Wow, you holiday readers are shocking the socks off of me. I hope this is not too much, but here is another chapter for all you showing this little bonus pretend movie so much love. I am listening to a crazy story now after trying to watch two movies. Act Three of the movie begins with scenes of Mercy and Sam on several dates, ice skating, going to the movies, going to a pumpkin patch, going out to fancy dinners and casuals lunches, Sam teaching Mercy how to draw, and Sam taking her on a horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park. Then, the current scene of the movie begins with Chapter Three and Sam and Cedes duet of "All I Want for Christmas playing in the background."

Chapter Three

Mercy hummed "All I Want For Christmas Is You" as she arranged the calla lilies in the vase on her desk. A few months passed since her first date with Sam, and they were inseparable. They either saw each other at dinner or met up in the evening before she was due for whatever events she'd planned for the night. And of course, they talked to each other on the phone daily. In fact, she couldn't imagine a time without him. What was her life like when he wasn't in the picture? Certainly, it wasn't as exciting and vibrant as it was now.

"Going on another born again virgin date again tonight?" asked Jane as she stepped into the office.

Mercy smiled. "No, and it shouldn't matter to you about my sex life. I wouldn't even tell you if we were being intimate because you can't hold water. I am actually not even seeing Sam now he has to meet a dancer friend who came from Chicago. He and Mike played football in high school and get this: they were in Glee Club together. Seems like you have a lot in common with Sam." She sighed as she surveyed the flowers. They are so beautiful, and so is he. "Sam sent me these today that's why I was singing."

"Wow! And here I was, trying to rake my mind as to who could have sent your favorite flowers." Jane's voice was acerbic. "What's the occasion?"

"It's exactly three months since our first date."

Jane stuck out her tongue. "If only you could hear yourself. I've never seen you look so head over heels in love."

Was she in love?

Perhaps she was.

But it wasn't something she could admit to her sister. And if she couldn't say it to Jane, how could she confess it in front of Sam? She wasn't ready to divulge the depths of her feelings to him so early in their relationship. What if he didn't return her feelings? She would be heartbroken if that was the case. But knowing Sam, he would never willingly break her heart.

"I guess it's the first time a man has wooed me so completely," she admitted to her sister.

Sheila sauntered in, carrying samples for the new dessert that she baked. "I think these are quite perfect, but can you taste them and give your opinions." After she passed them two small helpings, everyone settled on their seats. Sheila glanced at the flowers. "Sam sent you those?"

Mercy nodded. She was acting like a fool. But he was so cute, so kind, so amazing, that she couldn't help falling in love with him so soon. He had proved that she wasn't a rebound. They were taking their time and getting to really know each other and never pressured her for sex. How could she not fall for him, but love. The word made her shudder. Had it come to that so quickly? How?

"It's the three-month anniversary of their first date." Jane giggled. "Next thing I know they'll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of their first kiss, which will be on Christmas Day, the day that was supposed to be Sam's wedding day."

"Stop teasing her," said Sheila with a frown. "You're just jealous because you don't have a man and she does."

"Damn right I am," Jane admitted. "She's got an amazing guy who is a famous millionaire author who worships the ground she walks on while all I got was a lousy commission on that wedding of his that never took place."

"Hey! The commission wasn't lousy." Mercy grinned. "But you're right. I did get the better end of the deal."

Jane sank her teeth into the éclair. "This is so good…Sheila, this is absolutely perfection. But you've got to stop making us taste these heavenly creations of yours. I swear I've gained ten pounds in the past four months. I'm not going to be able to wear my skinny jeans if I keep this up. Either I have to stop eating them or join an exercise class."

"You've been saying that for five years."

"But now the time has come to do something about it." Jane picked up her files. "Okay, sisters. I'm off to the bank to talk about that loan we need to buy the warehouse. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck!" Mercy gave her an encouraging smile. Their business was doing so well that the sisters decided to invest in a warehouse where they could store their own equipment. Renting it from other suppliers ate into their commission, and this way they could offer greater variety to their clients.

After Jane left, Mercy checked her email while Sheila made notes on the food that she was preparing for tonight's event. "I've got to buy more groceries tomorrow," said Sheila. "It might not be a bad idea to buy an industrial fridge. We've got so much work that I would like to save time by not having to purchasing groceries each day."

Mercy tapped her pen on the table. "But some of the items are better off bought fresh."

"You're right. And I would like to offer the clients that, but it eats away at my time. What if we hired someone to handle the purchases?"

Mercy shook her head. "I'm sure Jane wouldn't approve if we hired another hand. We don't need a full-time person for that anyway. Why don't I talk to some suppliers and see if they would be willing to deliver every day at a slight premium, of course?"

