Prologue

After a wonderful vacation with the best guy in the world, I feel like I came back to hell. Home sweet home is not what I would call home. It is sometimes a nightmare and the vacation made me think that was what I lived every day. When I left Josh at the resort, I felt a peg in my stomach. The closer we got to home, the more my parents fought and gave me a headache. My brothers were not there. Our age differences made it that they were already starting their lives. My oldest one was already married with a baby on the way and the other brother was getting married in the fall. I was happy for them, but it made me think what would happen to me. I am only a junior, with no idea what would happen in the future. Where would my life go?

We went to a fancy resort for the vacation this summer. My parents were pretending to act like everything was normal, as if they were not fighting in the middle in the night where my room was right next door. I guess they felt bad about how I have grown quieter and seem sadder. They were even more worried when we came back and I was miserable. Josh was the first guy to honestly ever get my attention. I hated when we left. I have his phone number and email, but it is still not the same.

However you do not know the story, so let me explain.
Chapter 1

After packing and getting ready, we left for Silver Lakes hotel. My mother was excited for the vacation while my father grumbled while reading on the plane. We live in Miami, Florida and were going to New York for vacation. Even though I am eighteen, I am still looking forward to the trip.

Three hours of awkward silence led to the arrival of the hotel. It was ten at night when we checked in, got our bags, and started to unpack. We are going to be spending a month up here since my father had business. By midnight, my parents crashed and I stayed awake. I waited for a fight to happen but expected that they were exhausted. I felt the need to move around so I got a key and my journal and went into the elevator.

I waited quietly as I went twenty floors down. The elevator was crowded with employees who seem exhausted from their day. They all shouted a thankful cry as the elevator dinged to the first floor. I waited as the employees filled out quickly. When I got my bearings, I saw a whole another word then what I came into. When I first checked in, the lobby was organized and calm. Now, there is confusion and wildness. Preparation for the next day apparently took havoc to go on. I looked around for a quiet place to write. Outside had no activity going on so, I tried the garden.

The last time I was here, I was seven and all my family was here. My favorite place was the butterfly garden. They created my secret sanctuary without me even knowing. I came in here constantly and played here until my brothers came to get me. Now there was no one to get me, but if anything I have my cell phone.

Walking up to the garden was like being at home. I was familiar with the patterns and shapes. It was like this place froze and stayed the way they were supposed to be. Just the way I wanted it to be.

I notice as I walked up, that the light to the little shed was on. I curiously approached the shed as part of my mind nagged me to not do it. This summer, I decided to be rebellious. I always have a schedule and organized if not perfect. That was the one quality my parents liked along with the go getter attitude. Now I just want to be a quiet, free spirit. I approached the shed with caution and some kind of grace. I jumped out of my skin when somebody said, “Little girls should be sleeping. “

Finding a witty comeback, I turned around to find a drunken employee. I tried to remove myself from the situation but the employee grabbed me and pushed me to the shed. I could smell his breath as he said, “You know I just broke it off with my girl. If you want, we could have a little fun.”

Anxiety came over me as I screamed demanding him to get off of me. He did not even buag. I squirmed even more starting to scream when I felt the weight of the drunken employee being lifted. I faced a tall man with dark skin. He threw the employee with ease and asked, “Are you O.K.”

Nodding I saw as he ran back to the hurt employee shouting curse words. He picked him up over his shoulder and took him inside. From there, I was left alone outside wondering what to do next. I slowly walked into to the open door of the shed to find it was quite spacious, reason being because it was turned into a house. There were two rooms, a kitchen, bathroom, and all necessities that were needed. I saw the tall man as he nursed the man that almost rapped me. As I got closer I saw the man was correcting the injuries that he caused. I watched him for several minutes until he closed the first aid kit and turned around. He screamed a deep scream which scared the crap out of me. I fell back with my journal sliding to his feet.

He laughed and put out his hand out to help me.

“I am Jordan. I work in the hotel along with this knuckle head. I am sorry he assaulted you. I hope you will not press charges.”

I thought back to my parents who do not know where I am. I decided to lie and say, “I have been through worse. Anyway, I just wanted to write in the garden but it seems kind of dangerous.”

Jordan laughed saying, “No not really. Nick here just had a little too much to drink and just got out of a nasty break up. He will not be bothering you also will give you an apology when he is conscious. I threw him pretty hard.”

Laughing I stepped closer to him, noticing that he smelled like the earth. He was probably ten years older and living here. I asked him just in case.

“I am twenty six and I do live here, my brother and I anyway. He is about twenty two and he is supposed to be here but I guess he is being rebellious again.”

Nodding I stood there wondering what to do. Inch by inch I tried to get away but I caught his question, “So are you a writer?”

With my journal in my hand and a pen somewhere locked in my curls, I had no chose but to nod yes.

