Hello again Lovelies. Thank you so much for the reviews. Please keep them coming. I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't worry I am already writing the next one. To answer a guests question: After sex with Caleb, Hanna looked content and fulfilled. That's what Emily picked up on. She hasn't seen Hanna like that in a long time.
Miranda's meetings with her boss became a daily occurrence. With him being in the city the lie she told about starting work that Monday was genuine. Miranda's boss was opening up an office in Philly and he asked her to be a part of the management team until her "assignment" was over and Tony from the California office could take over. Then she would be needed back in California. She hadn't been back to Hanna's boutique since that night almost two weeks ago. It's not that Miranda was scared she just didn't know how Hanna was going to react to her presence now.
"Miranda, where's your head?" Miranda's boss asked her.
"Sorry, just thinking about this boutique I haven't gone to in a while. Are we still going to Europe tomorrow?" Miranda asks as her boss smiles. There was something about her boss that unnerved her just as much as there was something about him that seriously attracted her.
"We are. Is lover boy ok with you not being in the country for Christmas until the middle of January?" He asks.
"He already thinks I'm leaving tomorrow to spend time with my sister. I haven't talked to him about me not being back until the middle of January yet. I'll do that when I visit him this afternoon." Miranda says as she bites her lip at his close proximity.
"How close is he to breaking the engagement?" He asks Miranda. Miranda is startled by the question.
"Not close at all. What makes you believe that he is close to breaking our engagement?" Miranda asks as he laughs.
"Because no man would ever be ok with his fiancé leaving the country for weeks, with her boss, unless he is about to break the engagement. What do you think will happen if he breaks your engagement?" He asks. Miranda didn't know what to say. She never thought about Caleb breaking their engagement.
"I don't know . . . I've never thought about my assignment ending prematurely." Miranda says honestly.
"I would still use you Miranda, you have amazing talents, just not in the way that requires you being an influential part of this company anytime soon. I do promise that your job would be just as enjoyable as it is now then again that is also subjective to my boredom." He says as he walks away. Miranda's eyes narrow slightly. It never occurred to Miranda that she would lose her position if Caleb broke their engagement. However, how would her boss know if she didn't tell him? No, Caleb would not break their engagement. Miranda felt he would stay true to his word. Miranda changes her voice message on her phone before she grabs her things and leaves for the day. Obviously she had to secure her spot in Caleb's life, Miranda says to herself as she gets on the elevator and descends.
"Next stop is Rosewood, Pennsylvania." Miranda says as she gets to the parking garage and walks to her car.
Hanna looks at the wrapped gifts on the floor and checks off each person on her list. She closed the Boutique early today and of course the Boutique will be closed Christmas Eve (Saturday) and Christmas Day. Lucky for Hanna she usually closed early on Saturdays and Sundays she was closed anyway. No harm no foul. Will Hanna do this the many years to come? She was sure she wouldn't be open on Christmas day but if Christmas Eve was any day other than Sunday she would definitely have her normal hours. Her employees would get to leave early but she would stay.
Hanna puts Miranda's gift aside. Hanna was willing to give her a second chance but she never came back to the boutique. Hanna was sure Miranda couldn't resist for much longer so she would save it until she saw her again. The buzzer goes off and Hanna looks at the monitor.
"Aria Montgomery" Hanna says as she buzzes Aria in. Aria enters the front door and swipes her key card. "This doesn't look good." Hanna says as she watches Aria get on the elevator. Aria lifts the doors as Hanna puts her checked list on the dining room table.
"Hey" Hanna says.
"Hey, so Jason doesn't want to be with me anymore." Aria says as she wipes her nose. Hanna had to choose her words wisely even though all her friends knew she wasn't the most diplomatic. The last time Hanna was reasonable Aria yelled at her and made her feel like shit for not wanting Aria to ruin her own life.
"Are you still with Ezra?" Hanna asks.
"Yes" Aria answers.
"So, why does it matter that Jason doesn't want to be with you anymore when you weren't exclusive with just him. That wasn't fair Aria?" Hanna asks as Aria crosses her arms in front of her chest and narrowed her eyes.
