A/N: HERE IS ANOTHER CHAPTER. THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING WHAT THE PAIRING IS, I HAVE DECIDED THAT IT WILL BE FOX AND KAY.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE KAYGUEL FANS READING THIS AND I HOPE I HAVEN'T DISAPPOINTED ANY OF YOU OR DISCOURAGED YOU FROM READING FURTHER.

TO EXPLAIN, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T TOO MANY FOXAY STORIES OUT THERE AND I THINK I HAVE THIS NEED TO EVEN THE ODDS. AND I'VE GROWN TO LOVE THE COUPLE FROM THE STORIES THAT I'VE READ.

BESIDES, I NEVER INTENDED THIS FIC TO BE A KAYGUEL. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE KAYGUEL MOMENTS. IT WON'T BE FAIR TO THE CHARACTERS AND THE ORIGINAL STORYLINE.

TO BABYDOLL-JASON IS A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR KAY AND I WON'T LEAVE HIM OUT OF THE STORY ENTIRELY. I SUPPOSE, IN A WAY YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU WANT.

TO FOXAYFAN-JASON AND KAY AREN'T MARRIED. THERE'S A REASON AS TO WHY THEIR LAST NAMES ARE THE SAME. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW, JUST EMAIL ME.

WELL, THAT WAS ONE LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE. HOPEFULLY, SOMEONE READ THAT.

THANKS.

ENJOY.

~*~

"Kay, relax." Fox conveyed with a grin as he pulled her by the hand towards his car.

"Where are you taking me?" She demanded angrily as she tried her best to yank her hand from his hold. For almost a month now, since she arrived in Harmony, Fox had made it his mission to make her life 'exciting,' or so he claimed.

Ever so often, without prior notice, he would traipse into Callaway Towers, interrupt whatever she was doing and demand for attention like an obsessed boyfriend.

And to make matters worse, Jason was called to San Francisco around the same time and had to stay there indefinitely, which left her alone and vulnerable to Fox's annoying yet amusing advances.

Fox looked back at her wickedly, mischief dancing in his dark eyes. "It's a surprise." He said mysteriously.

Kay sighed, falling into step beside him. "I'll regret this, won't I?" She asked as she slipped into the front seat of his silver Porsche.

"No, you won't. You'll like it." Fox declared. He sounded like a kid on Christmas morning, ready and eager to open his presents.

Kay smiled. It was endearing.

After fives minutes of a breath taking, exhilarating, terrifying car ride, they finally arrived to where Fox intended to take her.

"Ta-da!" He said as he let her out.

Kay watched in sheer terror at the building in front of her. Standing in front of her, untouched by the years that passed, was the Book Café, Harmony's local and most popular hang out.

It had been years since she last stepped inside the place and the thought of returning to one of the places where most people would recognize her terrified Kay.

"I'm not going in there." She said. Her voice was firm but only she could hear the hint of fear in it. Fox was far to excited to see that she was afraid.

Fox scoffed. "Don't be a snob." He said as he took her hand and pulled her again. "I know it doesn't look much and it does pale in comparison to the elite coffee houses and restaurants in New York but I promise you, they have amazing coffee." He declared as if he had just become the expert on where to find the best coffee in town.

Kay yanked her hand fiercely. "I said I'm not going in there." She argued stubbornly.

Fox's eyes darkened. "Even I'm not as snobby as you. Suit yourself then." He said icily, obviously irritated by her.

Kay stood her ground. "Take your time." She retorted obstinately. Fox rolled her eyes at her and walked into the Book Café without another word.

Sometimes, she was just too impossible to handle.

Kay groaned at her irritation as she hugged herself tighter. The wind blew fiercely around her making her eyes sting and her ears hurt.

"I can't believe I let him drag me into this!" She grumbled as she pushed the car door open and got out. "Why would he take a convertible out in this weather?" She hissed as she started towards the Book Café.

Suddenly, she halted when she heard a shriek. Standing behind the car was Simone Russell, only three years older.

