A/N - Another story, awaayyy!

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Elizaveta was strong, and she didn't need a man in her life to make it complete. When her father suggests that she date the son of a big businessman, Roderich Edelstein, she's opposed to it. But as she grows closer to the young aristocrat, her mind slowly changes about him. But what about this roguish free-lance photographer that seems to want to make her life miserable? Her growing attraction to him doesn't make sense, yet she can't seem to get away from the man. [PruxHunxAus]

"He sounds like a tightwad."

She didn't like this one bit. Her freedom and independence were one of the most important things to her. She prided herself on being a strong, capable woman, not needing a man to make her feel better about herself.

Now, her father was trying to set her up. He was 'selling' her to the son of a neighboring corporation, Roderich Edelstein, from the Edelstein Corp. Their being together would 'bring the companies closer, creating a more profitable relationship between the two businesses'.

"You haven't met him yet, Lizzie." Her father said with a sigh, "Give it a chance."

"Why should I? He's probably a wuss." Elizaveta retorted, turning away from her father with a 'huff'.

No, she didn't like this freedom of choice being taken away from her. She wanted to be with someone for love, not for business relations. It seemed, though, that she didn't have much of a decision in the matter.

"Lizzie," Her father said her name in that way, the way that always made her give in. "Please."

"Fine!" She spat, looking over her shoulder at him. "But I hope you know that I'm doing this for you. And if I don't like the guy after meeting him, then I'm not staying with him."

"Five dates." Her father said, business mode activated.

"Two!"

"Three, and that's final."

"Fine!" She walked off, grabbing her purse off of the kitchen table before leaving the house to blow off some steam.

"Hello, Ms. Hedervary, would you like me to pull up the car?" One of her family's servants greeted her at the door, but she shook her head at the aging employee.

She fished inside her purse and pulled out her sunglasses and the keys to her favorite car. "No thanks, Ralph. I'll be driving myself today."

"Yes, Ms. Hedervary." Ralph didn't hide the obvious displeasure on his face about her driving by herself, but Elizaveta could have cared less.

Her baby was the one thing her father couldn't take away from her.

The 1999 Ford Taurus painted in a homely Hunter's Green, stood out in a sea of Mustangs, Corvettes, and Porsches. It was old, it was rusting, but it was hers. And she had worked all summer long so she could afford it herself.

She crawled into the front seat, casting her purse haphazardly into the seat next to her as she started up the engine. It sputtered for a moment before roaring to life, humming lowly as she shifted it into drive to pull it out of their garage. She rolled the window down, put the radio on, and waved goodbye to Ralph as she left her monstrous home behind.

The moment she had walked out the door, her destination was clear in her mind. On the outskirts of town, about an hour's drive away, was a small, remote diner that attracted the locals. It was owned by a franchise, going by the typical name of "Pa's Family Restaurant". The food wasn't impressive, everything she ordered came coated with a layer of grease, and the service wasn't great either. It was all middle-aged waitresses who woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning, every morning. But that was the best part; no one cared who she was, where she was from, and only bothered her when asking to refill her coffee.

It was one of the few safe havens she had left in this world.

The waitresses began recognizing her after her fifth visit. They never made much conversation, other than a 'how are you' or a small nod of the head, and she preferred it that way. Usually when she came here, she was steaming about something, and needed to get away from the world for awhile.

"How may I help ya," A gruff waitress approached her table, "Any coffee to start ya out?"

"Yes, please." She flipped her non-expensive, easily-replaced white coffee cup so the waitress could pour the hot liquid in.

"Anything else?" The waitress asked, dumping a few crèmes on the table.

Elizaveta shook her head, giving the waitress a small smile. "I'll let you know."

What she really needed right now was some time to think. This business deal her father had suddenly thrown onto her shoulders needed some time to sink in.

She took a sip of the scalding coffee, not surprised when it burned the roof of her mouth. It was familiar to her; as familiar as the waitress who took her order, or the floral wallpaper that was beginning to peel in some areas, or the squishy booths that she sat in that made her butt sweat.

No matter what changed in her life, she was sure that these things would be constant. Familiar.

A/N - This story was floating around in my head for the past couple of days. :) It'll get more interesting, but for now I'm providing Elizaveta's background.

Reviews make me work faster~

-StormySea