Something in between love

CHAPTER 3: Past In Present

EMILY

I tried hard not to pass out at the shocking sight in front of me, I staggered back and tried to breathe steadily in an attempt to calm my nerves. Felix had a sinister smirk on his lips, clearly enjoying how flustered I was.

"Where's Seb?" Sophia asked, oblivious of how flustered I was.

Sophia is in her early twenties with striking features. She has a straight nose, an oval-shaped face, fair skin, and a beauty mark on the right side of her nose, thick, dark, glossy hair, pin straight, cascading down her waist like a waterfall; she dyed the tip blonde to indicate a bet she lost to Theo. Her almond-shaped and very dark brown eyes held confidence and shone with mischief.

She always stood tall at 5'6.

"With your parents." I managed to respond.

"Alright," she nodded and turned to leave.

I let out a sigh of relief, but she turned around again, and I held my breath.

"Oh! Silly me, I forgot to introduce my new acquaintance. Emily, meet Felix Jones. He's an engineer," Sophia added with a proud smile.

I couldn't help but pity the young girl, Felix Jones was a 30-year-old man with experience that could destroy Sophia.

Felix has a red handkerchief in his left pocket, matching Sophia's ox blood dinner gown. She wore sparkling diamond earrings and an equally thin diamond necklace situated between her breasts.

Her delicate face and petite body made every man want to protect her.

Sophia was never with one man long enough.

"He is very important to me."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jones."

I bravely reached out for a handshake. He smiled and shook it, he raised it to his lips and kissed my hand. I suddenly had the urge to throw up.

"Pleasure to meet you beautiful."

He drew. I quickly retrieved my hand and went back to my table. Beth was shaking with anger.

"Em, what is he doing here?" she whispered harshly.

"I'd like to know the same thing. I think I'll go to the ladies' room,"

Before she could respond, I dashed for the ladies' room. I leaned against the sink.

I looked up at the mirror and my reflection stared back at me.

"You can do this Emily," I murmured.

"He's got nothing on you, he's the guilty one, not you."

I stood and raised my shoulders back.

"That's right, this is you, the confident, fearless Emily."

Immediately I came out of the restroom, I stopped short at the sight of Felix Jones, crossed-legged, leaning on the wall outside the restroom with his hand folded on his chest, looking as handsome as she could remember. She rolled her eyes and started walking again.

"Well, if it isn't Emily Asher."

"You do know this is the ladies' room, right?" He hissed and quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me to himself. Our breaths and my rapidly pounding heartbeat filled the room.

"How did you know I was going to be here huh? How do you know these people?" His eyes looked deadly.

"I should be asking you the same question, don't you think? You're nothing but a good-for-nothing money-grubber; you should be ashamed of yourself for stealing from a woman," I spat venomously.

He laughed humorlessly and tightened his grip on my arm. I attempted to shake him off but instead, I kept grinding on him. I was disgusted to my stomach.

"You're still as arrogant as ever Em, you keep fighting when you know you should stop…" he whispered harshly. My nose flared at the name. How dare he?

"Let go of me, you piece of garbage, or I'll tell her who you truly are!"

"Shut your mouth!" He pinned me to the wall.

My eyes watered, but I was determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me in pain again.

"You can't do anything about it Em. You won't dare say anything," he hissed harshly. "Because you are weak…"

"That's what you think…" I replied.

"You know what, if you weren't such a pain in the neck we would have had a perfect relationship, who knows - I would have married you but unfortunately–"

"Marriage?" I started to laugh humorlessly. "Did you just say marriage?"

"What's so funny about it?" he seethed.

"Because I would've never said yes to you Felix, sooner or later your true colors would have surfaced–"

"Shut your mouth!" he whispered harshly, his elbow pinning me to the wall.

"Why should I? It's the truth, isn't it?!

I'm sure no woman would want you anymore, so if you know what's good for you, let me go before someone sees you in the ladies' restroom manhandling a woman."

As if on cue, footsteps approached and he quickly released me. I gasped in relief. "We're not done Em…"

Don't ever come near me again Felix, or I swear I'll call the police!"

I yelled after him and leaned on the wall. I couldn't stop the tears from running down my cheek. How dare he!

"How dare you…" I murmured and shut my eyes.

I heard Robert's voice speak into the microphone and my eyes snapped open. The speech. Gosh, I had completely forgotten.

I straightened and hurried back to my table.

"Now, for the reason we're all here tonight, I have a very important announcement to make before I rest these old bones. Michael, Sebastian, come up here!"

Heads stirred towards the two gods as they walked up the stage. They stood beside Robert, and he held them by the shoulders and smiled.

"This is my nephew, and as you all know my son who terrorizes you all at work…"

The crowd chuckled.

"Seb and I worked for this company from the ground up," he turned to his son. "I know I don't say this much, but I am proud of you, son." Sebastian simply stood stoically on stage.

"Now, my very own Nephew is back here and is going to be working alongside Seb, and as time proceeds he might take over the company when I'm gone,"

That stirred the crowd up. I could see Sebastian's body stiffen at his Father's pronouncement, while Michael simply stood with his arms folded behind his back.

My heart dropped to my feet. This can't be good.

"Em, what on earth is he talking about?"

Beth frowned.

"I…"

"Nothing is settled yet but we'll see,"

Robert added with a smile.

"If I may…" Sebastian started. "I don't think leading the company is that special, in fact…" he let out a heavy breath and adjusted his suit. "I never once considered running a family business, it's–how do I put it now… old-fashioned, but I am willing to teach my dear cousin here," he wrapped an arm around Michael's shoulders and managed a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I sense a war brewing on the horizon."

Danny muttered.

"Seb, what are you talking about?" his Father asked with a frown.

"If you all could please enjoy the rest of your evening,"

He completely ignored his Father and stepped down the stage. The crowd parted to let him pass through, his body was rigid as he approached.

"Sebastian!" his father called after him but he wouldn't budge.

"Emilia, office, now!

Before we could register, the next minute the crowd went haywire. I turned, and I saw Robert on the ground, being carried by his bodyguards.

"He's not breathing!"

"Carry him!"

Sebastian's face turned ashen white when he assessed the scene and everything went blank.