Thanks for the reviews, and the adds from everyone...glad you all are liking the story so far, I dont' think this one will be as long as the others, but still good...I hope...

Here's chapter four :D ENJOY!!

Money Hungry Love

Chapter Four: Tricked

I walked into my home with a stack of mail in my hand. I kicked my shoes off and flung my purse onto the little table by the door. I walked over to my couch and flopped down looking through my mail.

"Bills, bills, bullshit, bills…card from mom…car loan offer…wait what?" I dropped everything else and opened the envelope that had my mom's name on it and pulled the card out. On the front it had a bear holding roses and the message said just thinking about my baby. I opened the card and saw my mother's hand writing.

Hello baby, I know it's been awhile and how dare you leave a voicemail on my phone telling me you moved to MIAMI! But, I just wanted to say I was thinking about you and that I love you.

Also, I wanted to tell you that I have left your lying father…yes I knew of everything that was going on and since you are all grown up, why should keep him. I stayed with him so you could have a mother and a father…even though I wasn't around much, I didn't want you to fall into the category.

I know, I'm babbling on paper, but I wanted to say I'm sorry, I love you, and I wish you the best in everything. I want you to find a man that truly loves you and you truly love him…don't be like your father baby, or like me.

You Mommy!

I wiped my eyes and tossed the card onto the coffee table. Just like a mother to make me feel guilty and happy at the same damn time.

I sniffled and wiped my nose on my sleeve, not good I know, but hell I was alone. I stood up to go get me something to eat when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I answered trying to get my voice right.

"Aja?" My brows forward as I tried to recognize the voice. It had a heavy accent so I knew it was someone from work…I hope.

"Yes, to whom am I speaking to?" I asked while going into my bedroom. I put my professional voice on just incase. I juggled the phone between my shoulder and ear while undoing the zipper on my skirt.

"This is Carlos Colon." I stopped everything as I thought for a moment, couldn't be Carly because…let's be real, he would not be calling me, unless it was to fight.

"Sr.?" I asked in a whisper. The hell was he calling me for?! Was I fired?

"Yes, I want to talk to you about a few things…you don't work tomorrow do you?" I sat down on the edge of my bed and thought about it. I don't know why, I knew I didn't, but I was so nervous…he just threw me for a loop with calling me.

"No I'm off-" I heard him laugh and say something to someone in the background, but couldn't understand him.

"Good, my family is having dinner tomorrow night, I would like for you to come and spend the evening with us…be here at around six?" I bit my bottom lip, this was my chance…I'll even try that advice Diane gave me on Carly…hell yeah I'm going.

"Of course, but may I ask why?" I asked, I was very curious as to why he asked me.

"No you may not…good night Aja." I head a click and pushed the end button. What was it with these Colon men hanging up on people or turning away when someone is trying to speak to them…must be an island thing.

--

"I don't even know what to wear!" I screamed to myself while running around my room like a chicken with its head cut off.

It was dinner so it had to be formal, but then again no it didn't…I hated not being prepared for things like this. Maybe I should wear a floral print…then again I don't want attention to be TOO focused on Carlos and I…forget it, I'm wearing a white polo shirt and dark jeans. If they don't like it so the hell what!

--

"Hello, my name is Aja and I'm here to see Mr. Colon." I said to the butler when he opened the door. He smiled and gestured for me to come in. I did so and walked into the formal living room.

"Mr. Colon will be down in just a moment." I thanked him and walked over to the fireplace and looking at the pictures that were on that mantel and hanging on the wall.

I saw a picture of Carlos and Eddie goofing around and laughed to myself…Eddie had reddish blonde hair??

"Aja?" I turned when I heard my name and saw Eddie looking very confused. We both looked each other over and laughed.

"This has got to stop!" I said pointing to out choice of outfit. I walked over to him and tugged on the bottom of his shirt before sitting down on the couch and him sitting beside me.

"I want to look into your closet and see how many outfits we have alike." He said jokingly while patting my jean clad leg. I laughed lightly and thought the same…seriously I wanted to know.

