Chapter Four.

Miley

"I remember you used to pick all the petals off these…"

I looked over at Liam sitting in the fridge area twirling a Singapore orchid, "After you moved in with me every time we saw these flowers you'd get all angry, or you'd make me buy them just so you could rip all the petals off and completely destroy them. You never did tell me why you hated them so much…." He announced as I picked up a bunch of tulips I needed to put into my bouquet.

"They were mom's favorites," I stated casually.

"Now that makes a lot more sense."

I gave a weak smile moving over alongside Liam where all the flower arrangements sat together for tomorrow, it was nearing midnight and I needed company. Nick always used to be the one who would come in but now well, Liam was the best I could do.

"So your dad knows we're hanging out right?"

I nodded giving Liam a smile, "Yeah, he does."

"But your sister's don't?"

"God no, they'd kill me if they found out,"

"Great, feeling the love Miles" He muttered sarcastically as I smiled.

"You know my sister's Liam, the less I tell them the better, especially about you. They don't even know we've spoken since my drinking incident a few years back with you. Secret, understand?" I questioned and he nodded,

"Does Nick know?" His voice asked tensely,

"I don't know…maybe, Demi might have told him."

"Is he still calling you?"

I looked at the tulips pushing them into the arrangement, "Yeah, he is."

"And you're just ignoring them?"

"Pretty much, why? Is that a problem?" I asked annoyed.

"No, no it's not." He responded defensively.

We fell into an awkward silence as I finally looked up to see Liam was just staring at me with his piercing blue eyes, he was looking at me sympathetically like everyone was at the moment. I just didn't want to think about Nick right now, clearly he'd moved on with Selena no matter how many times Demi denied it. I'd seen and smelt enough to get the picture. Plus I didn't like being reminded of Nick, it had been only a week and I was hearing enough about his father in the news to jog my memory way too frequently. I never knew this would be so hard or hurt this bad.

"So Demi, you're still talking?"

"Yes, we're going out for lunch tomorrow."

"Where too?"

"Some expensive restaurant." I muttered.

"Great," Liam stated sarcastically.

"What?"

"Nothing,"

"No tell me, what?" I snapped,

I looked at Liam glaring, holding a tulip in my fingers as he sighed, "I remember when you used to hate those snobby rich people, we used to make fun of them, remember?" He whispered as I frowned, "Then you became one of them, but now your back in the real world while trying to hang onto them still. I don't understand why? Those people, they aren't you Miley," I stared at him insulted,

"Those people are my friends Liam." I stated, "And if you have a problem with that then you can leave for all I care."

I turned to walk away as Liam hastily slipped off the bench grabbing me around the hips as I let out a huff, he dragged me back around staring straight into my eyes. "I'm sorry, I really am, and I didn't mean to upset you…"

I looked at him and nodded, "Okay, fine."

Liam smiled picking up the Singapore orchid and leaning forward putting it gently beside my ear tangling it in my hair. I blushed moving to take it out as he grabbed my hand.

"Leave it, you look beautiful."

I bit my lip and he leaned forward kissing the top of my head,

"Don't loose yourself in their world Miley, dumping Nick was the best decision you've ever made. I know you're hurting, I know exactly what it feels like when someone you love betrays you…but that doesn't mean you need to stop loving them, it however does mean you can move on." He whispered quietly against my hair as I looked down. I knew he wasn't talking just talking about Nick anymore, he was revisiting the past, our past.

"I love him Liam," I stated seriously, "And that won't change anything."

The ring of the door bell sent us flying apart as I looked at him panicked,

"Miley? Are you here? It's Brandi-"

"And Emily." Em added,

"Fuck." I hissed looking at Liam panicked,

We both began to look around as I pointed at the huge fridge. Liam instantly shook his head pointing at his t-shirt and shorts, as I quickly shoved him towards it. "Miley? Miles…are you here? Miley?"

"Get in." I snapped opening the door,

"No I'll freeze-"

I pushed him harshly in the back as he rolled his eyes stepping in and I slammed the door, turning around just as both my sister's walked in. Brandi instantly frowned looking at me confused, "Didn't you hear us? We just called your name?" She stated staring at me as I looked away, "Why is there a Singapore orchid in your hair?"

"I just-"

I pulled the flower throwing it onto the bench shaking my head.

"You look like you've been crying, again." Emily noted.

