Cookie was furious- no more than usual when it came to Lucious. He was the only man capable of breaking her heart multiple times, and she'd still come back. She hated him for it and even more she hated herself for it. So when she saw Lucious stroll in with Anika promptly at his side smiling she knew something was off, she just didn't know how off it was.

Next weekend.

That's the one thing she kept replaying in her head. Next weekend Anika Calhoun would become Anika Lyon and hold the title Cookie held for so long; Mrs. Lyon. It physically made her sick to think about. Cookie was very much so the jealous type. Not out of insecurity but for the simple fact what's hers is hers, and if you have the balls to take it, you have the balls to get your ass beat. That was the rule. So her grudge against Anika wasn't because she thought was prettier or the fact she was younger than her (obviously that didn't matter if Cookie managed to sleep with her fiancé multiple times in only 3 short days), it was more so the fact she was having the life that should have belonged to Cookie. That's what made her upset. That and the fact she still loved Lucious, without a doubt and Lucious knew that and used it to his advantage. Cookie wondered if he had ever planned on leaving Anika at all, or if he was going to hope Cookie would give in and abolish the "no nookie" rule. They would both never find out because after tonight Cookie was done, for good.

"Hey ma."

"Jamal." She let him distract her from her thoughts. "Baby, I'm so proud of you!" She hugged him fiercely.

"I told you I'd come out eventually, just my way." He beamed.

"You did, you did. This is gonna be big Mal. In a good way, the blogs are already talking, and you're damn near close to being a hashtag on twitter."

"How do you know all of this ma?"

"It's my job to know." She smiled at him and Jamal could tell something was off.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"About what?"

"What happened with you and dad?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Jamal."

"I saw the look you had when he walked in with Anika. Then he tried to explain something to you and you stormed off."

"You know your father is stupid."

"I do but I also know when he's being an asshole." He paused for a moment. "He told you he was gonna leave Anika?"

Cookie remained quiet and looked down.

"And you actually believed he would."

"Jamal." She said with slight warning in her voice.

"Mom, I'm going to be real with you, because I love you okay? I know you love him, I know you do. I do too. I know you guys have history, I know he was your first in everything, and I also know he loves you. But you have to understand, this isn't the same Lucious you knew those years ago ma, times changed, he has changed and not always for the better. I guess what I'm saying is this, you deserve better. Nothing good is gonna come from loving Lucious Lyon the way you do, and you got to remember that."

"You done?"

"I'm done."

Cookie folded her arms against her chest, in her defensive stance. "No you're not you got something else on the tip of your tongue spit it out?"

"I was only going to say stop feeling sorry for yourself and stop pouting over him. Look at you. You're gorgeous, you're brilliant, you're sexy and most importantly ma you're single. Act like it. Go on Stella, get your groove back." Jamal nudged her with his elbow, making her laugh.

"Whatever." She accepted the champagne flute from one of the waiters before leaning over the balcony, her eyes drifting until they met Malcolm Devaux. He offered her a slight smile, which she returned; the exchange didn't go unnoticed to Jamal.

"And we found suitor number one. Go for it ma." He kissed her cheek and left he heard Ryan calling his from the other end.

Out of the mouth of babes.

Cookie straightened her stance and made her way over to where Malcolm was stationed, he smiled as she approached.

"Ms. Lyon." He nodded.

"You know, this is an a white party, you have a knack for breaking the rules Mr. Devaux?"

Malcolm laughed looking down at his state of dress. "Uniform policy. Regardless of the occasion ma'am."

"Well, all I know is when I have my first annual pool party that," she pointed at his suit and looked him up and down, "is definitely not allowed?"

She was flirting shamelessly she knew it and he knew it too from the way his mouth formed a shy smile. Before he could respond, Anika had taken over the PA calling for everyone's attention. The music cut off and she asked Lucious to join her on the stage. He was none too pleased, especially with Jamal's' coming out, he looked absolutely livid Cookie noted.

"First, Lucious and I want to thank you all for coming out to the 10th annual white party! It's because of your support this even is even possible. I want to thank Mr. Ryan Morgan for filming the event and I know curious minds what to know what for, so wait no more, we're releasing a legacy documentary about the life of Lucious Lyon and now you all are apart of that."

There was a thunderous applause and Cookie felt her blood boil.

"That was my fucking idea." Cookie mumbled over her breath, leaning over the railing looking down at Anika and Lucious. Malcolm noticed Cookie tense up and leaned next to her.

"You okay?" Malcolm asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Cookie never took her eyes off of Anika and Lucious as she spoke.

"There's also another important announcement we have to make." Anika said sporting a smile, looking around the room choosing that moment to make eye contact with Cookie and smirk.

This bitch.

"Yes, as Anika said we have a special announcement to make. As most of you already know, Anika and I were engaged two months ago and now we're moving our wedding up to next weekend." He kissed her cheek as everyone applauded.

"Because why wait? I cannot wait to be the new Mrs. Lyon." Anika smiled at Lucious pulling him in for a kiss before looking up at Cookie once again raising her glass.

