Will’s eyes went wide. His eyebrows shot into his hairline. They stared at each other for a few seconds. Emma knew exactly that it was a steep price for just one night. But she had no choice.“Why not? This night has been strange enough,” Will said. He got up from the bed, still very naked. He laughed as Emma looked away.Emma felt her face flush. Rough fingers gripped her chin, and Will pulled her face so that she was looking up at him. The danger is his eyes was back. A violent storm raged in them, and Emma found herself wishing she’d been caught in that storm rather than the one she ran through yesterday. “So, Emma,” he inched closer to her face. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?” he smirked, hot breath hitting her ear.Emma wanted to slap the smug smile off of his face.“I don’t understand why that matters,” she managed to whisper. As much as she hated it, her body responded to his in a way she couldn’t control. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?” He ignored her question.“Y.
“What could possibly be taking them so long?” Will asked. He paced back and forth in the salon. Jason had picked a striking Yves Saint Laurent suit. This is why Will came here. Jason was the absolute best stylist in the city, and he was discreet. He supposed he’s presented him with quite a task this time. Emma wasn’t ugly, he’d seen all of her last night. But she wasn’t his usual type at all. She didn’t stand out. *Probably because she doesn’t want to,* Will laughed to himself.“Ahem!” Jason announced with fanfare. “I present the Lady Emma Skye Wells!” He pulled back the curtain and revealed the new and approved Emma. Will stood up at the sight of her. Her once matted, disheveled hair was swept into a sophisticated low bun. Her ruined clothes were replaced with a chic skirt suit. The skirt hugged her curves. The emerald hue against the olive tones of her skin made her glow. Will was enchanted her with her. “She is dressed in an exquisite viridian Givenchy skirt suit that has been
Emma walked until she couldn’t see the hotel anymore. What had she done? The last 24 hours had been the most bizarre of her life. She slept with a man for money. How could she do something like that?“You’ve got to get over this,” she said to herself. “You’ve got to move on.”A reflection from a store window caught her attention. It was a beautiful, elegant woman dressed in luxury brand clothes. But she carried an old bag stuffed with old clothes. Emma decided she had to change out of those clothes. That elegant woman was someone else. Someone she didn’t want to be. She ran into a store and into their restroom. Emma ripped the clothes from her body. They were another reminder of what she’d done and she just wanted this day to go away. Jason had done her a favor and had her clothes washed. After she changed, Emma washed the makeup off and removed her jewelry. She released her hair from the tight bun, and threw it up in a messy ponytail. “There,” she said as she smiled at her reflecti
Matt and Vivian were viciously making out.“Of course, they’re here right now,” Sabrina said with disgust.“Come on, guys. Let’s get out of here,” Emma turned to leave, but Jess and Sabrina stopped her. “Excuse me,” Jess called. “You are in my booth. Get the fuck out. Unless you want to continue to give us a live show.”Matt and Vivian stopped and tried to gather themselves.“Excuse me,” Vivian mocked. “This is a private moment.”“Not in my reserved VIP booth, it’s not.”Their argument was started to gain the attention of the people around them. Emma wanted to hide, but Jess and Sabrina had no plans of backing down.“Get your cheating ass out of our booth,” Sabrina threatened. “We were here first,” Vivian taunted.“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you busy?” Sabrina ridiculed her. “Busy getting it on with my girl’s sloppy ass seconds? What does he taste like?”“Probably like last week’s nasty leftovers,” Jess answered. “Everyone knows Vivian is only interested in everyone’s trash. She’s not good
“An accident?” Emma’s lungs deflated and she felt her heart clunk to a stop. “Get to the hospital now!” Jane repeated, and hung up the phone. The next few moments were a blur. Emma almost dashed out the door, but realized she was still in her club clothes and slept in make-up. She shed off last night’s armor and threw on an old t-shirt and pair of sweatpants. She was a whirlwind of anxiety and panic as she tore through her room, and then out of the door. “Please go faster,” she urged the cab driver. Feverish hands wiped the make-up off her face with an old make-up wipe at the bottom of her purse. She may look like a mess, but at least she didn’t look like last night’s mess. The hospital seemed like it was light years away. No matter how fast she implored the driver to go, she never seemed to get close enough. After what seemed like an eternity, Emma leapt from the car and flew into the hospital’s ER. Jane and Anna were sitting in the waiting room. Before she could approach them, Ja
