Chapter 8

“What could possibly be taking them so long?” Will asked. He paced back and forth in the salon.

Jason had picked a striking Yves Saint Laurent suit. This is why Will came here. Jason was the absolute best stylist in the city, and he was discreet. He supposed he’s presented him with quite a task this time.

Emma wasn’t ugly, he’d seen all of her last night. But she wasn’t his usual type at all. She didn’t stand out. *Probably because she doesn’t want to,* Will laughed to himself.

“Ahem!” Jason announced with fanfare. “I present the Lady Emma Skye Wells!” He pulled back the curtain and revealed the new and approved Emma.

Will stood up at the sight of her. Her once matted, disheveled hair was swept into a sophisticated low bun. Her ruined clothes were replaced with a chic skirt suit. The skirt hugged her curves. The emerald hue against the olive tones of her skin made her glow. Will was enchanted her with her.

“She is dressed in an exquisite viridian Givenchy skirt suit that has been paired with a chiffon cream-colored Carolina Herrera top with bow detail. I styled this with black Christian Louboutin’s. For jewelry, I opted for simple diamond studs, and we went for a bright and fresh makeup look. She is absolutely stunning,” Jason gushed. “Some of my best work, I must say.”

“Yes. She’s perfect,” Will breathed. He was under a trance as he stared at Emma.

A force pulled him toward her. Emma was transfixed under his gaze. She was a cold, tall glass of water, and he was stranded in the desert. He drank every last drop of her in.

“Something is missing,” Will said.

“She is masterpiece! What could possibly be missing?” Jason exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

“A strand of pearls. Mikimoto pearls,” Will said. A shiny, white set of pearls would complete this work of art before him. He brushed his fingers along Emma’s collarbone, right where the pearls should be sitting. His eyes grew dark, and the air around Emma’s head grew thin. *She had seen those eyes before. The night when he called her someone else.*

“I don’t have anything like that. Mikimoto pearls aren’t available on request like that. Not even to you, I’m afraid,” Jason lamented.

Whatever was going on with Will right now intrigued him. He had never been like this before. Supermodels and actress were his normal type, and they never got this sort of reaction out of it. Jason smiled. William Stewart was going to fall in love and he didn’t even know it.

“Right,” Will replied. Whatever trance that held him was gone. His eyes became cold, and he backed away from Emma. “Of course not. I guess she’ll do.” He looked away and spoke with an air of indifference. It sent an icy chill up Emma’s spine.

“She’ll do?” Jason scoffed. “She looks like English royalty. If Mr. Stewart isn’t charmed to hell and back, I’ll quit.” He looked at Emma. It was clear Will’s sudden mood swing irritated her. Jason took her hands, and smiled at her. “You look gorgeous, princess.”

“Thank you,” Emma whispered. She couldn’t help but smile at him. No one had shown her any genuine kindness since her life apart. The warm feeling spread throughout her, and almost renewed her. It was amazing how the smallest act of compassion could help her feel like herself again. “Thank you,” she repeated with a touch more confidence.

“Let’s go,” Will snorted with exasperation.

They were escorted out to the car by Jason who hugged Emma and wished her luck.

The experience seemed surreal to Emma. *This doesn’t happen in real life,* she contemplated. Just a few hours ago she was crumpled in the street during a thunderstorm. It was a moment straight out of TV drama. And now she was leaving an upscale designer fashion boutique, dressed in clothes that were worth more money than she’d ever seen in her life.

“We need to get our story straight,” Will spoke as he drove.

“Our story? Where are you taking me?” Emma demanded.

“Do you want your money or not?” he barked. Emma was growing tired of his attitude. When she didn’t answer, Will took that as compliance. “My grandfather is an important man in this city. You’re going to meet him, and you’re going to pretend that we’re in a budding relationship.”

“A relationship? With you?” It was the last thing Emma wanted. Will ignored her.

“Are you a college student?”

“Yes. I’m majoring in architecture. I’m studying to be a substance abuse counselor and mental health therapist.” Her voice was clipped and short.

“Perfect. He’ll ask that. You let me do all the talking. Don’t speak unless he speaks directly to you, understand?”

“You’re still going to pay me?”

“Yes. You’ll get your stupid money.”

They pulled up to a beautiful gate, where two armed guards stood watch. The wrought iron bars were twisted into an intricate design, and formed a large, cursive “S”.

“Good morning, Master William,” one of the guards greeted him.

“Good morning,” Will answered.

The guards backed away and the gate opened. They drove up a long driveway lined with perfectly maintained trees and hedges. The florid landscape looked like something out of a magazine. Emma felt like a child on a ride at Disney World. At the end of the drive sat a stately mansion. Climbing ivy hugged one of the brick walls in a seamless sort of way. Like it has been placed there. Emma looked around in awe. She’d never known places like this existed in real life.

