Britney - Is it? I want to meet him too. Come on, Niki! Let's do this.
Emma - Yayy Thanks, Britney! Niki? Come on.
Niki - Ok. I am in too. I will invite Barry as well. Text us your new address.
Emma - Great. I will send you both the address. Don't forget to invite Max too, Britney. I am soo excited already! See you all on Thursday.
Niki - See you love
Britney - Sure thing babe!
After chatting with both of them, I felt happy and contented. We both headed to bed early today as we had office tomorrow.
***
"Good Morning Jake. Sorry I got a bit late. I hope you didn't have anything urgent to attend."
The next morning, we woke up early, Jake was already in his suit and on a conference call when I went to get ready.
"No, we are fine. We will head out in ten minutes, so grab a quick bite."
"Are sure we have to go together?"
"Emma, we already discussed this. We are not going to shy away from people about us." I nodded reluctantly, last night we already had a small argument on this.
We both left for office together. As soon as we reached, Jake stepped out and went ahead to open the car door for me. He extended his hand, which I nervously took. He held my hand tightly, and we both entered the premise together.
He was bold, confident and powerful. He was every girl's dream. Walking beside a man of his stature and looks, filled my heart with pride. I heard so many gasps and whispers, people and their stares were piercing our backs. However, Jake was unfazed, he held me close, his arm snaked around my waist.
We entered the elevator, the one entitled for his exclusive use. The moment the door closed; he gave me a warm hug.
"Relax Emma. They will eventually get over it. What we have is special, and nothing else matters, okay?"
I nodded. He was right. Sooner or later, people would have known. We could not hide it forever. His uncanny faith in our relationship warmed my soul.
My floor's beep got me out of my thoughts. He gave me a quick peck before I left the elevator. I headed straight to my cabin.
I tried to keep all other thoughts at the back of my head and dived in my work without a single worry.
An hour or so later, I heard a knock at my door.
"Hi, Emma. Busy?"
"Hey Mark, please come in," I replied with a genuine smile.
"I came here to discuss the Norway proposal." For the first time, his body language was sloppy.
"Sure, let me open the file."
I headed for my drawer, when he interrupted me, "actually, that can wait. My real reason to come here was... umm I heard about... "
He was stalling, and I was getting anxious, "What is it, Mark?"
After a long pause, he asked. "Umm... So, you and boss? Is it true?"
Wow. News sure travelled fast here. "Yes, it's true, Mark. I have been seeing Jake since a while now. I am sorry you had to find out like this, I tried keeping my personal and professional life separate, but I guess it had to come out someday."
"Oh! So, it isn't just a rumor?"
"No, it's not, and I am glad you asked me straight."
"Well, it was the highlight of the day. It was hard to miss. I had to ask. I am happy for you, though. Good Luck." He stood up from his seat and turned to leave.
"Mark, what about the Norway project?" I called him from behind, unsure of his sudden change in mood.
"Let's talk later, Emma." He didn't even turn to look at me again.
Without saying another word, he left.
Chapter 35
Honeymoon Crashers
Emma
The rest of the week at office was quite distasteful. I got ugly glares from everyone around, and I remained the top topic of discussion. From Amanda at the ground floor reception to Maria, Jake's secretary on the very top floor, all of them gave me bitchy stares. I stole the hottest bachelor in town, so their hostility towards me was quite expected.
Jake, on the other hand, had been quite busy. There were days when he even worked until midnight. Usually, I would wait for him, but sometimes I would doze off. At the least, we managed to spend our mornings together, every day, irrespective of our workloads.
I somehow sailed through the week, and eventually, we got to Thursday. I was expecting my friends to visit me and meet Jake for the first time today.
I felt excited and nervous at the same time. We decided to keep a Halloween theme party, especially the decor and food menu, we didn't do costume. We had pumpkin shaped candles and orange and black kitchenware.
Ever since the beginning of the day, I had been hustling in and out of the kitchen and making other arrangements.
