FIXATION

by J. K. Marquez

  "So you are the famous Eden?" She asked amused. She looked at me up and down and even did a turn just looking at me.

  "This is what I'm up against?" She gave a big laugh.

  "Excuse me?" I said.

  "Who are you?" I asked almost afraid of the answer.

  "Oh, I'm sorry how terribly rude of me. I'm sure you have heard of me. I'm Courtney nice to meet you, Eden"

  Courtney...Courtney... Where had I heard that name before? And then it just hit me. Like a bullet to the heart. My whole world just froze.

  "Courtney..." I said.

  "Yes, " she said.

  "As in L.A Courtney?" I couldn't talk.

  " I had no idea Ross was engaged to my defense he didn't...mention you at all," she said smiling.

  She clearly was enjoying this a lot. She kept looking at me smiling.

  "Look, Ross and I have history little girl. Did you honestly think that you had a chance after he saw me again?"

  "I didn't know about you, " I said with tears threatening to make their way down my cheeks.

  "Who do you think set up the L.A meeting? Little naive girl"

  I couldn't talk.

  "Ross couldn't resist seeing me again. I'm just surprised it took him this long to tell you about us"

  I just couldn't.

  I ran down the stairs tripping and falling breaking my ankle in the process at least it felt like it. I tripped down the three steps that were left. I just couldn't hold on to anything and I just wanted to get out of there.

  I wanted to punch the smirk off her face but I didn't have the strength to do so." I was weak with pain, hurt and anger and not from the pain of my recently broken ankle but the pain of finally knowing the reason why Ross didn't contact me or even look for me.

  It was now clear. He was with her.

  As I tried my hardest to get up I felt strong arms grabbing me and pulling me up.

  "Leave me the hell alone" I yanked and pulled myself off his grasp and I spat on whoever's face hopefully Ross. But it wasn't Ross it was Rock.

  "Rock"

  "Eden," he said wide-eyed.

  "Are you okay?" He asked.

  "Like you care and tell your boss that I never want to see him ever again as long as I walk this earth!"

  I tried to walk but my broken ankle gave in and I fell to the floor again.

  "Let me help you"

  "Don't touch me!!" I shouted as loud as I could. Rock backed off.

  I looked up and saw Courtney smiling as if she was given a raise at her job. Her white teeth we're clearly smiling at my misery. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse. I saw Ross's range rover pulled in the driveway.

  I was still on the floor unable to get up. When the door of the range rover slammed pretty hard. There was no doubt that he saw me.

  Great!.

  Chapter 33.

  Eden POV

  I tried so desperately to get up but my ankle wouldn't give in it was too painful but I pushed through the pain because that's how much I wanted to get out of there.

  I let out a soft scream as I got up on my own pushing all my weight on my other leg.

  "Eden?" Just as I was getting up he calls my name and rushes to me.

  "Don't come near me!" I screamed as loud as I could. That took him by surprise. He stopped on his track.

  He looked different. His blonde locks we're everywhere and he was growing a beard. He also looked like he hadn't slept in days.

  "Eden, what's wrong? What happened?" He said.

  I looked up at the porch. Courtney was there leading over smiling like an idiot.

  He followed my gaze and quickly tried to explain.

  "Eden is not what you think..."

  "Don't come near me Ross I swear I will run"

  "You can't you are hurt you will only hurt yourself more," he said.

  "Like you give a damn!" I shouted at him.

  Tears finally made their way down my cheeks. I hate how sensitive I really am. I try to have this hard exterior on the outside but I'm really not like that at all in the inside.

  "Courtney is really sick she needs help and that's why she is here..."

  "That's why you didn't come find me! You didn't come looking for me! You didn't call me or text me you just... You gave up because of her!" I shouted and pointed at the smiling druggie on the porch.

  "No that's not true at all!" He said trying to come closer.

  "Then why didn't you come?"

  "I thought you didn't want me there I didn't want to upset you more than I had..."

