Sorry it took so long to get this chapter posted! I just really struggled with it. I promise that the next one will be better, with more action and more Jackson (they almost rhyme, don't they?).

Pirate Gyrl: Aw, thanks! Yep, Jackson gave her exactly what she needed. :) She's not going to go Feisty Lisa overnight obviously, but no worries- Jackson said he would drag it out of her, and he never lies.

Knoknayme: :D

BW4eva: Oh, he's not a softy just yet. He's still kind of an asshole, but a charming one with an appetite for destruction of couture.

Kohana Moon: Glad you liked it! Hope to see you stick around. :D

Guest: And you shall have more!

maxwell02: Merci!

In this chapter, we meet Brad. Brad is...you'll see.

Chapter 4: Identifiable Insanity

Lisa curled up against Brad, resting her head on his arm and sighing contentedly at the warmth she felt. They were watching her favorite film- Breakfast at Tiffany's. She loved that he loved the classics.

It had been two days since she had left Jackson's condo, and she hadn't seen a sign of him, even in her dreams. The only indication that she hadn't imagined that night was the stiff pain in her thighs and a gorgeous coat still hanging in her closet. She had tried to return the coat, but there had been no answer at the buzzer. She wasn't that anxious to see him again, but she also didn't want anything of his in her life.

She still didn't regret what she had done, but she saw how stupid it had been. Her pathetic moping, her lack of self-control, and her sheer recklessness were merely a result of how much wine she had been drinking. She had had her moment of indulgence, and now it was over- the past.

Lisa still wondered if she should call the police on Jackson for the simple fact that it was the right thing to do. She had never heard of him being caught again, and even if she had somehow missed it, she doubted that his crimes would have gotten him in and out of prison in two years. It had crossed her mind more than once, but she hadn't so much as reached for the phone. She couldn't rationalize her decision. Knowing that he was out there and could easily reach her was too exciting to give up yet.

She definitely didn't enjoy the guilt, which she had plenty of. She wanted to tell Brad, but there was no point. She was never going to see Jackson again- except maybe to return his coat. It would only hurt the sweet man, and she had never wanted to do that.

Lisa snapped to attention when she felt Brad kiss her cheek. "You're doing it again," he whispered, amused. Lisa giggled, burying her face in his neck, a blush creeping into her cheeks. She had a bad habit of humming along with "Moon River", and hadn't even noticed that she had been doing it.

"Sorry honey," she replied, and nipped his neck playfully. She had too much energy to sit there and watch a film, even a great one.

If Brad took the hint, he didn't show it. "I forgot to tell you- we're enrolled for dancing classes tomorrow night." He furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at her. "You don't have plans, do you? I can cancel."

Lisa shook her head. "Eve and I are going shopping for the dinner on Friday, but I don't have anything else going on." She frowned slightly. "But why would you want to come? You know how to dance already." Lisa had embarrassed Brad with her lack of dancing skills more times than she could remember. It wasn't that she couldn't keep a beat- she just wasn't very graceful. She had mentioned wanting to take lessons so they could dance together, but didn't realize that he actually wanted to go with her.

"I want to dance with you," he replied, smiling warmly.

Lisa scoffed. "You just want to laugh at me," she teased, but she knew that he was telling the truth. Brad would never make fun of her like that. He wouldn't shoot antagonizing grins in her direction. He was safe.

Brad shook his head. "I thought it might be fun," he told her, tightening his grip around her shoulders. She nodded, even though she wasn't so sure. She knew that she wasn't a horrible dancer, but he made her feel like a novice.

"What color tie are you wearing to the dinner?" she asked, changing the subject. She wanted to make sure that her dress complemented his outfit. Brad laughed softly.

"I have no idea," he replied. "We go through this every time...you know I'll match whatever you get." Lisa rolled her eyes. She wanted him to have a preference, even if was something like color. She knew that he loved her in whatever she was wearing, but she had yet to find that certain outfit that made his eyes darken and his pulse dance. Even the sexiest lingerie she could find provoked nothing but ordinary lust.

She didn't bother vocalizing these desires anymore- he just didn't get it. He wanted her to wear whatever she wanted- as long as it was expensive. They did have an image to uphold, after all. And it wasn't like Lisa wanted to be told what to wear. It was just...as irritating as being told what to do could be, it sometimes felt like lately, he couldn't be bothered to care what she did.

And even that didn't make any sense. Obviously he cared- she was supposed to dress well, behave in public, go to professional salons instead of Great Clips, etc etc. But beyond that... Even the dance lessons had been entirely Lisa's idea- he had never pushed her to take them. And it wasn't like Lisa wanted to rebel...she didn't really know what she wanted. It was that same irritating something. She didn't know how to fix it because she was never really sure what was wrong.

She teasingly nipped at his neck again, tugging at the neckline of his open grey Hugo Boss sweater. She didn't want to think about it anymore. And she loved that color on him...it brought out his grey eyes, which always reminded Lisa of the sea on an overcast day.

To her dismay, Brad pulled away from her touch. "I'm tired, Lee," he admitted, kissing the tip of her nose. Lisa sank back into the couch. She got it- he had just arrived from Hong Kong that afternoon- but he was always tired lately. Even if he never said so, he just looked exhausted all the time. "Tomorrow night?"

Lisa just nodded. It didn't even bother her anymore that he always seemed to fit sex into his schedule- it was normal. She didn't remember the last time they had just taken each other wildly in the heat of passion...not that she would call what she had been trying to do "passionate". Distractions weren't passionate.

