Present Day

"Fiona, look at me"

Joe's eyes bored into hers.

Fiona craved the first half of her day. The peace in her mind was so comforting, despite being the result of the pills she took the night previously. It was only now that she realized that she took the calm in her mind for granted. Her mind was in a complete flurry as she tried to figure out what to do next.

Despite the aggressive first encounter she had with Joe, he softened considerably over the years. In fact, Fiona felt as if she had become the more aggressive one in the relationship. With the new status she attained at work, she felt more confident, bold and most importantly, more powerful. But in the last few days, Fiona felt futile. The world she built for herself was now precariously balanced. Even the tiniest gust of wind and everything would come tumbling down. The way his hand cupped over hers reminded her of the days when she had little to lose and he was her rock. She missed those times.

Her body slumped over with a deep sigh.

"Joe, there's so much going on right now. I really just need you to go." Fiona didn't even sound convincing to herself.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on." He moved in closer, his forehead pressed against hers. "I know this isn't about Paul, you've been with the guy nearly as long as you've been with me. If you really cared about him you would've quit me a while ago."

Fiona was too exasperated to feign incredulity. He was right about Paul. Fiona wasn't completely callous toward Paul and could enjoy herself from time to time. In the end, Fiona had always felt more affection for Joe, but the back-and-forth, friends-with-benefits dynamic kept the two from being a real couple. At any given point, one wanted what the other didn't. It wasn't long before Fiona saw an opportunity with Paul that she could take advantage of.

"Have you told anyone? About us?" She pulled away from him, examining his face for any tell of a lie.

"And get fired for fucking my boss's fiancé?" He laughed "You think I'm stupid?"

"Well Joe, someone knows. About us. And I don't know how they know."

"What? What do you mean someone?" His face immediately formed a frown. "We're more than careful, you never let me stand near you for more than a minute in public."

Fiona took an instinctive step away from him and surveyed the space around her. No one else was around.

"I know, but someone is texting me. They've got pictures of us, pictures of me and Paul… I don't know who they are or where they are but they're watching me."

"Are you serious?"

She nodded, feeling her heart rate increase. Her tormentor could be in that room. She couldn't risk to give that person any more power than they already had.

"I have to go." She quickly made her way toward the back of the auditorium. She needed to feel less vulnerable, shielded from her stalker. The crowd of the barbeque outside would suffice.

The sun peered through heavy clouds and the smell of rain wafted through the humid air. Large white tents scattered throughout the muddy field. Groups of people clustered beneath, fearful of the impending rain. Catering staff carted food from tent to tent. Fiona searched for Eve and couldn't spot the woman's red lips in the crowd for once. She reached into her small purse to retrieve her phone, only to be reminded of her smashed screen from earlier that day. She expected to see new notifications from her stalker, filled with picture after picture of her and Joe only moments before. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she saw the cracked screen sans notifications.

Maybe the block actually worked.

Fiona began to text Eve asking where she was when Joe interrupted her train of thought with his deep voice.

"Babe, you can't just run from me. I need to know what's going on too, this isn't just about you."

"Joe, this isn't the time or place. We need to stay away from each other." She tried to keep her voice steady. "At least until I figure out this bullshit"

"What bullshit?" Paul's rough tone came from behind Fiona.

Just when she felt as if things were getting better, they took a turn for the worst. She closed her eyes and took a calculated breath before turning around to her fiancée with a smile stretching her lips.

"Paul! Sweetheart, I was just looking for you!" She pecked his bearded cheek and snaked an arm around his waist. She stood by his side in the way only a wife would.

"Yeah, I was just going in there to get you…" He eyed Joe for a moment. Fiona couldn't read his expression very well. "What's this bullshit you were talking about?"

"Oh, I uh- I was just telling Joe about- uh" She stammered. Her mind buzzed, trying to find a non-suspicious explanation for her conversation with Joe.

"The numbers for Mania this year." Joe said cooly. "It's a shame, really."

"Well, I didn't know you were so interested in marketing numbers. They usually put me to sleep when this one starts talking about them." Paul squeezed Fiona's side playfully, pulling her closer to his own body. His grip never loosened though, he held her close. She glanced up to see a grin that never reached his eyes. His gaze was intently fixed on Joe. He looked as if he were going to square up with the Samoan in the ring.

