cream, crisps and spoon, turning on the tv. The tears poured but my chest felt lighter, lifted with a twisted gratitude. I had so much going for me and I'd let being dumped by Lucas overshadow it all! I wasn't even that great at romantic relationships! Why did I keep throwing myself into them?! I'm going to be single for the rest of my life, just sit about with my money and my buildings and my family. I might get a cat! I might get seven cats! I might just walk into a shelter and demand that they give me all their cats!

"Any back talk?!" I wonder at absolutely no one as if a secret foe was stopping me from getting cats

It's quiet, ain't no back talk. It's settled then. Funke Obatunde; star architect, multimillionaire, spinster, cat lady. I was too soft for the streets so cat lady it is. I'm not going to love or even like anyone else after this string of disastrous relationships! Last call to Funke's heart!

"If anyone wants to love me for the rest of my life I compel you to show yourself now or forever hold your peace!" I grumble at the empty room, daring cupid for the final time in my sorry lifetime

The door to the doctor's lounge opens. Oh shit! I didn't mean right now! Nicki Minaj lied to me, it's supposed to be quiet... What am I saying, it's probably mum!

"I thought that was you." the familiar soft tone of Dr. Vik Shah's voice breaks through my madness

I pull the blanket over my face so he won't see me, my heart jumping something fierce. I wasn't expecting anyone to show themself! This wasn't how the auction of my singleness was supposed to go!

He didn't hear me, right? He wasn't going to say "I heard you asking whoever would like to love you forever to show themself so here I am." right?

Maybe he hadn't seen me!

What am I thinking, he'd walked in, looked me in the eye and said "I thought that was you." He'd already seen me! I peek through the blanket. He was just standing there, tall, handsome, beautiful flawless skin, the wild curls of his ink black hair pulled back from his gorgeous face, nonthreatening yet so manly. He smiles kindly at me and the urge to run into his arms and cry washes over me. It hits me like lightening, that there were other people in the world I could be attracted to besides Lucas Rowland. It was almost as if I'd asked "is there anyone else?" and cupid or Loki or whoever had said "there's Vik. Have you actually looked at Vik?"and now I was looking at Vik, respectfully, and my breathing wasn't quite right.

I hadn't spoken to Vik in months! Since California!

"Hey..." I croak, trying to look like an actual human being and not a badly drawn example

At least the blanket was hiding my teary cheeks. The fact that he looked so gorgeous and friendly and fresh was quite rude to us in the ugly community.

"What are you doing here?" I wonder, as if I'm the doctor

Why did you walk in at the exact moment you walked in?! Did cupid push you in? Loki? Anantse?

I hadn't expected my question to come off so...rude. He didn't work at this hospital as far as I knew, this was only making the coincidence of his timing seem more fated.

"Helping a mate with surgery... I was about to head home when I saw you." He shrugs turning for the tv briefly

Neither of us were meant to be here tonight and yet...

"Is this a particularly sad episode of... 8 out of 10 cats?" he wonders, alluding rather kindly to my tears.

"I wasn't really watching." I shrug defensively

"Rough night?" He gently wonders as I take in a rugged breath

Rough wasn't the half of it.

"It's nothing..." I decide, picking the crisps off the blanket with a soft pout,

If he was here to rinse me, he had every right. I had pretty much aired him. I'm met with dreamy concerned soft honest dark brown eyes framed by the kind of lashes that would be sold as expensive mink.

Why did men have lashes like that?

"Nothing must be really important if you're crying at 8 out of 10 cats Funke... What's wrong?" He wonders softly, brushing my hair gently off my face and wiping my tears. His touch was gentle, and still had the potency to strike the image of him pulling my hair and kissing the breath out of me.

He wasn't wearing his glasses and to stop myself from this weird urge to lean in and kiss his eyes I dump everything on Vik. The highlights first, and then some detail when he asks. He lets me cry, pulls me into his chest and soothes me. Realizing Marie-Frances and I were participating in some weird group think had pulled me out of my stupid plan to stay in Luca's hoetation. It occurs to me that I was being an absolute wanker to Vik.

I hadn't even asked him about his surgery or his life, I was just selfishly crying about mine! The man was a saint, was fit in a soft sensual 'I'm a complete utter gentleman but I might spit on you in a consensual situation' way and he was a good listener... a saint! He hadn't complained about my snort and mumbling and hadn't judged me in the least.

