"I have evidence Cheryl," Veronica said into my phone at midnight four days after I had met with her father.

There was a lot of white noise and the sound of the connection fading in and out. "Where are you?"

"Sweetwater River."

"Oh Ronnie, be careful. Are your fingerprints on the evidence?"

"No, I'm wearing gloves."

I looked at the time and bit my lip. "I'll be there in fifteen minute with an envelope. We'll start a file of sorts and then drop it at the sheriff's office saying someone kept sending these to you."

"Okay. I'll be here."

I threw on a coat with matching gloves and slipped into a pair of Ugg boots. I ran to the empty study in Thistle house and grabbed and envelope before dashing to my car. I drove to Sweetwater River and saw Veronica's car parked in the small, secluded lot. I got into her car.

"Look. He thought he was home alone and was counting sticks of jingle jangle. I took the picture. Then buried my phone in the closet, told him I broke it and needed a new one," Veronica said shakily. It was a 5 by 7 of Hiram clearly holding the paper tubes of jingle jangle.

I opened the envelope and she dropped the picture in. She took a shaky breath and nodded. "You're doing the right thing Veronica. Drugs are dangerous for everyone especially kids and teens we don't want this is circulation."

"You're right," Veronica said. She hugged me and I hugged her back.

"I have to go. I'll see you at school." I walked back to my car and tucked the envelope into the dashboard cabinet.

/\/\/\

Toni was outside the bar when I arrived at seven o'clock sharp.

"Are you ready?" she asked, pulling me in for a brief kiss.

"Yes. Do I look the part?" I tried to dress business like yet down to Earth enough so that hopefully the Serpents would trust me.

"Yes. Those leather pants do great things for your legs," Toni commented opening the bar door. I walked in and we took spots leaning against the pool table.

F.P. talked for fifteen minutes the Serpents took a few votes and then F.P. asked the Serpents had anything to say. Toni put her hand up and then we walked to the bar that F.P was standing on. He climbed down and we got up.

"Listen up," Toni yelled grabbing attention.

The gang was looking at her with rapt attention.

"I need to talk to you," I said loud enough for them to hear. "I need us to partner up."

"Why would we do that?" a guy called and there are shouts of agreement.

"Because I can save the Southside."

There were mummers in the crowd. "What do we have to do?" a woman called.

"Nobody work for Hiram Lodge. Do not take any money from him or do any jobs for him. Can you do that?"

There was a collective yes.

"Do not take any drugs, do not deal any drugs, do not touch any drugs. We are gathering evidence that points to Hiram Lodge being involved with drugs if we get him arrested I can buy and save the Southside."

"How can we trust you?" Tallboy asked. He was the one who wolf whistled at Toni and I the night of Veronica's party.

"Because I trust her," Toni piped up. "I want to keep the Southside like we know it. Cheryl can help. I'm in and don't Serpents stand together?"

The gang looked at each other. "Fine. We're in. We stay away from Hiram and from drug but try to take pictures of him doing or dealing drugs. What's in it for us?" F.P. said.

I looked at Toni. "There will be a vote. Buildings that get voted yes will be renovated. You guys will stay in your… homes and I'll cut your monthly payments in half. And the Southside won't become a working prison town."

"Good enough for us," one guy with a serious beer belly called.

"It's settled then. You better keep your end of the deal, you don't want to mess with me," I said sternly.

Toni nodded jumped of the counter. I looked at her like she was crazy but she just reached and hand up and when I took it yanked me down. She pulled me behind the shelves of liquor. "You did amazing."

"Naturally." I smile. "Thank you for helping. I love you, Topaz."

Toni smiled and yanked me close to her. "I love you too." she kissed me, one of her hands grabbing my waist the other running through my hair. I rested my hands on her shoulder and gave into her pushing me against the flimsy wall.

/\/\/\

"Miss Blossom, exactly who I wanted to see. Miss Topaz, a nice surprise," Hiram Lodge said, leaning against one of Thistle House's ivy covered pillars.

"Hiram, we weren't expecting guests," I said but opened the door wider and allowed him to enter. "You may follow me to the study."

I sat behind the desk and motioned for Toni to pull up a chair. I kept my eyes on Hiram as he sat down.

"What can I do for you today, Hiram?"

"Well I needed to cash in on your end of the contract." he leaned back and looked around the old room.