"Oh, my God, is that you?" Simone asked in obvious shock as she walked towards Kay, her eyes narrowed as she surveyed her former friend curiously.

Kay backed away, afraid and startled at the same time. This was exactly what she feared. Someone would recognize her. "Hi." She said hesitantly.

"Why are you here?" Simone blurted out.

I live here Simone, Kay wanted to say but that was not true anymore since she left years ago and had not said a word to them since.

Kay watched her warily. "Just business." She said cautiously.

"Oh." Simone said, not truly believing her. "So, you haven't spoken to your family?" She inquired.

Kay shook her head. "Why would I?" She asked. Kay had no intention of speaking to anyone in her family.

"You owe them." Simone declared boldly.

Kay scoffed as she folded her arms in front of her. "I owe them?" She echoed. She was watching her friend in distaste, obviously offended by the rather daring comment.

Simone nodded. "That's right. You owe them."

Kay raised a curious eyebrow, a scowl on her face. "I owe them nothing. Why am I even talking to you?"

"Because I care." Simone defended herself.

"About who? Me or them?" Kay demanded angrily. Simone Russell no longer had the right to talk to her that way. She lost that many years ago, just like the rest of them who liked to call themselves her family.

"Why should I care about you, Kay? You left years ago. You left everyone who cared about you."

"You should stop before you get yourself in trouble, Simone." Kay warned dangerously.

"Are you threatening me?" She challenged. "You haven't changed Kay Bennett. You're still vindictive and cruel. I wouldn't be surprised if you're here to win Miguel back again. After all the stunts that you did, I wouldn't put anything past you. I don't know why I was ever friends with you."

In a heartbeat, Kay walked over to Simone and slapped her across the face, causing a large imprint of her hand to appear on the other girl's cheek.

"You have no right to speak that way to me." She said angrily. "You're right about something though. I'm still vindictive and cruel. So, take this as a warning. You say anything about seeing me to anyone, you'll be sorry and that's not a threat. That's a promise."

The door to the Book Café opened and Fox stepped out holding two cups of hot coffee. "Hey, I bought you one in case you changed your mind-" Fox trailed off when he noticed that two women sending each other death glares and realized he had just interrupted something. By the looks on their faces, he assumed it was big and serious.

Simone glared at Fox, then at Kay. She scoffed. "I see." She said. "I thought you couldn't stoop any lower. I hope I never see you again." She hissed as she stomped away.

Fox cleared his throat. "She didn't look happy to see you." He said, standing next to her.

"And she was just as eager to see you." Kay retorted fiercely.

"Easy." He said as he handed her the other cup of coffee. "The Russells and I have some history." Fox explained.

Kay raised a curious eyebrow, glad that the topic of their conversation had shifted towards Fox. She wasn't ready to reveal that piece of her life just yet. "Oh, really. Care to share?"

"You won't like what I have to say."

Kay smirked at that. "Does it really matter? Most people don't like you in general." She replied.

Fox had to admit, she was right. "If I'm going to tell you my life story, can we at least go in there and sit?" He asked motioning back to the Book Café.

She shook her head stubbornly. "No."

"You really are stubborn, you know. I don't know why I put up with you." Fox declared as he walked to the driver's seat and placed his coffee into the cup holder.

She followed suit and buckled herself in the passenger's seat. "I think I do." Kay answered.

"So go ahead. Tell me why I put up with you." He grinned as they drove away.

She gave him a sideward grin. "Because your father and grandfather gave you the job to 'take care' of me."

Fox glanced at her, wondering how she knew that tiny little guilty information. "That's not true." He said casually as he took a turn on the next street.

She scoffed. "I'm not stupid, Fox. The reason you came to my office that day we met was to get me to 'back off' as you had phrased it. You're only sticking around because I'm still here. Don't make yourself look any worse by denying it."

He sighed. "Well, Kay Callaway, you're more perceptive that I took you for." He replied.

