Leaving her there was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Not beating someone up, or even murdering them, but leaving Fallon in that closet was. It’s what I needed to do, and it hurt. I need her to understand I’m the one in control of what happens. I knew when she went through with her plans to go out with Miles, that she was trying to play me, but I also knew it was working. That one action has me so twisted. Not one woman has ever done that to me. No one has ever made me jealous. No one has ever had me waiting for them with blind rage. I knew right then if I allowed her to continue, if she ever let Miles or any other man touch her, I would never forgive her. So, I called her bluff. She and my mother want a union between us; fine, I’ll give it to them – but on my terms.

Earlier while I waited to hear word from Vin, I called Baxter, my mother’s jeweler, and told him to meet me at the casino with his best engagement rings. If I put a ring on her finger, then she’ll have to behave.  Stopping all this bullshit! It will give me time to figure Fallon out. Time, I desperately need. I told Baxter not to mention it to my mother, or anyone else; after all, it’s supposed to be a surprise. Mother thinks she knows best...maybe she does, but I’ll decide my future. I just need her waiting and not pushing me. So, my plan is set. I’ll give her the ring, and she will wait for me to decide. She won’t continue to push me by using other men, because if she doesn’t stop, I’ll show her all over again who the fuck is truly in control.

Throwing my head back, I remember the feel of her in my arms, watching her feel what only I’m supposed to give her was magical. All I wanted to do was bury myself in her and never leave. She already has a power over me I can’t explain. I need her to feel my power, my strength. She might have won the first battle, but I just won the second. What do they say? All’s fair in love and war.

“Let’s play.”

What do I do now? This is what Catherine and I have been working for. This is it, so why can’t I just take the ring, put it on my finger, and be happy?

Once the rage left me, I sit in my chair next to the window and ponder. He’s giving in. He wants to marry me now, so why am I bitching?

As I get cozier in my chair, I start to smell him. The smell of his cologne is embedded into the fabric of the chair. I can’t help taking a deep breath and inhaling him. Then it hits me: I can’t be happy because he’s playing me. I’m falling for him. Only he doesn’t feel the same; that’s why I’m so mad. It’s this feeling of love that has me so pissed. That’s why what he just pulled will not do. I came here wanting to be his wife, but now that my feelings are involved, I can’t let him treat me like this. Him marrying me when I know he doesn’t love me just won’t work for me anymore. So again, what do I do? I don’t think I can go to Catherine. I know she’ll tell me to marry him, she’s not worried if I love him or not. I know she won’t give me sound advice, at least not any she won’t benefit from. I just have to think.

I could leave, run away, and never see him again, but that won’t work. Catherine has invested too much into this, into me. She would find me and bring me back. Maybe I should just marry him, knowing I will never be happy without his love. No, no, I have to be smarter about this, but how? I’m so tired of thinking about it. I just wish I had a friend to talk to. Someone who I can confide in. Then it hits me: I’ll call Brittany. She’s a friend, right? Well, to me she is. I like her, and she’s easy to talk to. She doesn’t know everything, but I’m sure she could advise me about men, or at least take my mind off Gabriel for a little while.

Quickly, I find my cell and locate Brittany’s number. I hope I’m not going to catch her at a bad time.

The phone rings, and I swallow, waiting for her to answer.

“Fallon, what’s up, babe?”

“Oh! Hey, Brittany. I hope you don’t mind me calling. You’re not busy or anything, are you?”

“For you, never. I was hoping I would hear from you again. I don’t have a lot of women friends, and I had fun with you the other night. The morning, however, wasn’t quite as enjoyable. By the way, how’s your boy, Vin?”

“Vin? Really?”

“Yep, that is one fine man. He’s so big and bruting, just the way I like them.”

“Well, Vin is fine, still acting like my babysitter.”

“OK, so now that we got Vin out of the way, why did you call, Fallon? I hear it in your voice something’s wrong.”

“He gave me a ring.”

“Who, Gabriel? Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations, Mrs. Gabriel Stern.”

I shake my head. “Not so fast. I don’t think I can go through with it.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I thought that’s what you wanted?”

“It is, or it was, Brittany. I think I’m falling for him.”

There’s a moment of silence, then I hear Brittany laugh.

“Shit! Fallon, you’re scared.”

“You’re right I am. I know Gabriel doesn’t feel the same way, and it scares the hell out of me. He treated me like a possession, a toy; not like a woman he’s in love with. I know I wanted to marry him, but now I don’t think I can go through with it.”

“Fallon, babe, what do you want to do?”

“I thought about leaving, but where? Catherine will find me and bring me back. I’m screwed.”

“Fallon, Catherine won’t find you, Gabriel will. If he wants you – and I know he does – he will hunt you down. You won’t have to worry about Catherine, because Gabriel will never let you get far.”

Is she right?

“Do you think he would do that? I don’t think he would. Gabriel can have whoever he wants. He wouldn’t go to that much trouble just for me.”

Brittany starts laughing. “Are you crazy, Fallon? Gabriel wants you; he gave you a ring. Whether you like it or not, you are now his possession and his toy, as you put it. He will never let you go. Think about it, though, Fallon. If he wants you enough, that makes him weak to you. Get my drift?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Have you not learned anything from Catherine? She taught the other girls and me to use what we have. You can’t tell me she didn’t tell you all about seducing a man to get what you want. Anyways, you already have Gabriel hook, line, and sinker. Now all you have to do is reel him in.” She continues. “Gabriel desires you; he wants you enough to be his wife. Now you need to decide what you want from him, then play on his desire and want to your advantage. Don’t play coy with me, Fallon, I know you know what I mean. How did you get him to give you a ring, huh?”

“I went on a date.”

“Oh, and it got you a ring. Do you understand now? Push a little more, get his love and devotion. Demand it!”

“Brittany, I think I might love you! I’m definitely kissing you when I see you.”

“Well, bring it, girl. Whatever floats your boat, but Gabriel might not like me kissing his woman.”

“You never know! I’ve got to go, Brittany, but I’ll call back soon, and we can make plans to do something, OK?”

“I’d love that, Mrs. Stern.”

I hang up the phone with so much excitement. She’s right; Gabriel just needs more of a push. He needs to learn I want more – no, I demand more.

First things first, I need to send Gabriel my answer, and I’m going to do it with the same regard he gave to me. I write on a piece of paper in large, bold letters, a simple word in all caps and quotations.

“NO!”

I address it to Gabriel, along with the ring, and send it by messenger to the casino. Now to make plans. I need dates, lots of dates.