Her body numb with cold, she ran to her next job, the sleet in the air turning to snow. Pulling her thin threadbare coat around her small shoulders she quickly checked her watch, rushing to the penthouse apartments, on the edge of town overlooking the harbour. Carol knew how expensive they were, and only the rich and famous could afford these places. Opening the glass door the heat rushing out to meet her warming her chilled bones, it felt so good to feel some warm at last.

"You're late today Miss Carol" Dale, the elderly security guard said helping her with her coat.

"I know Dale, Sophia was so ill this morning. I didn't think I would make it" shrugging the old coat off her thin shoulders accepting the warm coffee he always had ready for her. Luckily it had cooled and she could drink it quick to warm her. She always felt so cold, more so lately as if the chill crept into her bones and enjoyed staying there.

"Oh honey, Mr Dixon would understand. You can always do another day. Why don't you head home and I will explain" putting her hand up to stop him shaking her head.

"No Dale I'm here now, to be honest I need the money." tears were in her eyes as she tried not to think too much about the threatening phone call she had received two days ago from her Ex husband.

"Come on honey sit down and tell me what's wrong?" her lip trembling she sat in the chair allowing herself to sink into the warmth and comfort. Dale was a wonderful friend and support to her, over the last two years, working as a cleaner for The notorious businessman Daryl Dixon. She had heard the rumours from her boss, how Dixon was ruthless in his dealings with business, though working for him was a blessing if you were chosen, the Dixon's treated you like family. Woman fell over themselves for his attention, not so much because of the money, but for the opportunity to try to tie him down. She herself had never met the man, his apartment was beautiful though, her small flat could fit in the open plan living room three times over. She always enjoyed looking through the large windows overlooking the harbour and city, imaging herself sitting there on his large black sofa's. Shaking her head from those thoughts, sipping her drink, she turned to Dale.

"He's threatening to take her Dale, to take my little baby away saying I am not a good mother, How I cannot afford to keep her. How I..." the tears fell as he hugged her close, knowing how much pain and fear the young woman had gone through with the abusive man she now called her ex husband.

"He can't honey you are so good to Sophia, do everything you can for that little one. She is loved and cared for that is what is more important."

"He has money Dale, and I live in a run down apartment, in the seedy part of town. If he wants her he will take her. I don't know what to do" crying harder she felt her whole life collapsing around her.

Neither heard the outer door open, shedding his coat now covered in snow. Daryl Dixon checked the reception desk, surprised that Dale was not on duty, which was unlike the older man.

"Dale, yo Dale man you around?" walking further into the warmth of the large reception area, he glanced back out the large window. Shivering, as the snow fell harder, he was glad he was not out there tonight. Not hearing a reply he walked further into the reception area heading towards the back.

"Dale?" hearing his name being called Dale got up ensuring Carol was calming down, he reluctantly moved towards the outer area.

"Sorry Mr Dixon, I was..." Daryl smiled at the older man, glad to see nothing untoward had happened to him. Then he noticed Carol stopping Dale with a raised hand he looked over at the small woman.

"She alight Dale" his head nodding in her direction, unable to see who it was, as she was so curled in on herself

"Yes Mr Dixon, Miss Carol will be up shortly to clean your apartment, she's never normally this late" Carol heard Dale's explanation, rushing to her feet, dropping the cup to the floor in her haste, tipping coffee over her or what was left of it. Could her day get any worse?

"I'm so sorry Mr Dixon...I...ummm" looking at both Dale, and Daryl, her words stopping in her throat, he was so different from what she was expecting, glancing down at her coffee stained jeans, she felt like crying all over again.

"it's ok darlin, let's get ya cleaned up. And I will get my driver to run ya home" his words spoken softly, as if he knew any louder would scare her

"But..." she couldn't leave, she needed the money, if she did not do the job she would not get paid. Philip was adamant in the way his business ran.

"It's ok I will ensure ya get paid. Now grab ya stuff and lets go upstairs. Dale, Beth will be coming by in a bit can you send her up as soon as ya can please" smiling his thanks at the older man he guided Carol to the open lift.

"I am so sorry to be a burden Mr Dixon, I was meant to be here earlier, and with Sophia being ill and Ed threatening me and..." she was mumbling, why did he need to know what was happening in her life, he wouldn't care. Hell the man was rich, handsome and had a girlfriend almost half his age. He was well known and wanted within Atlanta, not only by how he made his money, from nothing, more how he picked his women young so he could dominate and train them to his needs, or so she heard, which she truthfully found unbelievable. However this man did not have the time to listen to a babbling single mother, greying and past it, who cleaned his apartment.

"Carol, come on sweetheart, ya don;t need to explain anything to me. I know you are always on time, and ya do a great job of my place. So ya late we all have bad days darlin" Carol attempted to smile, he was really kind unlike a lot of her other clients. He was young, not nasty as she had expected, or at least she had not seen that side of him yet, she had heard through Philip how he was, when it came to business and could not tolerate slackers, lateness or time wasters.

