Love Wasn't Part of the Deal

Mrs. Cole’s shrill voice sliced through the dim hallway of their crumbling house. “Emily!” she screeched, the sound echoing off peeling wallpaper. Emily darted out of her room before her aunt could call again, her bare feet cold against the worn floorboards. “You wretched girl,” Mrs. Cole spat, her sharp perfume stinging the air. “You’ve already ruined enough lives, don’t add mine to the list.” Her words, sharp as ever, had stung Emily over thirteen years. Emily bit the inside of her cheek, her face a practiced mask, though a faint ache lingered in her chest. She Kept her eyes on the scuffed floor, Emily took the letter her aunt thrust at her. “You know why you’re getting this, don’t you?” Mrs. Cole’s voice dripped with disdain. “You’re marrying Jason in a few months, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Emily nodded, her heart leaping despite her aunt’s tone. A soft smile curved her lips as she slipped back to her room, her sanctuary. The door’s familiar creak and the faint scent of old books wrapped around her like a shield. Marriage to Jason was her ticket to freedom, a life beyond these walls. I agree with you on this, aunty, she thought, her smile widening. Getting married to Jason was one of the things she looked forward to. She couldn’t believe her luck in marrying a man like Jason, a chance to leave her aunt and start a new, exciting life. As she clutched the letter, a flicker of fear crept in. What if her aunt found a way to ruin this, too? She shoved the thought aside, focusing on the promise of escape. Emily tore the envelope open, her fingers trembling with excitement. She flung herself onto her tattered bed, the springs groaning under her weight, and raised her brows playfully as she unfolded the letter. The frayed quilt, patched from years of use, felt like a throne in her moment of joy. Beaming, she read the letter aloud: Emily, Never knew knowing you would bring so much joy to me. You’ve made this lonely man full of joy and happiness. I wake up with thoughts of you every morning and can’t wait to finally call you mine. See you soon, baby! Jason. Her heart raced as she read it again, pressing the paper to her chest as if she could hold his warmth through the ink. Her mind drifted to their first meeting at the market, his kind smile cutting through her guarded heart. His letter had become her lifeline, a promise of a life beyond her aunt’s reach. Her feet kicked the air as she read it once more, savoring every word. The sound of her aunt’s heavy footsteps snapped her back to reality. She quickly tucked the letter beneath her pillow to hide it. “Come out here and get groceries at the supermarket!” Mrs. Cole barked from the hallway. “For your own sake, don’t even think about running off like you’ve done before. There’s too much at stake now, I will hunt you down like always.” Emily nodded, keeping her eyes down as she rushed out the door. The moment the door shut behind her, a wide grin spread across her face, the weight of her aunt’s gaze lifting like a fog. Freedom, even for a few hours, felt like a stolen treasure. I’ll swing by to see Jason after the errands and head home from there, she thought. Her aunt refused to let her have a phone, cutting her off from the world, so she had no way to tell Jason she was coming. She just hoped she’d be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him. Lost in thoughts of how she could see Jason, Emily barely noticed the street around her until the soft scuff of footsteps behind her grew too steady, too close. Her stomach tightened as she glanced back, catching sight of a man in a low-slung cap, his eyes shadowed. With each step she took, he seemed to draw closer. Her pulse quickened. Should she stop and confront him? She noticed his hand slip into his pocket, and panic surged. Without waiting to see what he’d pull out, Emily took to her heels and ran. She knew her aunt was capable of anything, Ms. Cole had always coveted Emily’s trust fund, and with the marriage to Jason approaching, Emily wouldn’t put it past her to send someone to harm her. She ran like her life depended on it, her breath ragged. A taxi pulled up just ahead, a passenger stepping out. “Please, drive!” she screamed as she dove inside, slamming the door. Her forehead smoothed as she leaned back, her brow relaxing at last. The driver’s voice jolted her back to reality. “Where to, miss?” “Oh, I’m sorry,” Emily said, catching her breath. “Carrefour market, please.” The cab rolled forward, but a nagging fear lingered. What if that man’s still after me? With hesitation, she spoke up. “Actually, can you change the route? Take me to 42 West Avenue instead.” Jason’s office, a place she had never been but had memorized from one of his letters. The driver frowned. “That’s a different route. It’ll cost double.” “That’s the least of my worries as long as I’m safe,” Emily muttered, glancing out the window for any sign of the man. The cab stopped before a towering glass building, its sleek windows gleaming under the midday sun like a beacon of wealth. Emily stepped out, her mouth falling open, eyebrows shooting up as she craned her neck to take in its height. This was Jason’s world, so far from the cramped, peeling walls of her aunt’s house. She knew he was rich, but this was beyond anything she had imagined. “Are you sure this is the right address?” she asked, turning to the driver. “Yep,” he said, driving off. Emily glanced around, her heart pounding. No sign of the man in the cap. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her faded blouse, its threads worn thin from years of use. She only knew Jason’s name and the warmth of his letter, she’d never been here, never seen his world up close. At the gate, a burly security guard eyed her tattered clothes and mistook her for a beggar. “Move along, kid,” he scoffed, crossing his arms. “No handouts here.” “Please, don’t,” Emily said, her voice small. “I’m here to see the CEO, Jason Gabs.” The guard let out a harsh laugh. “You’ve got some nerve asking for the CEO. Leave before you make a fool of us both.” A deep frown appeared on her brows as she pinched the bridge of her nose, confusion and embarrassment washing over her. What now? She stood frozen, unsure, when a car horn blared. She jolted, stepping aside as a sleek car rolled toward the gate. “Don’t let my boss see you loitering,” the guard warned. “Come back another time.” Emily’s heart leapt. Jason was in that car, she was sure of it. With its tinted windows, she couldn’t see inside, but she stepped toward it, hoping he would notice her. The car screeched to a halt, and her breath caught. It worked, thank God. But an angry driver stormed out. “Are you mad?” he shouted. “If you want to get yourself killed, do it somewhere else!” Across the street, the man in the cap watched the scene unfold, his hand slipping back into his pocket as he turned away, melting into the crowd. Emily felt his gaze linger, a cold prickle on her skin. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, humiliation burning her cheeks as she turned to leave. “Emily!” A sharp, familiar voice cut through the air, it was Ms. Cole. Her aunt’s nostrils flared as she took a sharp breath, barely containing her fury. “What in the world are you doing here? Defying me again, are you?” Emily couldn’t speak, her mind racing. How had her aunt known she was here? Ms. Cole always seemed to have eyes everywhere, as if the town itself answered to her. Emily’s hands clenched, nails digging into her palms as she fought back tears. Her aunt grabbed her arm, dragging her away from Jason’s world and back toward the prison of her own.