The scent of his cologne almost overpowered her. But her mind was suddenly sober. *No. She couldn’t do this.* “No…not that!” She pushed him away instantly. “I…I was thinking maybe I could work for you? Be a… a housekeeper in your home or something? I could work for free until I’ve paid the debt off.“Ugh,” Will scoffed. “There is a fleet of the best trained housekeepers and chefs in my home. I have no use for you in that capacity. There are…other ways in which you could serve me,” he suggested.“I thought you said I wasn’t good… at that,” she grumbled. He chuckled at her shyness.“Then learn,” he said, backing her into the wall again. He towered over her. She craned her head back as far as it would go to look him in the eye. Emma wanted to be defiant, but didn’t have the energy. “No one is great at it their first time. But I… did appreciate your eagerness.” He trailed his finger along her jawbone with a smirk. “With some proper training, I think you could be quite good.”“Get off
The en-suite was different from when she had first encountered it. Nothing about the room itself had changed. She wasn’t the same person she was when she been first acquainted with this space. The garden tub invited her in. After the last two days, she could certainly use it. Will wasn’t due for a while yet, so she figured she should take her time. The overwhelming number of knobs and dials weren’t going to intimidate her this time. She poured copious amounts of bath oils and bath salts to the tub, and opened the faucets.“Ha,” she chuckled to herself. “That wasn’t so hard.” Her body melted once she climbed in to her fragrant, heated sanctuary. Every time she thought she had overcome her problems, life threw more at her. First she needed $50,000 because her step mother had sold her. Now, it was more money than she ever dreamed of owing anyone. A pang of guilt sprang in her chest. Her father had gotten into the accident because he wanted to see her. Had she been a better daughte
“Start by dropping that fear. Give in your body. Give in to what you want, Emma.” The way he said her name unleashed something within her. Nothing existed outside of this room. “Could you take off your clothes?” Emma asked. “You’re going to have to do better than that. This is the only night you get to tell me what to do. You may not even get the whole night.” “Take off your clothes. Now,” Emma said with a more demanding tone. Will smiled and leaned back. He straddled her. “Undress me,” he commanded. Emma sat up and with trembling fingers began to fumble with his buttons. “Why are you trembling?” “I’m still nervous,” Emma said. “Don’t lie. Why are you trembling?” Emma looked at him, her eyes dark with lust. She didn’t understand why she felt so shameful saying these things out loud. She wanted to cry out that she couldn’t do this. Her mind and body were at odds with each other. Her mind cried about how wrong this was. Her body cried out with wanton
Six months later “Stewart Industries Landmark building construction was completed today. The twenty-story building boasts retail, commercial, and event space. The impressive building has already become a hallmark of the city with a silver tower as its crown. Glass windows glisten in the sun. And anyone in the city can enjoy the gorgeous public park that surrounds it. It is a gorgeous and shining collaboration of the best and freshest minds in the city. William Stewart has named the structure, ‘The Conrad Tower,’ in honor of his beloved late grandfather. The city awaits now for the building to open and for all the new opportunities it will create. This has been Susanne Winters for Channel 16 news.” They all cheered and toasted the completion of the building, gathered around Will and Emma’s living room. “Here’s to The Conrad Tower!” Will raised his glass. “And to all the people that helped make it possible! I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you all. Thank you.” They raised
The high from the success of the show had worn off, and Will felt himself spiraling. His pulse quickened; a sheen of cold sweat sprouted on his forehead. He held it together the best he could while around others. But alone, with nothing but his memories to accompany him… it was always the worst.As he arrived home and prepared himself for another lonely night, he was greeted by something unexpected. A large truck was parked in front of his home. Men moved in and out of it, bringing things inside.“…The fuck?” he muttered as he parked his car. “Excuse me,” he called out to them. “This is my home. What are you doing here?”“I hired them,” a voice said from the doorway of the house. He looked over towards the familiar voice, not daring to believe it. But there she was, bathed in the light from inside the house. “Hi, Will. I’m sorry if I startled you, but I w
Their days were filled with appointments. Every time they turned around, there was somewhere to be. Will had been discharged and had the company to take care of. With the building finally underway, Stewart Industries was thriving again. It was a rare moment that he got time to himself. And even when he did, everyone else was busy with their own hectic lives. Will floated around his giant, empty home. He went to work, came home, did his physical therapy exercises, and went to sleep. Alone. He found, in recent days, that alone was not a good place for him to be. Nightmares plagued his sleep, and he jumped at the slightest noises. Monsters had moved from under the bed and in the shadows to inside his mind.He hated it.Emma hadn’t been able to make good on her promise to move back. Things were hectic, and no one had time for anyone anymore. It had been almost two weeks before he saw anyone. They all called and messaged each other, but it wasn&rs
