Something in between love

Chapter 4: Things Fall Apart

EMILY

Everything was a blur after Robert collapsed.

We stood in a circle around his bed at around 2am in a private room he was in at the hospital.

Celine clutched his hand, she sat beside him with a sullen expression. Sophia also sat holding his hand. She looked pale, as if she too was going to pass out anytime. While Sebastian and Theo stood at the corner of the room.

However, Michael is nowhere to be seen.

The intensity in the room is so thick, it could be cut with a knife, except for the silent sniff emitting from Sophia.

Robert's eyes flicked open, and we rushed to his side as if to relieve him of some pain he was feeling.

"You should see your faces."

He mocked. He made an attempt to laugh but he winced in pain.

"Robert!" Celine warned.

Sebastian's jaw tightened.

"Dad, what happened?" Sebastian asked with a grim expression.

"I collapsed, that's what," he grunted.

"Robert, easy, you shouldn't be talking so much,'' Celine said in a firm tone.

"Stop nagging me, woman. I blame your son."

Celine hits his arm, "You started it"

"Seb, come help me up before your Mother beats the heck out of me."

Robert said, a hint of mischief in his dull eyes.

Sebastian hurried to his Father's side and positioned the pillow behind his back.

Robert suddenly looked as though he had aged a decade, his eyes were sunken in, his lips were dry and cracked, and he looked weak and breathed harshly when he spoke.

I was beginning to regret keeping his health crises from Sebastian.

I knew Robert would soon have an episode after that night I saw him collapse in his office. But he made me swear to secrecy. Sebastian will never forgive me if he finds out I knew his Father collapsed while he was away on a trip but concealed the truth from him. I had to come clean fast.

"Emilia tell me why none of you gave me the slightest inkling of his seemingly worsening condition?" Sebastian asked in a cold tone and with ire in his eyes.

"I gave them the orders not to..."

"Stay out of this, Father," he snapped.

"He's right. It's my fault, I apologize," I responded in a firm voice.

"No, it's not, you were following instructions, Seb should suck up and realize he can't be in control all the time." Sophia quipped.

"Quiet Sophia," Sebastian warned.

His dark eyes shone with restrained rage. Sophia rolled her eyes but complied.

"Explain how you could be so unreasonable. I thought I made it clear to report every single detail that concerns work and Family."

His eyes looked like he wanted to strangle me. For a minute, I was afraid he would, but I stood my ground, my fingers digging into my palm.

"I didn't think it was the right decision to tell you such news when you were--"

"Who said you could think!"

"Sebastian, watch your tone. Leave her alone, or so help me God, I'll beat you senseless!" Robert warned. His speech soon turned into a series of wheezing breaths.

"Seb, Emily has been nothing but helpful. Quit it already, you're upsetting your Father!" Celine chastised.

"I apologize," I replied in a shaky voice.

"But you have to understand, I not only work for you but also Mr. Rob, and when he gives orders, I have to abide by them."

"Emilia, don't speak to me like that--"

"How do you suggest I speak to you then?"

His jaw tightened in anger, and so did his fist.

His family always said I handled Sebastian with elegance. I don't know what that means.

"Firsthand, you don't respect my position, and you talk down to me as if I were a child. The second is, that you simply still don't trust that I can do a good job."

The room went quiet at the change of mood. When he found no words to say he escaped as he always does.

"I'm going out for some air."

He announced abruptly and dashed out. "You did great, Em," Theo encouraged me with a gentle pat on my arm.

"Let me go calm the tiger." He sprinted after his friend.

"I'm so sorry this happened, Robert."

"Nonsense, you did great. He'll come around," he replied with a smile.

************

SEBASTIAN

"Feeling like s**t already?" Theo leaned against the wall beside me as he asked. My eyes were shut in thought.

I didn't understand why I always behaved rudely towards Emily; she had a unique ability to drive me to the edge of my patience, and her unpredictability irritated me. After four years, I still couldn't seem to get used to her. I had never met anyone like her before-ever.

"I think you should apologize this time," Theo suggested. I glared at him.

"She had one job to do T, one job, but she messed up like she always does."

"We both know she's damn good at her job. From what I observe, this is a transfer of aggression. Buddy, she didn't compel your Father to make that decision."

"Stay out of this." I stalked off. I knew he was right. He followed me.

As we walked in the hallway I spotted Michael with his legs crossed at the ankle speaking on the phone.

I haven't seen him in four years, he has been running our publishing company in Canada.

Father's great plan was to separate us to lessen the conflict between us. However, our hate for each other ran too deep to be quenched by mere distance.