Daryl couldn't take his eyes from her, so this was the woman that made his apartment feel like home. Sniffing the air, he could smell her perfume, what little it was, yet it always lingered after she had left. Made him want to chase her down and sniff her. She wasn't what he expected, greying, thin,very thin, and so small he could wrap her up in his arms and hide her. Looking down into her tear filled eyes, her smile slowly coming across her face, she left him dumbstruck. Pushing his hands through his shaggy hair, to stop them from reaching out to her, wishing the lift would hurry. He was losing himself in her eyes, blue like the ocean, the smell of her. What the hell he had Beth, she was young very young, petite, beautiful blonde hair and a body that made men hard. Yeah he was almost 45 years old and should know better, men his age were settled with kids. Not Daryl Dixon, he was enjoying his new found fame, riding it, with pretty young girls that threw themselves at him, all wanting to have a taste of his domination in the bedroom. His relationship was open, he could sleep with anyone he wanted., Beth always forgave him, Give that certain Dixon smirk, and fuck her senseless, he always got her back. Did he love her? No way, no one had his heart but him, yet the woman or should he say child loved him, so he kept her close, hanging, did his ego one hell of a lift when he showed up with her by his side. Selfish yeah, but she had been with him for almost a year now, he knew he kept her sated, and she never looked at another man, he would never permit her to, after all he trained her well, and when he called she came running.

Almost breathing a sigh of relief as the doors to the lift opened he guided Carol into his penthouse, showing her the way to the bathroom, allowing her to clean up as he located a pair of sweatpants that he thought would fit her. Knocking on the bathroom door, he told her they were outside for her, heading towards his large open planned living room, dropping his phone and keys on the side, he poured himself a whiskey, then sorted a small brandy out for Carol she sure looked like she needed something to bring the colour back into her pale face. Hearing the door open he turned almost dropping the glass in his hand. She was stunning, in her form fitted t-shirt that left nothing to the imagination, and his sweatpants, he ached to run his hands in her hair ruffle it into spikes, let her leave his apartment as if she had just climbed out of his bed. Gulping the rest of his drink down he handed her the glass he had poured for her.

"Thank you for the pants, what's this?" sniffing it before she brought it up to her lips

"Little brandy love, think ya need something to warm ya. Wanna tell me more about why ya were late?" feeling the brandy run down her throat, letting the burning sensation warm her, she looked up into his face, seeing that he was actually serious.

"You don't need to hear about my..."

" I wouldn't ask if I didn't now tell me" he did not like being ignored and this woman would learn it if she was not careful.

"Mr Dixon, my daughter is ill and I need to get home. I understand if you don't pay me"

"Carol I said I would pay ya and from what I gather ya sure need it. Now tell me how old is ya daughter?" never had he been interested in kids, yet this woman had him wanting to know more about her, more about her family.

"Sophia is 4 she's full of the flu, and to be honest leaving her with my neighbour is the least of my worries, Her dad. Well lets just say he's doing his best to hurt me the best way he can by threatening to take her" nodding his head, he contemplated what she had said, whilst pouring himself another drink.

"Listen Mr Dixon, you don;t need to hear my problems I am sure you have more important things to be getting on with and I know your girlfriend is due any moment so if you don;t mind I will take the offer of going home" Daryl actually felt hurt a new feeling he not often had, was that what she really thought of him?.

"Carol, I never ask if I don't want to know, Yes I have money, but I came from a poor background my ma had to scrap together every penny to bring my brother and myself up. Pa left her a mess almost killing her, I know exactly how it feels to be in an abusive relationship. Don't look at me like that, don;t ya think I speak to Dale, find out some information on the woman who cleans my apartment"

"No, he wouldn't I told him that in confidence" Carol felt ashamed that this man now knew her guilty secret.

"Don't blame him Carol, he likes ya, and worries. I know ya don't have much and are doing ya best to bring ya little girl up. Sophia knows that " walking over to his cabinet he pulled out a small item, turning he walked back to her. Carol watching as he got his emotions under control

"See this, a Cherokee rose, hand made in the best god damn material known to man. Makes it feel as though it is real. Here hold it" placing it in her hand he told her the story of the rose, that his Ma told him when he was young , the happy memories he had of sitting on her knee. Carol watched his face as various emotions came across, from sadness to joy. She could see he was hurting, and placed the small delicate rose back in his outstretched hand. Daryl's eyes met hers, them moved to her mouth watching with baited breath as her small pink tongue came out to lick her parched lips. How had showing her the rose, that meant so much to him, lead to him aching to take her lips with his, to have her taste him as he wanted to taste her. Moving closer his breath almost stopping as he felt her body closing in. His head moving down he had to have a taste, moving slowly, not wishing to scare her, his lips softly caressed hers.

"Hi anyone home?" jumping back turning quickly he walked towards the cabinet putting distance between himself and Carol, hiding his unexpected erection, just as Beth walked into the room.

"Hi Darlin' do ya know Carol?' was all he could think to say wishing his erection to go down gulping the rest of his whiskey. Beth may be young,but no way was she stupid, there was something going on, she could sense it. Glancing over at the older woman with pure disgust, she slowly walked over to her lover.

"No" she replied moving closer to him her hands now ghosting down his back, wrapping herself around him.

Carol was so confused at what had just happened between them, then seeing Beth wrap around him, urgently wanting to leave. If he wanted a child than more fool him, after all she had nothing to offer him,yet the look he was throwing over Beth's shoulder told her different, before he bent his head and took what the younger woman so willingly offered.

Beth was on attacked mode, watch this bitch she thought as she lay claim to her man.

Carol wanted out of there it was embarrassing seeing this child, like woman stake her claim, did she not know that there was no competition. Mr Dixon was a handsome man, that was sure, but he was way out of her league, Her fingers ghosting over her lips as if to keep the taste of him there, feeling she was being watched she looked up into the blue eyes of Daryl, watching them changed from mild interest with Beth, to lust and desire for her. He did not miss the way Carol's body shuddered at his look, becoming more frustrated with Beth. Thrusting his hands in the younger woman's hair he pulled her head back harshly his lips now pulled back in a sneer.

"Did I not teach you how to kiss me bitch?" he almost spat at her before he took her lips hard under his. All the while his eyes on Carol. All she could think that those rumours she had heard could be true.