I was intelligent enough to know Vik hadn't been lurking about the hospital waiting for me to ask "who'll love me next?" so he can come in. I looked a mess and I'd aired him for however long we'd known each other, I repeated all this to myself as I tried to not make something out of the fact that he'd walked in at the exact moment I'd asked that someone should? It didn't help that the light behind him framed him so majestically I almost gasped. It was many things, of course I'd been caught unawares, breathless at the sight of Vik. Was this the love story I thought I had with Luna and then with Lucas? Or was Vik my next mistake?

"I didn't ask you how your surgery went..." I say, pushing the subject to safer things

He smiles and pushes some stray strands of hair from his face.

End of Flashback

"Are you there love?" Vik worries

Marie-Frances, the most twisted guardian angel I'd ever had, was dead and from this article I might have been the last person to see her alive.

"Yeah... sorry I was just...reading the story." I mumble, running my finger through her photo as my office door opens

I wasn't expecting anyone, I'd dropped bye to pick some files with Zoya. I look up to find "on assignment" Woo, not warm friendly Woo removing his sunglasses. He taps his watch, supposing I knew what that meant. Did we have an appointment with Arun?

What?

I flick my palm up at Woo as I realize Marie-Frances had been headed to Lucas' house! Had she saved me once again? Would I have been the dead mutilated body if I'd forced my way to Lucas' house? Was Lucas serial killing the sextuplets? I might be in danger. Is that why Woo was here?

"I've grown rather tired of London myself. Maybe we should move." I agree with Vik

London wasn't big enough for Lucas, Luna and I, to add a serial killer? I've been through enough. I was finally happy, the last thing I needed was a serial killer coming after me, Vik or Zoya because they thought I saw something!

"I talked to Zoya about it last night... She's open to it" Vik reveals

My very worried boyfriend had talked to his five year old daughter about a possible serial killer in Kensington! I couldn't blame him for his deep concern, Zoya's mum had been murdered. The last thing Vik could deal with was another serial killer on the loose.

"How soon can you take a vacation?" I wonder, looking at Woo, who does me the honour of losing his staring match with Zoya so our gazes can meet

"Do you have a place in mind? I can pick Zoya early today." Vik practically jumps, chomping at the bit to leave London

This was very much his worst nightmare coming true for the second time in his life.

"The jet's waiting." Woo confirms my suspicion

One day someone will explain to me how Arun and Woo knew I'd need to leave London before I did. On the off chance that I was a witness of something and in danger, my leaving with Woo wouldn't guarantee Vik and Zoya's safety. We'd have to go together.

"Zoya's with me... come to my office as soon as you can?" It was my turn to sound calm while being completely flustered, smiling calmly at Zoya, an awkward pause making my nerves tight

"Be there in fifteen." Vik softly sighs, walking in shortly after I'd introduced Woo to Zoya and explained that we were taking a little vacation to a friend's villa.

We huddled together in the private jet, landing sooner than I expected on a private airstrip, a short distance from the back of a magnificent neo baroque manor hidden down the woody boulevard. This wasn't Arun's California manor, it had the same vibe, woods, sea, secluded, majestic, hidden. Vik hadn't asked any questions, I didn't have answers.

A child's joyful scream reveals a happy little girl on a quad bike driving frantically towards us, a water gun in her free hand, her bun loose, her curly brown hair flying about. A gorgeous curvy black woman in a dark suit and heels was riding a bicycle after her, water gun at the ready. Woo grunts, mumbling viciously.

"Sarai!" He growls so sharply Zoya and I jump,

The woman stops abruptly, almost falling off the bicycle, her beautiful dark eyes widening. Woo stomps his way towards her, hauls her over his shoulder and then angrily walks past us back to the waiting jet.

"I'm Beau Jozić. We'll be staying with you until Woo and Sarai come back for us." The little girl on the quad bike says more to Zoya than Vik and I as I realize who she was

She'd driven up to us and was handing Zoya a helmet despite the fact that she wasn't wearing one. I knew my rich people a lot better now.

"Dad went out with Uncle Sandro and Uncle Ronin but they'll be back." Beau assures Vik and I, taking off in the direction of the house with Zoya beside her.

Vik turns to me, finally free to ask anything.

"The daughter of the aeronautical mogul Cairan Jozić just welcomed us to a secluded villa in the middle of nowhere, name dropped Sandro Heliodor and Ronin Carliorossi before casually letting us know we weren't allowed to leave." I recap gently, as two women appear by the door, one holding an infant, familiar, recognizable even from a distance,

"Michi's also a doctor, you'll love her" I add calmly as the other woman, wearing a black "phenomenally indigenous" t-shirt, approaches us

"Welcome to Sandro's little safe house. I'm Sioux-Macha, you can call me Sy." She beams, bright hazel eyes shining in excitement