"Someone's gotta take an interest in her- I mean - it. Am I right?" Joe raised a challenging brow, not breaking eye contact with the older man. Fiona felt the grip tighten even more over her waist. It bordered painful.

She practically tasted the sharpness of the tension in the air between them. She prayed desperately for an out; a plane to come crashing through the barbeque, the rain to start, something, anything to get the three of them out of the same vicinity.

"Eve!" Fiona didn't register the loudness of her voice. She couldn't contain the relief she felt when she saw the woman in her tight black dress crossing the field. She waved her over frantically, hoping she would play her role as comedic relief.

"Girl, where the hell have you bee-" Evelyn's jaw fell mid-sentence when she laid eyes on Joe. "Hello and who are you?"

Fiona immediately recognized the awestruck look on her friend's face. It only took a moment for her to wish her friend away. When Evelyn was on mission for a man, she was not one to back away from a challenge.

Joe broke the stare down with Paul to acknowledge the much shorter woman. He extended his hand, a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Joesph, and you are?"

"Sprung. But you can call me Eve." Her seductress smile graced her features as she shook his hand and felt his forearm with the other. "I am honestly pissed Fi didn't introduce us earlier. Girl, do you see this man? Like, look at him!" Joe laughed in response.

Fiona shot her friend a warning glare. She didn't think the interaction could've gotten any worse. But there she was - her obnoxious friend gushing over her lover, in front of her and her fiancée.

She forced a smile.

"I guess it just never crossed my mind."

"Well you need to think about your girl more often!"

"Well Evelyn, looks like you've got some company. And Joe's got someone to take a new interest in. We'll leave you to it." Paul flashed another fake smile before pulling Fiona to turn away. He stopped in his tracks when he felt the resistance from Fiona.

"No!" She caught herself and readjusted her tone "I mean, I wanted to catch up with Eve before we left. I haven't had much time to-"

"-Girl you ain't worried about me. I'll call you later. Have fun with your man." Evelyn dismissed her friend, never taking her eyes away from Joe. He did cast a sideways glance at Fiona, however.

"You heard her, Fi. She's busy." Nothing in Paul's voice sounded jovial. A more forceful tug at Fiona's waist signaled the end of the conversation. Paul practically dragged Fiona to a corner around the building, out of the sight of most at the gathering.

"What the fuck Fi?" Paul snapped, his voice was steady, but his eyes flashed nothing but anger.

"What?" She feigned ignorance.

"What was that idiot saying to you before I got there? Was he trying to come on to you, because I swear-"

"No! No. Babe. Sweetheart, it was nothing, just ranting about Mania numbers. Really. You know how he is, he's a cocky shit sometimes. Just like half of the guys on the roster. You can't say that anyone else wouldn't have fucked with you the same way." She caressed the man's rough face, trying to distract his thoughts and calm him.

"Well I don't take lightly to people fucking around with me." His gaze nearly made Fiona shudder. Her hands fell to her sides.

"You have nothing to worry about, baby. Really." She challenged his gaze with one of her own.

"I don't?" He raised his brows. "We're getting married in three weeks Fi, and I need you to be here, with me. Not having these mood swings, not being distant and definitely not flirting with my fucking talent."

Fiona opened her mouth to protest, but he continued on.

"I've been working my ass off to make sure this company doesn't go under. On top of that, I've been having to make sure you're not on the verge of an episode. When I proposed, I proposed to a woman who knew how to handle herself and handle this business. Someone who was mature and determined and dedicated."

"Oh, you mean a replacement for Stephanie?" The moment the words left her lips, Fiona wished she could take them back. Bringing up his dead wife was not the way to diffuse the situation, and Fiona knew it.

She saw the hurt in his face when she said it.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't – I didn't mean it. Baby I'm-" She reached for his hands, but he stepped away.

He reached into his pants pocket and handed her a set of keys.

"You can drive the Volvo back, I'll find my own ride home." And with that, the man brushed past Fiona and into the crowd of tents. Her eyes followed Paul until another sight caught her eye. Joe and Eve smiling, exchanging numbers. Eve's hand grazed Joe's arm as she took down his information. Fiona had to stop herself from storming over there and yelling at both Eve and Joe. The thought was interrupted by a buzz from her purse. She pulled her phone out, only to see a message from a new unknown number. Her stomach sank before she even read the message.

I wish you could see the look on your face right now.