Sawyer is in the living room when I arrived and it looks like he's been waiting for me.

"I have been worried shit about you! Where have you been?! That Alexei guy went here last night looking for you. What did he want from you?" Sawyer looks hysterical.

"I'm okay Sawyer, really. Now let's heat up some food from the fridge so we can have breakfast and you can take your meds. I'm so sorry I got you worried." I walked towards the kitchen while Sawyer followed from behind.

"Worried? I am mad Belle!!!!! You could have at least messaged me last night that you were fine but you did not! I was calling you but I cant contact you on your phone."

I know it's my bad, I could have at least called him but after everything that happened last night, calling him, did not cross my mind.

"I'm so sorry Sawyer. I never really meant to worry you. Forgive me?" I give him an apologetic eyes.

He just stares at me sternly. What's up with him?

I decided to ignore his tantrum. "Cmon, let's eat, I'm starving."

"Why was he looking for you?" Geez can't he just let this one go?

"Uhm.. Alexei needed to tell me something but my phone was dead. Then, I went for a run last night, I didn't bring my phone with me. So he went here personally."

"So he's your boyfriend now?"

"Who Alexei?" I retorted but he didn't answer me, he just stares at me like he was expecting me to answer my own question "No but..." I was about to tell him about Nikolai but Loraine arrived earlier than expected, interrupting our conversation.

"Hey Loraine, how's the trip?"

"It was fine Belle, thank you so much for everything."

"No problem."

Loraine went towards Sawyer's direction, cups his face and kissed him on his forehead. "How are you honey? You look upset, is there something bothering you?"

"I'm okay mum."

Loraine glanced at me perhaps expecting an answer.

"I was calling Charlie but he's not answering my call since last night." Sawyer said while looking at me intently. My gosh, Sawyer is killing me right now. I feel guilty as hell.

"I'm sure your friend will call you soon." Lorraine then came up to me and gave me a tight hug. "Thank you so much for everything Belle."

Moments later, the doorbell rang. Loraine was the one who answered the door. I can hear from afar that she's talking to someone. I was slicing an apple for Sawyer when suddenly, "Hey Belle, a guy named Nikolai is here, he said he's your boyfriend?" said Loraine.

My eyes widened in disbelief, what the hell is he doing here?

"Hey baby." Nikolai walks in wearing a dark blue suit and his usual God like presence. Inside me suddenly swirls in emotion. It slowly sinks in that he's actually my boyfriend now.

From the corner of my eye, I can see that Sawyer is looking at Nikolai intently. Yep Sawyer that's him, that's Nikolai Vyacheslav Volkov. I noticed that he instantly recognized Nikolai. Perhaps from the picture on the internet we searched the last time. Loraine just went behind Sawyer's wheelchair.

Nikolai then approached my direction.

"You left this in our bed." Nikolai is holding a cellphone, but I'm sure as hell that's not my phone. I just decided to go along with him. What is he even doing here? "Oh, thanks."

Nikolai went close to me, perhaps too close. He grabs me on my waist and planted a kiss on my lips. I blushed and felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. Dammit Nikolai, what has gotten into him?

"No problem."

"Uhm, by the way Nikolai this is Loraine and her son Sawyer, this is Nikolai my boyfriend." I don't know why but I cringe whenever I refer to him as my "boyfriend", it just sounds too teeny bopper.

"You look perfect for each other. Young man, you are one lucky guy. Trust me when I say that, she's all a man could ever want. Just ask my Sawyer here."

Nikolai smiled and looked me in he eyes, "I know, that's why I'm keeping her and I'm gonna make sure no one gets in our way."

Shit! Now I know what's going on here.

"Why don't you join us for lunch Nikolai?" Asked Loraine while making her way to the fridge.

"I would love to but I have a meeting twenty minutes from now. It was nice meeting you, and Sawyer." Nikolai and Sawyer had a stare down. Nikolai looks arrogantly handsome, Sawyer on the other hand looked pretty intense. Thank goodness Loraine is not paying attention. I decided to interrupt them.

"Um Nikolai, I'll see you later?"

I slowly escort him towards the door while glaring at him. He was smirking like he was enjoying the whole situation. While at the door, Nikolai grabs me by my waist and whispered to my ear. "I am a man of my words. This is what happens when you defy me."

