Chapter 3

"Seriously. Are you that shocked? Is that phone call so important that you wanted to get hit by a car!?"

Skyler shouted out of frustration and fright. She had never witnessed a car accident and she didn't want to start any time soon. Especially when it involves someone she knows. Sam was not prepared to deal with this kind of situation. She would have just brushed off the incident and pushed her savior away without giving or receiving any explanation. Skyler was so fired up that she wasn't thinking right, so she snatched the phone out of the raven beauty's hand and shouted at the occupant on the other line.

"Listen you! Whoever you are, you almost got my Boss killed. You do it again, I'll track you down and make sure no one will ever find your body. Understand!" She shouted her last choice of words and hung up the phone.

Sam was so shocked and pale in the face that she didn't know what to say. No one had ever done anything like that for her, in her entire life. She wasn't sure how to respond to Skyler's actions nor react to anything she could come up with. It was just so overwhelming for her to accept. Especially since Sam didn't know that she had her phone placed in her hand once again.

When did I get it back? She thought.

"Seriously Boss Lady, what were you thinking?" Skyler asked in such a calm and rational way. She had taken a few breaths to calm her nerves. She didn't mean to raise her voice at the raven beauty, but judging by what she had witnessed and what could have happened, Skyler couldn't help herself.

Sam had to come up with something. "I just…wasn't paying attention. And yes that call was important but, I guess it could have waited for later."

Skyler nodded. "I thought you had left a long time ago."

Sam didn't know what to say. So she just agreed on the question, but whatever she's doing, it's working.

"I was still on the phone. After I ended it I saw you escorting Yha, Noi and Chen to their cab."

"You were on the phone for three hours?" Skyler asked.

The conversation of the incident had been long forgotten and Skyler and Sam had been discussing the conversation that the brunette was having with the Trio.

"I'm amazed at how you defended me so seriously. Especially compared to the way you talk to me."

Skyler just shrugged her shoulders and remained silent as she waited for her ride to show up.

"So the redhead? She's your girlfriend?" Sam blurted out of the blue. Skyler was caught off guard as she coughed out loud.

"Geez! Why do you gotta say it like that? And No! She's not my girlfriend. I explained to everyone at the dinner after you left that she's just a friend. She just has a…" she paused for a moment as she was trying to think of a word that would describe Nao's personality. "Unique way of introducing herself to people she doesn't know."

And a real bitch whenever opportunity intrigues her.

"Anyways, do you have a nickname, Ms. Tsuga?" Sam asked out of nowhere.

Skyler went blank. She didn't expect that question to ever come up. "I do. But only my cousin calls me that. In fact, she's the only one allowed to call me that." Skyler stated and wasn't about to reveal a nickname that was given to her since she was a kid. The nickname was special to her and also the person that gave it.

Sam tried to come up with something to keep the conversation going. For some reason she had sort of enjoyed conversing with the brunette and wanted to continue.

"Then, I will call you Sky, babe."

Skyler grinned at the notion and caught that last bit that the raven beauty had said. "You know, you really are talkative tonight. Why don't you talk to all your employees this way? And everyone calls me Sky, that's my name. And did you just call me babe?" Skyler tried to keep a straight face in front of Sam but the humor in her voice wasn't very convincing.

Shit. She noticed you idiot. Sam scolded herself.

Sam averted her eyes somewhere else and tried to gather her next words by changing the subject. She didn't know why she had said that word. It just came out. What exactly is the brunette doing here?

"How did you know I like dogs?" She asked in her authoritative way.

"I didn't, but with hard working women like you, you might not have time for relationships."

Even though your business partner is your fiance.

"So, I took a wild guess and figured that you'd be the kind of woman who likes dogs." Skyler was always good with coming up with words that would get her out of situations that might get her in trouble.