It was almost evening when I dressed up for the dinner party. The moment I stepped outside the room, I met Jake in the corridor.
"Hey, you look beautiful. Purple suits you. I was coming to check on you." He took me in his arms and gave me a soft kiss on lips.
"Yes, I am going down to check on the food and see if they need any help."
"I just checked; everything is as you planned. I am going to get changed quickly and will meet you downstairs."
"Sure. Come soon." I gave him a quick peck, and as soon as I did, his phone started ringing.
"It's my lawyer. We have the court hearing on the Windson's case next week, sorry I have to take this."
"No problem. Just don't belong. I will be waiting."
***
"Hey, Emma. I think you gave us the wrong address. We are outside some sort of palace or museum. I don't know exactly." Niki's confused voice from the other side of the phone made me chuckle.
"No. This isn't a museum. You are at the right address, just give your names to the guards at the gate, and they will show you the way in."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, absolutely. I will meet you right outside."
I rushed through the gates to welcome my friends.
Within minutes, I saw Barry's car approaching the main gate.
The moment Niki stepped out; I gave her a tight hug.
"So good to see you, bestie. I am so glad you guys made it." I squeezed her in an embrace again, and side hugged Barry who joined us seconds later.
"This is where your boyfriend lives Emma?" Barry scanned the place, his mouth open in astonishment.
"Umm yes. It's his family home. We are staying here until his apartment gets fixed." I tried to be as honest as possible, carefully ditching other scandalous details.
"God, this place is huge, like a palace." Niki sounded equally amazed. Her reaction was quite similar to mine when I first came here.
"Come on in. Jake would be here soon. He just went up to freshen up. He had been taking care of arrangements all through the evening." We all got inside and settled in the living area. Soon enough, Jake joined us.
He was looking Drop Dead Gorgeous. The moment I saw him step inside the room; my throat went dry. He was wearing a black t-shirt tightly fitting his toned muscles with a pair of simple blue jeans, his hair was perfectly set, and his manly scent filled through my nostrils.
This guy looked like a model even in the most modest clothes. How I wish I could touch his broad chest, right here, right now. Horny corrupt thoughts crept in my head, making me imagine wild things.
"Emma? Are you listening?" Jake's voice got me out of my trance.
"What?" I asked him confused as he was standing next to Barry and Niki, probably after greeting them both.
"Can you check on Britney and Max?"
"Oh, sure. I will give them a call. Umm... Niki?" I called for her while stepping aside from Barry and Jake, who were easing in each other's company.
"Oh, my fucking god. Jake looks amazing, Emma." Niki whispered to me as soon as she joined me.
"I know, right. He is effortlessly sexy." I was drooling, internally.
"Get a grip girl. Can you be any more smitten? Now just call Britney. I am sure she is wondering she has reached the wrong place too." Niki rolled her
eyes at me, and I stuck my tongue out at her.
Niki was right, Britney felt lost too. Soon, she and Max joined us as well. They had the same awe-stricken reaction looking at Jake's house as we all expected. The moment she met Jake; she gave a similar response too.
I read her lips as she mouthed these words from across the room, "He…is...hot."
"I know, right?" I whisper-gestured back.
Soon we all sat down and started dinner. The dining area was full of chatter and giggles. The guys were bonding surprisingly well. That's when Max raised a toast, "I want to first raise a toast to our wonderful hosts. Thanks for having us all here today. To new friendships."
"To new friendships!" We all cheered and drank.
Then after taking a sip, Max continued, "And now I want to make an important announcement."
We all looked at him attentively, as he got up and took Britney's hand.
"We finally have decided on our wedding date. We will be getting married on March 3rd next year at Vancouver, that's Britney's home town. And you my lovely friends, are all invited." We all cheered and went ahead to hug them both while giving them heartiest congratulations. The room was full of happy faces and marriage cheers.