"Always was. But I don't hate you, Fox. I just don't trust you." Kay replied sincerely. It was true. She really didn't hate him. She just found Fox annoying on most occasions. Other than that, he seemed like a likable enough human being.

Fox smiled. He hand to hand it to her. She was one smart woman. "Fair enough. So where exactly are we headed because I can't circle the same street forever, you know."

"It's your choice, Fox. I suggest someplace cozy because I intend to make myself comfortable while I listen to every dirty, humiliating piece of information about your life." Kay answered, grinning mischievously.

Fox chuckled. "So, you're just as interested in getting blackmail information about me as I am with you, huh?" He asked as he turned to the street leading to the Crane mansion.

Kay laughed. "Just about."

Fox nodded. "Kay, I see a beautiful friendship ahead of us."

She laughed again. "You keep thinking that." Kay replied indignantly.

A few minutes later, they were driving up to the Crane mansion and Fox was helping her out of the car. "Impressed?" He asked when she scanned the mansion appreciatively.

"Hardly." She replied casually. Her heart began to skip a nervous beat. She had not stepped inside the Crane mansion in years. She hadn't expected Fox to take her there.

Kay had assumed that he had bought an apartment or something during his few years in Harmony.

But apparently not.

Fox pushed the door open and Kay was slightly surprised at how little the house had changed. Everything was still the same, maybe except for the brand new furniture.

Someone had done a make-over, Kay thought.

"Before I tell you any gory details, do you mind explaining why Simone Russell seems to want you dead?" He asked curiously as he poured drinks and Kay sat down.

She shrugged her shoulders at him, slightly distracted by her dread that someone in the house would recognize her. "I didn't promise to tell you anything. So come on, spill." Kay replied.

She was definitely hiding something and it heightened Fox's curiosity. "First, swear to me that none of this leaks to the press." He joked, handing her a glass of wine.

Kay rolled her eyes at him. "Everyone already knows your dirty little secrets, Nicholas Foxworth. I just want to hear them from you." She answered coyly.

Fox chuckled. "So, you've been doing a little digging? I'm impressed."

"You're stalling."

"Alright, alright. What do you want to know?" He asked.

She titled her heard sideways as if deliberating the thought. "Start with Simone Russell and then work from there." She replied.

Kay was enjoying this. It gave her a chance to catch up with the latest news about Harmony's dishonorable residents.

"Well, as I told you, the Russells and I have some history. Well, actually, our families do and I just worsened the situation." He began.

Kay wondered what exactly he had done. She knew from previous knowledge that TC Russell loathed and despised Julian Crane enough to be suspected of his so called murder. According to TC, it was Julian's fault that he lost his chance in becoming a tennis champion.

Apparently, Fox had repeated the offence.

"So, what did you do?" She asked.

Fox sighed, almost ashamed to tell her. Almost. "I seduced Whitney Russell." He replied.

Kay gasped, bringing her free hand to her lips. She hadn't expected that but looking back on Fox's track record, it seemed just like what he would do. Kay should have known. She wondered what ever happened to Chad and Whitney to cause the girl to turn to Fox. "Oh." She whispered, still shocked.

He nodded, finished his glass and walked over to the bar for a refill. "Yes, and when she got pregnant there was this whole debacle about the child being mine." Fox continued, sitting back down next to her.

He grinned, amused at her reaction. The girl with the endless come backs was rendered speechless. "Are you sure you want me to continue? You look like I shocked the life out of you."

She nodded, drank all her wine. "I think I might need more." She said.

"Feel free." He said with a chuckle.

Kay refilled her glass and sat back down. As shocking as it was, Kay couldn't help but be intrigued. It was just what she needed. "She was pregnant?"

"Very much so." Fox replied. Judging from Kay's reaction, fox was now sure that she knew these people. Now, he just had to figure out who she was. "Anyway, as it turned out, the child wasn't mine."

"Her father must have been furious." Kay whispered.

