Chapter 3

I put up a barely genuine smile as I approach Todd’s table. The waitress won't stop smiling and displaying her products. What a slut. He didn’t even notice me since he is pretty occupied with a waitress.

What am I doing here again?

I clear my throat as the waitress jolts at once, including Todd. He looks caught off guard.

” Hey babe.”

I fake a smile and look at the waitress. She quickly buttons the top buttons of her dress shirt and smiles at me.

” Did I interrupt something?” I choose to ask to ease the tension between them.

” Not really.” The waitress answers.

I shake my head and sit in the booth across from Todd’s.

” What should I get you for a start?” The waitress asks.

” Water.”

She nods and leaves.

” So how was your day?” I ask Todd.

” It was great. How was yours?”

I nod ” Good.”

“I’m really sorry about that. It’s not what you think. She was asking me questions.”

With her two up buttons out?

What a shame.

” How was class today?” I ask, ignoring his lies.

” Class was okay. Having fun with your new apartment and neighborhood?”

Of course. And that’s before that hot pervert of a neighbor moved in. I can’t believe I just thought about him and his constant flirty remark and his open sex offer. I seriously need to get laid, because I don’t even know what’s getting into me.

” Neighborhood is good. I love the apartment.” I tell him.

The slutty waitress returns with my bottle of water and a glass of wine for Todd.

” These are the menus if you want something to eat.” She says politely as she drops them on the table.

Seeing her and her fake smile almost made me puke and I lost my appetite. I just wanna go home.

” I’m not hungry.” I state.

” You’re sure?” Todd asks like he cares.

” Yeah, I’m sure. You can order for yourself.”

He shakes his head and dismisses the waitress and gives her back her menus.

” Please come sit with me.” He offers. I think about it and look around the restaurant before getting up and sitting next to him.

My red strapless dress is shorter than I imagined. It rides up and stops mid-thigh giving Todd access to stare at my lap.

” I’m really sorry about what happened at frat. I wasn’t thinking maybe.” He says and I nod.

Of course he wasn’t thinking. Asking me for sex in exchange for a ticket to Las Vegas. He’s such a bitch, but I already forgave him. He showed me that he’s willing to change but here he’s, flirting with a redhead waitress. I still love him despite all of his shameful attitude.

” It’s okay Todd. I understand and I forgive you already.” I tell him.

He smiles and turns to face me in the booth, his hand resting on my bare thighs. I look down at his hand and ignore it. He’s my boyfriend right?

” I missed you Serena. You look really beautiful.” He says as he slowly slides his hand inside my dress.

I look around the restaurant and stop his hand.

” We can’t. Not here. What if someone sees us?” I ask.

” What’s their business? You’re my girl and I have every right, Serena.” He smirks and pushes my hand away.

” Todd, no. We can’t do this now. I thought this was supposed to be a date. We need to talk.”

” Talk about what? I thought we talked. Why are you acting salty?” He scowls at me.

” I’m not acting salty. Todd we are still talking about what you did at frat. We need to talk things through.”

” I thought you said you forgave me. Why are you acting selfish again? When are we ever gonna fuck? Are you seeing someone else? You’ve got a second boyfriend right?” He sneers at me, as he looks down at me with irritation in his eyes.

” What are you saying?”

” Why don’t you want me, Serena? You fucking someone else right? How can you be so cheap? You’re acting like a bitch.” He whispers yells, as he grips my thighs aggressively.

” Todd stop, you’re hurting me.” I say as I try to pry his hand away.

” I’m hurting you now, huh? Bitch you’re always hurting me with your continuous no’s. What’s so special about your pussy that you are acting all riled up.” He says as he aggressively pushes his hand up my thigh.

I slap his hand away and stand up. He looks like an animal, a monster. His eyes are red and his nose is fuming with anger.

” I need to leave.”

” Of course you’re not leaving.” He challenges as he glares at me.

I pick up my clutch and hurry out of the restaurant.

” Serena.” Todd’s angry voice calls out to me but I ignore it.

I can’t believe he would try to hurt me because of sex. What’s happening to him lately? He’s super aggressive and hot headed lately. I slide into my car and drive out of the restaurant. I wipe my eyes for the pending tears as more slip out of my eyes. I missed them. My mom , dad and even Beverly. Why did death have to take them away from me? Beverly would never hurt a fly but yet a gun took her life. How can this world be so cruel?

I continue to wipe my blurry eyes as I drive. My phone rings loudly as I stretch to get it out from inside my clutch. I look at the dialer and it’s Phoebe. The lady in charge of my family’s murder case.

” Serena.”

” Hi Phoebe.” I say and clean my eyes again.

” Are you busy? Was wondering if you can drop by my office today. I wanted to talk to you.”