After a while, when we all settled down, Niki suddenly jumped up in excitement, "Guys amidst all the excitement, hope you didn't forget my parents' surprise anniversary party this Sunday."
"Oh, it's this Sunday? I totally forgot." I palm slapped my forehead, when I suddenly remembered. "Crap. Niki, will my parents be there too?"
"Obviously. Our families are all so close." A strange wave of nervousness blanketed my core.
"It seems I am going to meet your parents sooner than you thought, isn't it?" Jake wrapped his hand around my waist and whispered in my ear. His proximity and breath on my face calmed me a bit.
"Looks like it." I was edgy, but deep inside, I wanted this too, sooner than later.
***
"The water is chilling." Britney' shrieky voice fell on our ears, as she was the last one to put her feet in the water.
After dinner, Barry wanted to smoke, so we all settled outside near the poolside area.
"So, our pretty bride to be, in less than six months, you will be a married woman." My heart was elated after hearing Britney's wedding news.
"I know. It sounds unreal." Her eyes spoke volumes about how happy she felt.
"Where are you guys planning your honeymoon?"
Niki chimed in the conversation as well.
"We are not sure yet, we will only get two weeks off. We want to spend some time in the preparations with our families before the wedding too."
"Yes, I think we would rather take another break later and do our honeymoon properly. Little time and a lot to do." Max added.
"Yes, it totally makes sense. Why rush?" I agreed with both of them.
"But I have been longing to do the Vancouver's Joffre Lake hike, it's five hours tops after a less than two-hour drive from my place and the view from the little cabin's up there is spectacular. We might do that at the least. Right babe?" Britney was looking at Max with hopeful eyes. He immediately bent over and hugged her from behind. "Yes, babe. Absolutely. Anything you say."
"Wow. I love hikes!" Came my spontaneous remark.
"Really?" Both Jake and Niki stated in unison and started laughing together. I knew they were referring to my last hiking experience in Norway, and how badly it ended.
"Jake? How many bodyguards would she need this time?" Niki joined forces with him to mock me. She didn't take long in changing sides. Traitor.
"Come on you both. Stop making fun of me. If it hadn't rained, I would have been fine." I nudged Niki with my elbow to stop her from making fun of me.
"Baby, you can do anything you want. Just don't you ever think of hiking alone." Jake took a seat right next to me and put his arm around my shoulder, giving me a gentle squeeze.
"Who said she has to be alone, you all could join us?" Max suddenly got very excited.
"Are you kidding us? On your honeymoon? My company organizes a lot of travel tours to this lake, so I know it's beautiful. But we still have no intentions to crash your honeymoon." Barry added as he finally joined the conversation too.
"Come on you guys. It sounds fun. And please do not label this as our honeymoon. We will plan an extravagant tour across Europe for that. This can be just friends doing a trip together." Britney insisted.
"I am in." Niki agreed almost immediately.
"Seriously babe?" Barry quizzed her with a raised brow.
"Yes. It's going to be fine man! Trust us." Max coaxed.
"Alright consider us in then." Barry responded.
"What about you guys? Jake?" Max and all others looked at us with their curious eyes.
Jake looked at my face, and I am sure he saw our eyes twinkling in excitement, because the moment I smiled at him, he said, "we are in too. Let's do this."
"Woah. Done deal. I will make the arrangements." Barry volunteered as he owned a tour and travel company.
"Yes, the day after our wedding." Max specified.
We were thrilled by our spontaneous plan. It started to get cold outside, so we headed to the entertainment room inside.
We had planned a horror movie, so all the respective couples were cozying up with each other, and watching the spooky move in pin-drop silence. After the movie and dessert, they all slowly took our leave. It was close to midnight by the time everybody left.
Jake and I went to our room as well. I could see it in his eyes, he was happy as he clearly had a great time. My heart melted looking how perfect he was with my friends today. I immediately rushed in his arms and gave him a deep passionate kiss.