Sam observed the brunette and wasn't sure how to think of her. Skyler gazed into those black orbs and couldn't help but grin stupidly at her Boss. Sam finally noticed that Skyler had been gazing at her and needed her to stop.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Skyler shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I guess I've never seen you in this kind of mood before. Even though this is our second meeting."

"And what mood is that?" Sam demanded as she crossed her arms.

"Relaxed."

That was enough for Sam to know that she was feeling something different within here. She wasn't sure how one word could have so much affect on her mood at this moment. Sam looked up at ocean blue and saw that Skyler had given her one of her genuine smiles.

Sam shook her thoughts away and changed the subject again, "So, how are you getting home?"

"I'm waiting for the valet to arrive with my…" A roaring sound was approaching what Skyler was about to say. Once the valet parked the motorcycle, Sam was speechless to her very core.

"What is this!?"

"You know, Yha, Noi and Chen gave me the same response and the same reaction when they saw me pulling up earlier. It's my ride home. I rode it all the way from the company."

"You do know that this kind of transportation is not safe? Nor is it acceptable to society." Sam was keeping her composure and tried to not gain any more emotional distractions.

"You sound like my mom. She has issues with my choice of transportation too. But don't worry, once I told her what I named her, she bursted into tears."

"What is its name?"

Skyler turned and smiled, "Naksu. It means, warrior; one who fights to defend and protect."

Sam became confused while still standing with her arms crossed and started to admire the machine and the beauty of it. "Why did your mom cry?"

"My mom's name is Naksu. I named it after her, because that's what she is. She's my hero, and I owe everything I am to her." Skyler was ready to leave until she noticed that Sam was lost in thought that she never noticed that Skyler was calling out to her. So she snapped her fingers a few times and got her attention. "Oi! Boss Lady."

"What?" She came back from her thoughts.

"Would you like me to walk you to your car?" Skyler offered out of kindness.

Sam thought about it when she looked around her surroundings. "This way." She said as she turned and started walking.

Skyler shook her head out of amusement. She paid the valet an extra tip and asked him to watch the bike until she got back. He was surprised to see the amount of his tip and was more than generous. Skyler followed Sam to her car and was met with a black and yellow Supercar.

"This is Ms. Duanpen. It means…"

"Full moon. I see, it's a beautiful name that suits you."

Sam turned her head to hide her face that she felt was starting to turn red. Compliments from her employees was not something she was used to, it just felt so outlandish and foreign to her. Later Sam had felt something else, she felt a pair of strong but gentle arms embrace her from the side with a warm and soft jacket that was draped over her. Sam looked up and was trapped in those ocean eyes once again. She didn't know what this feeling was or how to explain why it's even happening.

What is this feeling? Sam thought.

Skyler was having the same feeling, but she was the one that initiated the gesture when she thought that the raven beauty was shivering and felt cold. So she decided to take her jacket off since it was warm enough for her to place it upon her boss.

Trapped in a staring contest again, but this time it felt so different. They were both condescending and usually aggravated whenever they got this close, but the difference was that Sam never pushed away or lowered her eyes. Or that Skyler never made a comment or gave an excuse for her actions.

"Why are you staring at me like that again, do I have something on my face?" Sam had transformed back to her authoritative role.

And there goes the moment.

"It's nothing. I'm surprised you didn't call it a wasp. It looks more like a Yellow jacket." Skyler couldn't help herself. She just loves getting under her boss's skin and always pushing her limit with her. So the brunette wanted to see how far she could go.

"Are you sure you're alright to drive that contraption?" Sam pointed to the motorcycle. "Or go to work tomorrow? You also smell like an open bar."

Skyler smiled. "I'm sure. And the party did have an open bar. Sir Kirk said to drink to our hearts content." she giggled under her breath.

"You don't know your limit."

"Hmm, you sound like you have experience in that area." Skyler smirked.

Sam needed to change the subject again. "So you're going home?"