"Yeah. That would be great," said Sheila. "I could order on the phone and it would save a lot of my time."

Mercy nodded. She made a note of it on the yellow writing pad. "I'll look into it first thing tomorrow. Anything else?"

"No. I've got everything else under control," Sheila assured her as she stood up to leave.

"Great. I'm going to the venue to check things out and make sure everything is set for the evening."

"And I'll be in the kitchen."

After picking up her purse, Mercy left the building. She strolled off towards the venue. It was only a couple of blocks away, but she still had time. Perhaps it might be a good idea to see Sam first. He said that he'd be home until four in the afternoon. She could thank him in person for the flowers and perhaps even steal a kiss or two while she was there. Mercy couldn't believe that she was so lucky to find someone who was so compatible to her. He was not just beautiful on the outside; he was beautiful on the inside as well. She couldn't ever remember dating such a thoughtful, considerate, and caring man. They didn't come like that anymore. Her last two boyfriends were into gaslighting, control, and making her feel that she should be thanking God that they were willing to date her. She hadn't even had sex with them because they were demanding it from her and because she said no then they demanded oral. Her giving never receiving. It had given her a slight complex when it came to intimacy, but Sam had never pressured even though she knew he wanted to sleep with here. And for the first time in a long time, she felt that they would be taking the next step in their relationship sooner than later.

She sure hoped so.

She was glad that Sam didn't mind taking it slowly, but she was ready to share all of herself with him. She liked him, he liked her. It was time to move on to the next phase of their relationship. Perhaps while she was there, she could nudge him in that direction. Tomorrow she was free for the day and she could imagine it would be perfect time for her to invite him over for a candlelight dinner with wine and soft music.

Mercy giggled as it struck her that she was actually planning on trying to seduce Sam. What the hell was wrong with her? Or perhaps something was finally right with her. She wanted more now. Sam made her have greater expectations from her life. What's more, he made her happy. Being with him completed her on a subliminal level. When she was with him, everything felt right. If this was love, she was all for it.

As she neared his building, Mercy adjusted her dress. Straightening her shoulders, she entered. "Is Sam Evans in?" she asked the security guard who was sitting at the reception.

"I'm not sure, ma'am," he said. "Do you want me to call him?"

"Actually, I would like to surprise him. Would you mind if I went straight up?"

"What's your name, ma'am?" He took out a register. "I'll have to see an ID." She took it out and showed him. Sam's building's security was very good. He'd mentioned it once.

"Mercy Jones."

The guard nodded. "Oh, yes. You can go straight up, ma'am. Sam has written your name in the list of people who don't need to be buzzed in."

"Great, thanks."

As she took the elevator and rode up, Mercy wondered if he'd be surprised to see her. She'd only come here once when he invited her over to watch movies, and he ended up trying to teach her how to draw. Perhaps, this time she should have brought a little present for him. It was so thoughtful of him to send her flowers. No other man would have made such a big deal about their three-month anniversary, but trust him to not only remember but also to celebrate the day as if it was a big deal.

But of course, it was something significant in her mind also. Their romance was going ahead at breakneck speed. Sometimes she was astounded as to how quickly they got to know each other and how time flew each day. As the elevator climbed upwards, Mercy wondered what she would tell him as to why she dropped by. Would she look smitten if she just showed up for no better reason than just to say hello?

And what was wrong if she was doing just that?

People in love did that all the time.

Shit! There was that four-letter word again, swirling around her in her head, making her feel all gooey and soft inside. If she didn't get a grip on her feelings, Sam would know that something was up and he'd dig it out of her. The man sure had a knack for making her talk. Sometimes she loved that about him, but it made her feel vulnerable too.

As she stepped on the landing, Mercy's gaze was drawn to the tall, blonde woman who was stepping out of Sam's apartment. The shock hit her like a bolt of lightning. Sam's ex fiancée, Charlie, casually turned the key in the lock, ran a hand through her hair, and flounced to the elevator, not even glancing in Mercy's direction. The elevator pinged open and Charlie dashed in, still seeming to be unaware of Mercy's presence. The door slid shut, swallowing her.

What the hell was that woman doing in his apartment? She had a key. And it looked as if she was a regular visitor to his apartment. Why was he still meeting his ex-fiancée, and why didn't he tell her that?

The impression that he gave her was that he never met the woman after their wedding drama. In fact, he told her as much. "Good riddance," were his exact words. Was he lying to her? Was he actually still in touch with his ex? And if so, where did Mercy fit into this threesome?

Of course, there could be an ordinary explanation for this situation. Maybe the woman came to pick up something. In fact, the purse that she was holding looked quite full. Maybe she came to get some of her stuff from his apartment. But then Sam should have told her that he was still meeting her. This wasn't something that you hid from your current girlfriend. And the fact that she still had a key to his apartment showed that there was a relationship that didn't end despite the humiliation she put him through.

