The following morning, Rey was happily humming to herself as she stacked shelves when she saw a fancy black hire car pull up right outside.

Her mouth fell open when she saw Ben Solo get out of the car. She ducked down and checked the picture of him she had drawn devils' horns on and stuck to the front of the receipts book.

Shit. It was definitely him.

she peeked out the window once more. He was standing in the street trying to decide which way to go. He wore a black suit and black sunglasses. She focused on his hands as he buttoned up his jacket. When her eyes moved back to his face, she realised he was smirking right at her.

Double shit.

She ducked down again, but it was too late. Ben strode into the store.

'Rey Johnson,' he said in a deep voice.

'Nice to finally meet you.'

Rey took a deep breath and stood up.

'Wish I could say the feeling was mutual,' she snapped back.

'You got my fired, lady,' Ben growled.

'I know, it's one of my proudest achievements.'

Ben's nostrils flared. Rey held her ground and jutted out her chin.

Ben chewed the inside of his cheek.

'Even if I did get a few facts wrong, it doesn't change the bones of the story. You're still a man eater. You chew man up and you spit them out and you fucking love it,' he drawled.

He was leaning over the counter almost leering at her. Anger bubbled within Rey's stomach. She made an impulsive decision and her hand made contact with his cheek.

'Get out,' she spat.

He laughed as he left.

'I'm not going anywhere, love. You're going to run again and I'm going to be right here to see it.'

Ben had felt that slap right between his legs. She was very beautiful he had to admit, the photo Cass had provided him with didn't do her justice. The flecks of gold in her eyes couldn't be captured in a picture for instance. He frowned. Was it normal to be attracted to the very thing you hated the most? He shrugged. That was a question for his therapist. He had more important things to focus on.

Ben plucked the list of addresses that Cass had provided him with out of his pocket. He got back in the car and drove to the first one on the list. He knocked on the door of the small cottage and waited impatiently for the owner. Eventually, a youngish man cracked open the door and peered out at him.

'Matt?' Ben asked.

'Who's asking?' Said the bottle blonde man with large glasses.

'Ben Solo, I want to interview you about Rey Johnson.'

'Is this about the article?'

'Sure is.'

'I don't want any part of it,' Matt said and tried to shut the door.

Ben wedged his foot into the small gap.

'I can write this with or without you,' he warned.

Matt sighed and looked resigned.

'You'd better come in.'

Rey ran into the salon just as Rose was washing Amilyn Holdo's hair.

'He's here!' she exclaimed.

'Who?' Rose asked.

'Brad Pitt. The bloody journalist of course! He's here! In town!'

Rose's eyes widened.

'Are you sure?'

'My hand just connected with his face so yeah, I'm pretty sure.'

'Geez. Where is he now?'

'I don't know! He drove off in his fancy car.'

Amilyn cleared her throat.

'Well if I were him, I'd be here collecting evidence for my follow up story. That means I would need to talk to— '

'The grooms!' Rey and Rose said in unison.

Rey ran for the door.

'Where are you going?' Rose called.

'I have to go see Matt right now!' Rey called back as she exited the salon.

Rey banged on Matt's door. He answered it and looked at her in surprise.

'Rey! How are you?'

'Has he been here?' Rey demanded.

Matt looked sheepish.

'I assume you mean the journalist.'

'Yes.'

'Yes, you just missed him.'

'What did you tell him?' Rey demanded.

Matt looked offended.

'Nothing but the truth, Rey. That you and I were high school sweethearts, we were together for two years from the ages of 16 to 18 then we broke up because of irreconcilable differences, namely that I wanted to be married to you and you didn't want to be married to me.'

Rey calmed down.

'I'm sorry, I just… that guy has really got under my skin. I just need to know everything you told him.'

'That's pretty much it. I told him about how we had arranged a garden wedding because we had next to no money but you managed to sneak out of a hole in the fence when I wasn't looking. I told him how devastated I was but how it all worked out for the best, because now I have Kaydel and you have Randy.'

Rey nodded.

'Thanks, Matt,' she turned to leave.

'Oh, he did ask me one strange question. He wanted to know how you took your coffee,' Matt called after her.

Rey stopped and frowned.

'Strange question, I doubt you would even remember— '

'Splash of milk, half a sugar, same as me,' Matt said with a sad smile.

Rey felt a ball of guilt form in her gut.

'I'm sorry I hurt you, Matt,' Rey said quietly.

Matt shrugged.

'That was a long time ago, Rey. I'm over it.'

'Say hi to Kaydel for me.'

