Author's Note: Thank you for the continuing support.

Why is she always on your mind?

Comparison is easily done

Once you have the taste of perfection..

Coz when I'm with him

I am thinking of you…

(Thinking of You)


Chapter seventeen: Running on Her Mind

It is almost a week from now since my father told me about my marriage. It is almost a week also that I'm crying myself to sleep. I heard a knock in my door and I opened it a little bit to see who it was.

"Cal." I said briefly.

"Good morning, Piper. Can I come in?" he asked politely. I opened the door wider to let him in. if there is someone in here that I trust, it is Cal.

"How are you?" Cal asked. I just shrugged my shoulder. I cannot really answer his question because I don't know how to answer his question.

"I know this is hard for you, Piper, but you need to take care of yourself. You need to eat and sleep well. This punishment to yourself will not do you any good." Cal said looking at the untouched food in the floor. Even though I locked my doors, the maid have a spare key to open my room and put the tray of food in here although I don't eat it. I am not also allowed to go outside without the permission of my father. It is like a prison cell for me, only worse cause I feel that even my emotions are being imprison.

"How can I eat or sleep well when I know what impending doom I will face?" I said then sit in my bed, cradling myself in the process.

"If you really want out of this situation, I can help you out." Cal said. I looked at him with disbelief in my eyes.

"Yes. I would help you out. After dinner is the best time for you to get out. Everyone is in there room and your bodyguard is having there dinner. A car is ready in the first block and I will send you some clothes in the place you wanted to stay. Here is some money for you." Cal said then produced a small bag which contains money.

"Why are you doing this Cal?" I asked him.

"I don't want to see my sister slowly killing herself." He answered. "Besides I'm the black sheep of the family, we don't want to taint the image of me right?" he added with a small chuckle. I hugged him and accept the money he gave me, thanking him in the process.

"Don't worry about us. We can't make it through, besides it is not the first time that we will fall apart. After all we are the Chapmans, we can stand again although it will be long." Cal said before he go but his statement is like a gun fired in my head.

Yes. It is not the first time and it is all because of me again. Can I take it?

"But Piper, this is your life in line."

I know but can I really let my family live in shame because of my own selfishness? Do you remember the time when I let my father down? Until now I feel his disappointment because of what happen.

"Then are you ready to give up your happiness for your family?


It is almost a week that I'm not seeing Piper but everything is falling into places. She tried to call me but I have to resist myself from answering her call. I don't want to be distracted while I'm preparing everything for us. As much as possible I want everything to be perfect.

"So you are still hoping that she will love you despite of what will you do to her and her family?"

Well she needs to love me that is for sure.

"Why?"

For the last time, I don't answer "it" and let my mind get busy with the stuffs I'm preparing.

"So you are really proceeding with the plan, after all?" Nicky said then shook her head towards me.

"Yes. And please stop interfering with it." I said.

"No. I will not interfere this time. I just wish that you don't regret it." Nicky said then walked away after tapping my shoulder.

No. I won't regret anything.


As I look at the mirror for the last time, I sighed hard and tried not to look too swollen from the loneliness I felt. For the last time, I tried to call Alex but it only keeps ringing. I want to explain my side to her before she could even hear the news about my engagement in the television. I could see the shock faces of my family when I went down and eat with them. After a silent dinner, I could see that Cal is trying to get my attention.

"Excuse me everyone, I want to propose a toast." I said raising my glass. Everyone look at me and raised there glasses up.

"To my engagement and for the family, Cheers." I said then gulped down the content of the glass without wincing.

"Cheers." Everyone murmured silently.

"Dad, please make necessary arrangements with Larry Bloom tomorrow. I want us to have lunch together and talk things through before our engagement. If you will excuse me, everyone, I think I'm full." I pushed my chair then walked to my room. After a few minutes of looking in the mirror. I heard a knock and I opened it. I was shocked to see my father.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked him not really looking at his eyes.

"No. I just want to say thank you." My father said sincerely. I just nodded and closed the doors when he didn't say anything more.

Tonight will be the last night I will be sleeping myself to cry.


"Yes please draw the necessary papers for the next month. I'm sorry for the short notice but I will just pay you twice for the inconvenience." I said then I heard the other line chuckled with what I said.

"No, need Vause, I got you covered. Just next time give me a month notice before asking for this kind of favor, okay? Bye." the other person said.

