Ashley always knew how to be a party crasher. Hell that is how we met. She crashed one of my parties a couple years ago and when I laid eyes on her at the party I knew I had found the one for me. That was till the divorce came. Yet this time when crashed my party it wasn't such a great outcome. She hadn't seen me in over a year and yet she was able to crush the brightest moment I had since I got out of jail. She was able to turn my mood from being ecstatic to confusion and frustration in a matter of minutes. She had came back in my life again as my mind and heart began to wage an unholy war for control. I must have been crazy to ever let Riley bring her in to talk to me. I mean why was it that she was the only person that could have such a hold on me? She had fucked me over worse than anybody else. She had divorced me at my lowest point in life. Yet I was able to forgive her the second she asked for it. It made me almost sick to my stomach. Nobody should have that much control over me especially my ex-wife. Yet no matter how I thought things should be, they were overruled by my feelings. My heart was starting to win the war and I had a feeling I wouldn't like the outcome. I mean I couldn't even bring myself to blame Ashley for my loss last week at Disclosure. After all she had my heart and mind so focused on her that Dante snuck up and stole a victory from me. This time though I won't let her cost me. I plan on helping my mind defeat my heart. Then again how could I do that when I just agreed to be friends with her?

-=Surprises In The Middle Of the Night=-

These thoughts of Ashley and Disclosure ran through my head as I laid in my plush bed at my recently settled in house as I watched the ceiling fan go round and round. I was tired yet the adrenaline and disappointment from the last week's show and events still pumped through my veins as it clouded my head so I couldn't sleep. I leaned over to look at the alarm clock as the clock read a quarter till two. Damn it has been almost a day since I have gotten any rest. That is if you call the three hours of sleep I got on the plane actual rest. It couldn't really be considered actual rest rather my body shutting down from the fatigue of Disclosure. I tried to roll over and shut my eyes ,but I couldn't sleep as I kept seeing the show and Ashley in my head which would just increased my heart rate and make it difficult for any sleep at all. All of a sudden my cell phone rang the generic ring tone as I just couldn't bring myself to put some over played song for my ring tone. I wondered to myself who the hell would be calling at this God forsaken hour as I picked up the phone to check it out as of course it was Riley Winters. I let out a sigh not knowing what this could be about.

"What Riley." I snapped sharply as phone courtesy went out the window the moment it passed eleven o'clock at night. I just wanted to know why he was calling at this late hour as I figured he was drunk and just drunk dialed me up or needed bail for a DUI. It wouldn't be the first time for either. Anyway I sat up as I held my slider phone to my ear waiting to hear what Riley had to say from himself

"Good you are up." Well if I wasn't up on my own merits, I would have been up now with the annoying sound of my ring tone blaring in my ear. I guess he was lucky that I couldn't sleep, cause I'm a real fucker when I first wake up.

"Yeah, I'm up. I can't seem to get to sleep." Which I had been trying to get the last two hours. I felt like I was in a daze the last half of the day. It was my mind not my body that needed the rest. I rubbed my eyes as I stood up.

"Then you should come out with me." I should have figured that. Riley was probably wanting me to hook him up with some piece of ass at a club. He basically used me as some piece of meat to attract the women. He was like a vulture picking off the leftovers that I turned down and shattered their self esteem. I probably should have told him no and tried to get some rest. Yet going out with Riley for some drinks seemed a whole lot better then the alternative of watching the ceiling fan or some late night infomercial about a kitchen product.

"Alright. Are you going to swing by here and pick me up?"  I asked as I didn't really want to drive. I was guessing Riley must have waited till his wife went to bed before he snuck out. He had been on a short leash for the last couple of years after two paternity scares from some drunk whores he hooked up with at some random bar. I had a feeling though that Mrs. Winters knew he still messed around on her ,but she didn't want to risk a chance of losing her rich lifestyle after all the bitch signed the prenuptial. I wished I would hadn't been blinded by love so Ashley and I could have done the same. She got whatever I had left after the conviction as showing up in an orange jumpsuit doesn't exactly help your divorce case.