I swear I feel like volts of electric current ran through my body the moment Nikolai said those words. It was infuriating but soooo damn hot at the same time.

"I'll see you later. I think my message has been clearly conveyed." He then lets go of me. My body was left longing for his presence. Uggghh Nikolai!!!!

★★★★★★★

I heard a bike park in front of my apartment. And I think I have an idea who it is.

"Belle."

"Hum let me guess, some angel sent you here because she's being paranoid again."

"Close enough, the angel part I'm not quite sure."

That's actually funny. I know my bestfriend too well and angel is not exactly the word to describe her. I let out a booming laugh.

"Dylan I am fine. You really don't have to check up on me all the time. I can perfectly take care of myself."

"I know, I just want to make sure that you're settling well, hey what happened to your door?"

"Oh some psycho tried to barge in last night. I'm kidding. I forgot my key inside, I didn't have a spare so I had to ask a neighbour to break it for me." I am soooo sorry Dylan, but I just don't have enough energy to explain the truth tonight.

"Oh, well I am sorry but I am not leaving just yet. I am on direct orders. You know her, she's too much Belle, you have to let me do this."

"Fine, come in."

"Make yourself comfortable. Ill just take a shower Dy." I turned the television on and gave him the remote control. Dylan removed his jacket and sat on the couch. To be honest, I feel comfortable with Dylan around. I feel like I have known him for a long time already.

When I finished taking my shower I check up on Dylan. I can hear some banging in the living room. I was surprised to see Dylan, with no shirt on and glistening with sweat. He's been trying to fix my door with some makeshift lock. I almost opened my mouth in awe, thank goodness I quickly came to my senses! Dammit Dylan why do you have to be an eye candy?

"You didn't have to do that."

"It's fine Belle, it's just a quick fix, I'll go to warehouse supply tomorrow to get you some stuffs for your apartment. Consider it my welcome gift to you."

"Awwwwwww, Dylan you are the sweetest. You really don't have to do it. Alexei promised that he'll have it fixed." I quickly regret mentioning Alexei's name. Dylan has a puzzled look on his face.

"Alexei? From the clinic?"

"Uh yah, he's our neighbor right across the street."

"Oh, you two are?"

"No! No no, of course not. Haha, He's a friend." Geeez can I sound more defensive than that?

"Ah, you have found some friends already."

"Yup, what can I say, I'm miss congeniality."

"Haha."

"Hey the cut, did you get that from fighting, mma?"

"Yup. Sort of."

"Come, let me see it."

Dylan and I are on the couch, I am on my knees inspecting Dylan's cut. "It looks like it's already healing. When was your fight?"

"Last week."

"And you did not even invite me, friend?"

"Haha! You might not like what you will see Belle. It's kind of a brutal world."

"And you think I'm too girly girl?"

"Is that a trick question?"

I smack him in the shoulder. "Seriously though, you really enjoy fighting?"

"Yes. I like the adrenaline rush when I'm in the cage. I feel alive and in control."

"When's your next fight?"

"I don't know yet. It's my gym who decides really."

"Here." I give him the necklace my mother gave me before I left. It has a gold pendant embossed with the image of Mama Mary on it. " I think you will be needing this for your upcoming fights."

"Wow Belle, this is beautiful"

"Yes it is. My mother gave it to me before I left. Consider it as my thank you gift."

"Wow, this is the sweetest a person has ever done to me. Ill take care of this. Thanks Belle."

A ring from his phone interrupted our conversation.

"Excuse me Belle, I'll just take this."

"Sure, go ahead."

Several seconds later he taps his phone and sat back beside me. "Hey it's my trainer, he needs me in the gym, are you gonna be okay."

"Yup, absolutely. I don't want to be a bother to you. I have been taking so much of your time lately."

"You are never a bother to me Belle. Just call me whenever, okay?"

"Okay."

"By the way, I have been trying to call you but I cant seem to reach you."

"Oh yah, I kinda lost my phone but I got a new one. Can you give me your number? Ill call you so you can save my number." While I dial his number, I can see from the corner of my eye that he is looking at my face.

"Okay. So I guess Ill go now." Dylan removed me from his embrace and looked me in the eyes like he was about to say something. "Uhh, goodnight Belle."