And here she was building castles in the sky while he was probably still sleeping with his ex-fiancée and perhaps even hoping to get back with her. She'd always thought that he was too good to be true—and that thought did turn out to be right. He was probably cheating on her with his ex, and hoping that they both wouldn't find out about his infidelity. What a loser! What a womanizer he is! And here she was, praising him to her sisters and thinking that she had a bright future with him when that clearly wasn't the case.

Filled with rage and a boiling temper, she marched down the stairs. She didn't have the patience to wait for the elevator.

"Was Mr. Evans surprised to see you?" asked the security.

"Not as much as he'll be when he next sees me," she muttered under her breath. Knowing that the guard was confused to hear her statement, Mercy didn't bother with an explanation. She was too angry and mortified at her own gullibility to pay much attention to anyone else. As she walked to the venue, Mercy rehashed the scene at his apartment door.

There simply couldn't be another explanation for his ex-fiancée's clandestine behavior. She was there to meet him, but maybe he left before she did. Did they spend the time in bed making love and discussing how best he could dump Mercy? Or perhaps she didn't know about Mercy? Briefly, Mercy considered contacting her to talk. Maybe they could confront him together. But then, if she already knew about Mercy, the situation would be embarrassing.

And in any case, Mercy was no coward. She wanted the satisfaction of dealing with Sam Evans on her own. She wanted to tell him exactly what she thought about his underhanded activities. She was going to teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget.

Sam didn't know what the hell was going on with Mercy. Everything was great until she completely blew him off and refused to take his calls. It had been three days since she'd started behaving like that. He'd thought the calla lilies he sent on their three-month anniversary were a great idea. But maybe she took offense at them for some odd reason. He didn't peg her to be the kind of woman who got angered because he sent the wrong gift.

His ex once threw a tantrum when he didn't give her the gold necklace she was expecting and instead offered a ring in its place. But then, Mercy wasn't like that.

Or so…he had thought.

Well, whatever the reason, he was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. Sam marched along the pavement as he searched for the place she was currently working. Her assistant told him that she was organizing a party at a restaurant today and work or not he was going to talk to her.

When he reached the venue, Sam took a deep breath before he stepped inside. The whole place was filled with silver and gold decorations. Silver candlesticks sat on tables along with bouquets of golden flowers. In the far end was the cake table which was the picture of true elegance. He saw Mercy as she stood talking to a guy who was dressed casually in jeans and a shirt.

"Those three tablecloths need to be changed. I don't care where you have to go to bring their replacement, but I want it done within an hour," she ordered in a soft but firm voice.

"No one is going to notice the stains on the borders."

"I've noticed and that's enough for me," she said. "Even if no one else sees it, I would know that they are dirty, and it would make me unhappy. And also, one of the candles is an inch shorter than the others."

"It's…" the guy closed his mouth, probably realizing that there was no point saying anything. "I'll change it."

"Good." Mercy turned, saw Sam, and took a step back. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you." Sam could see the anger in her eyes. Clearly, there was something going on with her, but unfortunately, he didn't have a clue why she was so mad with him about. And if the did something that upset her, why didn't she talk to him about it? He didn't like games, and he had thought she was above playing them.

Clearly he was wrong.

"I don't have time to talk." She turned her back on him. "We'll meet later."

He wasn't ready to be brushed aside. Irritation coupled with rage rose up inside him, but he stamped it down. "We're going to talk now. Surely, you can spare a few minutes."

"I'm afraid I can't."

He didn't budge. "Make the time to do so."

Mercy turned ever so slightly. Her eyes were now roiling with temper. He'd never seen her look like this. "Azimio, Dave," she called while her gaze remained locked on him. "Please escort Mr. Evans out."

Sam glanced at the two bouncers. He could have made a fuss and embarrassed her. Perhaps he might have earned a blow or two for his effort, but it was a small price he would have had to pay for the satisfaction he would have gotten out of the act. He considered it. The only thing that stopped him was the tiny tremble in her lips that betrayed that she wasn't as unaffected by this encounter as she pretended to be. He didn't want to humiliate her in front of her staff. And he certainly didn't want to make her cry.

"Fine. But you and I are going to have a talk soon." He promised, as he walked out. When the restaurant door closed behind him, Sam took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He didn't know what the cruel game she was playing, but he wasn't finished with her yet.

Far from it!

She made him more dedicated to find out what the hell was going on in that convoluted mind of hers. What turned her against him so quickly? One minute everything was fine, and they were coasting along, happy and content, and next she cut him out of her life as if he was never meant anything to her.

