Hey!! All good? Welcome back to New York! I was actually planning on spending the day there tomorrow. Feel free to join!
I’ve missed that library quite a bit, in fact; the environment there is so quiet and serious that I always managed to focus more there than anywhere else. Since Emma hasn’t yet answered, I text Matthew back: Alright, deal, see you tomorrow.
I thought I wouldn’t miss Manhattan or the cold weather that shivers my bones and makes me feel like I’m in the midst of a snowstorm without any snow, but as we reach the condo, there’s that nostalgic feeling in me that pinches my heart. I wouldn’t hesitate moving to Singapore or anywhere else, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t miss here. Feeling a little buzz in my pocket, I take my iPhone and check the new text message.
Babe, so glad you’re back! When can we meet? Btw, no prob for the hearing. Tell Ryan to contact me whenever he can. X.
Smiling at the screen, I knew Emma would accept it without hesitation. I ask, Are you at home?
Yep. Wanna come? she replies in a few seconds.
I check my watch and notice it’s barely noon.
Okay, let’s have lunch together.
Since Alex and his legal team are now in the dining room, still discussing that court hearing, I knock on the door for the sake of politeness, and after stepping in, I say to Ryan, “Um, Emma is okay to do a testimony if needed. You can call her whenever you want to arrange the details.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic,” he praises. “Well done.”
Then I look at my fiancé and say, “I’m gonna have lunch at her place.”
As I’m about to step outside, I hear his voice echoing across the room suddenly. “Wait. I’ll call your driver.”
My eyes widen in surprise, and I turn, looking at him as he’s already making a phone call. “My driver?” I repeat, just to confirm that’s what I heard.
Alex doesn’t reply as he finishes to instruct a so-called Zach over the phone to come in.
Oh dear, don’t tell me I’ll have someone following me wherever I go.
The doorbell startles me, and I frown, wondering if Zach was the man I saw standing in the corridor outside the penthouse. I thought he was someone from his security.
His. Not mine.
Alex stands up from his seat and leaves the dining room, gesturing me to do the same.
As we set foot in the entryway, we find Maria opening the door and welcoming the very same man that I saw standing outside.
“Petra, this is Zach, your new chauffeur. He will drive you wherever you need to go.”
Yet, Zach is not alone, and there are two men right behind him. “And who are these two men standing behind him?” I ask Alex, his expression deepening.
“Your new security,” he says without an ounce of bother.
I chuckle immediately; it must be a prank or something. “I don’t need security to follow me wherever I go.”
Alex steps closer to me, and as we face each other, he lowers his voice, trying to be more discreet. “Your parents tried to inject you with a microchip,” he reminds me. “Who knows what they are capable of?”
“They won’t kidnap me,” I snap. “Otherwise they will lose the case immediately.” But Alex keeps staring at me, unconvinced. “That would be such a poor move from their side.”
Despite my arguments, his expression remains just as serious. “Poor move or not, I don’t want to take any risks.”
“Alex, I’m just going to see Emma. That’s it.” My patience is running low with his overbearing attitude. “It’s a very protected estate,” I insist. “I don’t want a security team to follow my every move.” I keep looking him straight in the eyes, hoping he’ll reconsider.
Alex draws out a breath, thinking something through. “They will stay here, but Zach takes you there and brings you back once you are done.”
I heave a sigh, annoyed at his attitude. There’s nothing wrong with booking an Uber, and I’m pretty sure Alex knew I wouldn’t like to have someone he appointed to drive me around, which might explain why he brought those two extra security agents. Accepting my request to not bring them with me would look like he’s conceding. Shaking my head in displeasure, I head toward the front door and leave the house without saying anything further.
Reaching outside the building, the cold wind freezes my bones on the spot, and I shiver instantly. Jeez, I’m still not used to the cold after spending my last two weeks under the Caribbean sun. Zach opens the door for me to get into the backseat, and I’m glad to see the car is not some extravagant Rolls Royce, but a normal black Mercedes-S. As I get in, I notice there are two Evian water bottles placed in the cup holder of the middle seat—a small gesture but truly appreciated given the fact it’s a fifty-minute ride.
Despite Zach being a very polite and courteous driver, I can’t bring myself to forget what Alex did. Why does he need to be so controlling like Dad was?
“Is the temperature okay, Miss?” Zach asks, looking at me from the rear-view mirror.
“It’s perfect, thanks.”
“If you need anything, just let me know,” he says.
“Thanks.” I put in my AirPods and start listening to my favorite playlist.
Fifty minutes later, Zach drops me off right in front of the entrance to Emma’s house, where the sky is just as grey as in the city. When I left the country three weeks ago, I never thought I would be able to see her so soon. My eyes alight on the one and only Emma Hasenfratz, who’s standing on the front porch waiting for me, with her black, short hair which is always so perfectly styled, along with a pair of shorts that she’s sporting so effortlessly that it chills me by just looking at it. Boy, how can she cope with the cold like that?
I leave the car and shut the door without giving Zach a second thought. Walking toward her, I ask, “You stayed in New York the whole time?” My tone is as excited as the big smile on her face.
“Nah, I came back yesterday from Tulum,” she explains, before opening her arms wide to give me a hug. “Gosh, it’s so good to see you.” Emma embraces me tightly in her arms, and we stay hugging each other for a few more seconds than usual before she releases me and starts checking me out. “Wow, Ms. Van Gatt has got a tan. You look great.”
Dropping my gaze at her compliment, I smile shyly. “Thanks.”
She then takes me by the hand, bringing me into her house, and we head to the living room.
“Did Yara or Julia already call you for our trip to the Netherlands?” she asks.
My eyes widen in surprise at her question. While Margaret did invite me to stay at her estate for a fews days before the wedding, I didn’t know Emma had also been invited. “Um, yes. Margaret invited me. You’re also joining?”
“Yep. It’s gonna be so fun! Yara told me I can stay at her mom’s house.”
“Oh, I see you and Yara are getting along well.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty dope.” We then take a seat on the sofa and Emma asks, “Have you stayed at Margaret’s place before?”
“Yeah, I spent last Christmas there. It’s a pretty big estate, you’ll like it.”
“Alright, cool.” Emma seems to have another question in mind as she looks at me pensively. “Um, what about your dad? Is he gonna attend the ceremony?”