"Yeah I will be there in a minute." A minute? The old bastard must have known I was going to say yes if he was that close. He always could get me do things on the spur of the moment. He was the same guy that had me fly to Cancun in the middle of the night just for a bottle of authentic Tequila to make a Margarita.

"Okay, I will see you then." I closed the phone as I stood up and walked into the bathroom to jump in the shower as I looked in the mirror before jumping in. I saw the look in my empty and heavy eyes of a loser. I was ready to be successful again. I sighed and turned away from the mirror as I took a quick shower as Riley would be here any minute. Afterwards I went to my closet and put on my newly tailored Armani suit. Finally after getting ready I made my way downstairs as headlights danced through the windows of my house. Riley wasn't kidding when he said a minute. I grabbed the keys as I locked the door behind me and made my way to Riley's Hummer. I climbed in as Riley looked over at me. I

"I'm glad you decided to join me." I could tell Riley had already started drinking as I could smell the mixture of whiskey and bourbon on his breath not to mention the slight slurring of speech. I wondered when he started drinking as I was wondering if I should let him drive.

"Riley, how many have you had?" He looked over as his face was flush red and his eyes were glossed over. I knew he had started drinking pretty damn early. He does this every time he wants to celebrate a great business move and joining The Pantheon was a great business move in both of our eyes. Hell I remember the business contract we signed with Japan a couple years ago. I thought I was going to have to rush him to the hospital for alcohol poisoning later that night.

"Don't worry I'm straight" I knew better ,but rather than arguing with him. I just grabbed the keys out of the ignition switch as I got out and went over to the driver's side. I pushed Riley's heavy ass over to the passengers seat as I climbed in the hummer. Riley couldn't afford to get another DUI. It would be considered a felony this time and get him some jail time. I put the keys back in as we pull out of my driveway.

"So where are we heading?" As if I didn't already know. I knew it was going to be some type of club. After all what else would be open at this time of night.

"The Furnace Gentlemen's Club" A strip club? At least Riley wanted to go to the upper scale strip club rather than some hole in the wall as caesarean scars and stretch marks are just not my type of fetish  Man I couldn't believe he wanted me to come with him to a strip club at two o'clock in the morning. Then again this could be a place I could ease my problems as nude woman and alcohol were always the perfect concoction for that.

"Alright, but this time Riley don't try to pick a fight with security." Riley was like half population when he was drunk. He thinks he can take on the world. Last time we went to a strip club, he got a little grabby with one of the dancers and we had to fight our way out of there. Riley just nodded his head. As we continued down the road, I took a left at the end of road while I searched for some music as it was pretty much a hopeless task this time of night.

"So Gio, you find the ability to trust people again? I mean I understand joining The Pantheon, but do you think you can trust them." Heh trust a group that I barely knew? The drunk brought up a good point ,but I knew the guys I surrounded myself with. I knew they were too focused at the task they have ahead of them to ever plot a betrayal. After all I saw a little of myself in every one of them.

"Trust? Nah, more of a common understanding." Our small chat was interrupted as just then my phone rings as pull it out of my pocket. I thought to myself who could it be? Riley was right here beside me. Heck maybe it was Jaxx wanting a wing man for the night. I looked at the number as I didn't recognize right away ,but I decided to answer it anyway.

"Hello" I said waiting to see who was on the other end.

"Uh hey Gio, you up?" What the fuck is up with people calling me at two in the morning and asking if I'm up? Wait I know that voice it's Ashley. How in the world did she get my number anyway? Although I had a pretty good idea who gave it her, It had to be the drunk seating right beside me.

"Yeah, I am up hanging out with Riley" What the hell did she want now? Did she want to have some conversation before she went to bed or better yet did she want to fuck with my head before my next match like she did last week.

"What are you two fixing to do?" What was it to her? I mean did she really have to know that Riley and I were going to some strip club on the other side of town. What should she care?

"We are heading to the Furnace." Why the fuck did I tell her that? She would think that I am some pervert now that can't get a woman so I have to pay to see one. Then I heard Ashley sigh heavily.

