by Rebel Hart
“You’re right,” he recoils slightly, pulling me into his chest.
I push myself against him, urging him to tighten his arms. I need to feel him around me right now to feel safe. Like everything I’d imagined isn’t crumbling around me. All of our plans. Everything we’ve been dreaming about. It all seems more impossible than ever. I can’t stay in Jameson, but the thought of leaving Emmett behind here makes me want to burst into tears.
“Can we go now?” I ask suddenly. “I’m exhausted.”
“Sure. Let’s just say goodbye to Theo.”
“Can you just give me the keys!?” I spread out my palm to him. “I don’t want to see him again right now. I’ll wait in the car.”
The moment he hands them over I bolt for the door. As open as the building is, it suddenly seems suffocating and claustrophobic. I want to get out of there as fast as I possibly can. I race to the car and get inside, locking the doors until Emmett comes out.
Hot tears stream down my face as I wait. It wasn’t enough for Theo to be absent my whole life and then nearly get me killed when he showed up for his own personal gain and vengeance. He had to weasel his way back into our family, and now he’s ripping the man I love away from me. I can’t help but think it’s on purpose. Like he’d do anything to hurt me, but I just can’t understand why. I don’t think I’ve ever hated Theo more.
Chapter Eighteen
BOOK 3
I’m curled up in a ball next to my mom on the couch watching some ridiculous romantic comedy she picked out. I watch the couple on the screen, thinking everything seems so simple and clean. No matter what scandal arises or shenanigans they get into, it’s oddly normal yet completely unfamiliar to me. I see nothing of Emmett and me in any of the couples in these movies my mom likes to watch. But I go along with it because I know it’s close to what she and Brendan have.
The men in these movies have never humiliated their dates or shoved them up against walls, threatening them. Sure, maybe that’s a distant part of our past. But it’s there. And as for what we face now…I don’t see them fretting over an estranged, corrupt father figure showing up out of nowhere and threatening to rip them apart.
I start to chew on what’s left of my thumbnail as I come face to face with the reminder of the last time I remember feeling this way about these dumb movies. I sat on Malcolm’s couch just before he tried to force himself on me and I lamented over why my life couldn’t be this simple.
“You okay?” my mom asks.
I jump slightly and look over to see her staring me down with worry lines cutting across her forehead.
“Yes, fine,” I answer quickly. “But I guess I should start getting ready. Emmett is taking me out tonight.”
“Another date night, huh?” she teases. “What are you two going to do?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug as I peel myself off the couch, almost wishing I didn’t have to get up. “He says it’s a surprise. I just hope it’s not bowling.”
“Well, don’t make plans tomorrow night,” she requests with a twinkle in her eye. “I’m taking you dress shopping. We need some mother-daughter bonding time and prom will be here before you know it.”
“Sounds great, Mom,” I smile. “Looking forward to it.”
I head for the stairs, thinking how excited I really am. Only these days less so about prom, and more so for graduation and getting the hell out of this place. But I’m still filled with resentment that it’s all threatened now by the very real possibility that leaving Jameson might mean leaving Emmett.
I check my phone before hopping into the shower and see that Emmett has texted me. He asked if I could wear the red dress with a winking smiley face. I smirk, feeling amused that he must think that’s the only dress I own.
“Boy, have I got a surprise for you,” I muse to myself out loud as I picture the black velvet stringy number hanging even further back in my closet. We bought it for some awards ceremony, but it’s about time to take it out on the town for something fun.
After showering, I spritz on some perfume and slide into the soft dress, pairing it with the only pair of heels I own. I’ve dressed up more times lately than over the past four years combined, but maybe I can just chalk it up as practice for prom. And maybe, just maybe, seeing this new vixen side of me emerge, Emmett will have no choice but to follow me away from here for college. That may be a long shot, but I’ll take whatever hopes I can get my hands on for now.
He’s waiting for me downstairs by the time I’m finished getting ready. I watch from around the corner for a moment as he talks to my mom and Brendan. He sure has worked his magic on them considering how much they used to hate him, but I guess I can say the same for myself.
“Hey,” I announce finally as I enter the room.
Emmett’s eyes grow wide when he sees me, but he blushes and clears his throat with a quick glance at Brendan. “You ready?” he asks, not wanting to start flipping out over how good I look right here in front of my parents.
“Yeah,” I smile as he leads me to the front door.
The moment we’re outside with the door closed behind us, he pulls me in for a long kiss. “I couldn’t wait to do that,” he says, looking me up and down. “Damn…you look good.”
“So do you!” I chime, noticing his expensive shirt and pants. “Are these new?”
“Mm-hmm. I wanted to look nice for you too,” he grins.
I take a moment to breathe in the spring air as we walk hand in hand to his car. It feels good for it to be finally warm enough that I don’t have to wear a sweater. He drives me across town to a fancy restaurant. An expensive restaurant. So expensive that I assume the date is over after that, but I’m surprised when he insists on ordering dessert and then wants to see a movie.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I say lightly as he parks in front of the theater. “But how can you afford all of this? I can pay for the tickets, you know.”
