Edinburgh to NYC

Once upon a Time

"Elena... I have to tell you this, and you have to listen," Emma said.

"Do you know what happened last night?" she asked excitedly. "Where were you last night?" Elena countered.

"I was with Jade—I mean Jayden—but first, listen to me please," Emma pleaded.

Elena raised her voice. "So when are we supposed to explore NYC? We both came here for a vacation! Mama is off meeting friends because she promised not to interfere, yet you're out enjoying yourself with that Jayden. I'm the only one left alone. Is that businessman the only reason you used me to convince Dad to let us come here. "What ? Using you ? No Elena that's wrong" said Emma. "Nothing is Wrong Emma leave me alone as usual" said Elena and stormed out of the room . Emma started to get ready for her meeting with Jayden.

"George , the files?"asked Jayden while walking through a long corridor of his house with George and three of his guards walking behind him . "It's ready and kept on the table of the meeting room Sir". "George...When do I have a meeting with....Miss Howard?". "Sir tomorrow at 2p.m". said George , he was lying. "Okay," replied Jayden . Jayden entered the meeting room and started with his business meetings." George, you can go and rest now , Levi is here to assist me for now . You can go and rest"said Jayden. "Sure sir"replied George.

"Emma entered Jayden's house which was filled with professional meeting rooms where his most important deals were signed.Oh! my gosh , the house , it's so beautiful, each and every corner is so so so beautiful, the house is as handsome as Jade"said Emma."Miss Howard , are you here for Sir ?" asked George . "Yes , umm.. where is he ?" asked Emma. "In meeting , I know you have a meeting with him, but it is rescheduled by me " said George. "And it was not even informed to me"said Emma , being offended. " A lot of things aren't informed to you Miss Howard , and I'll inform you about those today.I saw both of you yesterday"said George. "What do you mean ?"asked Emma to George. George started saying"You see, You see this portrait. "Do you know this man ? The great business man Mr. Jacob Morgan .Father of Mr. Jayden Morgan .

"Once upon a time there was also a man whose name was David Howard . After his wife's death , in an accident. He was in depression for three four years or more. His wealthy business faced a net loss due to his love for his wife and then the death of his wife . That is why My sir, Mr. Jacob Morgan said when he was reading about this news in the paper, "A powerful man must never commit the sin of loving , else the people would end up like David Howard". Yes , he married too,but solely to produce an heir to his business.Nothing else. Anyway. When your father suffered the loss , he came to my Sir for partnership and investments . He wanted sir to invest and become partners with him . He said , as

he was facing the loss and he also had loans to pay back so he wanted sixty percent share of the deal. At that time, sir agreed. But later sir slowly started to realise, that getting just forty percent of the deal is not quite profitable. He also taught his son to never agree a deal until and unless it is a fifty-fifty share. But now he also wanted to correct his mistake to agree on Mr.Howard's deal which was legally signed. He called Mr.Howard to come here in New york . Mr. Howard came . My sir wanted the deal to be fifty - fifty but Mr Howard disagreed every single time. They had a huge disagreement and it resulted into a fist fight in which my Sir won and by accident Mr.Howard fell down from 14th floor to the ground.It wasn't intentional but an accident. Although It wasn't a suicide ,the fact remains it was a murder.I am the only witness of this incident. But not the only one who knows about this . Mr. Jayden Morgan knows about this too. The world which includes you , doesn't know about this and why am I telling this to you , I didn't want you to be fooled . A daughter should know how her father died. I can also prove this whole incident". George showed each and every file of the deal and all the other proofs to Emma . Emma was standing there like a stone . "Jayden knew ?" asked Emma her voice breaking out of sadness tears dropped from her eyes . "Yes , everything."replied George. The sound of the ticking clock in the living room seemed to scream, echoing in the deafening silence of the room.

A ragged, choking sound ripped from her throat, a sound she didn't recognize as her own. It was a visceral, guttural cry that seemed to shatter her very core. She sank to her knees, the breath entirely driven from her lungs, as the harsh reality of her father's murder settled over her like a suffocating shroud.

She curled inward, wrapping her arms around her chest as if to hold herself together, but it was useless. A torrent of tears broke free, hot and blinding, cascading down her face. She was drowning in the sudden, violent erasure of his laugh, his advice, his warmth. Each breath was a struggle, a fractured sob that shook her entire frame, transforming her despair into a violent physical reaction. She cried out for him, a desperate, unanswered plea that died in the cold room, leaving only the sound of a broken heart echoing in the silence.

The marble floor of the foyer was cold beneath Emma's heels, a stark contrast to the burning rage pulsing through her veins. She gripped her purse tightly, knuckles white, her gaze fixed on the gargantuan front door. Ten feet. That's all she needed-just ten feet to get out of this opulent prison and never see Jayden's face again.

"Emma!"

The voice boomed from above, echoing through the cavernous entrance hall.

She stopped, her body freezing on the bottom step of the grand, sweeping staircase. It was a voice she once loved, a voice that now made her skin crawl with the sickening knowledge that his father-the man who built this empire-was the reason for her father's death.

She forced herself to turn slowly. Jayden was standing at the top of the landing, looking down . The mansion was too big, and it felt like a mausoleum.

She couldn't look at him-if she did, she might scream, she might shatter the expensive vases lining the foyer. She saw his father in the slope of his nose, in the commanding way he took up space.

She turned sharply , her heel clicking hard against the marble and pushed open the door stepping out into the cold air .