He was wearing a mask, dressed in a suit that for some reason glowed in the darkness Emily found herself. She found herself standing in a vast empty room with sleek tiles, there were no walls or ending to the emptiness in the room, just her and the strange man standing before her. He held out his hands to her, beckoning her towards him and she obeyed, taking one step after the other, in her long flowing gown, she took his hands. His palms were soft against her sweaty ones and he whispered into thin air “Dance with me”She didn’t need to respond because he was already leading her in a dance, his hands fitting in the curve of her waist as he pulled her closer to him, her body touching his. Suddenly, the lights came on, but dim lights that set a certain tone in the room, matching the ethereal music that she had no idea where they came from.“Who are you?” she whispered back, not wanting to disturb the tranquility that transcended around them.“Do you always have to be this curious?” he s
The Hatton family mansion was abuzz with the, aglow with the warm illumination from crystal sconces, their light caressing the rich mahogany panels. The table was set in the grand dining hall, where each piece of porcelain, each silver polished to reflective perfection, promised a gathering steeped in tradition.Mr. Hatton had decided to gather everyone for a long due family dinner tradition, which was merely an excuse to access their personal progress on his companies and in their personal life. Arriving first was Ethan, accompanied by Emily dressed in a light blue flowing gown that swept the floor, perfectly complimenting her bright skin, while he was dressed magnificently in a black glittering suit, together looking like the power couple they pretended to be but weren’t even close. Emily harbored a distant gaze, her mind still adrift on memories she had yet to fully grasp – of laughter, tender whispers, and a pair of warm, searching eyes belonging not to Ethan – she felt conflicted
The night held its breath when Jackson’s lips met Emily’s. Her heart quickened, a jolt igniting a spark somewhere within. The stirring of something forgotten, the edges of it just dancing out of reach. She felt the pull towards him, it was magnetic and undeniable. She hadn’t even realized when she kissed him back, allowing his tongue to roam her mouth, licking her lips and igniting her desire. His mouth moved against hers in a silent plea, a wordless incantation, beckoning her lost memories from the depths through which they were banished.Only then did it happen.A floodgate burst open inside of her, the memories began rushing in. Images flashed before her eyes, the mysterious kiss at the masked ball, and the stolen kiss here at this very garden that started it all, Jackson’s confessions exchanged beneath the canopy of stars, his drilling into hers with so much intensity, the night of the banquet dinner, his plea, the fight – the accident. She remembered it all, the clarity of everyt
*Three years ago or more*Amelia Sinclair got off her plane in Cancun, then she met the rest of the gang, Ethan and Anita at the reception of their private resort, but Jackson was missing. She looked at Ethan, “Where’s your brother” he asked and he shrugged in response typing away on his phone. It’d been about seven months since they kissed on New Years, and they had kissed many more times after that, even though he hadn’t officially asked her to be his girlfriend but she was hopeful. She was in love with him, the way he looked at her before he kissed her, his random gifts to her but yet it still felt like something was missing, and she knew exactly what. That was why she planned this trip, she was finally going to have sex with Ethan and then he’ll be her boyfriend, and everything would be right with the world or so she thoughtQuickly, she dialed Jackson’s phone “Where are you?” she yelled into the receiver “Everyone’s here, except you”“I was going to call you in a bit” she heard h
The four of them stood, staring at each other with so much intensity, the question ‘What happened to Amelia’ still hanging the air’“Amelia killed herself, that’s what happened. There’s not much to it” Anita said, something flashing in her eyes at the mention of Amelia. It was guilt, settling at the base and rocking her entire body.“We all know that, but we don’t know why and you two were the ones there with her?” Jackson said“How do you expect us to know?” Amelia retorted “She was a junkie, she thrived off drugs, her parents were going through a divorce and there were many things going through her sick head, it could – ” she wanted to go further but Ethan stopped her halfway, stepping forward to face Jackson “If you’re so curious, you could ask the police that handled her case”“I could but not when you’re spreading lies about me, so I need to hear it from you. What exactly your problem is with me?”“I don’t have a problem with you” Ethan said “I only have a problem with you messi
As much as Jackson was worried, he was equally furious, his eyes flared "Why did you drink so much?" he looked at her, trying to place her comfortably in the back seat of the car, and then he quickly drove her to his house. He helped steady her, while he helped her into the house and placed her on the couch."Why did you drink so much?" he asked her again, she stirred in her drunkenness, her voice low and her speech slurred"Everything is so confusing" she said "And I'm so tired"He saw tears form at the corner of her eyes, threatening to fall and when they did he knew she had no strength left in her that moment to fight her sadness, so he let her, his hands finding hers to show her that she wasn't alone."Why's evervthing spinning?" she asked, her eyes closed."Because vou're drunk, you should get some sleep" he stood up to sleep, but she held him in place."Don't go" she pleaded, holding his hands tightly as the world spun around her, an unfamiliar feeling of drunkenness settling i
