We are driving back to Leopold’s apartment, we haven’t said much since we left his parent’s mansion, but I prefer it this way. Being close to him has been confusing. He is so charming, so handsome, and such a good kisser, it is better for me to keep my distance from him as much as possible before I get any more confused. I don’t want to get hurt or feel the disappointment I felt in the cabin.“Do you want to do something this evening?” Leopold asks in a polite tone, I think he is trying to light up
When I wake up I am filled with hope, today is the day I’ll confess everything. I can’t wait to see Leopold and tell him how I feel. After days of trying to hide my feelings, even from myself, it is great to finally be honest about what my heart holds inside. I want him to know too, something tells me that he might love me back.Since it’s still a little early, I decide to surprise Leopold and make breakfast for the both of us before he wakes up. I am sure he is going to love the surprise. Today is Clara’s day off, so I can have the kitchen all to myself. I try not to make a lot of noise as I start to make chocolate chip pancakes, his favorites. I whip the pancake mix as I hum a song my mom used to sing to me when I was little. I haven’t been able to think about that song since she passed away, I guess I can bear it now because I must be in a really good mood. Suddenly a tall redheaded girl walks into the kitchen. I startle and the plastic bowl slips from my hands, splashing the pancak
The past few days Leopold and I have barely spoken to each other. We haven’t watched movies together, or had lunch together, or done any of the things we used to do before the photo shoot and the awkward encounter with his super model one-night-stand Ann Marie.When we are at the office, we limit our interactions to work-related issues and, at home, we both stay in our rooms for the most part, and if we happened to cross paths in th
The nightclub is crowded, I have to wait 40 minutes in line to get in and when I finally do I spend another 15 minutes looking for Nancy. When I find her, she is already a little bit tipsy, according to Mark from the sales department, she and Tania have been doing shots nonstop.“Emma, I am so glad you came! I was so sure you were going to cancel!” Nancy shouts as she gives me a big welcome hug.“Why?” I ask pretending to be offended by her remark.“Oh, come on, since you got engaged to Leopold you forgot all about us,” Tania says.“No, it’s not what you think. I am sorry you feel that way,” I apologize, which is a little hard to do with the loud electronic music in the background.“I am only going to forgive you if you do a tequila shot with us!” Nancy declares with a guffaw.“Fine!” I say with a wide smile.One tequila shot turns into five and the next thing I know we are all dancing uninhibitedly on the dance floor, we are making up silly dance moves to make each other laugh not car
Our kiss gets more and more intense. My heart is pounding in my chest, the excitement runs through my veins along with all the alcohol I have drank. I am not myself at this moment, the fact that Alex Ricci is a dangerous man and a mobsters seems so insignificant next to all the feeling I have bottled up inside of me that I don’t care about the consequences, I only care about the now. The drinks helped me get rid of all of my inhibitions and objections, everything that stoped me before from accepting Alex’s advances now seems irrelevant. Part of me is aware that I’m doing this out of spite because Leopold spent the night with that super model, but I suppress the thought in my head. Leopold is the last person I want to think about right now.“Come,” Alex whispers to my ear, then he takes my hand and drags me out of the dance floor, we wave our way through the crowd until we reach a black curtain in the back of the night club. We cross the curtain and find ourselves in some kind of storag
Tomorrow the Beckett’s are going to have a big party in their mansion. According to Mary Alice, who calls me every single day to discuss wedding-related issues, her parents invite all of their relatives to a formal gathering that resembles more a gala than a normal party. Sick of Mrs. Beckett’s snarky remarks about my simple and cheap outfits, I asked Mary Alice to help me find an outfit for the lavish event. She takes me to a tiny boutique I have never been to, filled with beautiful dresses from exclusive designers I have never heard of. I try on several dresses, they all look amazing. It is hard to pick just one and after much deliberation, I finally chose a red sleeveless A-line dress.“That’s a great choice, the color looks really good on you,” the saleslady says with a big smile.“Absolutely! You look gorgeous in it,” Mary Alice exclaims. “And it is kind of cute that you chose Leopold’s favorite color.”“Oh... I guess I did,” I say realizing she is right, I didn’t notice it before
I wake up feeling slightly depressed. I have no desire to spend the day with my fake in-laws and Leopold’s extended family. I lie in bed feeling a lump in my throat. I’m really disappointed I didn’t get to see my brother last night. Maybe if I hurry up I can see him for a while before heading to the Beckett’s Party. That would definitely cheer me up. I put on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, and head out the main door.“Emma, where are you going?” Leopold asks me before I close the door behind me. “I... I am going to see my brother,” I explain in a hurry.“Now? But the party starts early. I thought you saw your brother yesterday,” he remarks pointing to the new watch I supposedly gave to him as present.Ugh, yes, I forgot I lied to him and pretended that I had dinner with my brother last night. It’s too late for the truth now, besides, I would hate for Leopold to know my brother is a gambling addict that has gotten us into trouble with the mafia and that I am worried sick about him.“I k
The two thugs enclose me against the main door.“Where is your brother?” One of them asks me in a rude tone.I don’t reply, I just look at them
