Chapter 2

Micheal Mancini's Office
United Nation's Building, NY

A delivery man steps in the office carrying another dozen roses, these yellow. He sits them on the desk opposite the other dozen, then leaves without saying a word. Micheal lifts the card out opening it and reading "Sorry". As the day wears on her office is transformed into a floral shop with 20 vases of roses in different colors. Micheal sits at her desk laying the cards out to read them, trying to make some sense out of the deliveries. The door to her office opens and she groans seeing another vase of roses. She plucks the card out then directs the somewhat overwhelmed delivery boy trying to find an empty space in the over flowing office. She lays the card at the bottom hoping this concludes the deliveries. Micheal sits back reading "I'm sorry for the way I acted. I was a jerk. I hope I didn't screw things up too bad. Love, Jarod." Micheal slowly smiles at how far Jarod's trying to go to apologize. "Miss Mancini? Jarod's on line two." Missy says over the intercom. Micheal could hear her smiling over the speaker, "Thank you Missy"

Micheal looks at the green light that's winking at her, all most begging her to pick it up. She takes a deep calming breath before stabbing the button, scared at what she's going to hear from him. "Micheal Mancini" she answers totally professionally. "Did you get my message?" The sound of his low, sexy voice sending a chill her up spine. "So, what message were you trying to send? That you own a flower shop or that you just have money to burn?" she asks trying to put as much coldness as she can into the words, but to no avail. "Well... I think you're worth the time and money but, I just wanted to try to apologize for what happened. And when you wouldn't take my call earlier, I figured I needed to take a more subtle approach." Micheal turns in her chair, looking out at the skyline. "Subtle, Huh? I'd say you failed miserably. Especially if you considered THIS to be subtle."

"So how about dinner tonight?"

"Only if I pay, I'm afraid you might be broke after you subtle attempt today."

"Don't worry about my being broke, that could never happen, I was thinking LA'Dome, say 6?"

"I'll meet you there."

"You're not going to stand me up are you?"

"No, I don't go around hurting other people, intentionally or otherwise."

"Ouch, I guess I deserved that. Maybe I wasn't subtle enough." Micheal laughs softly into the phone."God please no more flowers. It looks like someone has died in my office. I haven't even figured out how I'm going to get these home yet."

"Would you like me to give you a few suggestions?"

"No, that's all right I think I have a solution. As long as you're telling me the truth about you're not being broke."

"I swear, it could never happen. So, what's your solution?"

"Are you sure you want to know? I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings or anything."

"I'm sure." Jarod answers chuckling into the phone, lounging back on to the suede couch in the suite. "I was thinking I might get a messenger to come and take them to the Hospital. Ya' know, give them to children who are sick or hurt. It just sorta' came to me. I hope you approve since they are YOUR flowers I'm giving away."

Jarod sits back up smiling at her generosity, caring for people no one else would even give a second thought about. "I most certainly approve, I'm a little jealous I didn't think up the idea first, but I'm sure I would've come up with a feasible solution to your plight." Jarod's smile broadens at her light laughter coming threw the phone. "So, are we on for dinner?" he asks again, just to make sure. "Oh most definitely, as long as I Don't receive any more flowers." "All right, no more flowers. I'll see you at 6, bye."

"Bye" she whispers. Jarod lays the phone in it's cradle, that's sitting next to his laptop. He looks at the Center's logo of Di Vinci's perfect man. He smiles as he accesses the bank account of Miss Parker. He raises his eyebrow then hits Lyle's and smiles smugly. "Oh Lyle, you just don't learn from your mistakes do you?" he whispers to the flashing balances as Lyle's account grows by 50,000.

La' Dome 5:46 p.m.

Jarod walks into the posh restaurant, in the black Armani suit he'd picked up last week. He notices "Big Paulie" sitting at a table in the far corner, trying to stay in the shadows. "Luciano" Jarod says to the matre'd. "Right this way, your guest has all ready arrived." he informs Jarod as he ensconces him to the table. Jarod sees her only from the back but notices her hair up and wearing a black cocktail dress, with her longs legs crossed in the aisle. Her toes dangling her high heel precariously. Jarod walks up and takes one of her hands that's laying on the table. "You look absolutely beautiful tonight." he comments kissing the back of her hand. "Thank you" Micheal takes her hand back, laying them in her lap. Not trusting herself enough from reaching out and touching him. The waiter walks up to take their drink order, she notices Jarod just orders a Coke, then he turns to her. "I'll have a vodka martini, 3 olives, stirred not shaken, no ice." The waiter scurries off, to fetch their drinks. "You're very precise."

"I have to be."

"What's with the chaperon? I think we're both old enough to be out past curfew." Jarod asks wryly, smiling. Micheal tilts her head in just the slightest manner, almost as if she was shaking her hair off her face. Jarod sees "Big Paulie" walk out a few seconds later without a word.