  "Bullcrap! That never stopped you before! Before when I had to be by your side at all times even when around other girls doing your crap I was always there because you wanted me there and all of a sudden you want to say you didn't want to upset me! You don't even believe that yourself Ross!"

  "Is true Eden things change before I was a controlling freak who didn't think about what you wanted. I put my needs first and that was only pushing you away from me further away."

  "Not talking to me sure didn't help Ross!"

  "I'm the one that made the mistake Eden. I wanted to give you time to forgive me. To fully forgive me" he said throwing his head down.

  "I have made so many mistakes with you with everyone. I didn't want to make another one and lose you for good"

  "By having her here!" I shouted and pointed at Courtney again.

  "The woman you cheated on me with! You brought her here to the house where we were going to live together! Our house I so stupidly thought!"

  "This is your house, Eden..."

  "No is not," I said tears flushing down my eyes now like waterfalls.

  "I'm so sorry Eden I really am."

  "If you really were sorry you wouldn't have the woman who tore us apart here at your house! Clearly, you still have feelings for her."

  "No, I don't at all. I only love you. Please you have to believe me! Please!"

  I almost didn't believe him. But now he was on the floor with tears in his eyes. I had never in the many years that I knew Ross Lyner the most powerful man in our town. Never had I seen him this vulnerable.

  I cried too. I let my weak ankle give in a fell to the ground myself. Putting my hands on my face. It seemed like the universe stopped moving for a second and the pain kept creeping in undoubtedly destroying my senses because I wanted to run and hug him and kiss him. But I couldn't walk.

  "Ross..." As I was getting ready to call him to me the red car pulls in. Olivianna.

  "Eden" she screamed and ran to me.

  "Come on get up ill help you" she put an arm around my shoulder and helped me up.

  "Let's go," she said.

  "She's not going anywhere with you Olivianna she is staying here with me" Ross got up and was very serious more than I had ever seen him before. The vulnerable man was no more.

  "She's coming with me Ross you've done enough, let's go Eden" she tried to help me move but Ross was upon us in an instant.

  "I'm not going to tell you again. Let her go" he was in front of us now.

  "Ross" Rock came to stand by him.

  "Relax boss"

  "Let her go Olivianna or ill forget you are my dad's squeeze"

  "What you're going to hit me or kill me" she shouted at him. This was getting out of hand.

  "I'm not a killer bitch! But there can always be a first time for everything." He stepped closer. I had never seen him this way before ever. He was scaring me.

  "Ross" Rock tried to pull him back but Ross was dead serious.

  "Is okay Oli ill stay" I finally said. I didn't want any trouble.

  "The hell you will with this lunatic and cheater!" She spat at him.

  Ross cleaned his face with his sleeve.

  "Really Olivianna you want to talk about cheating. The Italian slut who made herself into my dad's bed knowing he was married! And left her husband behind without divorcing him first. Really slut you want to talk about cheaters!"

  "Oh get a life Ross your dad deserves bet
ter than your worthless gold digger mom and so does Eden"

  "Don't push me you fucking slut..."

  Ross came at Olivianna but Rock was holding him back rarely.

  "Rhino!!!!Jack!!!!Rat!!!!" Rock was calling everyone. A bunch of men came to help holding Ross back. It took this many men to hold one. That's how strong Ross really was.

  "Enough!!!!" I screamed pushing Olivianna away from me that I felt on the floor hurting myself even more but I didn't care.

  "What has this come too!" I shouted.

  "You say you love me but you show something completely different," I said looking at Ross.

  "I do love you, more than anything," he said.

  "Then why are you acting like this. This is not the Ross I know." I said with more tears coming down my cheeks.

  "Because she wants to take you away from me"

  He said calming down.

  "I won't allow her to take you away from me again," he said.

  "So you will hurt her in the process? What makes you think I will want to be with you if you do something like that?"