Emily woke up the next morning, her head heavy and her mouth sour. She winced as the bright lights streaming in from the window hit her eyes, she quickly covered her head with a blanket, unwilling to get up. She needed to sleep some more, the bed was so comfortable, yet so different, then she heard a familiar voice calling her name softly"Emily, wake up" she jolted upright and immediately regretted it as a sharp pain sliced through her head and she fell back on the bed immediately, she peeked through the blanket to find Jackson standing before her, with a tray in his hands. He sat next to her on the bed, filling nose with sweet smelling coffee that her mouth watered immediately. "It's way past noon" he said, sitting on the bed next to her"What!" she sat up again but more gently this time "I slept that long?" she asked and he nodded. Then he handed her a cup of coffee "This should wake you up properly" he said and she took it from him, her eyes casted down as she was unable to look
BREAKING NEWS: SECOND SON OF HATTON GROUP JACKSON HATTON GETS ENGAGED TO BILLIONAIREHEIRESS BLAIR LAWRENCEThe headlines were bold and glaring in Jackson's face as he stared at his phone which still kept buzzing constantly in his hands. He looked up at Emily who mirrored his expression, a shocked stare gazing back at him, her brows raised questioningly."What's going on?" she asked, confusion brewing in their midst "You're engaged? How are you engaged?""I don'tknow" he said back "I have no idea what's going on""How can you have no idea what's going on?" Emily sprang up from the bed, she had so many emotions brewing within her and she had no idea which one to address first but in everything she felt betrayed, and it was evident on her face when Jackson grabbed her suddenly."Emily listen to me, I have no idea what's going on you have to trust me""Trust you?" she repeated with a sordid expression "You have to tell me the bloody truth, how the hell are you engaged?"I don'tknow!!" J
Immediately, Emily made her way to Hatton Tech and went straight to Jackson’s face, she barely knocked before she pushed the door open and coming face to face with Jackson and her heart stopped, almost forgetting how much impact he had on her. She saw the look of shock on his face, she didn’t think she’d be seeing him for a while, not after he had brutally ended things with her.“Emily” he called and she walked into his office, straight to his table and she slammed the pen recorder before him, ignoring the rapid pounding of her heart.Jackson looked from the recorder to her fatigued face, confusion clouded his eyes and he hoped for more words from her but Emily didn’t say a word instead she clicked play and fast forwarding the recording to the particular part she wanted him to hear.“Did you plan Jackson’s kidnap and also try to kill my baby?”“Jackson knew – ”At that point, she clicked it shut and looked into his eyes now, the pain doubling in her chest from what she perceived to be
Emily stood outside the door to Ethan’s pent house while she rang the doorbell twice. It was impossible to explain how she felt but a seething anger was very much at the top of the list. She was very sure of how bedraggled she looked, her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail while she still had on the clothes from the previous days, her eyes had dark circles and she was very much tired but there was one thing she understood, Ethan was indeed the enemy and Ethan was the only reason why she would never be happy.Her head raged with thoughts that felt strange to her, evil thoughts that came from the anger that festered within and she needed to let it out, whichever way possible.Soon enough, the door sprung open and she came face to face with indeed Ethan’s handsome face. He was dressed casually in sweat pants and a t shirt, his hair ruffled like he had just rolled out of bed and his eyes roaming her as he took her in.“If you’re here to ask for forgiveness, you’re a few months too lat
Emily’s world was shattered, her eyes were swollen shut from crying all night from Jackson stomping on her heart in the least way that she expected. Her hands went up to necklace dangling freely on her chest and she wanted nothing more than to throw it off as far as possible but she held unto it, remembering Jackson’s words to her No matter what happens between us, you’re always going to have my heart – and truly she always wanted to have his heart.Her frail fingers tightened around the pendant as she felt the tears fall freely from her eyes, the pain radiating all over again. Her mind went over the times they spent together, the way he held her stare and captivating her with his charming eyes. His daring kisses in public – at the red carpet and every single place to let every one know that he was in love with her and she relished in the thoughts while she sat in her mother’s hospital room as the woman laid unconscious on the bed. Emily held unto her mother’s hands, cold and clammy