I sighed and walked away from them over to the arrangements, I went straight back to work hoping that they'd just disappear. No such luck as I felt Brandi move up standing beside me, "Dad called us from where ever he is," She whispered, "Said you called today and said you'd be working late again just like last night. Miley you need to take a break seriously, throwing yourself into work will not help you get over Nick! And it won't make you or any of us feel better! Maybe you should go and see him again, just talk and-"

"No." I whispered, "We're done, its over."

"Miley." Emi muttered,

I turned around frustrated, "Look just stop okay, stop trying to make me go and see Nick! We're done okay? I know you only liked him for the cash, but I have money too and I can look after myself, without a boyfriend."

"Miley we didn't like him just for the money." Em stated then tilted her head nodding, "Although that was a really good selling point, but Nick is a genuine nice guy and he really loves you-"

"No, stop defending him."

"Miley he didn't mean it." Brandi snapped, "God stop being over dramatic."

I just stared at her hurting, "This is my life, get the fuck out of it."

Brandi's mouth opened as she stared at me, while Emily awkwardly shifted in between us clearly unsure as to where her alliance stood. "Miley you're just as bad as Nick, work is always number one!" Brandi spat frustrated, "He's the best thing that's ever happened to you, and you are making the biggest mistake of your life letting him go…"

"No, no I'm not." I muttered defending myself, "I'm not."

"You are, and you know it."

"You wouldn't understand."

"I'm married Miley, I think I do because I love someone too."

"Well…Nick isn't who-"

"You thought he was, well think about this?" She stated staring at me, "Did he judge you when you told him about your drug problems? About Liam? About your shitty teenage years? No. But you wait Miley, you won't be able to find another guy who is so accepting of your criminal past." I felt the tears come to my eyes as Emily stepped forward,

"Enough," She announced "Both of you,"

"Just leave…" I whispered looking away as a tear fell, "Leave me alone."

"You're ruining you life."

"No, no I'm not!" I murmured,

"Yeah you are."

Brandi turned and strutted out of the room leaving Emily and me alone, she looked at me and sighed shaking her head. "What Nick said was wrong, everyone agrees with your actions Miley okay? Don't doubt that. He keeps calling everyday though, including us, just to hear how you are…if you were his second priority then why doesn't he just concentrate on work? Like you are?"

I looked at Emily as she frowned, "I told Nick the truth today, I told him you weren't coping…at all. I'll keep telling that until the day you two get back together, because without him you can't handle anything. You need him, and as much as you hate Nick right now, you know you need him too."

Emily leaned over kissing the side of my head, "Love ya."

"Love you too."

"Don't stay here and wither away like the flowers okay?"

"I won't…"

Emily smiled and turned walking out of the room, instantly I heard a bitter argument erupt outside between my sisters' as the front door slammed. I leaned back on the bench taking what they both had said in. My sisters were both right but I wanted Nick to make the first move. I wanted him to prove that he loved me.

"Is it safe?" Liam muttered,

I looked to see the fridge door opened as he smiled at me moving out,

Liam didn't say anything and moved over looking at my face, ever so gently he moved his hand up and wiped away the fallen tear. I looked down as Liam picked up the flower and repositioned it in my hair,

"Let's go out." He announced, "Tonight you and me, like old times?"

"Liam-"

"Without the drugs promise, however I think we both need a drink."

I looked up into his blue eyes trying to shake my head,

"Kay," I whispered before I could stop myself.

Nick.

"So explain it to me one more time," I stated unsure,

"I'm the director." Kevin stated giving a huff, "Dad's in jail I take full responsibility for the company, and you Nick, are taking my place." I stared at Kevin surprised, how did this happen? I was now going to be second in charge?

"And where does Joe fit into the equation?"

Kevin shuffled through a bunch of papers shrugging, "He doesn't,"

"So hold up, he just keeps his position as…"

I looked at Kevin wanting him to fill in the gap, what did Joe exactly do? Apart from piss everyone off and make mistakes. Kevin gave a small chuckle, "He keeps his position in the company, and nothing else has changed apart from the fact I have to do quadruple the amount of paper work now while you have the same amount along with a pay rise."

"Right," I muttered pushing my hand through my hair, "But are the assets-"

"I took over officially today, the company begins normal trading and everything tomorrow morning." Kevin announced as I looked at him impressed, he'd worked on this all so hard and it was amazing how quickly he'd been able to make something which look bleak turn to a positive.

"So dad's lost his job?"

"You could say that, temporarily fired."

"What about the money he embezzled?"