"Oh, he bought a shot gun and chased me for a whole week." Fox laughed.

"You could have died." Kay said, sounding truly concerned.

He waved his hand in front of her, as if dismissing the thought. "You should know, I'm invincible. But moving on."

"Right. So who was the father?" She asked curiously.

Fox scoffed as if the answer was in plain view. "Who else? Chad." He replied. Kay was about to say something when Fox added. "Who also happened to be her half brother."

She frowned. "That's ridiculous!"

"The DNA test didn't seem to think so." Fox replied.

"DNA tests lie." She said stubbornly knowing full well how many DNA tests in Harmony were altered to suit some of the residents 'expectations'.

"Well, Not this one." He answered firmly. "Anyway, after that Whitney tried to kill herself and she almost succeeded had Eve not found her in time. She lost the baby in the process and Eve was riddled with guilt. Eve then went insane and their whole family has never been the same."

"Oh my God. I never knew." She said in a hushed voice. Kay couldn't help feeling guilty for talking to Simone that way she did. Had Kay known, she wouldn't have treated her former friend that way, despite their difference of opinion.

"Yes, it was awful. For some reason the Russells never forgave me." Fox declared.

She nodded, feeling quite sorry for all of them. Somehow, her life didn't seem so bad.

As Kay thought about it, the Russells had no reason to blame Fox. Granted, he was at some fault for seducing Whitney but all he did was instigate them to look for the truth.

The ugly, horrible truth.

"It wasn't your fault." She whispered taking another sip of wine.

He shrugged noncommittally. "The whole town seems to disagree with you on that."

"Oh. Well, continue." She ushered.

He nodded, drank the last drop of wine and set his glass on the table. "After that I became involved with Theresa Lopez Fitzgerald who used me to get back for hurting Whitney."

"You didn't marry her did you?" She asked.

Fox shook his head. "God, no. I'm not stupid enough to do something that ridiculous. Besides, I'm not the marrying type."

Kay nodded, understanding. Theresa wasn't exactly the kind someone would marry since everything she did was fueled by some deep dark motive.

"Is your history with her just as tragic as the one with Whitney?" She asked, still taking in what she just learned.

"Not entirely. She used me for various reasons. First to get back at Julian; second, to get enough money to make her finally stable within the next five years or so; and lastly, to avenge Whitney." Fox explained nonchalantly. For someone who had just been trampled over, he didn't seem to care in the least.

"I never saw you as someone who let people get away with that." Kay voiced.

"Of course not. Well, I used Theresa to get back at Ethan for all the emotional damage that he caused us by being mother's favorite all those years and after our fallout, I sued Theresa for every penny she took from me." He explained.

"And being a Crane meant that you won." She declared knowingly.

"As usual. Now that little hussy is dirt poor. I made sure she wouldn't be employed in any state. Like any other family, the Lopez Fitzgerald despises me and mine." Fox grinned.

Payback was a bitch.

"How vindictive." Kay declared. Fox certainly didn't make his reputation any more likeable by doing what he did.

But Kay knew he had his reasons.

"We're all vindictive, Kay. We all have our reasons for being cruel. You especially." Fox replied.

"What?" She asked.

"Getting pregnant with you cousin's boyfriend's baby." He said darkly and Kay looked taken aback.

"You didn't think I would be so clueless, did you?" He asked coyly and she glared at him. "Now, now, glaring is so childish."

"You have nothing against me." She hissed.

Fox flashed her a grin. Kay was definitely beautiful when she was angry and he intended to keep her infuriated for a few more minutes. "Maybe, maybe not." He answered.

"Stop playing games, Fox and tell me what you want." She demanded. It was true that fox had nothing to hold against her.

Like him, everyone in Harmony knew about her reputation.

"I want you to work with me." He declared sincerely.

Kay scoffed. "I am not sleeping with you!" She exclaimed furiously, leaping from her seat abruptly. She was seething.