"Maybe I should go home so you can sleep?" she suggested, pulling her knees close to her chest. She knew that she was free to sleep in his penthouse if she wanted, but she rarely did. She didn't feel at home there even after years of dating him. And he usually fell asleep before she did and awoke even earlier, so it was a waste of time.

Brad frowned, almost looking disappointed. "I could use some rest," he replied. "If you want to go home, that's fine...I'm not very good company tonight." Lisa just kissed him quickly, getting to her feet.

"Sleep well," she said quietly. She could tell that he wanted her to stay, but she wasn't ready to sleep yet. "I'll see you tomorrow night." She quickly flashed a smile to reassure him that she wasn't angry about what had just happened, and he returned the gesture, apparently convinced.

Brad escorted her down to her car, pulling her in for another kiss before holding the door open for her. "Relax," he assured her, leaning down to meet her eyes after she had gotten behind the wheel. "It's going to be fun." He gave her a final quick kiss. "Promise. Love you."

Lisa nodded. She wanted to believe him. "You too," she replied, starting the car as Brad closed the car door. She pulled onto the street without looking back, feeling a surprising satisfaction to be out of there. She felt so irrationally irritated, mostly at herself. She had been just fine until the conversation had turned to dance lessons and tie colors.

And she was back to that same tired question- what was wrong with her? So many women would kill to have their husbands and boyfriends dance with them, let alone want to do so. And he genuinely did. And while she lamented the fact that he never seemed particularly excited by what she wore, she also wondered how many women felt shame when they chose an outfit that provoked that disapproving stare- she didn't have that problem either.

No- she didn't have any external problems, really. Her problem was herself and this odd feeling like she didn't fit in her own skin anymore. She just kind of existed- no expectations, no real demands, no excitement. And she couldn't imagine how many people facing financial problems, serious relationship issues, fears and struggles with school, etc, would love to have that problem.

Her problem was that she turning into one of those spoiled rich kids without the background to support it.

Lisa stopped at a red light, her attention attracted by pounding bass from the car next to her. She turned her head slightly to find the source of the intruding noise- a black Cadillac. She frowned at the woman behind the wheel- some people were so obnoxious.

Lisa turned away from the woman- she was grating on her last nerve. She turned up her own music to drown out the other car and focused her attention on the intersection instead, watching lazily as the crowd of people mingled through the crosswalk.

Once the light turned green, she took off quickly- she didn't want those cab drivers honking at her for wasting a split second of their time. She turned onto Fifth Avenue, driving past the brightly lit stores. She couldn't imagine going to sleep before even the boutiques did.

She slowed to a stop again, looking over at the smartly dressed mannequins in the windows of Saks 5th Ave. She loved the new trend in men's coats- the double-breasted military collar of those wool garments looked absolutely stunning on the right frame. She frowned slightly- she loved the coats, but they looked dead on those plastic figures.

Lisa took off again, turning away from the shopping district. She headed for Gramercy Park. It was such a romantic area- like most of Manhattan, it was always alive. There was always something happening somewhere. The worst place in the world for a lonely girl, really- the city that never sleeps. The city itself mocked her. Oh come on, Leese- we're all having fun. Why aren't you?

Lisa parked her car and trudged into her apartment, opening her closet, and grabbing an empty hangar for her coat. Her gaze rested on that black Burberry, and her teeth clenched. She would have to go to his condo again the next day and just return it. Even if he didn't answer, she could leave it with someone. A doorman? Or just toss it. She didn't really owe him anything.

She took a few steps back, kicking off her shoes and throwing her purse across the dark room. It was time to stop this bullshit. She was going to be happy, Goddamn it. She was going to stop sulking around like a petulant little brat. She had plenty of money and plenty of friends- if she really wanted to go out, she had every opportunity. Just do it.

She chuckled dryly, as she approached the closet again again. Even his coat made her angry. How did he do that? She reached out her hand, fingering the stylishly-tarnished metal buttons. Tarnished...how perfect.

Lisa walked away and paced around her apartment. She was just too on-edge. Maybe a walk around the park would help. It wasn't too late- it wouldn't be dangerous. And it was a nice, chilly evening...her apartment was just too suffocating. A quick walk might help clear her head.

She pulled on her suede Michael Kors boots- there was snow out there, so she needed something warm. And she'd be damned if she was wearing high heels anymore- her feet were ready to die already. Lisa reached for her coat, but found herself pulled toward the Burberry yet again. Well...it was warm enough.

She pulled on the coat slowly, her fingers trembling as she began to button it. She knew that she should wear her own coat, but this one felt right. She was already feeling better, the knowledge that she was being identifiably crazy overpowering the mysterious insanity that had been plaguing her. She knew why this was wrong, and it calmed her.

Lisa headed toward the elevator and exited the building again, making her way to the park. The dance classes kept creeping into her brain as she inhaled the cold evening air. What was she so concerned about? Brad was right- it would be fun. She would become a better dancer, and she would be doing it with him. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed appealing.

She found herself swaying with each step through the park, already with him in her mind. She hummed happily, tempted to close her eyes and fully surrender to the mental images she was conjuring, but she knew that she would probably walk straight into a tree.

She tilted her chin toward the dark sky, pretending that she could see the stars hidden behind the city lights and clouds. It didn't really occur to her to be upset that she couldn't see them since she had never really lived outside of a city in her life, but it would still be nice to be able to sometimes.

Lisa dropped onto a bench, hugging herself tightly. She dropped her chin, inhaling the familiar scent. Things were becoming clear again. She loved Brad. He loved her, and would never do anything to hurt her. She was safe.