I'm going to jail.

Catherine Lewis, the saint is going to prison because the President's son decided to invade my privacy – who in their right mind would believe such a story? Scoffing, I throw my hands in the air and collapse onto the floor since as fabricated as it appears, this story is real. 

Groaning, I grab a pillow off the couch and place it in my lap, then envisioning Zander's face on the pillow I begin punching it like there's no tomorrow.

"Um, Cupcake what are you doing?"

"Pretending this pillow is your pretentious face!"

"Ouch." Sending him a piercing glance, he shuts up and looks the other way while Patrick glides closer to Celia, eying me suspiciously. 

"Does she always turn into a she-devil?"

"You think she's bad? You're lucky I'm not the one who's mad, otherwise the furniture in this apartment would be flipped and thrown like a war zone."

"Whoa...take it easy. Have mercy on us."

 "Mercy?" My voice is laced with mild hysteria, they want mercy? 

"You two are random strangers. STRANGERS! Who decided to barge into my apartment and practically forced me to have this idiotic sleepover, somehow managed to turn this room into a crime scene, and invited the woman next door whom I haven't spoken to in three years, and YOU WANT MERCY?"

"Hey, we didn't think anyone would call the cops on us and its not like we were having a wild party in here, trust me, this was pretty low key."

If a single look could make him drop dead right now, I pray to God to grant me that wish. 

Observation: Zander Nolan is a thickheaded idiot who doesn't understand the single syllable NO.

Grunting, my heart drops into my chest as the impending knock on the door makes us all go silent. Cautiously walking towards the door, I open it just wide enough to keep the couch from being visible – Ms. Zhao was still sound asleep.

"Hello, young Lady."

"Hi," I greet shakily, the uniform and gun holster intimidating as I take in the officer's appearance. 

"We've received a complaint that you've been rowdy."

"I'm sorry, we didn't mean to, my friends simply got carried away." Shit, what am I saying? I'm not supposed to admit to that! The officer raises a questioning brow at me and I try looking up at him with a look that I hope conveys utmost sincerity.

The corners of his mouth perk up a bit but my triumphant moment vanishes as he pulls the door aside and walks right in. Running after him, I step next to Celia and wait with nervous impatience for the officer to speak.

"I'm sorry to inform you all, but none of you will be leaving this apartment," He declares formally. 

"May we ask why?" Ooh, only Celia could have the nerve enough to speak up. 

"Mr. Nolan probably knows the answer to that."

Glancing in Zander's direction, I'm shocked to see the look of anger on his face. What's even worse, is that this anger is directed towards the police officer. Zander will really get us all imprisoned with that hostile attitude! 

"Is this some kind of joke?" Zander snaps out acidly.

"Of course not. I've been asked to check on everyone you've been in close contact with."

"Um Zander, I don't think you should be so rude," I voice, with a fake bright smile. 

His face darkens, and I shrink back as his hostile glance becomes directed at me instead, "Why shouldn't I? He isn't even a real cop."

"WHAT?" Celia and I stare dumbfounded, the 'cop' grins at us while Zander still remains furious, and as for Patrick, well Patrick does the sensible thing and decides to nap on the loveseat.

"What exactly does that mean?" I ask bewildered. 

"It means he's only a secretary disguised as a cop," Zander announces brusquely.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Let me introduce myself, I'm Henry Lloyd, secretary to the President."

Fantastic. I've just met a madman who enjoys cosplay and he just so happens to be one of the most powerful men in our country. 

Sharing a nervous glance with me, Celia drags me into the kitchen and we both crouch low, her eyes dart carefully at Mr. Lloyd before her voice drops into a harsh whisper, "what normal secretary goes to such lengths?" 

"Erm, supposedly the President's," I say in a daze.

"So now you have an apartment full of a snoring landlady, two idiots, Mona, and a fake cop who's the President's secretary. Now what do we do?"

"You're asking me?"

Straightening, she gives me a disconcerted look, "It's your apartment!" 

"How I wish it wasn't. I don't know, I guess for now we should confirm if someone did call the police on us because my poor heart can't take anymore surprises."

Walking back to the living room, I tap Zander's shoulder and lead him back to the kitchen. "Are you sure he isn't a cop?" I ask, halting with a shaky hand raised. 

