The Billionaire's Replacement

CHAPTER EIGHT - SOMETHING FAMILIAR

EMMA'S POV

I was still staring at the photograph, so lost in my thoughts that I had not noticed when the office door opened.

It was until my eyes caught Jeremy standing in the doorway, his eyes immediately shifting towards the direction of the open drawer.

I hastily slipped it back into the drawer but it was already too late.

"What are you doing?" Jeremy yelled, moving towards me. He had a huge frown on his face and I could already see that things were about to get heated.

I straightened and cleared my throat.

"I was just looking."

"In my drawer?" He raised a brow at me.

"I'm sorry." I gulped a lump down my throat. “I got bored and then curious.”

He walked toward me and pulled the drawer open, His eyes went straight to the photograph and I noticed something instantly change in his expression.

He picked it up carefully, the way he held it like it was something important made my curiosity rise.

The moment Jeremy dropped the picture back into the drawer, I asked. "Who is he? The kid in the photo.”

"That's none of your business." Jeremy spat out bitterly. As expected.

I rolled my eyes "It's just a picture."

"And that picture is mine." He retorted. His tone was sharper than before.

I frowned. "I wasn't trying to take it."

"Then don't go through my things." Jeremy snapped at me.

"Like I mentioned earlier, I was bored and then I got curious too.” I folded my arms.

"Curiosity isn't an excuse to snoop."

"So you are not going to answer my question?" I leaned in closer to him.

"Stay out of my drawers." Jeremy slowly began to walk away from the drawer.

I stared at him in disbelief. I was not ready to drop the conversation. I needed to know who the boy in the photograph was.

"Why are you so defensive about one photograph?"

His jaw tightened and he clenched his fist tight. "Emma."

"What?” I eyed him.

"Drop it." Jeremy spoke through gritted teeth.

"Why?"

"Because I said so and you are to do whatever I say!” He yelled.

I scoffed, taken aback by his sudden outburst over something as basic as a photograph.

Before he could respond, there was a knock on the door. Jeremy paused to shoot dagger glares at me before yelling. “Come in.”

A young man dressed in a suit stepped inside.

"Mr. Bennett, someone is here to see you."

Jeremy glanced at him. "Who? I don't think I'm expecting anyone until evening hours."

"Miss Emily."

All of a sudden, something changed, the irritation disappeared from his face at the mention of the name “Emily.”

"Emily?" His eyes widened in excitement. "Let her in."

His assistant nodded and left.

I looked at Jeremy with my brows furrowed. "Who is Emily?"

“Do you ever stop asking questions?” He retorted and that was enough to silence me.

Few minutes later, the door opened wide and a blonde woman stepped inside. She was stunning, Her long hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and everything about her looked effortlessly elegant.

But her beauty was not my biggest concern, it was Jeremy's reaction to her.His face lit up.

He walked straight toward her. "Emily."

She smiled cheekily. "Jeremy."

To my uttermost surprise, she pulled him into a hug and Jeremy did not protest.

I froze, completely speechless by the sight in front of me. There was something weird about their greeting, It wasn't a polite greeting, It was warm, familiar and strangely comfortable.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the desk. I didn't understand why I suddenly felt irritated.

This was ridiculous. I mentally scolded myself.

Jeremy and I had a contract. Of course, he could hug whoever he wanted.

Why did I suddenly want to look away?

Emily finally pulled back and glanced at me. Her eyes briefly settled on my wedding ring, I watched a smile grow on her face.

"So this is Emma."

I returned the smile. "Yes."

Jeremy looked between us.."Emma, this is Emily."

"I figured." I muttered lowly.

Emily laughed softly. "I've heard quite a bit about you."

I glanced at Jeremy. "Apparently, everyone has." I spoke in a bored tone.

Jeremy gave me a warning look and I immediately smiled sweetly. "What I mean is, I am a loving wife, he loves to talk about me a lot.”

Emily laughed while Jeremy just shook his head.

“Well, it is nice to officially meet you Emma.” Emily said, her smile never wavered for once.

Jeremy cleared his throat, smiling. “I am going to catch up with Emily on some things. We have not seen each other in a while.” He paused to smile at her.

The way he smiled at her made me very furious.

"I'll be back." He muttered.

I nodded.

He escorted Emily towards the door and the moment Emily stepped out, Jeremy turned to shoot dagger glares at me and mouthed. “Do not dare touch anything.”

Then he walked out, the door closed behind them.

I scoffed loudly and rolled my eyes.

“Oh Emily this, Emily that.” I tried to mimick Jeremy with a frown on my face.

I let out a breath and settled down on his chair.

My eyes drifted back to his desk, Then towards that same drawer.

I shouldn't, I knew I shouldn't but maybe I could find something that would explain the photo to me.

Curiosity won again, I opened it.

The first photograph was still there.

I stared at the little boy, his eyes still bothered me because they looked strangely familiar.

I reached beneath it, intending to put it back exactly where I'd found it but then my hands brushed past something smooth.

There was another photograph underneath, I pulled it out.

This one was older, The edges were faded, and the image had lost some of its colour.

It was the same boy, the same background from the last photograph but this time, the boy stood beside a woman.

I stared at the woman's face, trying to make out her features but it seemed like someone had intentionally scratched that part of the photo so it was hard to see her face.

Just as I was about to return the phot, my eyes dropped to the neck of the woman.

She had a necklace on.

I hastily rose to my feet and gazed at her neck clearly.

I knew that necklace.

I had seen it countless times.

My mother owned one exactly like it.

The same chain, the same small pendant.

My fingers tightened around the photograph.

I couldn't look away.

I was sure that necklace belonged to my mother.