” Sure I’m on my way.” I tell her and she hangs up.

I drop my phone on the passenger seat as I speed down the road. I park my car at her firm and step out. I shut the door as I walk in. I go straight to Phoebe’s office and knock. Her voice orders me from inside and I enter. I shut the door and stride to her desk. She offers me a seat and I sit down.

” I’m really sorry if i interrupted anything.” She says, referring to my dress.

” Oh it’s nothing. I’m good.” I smile at her.

The door opens and a man walks in. His brown hair is finely styled and he wears a white dress shirt with black slacks. He smiles at me and walks round the desk to stand next to Phoebe.

” Serena , this is Michael and he’s a detective. Michael, meet Serena Steinberg. The daughter of the late Mr Sebastian Steinberg.”

” It’s nice to meet you , Serena.” Michael says and stretches out his hand for a handshake.

” The pleasure is mine.” I smile at him as we exchange handshakes.

” So we have just a few questions to ask you. Did you notice any unusual thing that happened the day your family was murdered?” Phoebe asks.

” Not at all. Just calls. And Dinner and I went out to party.” I say as she writes something down, probably my testimony.

” You said calls, what type of calls?” Michael asks.

” My dad was talking with someone on the phone. I don’t know who it is but I remembered he said his name, Jacob.”

Phoebe nods as she writes again.

” Jacob? Any last name?”

I shake my head sideways.

” According to your father’s files , he had a lot of friends , partners, and rivals. He was a good man but he was involved with lots of bad people. I’ll have to check around for any information with the name Jacob and his relationship with your dad.” Phoebe says.

Dad was a good man but he was involved with lots of bad people. What’s that supposed to mean?

” Do you think they were after something? And yes, what exactly?”

I take a deep breath and think if I should answer that or not. They can’t find it and they won’t find it.

” My family’s heirloom.”

” Your family’s heirloom? And what exactly is that?” Michael asks.

I hesitate for a while before answering.

” A blue diamond.”

Their eyes widen as they stare at each other. I know, right? The blue diamond is a rare one and nobody should get hold of it.

” A blue diamond? Then where’s it? And why are they after it?”

” I have no idea.” I say and glance at both of them.

Michael clears his throat and looks at Phoebe briefly before looking at me.

” Did your father have a fight with anyone you’re aware of? Did he mention anyone? Anyone at all?” Micheal asks.

” No one. But he’s got a childhood friend, Francis Ryland. They are good friends.”

” Francis Ryland.” Phoebe says and writes again. Probably jotting down his name.

” Alright , miss Serena, I’ll call if we need anything else.”

” Sure.” I smile and stand up and leave.

••••••

I lay on my sofa as I watch pretty little liars displaying on my TV. With popcorn on my lap , I stare blankly at the TV as different thoughts fill my head. Summer and Bree are coming over to ‘hangout’ as they put it. Summer and Bree are like my opposite. They like to party and they like drugs, boys and, sex. Summer is kinda worse , she’s like a bad influence on Bree and both parents are rich.

Loud music from my neighbor's house blasts through the walls and I can literally feel my walls vibrating. What type of neighbor is that? First, he is a sex nuisance and also a music nuisance. I increase the volume of my film but all I can hear is the loud music coming from the neighbor’s house. I groan and cover my ears with both my hands but it’s fruitless. I should call the cops but what am I gonna tell them? My hot neighbor is a nuisance and he likes women.

I slip my feet inside my slippers and stand up. He needs a word from me and if he’s not careful , I’m gonna call the cops. I shut my door and barge to his apartment next door and bang on his door. I totally forgot the fact that I’m wearing a plain white tank top and my nipples are visible with cotton shorts that barely cover my thighs. The hell, why didn’t I dress properly, considering the fact that my neighbor is a pervert.

I raise my hand to knock again , but his door swings open revealing my very attractive hot neighbor. Damn I can’t find my voice and my hand is still hanging mid air like I’m about to knock. He smirks at me and looks at me from head to toe.

Damn you for looking this hot.

But why does he have such an effect on me? His hair is damp and he’s wet. Yes, like literally wet. I shamelessly let my eyes run down his body and he’s so wet. He just got out of the shower i think. He’s not wearing a shirt and I vision myself running my hands on that body of his.

Oh God, Serena, breathe.

I’ve lost my voice and my tongue is tied.

Who created this man? His green eyes hold glints of lust as he smirks at me, looking me down. His pink lips are a little pale, probably because he’s just getting out of the shower.

Okay he’s tatted. Different kinds of ink kiss both his arms down to his wrist.

I like the way his bicep reflexes as he rests his right hand on the door jamb smirking at me.

” Candy.”

Damn, what was I saying?