MidniteHearts: Here is the sequel to Social Status, and for those who haven't read it, please do. But if you don't want to waste your time reading a story that's thirty-something chapters long, then don't. But for all my former readers please enjoy.

Chapter 1: Trouble at GGC

Rin's POV

Hey there everyone! It's me again, Rin Usami! And yes I still have my maiden name because Sesshomaru and I aren't married, even after we've spent the last five years together. But we are engaged. I'm really happy.

I'm also happy to say that I am now a proud parent of an adorable five-year-old girl named Mari. Sesshomaru and I try to keep our lives as normal as possible. It's easy for him, but a little bit harder for me.

You see after the whole Koga incident, I was finally able to get my life back on track. I was able to reach my dream of becoming a famous musician. My name and face was on everything. Posters, billboards, CDs, and T-shirts.

I put my life on hold for about three years, and then resumed with my singing career for two more years, before I officially retired and gave up singing for good. I didn't always want to be on the road away from my family, not seeing them for six months at a time.

That was just too much. That's when I finally realized that glamor isn't everything.

Instead of being on stage 24/7, I now owned a popular clothing boutique called Girl Got Class (or GGC for short). It's been five years and I'm now twenty-eight years old. Wow! Where did the time go? It seemed just like yesterday that I was this helpless twenty-three year old with no life or apartment, but I'm not anymore.

I was finally living the life that I deserved.

I was in the kitchen, sitting at the island and flipping through a magazine when my cell phone rang. I reached for it, not taking my eyes off an article that I was reading that involved me, and the announcement of my pregnancy at the red carpet awards. I quickly answered before it went to voice mail.

"Hello?"

"Rin,where are you?"

It was Sango. She was calling from GGC. She wasn't shopping there. Once I had job openings available for GGC, she gladly quit her sorry employment at the café to come and work for me. It was the most popular place that sold a variety of girl and young womens clothing.

Finally getting back to Sango's question, I said, "Yeah, what is it?"

"It's an emergency," she explained.

I could hear chatter in the background. I must be on speaker, I presumed. As Sango continued to tell me that someone was shopping lifting my latest designs (yes, I design some of the clothes for my store), I heard a second voice on the phone.

"Hey, boss lady!"

I smiled. It was my best employer, Jakotsu.

"What's up you guys, Sango said that there's a problem?" I said, already leaving the kitchen and grabbing my jacket, preparing to depart from my house.

Jakotsu spoke up by saying, "Yeah, some little thief is trying to rip off your stuff!"

"The mother is already here, but I decided to wait for you to show up," Sango stated.

I was due to be in work in a few minutes, and this was the perfect opportunity to leave. I grabbed for my purse, heading for the door.

"I'm on my way," I confirmed.

This rarely ever happened; shoplifting at my store, so I wasn't too angry that a possible fan of mine was stealing from me although it was heart-breaking. But I came to the conclusion that not everyone was going right thing in life,whether they knew me or not.

I hung up the phone, jumping into my silver Mercedes Benz. The approximate time that I arrived at GGC was about fifty minutes past two-fifteen in the afternoon. I still had an hour to kill before picking up Mari from school.

I entered the store with a breeze of cool air blowing from the air-conditioning vents. Immediately, I was confronted by Sango and a hefty looking women with a small child attached to her hand, pouting.

"I'm very sorry, Miss," she apologized. "I should have been watching closely."

I waved it off. "Please, don't worry about it. Maybe we should get better security." I said the last part with some to joke to it.

Seeing as how the child hadn't said anything to me, the mother tugged her child by the arm, pulling forward.

"Now what do you say after what you just did," she said.

It was a bit low so I had to lean down to hear, but the words that came out were, "I'm sorry."

"Good," said the mother, then she looked at me. "This won't happen again, because we won't be coming back." She said that last part, looking down at the child.

"Isn't that, right?" she confirmed.

I saw a slow nod from the kid, and heard, "Yes, ma'am."

"Now let's go."

I watched as they both left. I turned to face my best employees.

"Wow, and I thought my mother was strict," I said.

I suddenly switched to a new topic. "Anything else that needs to be taken care of?"

Jakotsu came to me, holding a clipboard and said, "We need a new shipment of shoes and purses."

"For the stock room?" I guessed, making sure.

"No, for me," he corrected and then playfully pushed me on the shoulder.

"Jakotsu," I said while trying to hold back my laugh.

He gave me a fake frown and said, "Okay, for the stock room too."

"I'll just do a double-check on everything that we need," I reassured. "No worries."

Since GGC was so well known, we were constantly low on some sort of item in the store, because so many people wanted them. And they weren't there for accessories and clothes, they were also there to see me. Even after I quit music, I was still recognized.

I leaned against the counter of the cash register and admired my store. I was doing pretty good for someone who had so little years before. I turned to face Jakotsu and Sango who had gone behind the register.

"I almost forgot what it was like running your own business," I said with a bit of laughter in my voice.

Jakotsu smiled. "Well of course you do. You've been a mommy for how many years?"

I blushed.

"So where is Mari?" Sango asked.

"At school," I answered. "I have to pick her up soon."

"Wow. A kid and a fiancé. What's his name again?" Jakotsu asked.

"His name is Sesshomaru," I stated, filling in the blanks.

"A man that fine, can't be all good," he added in. "Does he treat you right?"

"Of course," I quickly answered, trying desperately to stifle my laugh."Why do you ask?"

He innocently shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes a good man isn't all he's cracked up to be."

I started to realize that Jakotsu was referring to his previous relationship where he and his lover would constantly fight, resulting in endless physical pain; for Jakotsu that is. His words got me thinking back to what happened to me five years ago, and lying in that hospital bed was no fun.

I came back to reality and looked upon both Sango and Jakotsu's faces.

To make them think that nothing was wrong with me, I spoke in my most professional voice and said, "Shouldn't you two get back to work?"

Both employees stiffened up immediately, giving me a salute and said, "Yes ma'am," and trotted back to their stations.

I shook my head at their silliness and strolled into my office. I sank into the large chair behind my desk and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. I let out this satisfied sigh.

I felt content and energized.

So far my life was good and I was loving it.

MidniteHearts: I hope that this first chapter was good. Not much happened because the story just started, but I hope you guys really enjoy it.