A/N HELLO ALL. I'm back. I stepped away from this story for a bit but I'm back and better because I actually wrote it all. All of it. So I'll be posting chapters pretty much back to back for you all. Theres 5 more so you have that to look forward to! Thanks for the reviews and all that good stuff. So I'll stop talking and let you read what you came for!

She's in the Berkshires.

It didn't take long for Lucious to put two and two together. Malcolm was out for the weekend and so was Cookie. He should have seen it coming. He knew she was flirting with Malcolm to get a rise out of him (he didn't find it funny), but Malcolm never seemed interested. Until the night Malcolm shot Reg, he didn't miss how he grabbed Cookies waist and walked her outside. He watched from the window their exchange before she left with Jennings to go home. Never did he think he'd have to worry about Cookie moving on. There mere thought pissed him off. She turned him down and turned around to go fuck Malcolm in the woods in Massachusetts. Fuck Cookie.

"Becky. Can you grab the security team I need to meet with them. Then call up my lawyers and set up a meeting at noon." He called over his intercom.

"Carol! Over here!" Cookie yelled, waving her arms to get her younger sisters attention from across the crowd. The younger woman's heels tapped on the floors and she hurriedly ran over to Cookie.

"Cooks!" She rushed towards her with open arms hugging her tightly before pulling away. "Every time I see you, you got on some damn fur." She laughed.

"Because you can't be in style without one. Which I why you have a coat waiting for you in the car." Cookie smiled.

"WHAT!?" Carol threw her bags at the chauffeur beside Cookie and grabbed her hand and took off up the escalators.

Once inside the car, Carol was admiring the new coat as Cookie looked on laughing.

"You're a mess."

"You can't blame me. What is this fox, rabbit?"

"Chinchilla," Carol scrunched up her face at Cookie.

"What the hell is that?"

"Girl, I have no damn clue. It's expensive though." Cookie and Carol shared a laugh.

"Ugh, look at you living this amazing life now. Shit." Carol smiled at Cookie who offered one back that wasn't quite genuine.

"Okay, what's up?"

"What are you talking about."

"Cookie don't play with me. What's wrong? Is it the kids? Is it Lucious? What did he do, do I have to fuck him up? Cuz I will."

Cookie laughed.

"You know damn well I'm capable of fucking Lucious up my damn self. That nigga ain't that crazy."

"Then what's up?"

"Nothing. It's just real good to see you. Thanks for coming."

"No problem. That's what sisters are here for. Besides the kids and Dame were irking my last fucking nerve, I need this. I should be thanking you."

"How is Dame?"

"Oh you know, still being a nigga. But I love him though, even if he can be a fucking nuisance. Sometimes I feel like I'm raising four kids instead of three. How's everything here?"

"Good."

"Girl, if you don't tell me the damn truth and quit lying to me."

Cookie smiled deciding to only focus on the good things like Malcolm.

"I met someone."

"Met someone? Cookie what are y-" Carol stopped her train of thought looking her sister up and down with a smirk.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I knew you looked different. You did not? What's his name? What does he do? How old is he? Does Lucious know?"

"I did. His name is Malcolm, he's head of Security for Empire, he's younger than me if that's what you're asking and no Lucious doesn't know."

"Malcolm. Mmhm. I like that name. You got pictures?"

"Not for you." Cookie smirked.

"Oh ya'll nasty."

Cookie slapped her arm.

"You'll meet him soon enough and here we are. Carol Holloway welcome to Empire Records."

Cookie gave Carol the simple run down. Lucious was going to die soon and Cookie needed to be front and center if she wanted to be the face of Empire. That's why she was producing the concert in the first place. She showed her the new security system Malcolm installed and brushed it off when her key card wasn't working. It wasn't until security told her she wasn't allowed in that she acted out. She was having a great fucking day and leave it to Empire Security to hit her with some bullshit.

"I ain't going nowhere till Luuuucious come out here and talk to me." Cookie stated matter-of-factly. "There he is! Lucious, what you doing? You can't lock me out.

"Already did," He looked pass her to smile at Carol. "So nice to see you Carol. Welcome to New York. Enjoy your visit. Leave the premises Cookie."

"No." She folded her arms.

"You expecting your little boyfriend to come running to your rescue."

Cookie smirked.

"You're out of here." Lucious finished.

"Aww is that what this is about. You're jealous? You're jealous Lucious forreal, after every thing you've done? You think you still own me? You are sick." She spat in his face.

"Nah, you are not apart of my company and my attorneys have assured me I don't owe you a damn thing. Now leave."

"Yeah well you can't do that. I'm on the board of directors."

"You were never on the board."

"What?" Cookie looked hurt.

"Andre knew the day he made that deal with you, that a convicted felon could never serve on the board of a publicly traded company. Nice boy huh? Are you gonna leave on your own or do I have to escort you? Sorry Carol."

Cookie felt anger creep up deep in her soul.

"You're on a dark path Lucious. You're going down. I'm not gonna let you take my company with you. Seventeen years, bitch." She got closer and one of the security guards put his hand on her arm.

"Get off of me." She started walking backwards, facing Lucious the entire time. "Everybody just waiting for you to die Lucious, you gonna die a lonely man just like you deserve. You gonna need Cookie. Watch what I say. I BUILT THIS. THIS IS MY COMPANY!"

Once outside Cookie angrily yelled for a cab with Carol by her side.

"Cookie, what the fuck just happened?" Carol asked opening the cab door.

"Lucious Lyon happened that's what the fuck happened. 714 Clinton Ave please."

Malcolm strolled through the doors of Empire around 1:45 with a relaxed smile on his face. Two days in the woods with an amazing woman will do that to a man. His mind burned those moments into his memory. Going away with her was the best and worst thing he could have done. The best because he truly enjoyed her company, he enjoyed finding out more about her dreams, her fears, her habits, her body. And the worst because he was falling, fast and hard and he knew there were consequences that could hurt them both. He decided not to dwell on the negative and only think of the good the relationship with Cookie would bring. Like later today when he would be meeting her sister at Jamal's listening party. He smiled recalling the conversation.

"So my sister is just dying to meet you."

"Is that so? Did you tell her good things about me?"

"Why does that matter? You're my man not hers."

"Oh, so I'm your man now?"

"I mean after this weekend I'd hope so. I just don't do all that for someone that isn't mine. I have standards you know."

"I do. I guess I should consider myself lucky to have you as my woman."

"Damn right. Okay so I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah WE will see you tonight Malcolm." Carol chimed in.

"Shut up Carol."

Malcolm laughed. "Yes, I'll be there."

"Great. Byeeeeee." Cookie hung up.

"Mal!" His thoughts were disrupted when he saw Jennings approach with a worried look on his face.

"Hey what's up?"

"Mr. Lyon wants to see you."

"Cool, I'll be right up."

"No. Right now. He. Mal he knows."

Malcolm Devaux didn't really fear anything. His mom always taught him the only person he should fear is God. His mom never warned him about the people who thought they were God.