Fox laughed lightly. How just like her to assume that he wanted sex. "I didn't say that, did I now?" He asked as he stood in front of her.

"Then what do you want?" She asked through gritted teeth, folding her arms as if to shield herself.

"I want you to help me take over the Crane business." He said in a low voice so that no one could hear them.

Kay rolled her eyes and smirked. "You have high hopes." She declared.

"I am the legitimate Crane heir and I should be allowed to have free run over the business. All we need to do is get Julian to step down." Fox suggested, now whispering. With his grandfather Alistair's knack for eavesdropping, Fox could only assume that the room was bugged.

"Oh, God! I am not going to help you kill your father!" Kay hissed angrily as she pushed past him. "I'm leaving before I truly regret this."

"You know, you're very presumptuous. I never said we'd have to off anyone." Fox declared as he followed her outside. "All we need to do is show my family that I am very capable of handling the business and with your business ethic and 'background experience,' I think we might just succeed."

"This is insane. I have a job, Fox. I have a family and responsibilities. I am not helping you!" She declared.

"What family? You're all alone here, Kay. All you've got is me." He insisted firmly.

"I'm no longer what I was, Fox. I stopped manipulating people a long time ago." She said firmly.

Fox nodded and walked up to her. "I know you're not and we won't manipulate anyone. You're just going to help me get what I rightfully deserve."

"You haven't earned anything." She retorted.

He shrugged. "Maybe not but with you, I can show my family that I'm willing to work hard to earn it." He replied softly.

"What exactly do I have to do?" She asked.

"Teach me how to run a company and all that sort. And you also have to help me become a better man." He smiled.

Kay shook her head in dismay and groaned. "It will never work."

"Have some faith." Fox urged softly.

She sighed sharply. "And what do I get in return?"

"I won't tell your family that their little Kay Bennett is back home." He answered.

"That's not enough, Fox." She declared sullenly. It was rather cold and her mind was racing from his offer. Who did he think he was?

"Fine." He said shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'll protect you from them."

Kay laughed. "I don't need protecting. What I need is for Crane industries to back off on Callaway industries. No dirty business, Fox and I mean it. I know what your family is like."

"Deal." He said sincerely, offering his hand to seal the agreement.

Kay outstretched her arm and shook his hand. Jason was going to be furious with her and she knew that there was a ninety nine percent chance that Fox was going to stab her in back but she had to take the risk. "I'm not sleeping with you."

Fox grinned as he led her back into the house and out of the cold. "We'll decide that later."

~*~

A/N: THIS CHAPTER TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW I ORIGINALLY WROTE IT. BUT WHEN I STARTED EDITING IT, I BEGAN TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE INCIDENT WITH WHITNEY AND CHAD AND FOX.

I KNOW THAT I WROTE THAT THIS FIC WAS WRITTEN BEFORE ANY OF THAT HAPPENED BUT I EDITED IT TO FIT THE CURRENT SOTRYLINE. IS THAT ALRIGHTY TO YOU GUYS?

I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THAT SECTION ABOUT THE RUSSELLS SO DARK AND BROODY. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE INSIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HARMONY RESIDENTS SINCE KAY LEFT.

BESIDES, AREN'T WE ALL DYING FOR THE TRUTH TO COME OUT ALREADY?

AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SEE WHAT I WROTE HAPPEN TO THE (RUSSELL) CHARACTERS. IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING THEY WOULD DO. I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT. EVE'S BEEN KEEPING THIS SECRET FOR SO LONG AND SHE'S CONSTANTLY FEELING GUILTY.

AND IT WOULD DRIVE SOMEONE CRAZY AND SUICIDAL TO FIND OUT THAT THEY'VE BEEN SLEEPING WITH THEIR OWN HALF BROTHER AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, PREGNANT THEIR CHILD.

OH, I DON'T HATE THERESA OR ANY OTHERS THAT WERE BASHED IN THIS CHAPTER.

BUT ANYWAY, THANKS FOR READING.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.