"So what are you doing here, something wrong?" He asked after a moment of silence. I raised a brow and shook my head no.

"Not that I know of, but where is everybody, I thought we were having dinner?" I asked while looking behind me. Eddie looked around and then stood up shaking his head with a small smile playing on his face.

"Who called you, my mother or father?" I rubbed my hands over my jeans, a bad habit when I felt something wasn't right.

"Father, Eddie what's going on here? Where is everybody?" I asked while standing up and laughing lightly, trying to lighten the mood. Eddie rubbed his chin while looking over at me.

"Aja my parents left to go back to Puerto Rico this morning. Carly is in London, my sister Stacy is with him and Lissa is somewhere with her husband…we are alone." I forward my brows and took a step back. What the hell was going on here?

"But why, why would he tell me to come over here…why set…us…up…" I said slowly while the realization sunk in. He set me up…but why?

"Well you know what, why don't we just enjoy dinner and have a nice time." Eddie said while taking my hand and guiding me out of the room and down the hell to the dinning room.

"I suppose, but I wish he didn't lie." I said while we walked in and he pulled my chair out for me.

"I wish he didn't do a lot of thing, but it never comes true." He said with a sigh. I rolled my eyes and plucked his hand that was still on my chair/

"Oh don't say that in that voice, you sound like a little boy." I said teasingly while he sat beside me. He thanked the cook for serving us and waited until she left before answering.

"I do not-" He said sternly making me laugh.

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like Ricky Ricardo?" I asked while taking a bite of my baked chicken. Eddie cut his eyes at me before setting his fork down and placing his finger on his chin.

"Aja…I consider us to be friends as well as employer and employee…you feel the same?" I nodded my head while wiping my mouth.

"Of course-" He smirked before becoming very serious.

"Well if you would like to continue that way…never say that again." I put my napkin down and laughed. Was he serious?! I wasn't being mean, he does look like Ricky!

I waved my hand at him and continued to laugh until I saw he wasn't doing the same. I calmed down and blinked a few times…he was serious. I smirked while shrugging and continued to eat.

"Did you just threaten my job?" I asked without making eye contact with him. I couldn't believe he was upset about a simple looking comment, it's not like I said he looked like an ape or anything.

Eddie took a sip of his wine and shook his head no.

"No…I threatened our friendship." I raised a brow and looked over at him. Wow, this evening is taking a turn for the worse…hopefully I can turn this back around to a good thing.

"Mr. Colon you should have an open mind, besides it's not a bad thing. I use to have a crush on him." I said while nudging his arm with my shoulder. I offered him a friendly smile and he slowly but surely returned it.

"So are you saying you have a crush on me?" He asked while nudging me back. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my water.

"No, you remind me of him, but having a crush, no." I saw the smile drop and he simply nodded his head and went back to eating. Thing were quite for awhile before he spoke.

"I see…I suppose if I had big reddish brown hair, I would catch your eye?" I stopped mid chew and turned my head to look at him. he was still eating as if what he said was nothing at all. I finished chewing and turned completely so I was now facing him.

"Eddie what are you talking about?" I asked while I watched him gulp down the rest of his wine.

"All through grade school, college, and the adult life I have learned to read people. You and my brother…you like him, but he doesn't want you so much." My mouth dropped. I can't believe he just said that!

Why was I upset? Not because he said it to my face, it's because he knew and I assume Carlos knew too. I felt humiliated and small because I tried to be discrete, but I guess I failed.

"Excuse me?" I said while standing up and placing my h ands on my hips. I can only imagine how my face looked because I could read regret written all over his face.

"Listen I didn't-" I held my hand up and bent down so I was in his face…once again I let my "lady like" attitude drift off to another place and Aja "the around the way girl" stepped in and took over.

"Oh I know how you meant it Mr. Colon and I want to let you know that you are wrong-" Eddie tried to keep calm, but while he turned his head I followed.

