Knots Between Us

Chapter Nineteen

"We aren't open yet, come back later" someone answered when he knocked on the window of the place his GPS had taken him to. He knocked again, getting the attention of the person inside.

"Dude, I said we aren't open yet..."  the door opened to a heavily tattooed owner.

"Aw hell naw, I am not about to deal with you man" the bar owner said, trying to close the door.

"Get the hell out of here before I call the cops again" Sebastian frowned when he remembered being handcuffed.

"Look, I just want to know what happen last night that’s all, I will make it worth your while" Sebastian said holding up some dollar bills. The guy looked at Sebastian and then at the bills, yanking them out of his hand he tilled his head to enter. Sebastian stepped in to the dark and empty place.

"Look the bar is close so don't expect any drinks, trust me you can't hold your Spirytus too well" the guy said leaning against the bar.

"I am not here for a drink; I want to know what happened when I was here last night" Sebastian asked glaring at that man.

"Besides, getting drunk and punching the bouncer when he tried to calm you down."

Sebastian cursed and ran his hand down his face, "What else did I do, most importantly why did you call the person that came to pick me up?"

"You mean your girl, Emma? You asked, no correction BEGGED me to call her"

His girl?! Begged?! He frowned, did he tell him that she was his girl.

“What?”

“Yeah, you said all girls are the same, they are all liars, cheaters and blah, blah, blah. Expect for her. That she was different and she did something to you every time she was near. You told me to call her and see for myself.” 

Sebastian’s mouth felt dry, his heart seemed to have stopped, and did he really feel that way about Emma?!

“And then you said not to because she probably hates you, you being an asshole. But then you literally challenged me to call her. Because you wanted to see if she had any feelings for you at all.”

Sebastian turned away from the guy, running both hands through his still wet hair.

“Well there you go buddy at least now you know, that girl does really care about you, more than you think.”

Sebastian taken aback by his statement turned to him again.

“What do you mean?’

“Dude, you were totally out of it and after you punched Drew I was done with you, if it weren’t for your girl, you would have been in jail. Its cuz of her that Drew and I dropped the charges.”

Sebastian felt a tightness in his chest at what he was learning. Emma really did all of this for him, she didn’t hate him? Something in him was telling him to shout out, in happiness but that was short lived as the suspicion of why she would do all that, what game was she playing at.

“Thanks” was all Sebastian said as he made his way out the door.

“Oh hey, your phone, hold up.”

“There you go, and I expect the money soon buddy, don’t forget the check, or the cops will be paying you a visit.”

Sebastian was about to ask what he meant but the bar owner simply said “Ask your girl, now get out I have to prepare for tonight”

The guy handed him his phone, Sebastian left the bar and stood on the side walk absorbing everything the just learned.

He tried his phone, which flashed open long enough to show 10 missed calls and 78 messages before it ran out of battery. Cursing under his breath he headed towards his office. His mind only on one thing, Emma.

He felt it, right when the elevator doors opened. The hushed whispers, the side glances, the immediate silence of conversations when he looked at them, and silent laughter. She told them, Emma had told someone, and now everyone knew about his life and him crying. She has made him a laughing stock. For a moment he froze, and the next rage filled him. Sebastian had managed to make it to his office, he went to his mini fridge and bar, poring himself a glass of whiskey. He bought it to his lips but stopped.

He slammed the glass down and took a few steadying breaths.

“Why?” he mumbled to himself.

“Why did I lose my self-control?! Why did I tell her about my pain?!”

It was late afternoon when Emma finally was able to come into the office. There was an excitement in the air. Frowning she went to Andrea.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Oh Emma thank god you are here” Daniella came hurrying over, and handing her a file.

“Did Andrea tell you?” Emma opened her mouth to answer.

“Good” she said before Emma could even get a word formed.

“Oh my god I am so excited, take the file to Bash, ask him to sign it” handing Emma a file.

“What is it?” Emma asked totally confused as to what was happening.

“Oh he will know when he sees the documents” Daniella said pushing her towards Sebastian’s office.  She looked towards Andrea for help but she was being dragged away towards the break room. Emma just looked at the file in her hands. It had to be something big for Daniella to be here personally.

“Oh and don’t tell him I am here too.” Daniella said who was now rushing towards the break room too.

"Oh and once he finished signing bring him to the break room" Daniella said, again hurry off.

Emma clutched the file to her, and knocked on the door.

