A/N: UGH! Testing is coming up for eighth graders! Wish me luck! Especially since my Algebra 1 Test is coming up and I'm scared. Unfortunately, when May comes I might be a bit too busy to update but for all you beautiful peeps, I'll try to make the updates happen. Anywho, ONTO THE STORY!

Chapter 6: Sting's Introduction

(Lucy's POV)

I go through the mail that Happy fetched for me and I see a scarlet colored envelope that's directed to Natsu and I. "Look, a letter for the both of us. It's from . . ." I look at the top left corner and see the name and address it's signed from and I continue, ". . . Erza Fernandes?"

"AW SHIT!" Natsu yells in fear. Oh, I forgot Erza scares Natsu and Gray.

I lift an eyebrow in confusion and I rip the scarlet envelope open. I see a paper folded in thirds and I open up the letter. I read it outloud to Natsu. "Dear Lucy and Natsu, I'm currently inviting you to Mira's birthday party. I'm just writing this in case you don't know where to find the location and in case Lisanna forgot to give you the directions. The location is at the end of this letter and please read this fully and make sure Natsu listens to it, Lucy. I've gotten the documents from Makarov for your marriage license but, unfortunately I cannot give it to you two. I'm just taking extra precautions in case you would like to change your mind Lucy. In other words, I sincerely apologize to this remark and please do not take this the wrong way, like I said, I'm just taking precautions. The REQUIRED attire that you two MUST where will be taken to you later on the day of Mira's party. Lucy please make sure Natsu is dressed in the proper attire and Lucy, I hope you love the outfit since Levy shipped it from Paris. Natsu, you are in charge of purchasing two cakes—one strawberry shortcake and the other one, of course Mira's favorite, Tres Leches. You better not forget or ruin anything, if not I will dig you up a grave and kill you. Oh, and one more thing, make sure their big cakes enough to feed ninety-five people. Once again, dress in the proper attire and that is all . . . for now. Thank you for understanding Lucy and Natsu. Love, Erza Fernandes." I finish reading and see Natsu pale white and his hairs from his forearms standing.

"She's s-scary," Natsu trembles and walks to the kitchen counter. He grabs his wallet and throws it on the table. "Take care of my wallet, Luce. I don't want to lose it or spend any money."

I roll my eyes at his sudden remark, "Oh god, Natsu. Grab your wallet and let's go get ready for work. We'll run all the errands during lunch later . . . if you allow it of course."

"Yeah. Sounds like a plan." He grins and grabs his wallet and walks upstairs. I shake my head in disbelief.

"I still wonder how he takes work serious and acts like a child at home." I say as I put the dishes inside the dishwasher.

"I heard that!" Natsu yells from the bedroom, "I don't know either!"

I laugh and walk to the downstairs bathroom to take a shower and get ready for the day ahead of us.

As Natsu drives us both to work, he was in the middle of ordering the two pastries for Mira's party. I'm kind of nervous since Natsu is talking while driving, but otherwise . . . that's not the only thing I'm scared of. Natsu drives like a racer!

"Yeah, I'd like to order a one-half pan of Strawberry Shortcake and a full pan of Tres Leches that's enough to feed up to one hundred people." Natsu orders onto the phone. "Under, Natsu Dragneel and be sure to put candles . . . twenty-six," He looks at me and concentrates back at driving. "Can ya make sure it's ready until one in the afternoon? Really? Thanks, I appreciate it."

He turns off his phone and throws it onto the dashboard. "Heh, I didn't get ripped off!"

I smile and respond, "What do you mean?"

"I didn't have to wait till the next day to order." He mumbles as he pulls in the garage parking lot of the company.

"I see." I say and his phone scares me after a loud vibrating and ringing noise. I grabbed his phone and gave it to him, not bothering to check the caller id.

"Heya Juvia, what's up?" Natsu says into the phone as he parks the car on his spot with bold letters, Natsu Dragneel.

Natsu's eyes widen and his eyes glare off into space. "WHAT?! I never agreed to this!"

