Chapter 10

Behind close doors, Phoebe took a deep breath and grinned. She wanted to laugh and scream in joy. But now's not the time. One score for the Haliwell family. She took a seat behind the desk and waited for Cole to come in. Man, I can't stop grinning!

After a few minutes, Cole came in, sat opposite her and smiles at her. She stared at him. "What are you smiling at?"

"You"

She chose to ignored that. "Let's just get down to business". After a few hours of hard negotiating, he leans back and looks at the time.

"Is that the time? Maybe we should continue tomorrow"

"No," Phoebe disagreed," We should do this by tonight"

He smiles. "Are you that eager to get rid of me?"

"Yes," she answered immediately. He groans. "Can we just grab a bite to eat first? I'm starving.."

She sighed heavily. "Fine". They went down to the cafe and ordered lunch. Cole was about to criticize her again, but was distracted when Maggie came into the cafe looking around. Cole froze and tried to look hidden.

"What the hell are you trying to do?," Phoebe asks him curiously. He was closing his face with his hand.

"Trying to look hidden," Cole whispered. "Maggie has just step into the building.."

"COLE!!," Maggie shrieked from the end or the corner. Both of them groans.

Maggie practically ran towards their table. "Oh, Kate.. I didn't know you would be here!"

"Yeah right," Cole said softly. Maggie continue gushing at Kate. Phoebe sighed. "Can we help you with something Maggie?"

"Oh, it's so nice of you to ask me to join you!," Maggie said and immediately sat beside Cole. Cole looks at Phoebe with please-save-me eyes. Phoebe shrugs. After a few minutes, Phoebe was looking more and more annoyed. Maggie has not stop talking after she has sat down with them. I would need a bottle of aspirin soon if this continues.

Phoebe stood up. "I'm sorry Maggie, but you'll have to excuse me and Cole, we still have business to discuss"

"Oh, of course. And I do have business to discuss with you too Kate," Maggie said seriously for the first time. "Maybe tommor-"

"Please make an appointment with my secretary then," Phoebe said dismissively. "Come on Cole"

Cole happily got up and followed Phoebe out of the cafe. Maggie smiles.


Next Day

"Kate, Ms. Watson is here to see you"

Phoebe continues writing. "I'm busy"

"Em.. she says she has an appointment with you today"

"No, I don't. Ask her to come back the next day"

After a few minutes, Anna buzzed again. "Anna, I'm very busy-"

"I'm sorry Kate, but Ms. Watson is insisting to meet you," Kate said desperately. "Can I send her in?"

Phoebe sighed loudly. "Fine, send her in". She got up and poured herself a cup of coffee while she waited for Maggie to come in.

"Kate, thank you for meeting me," Maggie said happily with a hint of frustration in her voice.

"Maggie, I'm very busy today. So if you could make this quick..," Phoebe said, annoyed that her work was being interrupted.

"Fine," Maggie said and pass her a fat file. "I've come to negotiate a contract with you.."

Phoebe lifted a brow. "I don't really have the time.."

"Kate, Kate. I'm negotiating a contract on behalf of Watson enterprise. What are you hesitating for? This contract will bring your company and mine a lot of money, I mean a lot," Maggie said arrogantly.

Phoebe looks thoughtful. "I'll have to tell you honestly, Maggie. I'm not interested in your proposal, and I don't think I will accept it anytime soon"

Maggie gave an outrage cry. "Are you turning my proposal down then? You're making a big mistake, Kate. This contract will bring you big bucks.."

Phoebe stood up. "I think this discussion is over. Anna, my secretary will send you out". She folded her arms and waited for Maggie to get out from the office.

"You will change your mind, Kate Lynn. You're making a terrible mistake," Maggie said in an angry tone and stormed out of the office.


Phoebe walks towards her car and notice someone standing beside it. As she got nearer, she recognizes the man immediately. "Tate! What the hell are you doing here!"

Tate takes a step towards her and offers a rose. Phoebe shook her head. "No, I don't want it"

"It's for you Phoebe. Why do you keep ignoring my phone calls?," Tate said with a hurt voice.

"We have nothing to talk about," Phoebe said angrily. "Move aside!"

"Kate, please stop ignoring me!," Tate pleadingly. He turns to grab her arms. "Why are you doing this to us? To our relationship?!"

Phoebe struggled growing more and more annoyed. "Relationship? We don't have a relationship, Tate! I told you from the beginning that I wasn't interested in you, now let go of me!"

He shakes her, hard. "No! No! You can't do this to us, Phoebe! I could you a life you've always wanted! I can give you anything you want! What more do you want? Love? I can give you that! Do you want marriage? I can give you that too!". He starts dragging her away from her car. Phoebe starts to panic.

"Tate! What the hell are you trying to do?! Let go of me!"

"We're going to get married in Las Vegas," Tate said distractedly, he continues to drag her towards a black Mercedes. "But, I'm bringing you back to my apartment first, I intend to make you mine tonight.."

Phoebe started struggling wildly and was shouting at the top of her lungs. "Help! Someone please help me!"

"No one is here to save you Phoebe," Tate said. "I drug the securities coffee. Let's say they won't be awake till morning, which will give me enough time to make you mine..". He wretched open the door and tries to push into the back seat. Phoebe started kicking him with her leg.

"Phoebe, please stop fighting me!," Tate pants as he tries unsuccessfully to dodge her legs. "We'll be so happy together.."

"No! Let go of me! You're nuts!," Phoebe started clawing at his face. beating on his chest, and when Tate pulled her off, she landed two ferocious kicks in Tate's groin. As he doubled over, she quickly got up and started running towards her car. Panting, her fingers slippery with sweat, she tries unsuccessfully to unlock her car door, but the keys kept missing the hole. Phoebe takes a look at Tate and saw him getting up from the floor and was starting to walk towards her. Panicking, she starts jabbing the keys into the hole again, and gave a cry of relief when she manages to open the door. When she felt fingers grabbing her shoulder, she screams and aims a punch at Tate, but instead of Tate, it was Cole's face who was behind her.

"Cole!," Phoebe gave a cry of relief and sobbing, grabs him and started hiding behind him.

Cole frowns and rubs his cheek. "I think you broke my too- What's wrong with you Phoebe? What the-," Cole looks in front and saw Tate coming towards them.

"Phoebe.. you belong to me.. only me," Tate said menacingly.

"Hey! What the hell are you trying to do here! Back off!," Cole shouted. Phoebe whimpered and squeezes Cole harder. "Phoebe, what's happening here?"

"He's trying.. to.. rape me..," Phoebe manage to say with her teeth chattering.

"WHAT!," Cole roared. He advanced towards Tate. "You bastard! You son of a-"

"You're trying to steal Phoebe away from me..," Tate said. A hatred so deep that all the muscles in his face tightened into a mask of rage. It was obvious he was losing his mind. "You're not taking her away from me!!". He leaps toward Cole and both of them started wrestling on the road. Phoebe looks around wildly and saw a wooden branch. She quickly grabs it and advanced slowly towards the moving figures.

Cole was struggling to aim a punch at Tate's face but Tate has both hands around his neck. His vision was getting blurry. Damn, that man has a strong grip! How am I suppose to hit- all of a sudden Tate's body slump against him. He pushes Tate aside and saw Phoebe holding a club. "Phoebe.."

Phoebe looks at him with hazy gaze. "Is he.. dead?"

Cole bend over Tate and touch his fingers against Tate's neck. "He has a pulse". Cole gets up and enfolds Phoebe in his arms. "You okay?"

Phoebe drops the club on the floor. "No" and slides down in his arms in a dead faint.