"Wow, thanks for being so supportive Han." Aria says as she walks to the elevator, lifts the doors, closes them behind her and descends. Hanna shakes her head before she rolls her eyes.
"When I'm being diplomatic it doesn't matter. When I'm not being diplomatic it doesn't matter. Why do I even try?" Hanna asks herself as she locates her cellphone and calls Spencer. She tells Spencer about Aria and Spencer promises to call her while Hanna begins transporting gifts as well as her luggage to her car. She was going to Rosewood tonight. There was no point in leaving tomorrow especially since, now, Aria wasn't talking to her which also meant that Aria was no longer riding with her. Hanna knew she needed to stay away from Aria until Aria was ready to talk to her.
Caleb got back to his apartment after finally tracking the hacker with Mona's help. The program she made the day she called him to come to Rosewood worked. The name of the hacker, and who the hacker worked for, practically had him falling on his ass. Caleb felt stupid and used. Mona told him earlier that she knew exactly who it was when he returned to Rosewood with Miranda that afternoon. Mona recognized the codes used. She said they belonged to a man who worked with her dad a long time ago. The man was killed, Mona didn't say by who, but Mona remembered him having a son or two. Caleb was fully aware Mona's father worked high up in the government. He realized that when he used her laptop their senior year. So he was also aware that Mona knew the son, or sons, and knew why Caleb's system was targeted.
Caleb may want to know why he was targeted, badly, but he would NEVER ask Mona. He would figure it out on his own before he asked Mona to confirm or deny his theory.
"Hey babe" Miranda says as she looks at Caleb.
"Hey M. How long have you been here?" Caleb asks as he looks around his apartment. Caleb walks to his laptop and sees the infinity icon flashing blue.
"I've been here for probably an hour. I've missed you. What have you been spending the week doing?" Miranda asks as she watches Caleb. Since he entered his apartment and saw her, he's been off. Caleb didn't even look like he's slept. "Babe are you ok?" Miranda asks as she stands. His back was extremely tense.
"I will be." Caleb says as he turns off his screen and faces her.
"So tell me what's been going on. What have I missed?" Miranda says and asks again.
"Do you remember when we first met M?" Caleb asks as he walks to the fridge to get a beer. Miranda watches him not sure where he was going with this.
"Yes, we met in D.C, at a bar in Georgetown. You asked me how a girl so small could out drink every guy who came up to me. I winked and told you it dealt with sex appeal. While they were busy being fascinated by me, and flirting with me, they never saw that half of my drink always went into their cup. I was able to out drink them because they weren't paying attention." Miranda says as Caleb smiled.
"Exactly and from that moment you had me. Your street smarts, cockiness and unapologetic sneakiness made me want to be around you." Caleb says as he sits on the couch. Miranda didn't like where this was going. Anytime someone brought up the past they were ending things not moving forward. Her boss called it. Fuck, Miranda says as she sits beside Caleb.
"I know I've been distant baby but I promise we can work out whatever is going on." Miranda says as Caleb just stares at her. He gets up and hands Miranda a file. "What's this?"
"Open it and tell me." Caleb says as Miranda opens the file. She closes it quickly.
"How did you get this?" Miranda asks between her teeth.
"Miranda Collins, adopted at age 6 by Mathew and Maggie Collins. From Napa Valley. Parents' net worth: 300 million. Only daughter, Miranda, will inherit everything at the time of their deaths. Currently employed at the Carissimi Group in Los Angeles." Caleb says distantly. Miranda didn't know how Caleb got this information or how long he has had it.
"What else do you know?" Miranda asks.
"That this, me and you, us this is just a job for you. You've been the one hacking my system since we've met, probably even before then. You're not even going to deny it are you." Caleb says and asks angrily.
"What would be the point Caleb? How long have you known?" Miranda says and asks with as much attitude as she gave Spencer two weeks ago. All things considering she was actually happy this fabrication was over. It was getting so old. She did need to tell her boss that Caleb knew about their group. What Miranda wanted to know was how he knew.