  "I wasn't going to hurt her. I was going to pull you away from her and into me" he said.

  "And hurt Eden in the process really smart 10+ student," she said to him.

  "Shut the fuck up Olivianna I swear just shut up!" He screamed.

  "Olivianna stop!" I said.

  "You are really going to stay here with him! After what he has done to you! He's just going to keep hurting you why can't you see that!"

  She pleaded with me. I was numb I didn't know what to say or do.

  "Like you have hurt her without her knowing it" Rock finally spoke.

  Everyone looked at Rock even Ross.

  "What?" I said looking at Oli.

  "I always stay quiet and silent. A quiet lamb being chased by the wolf's well I will stay quiet no more!" Rock said.

  At this point, everyone was outside even Carol and her granddaughter. The smiling Courtney had a front row to the show as well and that bothered me so much.

  "I'm tired of everyone treating Ross as if he is a piece of meat with no feelings whatsoever. Yes, he makes mistakes but who the fuck doesn't! Nobody is perfect! Ross has always been there for everyone! No matter what and that's what all of you fail to remember!"

  He looked at Olivianna

  "You are the most hypocrite of all. What turned you against Ross? After you slept with him!"

  Everyone stayed silent.

  "Rock..."

  "No, Ross she is over here turning everything against you acting like Eden's best friend. When she has stabbed her in the back too!"

  "This is unbelievable," I said. I couldn't hold my legs anymore. I felt like I was going to fall again.

  "To my defense Eden it was before you and Ross got together and became engaged"

  "But you are with his dad and he was with Monique...what kind of people are you all!" I said backing away.

  "Eden..."

  "Please Olivianna not now. I really don't want to see you or anyone else right now. I need time away from all of you" I said.

  "You can have all the time away you need but here at this house," Ross said.

  "You are not my boss!" I shouted back.

  "We will just have to see about that then won't we Eden."

  Chapter 34.

  Eden POV

  He won he always wins.

  He left me in the house while he stayed at the guest house in the back.

  He asked Courtney to leave. Or at least that's what he told me.

  His doctor came to check on me twice a week. Checking my ankle to make sure it was healing properly. I was wearing a cast and walking with crunches but it felt a bit better.

  I had put so much pressure on it that's why it was taking longer to heal.

  It has been two days since the incident and I haven't spoken to Olivianna anymore. I understand that she and Ross slept together before he and I got engaged or we're even dating but she was with his dad. How could Ross do that to his own father?

  I had no idea who he really is anymore.

  A knock at the door startled me.

  "Come in," I said. It was probably Carol with more chicken soup. I wasn't sick with the flu. Just a broken ankle.

  "Are you sure I can come in?" His male voice startled me and I jumped up. I wasn't expecting it to be him.

  "Come in," I said adjusting my sitting position on the bed.

  I hope I looked okay.

  "How are you feeling?" He asked. Wow, he was so beautiful. I am so in love with him is a crime to be mad at him when all I want to do is jump on him and kiss him and make love to him and with him.

  "I'm okay, it hurts a bit less today," I said.

  "Good. All I care about is your safety, Eden"

  There was a long pause.

  Then he finally spoke.

  "I came to say goodbye"

  WHAT!!! my whole world shattered what did he just say?

  "What?" I asked.

  "I'm going to go live in Melbourne for a while. I have some business to tend to there and I have to visit my mom and see how she is doing my dad finally left her for good and she is crushed."

  "Is he with Olivianna still?"

  "Of course why wouldn't he be? He left the house and bought an even bigger house for Olivianna and him in Byrom Bay".

  "So he doesn't know about you guys?"

  "No, and I hope he never will. That was a mistake a moment of weakness"

  "You seem to be having lots of those, " the words just came out.

  I didn't mean to sound so rude.

  "Okay," he said looking down.

  "I'm...sorry. When will you be back?" I asked.