I swallowed thickly. I knew Toni would be uncomfortable at a business party. "Where exactly is our presence requested?"

"The Sagamore Bolton Landing. Mr and Mrs Ainsworth are looking into companies to buy stock into to gift to their son as a college graduation present," Hiram explains. "Meetings are Friday evening into Saturday morning and then there will be something of a cocktail party afterwards."

I struggled to keep a straight face. Who buys a stock for their kid as a gift? Business people apparently. Duly noted. "What makes this event so special?"

"Mr and Mrs Ainsworth are old friends. I believe they would like your company. Are you selling stock?"

I fight back the urge to roll my eyes. "No, we are not selling stock. It's a family business. Votes and shares remain in the family. But I suppose I could meet with the Ainsworths." I said, drumming my fingers on the desk.

"I'll see you Friday night then." Hiram stood and held out his hand.

I smiled and shook his hand. "Toni, darling, could you please show Hiram to the door?"

Toni shot me a look and mouthed 'what the hell?'. I raised my eyebrows minimally and she sighed. She stood up and brushed nonexistent dust off her jeans.

I watched them exit the room. I slumped forward and laid my head on the dusty desk. This was stupid so, so stupid. I felt tears stream down my cheeks. Everything was crumbling around me. I just wanted to be happy and here I was in debt to Hiram fucking Lodge. I heard the door open and I raised my head enough to see it was toni walking in and tossing off her Serpent jacket.

"I'm sorry," I said, wiping under my eyes and then realizing I had mascara all over fingers. "I just completely used you."

Toni looked up at me. Confusion was written all over her face but her eyes were soft, she walked over to me. "What? Cheryl, what's the problem?"

I waved my hand in the air. How could I even put it into words I had broken a promise to the girl I am very certain is the love of my life. "I promised you you would never be a business wife and I just promised we'd spend our weekend in upstate New York being people we aren't and I...I made you show him out like a trophy wife."

She kneeled down so she was looking up at my eyes, which were barely hanging over the edge of the table. "Cheryl, I have no clue what you're talking about. I would love to spend the weekend with you in a four star hotel watching you dress up like the CEO you are and do your business thing. It's incredibly hot."

I chuckled watery. I wiped my eyes again and sat down next to toni on the floor. "I love you so much. Please come with me."

"I would have never thought about saying no," Toni said soothingly. She ran her hand in circles around my knee. "I love you so much too."

"That was not proper English but it was perfect," I said through the still flowing tears.

"You're perfect, Cherry. You are the best fucking teenage CEO on the face of the Earth. I'm so lucky to have you." Toni kissed my cheek.

"You are pretty lucky." I said, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. "But thank you."

"I'm gonna need a new dress for the cocktail party," Toni said after we had been sitting on the dusty floors of the study for ten silent minutes.

"I'll give you my credit card on day when I'm working on the proposition. Make sure you love it, " I said pushing myself up and brushing off my skirt. "And buy an outfit for dinner on Friday."

"Can it include leather?"

"As long as it's classy."

"God, you're perfect," Toni said smiling up at me.

I smiled back, my heart melting at the look in her eyes

/\/\/\

"This place is crazy," Toni said as she flopped backwards onto the king sized bed in our hotel room.

"I know right? It's like Elon Musk's reject house," I said. I took all my make up out of it's bag and put it on the vanity's counter. I had to start getting ready for this meeting.

"I have no clue what that means but yes. I cannot wait to sleep in this bed," Toni said, her voice muffled my the pillow that was on top of her face.

I smirked at her in the mirror with my lipstick positioned by my mouth. "I have other ideas."

Toni shot up her face a shade of scarlett I didn't know she could reach. "Uhh… that too...I mean I'm not saying no but...I was not expecting...damn Cher." she fell back onto the bed burrowing herself into the pillows.

I laughed as I applied a layer of highlighter to my cheekbones. "Don't get so worked up Topaz."

I walked over to my suitcase and pulled out my red blazer. I put it on over my black dress. I did a once over in the full length mirror that was hanging on the mall. I flipped my hair over my other shoulder and then walked over to the cave of pillows hiding my girlfriend.

"I have to go," I said, tossing away a few pillows.

Toni was laying underneath the pillows still blushing and looking flustered. "Good luck, Cherry," she said.

I pressed a chaste kiss to her lips and ignored the wobble in her voice. "I love you."

