Torn Between Love And Betrayal

(“My little princess is not so little anymore, is she? Papa is back Emma!”)

Emma Taylor trembled as her eyes danced over the text message. Her heart dropped and the room started spinning. She dropped her phone hurriedly and held onto the desk for balance. No. it can’t be real!

“Emma.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she heard Alexander Reed’s voice from behind. She straightened up quickly, trying to mask the unease she felt. He stood there, his tall enigmatic frame blocking the doorway, a concerned expression on his face.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice calm but insistent.

Emma forced a smile, trying to sound casual. “Of course, Alex..Sor…. Sorry Mr. Reeds. Just catching up on some work.”

Alexander smiled, showing a warm glint in his blue eyes. Her heart melted against her will and her heart raced as he approached her.

“Alex is fine Emma”, he said slightly above a whisper as he brushed her cheek slightly and stared deep into her eyes. He exuded such strength that made her feel safe.

"Yeah...I forgot...", She whispered, her mind elsewhere.

Alexander moved closer still staring into her eyes with so much warmth that did things she couldn't comprehend.

Emma broke the stare and tried to push past him.

“Why are you running from me?... He said in a hoarse voice, pulling her close slightly. His words struck her like a massive blow. Her pulse quickened, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. How could she explain the truth? That she wasn’t worthy of him, that she had no right to be loved by someone as good as him. She had been told too many times that she was worthless. And yet, here he was, looking at her as though she were… precious.

Because you are too perfect. Too precious, too divine and I'm scared of letting you in completely.

Those words were plastered on her heart, but she smiled weakly instead; an insincere smile, momentarily forgetting the text message.

“I…I’m not……”

Her phone beeped one more time and she froze. Could it be him again? She glanced towards her phone.

“Emma”

Her head shot towards him and their eyes met. His gaze was softer now, compassionate even. “If there’s something wrong,” he said quietly, “you can tell me.”

“I’ll be fine, just personal issues” Emma interjected, her tone sharp. The same sharp tone that was her defense mechanism.

Alexander seemed to hesitate, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment. He nodded, backing away. "Okay. But don’t shut me out.”

As he walked out of her office, Emma let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Her eyes suddenly became teary. He cared too deeply. It unsettled her. One year of working with him and he had broken through her walls. He gave her hope, but could she take it?

She hurried to her phone again.

(“Don’t think you can just ignore your family. We’re blood, Emma”)

Her stomach twisted into a tight knot as her fingers hovered over the screen. Blood. The word irritated her. How many times had he used that to manipulate her? To justify the bruises and the threats?

She dialed Angela’s number quickly, her fingers shaking.

“Hey, baby doll… how’s it going?” Angela’s voice came through the phone, light and carefree.

“Angela…” Emma’s voice cracked, and she quickly cleared her throat. “Something just happened…”

“Is this about Alexander? I told you to let him in! I mean, it’s not every day you see a smoking-hot billionaire CEO in love with his assistant. It’s like something straight out of a romance movie…” Angela teased, her voice full of energy.

“No. Angela… it’s not Alex,” Emma said, panic creeping into her tone.

“Then what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Emma swallowed hard, her mind racing. Words failed her. Her gaze fell on her phone again as her fingers hovered over the screen anxiously. The message from her father lingered without relenting in her mind.

“My father…” Emma managed to choke out.

“What happened to your father, Emma? Please don’t tell me you’re thinking about all that happened again… you’ve worked so hard to get to where you are today,” Angela said, her voice softening in concern.

“No… no, Angela. I just got a text from him…” Emma’s voice trailed off as her mind reeled.

“What??!! How did he get your contact?” Angela gasped, urgency in her tone.

“I don’t know Angie. I am confused and shocked… I don’t even know how he found me… I don't know what to do,” Emma’s voice quivered.

"Should I come and pick you up?"

"No. Alexander will sense something is wrong if I leave before closing time. I will have to explain my self"

"Then what's wrong with that...He cares about you Emma... tell him."

"I can't, that part of my life is too broken to share with Alexander."

"Emma...you..."

"Angie..." Emma's voice broke slightly.

An unusual silence lingered for few seconds

“Alright. Just calm down, okay? You’ll be okay. We’ll deal with this,” Angela said, trying to reassure her.

“When will you be home?”

“In the next two hours…” Emma answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Okay, take deep breaths. We’ve got this, we will figure this out I promise” Angela said firmly before hanging up.

Emma stared at her phone and moved away from it; her breath shaky. Just then, her phone buzzed one more time. The same number flashed across the screen.

Her stomach churned with the disruptive rhythm of her raging emotions. She trembled slightly as she reached for her phone. She couldn’t face this. She couldn’t talk to him. Not now. Not after everything he put her through.

Her thoughts raged on and before she could think of any logical solution, she heard the sound of her office door opening slowly. Someone was entering her office.

Her head shot up, and her blood ran cold. She staggered backwards. It wasn’t Alexander this time.

Standing in the doorway, his cold eyes locked onto hers, was her father.