Hello! Short in between chapter!

Sam sat at his desk, running his hand through his hair yet again. He was going through all his files looking for the contract he had with Penny but his mind wouldn't let him concentrate. He never allowed himself to get attached the way he did with Mercedes and he damn sure didn't keep coming back to the same woman after she's turned him away more than once.

"Mariah, can you get my ungrateful brother on the phone?" He asked, into the intercom right as Sebastain walked into his office.

"Yo… when do you plan on going home and showering?" Sebastian asked, frowning at him.

"I showered two hours ago, stop being dramatic."

"Yeah, well you don't look like it… I have those files you wanted from me. I don't know why you couldn't have just asked your girl to get them though." He teased, tossing the files down.

"She doesn't work for Anthony anymore… nor is she here." He replied, sifting through the files and finding the one marked Jones. He scanned it looking it over before slamming it down and letting out a deep breath.

"Something wrong?" Sebastian asked. "I thought everything was going good."

Sam frowned. "So did I but I can't be mad about it because she had a good reason why she wanted to stay… at least that's what I'm choosing to tell myself."

"Why not just work from there? You can work anywhere, you know that right?"

"I have to handle Dwight first… she doesn't deserve to have that kind of concern."

Sebastian smirked. "Well shit, Evans. Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you've fallen in love."

Sam raked his hands through his hair. "Seems so… but I can't force her to love me."

"What makes you think that she doesn't love you already?"

"I don't and I can't think about it because I have-"

"Mr. Evans, there's an Anthony Rashad here to see you." The receptionist said into his intercom.

Sam rolled his eyes. "I don't have time to deal with this bull shit." He mumbled. "Does he have an appointment?"

"No, sir but he is very… adminant and is refusing to calm down."

Sebastian smirked. "Want me to interfere?"

"No, it's fine. I'd much rather tell a man to his face that he's lost everything." Sam replied. "Send him in."

"Yes, sir." Mariah said and Sam reluctantly stood from his chair as the door opened and Anthony stormed inside.

"What the fuck is this!" Anthony yelled, waving papers in the air. "You think you can just take my business? The business I created? No, I won't stand for this!'

Sam folded his arm, giving him a bored look. "Your company is publicly traded, you sold a few too many of your shares and I acquired them. The deal is legit and legal, you still have a good amount of shares in your company but you now work for me."

Anthony huffed, balling up his fists. "Why would you take a business that doesn't even align with the companies you have? Why would you just steal my life's work!"

"I'm expanding, your business was an easy acquisition. Now, if you'll excuse me- I have work to attend to."

Anthony narrowed his eyes on him. "Hmm… she got to you didn't she?"

Sam looked at him hard, frowning. "Who?"

"Jones. I know that look and I know the effect she has on people. Let me guess, that shy shit worked on you huh? Then she spread those sweet legs of hers and took you to heaven, didn't she?"

Sam felt his jaw clenching but tamed his features. "Get the fuck out of my office." He warned and Anthony smirked, letting out a deep chuckle.

"Mhm, I should've known…" He taunted, shaking his head. "Bet she never wrapped those soft lips around-" He was cut off by Sam's fist making contact with his jaw.

Anthony wiped his mouth grinning. "I see you haven't had that luxury, mmm… let me tell you, she opened that pretty mouth of hers and took me all the way. I can still feel her tongue-"

"That's enough." Sebastian said, grabbing Sam before he could attack Anthony again. "Leave before I cut him loose."

Sam shoved Sebastian. "YOU'LL BE ON THE STREETS IN A WEEK!"

Anthony shot him a devilish grin. "I bet you didn't even know she was at my office earlier today."

Sam froze, feeling the air leaving his lungs. "Get him out of here."

Sebastian pushed Anthony out of the office while Sam grabbed his things. "Dude, don't do anything irrational."

Sam frowned. "He has no reason to lie about her being here. There's no way in hell he could've known I was courting her…"

Sebastian shot him a look before laughing. "Everyone knew! Are you serious? Don't take your anger out on her because of something you know that isn't true!"

Sam muttered, pushing past him. "She could've told me she was back…"

"She didn't have to though, look I don't know what happened or why you left her there but she didn't have to tell you anything. You have access to multiple jets, cars and money- did you go back for her?"

Sam blew out a harsh breath. "I told her I would be back in one month, which ends in three days!"

"Did you call her? Text her? Let her know that you were thinking about her?" Sebastian questioned.

"Doesn't matter now, does it?" He bounced back, but the truth was he had been reaching out.

Sam stormed out of his office, pulling out his phone. He hadn't felt this since he was a teenager and he vowed to never let anyone have this affect on him again.

SE: You could've given me the heads up that you were back in Savannah.

He scrolled through the countless messages he'd sent before, growing even more furious because they were all unanswered. He hated the feeling of wanting and waiting for her to reply and it never happened. He sent gifts, cards and even flew down there but he kept his distance after telling her he was in town.

She'd made her position clear, she didn't want anything to do with him and he could handle pretending that wasn't the case but this… this was the final straw.