"Known what? Known about you being the hacker? Known about whatever the fuck this was between us being a lie? Known that you actually come from money and have been slumming it with me for over a year? You need to be specific Miranda." Caleb says with his eyes narrowed. Miranda sits back and crosses her legs.
"All of it would be nice and couldn't you have told me sooner so I didn't have to come all the way here." Miranda says as she also crosses her arms. Yes she was being a bitch. She knew it but she hated being dumped and she hated being dumped by someone she felt was inferior to her. Caleb and Miranda may have been similar in that they were foster kids but unlike Caleb she was adopted and had a superb life with great parents. Yes Miranda was fully aware that she was spoiled but Caleb didn't know how true his statement was. She was slumming it. Caleb wasn't even her type. Even now she didn't see what Spencer saw in him. Yes he was exceptionally attractive and protective and kind but he wasn't powerful. Caleb also didn't exude the same cockiness like her boss did. She didn't even know if Caleb actually owned a suit which is also what has been driving her insane this entire year. He never wore a suit just his jeans, sneakers and t-shirts. Miranda also hated those God forsaken beanies.
Caleb looked at Miranda for a long time. He was hurt. He couldn't deny that if he tried. Caleb knew his ego was definitely under serious devastation. He knew better than to fall for the trap Miranda laid out for him. He dated a few girls in California after he broke up with Hanna. He needed to get his mind off of Hanna and it worked. However, Caleb always felt that they were trying to play a game that they couldn't achieve because he was smarter than them. Miranda, Miranda played the same game and won.
"You being the hacker and our relationship being a lie was confirmed today. You tried to hack my system earlier. I locked onto the IP address, hacked the security system for your company and saw you. Then you tried to hack my system when you got here which is why I went to my laptop when I came home. I know you noticed the icon in the corner with the infinity symbol and the initials HEM. You tried to open it but its password protected so you couldn't see where the icon led you. You activated the camera in the picture frame on the mantle when you entered the wrong password. So covering my laptop camera did nothing but additionally confirm something that was already verifiable." Caleb says. Miranda stands and claps.
"Bravo Caleb for figuring it all out. I give you credit. Your system and codes were remarkable. I am curious about something. Your passwords . . ." Miranda says. Miranda knew that Caleb's system was saved from her, and her boss's, fingers because of his passwords. Miranda was dying to know if she was even close to figuring them out.
"What about them?"
"They weren't any combination I could think of and you've told me everything about your life. I have tried and failed too many times to count. What were they?" Miranda asks as she puts on her coat and slips on her heels. Caleb realized that he and Mona were right. His system wasn't overhauled because of his passwords. He changed them recently to signify he and Hanna's break-up and their time together two weeks ago.
"I didn't tell you everything Miranda. My passwords signified anniversaries I had with an ex-girlfriend. You would have never figured it out because I never talked to you about her." Caleb says. Miranda crosses her arms in front of her chest and narrows her eyes. Now she was annoyed. Miranda felt Caleb had no right to keep anything from her. How naïve I have been, Miranda says to herself as her narrowed eyes turn into a glare.
"And here I thought you didn't have a dishonest bone in your body." Miranda says as she walks to the door.
"Miranda" Miranda's hand rests on the handle. "Was it worth it . . . deceiving someone into thinking you loved them just for a job?" Caleb asks.
"Depends on the day Caleb." Miranda says as she opens the door.
"Take care of yourself Miranda." Caleb says as the door closes behind her. Caleb didn't want the ring back. Caleb didn't even want the apartment or the stuff inside of it. What he wanted or rather who he wanted was Hanna. Every good thing in his life went back to Hanna. Caleb knew that in his desperation to fully get over her he left himself wide open to someone to manipulate him. Yes, Miranda did leave before Caleb could get any information out of her but he knew, just by looking at her, that she would never tell him the reason behind the deceit. Caleb knew he would have to figure it out on his own. Caleb knew Miranda was leaving to go . . . it no longer mattered to Caleb where Miranda went. Caleb realized he never knew her.