I see Natsu's fists clench and he grits his teeth, "I don't care! . . . I never agreed! . . . . What do you mean? . . . . I'll see what I can do." With that Natsu ended his call and threw his phone at the back seat.

"What happened?" I ask worried. Natsu's jaw was clenched.

"Let's go Luce, I'll explain on the way." He says. We climb off his car and he locks the car. We walk into the building and was instantly greeted by the annoying front desk employee that sounds like a duck. We hop on the elevator and we head to floor—forty-eight? I look at Natsu and his fists were still clenched. I clear my throat nervously, and Natsu loosens up. "I'm afraid you're gonna have to work for Sting for a couple of hours—until lunch to be exact."

"Oh . . . if that's what I have to do, then I will do it, sir." I say formally, not forgetting my position as an employee.

Natsu chuckles but then gets serious, "Whatever happens, please tell me—no matter what. Promise me Luce."

I smile and raise my right palm, "I promise to Happy that I will tell you whatever happens today while I work for Sting."

He smiles softly and nods, "I appreciate it . . . Ms. Heartfilia."

The elevator bell dings and he explains where Sting's office is located. I nod and we make our separate ways. He goes to floor fifty-nine, while I stay eleven floors below. I stiffen my position and pull my navy-blue pencil skirt down. I make sure to leave my white collar shirt a bit untucked and take a deep breath. I walk over to Sting's office, exactly where Natsu instructed and I make my way to a brown wooden door. I see the door a bit open and I see a silver haired pixie cut woman picking up in the office. I knock gently and I hear her say enter.

I walk in and I could see that Sting's office is exactly like Natsu's just . . . smaller. I walk in slowly and I could make out the woman's features . . . but her eyes were puffy and red. I wonder why. She smiles softly, "You must be Miss Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu's assistant, correct?"

I nod my head and smile, "That's me, and you are?"

She waves nervously, "I'm Yukino Agria, Sting's assistant. I believe you know why you're here?"

I shake my head side to side, "I'm afraid not Ms. Agria."

"Well, I need to run an errand for a couple of hours and I'd be back until lunch. Sting needed an assistant so, Juvia-san insisted you—since you were an exceptional assistant, in her words." Yukino says as I could hear a man clear his throat from behind us. Her position stiffened and she gulped nervously.

I turn around and see a blonde spiky haired male leaning against the door frame. He has blue eyes and a scar hovering over his eye—and he was observing both of us. He was as tall as Natsu, but Natsu was taller. He smiles, "Good Morning Miss Lucy! I heard the news about you and Natsu being married—Congratulations."

I avoid eye contact with him, "Ah, thank you s—"

"Look at me when I speak to you!" He snaps at me making my eyes look at him. My heart skipped a beat. This guy is intense.

"Forgive me, sir." I say looking at him. He walks forward and he eyes Yukino.

"You are dismissed . . ." I was about to walk away, "Not you, blondie."

B-Blondie?! He's blonde too! I have a name for crying out loud!

"Yes?" I ask looking him, almost glaring at this idiot. Blondie . . . he must be bluffing. Right?

"Stand near my desk and talk to me formally. Don't say sir! I have a name! You refer to me as Mr. Eucliffe. Got it?!" He snaps as he sits on his chair. Before Yukino left she mouthed 'Good Luck'.

I sigh lightly and walk towards his desk like he specifically requested. I stay standing straight and look directly at him. He looks at me and smiles, "I'm sure Natsu is quite fond of you. If you are as good as everyone says . . . you'd obey every single thing I ask ya, is that correct?"

"Yes sir." I say and regret it instantly.

"I said to refer to me as Mr. Eucliffe. Do I need to scream it?" He says it calmly.

"Sorry." Was all I said. I'm just going to leave my mouth shut.

"Sit and tell me about my cousin, Natsu. Tell me all his plans of expanding the company and everything" He demands taking out a pen and paper.

I gulp and sit as he wished and look at him with a serious and angry look. "I'm sorry Mr. Eucliffe, but I cannot share any information with other employees except Mr. Dragneel. And I cannot share any information about Mr. Dragneel's work either."