"I have been wanting to do this ever since you joined us for dinner. You looked so hot." I whispered in between our kiss.
"You have no idea what I have been wanting to do babes. Just watch me now." He whispered back as he kissed me with more passion.
We both showed a great deal of our love and desire to each other before finally falling asleep in each other's arms.
Chapter 36
Niki's thing
Niki
"Oh, God. Nate, can you just hurry up with the menu? I thought you had it all sorted."
"Relax Niki, don't rush everything, we are on track for tonight's party." Nate gave me annoying stares before he slumped on the couch in exhaustion.
"Hi, babe. I have been calling you nonstop since morning. Where have you been?" A loud, shrieky voice fell on our ears. Jessica strode into the living room, straight into Nate's arms.
Another crazy in the house. Nate should send her his minute by minute memo. Control Freak!
I muttered to myself as soon as I saw her clinging to Nate and claim his mouth, unannounced.
"Did you say something, Niki?" She retorted in an interrogatory tone.
"Me? Nope. Nothing. Sup Jessica? All set for the party?" I asked her with the fakest smile plastered on my face.
"Yes, absolutely. I am wearing this exclusive Ralph Lauren gown from their latest autumn collection. After all, somebody has to take care of the glamour quotient." She boasted.
"Ya right. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives." My sarcasm coated words miffed her a little as almost instantly Nate's angry stares became my guest. Jessica walked close and started looking at the centerpieces that I was arranging.
"So, tell me, Niki. Have you invited that sadist friend of yours too? Nate's ex I mean? That poor girl with a broken heart?"
"Her name is Emma… and you better...."
"Oh, yes, Emma. Haven't heard any of her sob stories lately? How is she doing?"
"She is far from a broken heart Jessica. She is dating someone and is blissfully happy. You better stay clear from her; she is none of your business." I spat back at her. Nobody calls my best friend a sob story. Not under my watch.
"Really? Who is she dating?" Nate suddenly became interested as he questioned me instantly.
"He is invited too. You
know what? I would love you both to meet him tonight." I suddenly had a grin on my face. I felt amused imagining Jake meeting the both of them.
"Who cares babe? Must be some loser. Have you ever seen Emma? I wonder what you saw in her in the first place." Jessica insinuated another insult at Emma.
I was fuming with anger and was about to show Jessica her place, that's when Nate gestured me to calm down. He came closer to me and whispered, "Let it go please", almost with pleading eyes.
"You better put a filter on her mouth dear brother, because if you won't then next time, mark my words, I will," I whispered angrily and left him alone with his full of drama girlfriend.
Jessica wore me off in more ways than I could take. I was already very nervous about Barry meeting my parents, and here she was hissing about others, poking her nose in places far from her interest.
I calmed myself a bit and decided to call my girlfriend. Talking to her alone made me feel better.
"Hi, Girlfriend. Hope you are both ready for tonight?"
"Hey Niki, yes Jake and I will be there latest by nine. I can come by early too if you need any help."
"No, it's fine. I have everything under control. Just nervous about making Barry meet my parents."
"Don't you worry. Barry is a sweetheart, a real charmer. Your parents will love him."
"Hope so. Oh, I forgot, even Jake is going to meet your parents for the first time today? How do you feel about it?"
"Yes, I am nervous as hell."
"Relax. Your parents will go gaga knowing their daughter is dating a freaking billionaire. You should just sit back and watch" I giggled imagining all of it.
"Shut Up Niki. It's not funny. A lot comes in the package with that. You know it's not always easy."
"Agreed darling. But your parents don't need to know all that. Just be positive. It will all be great."
"Yes, you are right, I guess. Anyways, will see you in the evening. Got to dash. Love you."
"See you, love! Take care"
The house was all set, it was dazzling with lights, and my favorites lilies completed the overall decor, giving the living hall an elite aesthetic look. The huge white and pink tulip centerpieces complimented the entire setup.
I will lower the moon for you Page 20