"Aja just listen-" he tried again, but I wasn't haven't it, he insulted me!

"Unless it is about business I don't have to listen to shit! You know maybe we shouldn't be such friends, I think we should stay on boss and assistant level from now on, don't you think." I said with attitude dripping from each word. Eddie raised a brow and stood up, no longer trying to hold in his anger.

"No I don't, I didn't mean it that way Aja, it's just I don't want to see someone like you-" What the fuck!? Someone like me!? The hell is that!? Someone like ME!?

"Like me?! THE FUCK YOU TRYING TO SAY!? LITTLE BLACK GIRL IS OUT OF HER LEAGUE WHEN IT COMES TO THE COLON'S!? FUCK YOU AND MY JOB BECAUSE I QUIT!" I said while waving my hand ins his face. He caught my hand and pushed it down. His face started to turn red while he pushed me back into my chair.

"AJA! CALM THE HELL DOWN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!" In one swallow I finished off my wine and stood up.

"Mr. Colon, thank you for the dinner and the great conversation…but as of now I don't work for you and also, you can kiss my black ass!" I screamed in his face before storming out of that dinning room and then out of the house.

--

It's been a week and I haven't heard from anyone. Well I chose not to hear from anyone because I didn't answer their calls. But mainly one person didn't call and that was Eddie…hell I didn't want him to call…for what anyway huh? To apologize? What was I his girlfriend? Hell no! I didn't need him to call me, nope didn't need shit from him!

So why was I stunk in my home eating cookies and cream ice cream spilling my guts to Angel about what happened a week ago. He wasn't my boyfriend but I did see him as borderline best friend, damn near brother. So yes, I was a bit hurt at his words because I thought we were closer then that…guess not.

"YOU DID WHAT!?" I moved the phone from my ear and put my spoon down. Angel was a nice quite little lady…in the office, but once she was gone she was GONE! Work life and regular life with her was like night and day. I think her eyes change colors when she leaves work.

"Angel I quit, I could not go into work and have to look at his face after what he said to me-" I tried to explain. Of course she took it wrong.

"He didn't say much from what you told me, you didn't let him finish…and you sound like you and your MAN got into a fight, not you and your BOSS." I rolled my eyes, see, I knew she didn't get it, no one did! I went to get a scoop of ice cream with my spoon and discovered it was none left…damn it!

"He said enough! And it's not like that with us, never was…I just wish he didn't do that…I really liked him-" I said in a pout.

"Really!?" I heard the gossip going around before she eve hung up the phone. I knew what was on her mind and I had to set her straight real fast.

"As a friend, we were so cool, in sync…now it's like I lost a friend." I said letting it set in…I cleared my throat after a moment, I will not get chocked up about this…I won't.

"Well you are not alone, he's been moody all damn week, and sadly worse then his brother." I winced, that was something to think about, Eddie, worse then Carly…I just got a chill…did hell just freeze over?

"Oh gosh, is that possible?" I asked in all shock. Angel smacked her lips and sighed…this girl lived to gossip.

"Don't get me lying, I didn't think so until I saw it with my own eyes. He's always been nice, but he made sure you stayed in line…sooner or later you are going to have to straighten this out." She said so matter-of-factly that I was nodding my head and about to agree before I actually replayed what she said in my head…like hell I will fix a damn thing, I did nothing wrong…he did! And that's how things were going to stay until he apologized to me.

"Girl I am not…hold on someone is at my door." I said hearing someone knocking on my door. I put the phone down and got off the couch. I walked over to the door, but before I opened I checked myself in the mirror and was glad I did, I had a nice size of cookie on my chin. I wiped it off and fixed my hair some and opened the door without looking through the peephole. Of course I was surprised to see Eddie's baby sister standing in front of me.

"Mrs. Colon-" I said shocked. She waved her hand at me showing me her wedding ring and smiled.

"Actually it's…never mind, just call me Melissa." She said and I nodded my head while opening the door wider.