“What?” she heard Sebastian snap, she slowly she opened the door.

Sebastian’s fingers froze on the keyboard when he saw Emma standing at the door. Emma gulped visibly when he continued to shoot her the death glare. He watched as she slowly made her way towards his desk. She put a file at the end of his desk.

“I was told to give you the file for you to sign, they said you will know what’s it for” Emma explained awkwardly.

Getting out of his seat, he slowly came around the desk. Emma had an uneasy feeling forming in the pit of her stomach.

“You really can’t help yourself can you?” he asked in an eerily calm voice, not stopping his slow advance towards her.

“What are you talking about?” Emma asked instinctively stepping back.

“Oh, now I have to tell you what YOU have done?!” He continued.

“I really have no idea what you are talking about, I just came to give you the file.”

Anger blurred his vision at her denial, breaking his self- control. He grabbed Emma roughly towards him.

“You must be really enjoying yourself gossiping about how pathetic I was last night huh” he said giving her a shake.

“I didn’…”

“You must be really happy about how I lost my self-control, how in that one weak moment I told you my biggest pain and weakness.” He continued, his hold on her arms tightening, Emma whimpered in discomfort.

“You couldn’t wait to take advantage of that could you?” all Emma could do was look at him, not knowing what to say to him, the anger and hurt in his stormy grey eyes was to raw.

“You made it into a joke, WHY?!” Sebastian asked bringing her closer to him.

“I didn’t do anything like that?” Emma said pushing against him, but his told only tightened.

“You think I am blind, or stupid.  Since the moment I stepped in the office people are staring at me, laughing behind my back. All of this just because I yelled at you a few time, you must be so satisfied at the chance to get your revenge right. If you think I will let you take advantage of my pain, think again.”

Sebastian said close to her face, his hold on her bruising, making Emma wince. He looked at her tear filled jade eyes, his anger subsiding enough to let her go. Emma rubbed her arms, still reeling from what had happen. Sebastian turned away from her.

“Dammit” he slammed his fist down on the table. Emma turned and was about to open the door when it opened on its own and Daniella walked in, along with half the office staff.

“What’s taking so long?” She chirped. Sebastian straightened and frowned at his sister.

“Di, what’s going?” Sebastian asked bringing some composure to his shaky voice.

“What?! Didn’t Emma tell you?” She asked making him look at Emma.

“Tell me what?”

“Emma?!" Daniella in a sing song voice.

"What happened? “Did Sebastian say something? " Daniella asked placing a concerning hand on her shoulder, when she took in the pale and frightened expression on Emma's face.

“What, no, I just though, it seems like a big deal, it would be more appropriate if it came from you?” Emma said with a slight shake in her voice.

“Oh sweetie, ok fine, it is pretty exciting” Daniella said with a big smile, but the suspicion not leaving her.

“WE GOT THE FUNDING”

“What?"

“Last night’s gala raised enough money for us to start construction and buy equipment needed for us to start working on Gideon and Andrew Trauma Center.” Daniella said as she hugged Sebastian, who was just frowning.

“Leave it up to you to ruin the surprise, do you have any idea how hard it was to keep it hushed from you” Daniella said with a faked disappointment. Understanding dawned, the buzz or the snickers weren’t about him. They were about the approval of the Center. His mouth went dry; Emma hadn’t told anyone about his drunken night. His chest tightened with something he had never felt before, guilt, fear, and regret. His gazes searched for her but in the crowd he didn’t find her. His employees came up to him one by one congratulating, all but one.

“Since you didn’t come to the party, the party came to you” Daniella said as she popped a bottle of champagne, people grabbed the glasses. Everyone happily enjoying but all Sebastian wanted to do was get to Emma, who stood with her group of guys, with a dejected look in her eyes and a tight smile on her face. He NEEDED to get to her, making his way to her, shaking a few hand of congratulation.

“Everyone” The room stopped at Daniella’s clinking her glass.

“I just want to thank Andrea for the amazing job she did last night at the gala, her great work made this dream project that is every close to me and Sebastian happen, to Andrea” she said raising her glass,

“To Andrea” everyone said in union.

“Awe thanks Mrs. Groza, but it wasn’t all me, I couldn’t have done everything without my wing woman, EMMA” Andrea said looking for her.

“Where did she go?” Daniella asked concerning.

Sebastian turned back towards the spot he had seen her last, only to find it empty. His heart sinking.