Everyone continued to cheer and a few went up to Anika and Lucious to congratulate them.

Cookie stood rooted to the spot, gripping the flute so tightly till it broke in her hands.

"Ms. Lyon?" Malcolm called her name softly. She didn't answer.

"Ms. Lyon?" He was a little louder this time breaking Cookie out of her trance.

"Yeah." She turned to look at him.

"Your hand?" Malcolm pointed to her now bleeding right hand with a few glass shards in it.

"Oh shit." Cookie didn't even notice she was too lost in her thoughts, she didn't feel a thing until now, and it hurt like hell. "Shit, shit, shit." Cookie held on to her wrist and started to walk away, Malcolm against his better judgment followed her.

"Hey, let me help you." Cookie stopped and stared at him. "Follow me, this way." He reached out and Cookie used her good hand to grab his as he led her away from the crowd into one of the unisex bathrooms. The simple act of holding his hand made her shutter, his grip was firm and strong her hands felt feeble in comparison.

He led her in and closed the door.

"Sit over there." He instructed her to sit on the counter and Cookie stared at him.

"I'm not sitting on that."

Malcolm laughed. "It would be more comfortable if you were sitting down ma'am."

"Fine." Cookie made her way to the marbled sink and coughed.

"Need a hand?" Malcolm laughed at his own joke, as Cookie rolled her eyes. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the waist putting her up on the countertop.

"There." He looked up into her eyes, standing in between her legs her knees on either side of his hips. He swallowed and removed his hands looking around.

"There's got to be a first aid kit around here somewhere." He moved to look around. "Run you hand in some warm water while I look for it."

"Okay." Cookie did as she was told her hand stinging a bit until Malcolm came back with a small first aid kit.

"It's not the greatest but this should do." He moved to take his suit jacket off, and Cookie was grateful that he did. Her mind wandered to what he'd look like without the shirt too. She stared at him biting on her bottom lip as her mind filled with what she could do to Malcolm right there in the bathroom, those thoughts faded as soon as she felt him picking some of the glass from her hand.

"Ow!" She pulled her hand away.

"Sorry! I just wanna be sure I get all the glass out." She nodded for him to continue yelping every now and then.

"I think I got it all out. Now lets clean it up. This might sting a bit." He took the alcohol wipes to clean around the cuts and Cookie sucked in a breath.

"Shit, a bit? This stings a lot Malcolm."

"You big baby." Malcolm teased, then immediately regretted it. This was his boss he was talking to, no matter how much they flirted he didn't think their relationship was that playful. "I'm sorry Ms. Lyon, that was out of line."

Cookie groaned. "First, can you please stop calling me Ms. Lyon, that's the last thing I want to be called. My name is Cookie."

"Yes Ms. L- Cookie."

"Also don't call me ma'am. That's what you call old people and baby I ain't old."

Malcolm laughed and he started wrapping her hand.

"Third, stop apologizing for nothing."

"You got it Cookie."

"Good, so you a doctor in your spare time?" She joked watching as he finished wrapping her hand.

"I've had my fair share of injuries in the Navy. I'm pretty familiar with the first aid kit business."

"I guess you could say I am too, if you count hitting someone upside the head with one."

Malcolm threw his head back laughing.

"You did not."

"Oh I did. Some girl in the pen was talking shit, I had to let her know." Cookie laughed recalling the memory.

"You would've done well in the Navy. Or Army. Or any of the services really."

"No, I can't follow nobody else's rules to save my damn life. Never could."

"I believe that." Malcolm nodded. "Well, we're all done here. How's it feel?"

"Like I can't pick up anything."

"It wasn't too bad. I got all the glass out and the cuts weren't too deep. You should be fine without it in a day or two. Just stay away from anymore glasses Cookie."

"I can't promise anything."

She laughed as she hopped of the counter extremely close in his personal space.

"Thanks for your handiwork, Mr. Devaux. I owe you one." She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"My pleasure, Cookie." He watched as she strutted out of the bathroom and let out a sigh as she left.

xXx

A few days later Malcolm arrived to his office to find Cookie waiting for him.

"Ms. Lyon." Cookie turned and scowled at him.

"I mean, Cookie. What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I came here to give you my I O U."

"You didn't have to do that." He added gesturing to the box on his desk.

"What's done is done. Open it." Cookie stood by his desk as he walked over to it.

He took off the lid and pulled back some of the paper to reveal a single white pair of swim trunks that probably cost a fortune.

"Cookie what's this?" He held them up.

"Your uniform for my first annual pool party I was telling you about. Now you don't have an excuse for not following the dress code."

Malcolm laughed and put the shorts back in the box.

"Well, I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right. I'm Cookie Lyon." She smirked and turned to leave.

"Wait," Malcolm called after her leaning on his desk. "How did you know my size?"

Cookie's smirk grew even more as she looked Malcolm up and down, her gaze staying below the belt a little longer before meeting Malcolm's eyes again. He followed her gaze and swallowed the lump in his throat. Cookie Lyon was just looking at his dick print, right there in the office.

"Let's just say, I have real good instincts. See ya Malcolm."