“No way,” he insists. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it.”
I feel thrown by his comment. It seems out of character for him, but I do my best to roll with it. I can’t quite put my finger on what’s wrong anyway, aside from all the money he suddenly seems to have.
We only watch half of the movie, getting sucked into making out at some point. Before I know it, the credits are rolling, and I’m forced to rip my mouth away from his. The scent of cologne lingers on my skin, and I realize it’s a new scent.
“Think we have time to go back to your place?” I ask once we get back into his car.
“Not tonight,” he grins. “I’m taking you somewhere better. I’ve had enough of that dumpy old apartment.”
I can’t imagine where else we could possibly go for what I have in mind. All I know is I’m all worked up from our hour-long make-out session, and wherever we’re going I want to get there fast. But all that pent-up lust fades when we pull up in front of one of the nicest hotels in Jameson.
“Wait…we’re not…here?” I stammer as I watch the cars pull through the valet ahead of us underneath the ornate, golden pillars.
“I know we can’t stay all night,” he says. “But we can enjoy it for a little while at least.”
Big, red, flashing lights are going off in my brain. Something is definitely wrong here. Emmett went from being completely broke to suddenly having money for new clothes, cologne, an expensive dinner, a movie, and now a luxury hotel room that we can’t even stay the entire night in. He looks so excited that I don’t know how to bring up all the glaring problems with all of this.
I can’t imagine how much a room at this place costs, but as he leads me into ours, I have to assume it’s not the cheapest one in the joint. It looks like a fully-fledged suite with a living room area and an adjoining bedroom. The carpet is plush and spotless, and the rooms are filled with only the finest furniture and linens.
Just as I am about to broach the topic of where all of this money is coming from, I spin on my heels and come face to face with Emmet
t. He’s waiting there with a long velvet jewelry box in his hands.
“What’s this?” I gasp. He opens the box to reveal what looks like a real diamond necklace that’s stunning enough to instantly take my breath away. Before I can say anything else, he pulls it out and steps behind me to clasp it around my neck. He starts to remove the running shoe charm necklace he gave me at the beginning of the year, but my hand flies up to stop him.
“No, don’t,” I beg. “I’ll wear them both. That one is too special to me.”
“But it’s cheap. It’s turning your neck green back here,” he scoffs. “I wanted to replace it with something nicer.”
“No,” I insist. “Please…it means a lot to me.”
He gives in and adds this new sparkling diamond over top of the old necklace, but I can’t get over how strange it feels for him to belittle such a sentimental gift.
“You deserve all the nicest things the world has to offer,” his deep voice tickles against my neck. “But I haven’t been able to give you much of anything lately, so I thought I’d make up for lost time.”
His hands begin to spread over my body as he kisses behind my ear. I almost forget everything and melt back into his touch, but the necklace itches across my neck, urging me to try and figure out how all of this is possible.
“Wait,” I tell him, pulling away. I go over and sit on the couch, hoping the distance will help push my arousal down again, at least until after we talk. Regardless of where the money is coming from, we already have the room. We might as well put it to use once we’ve talked.
“Where is all of this coming from?” I ask him in disbelief. “The clothes, the food, the room…This necklace!?” I run the diamond between my fingers, thinking I still prefer my little running shoe charm. “How can you afford all of this? Be honest with me.”
He sits down next to me on the couch with a heavy sigh. I can tell he’s not looking forward to whatever he’s about to tell me. “I’ve already done so much work for Theo,” he explains. “He’s gone ahead and started paying me for my time.”
“Wait…so…all of this…it’s from Theo?” I question, my voice growing shrill and broken.
“No, it’s from me,” he shoots back, sounding irritated. “I earned the money.”
“Well, shouldn’t you be saving it or something?” I suggest, still feeling a gnawing uneasiness that all of this did come from Theo, no matter how Emmett wants to paint it.
“There’s plenty. Don’t worry,” he leans back, looking smug.
Suddenly, all of my longing for him vanishes. He looks unfamiliar to me in his expensive clothes here in this ridiculous suite. And that smirk on his face…it’s one I’ve seen before. On his father, Thomas, and on my father as well. It’s a boastful sort of look worn by rich men who feel like they own the world.
“I don’t understand how all of this is happening,” I gape in disbelief. “You know what kind of man Theo is. But you’re seriously considering partnering up with him…and you’re already on his payroll, which is funded by who knows what.”
“Investors,” he snaps. “We’ve told you that. Investors.”
I shake my head and cross my arms, looking away to keep from screaming, demanding to know who all of these mystery investors are.
“Everything’s ruined,” I mumble, holding back tears. “I can see it written all over your face. You’re enjoying this too much. You want to stay here in Jameson and work with him. I know it. Your mind is made up.”
I want him to immediately argue back, swearing he’s still thinking it over. I need him to tell me I’m wrong, but instead, I’m met with a chilling silence. He leans forward, perching his elbows on his knees as he runs his hands through his slicked-back curls. “I want some solid way to be able to provide for you and our future,” he says firmly. “That’s what I was taught to do for a woman I love. And maybe working for Theo is my best possible option for doing that.”