Well, too bad! I'm not going to let her go without a fight.

Perhaps, she thought that since he took the same shit from another woman, he would take it from her. But she couldn't be more wrong.

And that was why when Mercy came out of the cab at midnight in front of her apartment, he was waiting there.

"Oh hell no!" she said as she stepped out along with her two sisters. Sam didn't say anything. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't budging until he got a few answers. If she wanted to remove him by force, she would have to call the cops. "Can't you take a hint," she huffed.

Her sisters, Jane and Sheila, stepped inside without exchanging a word. Most likely, they were aware of the reason why she was so pissed off. Well, he would like to know too. "Can we talk now?"

"I'm tired."

"So am I. Of being treated like a leper for a reason that I don't know about. So, maybe you'll let me in on it."

"And if I tell you, will you leave without giving me any more trouble?"

"Honey, I haven't given you any trouble yet," he told her. "You wouldn't like to see me begin to do so."

"Don't you dare threaten me."

"I'm not threatening you, merely informing you of facts. I don't like being ghosted and treated as if I'm no one."

Mercy looked around. She ran a hand through her hair. "All right, fine. Just come inside. Let's have a talk."

"I would like nothing better than to do that," he assured her as he followed her inside.

As always, her apartment was neatly organized with not a cushion or a plate out of place. "I would offer you coffee, but really, I don't think we should have a long discussion. Let's just get it over with and then go our separate ways."

Was she planning to break up with him? If yes, he wasn't going to make it easy for her. He'd never thought she was the kind who would dump a man so unceremoniously. Actually, come to think of it, his expectations from her were probably too high. She was a lady. He treated her like one. And she let him down.

He should have been angry with her for treating him in such a callous manner, but instead, his heart ached with pain. Until this moment when he feared losing her, Sam hadn't realized that he was falling in love with her. Actually, he was pretty much already there. He loved her. Even though she behaved badly and was planning to get rid of him for no apparent reason, he still loved her. She was THE ONE. He'd never thought he would feel this way about anyone, but clearly he was wrong. With every other woman before her, he'd never been fully committed.

Even with his ex with whom he planned to get married, there were doubts in his head. After she left, he was angry at the humiliation he suffered but glad that he got out of the whole deal before he made a huge mistake. The others didn't manage to bruise his heart, but Mercy—with her kind smile and her easy demeanor—would probably break his heart in a million pieces if she said what he thought she was going to say.

What she said, however, took him by surprise. "I was going to talk to you," she began. "In fact, I had a whole speech prepared, but then I decided that it wasn't the right way to go about it. If you have decided to work things out with Charlie, I shouldn't be the one to stand in your way. Of course, I would have appreciated it if you had told me the truth and not…" She waved a hand. "And not have made this all sordid and dirty, but…she was your first love and you did plan to spend your life with her…"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Open mouthed, he stared at her. She wasn't making any sense. "Charlie?"

Mercy narrowed her eyes. "I hope to hell you aren't thinking of denying it."

If he could understand her weird statements, he might be able to refute or accept her accusations. "Deny what?"

He could literally see the bonds of control slip. Her hand trembled as she pointed it at him. "I saw her come out of your apartment. She locked the door behind her. Obviously, she still enjoys easy access to your apartment. And God knows how many times you've met with her behind my back. If you'd told me that she wanted to get back with you, I would have tried to understand. Sure, you guys have a history. You wanted to spend the rest of your life with her. That kind of love doesn't just fade with time. But…" She took a deep breath. "What you did was despicable. Why couldn't you have told me about her?"

"Charlie is not back in my life."

Mercy narrowed her eyes. "Oh please! So what? She just turned up at your apartment in order to clean it? is she like cooking for you or something? Are you two best friends?"

Sam put a hand on his forehead and rubbed. Mercy was going insane. The last time he saw his ex-fiancée was a day before the wedding at the rehearsal dinner. He never set eyes on her again. Frankly, he didn't trust himself to do so. He would have throttled her if he'd tried. All her stuff was packed and sent to her apartment. And she sent some of those things back but…

The thought froze in his head.

Damn it!

"Why did you go to my apartment?"

Mercy sniffed. "I just wanted to say hello. That was so stupid of me."

"You saw her get out of my place and lock the door?"

"Yes!" She stomped her foot, the first time he saw her behave in such a wild manner. He could understand her ire, but his blood was boiling for other reasons. "How many times do I need to tell you that I know the truth so you can drop the pretense?"

"Truth?" His ears were buzzing. He couldn't believe how stupid he was. "You're not even close to the truth."

And without wasting a moment, Sam turned and left her place. There was something he needed to do first, and later, he would deal with Mercy.