Prologue

"I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Your life could go from being everything you want it to be…to a complete sham in minutes. I used to think my life would always be perfect…that I would always have it together…that nothing or NO ONE could ever stop my flow….but I was wrong."

My name is Serena Thompson. I'm a 24 year old woman with curly dirty blonde hair that grew just below my shoulders. I was a small girl standing at 5'3 with icy blue eyes and soft pink lips. My clear tan skin and hour glass figure made most guys come crawling at me feet and that is exactly why I was wrong about having my life together. After I graduated high school, I went off to college for business with a minor in art. While in school I, met a man named Derick. He wasn't a student like I was but he was charming and extremely attractive. He worked as a business manager, helping people all around the country with their small businesses. He helped me open my tattoo shop down in Louisville when I graduated college. I got a little discouraged at first when I wasn't getting a whole lot of business, but after doing a few tats, one customer told another and they told someone else, and soon…I had the best tattoo place in town.

He was an awesome business partner until he decided it was time for me to pay him back.

One hot June afternoon, he came into the shop dressed in his usual business attire with his hair slicked back and a pearly white smile on his face. My employees greeted him with the highest respect, but his eyes stayed on me.

"Finish up your work darling, we have business to discuss." He told me as he fixed his collar.

I nodded and put the finishing touches on my client's tattoo. After giving him instructions on how to take care of it and cashing him out, I went to my office with Derick. He stood by my door as I walked in and took a seat on my desk. Once he shut the door, he locked it and then cleared his throat.

"What can I help you with Derick?" I asked.

He smirked, "Oh I'm sure there's a lot you could help me with baby doll…but I'm more interested in something else…"

I shrugged my shoulders as he took a few steps towards me. "Ok…and what exactly is it that you're interested in."

"You of course." He told me.

"Excuse me?"

"Listen…I helped you get on your feet and get your business going. Hell, I even allowed you to keep this without my name on anything. All I'm asking for is a little repayment on my end."

I blinked a few times in disbelief as he reached out and played with one of my curls. "Wait a minute…are you asking me to be your girlfriend or something?"

He chuckled, "No…what I want is to be able to screw you when I feel like it."

I raised my eyebrow and slowly got off of the desk, "What?"

"You heard me…I gave you the life you've always dreamed of and now…I want something in return."

I shook my head, "Get out."

"Excuse me?" he snapped, "You want me to leave after everything I've done for you?"

"How dare you! All you did was supply the money to get this place going but all the hard labor was me sir…"

He chuckled a little and rubbed the side of his head, "You see I thought we would run into this problem and that's why I normally don't help little girls like yourself."

I rolled my eyes, "Look Derick I appreciate everything you've done for me but under no circumstances will I fuck you just to thank you….now please leave and don't come back."

He pursed his lips together, "Ok…fine…but trust me when I say you will regret this little girl because everything I helped you build I will destroy just like that."

I folded my arms, "Go ahead and try you won't succeed."

He laughed it off and then left my office. I would soon find out how wrong I was about him not succeeding.

BEEP BEEP "Serena!" BEEEEEEEPPP "Serena girl let's go!"

"I'm coming girl! Calm down!" I yelled as I stepped out of my house and onto my front porch. It had been a year since I last seen Derick and I was going on as if our conversation never happened. My best friend and employee Julia picked me up every morning for work just to save me the trouble of having to drive to work. She was a cute Latin American woman with long black hair and hazel eyes. Guys were drawn to her, not only because of her accent, but because of her baby doll face and perfect set of breasts.

"How are you doing this morning?" she asked.

"Oh you know me, ready make more money as usual."

"Girl you really need to get out more." She told me. "This whole going to work and then back home thing doesn't work for you!"

I rolled my eyes, "Julia I'm a business woman, and business women don't have time for partying all the time."

"Yes but you know what they say about all work and no play mama." She said as she made a sharp left turn. "It'll turn you into a grouchy old lady."

"Oh whatever," I told her as we got closer into the downtown area where my shop was. It was about 8:30 am when we pulled into the parking area behind the place. We sat in her car for a moment just to talk like we always did. Around 8:45 we got out of her car and was walking to the backdoor when….BOOM!

A huge surge of energy sent Julia and I flying backwards towards her car. Shards of glass and bricks were launched in all directions, hitting other cars and buildings surrounding the area. I didn't remember much after I landed on my back and fell unconscious but the overwhelming shock I experienced upon waking up was enough to leave me wishing I would have made a different decision.

"Miss Thompson please calm down." The nurses told me when I woke up in the hospital.

"No! What happened! Where's Julia?" I cried as I looked down at my legs and saw them both in casts.

The nurses looked at each other with looks of concern before one of them asked me to relax as she got a needle ready.

"No! You're not putting me to sleep!" I screamed. "I want to go home!"

"Go get Dr. Orton," the brunette said to the red head.

She left and within a couple moments a doctor I was familiar with came into the room. We locked eyes for a moment before he came to my side. "Serena?"

"Randy? Oh my God, Randy please tell me this isn't happening." I cried.

He sighed and held my hand. "Listen sweetie, your shop exploded today…don't you remember that?"

I gasped, "That was m-my shop?"

He nodded, "Yeah, listen honey you need to rest…I'll tell you what you need to know in the morning ok?"

I shook my head in defiance, "No! I need to get home!"

"Honey you're not even able to walk…both of your legs are broken." He told me as a nurse handed him a needle. "Just relax, you're safe here."

I laid my head back as he gently placed the needle in my arm and pushed the sedative into my system. I was sleeping within a few minutes wonder how in the world I didn't see this coming.