Skyler nodded and saw that the raven beauty was about to take the jacket off but Skyler stopped her. "You don't have to do that. It's still cold, so please continue to wear it on your way home." Skyler zippered the coat up and was about to walk back to her bike when she felt Sam tug at her sleeve and stopped her. Sam handed out her cellphone. "What?"

"Your cellphone number. I would like it."

"Why?"

Sam rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. "So you could call me once you arrived home."

Skyler hesitated for a moment. She never would give her private number to just anyone, but then again she did just give it to the Trio so she didn't see the harm in giving her number to her boss. Skyler added her number and gave it back to Sam. Once she did, the raven beauty decided to call it a night and headed into her car so she could go home. Skyler watched as she vanished into the distance and walked on over to the valet, he removed himself from the motorcycle, bid her goodnight and was about to leave, until Skyler handed him another tip and a warning.

"You heard nothing. You saw nothing. Understand?" she warned him with coldness in her eyes and sternness in her voice. And all he did was nod in fright and finally left to go home.

-0-

"I swear, it was like walking into a silent movie." Nao had said.

"You seriously mention yourself as her girlfriend?" A fiery orange-haired girl with lilac purple eyes and acceptable round breast had asked in shock when she leaned in comfortably next to her companion.

"Oh yeah. Once I saw Sky and the company she was gathered around, I couldn't help but be a little theatrical." Nao sat back with her legs crossed when she congratulated herself for her performance tonight.

"Well, at least you remembered to bring back the food. And what a coincidence that her company was having their dinner party at Kagutsuchi. She should have told me, I would have made arrangements for her."

After about half an hour had passed, Skyler finally made it home. Once she parked her bike she had noticed that a black BMW was parked on the curb. She didn't need to know whose car it was or why it was there, she just smiled and continued to enter her home. Her theory had been correct, she heard loud talking coming from her living room and followed the sounds of giggles and laughter.

"No I'm telling you, there was this one woman there that was hot beyond compare. She looked like she was about to tear my head off when I approached the table. But other than that, she's hot, she's sexy, she's beautiful, she's…"

"Taken!" Skyler interrupted.

"Ahh! The lady of the house is here to grace us with her presence. And taken you say? By who, you?" Nao laughed.

"He was sitting right next to her Red. He happens to be one of my boss's and my lady boss's future husband." Skyler said with a hint of sadness in her voice but recovered fast enough for her friends to notice.

"Hey Sky, sorry for stopping by unannounced. It's just we never get to see you anymore. When your mom told us that you were hired somewhere else because you wanted to venture on your own, I felt sad and lonely." A spiked black-haired woman with golden eyes, a face of a feline but the body of a fighting warrior had said. "But then she narrowed down the specifics so I could understand and once again I was happy again. I hope you succeed." she said happily and raised two thumbs up at her friend.

"Thanks Mikoto. But I have to admit, the job seems to be a little challenging because there are more players in this game than I realized. Not to mention the timeline is a little short. At least in the past I had at least five to six months to work with, but now…" Skyler paused as she grabbed a glass of Nao's wine off the table and enjoyed the smoothness as it moved down her stomach. "I'm thinking I may have to bump up my game just a little, so I could finish my end of the arrangement and go back to how I was."

It was finally midnight and Skyler walked her friends to their car. Nao had decided to leave her car since she was in no shape to drive home. Skyler had suggested that she stayed the night but the redhead declined because the house was too far from her job and that she would pick it up tomorrow on her lunch break. Mikoto placed the drunken redhead in the back seat when Mai gave Skyler a motherly hug. If I could pick any of my friends about who I could describe as motherly, it would be her.

"Sky, are you sure you're alright with this agreement? I mean, and arrange marriage? It's not like them to do that. Especially when Natsuki had agreed with her mother about it. Now that was something I couldn't believe."

"I'm alright Mai. It's only my second day. I basically got what I needed under control. All I need to do is not piss off the Boss Lady and everything should fall into place."

