He could have taken down a city with the anger he was feeling. He almost broke down the door leaving the cottage, before remembering that it would leave more questions than he needed about his appearance in this part of town.

Still burning with anger, he walked in a rapid fashion, his destination being the same city he found her in. If he found her once in this crowded place, he would find her again.

The market wasn't as crowded as yesterday. It was still early in the day and the sun was bright. Most people would wait until the sun wasn't at such a high point in the sky.

It took him ten minutes to walk around the area to realize she wasn't in the same location as yesterday. He continued walking, until he reached the center of the market: a big ceramic water fountain that spread some moisture into the hot air.

And then he saw her. The same long red-orange hair that was distinct to two women he knew, (well one woman. The other one had the mentality of a child.) He quickly walked towards her, his hand grabbing the end of her long hair and forcing her to turn around and face him.

The same green eyes that tormented him all night. It was her.

Tim gave her a bitter smile. So here she was. And here he thought she'd be smart enough to run to a different city if she wanted to escape from him.

"So you didn't disappear completely on me", he asked, attempting to add a little charm to his voice to make it softer so he wouldn't reveal how angry he was at her for leaving. No one left him unless he wanted them to.

Samantha had the decency to bow her head down in shame. Hmph. She deserved to feel guilty.

"I'm sorry... There have been many men who have tried to walk me home to find out where I lived. It hasn't ended well", she said awkwardly, rubbing her hand against her arm while keeping her gaze away from him.

Tim's face turned stony and impassive, remembering that he had deduced that she lived alone. She was a pretty girl, (intelligence did so much to make someone look appealing). It was obvious that a lot of men would try to take advantage of her loneliness.

Hm. Perhaps she was smarter than he realized. But still, that was no excuse to dismiss him as one of those cavemen. He placed his hands in his pocket and stood tall, using his imposing height to his advantage.

"And you thought I was one of ... those men?" he asked, letting his disdain show. Sam frowned.

"No... but I'll admit I had my suspicions about something else." Oh? He almost smirked. This he had to hear.

"And pray tell, what could that be?" He tried to sound annoyed but he was actually intrigued. Did he give something away yesterday?

Sam looked around the rather empty market before giving him a knowing look. "I know you don't live nearby." She had to bit her tongue to not laugh. He almost looked confused before probably realizing a man of his status should not look confused. "Your mother is Elizabeth Nordin-Scam. You're Timothy Aaron Scam, the heir to the richest family in the country."

... Tim stared at her for a minute before finally blinking. How in the world did she figure that out?

Sam shrugged and gave him a small smile, "I'm not dumb... Your experiments with the photon molecules is well known... I put two and two together after we spoke yesterday."

... Who is this girl?

He shook himself out of his thoughts quick enough to process an answer. "And you still thought I was a creep?"

She actually laughed at that, and he couldn't help but think it was a sweet sound. And then he realized how girlish that sounded and mentally hit himself to man up. He wasn't going to let him turn himself into some sap.

"No", she said with a bigger smile, showing off her straight teeth. "But I knew I needed to make sure I was right about who you were."

Yet I know little to nothing about you. He thought, a littled annoyed. He didn't like not having all the cards in his hands.

"I left you an apple in hopes that you realized that I'd be here waiting", she said shrugging. Tim looked at her in slight awe, remembering that no female in his generation that he knew would be smart enough to leave a clue behind.

"And..." Sam said hesitantly, not sure if she should go on.

"And?" He'd be damned if he wouldn't let her continue speaking. He needed to figure out who exactly this girl was. She figured him out in less than a day and he didn't even know her last name. He was slipping that's for sure.

See this is exactly why he liked being a bachelor. There was no losing brain cells like this.

"Well... It's well known you're engaged", she looked at him with a knowing (and slightly sad?) face. "I wanted to figure out why you were chatting me up when you have a fiancee waiting for you."

Ah. He knew that Anna-bitch would ruin this for him somehow.

He stepped closer to her, and a slightly worried Sam's eyes darted around nervously before he stepped even closer and backed her up against a wall.