He dialed Kitty's number as he got into his car. "Kitty, stop the delivery to Ms. Jones and see that no more is sent. Also, send all her belongings to her parents." He said.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"God-damnit,Kitty, just do it!" Sam shouted.

Kitty sighed. "You know, just because things aren't going your way doesn't mean you can speak to me in any type of way!"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Just see that it's done and if you can't handle the requirements of your job, I'll find a replacement." He barked before hanging up and peeling out of the garage. He didn't want to be around anyone and he didn't want to ever let his guard down like he did with Mercedes again.

So he was going to leave, there was no real reason to keep staying in Savannah now, he'd hoped that she would return but after a few weeks of no contact and now this, it was too much to- he had to get the hell out of Savannah and away from the south.

Three Weeks Later

Business Mogul Sam Evans, spotted out yet again with another socialite,drunkenly leaving New York's upscale Indigo room. This is the second week in a row, the mogul has been spotted out.

Sam groaned, tossing the paper aside. "Kitty, I thought you were getting this under control."

Kitty snorted. "Yeah and hell magically froze over. Can't control it if you keep doing it."

Sam rubbed his temples, his head was pounding. "Tell them I'm celebrating."

She rolled her eyes. "No, you're lashing out because even after you vowed to stop harassing Mercedes, you're still doing it."

Sam looked at her confused. "What are you talking about?"

Kitty pulled out her phone and selected the messages. "I had to link your stuff to mine to monitor you and you've been sending her countless messages, phone calls and voicemails… don't even get me started on the drunken emails. You have went through every stage of this break up and have somehow got stuck in the keep fucking up stage."

Sam grabbed her phone, shaking his head as he read the messages. "Fuck." He said, running his hand through his hair. "I don't remember sending these and I don't remember calling her."

"Of course you don't!" They heard, looking up to see Unique standing there frowning. "Had the damn nerve to ask me to send that girl wedding dresses. She don't want your drunk ass!"

Sam groaned, placing his head into his hands. "I KNOW!" He shouted. "I know and it fucking sucks, okay? I have-"

"Never had to work this hard." Kitty and Unique said in unison.

"We know and frankly we're tired of hearing it. If you're not going to stop going with these hoes and take some action then that's on you but for the love of all things, stop harassing that girl." Unique said, rubbing her temples.

"I don't know how to eat crow okay?" He admitted.

Unique sighed. "I swear you and your brother ain't got the sense God gave you. It's not hard to just say that, you want her back? This ain't how you do it. You are a multi-billionaire running around drunk in the streets of New York pining over a woman who hasn't replied to you in well over two months. Get your shit together."

Sam sat up, a deep frown on his face. "I am nothing like Stevie."

"Ha!" Kitty said, choosing that moment to walk away.

"Honey, the apple came off the same vine. Now, I did my part and got your brother together and I'm not about to sit here and get you together." Unique replied, making Sam look at her. "Get your head out of your ass and think, would she intentionally stop responding?"

Sam thought it over before shaking his head. "No… I don't think she would."

"Then there must be another reason she hasn't replied and you have probably made it worse by all the shit you've been doing."

"But why not just tell me to leave her alone or that she's no longer interested or…"

"Lord… sometimes and I know this will be hard to comprehend but sometimes the sun rises and sets on someone's ass. There might be something keeping her from reaching out or she's going through something and doesn't have the words or time."

"No because-"

Unique shook her head. "No buts, I'm sure you don't want her to come back with you acting like a damn fool. So get it together." She said, standing. "Got me out here fixing your problems, your brother's problems whew… I am not Oprah!"

Sam chuckled, watching her leave before looking around and realizing he'd been living like some drunk frat boy, his place was an absolute mess and he had piles of paperwork that needed tending but one thing Unique said stood out the most- there might've been something preventing her from replying and that thought had never crossed his mind.

Selfishly he'd assumed that she would reply once she was ready to come back and that was a mistake on his part because he'd grown to know Mercedes to be very precise in her actions. He stood, feeling nauseous, he had hit a wall and now it was time to face the music but it wouldn't start with Mercedes.

It would start with a work out.

It appears Sam Evans had a much needed reality check. It's been four weeks and not one club sighting! Looks like the mogul is back on the grind too, he recently took over three more businesses making him the most ruthless in the game!

Sam sat listening to his PR manager that Kitty forced him to hire, go on and on about how well his image had improved. He'd never paid that much attention to his image but having these weekly meetings shed a ton of light into how the public viewed him. He was favored by women, which wasn't a huge surprise to him but men in his line of work viewed him as pompous and power hungry to which he didn't really care but there was a small portion of people who didn't even know what he did for a living.

"You just have to keep on the straight and narrow for a little while longer and your approval ratings will rise in time for this next take over you have planned."

Sam nodded, scrolling through his phone before it pinged. He felt the air leave his lungs when he saw who it was from and stood, immediately walking out of the room to open the email he'd just received.

Sam,

I hope this finds you well…

I felt it was time to explain my absence.

Tomorrow, 51st Street and Broadway 3:00pm.

Mercedes Jones.

The next chapter will be centered around the two months with Mercedes! I will fill in the plot holes regarding Stevie, Dwight and Penny in a separate chapter before the conclusion! XOXO