Alright, lovebugs this chapter is short, and I couldn't stretch it. But I hope you guys have had an amazing Christmas and happy holidays. And I hope your new year is amazing. See you guys later.

Sam Evans was a man of few words, he liked to keep to himself, and he liked to be observant. Being observant meant he could pinpoint people's triggers, their ticks, anything that could set possibly put them into the position to be in a bad situation. That's why when he was put in the position of protecting one of Mercedes's clients he jumped at the opportunity. This time when he entered the building he was able to take a look, practically a tour to see everything, and he was amazed. The architecture work was a beauty and everything seemed to have Mercedes's touch on it.

The client had intense-press on the third floor, and then after she was rushed to hair and makeup for a photo shoot, and then after that, she was supposed to be going to the studio, and then Sam's shift would be over because his shift would be over. He sat through interviewers badgering the singer with highly invasive questions, however, the singer answered the questions with the utmost respect and ease. Mercedes's interview training had helped he presumed. Then he sat in a room as people pounced on the girl's face with brushes, and hair utensils to the point where the girl looked like the perfect doll. He sat through hours of flashing lights being directed onto the girl as time went on, and then finally they made it to the studio.

As time went on all Sam thought about was what Mercedes Jones was doing, he didn't see her at all but he knew the workers could feel her presence because not once did he see any of them stop their work. They looked as if they all breathed their jobs, they kept their heads down, their phones at their ears, and their eyes on their computers. He wondered if Mercedes had eaten, he highly doubted that she did because she was an extreme work-a-holic. So he decided on ordering some Chinese food and having it delivered. And when it arrived he was going to take it to Mercedes's office.

Mercedes was talking with Kurt as he ran down these different outfits that he prepared for her date with Sam on Saturday. Now Mercedes should have been happy about this but between Kurt's fast-talking, the solid migraine that was coming on that she was going to feel for hours, and having to go speak with her lawyers and Jalen and his lawyers in the next few hours Mercedes was about to explode.

"Ok, and this simple Versace pantsuit number, I know you don't like pants but this is what I pulled with such short noticed, have you even figured out where you are going or hell what you are doing for the date?" Kurt spoke.

"No, Kurt I do not know where I am going for my date, and even if I did I would not wear a pantsuit at a date," Mercedes huffed out.

"Well, my job would be going easier if your mystery man of a security guard and hunk of hotness would just tell you where you guys are going for your what first date," Kurt said.

"How do you know that this is our first date?"

"Because your first encounter led to you guys screwing each other's brains out this is your first date," Kurt talked, "Also, what would like to wear to this whole meeting with your ex and his attorney thing."

"Do you have anything that says, "I'm not giving you anymore of my money you sick and cold-hearted bastard"?

"I pull something I have been working on out of the archives. Toodles," Kurt spoke as he left the office. Mercedes sat back at her desk and continued working when she felt a presence coming into her room.

"So you brought me lunch under the impression that I have not eaten, and you are going to be very demanding that I eat and that I save all of my work for later because according to you Sam Evans I need to eat," Mercedes said as Sam sat down and put the takeout boxes on her desk.

"You Mercedes catch on quite fast, so long do I have?"

"Given the fact that I have a meeting that I need to attend in about two hours I am giving you forty-five minutes which is me being very generous."

"I like when you are generous."

"I need you to tell me what are we doing on our date on Saturday, and where we are going?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Telling, I don't ask."

"Well, even you did ask I would not be telling you,"

"But I need to know."

"No, you don't. You want to be in control you want me to tell you where we are going and what we are doing so you can feel as though that you are controlling everything, but Ms. Jones when it comes to me I am the only one who is going to be controlling anything. Matter of fact, since you are given me only forty-five minutes, now only forty minutes, I am telling you to send your lovely assistant on to do some forty-minute errands because, I am not really in the mood for Chinese food right now," Sam said. Mercedes gave Sam a smirk and placed her box of noodles back into the bag.

"Tasha, can you go downtown with Rachel and scope out any new competition, preferably five companies," Mercedes said.

"Yep, see you later," Tasha said. When the elevator dinged Sam walked around the desk and pulled out Mercedes's chair and kneeled in front of her.

"So I have about thirty-five minutes now to make you scream my name in this beautiful office of yours, and to let everyone know that Ms. Jones is thoroughly satisfied."

"I haven't started screaming yet,"

"You're about to."

After her nice and lovely lunch meeting with Sam, she got freshened up and headed out to her meeting with Jalen and his attorney. As much as she did not want to meet with him and discuss his financial problems, her attorney advised her that a civil meeting with him would probably give her more information on why Jalen was so insistent on him begging for more money.

So she had on her black power suit and her in a tight ponytail with hair two bangs in the front and she sat across from her ex-husband as their attorneys looked over the paperwork. Mercedes was on her last straw of being here and she was ready to leave to head back to her office, but her attorney slid her over the paper and she got a glance at and gave Jalen a death stare.

