Chapter Two

Her father stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe of her office, a smirk playing on his lips. Emma’s heart raced, her breath catching in her throat. How in the world?

“Surprised?” he asked, as he strolled into the office majestically, closing the door behind him.

Her throat tightened as he advanced, his presence suffocating, the years of fear and pain rushing back in an instant.

“You can’t ignore your family. Family is everything. And now, we’re going to have a little chat.” He said, his voice low and venomous.

“Father…Fa…how did you…..?” she finally managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

“Find you?” he asked with a mocking undertone.

“Blood, they say, is thicker than water…. You called me and I couldn’t ignore the call of my little princess.”

“Well?” he said, his smile cold. “No hug for your dear old dad?”

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to sit down. “What are you doing here?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. “Oh, come now, princess. Is that how you greet family? After all these years?”

Her pulse pounded in her ears. She wanted to scream at him, to demand he leave, but fear kept her rooted on the spot.

“Who would have thought that you would end up being an assistant? I had high expectations for you. Before Hilda died, she was always talking about how you have a great future. She called you Stargirl..”

“Keep mother’s name out of your mouth…” Emma’s voice cracked.

“Who would have imagined her Stargirl would end up in this small office as an assistant…Emma really? An assistant?”

“I am happy that’s all that matters …and…”, her voice trembled as she spoke.

She felt herself breaking, but she stilled her fear and looked straight on swallowing hard. Running away from home at 20 years old was the best decision she had ever made. She wouldn’t allow the little resilience she had built in those last six years to come crumbling down.

“Happiness? What is happiness without wealth and affluence Emma…You’ve always been a foolish child. You chose this over our family’s fortune?”

“I don’t want to have anything to do with you or the fortune. What do you want from me?”

"I came here to give you a chance, Emma. To come back, to take your place in the family. I want to teach you how to use what you have to get what you want”

“I’d rather die than return to that place you call home. I will rather die,” Emma said, her voice trembling with both fear and defiance.

Howard furrowed his brows, but he chuckled instead. “I’m not telling you to come back home. I’m only saying "play your part in your family.”

She swallowed hard, her mind racing to maintain the peace and calm it had experienced in the last couple of years. “My part?”

His smirk returned, colder this time. “Oh, it’s simple, really. I want you to be useful for once in your life. That way you can make both me and your late mother proud.”

Her stomach fell. “What are you talking about? What do you mean?”

“Your boss,” he said, his voice low but steady. “Alexander Reed. He’s done quite well with Reed technologies, hasn’t he? Built an empire. Too bad he doesn’t know what's coming his way.”

Emma’s blood ran cold. “Please leave him out of this,” she said quickly in a pleading tone.

Howard chuckled, enjoying her sudden distress. He shook his head. “Oh, Emma. Always so naive. Do you think I’d just let you run off without keeping tabs on you? I know all about his interest in you. Anyways, there is something I need you to do for our family.”

“What do you want?” she demanded, meeting his gaze against her wish.

Howard leaned in slowly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You are going to help me take over this company.”

Emma blinked, her mind reeling. “What? No. Absolutely not.”

“Oh, dear daughter….”

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to look him in the eye. “You lost the right to call me your daughter a long time ago.”

His smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. “Careful, Emma. I didn’t come down here to be disrespected. Blood doesn’t lie. You’ll always be tied to me, Emma.”

“I don’t want anything to do with you and the family. I don't want to do anything for you” she said softly, her voice barely hiding the quiver beneath it.

“Oh, but you will,” he said, his smirk growing intense. “Because you don’t have a say, neither do you have a choice my princess.”

“I will not hurt him…?” she demanded, meeting his gaze against her wish.

“Oh, come on, princess,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’ve been working tirelessly for the last one year, playing the loyal and sweet assistant. Don’t you think it’s time we benefited from that trust?”

“I’m not doing anything to hurt Alexander. I will never hurt him, not this time. I will not give in to your demands father,” she said, her voice shaking but resolute.

Howard’s smile vanished, replaced by a menacing glare. “You will. Because if you don’t, I’ll use my powers to sink you deep into oblivion forgetting you are family. Or how about disposing of your mother's ashes even though her last wish was to give it to you....”

Emma’s breath hitched. “You wouldn’t—”

“Oh, I would,” he said, cutting her off. “But it doesn’t have to come to that. All you need to do is make him trust you deeply. You will get married to him, then slip something into his drink a few months after the wedding. Once he is gone. I’ll handle the rest.”

Her stomach churned. “You’re insane.”

“I’m practical,” he corrected, his tone icy. “And you’re going to do this, Emma. Because if you don’t, I’ll destroy your.....". Before she could respond, the door burst open.

Alexander and his best friend Brian stood in the doorway, his piercing blue eyes scanning the scene. His gaze settled on Howard.

“Who are you? This is a private office....” Alexander asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.

Howard turned, his smirk turning into a deceptive smile as he extended a hand. “Ah, the boss himself. Howard Taylor. Emma’s father. Pleasure to meet you.”

Emma’s heart pounded, fear and shame warring within her.

Alexander’s countenance softened and he smiled immediately, he took the outstretched hand. “Oh my! Pleasure to meet you. Emma didn’t mention her father was coming to see her”.

Howard chuckled, pulling his hand back after the handshake. “She has always been absentminded like that…. Nice meeting you Mr. Reed. I was about to take my leave.”

“A pleasure Mr. Howard. Hope to see you soon,” Alexander said, his voice as steady as his enigmatic frame.

Howard turned to Emma, his initial smirk now a full-blown grin. “We’ll finish our conversation later, princess. Love you”

With that, he strolled past Alexander, his confidence unshaken.

Emma couldn’t bring herself to meet Alexander’s gaze. She felt his presence near her, his feelings for her palpable, but her father’s words echoed in her mind. She didn't move from that same spot, she couldn't.

Alexander turned to her, a warm glint in his eyes, but his countenance fell when he saw her face.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked softly.

Emma opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Would he believe her if she told him the truth? Or was this the beginning of the end?