Jarod excuses himself getting up from the table. The waiter walks over bringing their drinks. A man, obliviously drunk, sits down in Jarod's seat. "Hi, can I buy you a drink?"

"As you can see I all ready have one." Micheal lifts her martini drinking about half looking everywhere except at the man sitting across from her. "Well how bout another one?" Micheal doesn't answer as this freak keeps talking. "I love your hot little body, and those full lips."

"Why don't you crawl back into the petreie dish where you came from." she comments hatefully. "Ya' know some women like what I say." he slurs out. "Yeah, well some women like for men to piss on them, but I'm not either so get lost." The Handsome Blonde haired man reaches over to touch her arm and she jumps back. "You can not be this stupid." She grounds out as the blue-eyed man's face begins to flush as anger creases his features. He stands taking an envelope from his pocket laying it in the seat. "Some other time." he says passing by brushing her shoulder. "In your dreams Freak." she mumbles, sipping the last of her drink.

Jarod walks back over and is about to sit down when he sees an envelope laying in his seat with Micheal's name printed on it in block letters. Micheal motions for the waiter,"Yes ma'am?"

"another one of these and dryer this time with 3 olives not 2." she orders smiling. Jarod sits down sliding the letter in his jacket, waiting for later when there alone to mention it. "Did I miss anything?" Jarod asks nonchalantly, smiling. "Some of my best "Get lost" lines but nothing much, just some freak wanting to buy me a drink." Micheal comments laying the napkin in her lap. "You mean you talk to some one? Where?"

"He came over and sat in your seat, Why?" Jarod searches the crowd but doesn't see anyone looking out of place. Not wanting to alarm her but needing to get her some place less public and safe. "I'm not feeling so well, would you mind if we went back to the hotel?" he asks looking at her. "Oh, that's a good one. I don't think I've heard that particular line before. Or delivered with such talent, you should be an actor." she comments smiling, laughing lightly. "I know about the stalker." Micheal's face drops instantly. "I think he's the one that was in my seat." Jarod notices the blood draining from her face at the last comment.

They walk out the restaurant with Jarod's arm wrapped around her waist. To anyone passing them they looked like any other loving couple unable to keep their hands to themselves, but he was actually keeping her from falling down. He knows there's something else but she hasn't said anything.

They walk into his hotel suite and he sits her down on the couch. Jarod pours a glass of water then takes it over to her. He sits down on the coffee table in front of her, watching as she slowly sips it. Micheal finally registers that they're in his suite and not the restaurant. "Thank you for getting me out of there." she whispers looking down at the glass in her lap. "Micheal this guy left something for you in my seat" he takes a deep breath, taking it out his jacket"I didn't want to say anything until you were some where safe, where you'd know he can't get to you. I told my guys not to let anyone in except your father. Would you like me to call him?"

"No" she answers immediately, shaking her head.

Micheal takes the envelope and opens it. She sucks in her breath, turning sheet white. "Ohmygod" she whispers looking at the photo. "What is it?" Jarod asks slowly, his brow creasing as he sees her hands trembling. Micheal drops the picture jumping up heading for the other room, away from him. Jarod watches as she runs from the room. He picks up the picture that's fallen face first onto the carpet. His breath catches in his throat at the picture, not because of the writting scrawled over it, or what he's sure is dried semen but because it's a close up picture of Micheal and himself kissing in her bed. His hand against her breast, cupping it, Micheal's head thrown back, her face the epitimy of bliss with his mouth on her neck. Jarod really looks at the picture and sees something on her stomach but can't quite make it out.

Jarod walks into the bedroom finding Micheal curled up on the bed crying softly. "Micheal?" he whispers moving toward her. He looks back down quickly at the photograph and notices one phrase "I see someone else likes my handiwork" scrawled with an arrow pointing toward her exposed abdomen. Jarod sits on the side of the bed with Micheal's back to him. He lays his hand on her shoulder, clearing his throat. "Micheal please tell me what happened?" he pleads softly. "Over a year ago" she swallows hard "I wa... I was attacked, knocked unconscious, he cut me up, he tried... he tried to. But he couldn't someone stopped him before he could. It was my own fault for being in the alley at that time of night. I was at a club with some friends, when they left, I stayed because I was having so much fun I didn't want to leave with them. I was so stupid." she explains as tears run down her face. "It wasn't your fault. You did nothing wrong." Jarod says trying to make her understand.

Micheal sits up on the opposite side, her back still to him. "I need to call my father." she says standing up. She walks out wiping her face, trying to calm down so as not to worry her father. She looks around for her purse to get her cell phone but she can't find it. Micheal sees Jarod's, she picks it up figuring that he won't mind. Jarod watches as she walks threw the bedroom heading for the bathroom. Once in the safety of the bathroom, she presses the memory on the phone then remembers that it's not her phone, threw her glazed eyes she presses a series of numbers.

The Center 7:36 p.m.