Later that night, Jackson stood in front of the Hatton family home as he watched Ethan drive into the building. He stood still, his face void of any emotion whatsoever as he waited for Ethan to highlight his car and walk up to him. He could smell the cockiness from where he stood, and the dirty smirk that was plastered on Ethan’s face as he made his way over to Jackson.“Hello brother” he greeted with a simple wave “How about we go inside for a drink?”“I don’t think that’ll be necessary” Jackson responded, his expression hard and stoic which was just a front for the deep sadness that festered within him.“Fine” Ethan shrugged in response “I didn’t plan on staying that long anyways, so what’s it going to be brother?”Jackson remained silent as he fought to say the next words but Ethan was impatient “Which is it going to be?”“You can have Emily, I don’t want her. She’s your wife after all but I’m going to keep my inheritance. Father chose me for a reason and I’m going to respect his d
Billionaire Heir Jackson Hatton accused of sexual assaultThe walls began to cave in and Jackson’s world began to spin as he read the headline repeatedly till the words began to dance before him.“Shit! Shit!” he cursed underneath drawing Anita’s attention to him and she gave him a look“What’s wrong?” she asked but Jackson sprang up immediately and walked out of the emergency room, immediately he called Ethan and he picked on first ring.“Let’s talk” he said into the receiver “Meet me at the house in a few hours” and he ended the call immediately.**Meanwhile Emily still felt shattered while she sat next to her mother who still laid unconscious and had IV’s running through her vein with the automatic beeping of the heart monitor interrupting Emily’s thoughts but she held her mother’s hands tightly until the doctor walked in.“You must be Emily” he said as Emily stood up to shake his hands “Mr. Brown explained – ”“Is she going to be alright” Emily cut in immediately and the somber l
The silence stood awkward between the brothers for a few seconds, neither willing to speak first but Ethan still had that cocky smile plastered on his face while Jackson couldn’t believe his ears.“What are you on about now Ethan?” Jackson broke the silence first, his demeanor was calm but he was seething inside“You heard me brother, I killed the story and now you owe me. So you have two options, give back everything you’ve taken from me, my wife inclusive or you face the consequences and maybe subsequently a judge for sexual assault, it’s your choice really because at the end of the day everything comes back to me”“You’re insane Ethan” Jackson scoffed.“Right” Ethan said “So what’s it going to be?”“I’m not doing either of that, so you can go to hell”Ethan laughed this time but he wasn’t done “Fine, you’re stubborn but I’ll give you a better offer. You pick between your inheritance and my wife”“Get out of my office Ethan, don’t you have better things to do?” Jackson pointed at t
A few days of strained silence with his brothers and the media blowing up about their fallout over their inheritance with Jackson seeing stringent of information about him on the internet that even though didn’t seem true, had some element of truth in them from his past life. He sat in his office at Hatton Tech that morning scrolling through his media feed, he didn’t want to look at it but yet his phone stayed transfixed to his hands. The different girls, the lies with the element of truth in them –Jackson Hatton is an ultimate abuser – Jennifer HenzOne time at the club, he tried to run his hands up my skirt – MiaJackson took me to a hotel one time and he never called me back – LeahHe’s such an asshole, tried to sleep with me and then my best friend – he did though - MerylI would have never pegged Jackson Hatton to be an abuser but it all makes sense – he groped me at the club – Jane.Jackson stared at his phone wide – eyed, his eyes sweeping through every comment on every post w
Ethan stormed out of the room with his eyes wide with rage and anger that his body couldn’t control. He ignored the frantic call of his mother as he stormed outside. The walls closed in and his heart pounded fast, he couldn’t believe his ears; his father had betrayed him, played him the long game and ended up giving everything to Jackson; his favorite son.He tried recalling Mr. Stanwill’s words even though he never wanted to remember those words but they were stuck in his brain, etched on the walls and unwilling to let go.“ – and to Ethan Hatton my first son, I leave you in charge of Hatton Tech and finally to Jackson Hatton, I leave you in charge of all Hatton Enterprises globally”Globally? In charge of all Hatton Enterprises globally?If Ethan calculated properly this meant Jackson was in fact in charge of him. How outrageous? How insulting? He kicked at the ceramic statue angrily, smashing it further with his foot and even more when he realized that it was his father’s favorite
Jackson stood pensive with his eyes on the ground as the casket lowered to the ground, his eyes weren’t clouded like the dark clouds above but his mood felt just as grey. The silent murmurs, the sad faces that looked like they were staring at him, questioning him or worse still judging him. He looked over at Ethan and those red eyes weren’t deceiving anybody, father wasn’t Ethan favorite person. Father wasn’t his favourite person either, but he was in fact was one of his father’s favorite people and yet there was nothing he could do for him at that moment, not while he was being led six feet under. Jackson wasn’t sure how he felt, he wasn’t exactly broken or sad but he knew there was war ahead and when he glanced at Ethan again, they shared a look that mirrored his thoughts exactly.“You okay?” Emily slid up to him while everyone exchanged pleasantries or condolences, he wasn’t exactly familiar with what was going on because he had managed to escape everyone who looked like they wante