The dimly lit study cast a somber atmosphere as Ethan and Jackson sat on plush leather chairs with the tension visibly palpable between them. Jackson’s anxiety permeated the room, hitting all corners and manifesting as restless fidgeting and the tightening of his jaw as he tried Emily’s number for what felt like the umpteenth time and still it kept going to voicemail. Emily hadn’t returned home last night and Jackson had a been a restless fit since then.Ethan sighed inwardly and even though he tried to act anxious too, the indifference still radiated off him.“Where could she be, Ethan?” Jackson’s voice trembled with worry “She didn’t come back last night, what if something happened to her?”“I sincerely doubt that, I’m sure she’s fine” Ethan said and Jackson paused to look at him with a squint to his eyes.“What have you done Ethan?”Ethan leaned forward, his expression a careful mix of surprise and guilt disguised as anger.“What do you mean what have I done? What’s that supposed t
Emily’s body trembled with exhaustion as she awoke in the unfamiliar hotel room. Her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive and panic surged through her veins as she realized she was alone, stranded in a state of vulnerability.“Where am I?” she struggled to speak, her eyes still felt drowsy and she clutched her stomach in fear. Was she drugged? Oh God! The baby!Frantically, she fumbled for her phone, her trembling fingers struggling to dial Jackson’s number. He was the only person she could think off, the only person she wanted to come save her. But silence greeted her as the call rang and rang – unanswered. Dread settled over her like a suffocating blanket, intensifying her fear, Jackson never missed her call.She tried again and again, sending series of texts and hoping for a response but nothing came forth and she sighed defeated. Her eyes searched the room, it was a small hotel room that smelled stuffy and old, beads of perspiration formed on her head as she noticed the windows were
“Put your coat back on” Ethan growled, attempting to pick her coat from the floor but Amanda stopped him“Look at me Ethan!” she held his face, her slender and delicate fingers caressing his smooth face and forcing him to look at her, until he did. Then she took his hands and placed on her chest so that he could feel the erratic beating of her chest.“Don’t you feel it Ethan!” she said to him “My heart, beating, pounding just for you and it has never stopped”“Amanda” Ethan warned even though he could feel the heat rising in his loins, the warmth spreading throughout his entire being from seeing Amanda’s exposed body and the way her fingers caressed his face.“Don’t fight it” she whispered in his ears, nibbling softly on his ear lobe then slowly she tried to kiss him but Ethan pulled back.“You used to love me” Amanda said with a hurt expression “Before you ruined my life”“That was years ago” he said to her “I’m trying to make it up to you, tell me how much you want”“And I said I do
“Come with me ma’am” Amanda had a wide smile on her face as she beckoned Emily but she was unwilling “We have to do your hair and make up also, we have to get started” Amanda didn’t wait for a response, she grabbed Emily by her arm and pulling her with her into the dressing room and when they got in, Emily pulled her hands away.“You!” Emily pointed “I know you”Amanda feigned surprise “You do?”“Don’t mess with me, you were the reporter asking me questions about my family, it was you!”Amanda stood dumbfounded but she led Emily towards the chair “I work in fashion, the reporter you’re talking about is my twin sister Amy and we’re not close at all so I absolutely have no idea what you’re talking about. So please sit so we can get started and I don’t lose my job” Amanda said, lying through her teeth she pushed Emily down on the chair oblivious to her complaints.“You know this interview is going to be live” Amanda said, running her hands through Emily’s soft hair and she whipped around
“How could you do this to me Emily! I trusted you” Ethan thundered and without waiting for a response he stormed out of the studio leaving Emily behind staring shocked at his retreating figure with the cameras blaring directly in her face. Her fingers began to tremble as she realized that she was all alone with just the interviewer’s wide eyes staring back at her, with just the next question hanging on the tip of her tongue.She wanted to leave, to run away but how could she do that when the whole crew stared at her, with expectant faces waiting for her to admit it or deny it but how could she do either with the lump formed in her throat, her heart pounding and her vision doubling.“Is that true Emily? Is your child really for Jackson Hatton, your husband’s younger brother?” the interviewer asked me now.“Are you going behind your husband’s back?”Emily swallowed hard, she was resolved to speak only the words were stuck in her throat and beads of perspiration formed on her forehead.T
Emily stood, her feet frozen to the ground and her eyes wide with shock as she took the girl in. Tall, blonde and pretty like a model she couldn’t compete with.“You must be the girlfriend” Avery sneered and Emily was unsure what to respond to that until she saw Jackson in her line of vision, staring at her but she couldn’t decipher his expression. Was he angry, sad or was that a hint of cockiness she could see on his face.“What are you doing here?” he asked her and Emily’s heart began to pound and Jackson spoke again“Shouldn’t you be on a live interview with your husband?”“Oh she’s married?” Avery sounded now“After spending the night with your bodyguard” Jackson added now and Emily stepped forward, desperate and frantic, in a bid to explain herself“That’s not true, I didn’t do that. How could you even believe that Jackson?”“I don’t even know what to believe anymore Emily, especially when it comes to you?”“I didn’t do anything, you of all people should know that Jackson. I can’
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
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