"Yeah sure. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Bye." I said then hung up the call. I looked at the e-mail sent to me by secretary and after a week of waiting I allowed myself to smile.

"Good afternoon, Piper." Larry said then pulled a chair for me to sit.

"Good afternoon too, Larry." I said dryly then sit on the pulled chair.

"It is nice to see you again after a while." Larry said to happily for my own taste.

"It is nice to see you too." I said shortly. The menu was already placed in front of us. We silently picked our meals then ordered after.

"I'm so glad you finally accepted the proposal, Piper. To say I was shocked was beyond compare when my father said that you agreed to this marriage. You will never regret this decision." Larry said enthusiastically after the waiter poured wine to our glasses.

"I hope so." I said shortly then drink the wine. Larry was actually one of my long time suitor. It was not secret to our families that Larry liked to be my husband but time and again I always refused his advances.

"So tell me, Piper, what change your mind?" Larry asked after the waiter placed the food in front of us.

"My family." I answered briefly but this doesn't stop Larry from talking more enthusiastically.

"So I think it would be better if we start the preparation for the wedding right away. I will set an appointment with a wedding coordinator after the engagement party. Is that okay, Piper?" Larry asked.

"Yeah, I guess." I answered him.

"Oh I can wait to have you as my bride and wife." He said then tried to reach for my hand. I almost stab his hand with a fork when he do it but I stopped myself.

Shit! This is so awkward unlike with her. Unlike his hands that is like a hard metal grip, her hands is so soft on my skin and it leaves a burning trail every time she touches me with it.

I sighed thinking about the certain black haired woman occupying my mind. After a few seconds I tried to recover it but Larry's grip is like a metal on my hand.

"Larry, how can we eat if you are holding my hand?" I asked trying to be polite.

"Sorry. I was just so nervous that you might change your mind with this wedding." Larry said then released my hand.

Oh! I'm not changing my mind. I don't like you a bit. If it weren't for this situation maybe Alex and I are having a wild night or a more romantic dinner together. Maybe we are kissing and tasting each other too in the process.

We eat in silence and having only small conversations that I immediately stop with my brief answers. I swirl the wine inside the glass while waiting for the waiter to clear the table.

"When will be the engagement?" I asked not looking at him at all then drink the wine.

"Next week, I guess." Larry answered unsure.

"Yeah. My father told me that everything will be ready that time." Larry answered. "So how many children do you want to have? As for me, I would like to have dozen with you." He added afterwards. I spilled the wine in my dress, making him stand and tried to help me with the situation.

"Don't touch me." I said whispering but with a firm tone. I could see some fear in his eyes but it doesn't make me stop from glaring at him. The way his hands touch me made me shivered in the most horrible way possible. If I wanted to stab him when he held my hand, now I wanted to cut it off from his body to make sure it won't do anything with me.


"Alex! What the fuck is wrong with you?" Nicky said when I gripped the glass I'm holding firmly causing it to be broken.

"Waiter! Waiter! Can you please give us some help here, I think we need a first aid kit." Nicky said frantically to the waiter. We were having our dinner in the restaurant when I saw a glimpse of the blond occupying my mind. We just had a meeting with the last person I needed for the plan when the blond sit a bit far from us.

What the fuck is she doing with the damn man?

I almost wanted to run and punched the hell out of the man when I saw how he held Piper's hand. Nicky is asking what is wrong but I didn't answer her instead she looked at the direction I'm glaring at. She tried to calm me down and I tried to listen to her because if I acted on my feelings, everything might be ruined for us. But when Piper spilled her drink on her, I have to grip my glass hard to stop myself from killing the man.

Don't touch her! Fuck it!

With my other hand being attended to, I grabbed my other hand and asked Nicky to dial Mr. Caputo's number.

"Yes, Ms. Vause?" Caputo asked.

"I want everything to be done on Wednesday." I said then hung up the call. I could see the surprised look of Nicky but I ignored it.

I can't stand the idea of someone touching Piper.


Larry had been gentleman all throughout the date with some awkward questions from him. He drove me to my house and I immediately went out of his car. I didn't even wait for him to say goodnight because I want to avoid the goodbye kiss he is waiting to have. After changing into a comfortable sleepwear, I grabbed a book and sit at the balcony of my room. I looked at the moon and tried to wish for something but only one thing keeps resonating in my mind.

Alex