'I can’t believe the old bastard did this to me,' I keep thinking as fresh, raw grief makes its way under my skin while I’m watching the coffin holding the person I most detest sink into the ground.

“ Even from the grave, beyond death, the old maggot still finds a way to sink his claws into my life. Trying to tear my happiness away.” I say to Carter as we both watch.

“ I guess the devil has finally met his match if this man still has a way to torment you from the depths of hell” he replies while tilting his imaginary hat in fake reverence.

I wish I could just punch him across the face, to break that perfectly structured nose. I know that everyone, especially the women would go into fits on that one and I’m ready to take on whatever comes after but what good would it do my reputation to punch my best friend at my father’s funeral?

I guess I could just blame it on my supposed grief. That would be very satisfying seeing as the smug idiot chooses to find the humor in my plight. I can see the tingle in his eyes and the stupid smirk playing across his lips.

At least someone is getting his daily dose of humor.

Trent, on the other hand, cannot seem to get his attention away from his phone. I’m sure he’s waiting on a call from one of his fuck buddies or “ lady companions ” as he loves to call them.

I really hope whoever she may be, she’s damn worth it cause what should be more important than his best friend at his father’s funeral. Nothing should be more important than me right now. Not that I expect the world to stop for me when I suddenly have issues but it should.

He suddenly tears his gaze from his phone and raises his head to look across from us and wait! I can’t read the look on his face. Is that longing or has my grief left me half blind and delusional? Whatever it is, I do not care to find out right now.

I look away from him to stare in the direction he’s looking and there they are. The wild and shameful bunch. She’s not even ashamed, wailing so loudly with all these people staring. I’m not even surprised. It is to be expected when you go to the suburbs, find some cheap trash, dress it up and bring it to the city.

Doesn’t change the fact that it came from the dump.

“God! I hate her so much.”

Can someone just rip out her vocal cords so that I won’t have to listen to this? It really is just stupid.

Rina Williams or Ian seeing as she was married to the old dirtbag before his death. My father’s whore.

The one who stepped into our lives and ruined it before I was even born. She couldn’t even take her time to get dressed properly and look presentable like a member of a high class family. She really is such a disgrace. Guess my father could not manage to bend and break this one. With her flawless, milky skin and her dainty features, I see why my father could not let her go despite being married to my mother.

Despite the state she’s in, she still manages to look pretty. If I didn’t hate her so much, I would probably hit on that despite her age and relationship with my father. At least to see what ticked my father’s obsession. It’s no wonder Carter used to have a crush on her.

“I must be going crazy or why the fuck would I be this thinking this?”

Next to her, are the bastard children. Stephan to her right and Alana to the left, sobbing while trying to hold her mother back. They really make up the sight of a perfect family that lost an important part of it.

“ So what are you going to do now that your father could not leave your inheritance to you without adding a clause that gives his favorite son an advantage?” Brian suddenly speaks up.

“ I’d sooner feed my balls to reptiles than hand over my family’s legacy to his bitch and her bastards,” I reply without holding back on the obvious hate and bitterness I feel toward them. I look up at them and Cater has this mischievous smile on his face.

“ Then I guess it’s time to find you a bride."

“They’re here,” Martina says from behind me.

“You! Yes you, Vanessa, should hurry up and set up the wine bottles on the table or would you prefer to do that when they’re already settled in ?”

NO! NEVER!! I wouldn’t want to appear unethical in the intimidating presence of the family and their friends.

Being well acquainted with my clumsy self, I wouldn’t put it past me to drop something and make an unfitting spectacle of myself.

“ Hurry.” she says once again, sounding more agitated by the passing second while ushering me in the direction of the dining room.

“ You wouldn’t want to irritate your bosses."

My said bosses are some of the most intimidating people that you might ever get to meet. I don’t say this because I have seen them get furious and lash out at people, even though I have. I’m saying this because they are some of the most influential people to walk this planet and their aura alone is enough to intimidate you.

They belong in the upper echelon of the high class society. They make and destroy people without having to lift a finger or move from their chairs.

Why would anyone, least of all, me, want to irritate them?

I waste no time setting up all the needed bottles and quickly make my way out through the back door, after completing my mission and high five myself at successfully avoiding the presence of my bosses.