Will’s recovery was slow. The doctors had informed him that taking that bullet as such close range did a lot of damage, but it was the reason he wasn’t dead as nothing major was hit. He wasn’t out of the woods yet and would need a good round of physical therapy. The medical staff agreed that he needed to stay in the hospital for at least a week so they could monitor him. Emma and Alex fussed over him, making sure he listened and did everything according to the doctor’s orders.On the fourth day, he was restless and just wanted to leave. Alex was in the room with him, telling him off for not listening.“You’re being a brat,” Alex scolded him.“I just want to get out of this bed,” Will whined.“Try getting out again, and I’ll break both your legs.”“How very Mafia of you,” Will smirked.“Shut up,” Alex swatted at
Chaos exploded around them. Shouts and screams filled the air as Captain Whitlock ordered that Ghost be apprehended and an ambulance be called. Ghost dropped his gun and raised his hand in surrender as his fantasy came to life right before his eyes.“Beautiful!” he said over the din. “It’s more beautiful than I could ever imagine.”“Shut up,” Captain Whitlock spat as he wrenched Ghost’s hands behind his back. “You’re going to go away for a very long time. They may even make a case for the death penalty against you.”“I hope they do,” he said with a contented sigh. “I’ve done all I have ever wanted to do.”“Take this vile piece of shit. And read him his rights. This arrest needs to be perfect. I swear if this fucker gets out on a technicality, I’ll fire the lot of you!”An officer took Ghost a
Will turned around and the world moved in slow motion around him. About ten feet away from them, there he stood. Ghost. Denis. The man responsible for all the pitfalls in his life stood ten feet away from them, the sunlight glinting off the barrel of an ornate silver gun. How could he have been so careless?“Surprise,” Ghost sang.“How…” Will began to ask.“How did I get so close?” Ghost finished. “Without anyone noticing. Hmm…” he used the gun to scratch his temple for a moment and then pointed it back at them. “I’m the monster in the dark. The one under your bed. The one your parents warn you about. Oh wait… your parents wouldn’t warn you about anything. They’ve been trying to sacrifice you to the darkness for years,” he said with feigned contrition.“What do you want?” Will asked. His eyes darted around, looking for
They really thought they were smart, huh? They thought he would fall for their little traps. However, he couldn’t deny that they had presented him with the perfect opportunity. Will was serving himself on a silver platter. It would be so easy to just take care of him then. His ultimate fantasy could play out the way he’d always dreamt of. The very public murder of William Stewart was just something he couldn’t pass up.What reason was there even to hide anymore? They had revealed his identity. Everyone knew who he was. So, what purpose did the shadows serve him anymore? Perhaps it was time to come out into the light and end this charade. His last card against Will had been used up. He’d run out of games.“Let’s play,” he chuckled, loading his gun. “No plans. No backups. This is it.” His heart raced with elation as he envisioned a bullet ripping through Will. Hearing his loved ones cry as his body crump
The interview was a smash. The city was on high alert, and Ghost’s name was on everyone lips. The few times Sabrina went out, it’s all she could hear anyone talk about. She couldn’t help but feel a little proud. Captain Whitlock received dozens of calls and tips. Many people said how they knew Denis, and how there was no way he could be Ghost.Others said that they’re surprised they never saw the signs. Some offered clues and places that Denis used to frequent. He traipsed the city, following these clues. Most led to nothing. Just traces of an old that Ghost himself probably wouldn’t recognize. But there was one call…“Um… hi. Is this Captain Whitlock?” It was hesitant man’s voice.“Yes, how can I help you?”“I’m calling about Denis Ratcliffe.”Captain Whitlock received so many of these calls he was numb to them.
Will let the water wash over him as he tried to steady his frenzied heartbeat. The truth was that they were terrified. For Ghost to be so brazen as to just waltz into the police station and open fire did not bode well for any one of them. It was clear that Ghost was just as ready to end this as they were. He leaned his forehead against the cold tile, letting the rhythmic beating of the water of against his back soothe him.Soon enough, a shower wouldn’t be such an event. At least not the ones he took alone, anyway. Steam rolled off of skin as he emerged from the shower. Emma had laid out some clothes for him. Just a white t-shirt a pair of gray sweatpants. He laughed. Now that he was free and clean, he wanted to hold his baby.He went downstairs, back to the dining room where everyone was gathered.“Where is Lizzie?” he asked.“Right here,” Emma said. She stood behind him, holding a