"Gone forever sadly, it was only a hundred million so…"

I nodded as Kevin flicked through the sheets a fatigued expression across his face, "So if we pay dad's bail then-"

"Nothing will change Nick, he's no longer part of the company."

"Right."

"Our shares have dropped." Kevin groaned staring at sheets, "I can't believe this, I don't know what he was thinking!" I watched my brother throw down the piece of paper in an angry tantrum then looked up at me fuming, "Are you capable of working tomorrow? Or are you still on emotional leave?"

"Well I'm sure I can-"

"Good, so you worked things out with Miley?" He asked,

I looked at him opening my mouth uncertain, clearly he'd been so busy Kevin had been left out of the loop of her appearance at my house. "Well no, not exactly things kind of turned from bad to worse and it's a long-"

"You need to make up with her." He huffed.

I stared at him, his eyes still skimming the sheets.

"Well I'm trying but she's not-"

"Try harder."

"Why?" I spat annoyed as Kevin looked up.

"Wedding means good press," He announced seriously looking back down, god he was sounding like dad now! "The socialite world and press love you being with Miley and it's killing the company that not only has dad gone to jail but you've broken up with Miley."

"She broke up with-"

"I know." Kevin snapped, "I was there, you were a dickhead."

"Right so how do you propose I fix this Kevin? Because I've laid in bed every day this week in tears trying to think of a way to make this right, so far nothing has worked!" I responded bitterly, he had no idea how hard I was trying. I'd left like another thousand messages,

"Demi and Miley are having lunch tomorrow…"

"How do you know that?"

"I just do," He announced looking up as I frowned, "Danielle told me."

"Okay…so-"

"You're going to turn up and confess your undying love."

"Kevin that's the worst idea ever." I replied as he shrugged.

"Well did you have a better one?"

"No but-"

"Exactly lunch is at one thirty, the Soku bar or something like that." He announced as I nodded, "Turn up at two, do the whole 'what a coincidence' win her back, we'll have the wedding next Thursday." My mouth dropped as I just stared at him, okay when did Kevin suddenly become dad? The only difference was Kev appreciated Miley a lot more then my criminal father did.

"Kevin that-"

"Oh and she's been hanging out with her drugged up ex so-"

"I know," I hissed my temper rising, "Demi told me."

"Yeah well you need to get her away from him."

I stared down at him annoyed, "Okay just because you're calling the shots doesn't suddenly mean you can become dad Kevin, you're treating me like shit right now." I hissed at him as he looked up from his superior desk, "I have a lot of crap going on right now too! I know the companies screwed but seriously my main concern is Miley right now, and do you realise how worried I am about her? I know her fucking ex is back on the scene! And she thinks I'm cheating on her with Sel but I will get her back, maybe not tomorrow but I will."

Kevin finally looked up at me as a brother, not a dictating monster his eyes sympathetic finally. "Nick I love Miley like a little sister, we're all worried. Dani doesn't think Liam is a bad guy, but god Demi hates him and honestly I wouldn't trust the guy as far as I can throw him."

"Me either," I hissed,

"Dani told me something…"

"What?" I asked confused,

"Well when Miley rushed out of your house after the Selena ordeal, and yes I may live at the office now but I did hear about the buttoning up of the shirt. Anyway, Miley ran into Demi crying and said something like 'he wouldn't say it'" Kevin stated looking at me as I stared at him puzzled,

"She what?"

"Miley wants you to say something to her…"

"I've said a lot to her but she-"

"There has to be something you haven't said yet," Kevin stated seriously,

I racked my brain completely unsure, "I have no idea."

"If you say it, I reckon you'll get her back."

"How do you know that?"

"I know Miley, and I know you." He muttered.

"So you reckon I go to this restaurant tomorrow?" I questioned.

"I sure do Nick," Kev stated staring at me, "Unless you go the florist and walk in armed to protect yourself from her raging sisters. I think it's one of the only chances you'll get her alone and away from the ex pill popper." He stated honestly and I looked at him nodding,

"Yeah, yes you're right."

Kevin gave me a grin nodding, "That I am, so wedding next Thursday?"

I gave him a look and he just laughed shaking his head, "Nick she's apart of our family now, and I know this has hit your hard, but it's hurting us too. We're all worried about Miley and especially you, we have noticed the blood shot eyes." Kevin whispered carefully, "You and Miley need each other."

"We do."

I looked at him taking in a deep breathe,

"So what were the restaurant details again?"

A/N Happy Easter 3 thanks for all the reviews!