The Billionaire's forbidden daughter

Chapter 3

EMMA

"Something wrong, Em?" Marcus asked.

Yes, something was wrong, I thought as I stared at the text message from my father, Ethan.

Have dinner with me at the house this evening. I think it's time you met your grandmother.

I sighed. How could I sit at the same table with the woman who had lied and manipulated us all these years?

Once I had asked my father how he could stand living in the same space with her.

"Weak heart," he had answered, smiling bitterly. "The doctors insist she mustn't be stressed in any way which she would be if I... cut her off. And though I don't think I can ever forgive her for what she's done, I can't let her die on me either."

I thought it was convenient her playing the weak heart card to keep her son under her control.

"I'm no fool, Emma," father had said, giving me a wan smile as though he had read my mind. "She's had heart trouble for years and after discovering this... stunt she pulled all those years ago, I had my own specialists examine her just to be sure she hasn't been manipulating me with her condition."

"Em?"

I blinked, put the phone away, turned to Marcus and managed a smile.

"Everything is fine, dad," I said.

Looking at him, I thought it hadn't been all that bad. Father had insisted on giving me a generous allowance. Marcus and I had moved to a more decent apartment.

Father didn't have to work at the factory anymore and he was finally going to be able to see a proper doctor.

Still, sometimes, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty at having and spending so much money that I hadn't worked for.

But as Marcus always said whenever he figured I was thinking in that direction,, "You deserve it, Em. Every cent of it. You're a Cole after all."

My phone beeped again.

Pick you up by 5?

I reacted to the message with a thumbs up.

Exactly at 5, a uniformed driver pulled up in front of our house. I was already dressed in the nicest pair of slacks and t-shirt I owned.

"Evening, ma'am," the driver greeted, stepping out and holding the door of the sleek Mercedes open.

Inside the car, he twisted around in his seat, held something out to me.

It was a credit card in gold with my name, EMMA COLE, embossed on it.

"It's an unlimited credit card from Mr Cole," the driver explained. "He says you can buy whatever you want with it. He said to tell you dinner is by 7, so you have a few hours to dress shop if you want."

I gaped. An unlimited credit card? Was there really such a thing?

Turned out there was.

We went to the most exclusive boutique in the city where the prices of clothes and accessories literally made my jaw drop. I bought a lot anyway.

It felt like a dream when I saw how the boutique staff were falling over themselves to attend to me.

At a few minutes to 7pm, I saw the Cole mansion for the first time.

Fingers tightening around the strap of my bag, all I could think of was how the mansion was bigger and grander than I had ever imagined.

The car rolled to a stop. I got out slowly, my eyes scanning everything. The manicured lawns. The garden in the distance. The house itself.

The staff were lined near the entrance, waiting.

"Welcome home, Emma," Father said, hurrying towards me.

"My daughter, Emma," he said, upon introducing me to the staff. "She's going to be a regular face here."

I followed father inside. He pointed out things as we moved. "The living room... the west wing... the kitchens... terrace..."

I was barely listening. I still was trying to get used to the idea that this was my home too.

Then he said something that brought me back down to earth with a crash.

"The dining room..."

My teeth clenched, fists tightened as I prepared to meet my grandmother. But the dining room, large enough to seat 20 was empty.

"Sir, Madam Veronica says she won't be down for dinner," the maid who had followed us in said.

I felt myself relax. Good that she was away.

Father's face tightened at this bit of news, but he said nothing. Dinner was a delicious 3 course meal.

Father and I talked. The conversation between us was a little awkward but I supposed in time we would get used to each other.

After eating, he snatched up his phone which had been ringing almost nonstop throughout dinner, and said, "I've had a room prepared for you for when you stay here. Go in, rest, try on the new clothes you bought. I've got some calls to make."

He patted me on the arm and was gone.

A maid showed me to my room upstairs.

"They have brought up your things," she informed me. "I hope you like the decor. If anything at all is not to your liking-"

"I'm sure it will all be," I reassured her with a smile.

She smiled back and retreated. I eased open the door and stiffened.

Someone was in the room, waiting.

A lightbulb clicked on. In the sudden glare of lights, I saw the intruder clearly.

Dressed in a trouser suit, she was seating by the window as though she owned the room. A gold topped cane was planted between her feet.

Her hair was pure white, swept back in short, perfect curls. Strings of pearls circled her throat and wrists. Diamond glittered in her ears.

"So you are Emma," the old woman said in a grating tone.

I said nothing. I knew who she was of course. My grandmother.

I could see no hint of remorse in her expression for what she had done to my mother. To me.

I stood there, hands balled into fists as her gaze moved over me from head to toe.

"You know who I am, I suppose?" she asked.

I hissed the word, "Yes." and nothing else.

A spark of annoyance flashed in her eyes. We stared at each other for a long, tense moment.

When my eyes refused to give ground, she said sharply, "Well, I came to give it to you straight. You are a Cole now, girl. You must act and dress the part. Already people are talking about Ethan's long lost daughter. The media will soon start digging up everything they can on you. Make sure they find no dirt. Cut off any... unsuitable acquaintances. Do you understand me?"

I clenched my jaw hard. If I said one more word, I didn't think I would be able to stop myself from screaming at this arrogant woman.

She started to say something, thought better of it. She stood up slowly.

"I will personally oversee your training before your proper introduction into high society," she continued. On her way to the door, she stopped to give me another once-over. "Looks like I have my work cut out for me."

She left.

I took a deep, calming breath. Another and yet another.

I looked around the room, anger making my heart beat faster as the tap tap of her cane grew fainter.

This was my life now, but I would be damned first before I let Veronica live it for me.