"Why would want to see some silicon enhanced bimbos this late at night?" Did I hint a bit of jealousy in her voice. Why would she care where I went? We weren't together anymore. Anyway she is one to talk about silicon enhanced things. After all she had some silicon in her chest as well. Then again I didn't feel like fighting so I didn't bring it up.

"Why should it matter? Anyway do you need something?" I responded. I mean it is two o'clock in the morning. Plus shouldn't she be in bed anyway? Why was she up? Why would she call at this time of night?

"Well last week I wanted to tell you something ,but I couldn't get the nerve to tell you." I knew it. She had cheated on me. I mean really her excuse for divorcing me last week was pretty damn pathetic.

"What is it then?" I thought I had already knew what she was going to say as I just waited while my anger began to rise. How could she do this to me I thought. Did our wedding vows mean nothing? I guess Riley Winters was right about her maybe she was nothing more than a gold digging whore.

"I rather tell it to your face." That cold bitch. She wants to see my expression when she tells me that she fucked some other guy while we were still married? Did she get some sick satisfaction from it? Fine if that is how she wants it ,but I will not be responsible for what I say or do to her.

"So I will come over tomorrow then." I mean after all I had some Grey Goose calling my name not mention it would numb me for the pending news she was going to tell me. Plus I am sure she didn't want me to show up at her house with a drunk in the passenger seat.

"Why don't you come over right now." Now? Why did she want me there now? I looked over at Riley who was pretty much out of it as the strip club seemed like a distant memory to him. So I figured why not. Hell this night or early morning ,however you look at it, was shot for me anyway. Why not find out my ex-wife was fucking around on me. It would make this week just fucking complete with the loss, being verbally assaulted not to mention accused of stalking by Christy, and now the cheating.

"Okay, I will be there in a few." I hung up the phone as I knew exactly where she was at. She had gotten the summer house on the beach in the divorce as I made a U-turn in the middle of the road that startled the half conscious Riley Winters as he grabbed a hold of the door handle and looked at me.

"Where are we going?" He asked as even in his drunken state he knew this wasn't the way to the strip club. Then again I guess that said more about Riley's every night doings then anything.

"We are going to Ashley's" I hated hearing that come out of my mouth as it just showed once again that Ashley still had me wrapped around her little pinky. I looked over at Riley who just shook his head and rubbed his brow.

"What does she want now?" I thought I had a clue of what she was going to tell me. I just had to hear it from her luscious lips. I had to hear the bitch say she fucked some guy while we were still married. Hell maybe that statement would finally release the hold she had on my heart. I knew I had to go and hear it in person. Though I didn't want to tell Riley at the moment fearing there might be a slight chance I was wrong..

"I don't know, she wouldn't tell me." I know it probably sounded crazy to Riley Winters that I would make a U-Turn in the middle of the street just cause Ashley needed to tell me something in person. Riley though still inebriated just leaned back in the seat and took in the ride as the rest of the ride was mostly in silence as my mind was just filled with thoughts of Ashley fucking some other guy while I was in prison. By the time we had reached Ashley's house, I was ready to explode. I turned off the Hummer as I jumped out of it. I slammed the door as Riley came too as he stumbled out of the passenger side. I barely noticed him as I stormed toward the door as all I was seeing at the moment was red. I pounded on the door like I was the police or something as I heard Ashley run toward the door. She opened it and motioned for me to be quiet as she let Riley and me in.

"Why the fuck do you want me to be quiet? Is your fucking boyfriend upstairs asleep?" Was I really hearing myself? I sounded like a jealous husband. Though I had a right to be fucking pissed off after all she cheated on me while we were still married. That was what I thought till I saw the confusion in her eyes.

"What boyfriend? That wasn't why I told you to come here." Oh shit it wasn't? Now I felt like a jackass. I spent the whole trip over here getting myself worked up for nothing. I mean what did she want to tell me? It must have been something big as she kept biting her bottom lip. She always did that when she was nervous.

"It's uh uh...." She was having trouble spitting it out. She just kept stopping before she said it. She then began to pace back and forth as that just made me more nervous with every step she took. She stopped in mid-stride and looked at me with those big beautiful brown eyes.