'I will.'

Matt closed the door and Rey got back into her car.

'I think I know where you're going next, asshole,' she mumbled to herself as she started the engine.

Ben arrived at Kylo's garage and followed the sounds of guitar playing.

'Kylo Ren,' Ben announced as he rounded the corner and stopped right in front of the music playing owner.

Kylo stood up and stared at Ben.

'Wondered how long it would take you to turn up here,' he said smirking at Ben.

'When you told me the story of Rey Johnson, you neglected to mention that you were victim number two,' Ben replied.

'A memory I would much rather forget,'' Kylo mumbled.

'So, what are you a garage owner or a band front man?'

'Both,' Rey said as she rounded the corner with her arms crossed over her chest. Ben noted how Kylo straightened up as his eyes settled on Rey.

'Kylo is the best mechanic in town and he is also the frontman of the very talented rock band The Knights of Ren,' Rey said. She smiled up at Kylo who looked down at her sadly then turned away.

Ben folded his arms over his chest.

'I need to hear the details of your relationship with one another,' he said.

'Why is that your business?' Rey hissed.

'Like I told your friend Matt, Miss Johnson, I can write this story with or without you and since you are such a stickler for details, you would think you would want to be more co-operative.'

Kylo chuckled as he sat back down and strummed on his guitar.

'We may as well answer his questions, Rey. He seems like the kinda guy who is going to get what he wants with or without our help.'

Ben smiled triumphantly at her. Rey's palm itched.

'So how long were you two together?' Ben asked Kylo.

About a year, Rey was 19 when we got together, going through her rebellious phase I think,' Kylo said still strumming his guitar.

Rey blushed and folded her arms across her chest.

'And the wedding?'

'The setting was the local watering hole. My band was playing on stage and Rey was set to join us. We were going to sing our vows to one another,' Kylo said, looking at Rey with a sad expression. She avoided his gaze.

'What happened?' Ben pressed.

'She squeezed out of the bathroom window and I drank a bottle of whisky and passed the fuck out.'

Rey looked guilty and Ben made notes in his pad.

'Just one more question, how did she take her coffee when you were together?'

Rey huffed out a breath.

'Black, just like me,' Kylo replied.

Rey bit her lip.

Ben marched on.

'I heard a rumour that the two of you got matching red rose tattoos, is that true?' Ben held his chin and looked pensive.

Rey's eyes widened.

'Yes,' Kylo said pulling down his black round necked t-shirt to show the Rose inked right over his heart.

'And yours, Miss Johnson?' Ben said.

Rey glared at him.

'I don't have to show you guys anything. I'm a soon to be married woman.'

'It would mean a lot to me, Rey,' Kylo said gently.

Rey let out a shaky breath and turned around. She pulled up her top and showed the bare skin on her back where she used to place the stick-on transfers. When she turned back to face Kylo he looked utterly betrayed.

Rey took a step towards him.

'I'm sorry, Kylo. It's just that I have this fear of needles…'

'I have to get back to work,' Kylo grumbled standing up and leaving the small workspace.

Ben smirked.

'Well that's all I need, I'll be going now,' he announced cheerfully.

Rey stopped him in his tracks.

'What are you doing? Are you trying to ruin my life?' she hissed.

'I'm just trying to get to the truth, isn't that what you wanted, Miss Johnson? For me to respect the facts of this situation?'

'This isn't a situation; this is my god damn life!'

Ben narrowed his eyes at her.

'Hurts doesn't it? When someone interferes with your personal business.'

'Why can't you just go back to London and leave me alone?'

'You get me fired. Ergo, I have nothing to go back to London for.'

So, the only way I'm getting rid of you is if you finish this story?'

Ben nodded.

Rey thought for a moment.

'You're writing this thing, independently aren't you?'

Ben didn't answer, so Rey continued.

'That means you're going to need something special to actually sell this thing. So, here's the deal. I'll work with you and give you a first-person interview to make sure you are getting the right information this time around, but I want you to pay me.'

'No way.'

'Then good luck getting Randy to talk to you, because unlike Matt and Kylo, I still have some sway in that department.'

Ben groaned.

'How much do you want?' he asked.

'£1,000.'

'Too much.'

'£800?'

'£500.'

'Done,' Rey said, smiling up at him.

They looked at each other for the briefest of moments, and the air between them felt heavy and tense. Rey cleared her throat awkwardly.

'Okay, follow me,' she said as she walked away.

'Where are we going?' he called after her.

'To meet Randy of course,' she called back.