"Leave," She said to her attorney, and without question, the man exited the room.

"It's fine Matt," Jalen said, and his attorney exited the room.

Mercedes began, "Now I know that you are an educated man, and I know damn sure that your ass can count, and you can understand basic financial dealings. So explain to me how in the hell did you grasp the idea of me paying you over 3.5 million dollars. That is more than I gave you the first time, and it is much more than you even fucking deserve. I am not paying you 3.5 million dollars, if you want to provide your new fashion model and the brat growing in her belly then I suggest you make your own company or hell invest in stocks, make actual good financial decisions."

"Mercedes, I thought you could be a lady with class today but it looks like I am going to have to beg you for this money. Look, that is more than enough than what I deserve, the money you gave me in the past was not enough to support a family of three."

"I gave you 1.3 million dollars, that is money you could have done whatever the hell you wanted with whether you saved it or not, that isn't my concern, I am not giving you 3.5 million dollars. You cheated on me, and I thought that was more than clear when I found you screwing her in my house, the house that I shared with you. I want you to give me a reasonable reason on why you feel as though deserve another dime from me."

"We had a deal."

"What fucking deal Jalen."

"What fucking deal? The deal we made that when you were three years in business we would start a family."

"I don't put that family bullshit on me because I told you I was not ready. And for you to use that disgusting excuse on me to make me find it in my heart to even give you a rusty nickel is a bullshit," Mercedes said as she grabbed her stuff.

"Mercedes, just give me the money, and I will leave, me, my fiance, and my unborn brat will never darken the doorway."

"I am not giving you anything else, now if you need money so desperately then maybe you should get a fucking job, and stop trying to mooch off the ex-wife that you cheated on," Mercedes said. Then she left the office and headed home.

Sam was at his home paying some of his bills when he received a phone call from one Mercedes Jones.

"Now typically I am supposed to be calling you, what changed?" Sam questioned.

Mercedes smiled at his words, "I was doing some work and I wanted to talk,"

"Don't tell me you are still at the office Mercedes," Sam said.

"No, I am at home, and I wanted to talk," Mercedes answered.

"Well, what would you like to talk about?"

"Anything,"

"You're sad."

"Are you asking or telling,"

"Telling, what's wrong."

"Nothing, really I promise, just talk please,"

"Alright well, I grew up an only child to a farmer and an accountant. My dad is the farmer my mom the accountant, and right now they own their land with 50 acres and a barnyard full of animals in a small town in Indiana. I visit them typically during the summertime, so I am due for a trip there soon. I work at a private security firm and my and partner Puck get assignments together to protect high-profile clients. We protect politicians, musical artists I was at Jones Management all day protecting one of your artists."

"Really,"

"Yep, you trained her well, I can tell she listens to you. Working as a secret service agent I traveled the world but I couldn't take it all in because protecting the president is a full-time job, I left because I wasn't fulfilled anymore, but I still have lots of friends there and a job if I see myself going back there. I am happy with my current job though so I couldn't see myself leaving anytime soon. Besides, there is the woman that is making me stay," Sam replied.

"What's she like," Mercedes questioned.

"She's beautiful, has the perfect body, she is super impressive when it comes to business, she doesn't take shit from anyone, but when it is just me. Well she lets go of all her walls and she lets me in, she lets go of control for once and lets me handle it. And if I could I would protect her from anything in the world. She is perfect."

"Sam."

"Mercedes."

"I don't know what this is but I like it, it is fun, exhilarating, it gives me adrenaline, I don't want this to stop."

"I don't either. I also don't want to be alone tonight so I can either come to your place or you can come to mines." Sam said.

"Asking or telling?"

"Telling,"

Mercedes smiled, "I'll be over in thirty minutes."

"I'll be waiting," Sam said. He hung up the phone and went about trying to make his place look presentable. He lit some candles and poured two glasses of wine and played some soft music in the background and then Mercedes knocked on the door. He opened the door and there she was looking so beautiful. He gestured herself in and she walked over to the wine glasses and grabbed one for her and the other for Sam and passed him his glass.

"So, tomorrow are you going to rush yourself out of my apartment and rush to work?" questioned Sam.

"I can't answer that question."

"I believe that you can,"

"Anything can happen tomorrow Sam," Mercedes replied as she turned away and took a long sip of the wine as Sam came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into his touch as they swayed from side to side to the rhythm of the music.

"You have to realize that you can not bear the weight of everything on your shoulders at some point you have to put some time in for you," Sam mentioned.

"Mmm, you love telling me what I should do in my life don't you Sam." Mercedes replied.

"I do," Sam said as he flipped Mercedes around and pulled her into a kiss. The kiss was sweet and gentle as Sam wrapped his arms around her waist and Mercedes wrapped her hands around her neck. Their tongues dueled gently trying to gain a small victory but they both knew the other wasn't going to give up. Sam picked Mercedes up and laid her on the bed. He kissed her neck making Mercedes let out a low moan as he squeezed her sides.

"Sam please, and I am telling."