I quickly find my way back to the kitchen through the hallway and plop down onto one of the stools situated near the enormous kitchen island. I still can’t get over how luxurious this house is even after working here for eight years. Money is still a wonderful and mysterious sight to me.These people just give off the idea that money isn’t meant for everyone and that you have to be worthy of it, passing through a series of tests, before it makes its way to finally embrace you. I can still remember how I felt the first day I showed up at the house.

Eight years ago, Walking alongside my parents, I could not bring my lips together to close up my mouth while gazing at this magnificent sight before me.

This isn’t just a home, it’s a palace, a mansion unlike anything I have ever seen.

Its windows were shiny and large to welcome the rays of sunlight. The rock walls belonged right where it was, as if, maybe, it had grown right from the ground. It was as though it had been conjured or called into existence to protect the people within its walls.

The mansion stands strongly and proudly, surrounded by an expansive green space, you would think that the only architect capable of this magnificence is Mother Nature herself. You can tell that it reeks of overflowing wealth.

“ These people probably have more money than God himself. I’m sure they’re very interesting. The people inside.”

I could hear my father chuckling beside me. “ Just make sure to keep to yourself.” I hear my mom say from my right side.

“ The one thing these people appreciate more than money is privacy and you wouldn’t want to make them uncomfortable in their own home with your mouth wide open and drooling like that.” My father suddenly lets out a loud laugh.

" Leave the girl alone, Christina, let her feed her imagination. Just make sure to stay here while we go speak with our boss. Okay?”

“ And please don’t wander around.” I’m still watching the house and can’t bring my tongue to say what my brain wants so I just nod in accordance. My dad just shakes his head and takes my mom’s hand as they both walk into the house with the mighty eighteenth century-like front doors swallowing them whole.

I’m standing right outside close to the fountain waiting for them when I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise and a strange feeling of being watched trickle down my spine. I turn back and I’m immediately faced with the presence of a very large, angry, dangerous, menacing-looking dog.

Who the hell let out Cerberus from hell and why would they unleash it on me? Good, sweet me.“Don’t move” something sweet and calm calls out from behind me. “ Whatever you do, do not make a move or he’ll murder you.”

Every momentary admiration I had for the sweetest voice laced with velvety dark chocolate that I just heard flew out the window the moment I heard the word “ murder” and the loud bark that follows.

I’m really going to wet my panties and die at the claws and fangs of this beast. Is this where it all ends? Death by Cerberus? Why would the devil even set his pet at me? I have never done anything wrong apart from having dirty, sexual fantasies sometimes and I’ve heard that it’s normal with people my age and the occasional times I wanted to bash Mrs. Barton’s head against the classroom walls.

“ Stop moving, you’re scaring him.” WHAT THE HELL?!!! I’m the one at risk of losing my life here. I’m the one facing her final moment. I turned back to look at the person spewing such an outrageous accusation as if someone as timid as me can scare off such a monstrosity.

“ Brutus, come over here, I’ll make the bad scary clown leave.”

God! Shit!! I knew it was a bad idea to wear this rainbow colored shirt.

Cerberus finally moves away from me to whom I assume is his owner. The devil. I finally turn back and come face to face with the most angelic sight I have ever come across.

Unlike me, he doesn’t look out of place in his crimson white shirt and khaki shorts. Standing tall at well over six feet , with broad shoulders and striking features that will leave girls drooling and men green with envy. I finally look up from his body to find the most perfect face I have ever seen. I mean, I have seen my fair share of the opposite gender but this has to top it all. I even forgot to breathe. From the fullest, kissable lips, to the most beautifully structured nose, to the greenest eyes which I attribute to the creation of mother nature, to the thickest brows and longest eyelashes that make me feel every bit like the clown he just called me.

It’s like God created him the day after he had his rest. With so much time and care and water from the most beautiful spring.

It was all beautiful until he opened his mouth to speak. “ I really want to know what good that mouth is for since you can’t seem to get it closed.”

“ You really look stupid staring like that, you know, staring like you wouldn’t like anything better than to have my cock pushed roughly down your throat.”

Wait! What?!!! What did he just say…

“ Vanessa! Earth to Vanessa” I suddenly feel someone shake on my shoulders. “ What in the name of God are you doing drifting off when the whole house is on fire?”

“ What happened?”

“ Some careless person forgot to set up Mr. Ian’s favorite bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and now he’s about to throw a fit."

Mr Ian! Dimitri!

"What the fuck!"