Envy, trust, fabrication, deception, betrayal ... can love thrive with depraved intentions skulking at every corner?
Can a relationship survive the turmoil of a begrudged heart?
Will Axle locate his love? Will Eric and Shelly sail off into the sunse...
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Jade
Entering Cross Enterprises, my nerves spike. I'm guilt ridden with the knowledge I'm the cause of such misery. My best friend vanished into an abyss and her now distraught man has been shot all because of me and my dreadful past.
This, all of this, has been a psychotic domino effect, it's problematic and the fault lies with me. Tears sting my eyes while the elevator rises to Axle's floor. I reach for the only thing that grants me solace.
Trudging towards Victoria's desk, I release the necklace, observing the smile that once adorned her face disappear, replaced with genuine concern.
"What's wrong honey? "Her forehead crinkled, eyes squinted with inquiry.
"I can't... I need... oh my god!" Covering my face, the tears burst from my eyes. I'm petrified to peer in his solemn eyes and explain my role in his heartache. I can't. Victoria whirls around the desk, embracing me.
"Oh honey whatever it is, I'm sure it will be fine," her loving hand flows up and down my back to soothe my anxiousness.
Shaking my head, "No - it won't be. He'll hate me, " I manage to squeal out.
"Honey, you're going to need to be a little more specific."
"I... it's..." Axle comes into view, charging down the hall straight towards us. Swiveling my head in the opposite direction, I'm unable to peer in his sunken eyes. My best friend has disappeared into the abyss... all because they cared for me... because they assisted me in my time of need. I never understood the saying no good deed goes unpunished - until now.
"Jade, what's wrong?" Axle embraces both of us. Shaking my head, he ushers us into his office, leading us to an area with a sofa.
"Victoria, get her some water please." Disappearing without a word, another selfless human being going out of their way to assist me. Alone with Axle my angst overflows from my eyes even more.
Endeavoring to calm my nerves, my eyes dart in every direction, other than at the man whose life I altered by accident. Taking in the office Chloe has described countless times, I feel the weight of my guilt suffocate my lungs. My breathing labors, what the hell was I thinking coming here?
"Jade, take long, deep breaths. It's going to be okay." Axle mimics the action in hopes I follow suit.
No, it's not, it's never going to be okay after this. Victoria strolls in, water in hand, extending her arm, placing the water in my grasp. I gulp it, parched like the Sahara Desert on a scorching hot summer day.
Sealing my eyes, I focus on taking long deep breaths in and expelling them just as slow. Peeling my eyelids, I'm met by both sets of concerned orbs laser focused with worry lines smacked across their foreheads.
"I'm sorry. I'm okay," I give a half smile in an attempt to ease their concern.
"What happened?" Staring into his clear eyes, I hate myself for what's about to be exposed.
