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 take a deep breath as I try to find the right words to explain my situation to Leopold.“I don’t know who those men are...” I mumble insecure.“Don’t lie to me, Emma,” Leopold exclaims impatiently.“I am not lying, Leopold. It’s the truth, I don’t know who they are, I just know they came into our apartment one day with another man named Alex and they claimed that my brother owed them money...” I explain hesitantly. “Is that true? He owes them money?” He inquires.I hide my face in shame.“Yes... Eddie has a gambling problem... he owes them money... a lot of money, and those men said they would kill him if we don’t pay,” I admit and I’m no longer able to hold my tears back. I’m so overwhelmed by my situation, by the worry of not knowing where Eddie is and what Alex might do to him if he finds him, and also by the embarrassment of having to admit it all in front of Leopold. “Emma, how long has this been going on? Why didn’t you say something to me?” He asks, but he doesn’t sound an
The ride to the Beckett’s mansion if the happiest of my life, I smile all the way there and when I am not smiling it is because I am kissing Leopold. It feels so good to finally be able to express my feelings for him and stop acting indifferent.I can’t help but gasp the moment we arrive at the Beckett’s mansion, the place looks like a magical land. The already impressive fountains have white lights and are filled flowers on each tier. The mansion has been tastefully decorated in its entirety, the color scheme of the decorations is white and golden, very demure and fancy. The Beckett are unquestionably tasteful people. I am surprised by the amount of guests attending the party and the general elegance around me. The parties I am used to go to, people dress casually and bring beer to share with friends, maybe some chips. But the guests here have put on their most elegant garments and are feasting on a luxurious buffet with dishes I can’t even pronounce the names of and are made out of
Nate drives us back to Leopold’s apartment, we haven’t said a word to each other since we left the party. I don’t have anything to say, there is simply too much in my mind right now, Mrs. Becketts’ words really hurt and a day that was so full of happiness and excitement suddenly seems blue. The second we walk into the apartment and are alone, Leopold surrounds me with his arms.“I am so sorry about what she said, you don’t have to see her ever again, Emma, I promise,” he says as he holds me tight.I lean my head on his chest and I close my eyes. I let myself enjoy our proximity for a moment and then it’s time to speak my mind. I take a step back releasing myself from his arms so we are face to face.“No, Leopold, you shouldn’t distance yourself from your own mother because of a girl you barely know...” I say to him.“Emma, what are you talking about? I thought I made it clear earlier today, you are not just any girl for me, I am crazy about you. Emma, I love you,” he confesses.I look
(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
(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
(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
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.
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