Contract of Hearts

Chapter 4: Secrets and Lies

Alexander and Emily's were in the aftermath of the gala. The grand living room, the echoes of Lillian heady with smoke.

“Alexander, this is serious!” Both fear and frustration quivering in Emily's voice. PA: “If Lillian goes public with these accusations, it could destroy everything we have worked for''.

Running a hand through his hair he paced back and forth. “I know, Emily. However, we must be careful to tread this next chapter strategically. This can be known as catastrophizing, and this line of thought could actually do more harm than good.

The flash of anger Emily felt in her eyes. “Strategic? The frame-up, its Lillian manipulating us for years! “Can't just stand idly by

Dan Montgomery scurried through the door holding a stack of papers before Alexander spoke up. Somber-faced, he held up... / I have found something.

Alexander stopped pacing. “What is it, Dan?”

Dan took a deep breath. I have revealed details about the foreign account. This ties in directly with Lillian's manipulations. She has been plotting this for years, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

Emily’s eyes widened. “What does it mean? What’s her endgame?”

Dan shook his head. " I can't say for sure but it's obvious that she has been pulling the strings behind all this. She is a woman looking for a long term revenge, and she will stop at nothing to get it. We just need to be careful of her.

Alexander clenched his fists. “We need to find out more. Emily, can you—”

“f**k it, I got this,” Emily cut in with an almost replicated determination. I am going to find out all about Lillian. There must be something we can use against her."

He looked at her and for the first time, she heard concern in his voice. “Be careful, Emily. This could be dangerous.”

Emily nodded. “I know. But we don’t have a choice.”

By nightfall, Emily was across the street outside of Jim Thompson's office. She inhaled deeply and then knocked on the door.

“Enter,” boomed the deep tone of Jim's voice.

Emily strode in, determined. “Jim, I need your help.”

Jim raised an eyebrow. 'How may I assist you Miss. Emily?

“Tell me anything about Lillian. Everything you can dig up about her history, contacts and scheming. It makes her a liability to the firm, and to Alexander. ”

Jim sat back in his chair, making sure nothing showed on his face. You're treading on some dangerous ground my missy.” Does digging into Lillian's history mean bringing nothing but more problems?

Emily crossed her arms. Well, great… I am willing to take that chance. Republished with permission from the good people of The Nib because, you know what? We need to see our enemies clearly.

Jim sighed. “Alright. I’ll see what I can find. But be careful. This is a woman, “Lillian does not strike me as someone to take lightly.

A feeling of dread settled in Emily's gut as she nodded. She knew the risks, but she also knew they could not afford to back down.

Emily walked back into the office charged with ideas the next day. StatementAn Actual Physical Thing, Something That Could Help Them Get Ahead_ptsdwarior" assertion" Finding yourself an actual physical thing that would help./ from ptsdwarioShe had to come up with some real concrete something they could use.

While snooping through Alexander's office, she came across a seemingly harmless painting that concealed an innocent looking small safe. As she read the words, her heart began to race; these could be the clues that would reveal everything.

She opened the safe with shaking hands and pulled out a pile of papers. So when she searched through them her eyes popped open to some disgracing finding. Evidence the papers contained could expose about Lillian child and Alexander's father.liferay.com

The gravity of what she had found hung over her, and lingered in the hesitation before Emily spoke. Alexander had enjoyed an immense political standing and she knew that by disclosing these documents, it would greatly affect not only Lillian but his entire person.

This was when Alexander entered the room with a bemused and concerned look on his face. “Emily, what are you doing?”

She stared up, still holding the drawings. Alex, I got something. Something that could turn it all around.

Alexander narrowed his eyes as he advanced on her. “What is it?”

Emily then passed the documents to him little by little. These papers… They hold information about one of Lillian's children. And your father’s secrets.”

Alexander turned the papers white reading through them. “This… this can’t be true.”

One of those hands landed on his arm, belonging to Emily. Alexander, I — ” My throat is constricted. Should we reveal this? Or keep it hidden?”

Alexander sighed the breath of his life, reading her intentions to go faster and onwards. “We need to be careful. Listen, if this goes public, our family is over. But if we do not employ it, Lillian will still be a threat.

Emily said yes and her heart felt heavier. “What should we do?”

She gazed back at him, reading something there that she found it hard to believe was anything other than sheer determination. That means putting this information to good use. But we need to be serious about it. No rash decisions.”

Emily squeezed his hand. Together we can get through this.

Alex tightened his grip; with Emily beside him, he took a nod of consent. “First of all, let us take these special documents. Just, you know, try to keep them safe and only for us.”

Emily pushed the documents in and locked up quickly. “Done. Now, what’s our next step?”

Alexander gazed at the safe, locked and pensive. But we still have to vet that information. We had better make damn sure it is legitimate, if we are going to use this against Lillian. Dan can help with that.”

Emily agreed. I'm going to speak with Dan first thing in the morning. But it gets worse, Alexander. We need to keep this quiet. Lillian will go to ground at the first sign we know she is skimming off the top, and then our opportunity goes away.

Alexander nodded. “You’re right Emilia. We need to play this carefully. No one can know the truth. For now, we act like everything is normal between us. And no sudden moves.”

Emily took a deep breath, feeling all the weight of the situation but also the strength of their partnership and what they will get into. “We’ll get through this, Alexander. I promise you. We’ll find a way to protect the company and our family. And Lillian can't do anything for us”

“Together we shall do it now,” proclaimed Alexander as he hugged her close. He added, “And no more hidden things between us.”