“My minor is English when I go into college. I am majoring in music.”

“So you are a singer,” Jordan asked.

“Yup,” I replied. Maybe I can sing in the hotel while I am here. I heard there was an opening for an evening. Maybe I can use the few bucks for my senior year.”

Jordan nodded putting a cover over Nick. I walked over to the couch and started to open my journal. Jordan walked over to the refrigerator and got out two sodas. He sat down beside me and asked where I am from.

“I was born in New York and moved down to Miami about a year ago.”

“You know you are the first kid that I ever heard say that. When I left the house I was high on air. I did not have enough money for college but I still made enough with this hotel. I get money, a place to live, eat food that they cook, and my brother can live with me too. He however got a full time scholarship at Yale. I have no idea why he is here now. He should have been a professor with the high recommendations he got from his teacher.”

“First,” I started. “I am not a kid and second, your brother got a full time scholarship to Yale? Is he like a genius or prodigy or something?”

“Yeah, he was a prodigy and graduated high school at twelve. We both graduated the same year. I graduated with honors but he was valet Victorian. He has his doctorate right know.”

I looked at him in awe. All I had to say was, “Wow.”

He nodded smiling.

“But you look proud. Maybe your brother wanted to be around you,” I said. “He did not get much of a childhood I could imagine and not that many people will respect you when you are just eighteen. Maybe he wanted to spend his time with family.”

“You got that all from what I said,” Jordan asked.

Nodding, I opened my journal and started writing today’s entry. Jordan turned on the television. It was minutes before he asked, “So you are not going into the garden.”

Opening my mouth the door to the shed opened and I saw a younger version of Jordan only this one was more appealing to me. He was slightly damp from what I am guessing is the pool. He shakes his wet hair and looked at Nick, Jordan, and then me. Giving Jordan a confused look, he went to the refrigerator and got a bottle of water.

“Nick was drunk and almost assaulted. . . “

He did not know my name so I said, “Melody.”

“Melody. I was offering my kindness.”

Is brother nodded and took a sip of water. I felt a little awkward with his presence. The way he stared at me made me finally realize I was in pajama shorts and a tank top. I am probably a random girl who suddenly appears in his house. He probably though I was a prostitute. I was unnerved when he asked me, “Have we met before?”

I looked at him in surprise. If I ever met him before I would have made sure to memorize everything about him. I could not say this so I just said, “No, maybe in the front desk or something.”

He did not look convinced but he let the matter passed. He sat next to me drinking his water and eyeing my journal. I closed it self-consciously and looked at his green eyes. When his mouth move I did not hear a word he said, I literally had to shake my head slightly and said, “Come again?”

“I’m Josh. So what brings you to our lovely and stylish home?”

It would have been rude to giggle so I just smiled and said, “The garden is dangerous now a days with all the drunk employees.”

Josh laughed while Jordan screamed, “It is not!”

Josh suppressed his laugh and said, “Well then, we should get you back to your room. We don’t want anyone to assault you now.”

He got up and offered his hand. I smiled taking the hand and saying bye to Jordan. As we got to every door, Jordan always held it out for me. He made sure that as I walked, there was no obstacle that I had to encounter, although it made him look like an idiot. I was laughing all the way to the elevator and from time to time he would give me a goofy smile. Since my room was on the top floor, we had to wait at least five minutes with all the people coming in and out.

“So you are living on the top floor. Are you the daughter of a Senator or something,” Josh asked.

“Nope, I am the daughter of a selfish and bossy executive of Chanel,” I answered.

“Wow, no wonder you smell so good,” he said inching closer and taking a whiff of me. I had to restrain myself from grabbing him to kiss him. Butterflies were rising in my stomach and I felt like I was going to faint. He pulled away when the elevator stopped. The lights went black and that is when I screamed bloody mary.

I hate the dark. I can handle spiders, snakes, and anything slimy. Once the lights are off, I run and find the nearest light. Arms encircle me which makes me scream more.

“You are fine. At the middle of the night they do repairs on the elevator. It’s going to be a couple of minutes,” he said trying to soothe me.

So let’s recap. I completely embarrassed myself and managed to be clinging on to Josh. . . I’m O.K with that.

We were silent until the lights came back on. I finally saw how my body was curled into his perfectly and how his lips were on my forehead. Suddenly I preferred the dark. My heart was beating a mile a minute as his lips went farther to my cheek and done my neck. My hand went to the back of his head and held on to his dark brown hair. Pulling away, he looked at me with lust in his eyes. I probably looked like the helpless deer, his easy prey. I smiled a sexy and devious smile, crashing our lips together. He stood up while carrying me in his arms and continued to out of the elevator. At that moment when I need air, I realized that we were on the twentieth floor.
The whole floor was basically five bedrooms, the living room, and kitchen, with bathrooms in each bedroom. I already took note that my parents were not in the same room but had neighboring bedrooms. Before we even entered the doorway I could already hear my parents fighting. Josh and I froze for a minute hearing them fight about some other women. I could not handle this. I pulled Josh to the side door where it led to my room. I locked the door that led to where my parents were fighting and I turned back to Josh. He sat on one of the chairs so I sat on the one opposite of him.