He laughs hysterically, "I see, go get me some coffee and then we'll talk."

I nod and walk away. Now I know why Natsu hates this guy. I know it's my first time, but he acts so strict. I walk out of the room and walk towards the elevator. I have to talk to Natsu—I stop myself from walking and I smirk. I'm not letting no blonde be the best of me. I'm Lucy Heartfilia and I am strong. I won't cry wolf to Natsu, I will face Sting just the way Yukino faces him. I smile and walk away from the elevator and heading to this floor's break room. I brew some coffee for Sti—Mr. Eucliffe and after I finish, I walk back to his office. All the people who worked on this floor was so quiet and so focused but one worker stared at me as I walked to his office. I knock on his door and wait for him to say enter.

"Mr. Eucliffe?" I say as I knock the door once again, and then I hear him yell.

"Get out of here! I don't want you in here until five minutes!" He yells and I just sigh. I walk away from his office door and was instantly pulled by the wrist.

"Miss Lucy, please don't yell it's just me, Yukino." Yukino says. I sigh in relief.

"What's up with Sting, Ms. Agria and weren't you supposed to leave?" I ask her but she avoids eye contact with me.

"I can't leave yet. Hey, has Natsu ever called Sting a porn star?" She asks me and I nod in response. She continues, "Well, they both have a history together. I can't tell you what Natsu did, but I guess must. Sting is a horrible man. He uses his assistants for his own pleasure, especially if their women. That's why Natsu wants you to stay away. Sting tried countless times on me, but I never let him on me. I always run off from his office and tell Natsu, but he can't do anything."

"Why not?! He's literally abusing them!" I say.

"Because, if Sting gets told on . . . then the company will fall." Yukino says in a low voice.

"How will it fall?! How can it fall just for one thing?" I hissed silently.

"I'm afraid you do not understand Miss Lucy. He won't let you in because he's using one of his "toys" to pleasure himself since he saw you. So, please don't do anything that'll make him jump on you. I beg of you please don't let him do anything to you." Yukino says silently sobbing, "I know it sounds horrible but we can't do anything!"

I look at Yukino's state. I have to ask Natsu about this another time, meanwhile, I have to put this guy into place. "Yukino, go to Natsu. Make sure he's in good hands. I'll give you my number and I'll text you when I'm in trouble but whatever you do, don't tell Natsu. I'll tell him, and I'll make sure everything is right.." I say and I walk away from Yukino leaving my phone number with her. I knock on the door once more and say, "Mr. Eucliffe if you don't open the door, the coffee will be cold and then you will be angry when it's actually your fault for not letting me in."

The door was then opened by a dark haired female with puffy eyes and hugging herself. She looks at me and I look at her worriedly. I walk in and I could see Mr. Eucliffe fixing his tie. "Here's your coffee." I say and leave the mug on the desk and walk away. Five more hours and I'll be out of the shitter.

"Heartfilia." He spats. I glare at him and look at him. He smirks and continues, "Yukino is such a hypocrite. Why would you believe her?"

I clench my fists and turn my eye contact away from him. "How do—"

"I'm not stupid, I can hear very clearly. She's lying!" He says slamming his fist onto his desk trying to scare me, but it fails.

"I'm not choosing sides sir, but all I have to say is that I'm not letting my guard down. I heard about you Sting. You were friends with Jude and you bought me! I'm twenty years old for fuck's sake! Why would you buy an adult?" I ask with a serious tone.

"Oh, Lucy. It seems you don't know the whole story. You see, I was always contracted to marry you ever since you were sixteen. That's why you ran away, right? To run away from your forced marriage from a "porn star" you said. But, the thing is, the same shit happened. Natsu bought you and now you're still being forced, now aren't you?" He says with his eyes observing me head to toe.

"I didn't know you were my—"

"Exactly! You thought it was some other shit head! Listen up Heartfilia, you still don't understand why your father sold you at the age of twenty. Well here's a hint, what does a millionair plus a company heir equal?"

"Money . . . and an expansion of the Konzern." I mumble in defeat.