Rolling his eyes at me, he hollers Henry's name and the man in question enters the kitchen.

"See what you've done, you've scared her." I'm surprised a little, Zander's defensive tone and what I'm assuming is concern for me makes not just me but Celia and Henry blink in confusion. 

Nudging me, Celia gives a smug look that I want to rip off while Henry scratches the back of his neck before giving me an apologetic look, "Sorry, no one actually called the police. I made sure to have all police calls regarding this floor to come to my line."

"Isn't that a violation or illegal for that matter?" I ask open-mouthed. 

"Nah, you'd be quite amazed at how much I can do."

"So what you're saying is that you, this idiot, and the one sleeping on the couch are just idly staying here when I can just kick you out anytime because there will be no cops coming around? And you're also saying, you've basically imitated a public civil servant, so I now have dirt on you?"

"Well yes, but no. You see, someone's son kind of ran away from home and his father will be here in a few minutes to visit him. I'll also have you know, I can make any allegations against me disappear but within this moment, you are in fact, correct."

Observation: Zander Nolan has subtracted fifty years of my life within the span of two days. 

Grumbling, Zander offers Henry a look of scorn, "Dammit, how'd he find me so fast? I thought Pat covered this up pretty nicely."

Glaring at him, it only takes me a second before I grab a broom, throw a duster into Celia's hands and push Zander into a corner...with a potted cactus conveniently there.

"Hey, what's the big idea? And ouch! Why the hell do you have a cactus?"

"Um Cat, it's still winter. Spring doesn't come for another whole month," Celia groans with dread before reluctantly picking up a cleaning cloth to wipe down the counter.

"The freakin' President is coming to my apartment and you think I'm crazy for cleaning?" Gracing Zander with s seething look, I jab a finger in the air towards his face, "You, stay in that corner and make idle conversation with my cactus, she doesn't have a name yet, so maybe you can keep yourself busy with that. Pretend officer, I need you to drag my landlady into my bedroom. Celia, I leave you with the task of dusting the entire place."

Moaning hatefully, Celia gives me an imploring glance, "Damn, ten second tidy?"

"Oh please. We're going to need to finish in less than ten seconds!"

"Has she lost her mind?" 

Turning around, I walk towards Zander in barely contained animosity, "Excuse me, I'm not the one who let my landlady be drugged, and I didn't play chubby bunny with a total stranger, and I've had it up to here with your pushiness." His eyes widen in shock, and I let the glorious moment sink in – Catherine Lewis is no pushover and she doesn't let her quiet and peaceful way of life come undone because of the likes of Zander Nolan. 

A chuckle behind me has me whipping around to see a sly grin on Henry's face.

"How's that funny? He's made my life miserable."

"Nothing, you're just the first young woman he's encountered who talks to him like that. If you're interested, Ms. Lewis, I'd like to hire you."

"Um, thanks but no thanks." I may have just declined an opportunity to work for the President but no way in hell do I want to be near Zander; he'd probably get me fired on my first day anyways, might as well save myself from the humiliation. 

"Ah well, I guess I better handle the landlady. What about Patrick?"

"Hmm, you can drag him too, I guess," I wave with a dismissive hand, hating this entire ordeal. 

"Cupcake, I think you're taking this a little too far – " 

"If you want to walk out of here alive, please don't speak."

With that, I briskly walk out of the kitchen and power clean as if it were my job to do so. Henry manages to move both Ms. Zhao and Patrick into my bedroom, and Celia's dusting abilities match my sweeping abilities. We become entirely engrossed, that I almost walk right by the President himself as he takes in the entirely odd scene.

Dropping the broom, a thousand and one thoughts go coursing through my mind, do I bow, shake his hand, greet him with a smile or with a look of respect?

Running to Celia, I snatch the music player out of her hand and shut it off, right before she begins her booty-shaking segment. "HEY WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?" 

Wincing, I slap her arm and direct my head towards the big man.

"Oh shi-" Covering her mouth, I turn back with a placid smile.

"Hello...sir." 

"You must be Ms. Lewis?"

I am so beyond dead from this point onwards if the brisk and cold tone of his voice is anything to go by.

"Yes, nice to meet you. Won't you have a seat, Zander has been eager to see you as well."

