Justina is at it again...

"Ah! Autumn, just the person I was looking for.", she exclaimed. Pris and I looked up at her.
"May I?", she indicated to the seat beside me. I nodded and she sat down.
"Well, this is a surprise. Gareth is now a Duke.", Justina sighed. Pris and I looked at each other.
"Too bad for Phillip then.", she continued. I was about to open my mouth when she interupted me.
"Well, every girl has to look out for themselves, don't they? And if we were to aim, we would aim for the best.", Justina said and gave us a smug look.
"You bi--", I snapped. Justina only snorted.
"Spare me the insult, coming from a commoner like yourself.", she shot back. Pris raised an eyebrow and I snorted back at her.

"Commoner? I wonder who else is also a commoner around here.", I rebutted and looked at Pris. "Yeah, I wonder as well. Let's see, someone whom we know?", Pris asked me. I nodded.
"She started out as a model, from a normal family. I think her name was--", I said.
"Oh yeah! Right.. Isn't that you Justina?", Pris shot back at her.

Justina almost turned green, when the guys and Phillip joined us.

"Justina, there you are. Phillip's been looking for you.", Nicholas said.
"Autumn, Priscilla.", Phillip greeted us. We nodded in acknowledgement. Justina gave us a look which pretty much said that she was not going to give up this opportunity.

Greedy people never learn. I sighed.

"Qiu, you ok?", Pris asked after Justina left us. I only nodded.
"Here, have something to drink.", Gareth said as he handed me something. I took it without looking up and was about to drink from it when Pris stopped me. I looked up at her.
"You can't have that.", Pris said as she took the flute from me. I looked at it longingly.
"Why not?", Gareth asked as he settled in beside.
"Her stomach has not been in the best condition of late.", was all Pris said and took the plate from Nic, without looking at him.
"Eat.", Pris said and handed the plate to me.


I took a bite of the pie and made a face.