"Okay then…come in." I said while she smiled more and walked in. I watched her look around and nod her head at everything she saw. I shut the door and rushed over to the phone.

"I'll call you back." I said in a rush, but Angel couldn't leave it at that…nosy ass.

"Who was at the door?" I couldn't help but laugh at her, she was bold, had to give it to her, she was BOLD!

"Girl bye!" I said hanging up and turning around to see Melissa looking dead at me.

"Was I interrupting?" She asked while raising a brow. I shook my head no and sat down.

"Not at all, please sit down." I said gesturing towards my couch. She did so while removing her purse from her shoulder and placing it beside her.

"Thank you…Aja we need to talk." I straighten up a bit when I heard the tone in her voice, a tone I have had plenty of times…no bullshit tone.

"This has to do with me quitting?" I asked while smoothing down my sweatpants. Melissa looked at me closely barely blinking at times for awhile before shaking her head.

"Well, not so much as it has to do with you and my brother…what happened?" She asked. I sighed and shrugged. I really wasn't comfortable talking to his sister about the issue, but I guess I had no choice right now huh?

"I honestly don't know, all I knew was that I flew off at the mouth and now I am jobless." I said lightly trying to make a joke out if, but to no avail. I gave her a half smile before looking away.

"You left a lot of people sad…including my brother." Now the nerves were gone and my temper was trying to break through. I felt my nostrils flare and gave her a warning look.

"That's not my problem." I said with way too much attitude, much more then I wanted and she got he hint, I know she got it, she just didn't care. She smiled at me and rubbed her hands together before placing them back in her lap.

"It is, you just don't know it yet." I raised a brow and cocked my head to the side.

"I don't understand-" She cut me off by standing up and picking her purse up.

"Look, whatever happened, I think you two can talk this out and you can be back to work by next week-" She was talking as if we argued over lost files or misused paperclips. Like my feelings weren't hurt or something.

"I'm not working there again, I'm sorry but what your brother said-" I said as calmly as I could but my patients were wearing thin.

"What did he say that was so bad to make you quit?" She asked, changing her tone. The heat in my face cooled some, but not completely. I shrugged again while looking confused.

"That I wanted Carly but he didn't want me, and something along the lines of me not good enough or something like that." I said reliving that evening as much as I didn't want to…I did.

"Did you let him completely finish his thought?" She asked and I cut my eyes at her, what was with everyone wanting me to let him finish, what did they want him to do? Tear me down completely!?

"No, what he said was enough to piss me off." I said honestly and honestly I wanted her out of my house right about now…she looked like Eddie so much that all I saw was him.

Melissa walked to the door and placed her hand on the door knob. She turned slightly and looked at me.

"Aja something you must learn about Eddie, he tends to word thing wrong when he is nervous, mad, or in love." I laughed lightly and picked up a pillow and squeezed it. Have you ever been so upset that you wanted to cry, well that was me right now and I had to squeeze something before I let loose…I so badly wanted to throw the pillow at her head.

"Well all three is crazy because I did nothing to make him neither mad nor nervous and in no way is he in love with me." I said feeling the stinging in my eyes. She needed to leave…NOW!

"I suppose…so you won't talk to him?" She asked in a hopeful tone. I shook my head while slamming the pillow down on the couch.

"No." I said harshly and she shrugged and nodded her head.

"Well I tried…you should have really listened to me." she said while opening the door. I squinted my eyes at her, the hell did that mean?

"Why do you say that?" I asked really wanting to know…was this another threat?

"Just take this as a warning." I looked her up and down and cleared the living room in record time to be in her face.

"What are you all going to do, kill me?" I said smartly daring her to say yes so I can take the little lamp on the table and smash her face in with it.

Melissa looked horrified and shook her head quickly.

"Aja no! But…it's not good." She said before saying she'll be in touch and leaving. I slammed the door and screamed.

I had no clue why I was so mad at her, but I was. I was mad at her and Eddie…but not Carlos…come to think of it…I haven't thought about him all week. What was Eddie doing to my train of thought?

Kendra