Inside was even grander than the outside. The foyer has large marble columns that went all the way to the ceiling. A magnificent staircase, lined with a luxurious rich red carpet dominated the wall furthest from them. Ornate paintings graced the walls. Everything was impeccable. Just this room alone was larger than her entire home.

“Compose yourself. You look like a kid at a theme park.” Will commanded.

“I feel like a kid at a theme park. This is so… much,” Emma said. She was just being honest.

He led them through the room and further into the house. They entered what felt like a dining room inside a palace.

A crystal chandelier hung above them, casting pieces of rainbow all around them. The table itself was a deep cherry wood, laid with delicious foods. The smell wafted up towards Emma and made her mouth water. Since leaving work yesterday, and having her heart torn out, she hadn’t eaten. She was suddenly ravenous.

An older gentleman sat at the head of the table. Several attendants stood around him, but he seemed not to notice them. Upon entering, he looked up and saw them. A smile stretched across his face.

“Good morning, Pop.”

“Will! I wasn’t expecting you until this evening. You’ve brought a friend, I see.” He said with excitement. “Come, come. Join me from breakfast, won’t you?” Will led Emma towards his grandfather who stood to greet them.

The gentleman embraced Will in a hug. This Will was different from the other ones. His face was relaxed, and his smile wasn’t sarcastic or lustful. He seemed happy.

“Good morning, young lady,” he greeted her.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Come. Sit, sit.” The attendants pulled out chairs for them, and sat plates of food in front of them. It smelled amazing, and Emma wanted to launch herself into. But she felt this was some sort of test.

Will began to eat. He gave the slightest nod. *Thank God.* They sat across from each other much to her dismay. She has hoped to be seated next to Will, as to be better able to escape his grandfather’s scrutiny. The food tasted better than she had Emma eaten before. She almost moaned with how good it was, but restrained herself.

“Now, who’s company do I have the pleasure of this morning?” He asked.

“Sorry, Pop. This is Emma Wells. We met through one of my university connections.”

“Lovely to meet you, Emma. Conrad Stewart.” He offered his hand introduction. Emma shook his hand in disbelief.

“Conrad Stewart?” Of Stewart Industries?” Emma choked on a sip of water.

He was the richest man in the city. Everything made so much more sense now. Will’s grandfather was the chairman of Stewart Industries. He was a billionaire.

“Guilty,” Conrad laughed. “Will didn’t tell you?”

“No, I hadn’t,” Will interjected. “You know I don’t like to throw our family name out like that.”

“No, just our money,” Conrad joked. “No matter. Now you know, my dear. Are you a student?”

“Yes, sir. I’m studying Architecture.”

“Excellent,” he approved. “You seem like a fine young woman. I am pleased to find you in my dear grandson’s company. It’s about time, you know. He’s been flitting around aimlessly with sorts of—,”

“Pop!” Will was blushing. Emma couldn’t believe the change in him. He was like a little boy. Proud of his grandfather’s praise, obsessed with his approval, but embarrassed by his antics.

“Right, you needn’t concern yourself with that,” Conrad chuckled.

“Well, we should get going,” Will said as he rose from his chair.

“But you’ve only just arrived. You didn’t even touch your breakfast,” Conrad admonished.

“I know, but I’m sorry. I promised Emma I’d take her to the Botanical Gardens today. We need to get on the road before traffic starts.”

“Right, right,” Conrad smiled. “Young love and all that.”

A furious blush overcame Emma. *Love? Will could never love someone.*

“It was lovely to meet you, Mr. Stewart,” Emma said as lady-like as she could.

“It was my pleasure, my dear. And please, call me Conrad. I do hope to see you again.”

“Bye, Pop.”

As soon as they were out of Conrad’s sight, Will grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her outside, and into the car.

“I’ll drop you off back at the hotel. After that you’re on your own,” he fumed.

“Why are you so angry?” Emma buzzed right back at him.

“Shut up!” he yelled.

Angry tears pricked at the edges of Emma’s eyes. But she refused to give him the satisfaction her emotions. She been through enough.

“Where are my old clothes?”

“In the back. You can get them when I drop you off.”

Will let the valet’s take the car after Emma retrieved her things. She stared at him expectantly.

“My check?” she asked.

“Here,” he signed it with a flourish, but let it fall to the floor.

She stared at him with revulsion as she went to pick it up. She knew what he was doing. But she’d come too far know. This was always for the money.

$50000.

She finally got it.

“Thank you,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Ugh. You’re welcome. You’re just a greedy woman like the rest of them. You weren’t even that good a lay. You’ve made a lot by one night.” He sneered.

“You are such an asshole. I hope I never see you again,” Emma spewed at him, and stomped off with her things.

*Alright Emma. After all, you’ve got the money. Just forget all about this. Just move on…*