"I'll tell you a little secret", he whispered huskily, making Sam blinked rapidly while a small blush formed on her face. "It was an arranged marriage and trust me when I say I don't want to be around her at all."

Sam gulped, his scent was engulfing her senses and it was too much to process at once. She licked her lips and didn't miss how his eyes caught that movement.

"I-if", she stopped to take in a deep breath and placed a hand on his shoulder to try and push him back. (He didn't budge. Stubborn man.) "If you hate her so much then why are you interested in me." It was a question formed as a weird sentence. He wondered how she managed to pull that off.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked with a smirk, pulling out all the stops to make sure he didn't have to go back to a redhead with short hair and the personality of a screeching harpy. Besides. The alternative seemed so much more pleasing.

And of course, he didn't forget how he knew nothing about this intuitive and intelligent girl (a rarity in this country, honestly). What better way to find out everything about her than to marry her?

"Not really", she whispered, frustrated. He chuckled.

"Well... you're intelligent, a great conversationlist, brilliant... not to mention beautiful." And then he gave her an award winning smile. (You know, the same ones he gave his mother when he told her that he was not at fault for whatever she was blaming him for. Always worked, that one.)

Sam's blush grew stronger but she managed to shake her head. "That's not what I meant."

Please don't tell him she knew what his fiancee looked like too. He thought, worried. She might have figured out his plan already and then all of this was useless if she was going to disagree. (And until he found out more about her, for example, her last goddamn name, he couldn't blackmail her with much.)

"Then what did you mean?" he asked, adding the smile as a bonus effect. Seems like he had to pull out everything for this mystery girl.

She looked at him with that look again, the "I know you know what I'm talking about; I'm not stupid" look. His mother had the same look. Bless her soul he loved her but really. He loathed that stupid look.

"Your fiancee is a splitting image of me", Sam said, and Tim just felt like throwing something. Maybe he should just hire her to be his private detective. Seemed like she did a better job than his mother's workers. (But not him. He just needed more time to get to know this girl. That's all. He was NOT a failure. Hmph.)

Tim sighed. "I'll have you know she's a lot stupider."

She actually laughed (not glared at him like he expected her to), before looking at him with a smile, "I know."

Of course she knew. What didnt she know?

Well if he couldn't get her on information he would use what he had to his disposal. His close proximity to her.

He stepped closer and could feel the heat of her body through her clothes. Sam's face almost turned red and she had to look away from him, to a spot over his shoulder.

"The point is... I'm interested in you, not her."

And that was probably the most honest thing he ever said in his life. Not that he'd admit it, ever.

She raised an eyebrow at that though, "You don't know anything about me."

And that will change. "Then why don't you give me a chance to find out more, hm?" he asked, his lips close to the crook between her ear and neck. From the corner of his eye he saw her bit her lip and he moved his face to get closer to hers...

Only for her to slip out of his hold and cross her arms, looking at him with a sad smile. "I'm sorry... I'm not in a position to do that."

What the hell does she mean she's not in a position. Women. Typical illogical behavior.

"Meaning?" he asked, stepping closer to her. But she had learned her lesson once, and stepped back.

She winked at him, "I can't give you all the answers. Do some research yourself genius."

Tim scowled and stood up to his full height again, intent on telling her that no one (not even some smart-mouth wise ass) told him what to do, when she waved goodbye to him.

"I'm sorry Tim. Goodbye", and it seemed, against her better judgement, she blew him a kiss, signaling her farewell before she ran off. Leaving him alone, once again, without any answers.

Whoo! Fastest update ever. I think this has only happened twice in my lifetime.

So yeah. Sad ending. Sorry :( But it was either that, or you guys would find out all the details NOW (which is never any fun... for me heh), or I would have to change the summary and remove the "blackmail" part.

AND WHO DOESN'T LIKE BLACKMAIL! :D (Don't answer that.)

Please leave a review :) I'm hoping to finish this story up in 6-7 chapters. I think 5 is too short.

Love,
Ivy