"Not to your liking?", Gareth asked, concerned.
"No. I don't know.", I said softly. I took another bite, when Vincent approached us.
"I believe the next dance is mine?", he asked as he held out his hand. I looked at Gareth, and he smiled and nodded. I took Vincent's hand and he led me to the dance floor.
~~~


The evening ended way past midnight. It was almost 2am when the guests just started to leave. I looked around for Pris, but could not find her. Everyone else was no where to be seen. I sat down on the couch and looked around, then settled in and closed my eyes for abit.


"Why don't you stay the night?", I heard a voice. I opened my eyes. It was Gareth's mum.
"You look awfully tired. But you seem like you're-- Nevermind, maybe it's just me.", she said gently as she sat down beside me.
"Let me bring you up to the guest room. Gareht's staying at home tonight.", she said as she got up. I got up and followed her.


"Here we go. Gareth will be up in a minute. I'll let him you know that you''ll be staying the night.", she said gently and smiled.
"Thank you Mrs St Claire.", I said, tired and weary.
"It's nothing, and it's Monique now. Settle in and take a shower, I will get my maid, Mary to send up some clothes. Go along now.", she shooed me into the bathroom. I smiled.


I run the tub and took a quick shower and stepped into the tub for a soak. I felt pretty terrible. It was then I heard the door click open. Mary announced herself and informed me that she had left the clothes on the bed for me. I called my thanks, and I heard the door click shut.


It was not long when I heard the door open again and someone walking around the room. Some shuffling of things and then a knock on the door. I shifted in the tub, and was about to get out.


"Oh Gareth! I missed you.", it was Justina.
"Justina, what are you doing here?", Gareth voiced out in surprise.
"Oh, I came to see how you were doing. And to see if we can have some quiet time to ourselves.", Justina said. The bitch.
"No Justina. We are over.", Gareth said firmly.
"But darling, you know that I still love you.", Justina insisted. I got out of the tub, and quickly dried myself and wrapped a towel around myself.


"Come on darling, Phillip won't know.", Justina tried again. I took a few deep breaths.
"I'm sorry Justina. Please leave.", Gareth said, and I heard shuffling of feet.
"Justina, just what are you doing?", Gareth asked in shock.
"Can't you see? I'm trying to seduce you. Ever since you fell in love with that girl, you have not looked at me once.", Justina snapped.
"You belong with Phillip! You left me for him.", Gareth rebutted angrily.
"But I did it for us. When Phillip inherits your Dad's fortune, we will have the money. And be close by each other.", Justine reasoned out.

I covered my mouth in shock. My goodness! She really was greedy.


"No Justina! This has to stop! Put your robe back on and get out of my room.", Gareth warned. His room? I thought this was a guest room? Monique! I should have known.

"I'm no leaving.", Justina said, I heard nothing. She obviously was not going to put anything back on.


"Justina!!", I heard another voice. It was Phillip.
"Phillip!", Justina started to sob. She was a lousy actor. I held back to hear what else was going on.
"Phillip, Gareth tried to--", Justina began, still sobbing.
"What did you do to her?!", Phillip demanded, his voice raised and angry.
"I did not do anything to her!", Gareth raised his voice at his brother.
"Phillip, he tried to have his way with me.", Justina said. I sighed. It was then I heard some shuffling and a loud thud.


It's time. I stepped out of the bathroom, and saw Gareth on the floor, with his hand to his cheek. I rushed to him. All of them were surprised to see me.


"Are you ok?", I asked Gareth. He looked at me in surprise.
"Put something on.", Gareth said, as he gritted in pain.
"Forget me. Are you ok?", I asked again. He nodded. I turned to look at Phillip and Justina. Justina face turned pale. I went up to her and slapped her hard. Justina turned to look at me, obviously quite take aback. In the process of my slap, she had bit her own lip and was bleeding. I raised my hand again to slap her again, but Phillip caught my arm.


"Let go.", I said softly, without looking up.
"I will not--", Phillip roared, but was interrupted when I looked up at him. I straightened my back.
"I said let go.", I said quietly, with a warning stare. Phillip looked at me in surprise.
"Be thankful that it was only a slap. I would have punched her in the face, because I don't give a damn about liars and bitches. Don't try me Phillip.", I continued, my voice low.


Phillip took a few steps backwards. Gareth was by my side, and put a robe onto me.


"Gareth did nothing. Justina was the one forcing herself unto him. Take a good look at her Phillip. She does not love you, she loves the money and title that you will eventually inherit. And now that Gareth is a Duke, she wants him. She wanted Gareth from the very beginning, but because he was a Viscount, she dumped him.", I said sternly and stared hard at Justina who was standing there defiantly.
"That bit--", I continued.

"I know, I knew.", Phillip said softly.
"But I love her.", he added gently as he looked at her. Justina said nothing, and left the room.
"She does not love you Phillip. Let her go. She did the same to me.", Gareth told his brother gently.


Phillip looked at us and shook his head. He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. I sighed, touched my tummy. I can't be doing this mafia thing anymore. Gareth led me to the bed and sat me down. He kneeled in front of me and looked at me. His greens eyes, earnest.

"Were you in the bathrom the whole time?", he asked. I nodded.
"You mum told me this was a guest room. I was too tired to even notice.", I explained and looked around. Gareth grinned.
"My mum can be a little annoying at times.", he said, keeping his grin.

I reached out for a shirt and a pair of shorts and slipped them on. Gareth watched on. I settled in bed. Gareth got up and went to dig into his bag. He pulled out whatever he needed and headed to the bathroom.

"Why did you not come out earlier to help me out?", Gareth asked as he stood the doorway of the bathroom.
"I wanted to see how you dealth with her.", I said simpily.
"Did I pass?", Gareth grinned. I kept quiet.
"I'll be out in a jiffy.", he said and went in.


I slid under the sheets and got comfortable. I needed to speak with Monique in the morning. Before I knew anything, my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.