"I need a shower." she whispered. She took a refreshing cool shower and headed off to her room, she sat upon her bed and let the cool air from her air-con sweep all over her body. Just out of nowhere she had thought back to the restaurant during the time the Boss Lady had asked her for her number.

Your cell number. So you can text me when you arrive home.

"Oh that's right. I forgot to text her to let her know I'm home." She took her phone and was a little hesitant about texting since it was already late. But she didn't wanna make her worry and not let her know that she was home.

I arrived home an hour ago. I'm sorry I didn't text you earlier. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.

She had finished the text, placed it on her stand connected to her charger, turned off her lamp and adjusted herself to find her sleep. Something was pegging her mind but she was too tired to care at all, so she shrugged it off and finally went to sleep.

-0-

"Hey, Lady Stupidity! Stop twirling your glass. You're going to drop it and ruin the table cloth."

Sam had rolled her eyes then picked up her glass as she twirled it in her hand.

"Tee!"

"What?" A handsome yet feminine woman with the appearance of a male supermodel had jumped in surprise when a very gorgeous woman sitting next to her had caught her attention.

"What's wrong with her?" she asked.

Tee looked over at the raven beauty and wasn't sure how to answer her friend's question. "How would I know, Jim"

"Argh! How many times have I told you, when we are in public, address me as Martha!"

"And how many times have I told you? That being called Jim is more than enough for you. We've always called you that because it's your name. And besides, she hasn't said one word since we showed up."

"Ugh whatever. Lady Stupidity. What's wrong?" Jim demanded an answer.

"Nothing."

Both Jim and Tee looked at each other as if thinking the same thing.

"It's something." They said in unison.

Both Jim and Tee looked at each other as if they were thinking the same thing.

"It's something.

"I said nothing is wrong."

"Nothing means something for sure." Tee stated. "You always say the opposite of how you feel, you know."

"You haven't taken your eyes off your phone. Are you expecting a call or text?"

Jim was about to reach over and grab the phone. But it was snatched back by the owner that wore a stone look of possession.

"You're nosy." She answered.

Jim felt insulted but was able to brush it off for now.

"Anyways, since you called us out this late, what's the big emergency?" She asked. "I had to come up with a bunch of excuses to see you. I love my hubby and I don't like keeping things from him. Especially when they involve my friends."

Sam took another sip of her wine while listening to her friend rant about tricking her boyfriend so she could be there for her. Jim is such an awesome friend.

"If this is not a big deal, then I'm going home." She declared.

"Hey wait. Let's wait for Kade and Mon to get here. That way you can tell us in one go." Tee decided and tried to keep Jim from leaving. "Kade just texted me. She and Mon are parking the car. Ah see, here they come."

Two beautiful women had rushed into the restaurant like they were late for something. One arrived looking like she just appeared out of a movie screen and the other looked like she just woke up.

"Hello everyone we're here." Kade said cheerfully and sat down. "Excuse me, can I have a wine please. Jim, what's so funny? I had to drive all the way to pick up Mon after my shooting."

"What role are you playing this time?" Tee asked out of curiosity.

"Guess…"

Kade pointed out.

Jim and Tee looked at each other again and Tee came up with a guess.

"A transvestite."

Gasp. Kade was insulted that she flipped her off and asked Jim for her guess.

"You're a…hooker!"

Kade became red with irritation but she knew that her friends were just playing.

"I'm playing a spy you dorks. Can't you tell at all?"

"Well what did Mon guess?" Jim asked when they looked over to the half asleep woman.

"I thought she was a drag queen." She said without a care in the world. They all laughed until Mon got to the point. "Anyway Sam, what was so important that it couldn't wait till morning." Mon had sounded grumpy but also tired as she placed her head on the table cloth.

"The reason I called you all tonight is because I'm stressed about this arrangement my parents had planned."

The quartet nodded as if they knew what was coming.

"What is it this time?" Tee asked first.