I stand a few yards away from the party as I look at our few guests having a great time on the dance floor. Even Mary Alice seems to be having fun, although this wasn’t the wedding she planned for us. This isn’t happening in a castle in Europe, or at an elegant salon with crystal walls by an artificial lake. I know at first she was disappointed that I wanted to go in a different direction, but she eventually accepted that the wedding should reflect my taste, not hers. Constance Cassel was a different story, she resigned in the middle of the planning because she considered my ideas to be too “plain for her to work with”, and maybe they were, but this is what I wanted: A small intimate ceremony in a garden filled with red roses, under a big old tree. I may be too simple, too dull and not at all striking or vibrant, but that’s ok, this is who I am, and I like myself. Besides, everything about this days is perfect for me: this is my dream wedding with my dream man.Leopold comes from behi
I can’t help the tears that fall from my eyes. I can’t believe I am never going to see Leopold again. I leave the note on my bed next to the gorgeous engagement ring that Leopold gave me. I wipe the tears from my eyes, before I take my suitcase and leave.Clara is too busy handling the arrangement of the new hospital bed and the arrival of the medical personnel, so she doesn&rsq
As I go in the apartment, I intend to go straight to my room to pick up my things before I leave for good, but Clara is here and she is worried sick because she heard Leopold was wounded by a firearm. The elderly woman seems too fragile for me to just leave her with no answers, she has worked for Leopold for years and she genuinely cares for her boss’s well-being. I sit on the bed with her and I tell her what happened, that the surgery was successful and that Leopold will recover fully. She is very relieved to hear the news and goes to bed with a big smile. The moment Clara goes back to her room, I take out my suitcase and I start to pack all of my belongings. I have no idea where I will go, I just know that
“I was kidnaped by Alex Ricci...” I admit as I lift my eyes to meet theirs. “He is the gangster that shot Leopold, he did it because Leopold came to rescue me while I was kidnaped.”“What?!” Mary Alice exclaims.“But the chief of police said Leopold was shot by a ma
As I wait for the Beckett family to get to the hospital, the nurse tells me that Leopold is already in his room and that he is conscious. I walk as fast as I can without running towards his room. Leopold is lying on the hospital bed looking out the window with a scowl on his face. He looks more pail and has bags under his eyes, but he still looks astonishingly handsome. I freeze at the door as I contemplate him, I can’t believe I almost lost him.“Hi,” I say in a soft
The ambulance arrives a few minutes after. Leopold is still conscious, but weak. The paramedics attend to him without wasting any time. They prepare Leopold to take him in the ambulance, I am holding his hand and I don’t want to let go.“Can I come with him?” I ask one of the paramedics.
(Emma’s P.O.V.)“It’s…. Eh…” the man hesitates to answer.As the man downstairs mumbles, I keep on trying to get free from his grip. I tried to cry out for help, but the second his man informed him that there was someone outside, Alex put his hand over my mouth to prevent me from asking for help to whoever is here.“Who is it?” Alex asks again angrily.“The pretty boy... the one who confronted us the other day when we were looking for Eddie,” the man downstairs responds.My heart glows with hope. Leopold is here! I punch Alex on the ribs, but he doesn’t flinch, he stays put and tightens his grip around me.“Send him away, fool,” Alex mutters.“I tried to, boss, but he is demanding to see you and he won’t take no for an answer... Boss, he called the police on us last time, what if he does the same now? This house is going to be compromised,” the man says nervously.“Come upstairs,” Alex orders him.The man climbs up the stairs to our floor. I recognize him, he was the one having the sta
(Emma’s P.O.V.)My head is killing me and my stomach is upset. I slowly open my eyes and look around me. I don’t recognize this dark room. The room is empty except for the mattress I’m lying on over the floor. I try to move, but my hands are tied together on my back with a rope. I try to break free, but the knot is too tight. After several tries, I am able to kneel over the bed. I look around me once more, trying to find something sharp to cut the rope, but there is nothing in this room aside from the mattress. My whole body starts to shake. Where am I? What is this place?After a few tries, I get up and I walk with wobbly steps towards the bedroom door. I turn my back on the door and I grab the knob, I twist it, but the door is locked. I sigh distressed. I press my ear against the door, but I don’t hear anything on the other side.“Hello?!” I shout. “Is anyone there?” No one replies. “What do you want? Why am I here?”There is just silence on the other side of the door. After a few mo
(Leopold’s P. O. V.)I wake up slowly and feeling wonderful. I smile as the memories from last night come to my mind. I stretch my arms towards Emma, I can’t wait to hold her close again, but then I startle when I notice that she is not by my side on the bed.“Emma?” I call her with a froggy voice.Maybe she is in the bathroom. I wait for a moment, but she doesn’t reply. I clear my throat and I stretch my arms lazily. Maybe she is making breakfast for us or maybe she went back to her bedroom because I snored and she couldn’t sleep because of the noise. I do that sometimes when I am too tired. I get up from the bed and I walk around the apartment looking for her.“Emma?” I call her again, but she doesn’t reply, I am starting to think that she is not here.Her bedroom is empty and she is not in the living room, the dining room, the library, or in the kitchen. I go back to my room to grab my cell phone and I call her, but she doesn’t pick up. This is so strange, where could she be?Maybe