Love vs Loyalty

Chapter Two:First Day

Emily’s POV

After dinner, barely anyone said a word.

My mum didn’t speak and Isabelle disappeared into her room almost immediately.

All that was running through my mind was what I overheard. Who exactly was David and what were my mum and Richard hiding?

I barely slept last night.

The next morning came too quickly.

“Emily” my mum called from downstairs. “You’re going to be late”

I sighed and dragged myself out of bed.

I changed my clothes so many times I lost count, before finally settling on something simple.

When I walked downstairs, Isabelle was already dressed and on her phone. We exchanged small smiles.

“You should wear something more professional,” my mum said immediately when she saw me.

I looked down at my outfit. “This is professional”

She sighed like I was stressing her out. “Try taking this opportunity seriously”

“I am taking it seriously”

“Then act like it”

Nothing I did ever seemed to be enough.

I glanced at Isabelle but she stayed quiet.

“Let’s get going. I’ll drop you off” Isabelle finally said

I grabbed a bottle of water and followed her outside before my mum could continue.

The drive was quiet, but not tense like it is when I'm with mum.

I kept thinking of things to ask Isabelle..but i didn’t.

About last night. About Liam. About everything that felt off. I doubted asking those questions would end well for me.

“We’re here” she said

I looked out the window and we were really here.

“You look good and you’ll do great” she said

I felt at ease with that.

I smiled a little before getting out of the car.

The building looked exactly as I imagined.

Clean.Tall. Serious.

Inside people moved around quickly like they all knew exactly where to be.

And I couldn’t say the same for myself.

The receptionist had pointed me towards the elevators, but somehow I still ended up on the wrong floor. I checked the email I was sent last night and I still couldn't see a sign or floor name.

As I stood near the elevator trying to figure things out, the doors opened.

Liam stepped out.

People greeted him as he walked past and responded with small nods. He looked completely in control.

Then his eyes landed on me.

“Are you lost?”

Gosh, was it that obvious?

“I think I'm on the wrong floor”

He pointed at a sign saying Sales and Listing. “Yes you are” he said by “I'll show you where you're supposed to be”

He turned around without another word and I followed him. Turns out my floor was administration. Then he showed me what I'd be doing and where I'd be working, but he kept going so fast it was hard to keep up. By the time he was finished..I could barely remember half of what he had said.

“If you have any questions, ask someone” he said before walking away.

That didn't feel very reassuring.

Liam went into his office and I started working. I stared at the computer in front of me for a moment before going ahead to start the task I'd been given. Barely five minutes and I was confused.

At least the people were nice enough to point me in the right direction when I got confused. Things didn't exactly get better. At one point, I sent a document to the sales department instead of administration and I spent almost twenty minutes trying to undo it.

Perfect.

By lunch time, I was convinced everyone knew I had no idea what I was doing.

The rest of the day went by slowly. I answered emails, organized files and tried not to embarrass myself. I had to ask someone a question two times and the pause I got the second time made me all to aware of how out of place i probably looked here.

Every now and then, I'd hear someone mention Liam’s name. Sometimes it was a client wanting to speak to him or someone wanting his approval on something.

Back at dinner, he’d barely said a word. Here It looked like the entire office moved around him.Like there were two different versions of him existing in two different spaces.

Every time I got a free second, my mind drifted back to last night. David. That name bothered me.

By evening my head had already started hurting.

I packed my things after Isabelle texted that she was outside waiting for me.

I grabbed my bag and headed towards the elevator. When i got downstairs I heard voices.

Liam and Isabelle.

They hadn’t noticed me yet.

“You could at least try acting civil with me” Isabelle said

Liam sighed frustrated.

“I am”

“You can’t keep pretending it never happened”

She stepped closer.

He looked away briefly.

“You should go home Isabelle”

Isabelle looked close to tears.

Without thinking I cleared my throat

And they both turned.

But Isabelle…

The expression on her face caught me off guard.

And whatever I saw in her expression… didn’t look like confusion or embarrassment.

It felt like something heavier.

Almost like blame.