"Exactly. That's why your father sold you. For the damn money. Oh! That's not even the worse part . . . mommy Heartfilia also agreed to it since she's battling cancer right this second . . . oh shit my mistake she died a week ago." Sting smirked at the end making my eyes widen.

"What?" I manage to say.

"Looks like Daddy Dragneel didn't—or should I say couldn't tell ya. You know why? Because, he wanted the Heartfilia's to lose contact with you. If not you would've known."

"Impossible! I barely came to work here for four days!"

"When was the last time you spoke to your parents?" He asks me.

"My father was three years ago . . . and my mother was last year!" I fell to my knees and clamped my mouth shut. I couldn't cry . . . I couldn't.

"The selling party occurred two months ago. Your mom was diagnosed with cancer one year after you left. She couldn't tell you since she didn't want you to return because she knew that Jude would force you into marrying me, which she never approved of."

I hold in my tears from falling, so I stood back up. I wasn't told about my mom's death . . . and my father sold me because he needed money for mom. Couldn't he use the company's money?

"Why didn't he used the company's money?" I ask controlling my breathing.

Sting smirks and walks closer to me. He whispers in my ear, "Because he was greedy and you were no use. You were worth more than a stupid forced marriage."

I instantly fall to my knees once again and let the tears fall. I couldn't believe it. He sold me because he didn't want to use the company's money! Why?! Why you mom?! Why didn't you tell me?

"Now you know Heartfilia." Sting said as he chuckled. That bastard.

"I hate you for telling me this." I say as I control my crying.

"Oh sweetie, this is just the beginning. I will eventually get you back as mine . . . even if it's that last thing I do. You are dismissed." He says.

I stand there glaring at him and run out of the room. I slam the door shut and run to the elevator sobbing. I enter the elevator and head to Natsu's floor. I checked the time on the elevator and it said 8:45AM. I press 59 and the door closes, no longer showing all the workers a sobbing Lucy. I cry and hit the elevator walls in frustration and sadness. My mother died and I didn't know. She was diagnosed with cancer and I didn't know. I was sold to Sting and I didn't know. My father sold me because he was greedy . . . and I didn't know. Natsu didn't either. The elevator bell dings and I run out of the elevator. I slow down and remove my heels and run towards Natsu's office. How did I not know about anything?! I slam the door open to Natsu's office and reveals Natsu doing his work and Yukino reading a book. I sob and drop my heels on the floor. Natsu looks up and his eyes widen.

"Luce?! What's wrong?!" Natsu yells and runs towards me. Yukino leaves the room and leaves us in peace. I sob even harder and Natsu comforts me. He takes me towards the black leather couch. And he asks again, "Luce, what's wrong?"

I spat, "She died! A week ago and no one told me! Sting told me everything! He told me the truth about my parents and about the bargaining party!"

Natsu's eyes widen and he hugs me. "I'm sorry for your loss, Luce. Jude didn't inform me either." He hugs me tighter and I sob onto his shoulder, "That stupid bastard."

"Who?" I ask in the middle of my sobs.

"Sting." Was all he said and I cry harder.

Whoever this Sting was, he sure loves to play chess. And right now he just knocked out one of my pawns. Actually, four of them. I will play and I don't know who your queen is, but my king is Natsu. I won't let you win . . . not yet.

It was lunch for everyone and we all left the office to eat. Natsu talked with Yukino and he made her one of his co-assistants as well. He didn't want Yukino to suffer with Sting, so he demanded a new job for her. Natsu made me feel better by telling me it was going to be better. I still remember the words that helped me calm down, "Don't let him get to you Luce. Remember, we're like dragons in this battle and he's that nasty knight. The knight always manipulates the dragon making them think that's it's them to blame . . . when it's actually the knight to blame. Your mom may have passed away but she was a brave dragon because she battled countless battles and within each battle, it made her stronger. Now she can be at peace —since she won the war. She won't feel any pain anymore. Right now she's probably looking down on you and she's impressed that you're being that strong dragon with endless fights. All you have to do is win one more fight, and everything will be fine."

