CHAPTER 5

A MYSTERIOUS GIFT

The drive to the Knights Mansion was in awkward silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, Emily had agreed to just stay in the Knights family house, no dramatic reason behind that decision. As they pulled up to the gates, Emily could really see the house in all its glory and she made a side note in her head that it was maybe bigger than her own house. Multiple staff already lined up to greet them as they stepped down from the car.

“Welcome home, Mr and Mrs. Knight.” The head butler said as he bowed lightly.

Emily offered him and everyone else a forced smile. “Thank you.” But the word ‘home’ felt exaggerated in her head.

James walked inside and Emily followed behind him, everything was just as she imagined and more, the halls screamed luxury and it looked like they were recently polished, the chandeliers shined brightly and the air so cold, it mirrored the life she had just signed up for.

“I guess this is my home now.” Emily said quietly, finally breaking the silence.

“We're going to make it work Emily, that's what we've been doing up until now.”

James said with his usual confidence.

“Are we really? Or we're just going to keep on playing the roles we were assigned to? Because i don't even know who you are James” Emily fired back sharply.

“There's nothing magical about knowing me Emily, it doesn't change a thing.” James replied coldly.

“Let me show you to your room.”

She followed him upstairs where he stopped in front of separate rooms not knowing if she should feel offended or relieved.

“This is where you'll be staying.” He said pointing to one of the doors.

“And where's yours?” She asked way too eager, getting a weird look from James.

“Mine is down the hall to your right.” He answered. “I figured you'd want your space.”

“Thank you.” Stepping into her room but before she closed the door, James put a leg in between them, blocking her.

“If you're uncomfortable at all, just say the word, I've told my parents not to disturb you, I promise you're not going to see them unless it's a necessity.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate that.” She said as she stepped in the room.

He was not as bad as she had heard.

**********

Later that night, a staff member had left Emily's room, after bringing her some comfortable clothes and something to eat. She had eaten, folded her gown neatly by the side of the large bed and changed into a robe but the events of that day was still playing on repeat in her mind. She could not believe she was married now, it was a marriage of convenience but she was married nonetheless. She opened the door to her room to go downstairs because there was nothing for her to do here, but she found James in the hallway with a loose tie but some article of his clothing was still present, he was debating whether to knock or not.

Before either of them could speak, a knock came from the main door downstairs. James frowned slightly. “At this hour?”

Both of them looked at each other before descending downstairs together.

They found the butler holding a small but elegant box. “This just arrived sir, and it's addressed to the newlyweds. Sir, ma'am.” He bowed slightly before leaving them.

As the door shut closed, Emily hugged herself. “What's in it?”

James opened the box and its contents spilled to the floor. Emily looked down and saw a picture of her and James earlier that day, with their orchestrated smiles, smiling widely at the camera. She picked it up and turned to James, but it was a note in James's hand that caught her attention.

“Congratulations on your wedding Mr. and Mrs. Knight. Too bad it's all built on lies, let's see how long you can keep up this performance.”

–A Friend.

Emily's heart raced as she grabbed the note from James hands, she gave it a scrutinising look. “Who would send something like this? Does this mean this person knows something?”

James' jaw clenched. “I don't know who would do something like this, but we have to figure this out.”

Emily could feel her head spinning, her mind took her back to the man she and James saw at the reception. “Do you remember that man? The one who was staring at us not so subtly at the reception and even that day at the meeting? And what did you mean when you said ‘I think we have a problem.’

James' expression darkened. “Yes, I do. I thought he was just another nosy guest but I recognised him. He had a failed business with my father years ago.”

“What do you mean by failed business?” Emily said as her voice broke.

“I don't know all the details, but it was really messy.”

**********

The next morning, Emily and James were called down for breakfast, where a laid variety was waiting for them. The tension between them was so thick, you could use a knife to cut through it. But the events of last night forced them to speak.

“We need to talk.” Emily said as she looked at James from across the table.

James poured himself a cup of coffee, his movements calculated and precise. “Yes we do, but I need to make something clear, we can't let anyone know about this, not Cassandra and Bradley, not even our families, we have to figure this out on our own.”

Emily hesitated before speaking again. “I understand our family, but you're telling me to keep secrets from Cassie? She's my best friend.”

James sighed heavily. “This is for her protection Emily, we don't know what's at stake here. We can't guarantee the safety of our friends if we bring them into this.”

Emily narrowed her eyes. “Alright, so we're on the same side?”

“We are, whether you like it or not Emily, we have to do this together. I think someone is intentionally trying to sabotage us, we need to find out who.and stop them.” He said.

She wanted to argue further but she knew he was right. They needed to do this without involving loved ones.

“Fine, but on one condition.”

James raised his eyebrows. “Which is?”

Emily sat up in her chair, facing James with a straight look. “No more excluding me from anything, I need to know everything about you and your family, whatever secret it is you seem to be hiding.”

“Fair enough, but that applies to you too, Mrs. Knight.” James said with a smirk.

“Deal.”

**********

Days later, Emily and James settled into investigating each guest on their wedding list.

“Look at this.” Emily said one evening, showing James a picture and a name. “Evans Royce, he's not on any of our family's list of friends, how did he get into the venue?”

“That's him.” James said as wheels began to turn in his head. “I remember him clearly now.”

“He's our first lead.” Emily said.

“You're not as I expected.” James said, giving Emily a look.

“You too, but that doesn't mean I trust you yet.”