Sydney's phone rings and he automatically hits the speaker answering in his usual manner. "This is Sydney" He doesn't hear anything, thinking that he had been disconnected he goes to cut off the phone, just as Miss Parker walks in without knocking. They both freeze at the sound of a man voice wafting from the speaker,"Hello?"

"Daddy, it's me."

"Princess, what's wrong?"

"nothing um, I'm going to stay with Jarod tonight. Daddy I talked to him tonight."

"Are you all right? Where was Paulie? Jarod?" Miss Parker as well as Sydney notices the concern in the man's voice. "I had sent Paulie home once Jarod arrived. Then he went to the bathroom and he came and sat down in Jarod's seat. I actually talked to that son-of-a-bitch. Daddy I can't believe I talked to him." They hear the tears threatening to fall in the woman's voice. "Listen to me. Jarod will not let anything happen to you, I know he won't. Do you want me to send some guys to the hotel?"

"No, Jarod had his own people at the door. I think I'm safe, I'm sick of this Daddy. When is this going to end?" she asks crying. "Don't you worry baby. I won't let anyone get to you again, ever. Now let me talk to Jarod and you get some sleep."

"OK, I love you."

"I love you too, now let me talk to Jarod." Miss Parker feels a pang of jealousy at the relationship this mysterious woman has with her father.

They hear rustling then Jarod's voice. "Yes sir?"

"Jarod I want you to promise me nothing will happen to her."

"I promise Don, with my life." Miss Parker and Sydney mouth "Don" to each other. "Jarod, Maybe I should send some people over, I could call Paulie?"

"That won't be necessary, I've got a couple of my men on the door. No one will get in here."

"Thank you" "Your very welcome"

"I might come over later to check on her."

"That'll be fine I all ready told them that you might be stopping by."

"Thanks again Jarod, goodnight"

"Good night and don't worry I won't let anything happen to her." The two eavesdroppers listen as the phone call is ended.

"Well, looks like Jarod's got hooked up with the mafia." Miss Parker comments smiling. "Now, we don't know that. That just could've been the man's first name." Sydney tries to explain, not really believing the words himself. Miss Parker leaves in search of Broots to trace the call.

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel 12:02 a.m.
The Penthouse

Micheal walks out the bedroom in one of Jarod's dress shirts heading for the bar. She pours a glass of water, starting to sip it, as she feels Jarod's arm encircle waist, hugging her back, lightly kissing the side of her neck. Micheal closes her eyes as his hands begin to unbutton his shirt. She lays her hands on the sides of his hips, feeling his silk boxers and his tense muscles as she grinds her butt against his growing erection. "I thought you said you wanted to sleep?" she moans out, as Jarod teases one of her nipples, pinching it to make it stand up. "Well... I changed my mind." he answers moving her long hair over beginning to kiss her neck harder. Micheal turns in his arms capturing his mouth, sliding her tongue in. They kiss with complete and utter passion for the other. Jarod pulls back trying to catch his breath, "Maybe we should move this into the bedroom." He moans softly feeling her hands squeezing his ass, pressing her body closer. "I think that's definitely the best suggestion I've ever heard." Micheal whispers in his ear, kissing his neck, scraping her teeth over the stubble. "Oh? I thought that I gave you a better one about an hour ago?" he teases, smiling. "Well that was then, this is now. Maybe you can come up with a few new ones."

"I think I can definitely come up with one or two." "Why don't I meet you there. I'm going to get another bottle of Champagne. But this one won't go to waste by drinking." She slyly comments, moving out of his arms. "Don't be too long"

Micheal watches as Jarod walks back into the bedroom. Her heart aches at the loss of not seeing his smile, body, feeling his arms around her. She takes the Champagne out the bar and starts for the bedroom when she hears something at the door. She sits the bottle down on a table and hides behind the door as it starts to open. Micheal sees a gun enter first and steps out the shadows expecting to see one of the bodyguards, but instead finds a tall brunette. Micheal stands in front of her raised gun giving her the once over. Definitely a Saturday, she thinks, looking at the obscenely short skirt to match the expensive suit. Miss Parker looks this woman up and down. "Nice shirt" she comments smirking. "Thank you, I'll make sure I'll tell Jarod you approve of his fashion sense." Micheal comments crossing her arms. "All right bimbo, where is he?" Parker demands. "Who do you think you're calling a bimbo? I'm not the one dressed like a slut from hell." Micheal's arm moves lightening fast taking the gun away from the other woman. Miss Parker strikes, back handing the woman across the face. Micheal swings her head back lightly laughing, rubbing the red mark. "You hit like a girl." she comments raising the gun at the brunette. Micheal jerks the woman around using her as a shield against the 4 men who just came in. Micheal wraps her arm around her neck squeezing it to get this woman's attention. "Tell them to back off or I'll break your neck like a twig." she growls in her ear, then wrenches her neck. "Back off" Miss Parker chokes out to the 2 sweepers, Broots and Sydney stare open mouthed at the scene. A half naked woman choking Miss Parker and holding her gun at her head.