Natsu has his own way with words, but I didn't get what he said at first. But what basically made me feel better was the fact that he tried his best just to make me feel better.

Right now, Natsu and I are heading to the bakery to pick up Mira's cakes and back home to put the cakes away and check out the package that arrived—since my neighbor, Cana, called saying there was a package in front of my door. She said she found it trying to go in my house looking for some booze. But she failed miserably on finding it, since I have it stashed away.

"Igneel, my dad, left me at the age of seven near a nightclub. He said he was going to be gone for awhile and with that he left. He forgot one thing though in my hands. It was his scarf that looked like white dragon scales stitched into a piece of clothing. It was the only thing I had that belonged to my dad, that's why it's important. I walked to an alley and found a blue cat that was looking for food inside the trash cans. So, I grabbed him and I saw a couple walking out the nightclub and left the door open. I went in along with Happy, and I went to a table that had some tasty steak and some fish left. I drank some lemonade that was left there too. We were enjoying our meal until we see a short old man—Makarov, and he told us we were too young to be in a nightclub. So, he took us home and well, we slept there and he fed us. He took Happy and I in and he officially adopted me two months after he found me. I was happy that I met Makarov and not some drunkards." Natsu explains as he drived.

Natsu's backstories were always the best. I especially loved the story where he found Happy, which I think is cute. We park in front of the bakery and pick up the cakes and drive back home in a matter of minutes. As we arrived, we head to my apartment room and Natsu puts the cakes inside the fridge.

"Thanks Natsu for everything you've done for me today." I say and smile brightly. I see a tint of a blush on his cheeks and he responds, "You're welcome, Luce."

I grab the box cutter and I open up the box. I take out all the tissue paper inside the box and come across a pink note.

I hope you enjoy the dress Lu-chan! And don't forget to invite me to the bachlorette party and the wedding!

~Levy-chan

I smile at the tiny piece of paper and put it aside. Natsu walks next to me and I take out the first pair of clothes.

"Natsu this one is yours." I say and reveal a black tux with black leather shoes.

"Jeez, Levy sure does know how to make us crash a party." Natsu says observing his tux.

"Aye." I say and take out the blood red colored cloth inside the box. I reveal a knee length red satin colored dress that had a smooth silk. It had tiny straps and it revealed my back and the cloth covers my waist. A pair of red strappy heels were inside the box. I look at Natsu and smile, "We are so going to crash this party."

He chuckles, "Hell yeah."

Later on that day, Natsu finished the last of his paper work and we headed home to get ready fro Mira's party. We decided that before we were going to pick up Mira, that we would get ready since Mira needed to pick up her military boyfriend from the airport. Natsu dressed up in the room and I dressed up in the bathroom, since I would take long doing makeup and my hair. I slipped on the red dress and attempted to tie the straps around my neck but I struggled. Dammit.

I quickly put some mascara and some red lipstick and did my hair. I put my hair on a high ponytail and curled the ends of each hair. I left two thick strands of hair on each side and I curled it. I put on my mother's red amulet and attempted to tie the straps again but it didn't work. One day, I'd tell Natsu why the amulet is important . . . until then I couldn't. I slip on the strappy heels and hold the straps around the back of my neck. I open the bathroom door and I found Natsu trying to do his tie, but couldn't do it.

"Natsu, can you please help me?" I ask pointing at the neck straps. He nodded and walked behind me tying the straps around my neck. "Thanks—Need any help?"

Natsu chuckles nervously, "What? Why would I—Please?" I laugh slightly and help him tie his tie.

"There ya go!" I say and finish tying his tie. He looked at himself in the mirror and he grabs my hand and brought me to the mirror as well.

"We're crashing a party Luce. You know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you look gorgeous in red and it matches my tie." I look at Natsu head to toe and he looks perfectly built in that tux. His pink hair ruffled and it was messy but it still looks soft as always. If I was a teen in highschool my exact words would be, "He looks SO hot" but he looks good in a tux.