Caleb needed to call Spence and tell her that she was right. Actually he did need his stuff from the apartment. Since Toby was in Philly with Spencer at the moment, Caleb needed them to do him a favor before they came back to Rosewood. He needed his stuff out of there. Caleb knew that something, (whether it was in a pocket, in a drawer, suitcases he hadn't unpacked or his boxes in the closet), would lead Miranda to knowledge about him and Hanna. Caleb didn't want Hanna involved in any of this because once she was involved there was no stopping her. Hanna was a force to be reckoned with when you messed with someone she loved.
Miranda called her boss and told him that Caleb knew about her and his group. Her boss laughed and even told her let the games begin. He had another job for her once they returned to the country and of course her job wasn't over yet. He did tell Miranda that her job just got exceptionally harder because now she had a new target, more than one if Miranda's charms were as great as she claimed. Miranda's boss ended the call and for a while Miranda just sat there.
Miranda's ring taunts her as she looks at it. She takes it off and suddenly Miranda's memories take her for a ride. Serious memories with Caleb that now, because of her job, just ended.
Miranda realized how good of a liar she actually was since right at this moment she finally admitted that she had lied to herself the most. She had feelings for Caleb. Miranda could even say she loved him but now it meant nothing. For a year she made Caleb her life. She got to know him so she could get close enough for him to trust her. She had sex with him so he would know that she wanted to be with him. She said yes she would marry him so he could put his guard farther down and Miranda could finally give her boss what he needed. Miranda told herself she couldn't wait to get back to California but now . . . now she knew she didn't want to go back to California. Miranda truly made a life with Caleb and she didn't notice that until their relationship was over.
Yes she was a bitch to him but if Miranda was playing the honest game she had to admit it was a defense mechanism.
"Damn him and damn this job." Miranda says before looking up at Caleb's apartment and driving off.
"He better make it worth my while in Europe." Miranda says as she drives off.
"I knew it!" Spencer said as she and Toby unlock the apartment's door.
"Don't sound so overly thrilled Spence. The guy has been in a relationship with her for a year so I'm pretty sure he is hurting right now." Toby says as they enter. Spencer's excitement dwindled down momentarily. Spencer knew Toby had a point.
"How about I just show you my excitement and dial it back a lot when we see him tomorrow." Spencer says as Toby looks at her and smiles.
"I love you. I swear I do." Toby says as he hooks his finger in Spencer's necklace pulling her closer so their lips could touch. Spencer kisses Toby again before he releases her necklace. She still had it. Even when they broke up she still had the Scrabble piece necklace that Toby gave her what seemed like forever ago.
Spencer and Toby split ways as Spencer packs Caleb's clothes from the closet while Toby takes box after box out of the closet and puts them in the hallway. Spencer wasn't thrilled about emptying his drawers but she would do it for Caleb. Luckily he told them exactly which drawers were his. Good thing too since Spencer saw a few pictures of Caleb and Hanna from high school.
"He really kept them all this time." Spencer says as she smiles at the pictures.
"Spence he also has a metal box in the closet above the shelf. Feel for it. It's not obvious." Toby says as Spencer hears the door open and then close. It takes Spencer a minute but she finds the locked box. Spencer hopes he has the key.
"I really hope this is Caleb's suitcase." Spencer says as she wheels it out of the bedroom. Toby picks up another box.
"Does it have a beanie and blue tassel stitched on the front?" Toby asks as he puts the box in the hallway before coming back for the last one.
"Yea" Spence says as she uses those 360 degree wheels to check out the front.
"Then it's Caleb's. Hanna stitched those on the front of his luggage when he came back from California after visiting his mom the first time." Toby says as he closes the closet door. Spencer looks at Toby and smiles.
"Why do you know that?" Spencer asks Toby.
"I pay attention and ask questions Spence." Toby says. Spencer grabs Toby's face and kisses him.
"What's that for?" Toby asks amused as his arms circle Spencer's waist.
"For being you. Now let's get the hell out of here. I don't want to be here when she gets back." Spencer says. Toby walks out after Spencer and locks the door behind them. Toby takes that key off of his key ring and puts it under the door frame before he helps Spencer with the luggage. They would come back for the boxes.