Zander guffaws in his designated corner, giving the cactus a flabbergasted look before turning towards me, "Uh, no I haven't."

Sighing, I point to the couch before gesturing a slicing motion against my neck with my hand. Getting the message, he reluctantly obeys and sits his ass down.

"Why are you here?"

"Is that anyway for you to talk?" The President hollers insipidly. 

"I thought you said it would be better if I left, I ruin your perfect reputation after all."

With slow and cautious steps, Celia and I sit across from the two of them and watch on with adept attention and elbow each other, harbouring the same thought. This will be great for Zander's profile! People always reveal more about themselves when around family.

"I didn't literally mean that! I meant for you to quit this kind of lifestyle and focus on caring for your mother and sister."

Observation: Zander Nolan has an unknown sister; her relationship with him could determine how he treats other females.

"Gwen's fifteen, she can handle maintaining the perfect family image herself since you've robbed her the chance of having a normal childhood already," Zander grinds out heatedly.

With a look of reservation that was holding back on full blown rage, the President shakes his head before raising a definitive hand, "Will you stop with that? Your family misses you and here you are running around looking for some infamous matchmaker. I told you, you're getting married, and that's final." 

Ouch, I shrink back physically from that statement. Yes, I hate Zander but a forced marriage with a girl he isn't in love with is both cruel and infuriating. I'd run away too if I had half the courage to. Maybe he needs my help more than he lets on? 

"This is exactly why I left in the first place! You never let me be my own person! I'm twenty-two not thirty-two! I have my whole life ahead of me and you want me to get married?"

"I wouldn't force this upon you if you didn't go around creating such a bad image to begin with!"

"I said I would handle it."

The older man looked at his son with an exhausted sigh, "Are you? Are you really Zander? Because you've been here less than a day and someone was about to call the police! All you've done is make noise and unnecessary racket about someone who is supposed to act like your saviour in order to get you out of a predicament you've created!"

The room fills up with complete silence and I dread the next words that come flying out of my mouth, "that wasn't his fault – it was mine.

"What?" Both father and son stare at me with wide eyes and for the first time, I notice the familiar resemblance, they share the same striking eyes and odd but appealing hair colour, and Zander's jaw is exactly like the President's. Yet, I can't help but think that the inflated self-entitlement and sense of eminence is tenfold in Zander's father, whose never once asked his son to explain the situation before condemning him; and this is something I am not okay with. 

"It was my fault, when my friend comes over I have a terrible habit of blasting the music a little too loud," I churn out reluctantly. 

"Young lady, you don't need to cover for my son's mistakes- "

"But I'm not sir, it really was entirely my fault. If I didn't invite him over he wouldn't be in this mess."

Oh. My. God. I Just blatantly lied to the President! The current father of our nation! No, I need to stick to my fleeting feelings of camaraderie even if I've thought of killing Zander off on more than one occasion today. 

Sighing, he swiftly glances at each one of us before calling for Henry, "We're leaving. I want you to write a report on all of them every week and monitor them. I hope you weren't lying to me young lady, because if my son is the reason for all this, then you've just covered up a crime. As for you, you'd better reconsider, Zander. I'll let you go this time, but there isn't going to be a next time."

Walking out, he shuts the door behind him and I sigh heavily against the door.

"Are you crazy? He's going to find out the truth, especially since that cosplaying secretary will be writing reports on us! And I don't mean about you lying about tonight," Celia hisses, mortified by what has just occurred. 

"This entire thing is the plumber's fault! And what was I supposed to do? I actually felt sorry for him," Pointing at Zander who's done nothing but remained silent since the President's departure, his eyes suddenly meet mine and I feel the wretchedness swimming within them. Oh this is madness! One minute I'm hysterically mad at him and the next minute I want to console him! I need to get my damn act together!

"Can you give us a minute?" He asks Celia quietly.

A shiver runs down my spine, and the alarms begin blaring. My body tenses slightly and I hope Celia declines, but instead she nods before leaving the apartment entirely. Whoever said friends were telepathic? Because my lovely friend sure wasn't.

"Um, I'm going to go check up on Patrick and Ms. Zhao," I say hurriedly. 

I sidestep him, but he gently grabs my arm suddenly. Inching closer towards me, I sense my internal panic cells going berserk.

Hell, where do I hide?