I nod and look at myself in the mirror. "You look good in that tux." My curvaceous body fits and shows perfectly in the dress. The dress exposed the higher top of my chest but it only shows not too much or too little of cleavage. It was frilly from the waist and bottom to my knees. Then, it exposed my smooth and creamy legs. My strappy heels also matched Natsu's tie.

Natsu smirks, "Aw thanks Luce, we look good for Dragneel's." I smile and blush a bit at what he said. As much as I don't want to admit, we do look good.

As soon as we were ready, we fed Happy and we left the apartment and we headed to Natsu's car. Natsu looked at me and he smiles. "Sorry if it's creeping you out so much Luce, but you look pretty in red."

I smile nervously, "Thank you Natsu . . . creep." I say and he laughs lightly. He turns on the engine and we head toward 8 Islands to pick up Mira.

As we get there, Mira is revealed with a long white dress that was silk and was pressed tightly against her body. She rocked the dress that's for sure. As she got in the back of the car she begins to squeal, "You two look so adorable! You both even match!"

I blush and smile, "Thank you Mira." We all started laughing until someone else came in the car with a salmon pink dress that was wrapped tight against her body.

"Sorry for the wait, Natsu I was—Oh, hi Lucy!" She says with a perky voice. Lisanna joined us in the car and I smile back at her,.

"Hi Lisanna." I say and I look at her dress, it matched Natsu's hair.

"Let's go! Laxus is waiting for me!" Mira says and Natsu nods reversing the car and heading to the Magnolia airport.

Time escapes and Natsu was playing his favorite punk rock band, which was coincidentally my favorite as well. Lisanna spoke up, "Hey Natsu, do you still have that dress shirt I bought you at our honeymoon?"

Honeymoon?

Natsu clears his throat nervously, "I threw it away . . . since Happy ripped it."

Mira mumbles, "Oh no." I managed to hear though.

"Oh I was just asking since it was a five-hundred dollar shirt." Lisanna says.

What is she even doing?

My phone rings and an unknown caller id shows.

"Hello?" I say in the phone.

"Lucy! It's Erza, where is Natsu?! Where is my cake?!" Erza demanded into the phone.

"Oh, uh in my apartment's fridge." I respond nervously but Natsu corrected me, "Our fridge." I mouth the words 'Not helping'.

He simply grins and Erza was screaming on the phone. "JELLAL IS HEADING TO YOUR APARTMENT AND IT BETTER BE THERE IF NOT, I WILL MURDER NATSU FOR NOT DOING WHAT I SAID!"

"Y-Yes ma'am." I say nervously and the call ended.

Lisanna continued, "Anyways, remember that restaurant you took me that night, Natsu? I think it was in Paris . . ."

Natsu chuckled nervously, "Lis, can we please not talk about our old marriage?"

"Old?!" Lisanna exclaimed.

Mira sighs, "I'm sorry Lucy." I just shrug in response.

"Lisanna, not now . . . please?" Natsu says calmly. Lisanna was turning red of anger. Why was she even trying? Then it hits me, she's trying to win Natsu back.

"Natsu Dragneel!" Lisanna yelled and I was already nervous of where this was heading.

"Lisanna, we got a divorce and we stayed as friends! Please don't talk about this!" Natsu says with a higher risen voice.

"I know but I just can't accept the fact that you're marrying her!" She points at me and I'm already nervous about this.

"Lisanna! Manners!" Mira hissed as if she was Lisanna's mother.

"I don't care! Don't you know who she is? She's Celeste Manor. The old Sorcerer Weekly model. She still looks like a modeling slut." Lisanna says rudely—now she bursted my bubble.

"Oh . . . that word." I mumble as I grit my teeth. "I'm sorry Lisanna, but you know nothing of what occurred when I was a model. You know nothing about the incident, so please stop it." I say calmly.

Natsu looks at me and mouths 'Sorry Luce.' I mouthed back 'It's fine'.

This was going to be a long ride.

A/N: That's chapter 6! I hope you liked it! The next chapter will be up on Sunday. Thanks for reading!

Next Chapter: His Old Marriage

~Lucy Heartfilia92003