CHAPTER 13:

Fiona proceeded down the elevator to the bottom floor. She then flagged down a taxi and told the driver to take her to nearest hotel. He suggested a few, and Fiona told him to bring her to the best one. The driver shrugged and began driving east. About ten minutes later, the cabbie stopped in front of a grand looking hotel.

"Five pounds please."

"Right." Fiona grabbed the money and handed it to him. She gathered her bags and left the cab. She checked in at the hotel and got a room on the thirteenth floor. She set her bags down and immediately checked her phone. Marcus had left her his number in her contact list. She decided to give him a call and let him know, that she was now free to do as she pleased. She autodialed the number, and it began ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's..."

"Fiona. So I take it you're out on your own now?"

"Yes, I'm down at the five-star hotel on Watson Avenue. Room 1324."

"Oh…well, I'll pick you up at about….say 7:00pm?"

"That will be great. See you later."

"Bye love." Marcus hung up. Fiona then returned to her bags and realised she didn't bother to bring anything that was acceptable to wear on a first date. Fiona then decided to go on a mini-shopping trip. She figured six hours was enough to find something and to get ready. She called another cab and off she went to downtown London on a shopping trip.

"Jen…please stop paci-..."

"It's not that I wouldn't mind her going out with some bloke but not Marcus Dane, ANYONE but him. He's just…" Jen kept pacing in front of James, back and forth, back and forth.

"What's so bad about him?" James asked worriedly. He never really had seen Jennifer worried and if he had, he'd never seen it until now.

"He's…well, he's quite physically abusive. He doesn't seem like it right away but after while if things do not go the way he planned it to, he goes ballistic. It probably doesn't help that he used to do steroids." Jen sighed, putting her hair back behind her right ear.

"Oh….and you did not tell Fiona about this because?"

"I did warn her…sort of. I wasn't very specific though. God, the poor girl doesn't know what she's in for." Jen buried her face in her hands. "What have I done?"

Fiona returned to the hotel after successfully finding that perfect 'little black dress'. It was knee-length, strapless, and had a belted waist, complete with a rhinestone studded belt. She was hoping Marcus would also be dressed up to match. She quickly changed into her outfit and tried to fix her short hair. She looked in the mirror and frowned. She decided to curl it the best she could with the crap curling iron she owned. After while, her hair managed to stay in place, along with a bit of hairspray to help the cause. Fiona looked in the shopping bags she had and grabbed the black pair of heels she bought for the occasion. She also grabbed the little handbag that she purchased to match the dress. She checked the time. It was now 6:54pm. Fiona locked the door behind her and proceeded downstairs to the lobby. When she walked out of the elevator, she looked towards the front door and sure enough, Marcus was standing there. He was dressed up in a dark suit, with dark black trousers. His hair was gelled up slightly and he was carrying a bouquet of roses in his hand.

"Right on time." Fiona said as she reached for his arm.

"You look lovely. These are for you." Marcus handed Fiona the flowers. She smiled as they began walking out of the hotel.

"Thanks. So, where are we off to?" Fiona asked. Marcus looked down at her with a grin.

"Well I was thinking out to dinner at a little steak house on the River Thames."

"Great." Fiona replied. Marcus took out his car keys, and unlocked the doors to a navy BMW 320i. He opened the door for Fiona and she got into it.

Jen was still pacing by the phone. "I think they're out on a date or something."

"So? He can't do anything to her in public, can he?" James reassured her.

"Still, it is Marcus Dane. I'm just waiting for her to call me and for her to say that she's been attacked and is bleeding out in a sketchy alleyway or something."

"Jen?" James stood up, blocking her path of pacing. He wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly to his chest. "She's tough; she'll be able to handle herself." Jen closed her eyes as she rested her head on James' broad shoulder.

"I hope you are right."