  "I won't be back I have signed the house over to you. Everything is paid for and I will take care of the utilities always. Carol can also stay here with you and help you with whatever you need I have also bought you a car the one you wanted is all yours".

  " What?!!" I said trying to get up. He came rushing to me.

  "Why do you want to leave me? I mean I understand your mom needs you but you don't plan on coming back. Is it to be with her you want to be with her the girl you cheated on me with?" The tears just came pouring down my cheeks.

  "No, God no I don't want to be with her I only want you Eden and that's why I'm leaving I can't stay here so close to you and not want to do something crazy and hurt you more than I have" now he was the one with tears in his eyes.

  "I've done bad things, Eden really bad things and I can't forgive myself anymore."

  I looked down at my shaking fingers touching each other and I just couldn't hold back anymore.

  "But I can," I said. Smiling at him my eyes still full of tears.

  "You can what?" He asked.

  "I can forgive you," I said.

  He took a moment and for a second I thought I saw him smiling a bit.

  "No, you can't. You don't know the things I've done" he said looking away.

  "I don't care about the things you have done as you said it. Done not doing as in past tense. Like Rock said nobody is perfect Ross and you have done so much good for me. Signing this house over to me, I don't want to be here without you. Don't you understand you are the one that makes it all better for me"

  He just stood there as in taking it all in.

  He was coming closer to me smiling when Rock interrupted us.

  "Ross, I'm sorry I have something extremely important to tell you".

  "not now Rock can't you see I'm talking to Eden she's more important than whatever business-related thing you have to tell me I don't care about it right now".

  " it concerns both of you," he said.

  "What is it Rock?" I asked.

  "Courtney confessed the truth to me. You never cheated on Eden she made it all up. She spiked your drink and made you think you were cheating but she said you wouldn't even touch her or look at her you just went straight to sleep you passed out in an instant"

  "What? Really?" Ross was so happy.


  "Wow, Rock I owe you everything this is seriously the best news I have heard in such a long time," Ross said hugging his best friend.

  "Something about her story didn't sound right so I did some digging and found out the truth," Rock said.

  "Where is she now?" Ross asked.

  "On her way back to L.A she is detoxed but I don't know how long she will stay like that I paid for her plane ticket and gave her some extra money. She also has her business over there shell be fine"

  "Courtney has always known how to take care of herself I have no doubt that she will be okay but she is no longer my concern," Ross said looking at me now.

  "You see, I will never ever cheat on you or do anything to harm you ever again Eden, you are it for me the only one I want and love"

  "Ever since you saved me from those men chasing me 7 years ago my heart hasn't belonged to anyone else Ross only to you and that is how it will always be as long as I live".

  " oh boy, I better get out of here now," Rock said smiling.

  "Catch you later boss," he said.

  "Thanks, Rock really"

  "Don't mention it hope you get better soon Eden"

  "Thank you," I said to him before he left and closed the door behind him.

  "What am I going to do with you future Mrs. Lyner"

  I looked up at him brushing a strand of hair from my face.

  "What really? You still want to marry me?" I asked hopeful.

  "Eden, the question is do you still want to marry me?"

  "That's not even a question Ross I will marry you today with my eyes closed"

  He rushed to me and kneel down beside my bed giving me a huge passionate kiss on my lips. The kiss lasted a while.

  "You don't know how long I waited to do that," he said.

  "You don't know how long I have waited to do this," I said tracing his hair with my hands running them all over his gorgeous blonde hair.

  "Too bad your ankle is hurting but...you don't need your ankle for this..." He said placing me all the way on my back and parting my legs. He leaned over me I knew exactly what he was going to do.

  I closed my eyes and welcomed the exquisite pleasure his mouth and tongue we're going to give me in the most delicate area of my body. I missed this I missed him so much.

  He looked up at me removing my underwear.

  "Just the fact that you forgave me before even knowing that I didn't cheat on you speaks louder than anything else. How can I not want to marry you, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me I love my time with you, you make me want to be a better man and person"