"I think it would be better to just show you." Show me? Now I was completely in the dark at what was going to happen next. I didn't know what she had to show me as we started our way up the stairs. We made our way up as I was hypnotized by her silk pajamas pants hugging her ass so perfectly. Luckily I was able to get stop staring when we finally made it to the top. We then headed down the hall.

"What exactly are you going to show me?" I mean she had to say something as we stopped at the last room on the right as she motioned for me to look in when she opened the door. I peered in to see a room covered in princess stuff with a beautiful little girl laying in the bed. Now I was totally confused as she finally broke her silence.

"This is Autumn Marie Aries. She is two." WAIT WHAT!? Did she just say Aries? What the fuck was going on? Was this some type of Twilight Zone I was in? I had to make sure I wasn't hearing things..

"You said Aries?" She nodded her head yes as a tidal wave of mixed emotions came over me. It was happy that I had a child. I was angry as hell as that she kept my own child from me. I was disappointed that I haven't been there for her. Most of all I felt light-headed. Yet the anger won over in the end as I erupted in a whisper so not to wake up my child from her sleep.

"What the hell do you mean? Why the hell have you kept this from me for two fucking years?" Then again how could I be so blind and stupid? I mean I couldn't notice that she we getting a little heavier every jail visit. Yet she should have told me about it.

"I just didn't want her grow up with a father that was nothing ,but a convict that couldn't get his life back together." The words were sharp and precise as her words cut right through me. I couldn't believe she could actually say that to me. She was just flaming the fire that burned in me.

"Now though it seems you are starting to get you life back together." She did make a point. Did I really want my daughter living where I had lived that last year?  I look back in the room as my girl laid there sleeping like an angel. Then again that didn't give her the fucking right to keep the news of my own child from me.

"Oh yeah great, just let me stay in the dark of my own child for the first two years of her life. What the fuck were you thinking?" That was the problem she wasn't thinking. It was sorry to me and to my daughter.

"I don't really know. I had some many things running through my head. I figured the best way to do it was as if you never existed." Ouch that really hurt. So what was Ashley going to tell her when she got older? That I was some random guy...That I split on them. What would she tell her?.

"So what now Ashley?" I mean now that I have my life back together and finally out of that roach motel. What are you going to do?

"This is why I came over last week. We need to be friends so at least for our kid's sake and you can see your daughter." Friends? There that word is again. She wanted to be friends still after she hid the birth of my child from me? Fuck that bitch. Wait a minute what did she say? She was going to let me see my daughter. I felt a warmth wash over me like never felt before as I cracked a smile. Then my heart started going wild as it filled my head with possibility of getting back together with Ashley.I shook off the thought as my mind reminded my heart was she just did to us. Then I looked back at Ashley.

"I guess we could." I wanted to be in my daughters life even if that meant being the bitch's friend. I mean it was only the right thing to do even if her whore of a mother tried to prevent it at first. I then slowly proceeded into the room as I looked down at my daughter. She just laid there so peaceful and innocent. I leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek as I then back out toward the hall. I looked at Ashley again.

"So um I guess I will go now." I closed Madison's door softly as I made my way down the stairs. I looked down as I saw Riley passed out in the recliner as Ashley put her hand on my shoulder.

"You can stay here if you want to." Since it would be a pain getting Riley back up and to the Hummer, I might as well took her up on her offer even if I was still pissed at what she had done to me.

"You sure that is okay?" My heart was wanting her to say yes and ask me to come to her room. Yet my mind knew the reality of the situation as she handed me a pillow and blanket as I made my way to the couch.

"Yeah it's fine you can take the couch." She told me before heading toward her bedroom. I threw the pillow on the couch as I pulled out my cell phone and made a call on behalf of Riley to his wife. I covered for him saying that he was staying at my house. I hung up the phone and laid down on the couch. As for the first time in days I was actually able to drift off to sleep even with the recent events still flooding my head. Anyway I knew tomorrow I had to get down to business

-=CONTINUE TO NEXT SCENE=-