Eden's Pov

I raced up my steps as fast as my feet could take me. When I closed the door behind me, my heart felt like it was beating a hundred miles a minute. Lester was here, he was here in Cali the one place I knew he would never be. He fought tooth and nail to keep RangeMan on the East Coast , so I assumed with him winning he would never set foot here, wasn't that what he wanted?

"You know what they say about assuming" I say rolling my eyes as I push off the door

My nerves were shot and all I could think of was a glass of wine. I walked into my kitchen, grabbed one of my glasses, and willed it with a nice red wine. I carried my glass out onto my balcony where I could get some air and to think. Sadie was stretched out on one of my deck chairs and when she saw me she flipped over, showing me her belly, and stretched out as far as her little body could go. Chuckling at her I sat next to her and ran my hand over the soft fur of her belly.

"Its so hard being a kitty isn't it?" I asked her as I petted her "You got a nice comfy home, a potty you don't have to clean, lots of toys, meals carried to you, and lots of love" I tell her picking her up and snuffling her fur under my nose "I sure would love to be you right now" I say as she jumped from my lap to run into the house.

I stood up and leaned my elbows over the wall of my balcony to look over the beach. Lester was here, he was right there in front of me. I looked over to the spot that I was sitting in on the sand and half expected to see Lester still standing there looking back at me, but he wasn't. I sighed in relief that he was gone. I thought back to the smell of his cologne and when I saw it was actually him my heart ached for him and then when I saw his eye, I wanted to go to him and help him. But then I heard the words that I over heard at the party and the anger from them and from all my past came roaring to the surface and I blasted him.

"If I didn't have RangeMan on my back I still would have came" his words came back to me. He told me to think about it and that was the last I wanted to do.

"No, I am not going to entertain any of the thoughts he wants me to. He's here and I cant do anything about it, but at least I don't have to see him or be near him, my part in all of this is over"

Lester's Pov

It was early Monday morning and I had just received my wakeup call. I could of just set the alarm on my phone or set the clock that came with the room, but after being up late talking to Ranger over the computer, I felt it best to actually physically talk to someone so my brain was alert and awake. I rolled out of bed and grabbed the toiletry bag that held my shampoo, saving things, and other shower needs and took it into the bathroom where I turned on the water in the shower. After I was fully bathed, I stepped from the shower and looked over at the designer suit that I had hung over the door the night before.

I took the Grey slacks off the hanger and slid them up my legs and slid an expensive leather belt through the loops and secured it at my waist. I then slid my arms through a crisp white button up shirt and slid a silk tie around my neck , tyeing it, and sliding the knot up to my throat. Slipping the jacket on and topping everything off with nice leather loafers, I stood back and admired why work.

"Damn Santos" I say to myself as I turned looking at myself

It felt so strange for me to be wearing clothes like this. I never had to dress up much and always laughed at Ranger when I saw him come down dressed in his black on black suits. Even though it made Steph drool over him, I was glad it wasn't me that had to wear the monkey suit and deal with the corporate side of the business. However now I was Ranger and I had to look and play the part he does.

I pocketed the keys to the rental truck and grabbed my newly purchased brief case. Cal and Bobby would laugh their asses off if they could see me. I sighed knowing this is only a hurdle I had to cross until I get to the part I knew something about.

Driving down to the PCH to downtown LA , I was mentally going over in my head what I needed to say and do when I meet with Mr. Collins. I also was trying not to forget what Ranger had told me when we had spoke last night. Finding an empty parking spot I made my way over to the large steel building that looked like it was made of glass. As I stepped inside to find what floor my appointment was on, I wondered if Eden was getting ready and driving the same highway coming into work like I had.

"Good Morning Sir how can I help you?" a pretty brunette asked me when I came off the elevator

"Morning, I have an appointment with Mr. Collins" I told her taking off my sunglasses and shoving them into the hidden pocket inside my jacket.

"Certainly" she smiled and punch a button on her desk phone

"Yes?"

"Mr. Collins your early appointment has just arrived"

"Thank you Jeannie I'll be right out" I heard and she smiled back at me

It wasn't just a second later the door to an office opened and Bernie Collins of Collins and Collins walked out in a very expensive suit and shook my hand vigorously. He turned to Jeannie and told her to bring in two cups of coffee for us.

"Mr. Santos, it is so great to meet you. I hope California has been good to you since you've been here"

"Well I have gotten to do much since I just got here yesterday, I hope things will start to look up" I say thinking of Eden.

"Yes lets hope, so what property would you like for me to bring out so we can get the building process on the way?" he asked

"Well" I said unsnapping my brief case that had all the documents that I needed. I took out a file that Ranger had given me before I left and handed it over to Mr. Collins.

"I don't remember this being on of the properties that was shown to Mr. Manoso" he said looking over the file

"It wasn't, but its what we want" I told him

"I don't know if its even for sale"

"It is" I assured him

"Ok ill call them up and see what I can get for you" he said typing on his computer and then picking up his phone

"Uhhh we would like to continue working with the one who has headed thisup allready" I told him and he looked at me

"Jeannie" he said pushing a button on his phone

"Yes Mr. Collins?"

"Is Eden in yet?" he asked her and I held my breath. Eden was about to be rocked.

"Yes she came in about fifteen minutes ago"

Mr. Collins let Jeannie go and pushed another button "Eden" he said

"Yes?" I heard her voice come in over the speaker

"Can you bring the Manoso files and meet me in my office?"

"Yes I'll be there in five minutes"

As they were talking, I smiled knowing in just a minute she would be walking through the door of Mr. Collins Office. I stood with my back to the door and studied the art that was on the wall.

"Mr. Collins?" I heard as a knock came to the door.