"Night Dy."

Dylan kissed my forehead and thanked me again for the pendant. Moments later, I felt my phone vibrate, it's a text from Nikolai.

"Coming home now. I better not find you at Sawyer's again."

Yup, the man is crazy. I hit reply.

"Have you been skipping sessions with your shrink again?

Serves you right. Ugh! What has Sawyer ever done to him? The kid is just lonely. He could at least be nice to him. I quickly texted him again.

"Off to sleep early. I'll see you tomorrow. First day at St. Mary's."

"Fine, but not in your apartment. Your door is still broken."

"My door is perfectly fine now. Good night."

"No it's not. I personally made sure it never gets fixed. Now go to my place. My bed now!"

My mouth parted in disbelief. Is this man being serious? I am soooo mad at him! I know Alexei told me to give him a chance but he is being unreasonable! I hit reply.

"No! I'm sleeping in my own bed."

Seconds later I received a message from Alexei.

"Hey princess, the Boss looks mental. What have you done?"

What have I done? These two are too much!

"Your Boss needs a mental hospital."

His next reply made my heart jump.

"Well from the looks of it, he'll be needing more than that. We're here."

They'r here. My heart is beating a million times. Seconds later I can see that the door is being forced open.

"Open the door baby or I swear I'm going to rip this apart!" That's Nikolai and he sounds furious.

My phone vibrated, it's a message from Alexei again.

"Princess, open the door. The man is going nuts."

What is wrong with these people? He did not have to react this way. And I'm supposed to be the one who has the right to be mad right now. I did not move a muscle, I just stood there a few meters away from the door.

Suddenly, I hear one loud bang, my door opened wide it didn't even put up a fight. My poor door. It has been through a lot these days.

Nikolai walked in and he looks mad as hell. When he saw me, he looked at me intently like a wolf that is about to devour its prey. Oh my god! What is wrong with me? Why do I find a furious Nikolai appealing? He looks mad hot! Dammit! Normal people will be scared shit right now but I don't feel a single pint of fright towards Nikolai.

"Does it really pleases you to defy me?" He slowly paced towards my direction. He's almost half-way near me when he suddenly took a halt. Something has caught his attention. Shit! It's Dylan's black leather jacket!!!! My brain suddenly took an overdrive. Oh my god, what am I going to do?

"Whose jacket is this?" He held it in his left hand.

Shit! Of all the time, why now Dylan, why did you choose this time to forget your jacket? Uhhhh!!!!!

"Answer me!" Nikolai growled like a mad man.

"It's Dylan's, he's a friend."

"Why was he here?"

"Uhhh, he came to visit."

"Visit you at this time of the night? What kind of a shitty excuse is that? You are never seeing him again!"

"Dylan is a friend! He's also my bestfriend's brother so no Nikolai, you can't make me do that!" I said while crossing my arms in front of me.

Nikolai let's out a sigh as his lips slowly pulled to the side, forming a smile. "You know baby, you're the only person in this world who says no to me and gets away with it."

"Hummm... what can I say. You're under my spell now." I said confidently.

"True." Nikolai shook his head.

I then gasped as I realize something. "Hey, did we just have our first LQ?"

"LQ?"

"Yah, LOVER'S QUARREL. Duh!"

"Haha! I think so baby."

"I think we nailed it."

*****meanwhile at Belle's front porch are Alexei, Yuri and Boris.********

The three men are just standing there, overhearing everything. They glanced at each other in disbelief. Boris twirls his huge index finger on the side of his head signalling "crazy". Yuri and Alexei snorted and shook their heads in response.

***********************************************************************

"Put me down Nikolai!!!!!!!" I'm trying so hard to wiggle away from him but he is too strong. He's manhandling me like it's nothing.

"I'm tired, I want to go to bed. I won't be able to sleep without your sweet smell."

"My smell? You seriously need to see a doctor Nikolai!" Oh my gosh, this man is unbelievable.

I gasped in horror when he hit his palm on my ass it made a swishing sound. "Did you just slap my bum? Nikolai put me down!!! Now!!!!"

We pass through the front porch and saw Alexei, Boris and another guy who also looks familiar. Alexei was smirking like a puppy. I just hissed at him in response. Oh my God, what have I put myself into?