Loving by the rules.

“Years of memories, gone just like that”

Emily's point of view.

My fingers drums anxiously on the steering wheel, appearing as if it was to the music blaring on the radio when in reality, it was to the thundering noise of my heart beating in my chest.

The barely moving traffic did nothing to help, it only fueled my anxiety and the tiny seed of fear that planted itself in my stomach.

How could this happen? There has to be a mistake, there just has to be.

“WHAT!? Sam embezzled and ran away with the company funds? You’ve got to be joking” I never really got along well with Sam but he’d never do something like that.

“But it’s true, all the present evidence point to him and he hasn’t said otherwise. The company’s in chaos and we urgently need your help” Marcus, dad’s loyal assistant pleaded.

“What do I have to do with this? Dad didn’t mention me having anything to do with the company in his will” I prepared to hang up the call. “Wait, please don’t hang up” he begged.

“There’s an urgent meeting that we need to have tomorrow and I need a representative from sir’s immediate family, hence I called you” I blew out a sigh. “What time? I lay back on the bed.

“2 pm”. that can work. I can just leave work earlier even though it’ll cost me some of my salary.

“I’ll be there” I hung up and flung my phone to a far corner of the bed, covering myself one more time. I haven’t stepped foot on the company premises in years, I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about finally visiting there.

I just hope the situation’s not that bad.

Damn Sam, how could he do this? He was put on such a high pedestal by my parents but still ended up letting them down.

While I, who always struggled to get their attention and make them proud, was treated like s**t.

It’s crazy but also amazing how fast people and situations can change in the blink of an eye.

The traffic later cleared up, but not after making me twelve minutes late. There goes their impressions of me.

Not that I was dressed to impress either, I was wearing a navy blue t-shirt with mom jeans, my chestnut brown hair in a low ponytail and barely any makeup done.

After parking the car, I walk into the three-story building, the air conditioning relieving the effects of the scorching sun outside.

The nostalgia hit me like a truck, rendering me unable to breathe for a while.

I remember the days when I would be dropped off here from school and I would play games or watch videos for hours while waiting for my parents.

That was such a long time ago, I’m basically a stranger now.

“Welcome to Grayson technologies Inc. What brings you here today?” the receptionist politely said. “Uh… Emily Dahlia, here for a meeting by two” She clicks and scrolls on the monitor in front of her and then looks up at me, nodding.

“Mrs. Dahlia, the meeting’s being held on the second floor. Take the first left-“ she starts but I wave her off. “I know how to get there, thanks”.

I took the elevator and got to the second floor which was lined with a lot of art pieces and paintings. I ran my finger through them as I walked, remembering when mom took it upon herself to dispel the ‘blandness’ that this place once exuded.

Swallowing the nervousness that clogged my throat, I lightly pushed the door to the meeting room open and step inside, immediately becoming the focus of a dozen or so eyes.

Whispers erupted from every corner, some giving me disgusted or irritated stares. I even heard someone ask if I was truly my dad’s daughter. I felt myself shrink, my eyes lowering to the floor.

I only came a bit late, I don’t think it warranted this kind of reaction.“Now that she’s here, I think we can start now” Marcus addressed them, ushering me to sit at the head of the long table. It was very uncomfortable, but I sat anyways.

“To avoid wasting any more time, I will briefly explain the situation” Marcus started. “Last week, Sam Grayson, the son of the late Arthur Grayson and current CEO of this establishment traveled abroad. Soon after, we realized that a large amount of company funds were absent and that we had incurred a lot of debt due to his frequent loaning of funds from banks and similar establishments like ours. We discovered a lot of evidence proving him the culprit and all efforts to reach him ended in failure”.

Gasps and whispers filled the room once more, mine included this time. The situation is worse than I imagined. How could he do this, waste dad’s decades of hard work, blood, sweat and tears?

“Do you know where he is now?” I ask Marcus, my voice barely getting through the noise. “We don’t, even though we have been tracking for a while now” he shook his head.

“However, the reason we are here is to discuss about the company” he raises his voice, silencing the room. “It is at the risk of bankruptcy, if we don’t get back our profits and repay the debts as soon as possible”.

“We have been considering this for a while, and now we’ve decided. We would like to liquidize sir’s unused assets in order to cover this loss” he turned to me.

My eyes widened. I may not have majored in business, but I do know well what it means to liquidize assets. “does- does that include his house?” my tongue was tied, the seed of fear germinating.

Marcus nodded heavily. “N-not the house, you c-can’t liquidize the house” I stood up, my palms slamming hard on the table. I know that it’ll help, but… I can’t let them.

“This is ridiculous,” a woman with smoky makeup and a pixie-cut style bob scoffed “You’re telling me that you’re willing to let a promising company like ours fail because your sentimental ass refuses to get over the place where you grew up? Absolutely ridiculous”.

I heard others hum and whisper in agreement. I feel my eyes sting with tears. I knew they were right, as much as I hate to admit it.

“I’m sorry Emily, I’m not happy with this either but it’s for the best” I slump back into the seat, Marcus’s words suddenly hard to comprehend.

“When?” I muttered, the tears making my sight blurry.

“In a week. We need you to sign these” he set some files in front of me, handing me a pen. I wordlessly signed them, leaving immediately after.

Time and places seem to warp and pass by in a blur, as I didn’t seem to notice when I exited the building, or picked the kids from school, or picked up some groceries, or made dinner.

I found myself snapping back to reality as I was tucking the kids in. “mommy, what’s wrong? You’re crying” jack’s little hands wiped my face. “Nothing sweetheart, go to sleep now” I kissed his hands and forehead, patting him to sleep.

I exited the room, the harsh reality making my head spin, the walls seemingly closing in on me. I grabbed some cash, my jacket and keys, heading out the door and into the car.

Everything seemed so suffocating, I needed out, even for a small while.

I drove to a bar twenty minutes away, immediately ordering a shot of tequila as soon as I approached the bartender. I only drank a few times in college, and on rare occasions like this after becoming a mother.

“Years of memories, gone just like that” I mumble to myself, liking how the alcohol made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, making my reality seem like a dream.

It may seem like I was overreacting, but only I knew what that house meant to me, it contained the few happy memories that I had, before my parents unofficially disowned me.

After paying for the drinks, I stumbled out of the bar and back to the car. A one night stand would’ve been nice, but I have kids to return to.

The drive back home was peaceful, I was a bit drunk so I made sure to be careful. I felt my eyes closing on many occasions, one being longer than the others.

I regain my focus in time to swerve away from an incoming trailer. But what I didn’t notice was that I was heading straight to another car. And it was too late to press the brakes.

The last thing I heard was the sound of my voice screaming and a deafening crash…