Chapter 37

Will kissed her again. It was deeper and more passionate. His lips moved to her neck. He kissed each mark left behind by the attack as though he were trying to replace Maurice’s touch with his own. Emma’s heart and body were at war. Her body longed to let Will eradicate Maurice’s lingering touch. But her heart was still afraid. She wasn’t ready to be intimate this soon, and in such a vulnerable state, she’d lose herself to William Stewart forever. He was an ocean, and she couldn’t swim. Emma pulled away from him.

“I can’t,” she whispered, but looked away from him. The lust in his eyes was always too much for her. She knew that if she looked at him now, she wouldn’t be able to resist him. Will moved away, his face soft with surprise. But within a few seconds, his expression morphed into his usual smirk.

“You’re denying me?” he asked.

“Please Will,” she pleaded. “I want to. But… not right now. I’m… not ready.” She didn’t expect for him to understand, but hoped that somewhere in his hardened heart there existed a speck of affection for her.

“Right,” he answered. He started the car back up and continued driving. They pulled up at a swanky building. Every place he took her to was more luxurious than the last. He parked the car in the garage, and carried her inside. No one was around, which Emma was grateful for. She didn’t want anyone to see her this way.

“Where is this?” Emma asked as they walked into a dark hallway.

“My apartment.” He carried her through the door and switched on a light.

The space was dim and spacious. The walls were a light gray. A large black sectional couch dominated the living room. Stainless steel accents gave the room a much-needed touch of brightness. It looked like no one lived there. They only sign of a home was a single picture frame above the electric fireplace. There was a small, happy boy lovingly embraced by an older man.

Will set her down, and she wrapped the blanket and his suit jacket tight around her.

“How about a bath?” he suggested. Emma nodded.

“The bathroom is over that way,” he pointed across the room. “Let me know if you have an issue with all the knobs,” he teased.

“Ha, funny,” she deadpanned. “Do you have something I can change into?”

“Yeah. I’ll leave something for you outside the door.”

Emma turned and walked towards the bathroom. It was decorated in a similar fashion to the rest of his home. It was dim, with bright touches of silver. The tub was huge, raised on a platform. Emma climbed the steps, a sudden exhaustion taking over her. Her body ached, recalling how hard she fought. She felt disgusting in her own skin. She let the hot water run; steam filled the room. It swathed Emma in warmth and safety. The water was scalding, and Emma willed it to burn the memory of Maurice’s flesh on hers.

A bottle on body wash rested on the floor by the tub. Emma opened it and inhaled Will’s scent. It smelled of vanilla, sandalwood, amber and a touch of lavender. It was soothing and sensual. Emma scrubbed her body with it, being especially sure to get her neck and chest. She felt dirty, used and ashamed. She thought of the way Will kissed her in the car. How could he want her at all after what happened?

After she felt she couldn’t scrub herself any longer, she came out of the tub and dried herself off with a large fluffy towel. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was bruised, her neck was marked up and there were scratches all over her body. All of them reminders of her sad, miserable life.

Will had left a plain white t-shirt and some shorts out for her. His clothes. They were big on her, but being bound in his clothes made her feel safe. Never had such simple clothing felt so lush. The shirt was soft. It felt like a favorite old t-shirt. The kind a girl would steal from her boyfriend. A fantasy of her and Will flitted through her mind. She imagined coming out of the bathroom, dressed in his shirt. He’d be waiting for her on the couch. There would be a pile of plush, velvet blankets. Bowls of popcorn, cups filled with her favorite soda were set up on small tables. He’d look her up and down, a lustful look in his eyes as he took her in wearing his clothes. He would playfully chastise her for stealing it. “It’s looks better on me, anyway,” she would tease. They’d snuggle up to watch a movie, but half way through the movie would be forgotten and they would make love on that couch.

But she knew she would never have that kind of life with Will.

“You are so stupid, Emma,” she laughed to herself. “You know he doesn’t care about you. How could you let this happen? How could let these feelings to happen?”

When she walked out the bathroom, she could hear Will speaking. There was no one with them, she supposed he was on the phone. As she neared him, she heard his end of the conversation.

“I don’t care what it takes, Frank. I want him destroyed, finished. I want his company bankrupt by the morning…… I told you, I don’t care. He better in ruins by the time the sun comes up, you hear me? I’ll be there soon.”

Emma didn’t know who he was talking, or what about… but she imagined that he meant Maurice Donaldson. She was so confused. There were so many sides to him. She never knew which Will she would get. He was so sweet and tender in the car. There was genuine concern in the way he comforted her. And here he was, destroying the man who had harmed her.

*Don’t fool yourself. He’s only angry because someone dared to touch “his things.” It isn’t about you at all. It will never be about you,* Emma argued with herself. Will looked over at her, his eyes glazing over as he saw her dressed in his clothes. He smirked, his playboy façade firmly back in place.

“Hmm,” he regarded her. “That looks good.” He looked back at her. There was still too much fear in her eyes for his liking. “I have to go take care of something. You will stay here.”

