Chapter 15

  Emily walked into the company with two paper cups of fresh hot coffee–One for her, the other for Ava. 

  She stumbled but caught herself just in time before any of the coffee could spill. 

  

   Unfortunately, she couldn't save her phone in time.

  She picked up the fallen phone with a sigh and began inspecting it for any damage. 

    Distracted, she barely gave her surroundings a glance. 

   The next moment, she felt herself bumping into a wall and down went the two cups.

  Emily watched in horror as the coffee spilled on the figure’s hand—down to his suit and Italian shoe.

  She yelped in horror, also expecting the victim of her carelessness to scream in pain but was met with silence.

   Her eyes sought the identity of this superhero while she began to ramble out an apology.

  “I am so…” the words froze mid air as her eyes settled on his face.

   She was fucked!

  Emily lost her tongue and a wave of cold nervousness drenched her.

   For a second he remained still, glaring at her with looks that could suck the life out of anyone.

  Chris prayed to the heavens for a miracle while he also cursed Emily for always being unlucky.

  The morning had begun well for once in a long time and she had to come out of nowhere to ruin it. 

  Without a doubt, she was going to die and he was going to spend the rest of the day dealing with the consequences of her clumsiness.

 

   “Are you crazy?” Alex’s tone was calm but his eyes burned with angry flames.

   Emily shivered in fear.

  “I'm…I’m…I'm..sor” she stammered in a tiny voice.

  “Can't you do one thing in your life without getting into an accident? Why do I always have the unfortunate luck of running into you? Do you always have to be so fucking useless that you can't do one thing right?” 

   She tried to speak at the end of his ramblings but he beat her to it with a chuckle.

  “Heck, what am I saying?  You couldn't even do your husband right. That's why he left you for your sister.” 

   Chris felt his mouth fall upon while Emily’s heart froze as the words pierced through her.

  Even when they walked away with Chris mouthing an apology, she remained unable to move. 

   She didn't know how many minutes she stood still but the arrival of other colleagues snapped her out of it.

    

  Someone asked if she was fine and all she could was nod in a daze while trying to locate her office.

  How could someone be so cruel? 

  She asked herself over and over again. 

  It took the entire work day for her to finally recover from his words and she promised herself she was going to avoid Alex from then on.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

    “Emily, Em. Where are you?” Ava’s voice rang through their apartment.

  Emily quickly gulped down juice she was drinking and yelled back.

  “I'm here.” 

 

   A few seconds later, Ava cheerfully stormed into the kitchen.

   “Hey you, so I just got off the phone with Alex. We're having dinner at his place today.” 

   Emily's spine stiffened.  

  “We?” She muttered in a low tone of disbelief.

  An oblivious Ava helped herself to a glass of juice.

 “Yeah, he's got this amazing chef. The food is literally to die for!” 

  The day's encounter flashed through Emily’s mind.

   “I think I'd rather stay home. I know your brother’s not keen on strangers. I don't want to intrude.” 

  Ava waved her off. “Nonsense, a friend of mind is a friend of Alex.” 

  ‘Not really.’ Emily thought to herself.

  “Trust me, he's not gonna mind and besides Ezra’s coming over.” Ava added with a slight blush.

   “Who's Ezra?” Emily tried to ask but her friend was already zooming out of the kitchen while screaming,

  “Dress nice. We leave by six.” 

  With a deep sigh, Emily crunched over the counter already envisioning that awaited her.

        She didn't know what she was expecting but Emily didn't expect a black luxury mansion.

  “We're here!!” Ava announced as she killed the engine and leapt out of the car.

   Emily froze in her seat, dreading to step out of the car.

   “What are you waiting for? C’mon.” Ava yelled, snapping her out of it.

  With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and hastily walked after her friend.

  The automatic doors opened as soon as they got close to it.

  The interior of the mansion was black and dark with very little lightning.

  Ava caught the look on her friend’s face.

  “My brother has a thing for darkness.” 

  ‘Yeah! Because his school is dark.”Emily whispered under her breath.

  “Did you say something?”

  Emily quickly smiled. “No,” 

   Chris couldn't have chosen a better time to arrive.

  “Miss Ava, looking beautiful as always.” 

   Ava smiled widely, “Thank you chris.” 

  As she took off her coat, he immediately helped her with it.

   His eyes settled on Emily with a hint of surprise as he also grabbed her coat.

  

  She murmured “Thank you.” 

  “Where’s my brother?” Ava asked,

  “In the dining area, dinner’s been served.” 

 “Thank God!! I'm starving.” She grabbed her friend “C’mon let's go.” 

    “Ava, slow down” said Emily as Ava hastily dragged her along.

  Immediately, Ava lightened her steps with an apology. 

  Finally, they made it to the dining table where Alex was already seated with Ezra.

  Ezra regarded Emily with a hint of surprise which did not go unnoticed by her.

 Ava rushed towards her brother, hugging him from behind and planting a kiss on his cheek.

  “Hey handsome.” She murmured while tickling his waistline.

  To Emily's surprise, the corners of Alex’s lips went up in a smile.

   She couldn't believe Mr Dark Heart actually had the ability to smile.

  

   Ava let go of her brother and turned to Ezra.

  “Hey Ezra, it's been a min.” 

   Ezra scoffed. “A min? More like a decade. You're all grown up.” 

  Ava’s face lit up with a blush.

   She quickly took a seat beside her brother. 

“I hope you don't mind, I brought my friend.”

    As expected, Alex didn't look up from his plate and completely ignored her presence.

  Ava turned to Emily, “Don't mind my brother, he can be a snub. Help yourself.” 

  Emily took a seat beside Ezra as he offered her a smile. 

“Hi, I'm Ezra.” 

  

  Emily returned his smile. “Emily” 

  He nudged her. “C’mon, help yourself.” 

  She couldn't help but sneak a look at Alex who was smiling at his sister as she took some food off his plate.

 “I promise he's not going to bite. He's just a bit mean sometimes.” Ezra whispered.

  “Terrible monster, you mean.” the words were out because she could stop them.

  

  Thankfully it was only a whisper but she immediately whispered an apology to Ezra.

 He waved her off. “I have heard worse.” 

  Inching closer, he added. “ He sort of likes to act like a big bully but deep down, he's nothing but a big softie.” 

   Emily sneaked another look at him. 

  This time, Alex was staring back at her with what she could only describe as a death glare.

  She shivered, that was no Softie…