CHAPTER SIX

Emily stared intently at Logan as he tapped his screen. Lost in the conversation he was having, with whoever he was texting, with a goofy smile on his face. While, when he spoke to her, he always had a fierce look on his face.

“Why didn’t you come clean when I asked you, if you were related to the miller’s?” Emily blurted out as she crossed her arms.

“I felt It was  irrelevant since that family abandoned me and my mother.” Logan shrugged half-heartedly without taking his eyes off his phone.

Emily looked away, trying to get hold of the anger stirring through her body.

“But you almost made a fool out of me at the fundraiser.” Emily said, with accusation in her voice.

 “Get over it, then.” He answered in a flat voice.

Emily scoffed. "Would your mother mind that you married me without letting her know?”

“You don’t have to worry about that because she’s dead.”

Emily caught her breath in shock, pressing her hands to her mouth. “Oh my god, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“Look, you did a convincing job tonight playing the role of my beloved wife. Don’t ruin it.”

Emily quickly looked over at the driver, alarmed that he might overhear what Logan had said.

“Why don’t you tell the entire world why you are at it.” she hissed.

“I trust him more than I trust you,” Logan replied blandly.

Emily clenched her fist so tight that her fingernails bit into her palms. As she wondered why she was mad at what he said. She took in a calming breath.

“Is there any other family I need to know?” She asked with a pinched expression.

“None you should concern yourself with.”

“I hate being blind-sided. If there are any other surprises, this is your time to come clean with it.”

But he ignored her and kept typing on his phone. Emily leaned over and snatched his phone.

“I am talking to you and you are ignoring me …Who are you even chatting with?” Emily asked as she spied the contact saved as Julie with a heart emoji. 

“Hand it over, now.” Logan demanded as he stretched out his hand.

“She is even asking to see you,” Emily said, going through his chat. “You are such a hypocrite.”

“Give the phone to me. "

“No! Not after you answer my question. Does she know about me?”

“I won’t repeat myself, Emily,” Logan said through clenched teeth.

“You know what…” Emily flung Logan's phone out the window. "You are the scum of the earth. "

Logan squeezed his eyes shut, veins straining against his temple.

“Stop the car.” Logan barked at the driver.

The driver quickly stepped on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. Jerking them forcefully forward. Logan leaned over and opened Emily's side of the door.

“Step out of the car right now!” Logan growled.

 Emily drew a deep, harsh breath. Refusing to get out of the car. Logan came out of the car and grabbed Emily by her arm, squeezing her arm to the point of bruising it. Dragging her out of the car.

“No!” Emily screamed.

 She tried resisting, but lost her footing and fell to the ground, bruising her knee. Logan didn’t spare her a glance and walked back to the car, shutting the car door.

“Drive,” Logan instructed the driver.

“But sir, it isn’t safe to leave madam out there,” the driver interjected.

“Do you want to lose your job? Fucking drive,”

***

Emily watched as the car put distance from her. At least I have my phone, Emily thought as she reached for her purse, which Logan threw out the window as the car drove off.

“What a brute.” Emily muttered as she stood up, wincing in pain. She noticed that she might have sprained an ankle.

She bent down to remove her heels. Emily looked around and noticed that there was a bar across the street, which was still open. It was much safer to be in a bar than to walk alone on the road; she concluded. Lost in thought, Emily bumped into a stranger, losing grip on her purse.

“So sorry.” Emily said as she bent to retrieve her purse.

“Emily?” the stranger called her name tentatively.

It was a voice Emily would never forget. She looked up with surprise.

“Noah! What are you doing here?” Emily asked.

“I could ask you the same. Where are you headed?” he chuckled.

“I am heading back to the bar.” Emily pointed.

“Are you kidding? Dressed like that?”

 Pointing at her black dress so long that if she didn’t hold some of the fabric, it would sweep the road.

“I went to a fundraiser.” Emily replied, feeling the need to explain herself.

“Now that explains the outfit. Do you mind if I join you?”

“I could use some distraction.”

 “You must be cold.”

Noah removed his jacket and placed them on her shoulder, before she could object. The warmth in the jacket sipped into her skin. As she hugged herself.

“Thank you,” she whispered

He gestured with his hand. “After you.”

She went ahead, limping.

Noah stopped her. “Is your foot okay?”

“I sprained my ankle.” Emily smiled and waved it off.

“You need to take the pressure off your injured foot. I can carry you,” Noah began fusing over Emily.

Emily's smile morphed to grimace and said, “seriously, I am fine. I just need a drink, and a good company, and you are already doing that for me.”

Noah nodded his head, not wanting to pry. He pushed the door to the bar open and let Emily through before letting the door shut behind him and found them a table. Then he signaled the server to get their drinks.

“I thought you were still studying abroad. When did you come back?” Emily asked while they waited for their drinks.

“A few months back.” Noah replied.

“Wow…” Emily looked at him and looked away. "And you didn’t bother to call me”

“Years have passed, Emily. I didn’t know if you were still mad at me. with the way I left things.”

She lowered her head with a heavy sigh. "We were kids then. It would be childish of me to still hold a grudge.”

“You can’t be too careful.”