“I can’t. My dad…”

“You don’t need to worry about him,” Will stopped her. “I’ve had him moved to a private hospital. He’ll have round the clock care and surveillance. Neither of you will have to go to that house again.” Will left before she could reply.

“Damn you, William Stewart,” she said to the empty space he left behind. “Damn you for making me feel this way.



Will was true to his word. Emma nor her father set foot in their old home again. He moved Emma into his apartment, and had sent his men to retrieve a few of her things. She was set up in a spare bedroom, which was nicer than anything she ever had. Sometimes, she found herself wondering what became of Jane and Anna. But then she’d think that whatever misfortune befell them was well deserved.

Living with Will wasn’t bad. She didn’t have to take the bus anymore. Jack the driver had become something like a chauffer for her. He drove her wherever she needed to go. She could visit her father whenever she wanted, which was often, and was amazed at his progress. The rumors at school had died down, and it seemed that she was forgotten. Matt and Vivian hadn’t popped back into her life. Jess and Sabrina called regularly. They said they were worried for her. They could tell something was wrong, but she lied and said things were fine. Someday they would know. But Emma didn’t even know to begin to tell them about everything that had happened. And there were some parts she just wanted to forget.

Will didn’t bother her much, but there were nights she had to… service him. And as much as Emma pretended it was a chore, all she dreamed about was drowning in William Stewart. For however long he claimed her, she could forget about everything. All that mattered was pleasure, hot, heavy, passionate sex. He continued to treat her like a pet, but she couldn’t complain. After all, she had agreed to it. It was just a business deal. He would send her to her room whenever they finished. But she longed for one night to sleep in his arms.

“We’re going to have dinner with my grandfather tonight,” he announced as they lay naked in bed, tangled in a mess of sheets.

“Huh?” Emma mumbled, still dizzy from her orgasm.

“Hello. Earth to Emma,” Will teased. “That good, huh?” he wiggled his eyebrows. Emma blushed furiously. “I said we’re having dinner with my grandfather. I prepared an outfit for you. It’s in your room. Be ready in an hour.”

“Okay,” Emma untangled herself from Will’s bed. In her room she found a tasteful, elegant chiffon dress. It was light and flowy. It fell to her knees. To her surprise, she loved it. It was modest, but made her feel girly and free. She put it on a twirled in it, stifling a giggle. At the neck there were two ribbons. She tied them into a bow in front of her. She styled her hair in a half up-do. Emma wasn’t great with makeup, but she could handle a simple look.

Will was waiting for her in the living room. He was dressed in a matching cream-colored suit, with a pale blue shirt underneath. Emma drank in the sight of him and while the suit looked great on him, she imagined it would look even better forgotten on the floor.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. They dined on the best food Emma had ever tasted. It was another story to add to her fantasy life. She envisioned becoming close with Mr. Stewart. He would dote on her as though she was his own granddaughter. Maybe she would come to him for help planning a surprise party for Will’s birthday.

“Are you all right, my dear?” Conrad asked, pulling her out of her fantasy.

“Oh yes sir, thank you. Just thinking about how wonderful this meal is.”

“What is this ‘sir’ nonsense?” he laughed. “Am I old or something? Please darling, call me Conrad.”

Emma smiled at his warmth. He barely knew her and yet he was so sweet.

“Of course, Conrad.”

“Now remind me, you said you were studying Psychology?”

“Yes. I want to help those with substance abuse problems. However, my true dream as always been architecture. I figured I could somehow meld the two together and design a rehabilitation center.”

“How noble! You are a remarkable young lady.” Conrad swelled with pride as if Emma was his own family. Emma blushed; she wasn’t used to so much praise. “But if your true dream is architecture, why aren’t you studying that?”

“I am. I have a double major in Psychology and Architectural Design. I just say Psychology because it’s easier.”

“Are there any buildings in the city that you love from a design perspective?”

Emma and Conrad’s conversation flowed smoothly. They jumped from topic to topic, like two people who understood each other. At one point Emma had forgotten Will was there.

“Emma dear, would you accompany me on a walk? I would love to show you the garden.”

“I would love that!” she stood up and heard Will clear his throat. Emma looked scared for a moment.

“Oh, don’t mind him,” Conrad dismissed him. “He’s feeling grumpy because he is feeling left out. Come my darling.” Conrad held out his arm. Emma looped her arm around his and allowed Conrad to escort her out.

The garden was magnificent. Redolent walls of trimmed rose bushes lined the walkway. Wisteria trees swayed in the distant, creating an ethereal canopy above them.

“It’s beautiful,” she marveled.

“Thank you. My late wife had this commissioned. She was a lover of nature, and wanted a piece of it close to her. This garden is where I come to find her.”

“I’m sorry. You must miss her.”

“I do. She would have liked you. You’re only the second girl Will has brought home.”

“Grace was his first girlfriend?” Emma blurted out.

“Yes. I’m surprised you know about her. She was sweet. And Will really cared about her, but then…” Conrad trailed off, a slight sadness in his voice. “Never mind about that. He seems far happier with you at his side.”

Emma smiled back, but the ghost of Grace lingered in her heart.
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