“And what if I’m not in the picture?” I ask, flying to my feet. “Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen if you stay here.”
His face drops. “Are you giving me an ultimatum?”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I argue, wondering if it’s a lie. “I just meant…I can’t stay here in Jameson. I’ve told you that. If you stay…what happens to us?”
“I’ll have enough money to fly and visit you, or to pay for you to visit me,” he assures me. “Just like we planned to do before I lost Jameson.
I want to believe him, but for some reason him staying here and working for my father feels like losing him to something more than distance. It feels like the Emmett I know will eventually be lost forever and I can’t explain why.
“I want to go home,” I sob. “I’m sorry. This is all so lovely. But I feel sick suddenly, and I just want to go.”
It’s painfully silent as he drives me home, but thankfully he doesn’t seem offended that I had to go. I guess he really must have built up a really nice stack in this short bit of time, because he doesn’t seem at all worried that the money on the hotel room went to waste. I’m quick to tell him goodbye in my driveway, feeling anxious to crawl into my bed.
Once I’ve tossed aside my little black dress, which I now hate by association with this night, I throw on the most comfortable pajamas I own and grab Marissa’s diary before climbing under the covers.
Dear Diary,
Prom is just a couple of weeks away, and I am so excited. And so very in love with Thomas. Really, I am. There is…just one little thing bothering me. The other night, my parents and I went to the Jameson manor for dinner. Everything was so lovely, and the evening was going perfect. Thomas’s mother even showed me her jewelry collection, pointing out which pieces she’d give to me once Thomas and I are married one day.
But as I walked out of her room, I noticed the study door being slightly open. I stopped and listened for a moment, even though I know I shouldn’t have. Thomas and his father were talking my dad into some sort of business deal they schemed up. I almost walked away because it seemed so ordinary, but then I began to realize exactly what it was they were really talking about.
It was some kind of crooked deal that I know is illegal and takes money away from a lot of hard-working, less fortunate individuals. I was so upset at the thought of my father being involved with something like that, but even more upset that Thomas would be involved and drag others into it.
Later in the evening, we took a walk. I know he was eager to get me alone so we could kiss and touch, which I normally can’t wait to do. But I was so bothered by what I overheard, it’s all I could think about. He asked why I was so quiet, so I tried to confront him about it.
He turned cold and angry. He pointed to the manor in the distance, telling me that all of it would be ours someday. But that the life he wanted to provide for me wasn’t cheap. I argued that we could live a less extravagant life if it was the difference between swindling innocent people or not.
He snapped and told me not to concern myself with these things. It would be my job to manage the manor and one day have our children. He told me I’d never want for anything, but that I needed to stay out of his business when it came to our financial affairs and how he made his money.
I didn’t know what to say. I had never seen that side of him before. But as awful as it sounds, I thought back on the jewelry his mother promised to me and thought maybe he was right. I wouldn’t even know any of this if I hadn’t been eavesdropping.
Is it okay for me to ignore anything bad he might be doing…and just sit back and enjoy the life he provides me? It’s not like I’m the one running those bad business deals after all. I don’t know, diary. But I do know I love him more than anything in the world.
-Marissa.
I toss the book to the floor and flip off the lamp before rolling over in the darkness. I pull the covers around me tight, needing their comfort and warmth. I think about Marissa’s comment on her future mother-in-law’s jewelry and can see myself following Em
mett into that expensive hotel, and again when I almost let everything slide after he put that necklace on me.
If I give in and let Emmett enter into this business with my father, will he one day become just like his dad? And will I eventually become like Marissa? So heartless and cruel that I’d turn my back on my own son out of greed?
Chapter Nineteen
BOOK 3
The next day at school is long and tortuous. Emmett and I sit together at lunch barely speaking to each other, and I find myself avoiding him to rush home after school. Only what I rush home to is just as daunting. The excitement of shopping for a prom dress with my mom is lost in my anxiety about everything happening between Emmet and me.
I want to look forward to this big high school milestone. I want to daydream and fantasize about the magical night we could have together, making memories. But all I keep thinking of is what happens after prom. If we have to part ways when I move, what’s the point? Why delay the inevitable? And even if we stay together, do I lose him to Theo’s world? It’s the world he was born to live in, after all.
I’m so quick to get inside and get the whole thing over with, thinking maybe it will be fun to spend some time with my mom regardless. I don’t even notice the car parked out front until I hear the familiar voice echoing from the dining room.
Theo. Again. In my house. The last fucking thing I wanted to come home to. I try to be as quiet as possible as I peek around the corner to see him and my mom talking. I can’t make out what they’re discussing, but it’s obviously so enthralling they didn’t even hear me come in. I take my chance to dart upstairs and wait for him to leave.
My mom knocks on my door a little while later and asks if I’m ready to go. I resist even asking what Theo was visiting for this time. It feels like I can’t get away from him no matter where I turn, and the last thing I want to do is talk about him any more than I absolutely have to.