“Maybe I should go. . .”

I nodded my head causing him to blush. I did not want him to go but I had no idea what to do with him. I have not had boyfriends before except for that guy Daddy set me up with. I never liked him but put up with our relationship for a year.

“Why don’t we pay the truth game?”

He smiled and said, “Isn’t that a sleepover game that girl play to find out about secrets?”

“Yup. I kind of rushed you into what happened in the. . .” I mumbled, I never mumbled. I always stood my ground when talking but now I was a hot mess.

He nodded his head and began the game.

“Why do you think dangerous walks in gardens,” he asked in a hush voice.

Straight to the hard questions, great. I took a deep breath and said, “My parents usually have those heated battles. There is always interesting places to go to at night. I’ve been here before, so I know my way around.”

My father’s competitive genes came with his color and hair. Anytime people see my father and I together, they are amazed at how similar we look. We have some of the same habits but he thinks mostly business.

Giving a devious smile I continued the game. “So why aren’t you teaching or being some famous scholar.”

He looked confuse until we both said, “Jordan.”

He cursed and replied by, “I have job offer in France and will be going there in December with Jordan. We have been planning this for about a year so we hope it goes well.”

“Who are you working for?”

”Shouldn’t I ask a question,” he asked.

“This is a follow up question,” I lie. He laughed and said, “I think you already know the answer to that.”

He was right. My father mention something about a genius prodigy with inane ability would start in the company. He was suppose to help with one of our new products that helped make our own perfume, some type of machine. My father however, did not tell me who it was. The only person I have seen from my father’s business was his assistant, a young woman who slept with my father causing my mother and father’s problems. I wanted him out; my mom does not deserve this. I hated him for it. The fact that he acted like a son of b**** when it was his fault caused me to go insane. I hated my home.

Josh touched my shoulder, causing me to snap out of my hateful haze. He stared at me, silently questioning what was wrong. I gave him a fake smile and said, “Your turn.”

“Why are you angry,” he asked.

“I’m not.”

“What’s the name of the game?”

He put me on the spot light, so I might as well tell him.

“My father is not the same guy you probably talk to in the phone. He lies, cheats, and traps you in a box. He wants what he wants and he is a selfish man.”

Josh looked at me carefully and reached for my face that had tears running down. I have not cried in awhile about this matter. Now, I felt pain everywhere and just wanted to go to sleep. Josh pulled me into his chest and let me cry until my sobbing stopped. I looked up and saw his calm green eyes. He gave me a smile and kissed my forehead.

“I should go. . .”

I did not want to hear it. The last thing I wanted was to be alone. Kisses always stopped him in his tracks. I first kissed his lips harshly making him groan. Something awakened me after that. I straddled him and laid him on the pillow. Call it animal instinct, but I was enjoying my carving for him. I started kisses down his neck still playing the game truth.

“Are you enjoying this?”

An unintelligent groan came from him like he was a beast. For a nerd, he was pretty sexy in every way. His hands took control and he pulled me under but for once I was not scared. Everywhere he kissed was a sensitive spot that made me give a little sigh. Lust came to my eyes but his eyes looked like a battle was going on inside his head. Sat up and asked what was wrong.

“Sorry to the party killer, but I don’t want to pressure you into doing this.”

I blinked and saw how I am now. I had no shirt and my lacy underwear was about to make an appearance. I was about to lose my virginity to him. My head was spinning. He put me under the sheets and kissed my forehead. As I saw him inching off the bed I took his shirt that was lying with the rest of my clothes. I put it on and made space for him.

“Melody. . .”

“Stay here with me. We don’t have to do anything,” I said. Or demanded. I realized I hated to be alone. He stared at me shirtless, which caused me to be distracted. Finally, he sighed and came into the bed. He settled himself next to me facing me.

“You,” he stated, “Are a devious girl. What would happen if your parents saw you.”

I shrugged saying, “They don’t check on me. Back when I was a kid, I could be gone for a whole day and they would not notice. Only the maids did. They practically raised me and always wondered where my adventures took me. I had escape routes in every room in the house. My parents never check if I am in my room or not.”

Josh looked shocked and said, “Then I guess I have to accompany you on your journeys to protect you.”

“Like you did with doors?”

“Shut up come here.”

He pulled me closer, entangling my legs, and pulling me to his chest. His arm was used as my pillow and his lips were on my head.

“Night,” we said in unison.

I slowly fell asleep to the sound of his heart beat.