Michael always played dirty; he has an insatiable greed for money. I find his sudden appearance suspicious and am determined to get to the bottom of it.

I approached him despite Theo's protest.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Wait, I'll call you back in a minute." he ended the call and stuffed his phone in his pocket. He leaned off the wall and met my gaze.

"We skipped the formalities, didn't we, brother?"

His eyes shone with a hint of mischief, his eyes had always shone with mischief.

"Answer my question!"

"Seb, this isn't the right place," Theo whispered.

"Oh, Seb, you just can't stand being curious, can you?"

I shrugged.

"We have one thing in common then. Come on, tell me how much you want this time."

"Good ole Seb, still can't figure me out? Why don't you take a guess?

We were now standing nose-to-nose Theo stood there with a fear-stricken expression.

Our nostrils flared, and our breathing picked up in suppressed rage.

"Guys, this isn't the time or place for you both to squabble okay? We're in a hospital for Christ's sake!"

Theo said as he anxiously looked around.

"No, I couldn't possibly play the guessing game with you now, can I? With you, I have nothing to prepare for. As you know, I'm always one step ahead."

I flicked off an invisible dust from his suit.

"Oh, wait. Let me try, I can't miss this one," my eyes lit up in mischief.

"Could it be that you have finally found some dense wealthy princess to marry to gain wealth?" I let out a mocking laugh.

Michael's nose flared, and he grabbed my collar and slammed me into the wall.

"What the heck!" Theo yelped. "Stop it you two."

"Don't tell me I guessed it right."

"Shut it, Sebastian." he seethed.

"What? Do you think I wouldn't know? I could smell the stench of deceit and greed from you the moment I saw you, Michael. You're here to take, just like you always do."

"You mean like I did with Vanessa?" Michael's lips tilt in a smirk.

That was the last straw. My fist collided with his jaw, sending him to the ground, he stood and retaliated, and it became a full-blown punching spree.

I felt water splashing all over me, and we both stilled. Emily stood there with fire in her eyes.

"What the hell!" I yelped.

"s**t," Michael cursed as he tried to get his now-wet suit off his body. While Theo watched with his mouth slightly open in shock. He barely got water on him.

"This is a hospital, you boneheaded idiots! Robert is unwell and you guys are fighting like a bunch of animals!"

"Say that one more time," Michael charged towards her. His nostrils flared in anger.

"Don't you dare touch her!"

I stood in front of her, and I suddenly felt the urge to protect her from Michael. She was a boundary Michael would never cross.

"Then control her. Whoever she is, she's crazy!"

He picks up his suit and charges out of the hospital.

"And you..." I started but she cut me off.

"Not a word." She warned.

She suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged me to the counter.

"Please can I get a first aid box?"

The nurse handed her the first aid box and she dragged me to a corner.

"Sit." She commanded, and I obliged.

She removed an ointment and a cotton bud to clean up the blood. I didn't even know I had busted my lip.

She pressed the cotton bud gently on my lip and I winced.

"You deserve this, you know. Fighting with your cousin while your father is sick. You should apologize to him," she said as if it were a simple task.

"Mind your business-s**t!" I winced in pain.

"Stay still or I might hurt you."

"You had the guts to throw water on me, you have no fear, do you?"

"I told you I wasn't afraid of you."

My eyes dropped to her red-coated, plump lips puckered in concentration, her brown curls hung loose around her face, her dark brown eyes narrowed in concentration as she blew air on my stinging lip, I suddenly felt the urge to touch them. Her big grayish-green eyes looked right through me with no fear.

"It must hurt," she muttered.

Her wide round face was set in a grimace, her small nose turned up.

Before I could think twice I grabbed her close in between my legs. She stilled at the sudden contact of my fingers on her skin. My fingers dug into her waist.

"Why?" I asked.

I met her gaze and she cleared her throat and avoided my gaze. I make her nervous. Good.

She stepped back, "Because I'm simply not afraid of you. All done."

I suddenly missed her warmth. I wanted more.

She packed up the first aid box and headed for the door.

I stood up, grabbed her arm, and dragged her close, her petite curvy figure fitting perfectly against me.

"Who gives you the right to talk to me like that Emilia?"

"Let me go. Please." She swallowed nervously.

I could read it in her eyes that if I decided to do anything to her now, she would succumb to me, as our noses brushed and she let out a shaky breath. The helpless plea in her eyes made me weak in the knees.

"Make sure you're early tomorrow," I whispered and quickly dashed out, afraid I might do something we both might regret.