I walked over to the desk, grabbed my purse and my business folder. As I put my hand on the handle I heard Toni jump out of the bed and the foot steps as she raced towards me.

I felt her strong arms wrap around my waist and her chin rest on my shoulder. "I love you too, baby. Can't wait for dinner." she kissed my neck and then ran back to the bed. As I stepped out the door I heard the bed squeak as she jumped back onto it.

"Start getting ready, Cha-cha, dinner is in forty-five minutes," I said into my phone as I stood in the lobby waiting for Hiram.

"Will do," Toni's voice said through the phone. I hung up and leaned back against the pole, my foot tapping impatiently on the marble floors.

Hiram finally approached me. "Miss blossom, glad you made it."

"I could never refuse an invitation from you," I said playfully with a toss of my hair.

He smile and drummed his fingers together. "Well, Hermione and I were joining some gentlemen for scotch and billiards tonight. Will I see you and Toni there?"

I shake my head, trying to make it look like I was sad. "Sadly no, Toni made dinner plans for us. It's the least I could do after making her miss school today."

Hiram nodded. "Well then, I will see you tomorrow Miss Blossom."

"Good evening, Hiram."

I slid my room key into the key reader. It flickered green and I opened the door. I dropped my purse on the desk and kicked off my heels. I sat down in front of the vanity and looked at myself in the mirror. I ran my brush through my hair a few times making sure it was silky and knotless. I heard my pink haired girlfriend drop something in the bathroom.

"Fuck me," she shouted.

I laughed to myself. "Maybe later," I called. I don't know why but it seemed like the right thing to do.

Toni gasped and then there was a series of crashes, some larger than others. "You're back, Cherry. Scared me. Don't come into the bathroom, I'm not ready yet."

I laughed. "Okay. dinner is in twenty minutes though."

"Stop distracting me!"

I laughed again and returned my focus to reapplying mascara. I switched my plain black heels for my Louies and turned on the TV to some comedy about a talking dog.

"Ready?" Toni asked form behind me.

"Yep," I said standing and turning around. I was not ready, she was wearing a slinky, strapless black dress. And combat boots but that was her style. "Damn, Cha-cha."

She smirked, knowing full and well she had my attention. "Let's go, dinner is soon."

We walked down to the lounge floor, where all the restaurants are. Toni leads me to a sushi place. She talks to hostess and then we get led to secluded two top. I smile at her and we start talking. She asks me about the meeting and I roll my eyes and change the subject. I tried to be a good representative but not good enough that whey wanted to invest with Blossom Industries.

Toni tosses her cloth napkin onto the table and runs her hand over her stomach. "Well thanks for dinner, babe."

"I have to pay?" I put a hand on my chest and pretend to be shocked for a few seconds before pulling out my credit card. I tip the waitress, sign the bill and then tuck my credit card away. "Let's go."

Toni nods and we walk out of the restaurant. Once we're in the empty hallways Toni pulls me close and kisses me. My hands run over her curves that are perfect highlighted in that dress. I pull away and drag her towards the elevator and press the four button repeatedly. Toni's lipstick is smudged and her hair is starting to frizz.

"How do you still look perfect? Your lipstick is still in place," she huffs.

"Magic. Just kidding expensive products." I run my fingers through my hair and the elevator dings open.

"Come on." Toni grabs my wrist and yanks me out of the elevator. We jog down the hallway and Toni trips over her own feet. I fall over her and have to to fight to keep my laugh at a respectful level. Finally we make it into the room and our lips collide together. We stumble towards the bed and when we hit it I push Toni backward onto it.

She's slightly out of breath and she's looking up at me with pure love in her eyes. I feel my heartbeat quicken more than it already is. I lean down and kiss her. Her hands pull of my blazer and I shimmy off her dress.

It was a fantastic night.

"Those shorts look good on you Topaz," I said, not look up from my history essay that I was writing at the desk in the hotel room.

I heard something drop on the floor and I turned around. "Oops," Toni said huskily. "I dropped my pen." she bent down and picked up the pen, she was making a show of it because of the compliment I had given her.

Besides the blaten teasing, I felt my breath get caught in my throat. My heart started beating faster and I felt the all too familiar shiver in gut. I sighed and stood up, "How much time before the cocktail party?"

"Enough," Toni whispered and I sashayed up to her pulling her into a deep kiss.