Whispers in Maplewood

Chapter 10: A Complication

Emily woke to the soft morning light streaming through her bedroom window. She groggily rubbed her eyes and then blinked in surprise. The events of the previous night rushed back to her - the fair, the laughter, the Ferris wheel, and the kiss.

She touched her lips with a small smile, the memory of Jake's kiss still fresh in her mind. It was hard to believe that she had shared such an intimate moment with him. But the small teddy bear and bouquet of roses on her bedside table were proof that it wasn't just a dream.

She let out a soft sigh, her mind still filled with images of Jake, their shared laughter, and the stolen kisses. But reality beckoned. She had a long day of renovation work ahead of her, and she needed to get moving.

After a quick breakfast, Emily made her way to Mr. Thompson's Hardware Store. The quaint, family-owned shop was a staple of Maplewood. Mr. Thompson, the jovial owner, knew everyone in town, and his store was not just a place to buy hardware. It was also a community hub where townsfolk gathered to chat and catch up.

Emily strolled into the familiar wooden building of Mr. Thompson's Hardware Store, the chime of the doorbell announcing her arrival. A warm, nostalgic scent of wood and paint filled the air as she made her way toward the counter.

"Well, well, Emily," Mr. Thompson greeted her, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "I heard you had quite an evening at the fair."

Emily blushed, a shy smile lighting up her face. "I suppose news travels fast in Maplewood."

"Indeed, it does," Mr. Thompson replied, chuckling. "Especially when Mrs. Perkins is around. I think she's your biggest fan, although she did have something to say."

Emily raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? What's that?"

"Well, she was in here this morning, and according to her, Dr. Jake Miller is a fine young man. But she does have a soft spot for Peter. Always thought you two would end up together, she did."

Emily chuckled, a nostalgic glint in her eyes. "Peter was a childhood crush, Mr. Thompson. We've grown apart. But Jake… there's something about him."

The older man nodded, understanding reflected in his gaze. "Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, Emily. Not what everyone else wants it to want."

They spent the rest of the visit discussing painting shades with Mr. Thompson who shared his years of expertise. The conversation always circled back to Jake. However, as Emily found herself sharing snippets of their date, her heart was light.

Emily stepped outside of Mr. Thompson's store, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. As she walked home, she found herself humming an old tune that she'd heard at the fair the previous night. Back at her house, she unloaded her supplies and got ready to start on her day's work. The thought of transforming her home into a cozy haven was exciting.

Her phone buzzed from the kitchen table, drawing her away from her thoughts. She walked over to check it, expecting maybe a message from Jake, or a call from one of her old university friends. Instead, she found an automated message from her bank.

'You have reached the limit of your credit card.'

Emily's brow furrowed as she stared at the message on her phone. She had reached her credit card limit, but that didn't make any sense. She had been living quite modestly, her expenses mainly covering the renovation and the occasional outing in Maplewood. Her major source of income, the royalties she was supposed to receive from Mike's tech company, hadn't been used up yet. Or at least they shouldn't have been.

Mike's company, VirtuTech Industries, was a titan in the tech industry. It has revolutionized the field with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, becoming one of the most profitable and respected companies in the world. Emily herself played a significant role in its growth. She was responsible for creating their client service technology, a sophisticated program that significantly enhanced their customer relations and garnered numerous accolades.

In recognition of her contributions, Emily has been receiving a consistent stream of royalties from VirtuTech Industries. These payments were substantial enough that she didn't have to worry about her living expenses, including her ongoing home renovation project. But now, it seemed like the money hadn't come in this month.

She quickly logged onto her VirtuTech account, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed. As she suspected, there were no incoming transactions this month from VirtuTech Industries. This was highly unusual. VirtuTech was a huge enterprise, always precise and punctual with their payments. She had never had an issue before.

Her mind started to spin with questions. Was it an error, a glitch in the system? Or was it something more sinister? She had heard about Mike's engagement, but she hadn't thought that it could impact her financial situation. The royalty payments were legally hers; she had earned them through her hard work and innovation.

She decided to make a call to VirtuTech's finance department. Maybe it was a simple mistake, easily rectified. As she waited on the line, she couldn't help but feel a pit of worry form in her stomach. She hoped it was just a misunderstanding, a hiccup in their usually smooth process. She wasn't ready for another storm, not when she was just finding her calm in the tranquil life of Maplewood.

As Emily's worry grew, she realized something that caused her heart to sink further. In the past few weeks, she had received several calls from a familiar number — Mike's. At the time, her mind was still tender from their breakup and she had been wary, afraid that he was attempting to win her back. She had ended up blocking his number, wanting to avoid any further heartache.

But now, with her account showing a stark zero where her royalties were supposed to be, she wondered if those calls were about this. Were those attempts from Mike to explain? But why would he do this? They might have broken up, but they had been partners, professionals who had built a tech giant together.

She swallowed hard and dialed the finance department at VirtuTech Industries. The response she received was a vague deflection, something about a 'temporary halt' in the payment process due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. But that didn't sit right with Emily. She had been a crucial part of VirtuTech and she knew that this wasn't their standard operating procedure.

She insisted on speaking with Mike. The finance representative seemed hesitant at first, but Emily's firm and assertive tone left them with little choice. Emily's call was transferred, but, after a few minutes of anxious waiting, instead of Mike, she was greeted by the familiar voice of Mike's executive assistant, Lisa. "Emily," Lisa began, "Mike would like you to come into the office. He believes it would be best to discuss this matter in person, so please come in the office when you have time."

Emily was puzzled. It did not make much sense for her to visit the city for such a trivial matter. She had moved across the country, so she would stay as far from Mike as possible and she did not plan to change that.

"Lisa, I am afraid that won't be possible. I am no longer in the city and I honestly don't see the point of traveling across the country to receive the money that I am entitled to by contract."

Emily could hear that Lisa was surprised by the fact that she had moved away. "Sadly, Mike had ordered me to get you in the office as soon as possible. You know how he gets when he is determined, so could you please come?" Lisa asked in a pleading voice. She did not want to deliver news that Emily was not coming. She knew for sure that would make Mike livid and she did not want to experience that.

Emily was deep in her thoughts, analysing the situation. She had blocked Mike's number this morning, and she did not receive the money right after and now he is making Emily come to the city to talk with her.

A cold wave of realization washed over Emily. She saw right through this plan. It was just another one of Mike's tactics, attempting to lure her back into his world under the guise of business. She had been down that road before and she wasn't about to repeat it.

"No," Emily said, her voice clear and firm. "I won't play Mike's games. This is not about a personal meeting, this is about my royalties, money that I am legally entitled to."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a stammered response from Lisa. Emily interrupted her, "I don't care what Mike's personal motivations are. Tell him that if the royalties aren't paid, I will make sure to involve the law." Emily said in a firm voice and ended the call right after. She did not want to risk being lured into Mike's game.

The threat was far from an empty one. Emily had every right to claim what was rightfully hers, and she was ready to fight for it. The peaceful life she was building in Maplewood meant more to her than any game of power Mike was trying to engage her in.

As she ended the call, her heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and resolve. This was far from the quiet life she had planned, but she knew she couldn't back down now. Mike had always been about big business and bigger ego, but Emily was about fairness and respect, and she would make sure she received both.

With a newfound resolve, Emily turned back to the house she was renovating, a symbol of the new life she was determined to protect. Whatever it took, she was ready. The small town girl would not be swayed by the CEO.