"I was supposed to greet you a good day, Sir but I would rather not." I spoke, looking at the gun he pointed in my direction.


    "You damn well should."  Peterson said without taking the gun off my direction.


    I took a deep breath before approaching Peterson.


    I knew he was furious with me, and rightfully so. His fiancée had left him because of a lie I had told her. I had made up a story about us being in a rtionship, and she had believed it. But now the truth was out, and Peterson was understandably upset.


    "Look, Peterson, I know you''re angry with me," I began, trying to keep my tone even. "But I want you to know that killing me won''t solve your problems."


    "But it would eliminate the one who caused it," He spat bitterly, his eyes hard and menacing as they bore on me.


    Taking in a deep breath, I raised my arms in the air. "I can talk to your fiance and tell her the truth."


    Peterson scoffed. "The damage has been done and nothing you say will make the situation any better. You lied to my fiancée and destroyed our rtionship? Since thew can;''t punish you for it, I decided to do it myself."


    I winced at his words. Although I was not the one who did it I felt guilt crawl inside me like a virus affecting all my system.


    Curse you Alexandria. I thought to myself and wished I could make her feel the pain she caused everyone by some kind of spell. That might make her remorseful for what she did.


    But then I realized Alexandria had no conscience at all. If there was any she wouldn''t have done what she did.


    "I know it was wrong, Peterson. And I''m sorry. But please think clearly… If you kill me you would go to jail and stay right there for the rest of your life. Think of all the people who would be sad that you wasted your life by killing me."


    "Anyone here in the country would understand if I shot you. In fact everyone had been counting that someone would finally lodge a bullet in your skull to give justice for the lives you ruined."


    Damn.


    Peterson''s mind is unreceptive. Nothing I say to him works and If I keep saying things he might finally lose it and shoot me instead. But then I realized that even if I speak or not, he will eventually shoot me and I could see it right through his eyes.


    Stubborn as I was, I decided to try again. "Ms. Hamilton''s pregnant. Do you want your child to grow up without a father?"


    Peterson''s expression shifted slightly. He swallowed the lump in his throat.


    I found it to be a good sign and I continued. " I hurt you and your fiancée, and now we''re both paying the price for my actions but it''s not toote for us. I can make things right Peterson."


    Peterson sighed heavily. "I don''t know." His hold on the gun faltered. " Can you really make it right?" He sounded hopeful.


    "Of course I will." I told him, looking straight in the eye so he would feel how sincere I was.


    As soon as Lucas walked into the room, I knew I was in for a fight. "What the hell? I told you not toe in here!" I yelled at him, trying to keep my voice down.


    Lucas  grimly looked at me. "Time''s up, Be. I have to talk to Peterson myself." his lethal eyes shifted to Peterson  "You better lower that before I lose it." He grimly muttered under his breath.


    I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the tension between the two men.


    I took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation. "I told you I can handle it Lucas. Damn it."


    Lucas turned to me, his eyes sharp and menacing. "Do you suggest I stand there in the corner and just watch a man point a gun at my wife?"


    "I''m telling you to wait until I get the situation under control and not just pop into the room like a wild mushroom!"


    "So It''s my fault I was saving your ass?"


    "Don''t put words into my mouth. I said I would handle it, didn''t I?"


    "You did handle it." He sneered, "And look how inches away you''d been from death."


    "Peterson will not shoot me."


    "Damn it, Be! Look how his hand was shaking. He could identally pull that trigger without intending to shoot you."


    Peterson cleared his throat, he opened his mouth but Lucas and I looked at him at the same time. "Shut up!" We both said in unison before he could even say a word.


    "Alright." Peterson muttered under his breath, "Talk to me when both of you are ready." He added lowering his gun and putting it back in its holster.


    "This looks much better than shooting you." Peterson grumbled, looking up to the butler who just entered the room to request a ss of whiskey.


    Lucas shot him an irritated look before his eyes shifted back at me. "This is thest time I''ll ever follow a word you say, Be."


    I rolled my eyes heavenward. "Did I miss the part where you followed my word? It''s as clear as daylight that you didn''t follow any of it."


    "Could you at least be thankful I saved your ass?"


    "Save my ass. You nearly startled Peterson from pulling the trigger." I resisted the urge to stomp my feet in incredible frustration.


    "I''m done arguing with you…" He told me, turning his back at me. As he walked away I stopped him before he could make a step.


    "I''m not!" I snapped. "Don''t turn your back at me Lucas."


    "Apologies but I have no energy left to argue with you, especially after witnessing that you almost get shot." He said walking to the door.


    "Come back here!"


    "Goodluck talking to Peterson. Don''t get yourself shot."


    Before I could think of a brutal response, he was put in the room, leaving me fuming with rage.