"It's about the company. If I can't make it successful this year I'll have to shut it down and replace my father's position when he retires."

Gasp. They were all surprised at that last bit.

"Taking over for your father? But I thought your brother wanted that job? Did your dad pass him off?" Jim asked hysterically.

"No, no it's not that. My brother is more than capable. I just don't understand why papa would choose me over him."

Everyone became quiet and waited for Sam to finish. "And to top it all off, they want me to find a romantic companion in three months."

"WHAT!" All four had shouted. Surprising everyone in the restaurant.

"Sam, you're joking right? Three months is impossible. It took you more than a year to figure out your feelings for Mon, and even that went down hill." Jim was so blunt that she covered her mouth at the last minute.

"Oh thanks. I really needed to hear that, thanks." Sam said sarcastically and looked over to Mon for clarity and support.

"It's alright Sam. I knew that we both weren't meant to be. We both wanted different things and we agreed to still be friends. And I'll support you no matter what."

Sam smiled and nodded her head. "Thanks Mon."

They had a late night dinner and started discussing random things, like Kade's new role, Tee's new company line, Mon's promotion at her new job and Jim's engagement party. Sam had some successful friends and they all seemed to be happy with their lives except for her.

"So what's your plan, Lady Stupidity?"

"This company has been my only source of happiness. I don't think I could bear it if it went under."

"Well, there's only one solution. This company must survive. If you can do that, then I think you can still be happy. And who knows, you might actually find someone in the process."

Tee declared and Sam liked her assumption. So they all raised a toast to Sam's situation. Kade and Tee had finally noticed that Jim wasn't drinking any alcohol.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Tee asked.

"I didn't feel like it." Jim swirled her orange juice.

"No way, are you fasting?" Kade asked with interest.

"No, the reason why is because I have to watch my health…" she paused and rubbed her stomach. "For both of us." She said mysteriously.

Everyone looked at Jim rubbing her belly and then it all fell into place. They cheered for their friend. "You're pregnant?" Kade had to make sure and Jim nodded excitedly. Then Mon got up and gave Jim a hug of congratulations and Tee did the same thing.

"I'm Happy for you." Sam said.

"Oh yeah I can see you're very thrilled. Thanks Sam." Jim said happily. Sam glanced at her phone and was starting to feel worried.

They finally decided to leave and head home their separate ways. Sam checked her phone again and saw that she didn't get any text from Skyler. She got in her car and stayed there for a while so that she could gather her thoughts. But what she did next was very childish of her.

-0-

Ding-ding-ding. The sound of her phone was repeating the same tone, which went on for a whole minute. She got up and grabbed her phone, her vision wasn't clear since she had gone to bed hours ago and didn't expect anyone to be texting her this late.

"What the hell. Boss Lady?" She said confused but also groggy. She noticed that the texts were angry flaming bear stickers, "Is she mad at me? Why is she upset? I texted her saying I was home" Skyler had to do a recap and think back a few hours before she went to bed. She scrolled through her text messages and knew that she sent a text to one of her coworkers, but had forgotten about her boss."Well shit. No wonder she's pissed off " Skyler had to come up with something before she slips into a coma. She was very tired and needed to end this torture. "Okay."

{I'm sorry I didn't text you. I could have sworn I did.

It was getting late so I didn't bother you.

I'm home safe. I didn't kill anyone on my contraption. Lol.}

Skyler said what she had to and went back to bed, not wanting to wait for the response.

Sam read all the texts and was deciding what she should say. She had thought of something at first but deleted it before she could send it. Until she knew what she wanted, she pressed send and smiled with satisfaction.

Ding. Skyler's phone went off and her curiosity got the best of her and looked at what her boss had sent.

{It's late. Have some manners.}

Skyler furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What? She asked me to text and now she's telling me off? Honestly she's such an enigma."

Skyler decided to change her boss's ID caller name into, The Enigma! Because that is what she sees in her new boss.