Chapter 12

The scent of his cologne almost overpowered her. But her mind was suddenly sober.

*No. She couldn’t do this.*

“No…not that!” She pushed him away instantly. “I…I was thinking maybe I could work for you? Be a… a housekeeper in your home or something? I could work for free until I’ve paid the debt off.

“Ugh,” Will scoffed. “There is a fleet of the best trained housekeepers and chefs in my home. I have no use for you in that capacity. There are…other ways in which you could serve me,” he suggested.

“I thought you said I wasn’t good… at that,” she grumbled. He chuckled at her shyness.

“Then learn,” he said, backing her into the wall again. He towered over her. She craned her head back as far as it would go to look him in the eye. Emma wanted to be defiant, but didn’t have the energy.

“No one is great at it their first time. But I… did appreciate your eagerness.” He trailed his finger along her jawbone with a smirk. “With some proper training, I think you could be quite good.”

“Get off of me,” Emma whispered with the last bit of strength she had left.

“You already sold yourself me to once,” Will teased as he backed away from her.

“I hate you,” she seethed.

“You might,” he shrugged. “But you owe me. And I don’t see any other way for you to pay me.”

A black sedan pulled up next to them.

“Car for Mr. Stewart?” The driver called.

“I’ll send a chauffeur for you this evening. It’ll pick you up here in a couple of hours. See you tonight,” he winked, and stepped into the car.

Emma was paralyzed as she watched him drive away. Did he just mean… buying her? How was she going to get out of this? But the better question was, why hadn’t she disagreed? She could have told him no. He may have been an egotistical asshole, but he would’ve backed off if she told him she didn’t want it. What would happen if she didn’t show up? Would he come and get her?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and pulled her out of her jumbled thoughts. She pulled her phone out, and saw Sabrina’s name flashing at her.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hey girlie. Just calling to check in after last night, make sure you’re all right.” Sabrina’s concern opened the floodgates. Emma collapsed to her knees.

“Oh, Sabrina,” she wailed. “It’s horrible.”

Within an hour, Jess and Sabrina were with Emma at her father’s bedside. He was connected to several machines with all sorts of tubes and wires coming out of him. A slow beeping noise let them know his heart was still beating. She told them everything…well mostly everything, that had happened since she left them. Sabrina held Emma’s hand and rubbed her back, while Jess paced the room.

“Em, how long have things been this bad?” Sabrina asked.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Emma blubbered. “I just didn’t want to burden you both with this. It’s been going on for so long.”

“I could kill her,” Jess raged. “I could rip kill that devil bitch stepmother of yours apart with my bare hands. Her and that piece of shit spawn of hers.”

“You two aren’t angry with me?” Jess and Sabrina looked at Emma in shock. Sabrina’s eyes filled with tears and Jess’s eyes softened.

“Girl, no,” Jess said coming over to comfort her friend.

“We’re angry for you. She’s been abusing you and taking advantage of you!” Sabrina added.

“You should have told us about your dad,” Jess said, rubbing Emma’s shoulder. “About how bad he had gotten.”

“I guess I was ashamed,” Emma whimpered.

“You have nothing to be ashamed about,” Jess comforted her. “We would have done something. We would have helped you.”

“We love you,” Sabrina cried. “We’d do anything for you.”

“Include slash that bitches car’s tires. Or knock her the fuck out,” Jess added.

Emma looked at her friends and felt warmth and regret. These girls were the only thing she had in the world. Their bond was so strong, and she was keeping something from them. They would be so angry at her if they knew. But for now, she knew at least she could let her guard down them. She’d been trying to be strong for so long, and she was so tired.

“Thank you both for being here,” Emma sniffled.

“We’ll help you take care of him,” Jess added. “Why don’t you go home tonight? Freshen up and get some rest?”

“Actually, I have a shift tonight,” Emma lied. “These medical bills aren’t a joke. I want him to have the best care possible, and he won’t get it for free.”

“Don’t worry about him for tonight then,” Jess assured Emma. “Before all of this happened, before your mom died, he took care of us. We can do this for him.”

“And for you,” Sabrina declared. They hugged her tight and Emma drew strength from them.

*When this mess is over, I’ll tell them everything.*

“Thank you both. So much.”

“Go,” Sabrina said. “We got this.”

“And we won’t let that demon bitch and her hell spawn in here,” Jess added.

Emma left knowing her father was in good hands. Sabrina and Jess had been her best friends from childhood. They knew her when her family was still happy. When Emmett Wells was still whole and not the shell he’d become. She hated herself for keeping how bad things had gotten from them. And even worse for keeping what happened with Will from them.

When she got outside, the same black sedan from earlier was there waiting.

“Car for Emma Wells?” The driver asked, eyeing her up and down. Emma felt self- conscious. In her ratty old sweats and t-shirt, she was supposed to get in that swanky car? She did not belong in William Stewart’s world, and yet she kept finding herself more and more tangled in it.

“Mr. Stewart has instructed me to give you envelope,” the driver said when they arrived at the hotel Will had taken her too. “The key card to his suite in there. He has also instructed me to forward his apologies. He will be late this evening. He would like for you to shower… and get changed.” He added looking her up and down again. “He will join you within the hour.”

“Um, thank you,” Emma stammered. She exited the car, feeling self-conscious. As she entered the lobby, the hotel concierge stopped her.

“Excuse me, miss. May I help you? Are you lost?” he seemed concerned, but Emma knew. She knew what she looked like. This is not a place someone like her should be.

“I’m meeting someone here,” she presented the key card with what she hoped was confidence.

The concierge’s attitude changed immediately.

“Oh, of course miss! Please allow me to escort you to your suite. You’ll find that fresh bathrobes have been provided. And if there is anything we can provide you to make your stay more comfortable, please let us know.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate a change of clothes? Something simple, please?”

His sudden change in behavior disarmed her.

“We’ve actually prepared some options for you already. You’ll find them in the closet. I hope they are to your liking.”

“I’m sure they will be,” Emma said with all the sophistication she could muster. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy your stay.” And with that, he left her.

The room was empty, she she’d been told it would be. The room lights were turned, casting everything in an amber glow.

“This is where it happened,” she said to no one. This room once amazed her with its grandness. It held memories for her now. Memories she both treasured and despised. It was only a couple of nights ago, but she felt like another person. That Emma had arrived here broken, and defeated. This Emma… well she was still broken, but the wounds were healing at least.

“What am I doing?” She thought she could leave now, and Will would give up on her. She’d never have to see him again. But there was a part of her that did want to see him again. There was a part of her, a part that was stronger than she wanted to admit, that wanted to repeat their night together. Because despite how messed up the circumstances may have been, she could not stop herself from thinking about William Stewart.

She thought Matt was the love her of life, and he’d betrayed her. Will was mean, cynical and arrogant. She hated him, but he had never lied to her. Not yet at least. Emma shook her head and took a deep breath. The driver’s message from Will came to her mind. She was supposed to shower and get changed. She thought of the large tub in there and decided to take advantage of it. It had been a trying few days. With that thought in my mind, she shed her clothes.