Unexpected Journeys

Was she invited to this dinner just to end up being friends with him? Emmy wondered, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. Ugh, why is this happening?

She didn't want to complicate her life by adding more people to it. Having Amy felt like having the whole world, and that was enough for her. But then again, David hadn't done anything to provoke her. If anything, he was being kind. It would be rude to outright reject his offer, especially with Titan present and after the warm reception his family had given her.

As long as Lisa is my student, I'll keep running into him anyway, she reasoned, trying to calm the whirl of thoughts in her head. Besides, friendship doesn't have to mean anything more… right?

But then a nagging thought crept in: What if he does want more later?

"Enough!" she thought, forcing herself to silence the chaos in her mind. She closed her eyes briefly, took a steadying breath, and opened them again.

"Sure, why not," Emmy said casually, her tone light as if the decision hadn't been weighing on her just moments ago.

David's lips curved into a satisfied smile, though he kept his excitement subdued. "I'm glad," he replied, leaning back in his seat with an air of ease.

Titan watched the exchange, amused by the subtle tension, but he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

…

That night, David insisted on having one of his drivers take Emerald home. The late hour and the thought of her waiting alone at a bus stop didn't sit well with him.

The next day was Saturday, and Emmy was deep in sleep when her phone began vibrating incessantly. The caller rang three times before she finally groggily picked up.

"Hmmmm," Emmy mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep as the call connected.

"Hello, Emerald, this is Alex speaking. I hope I didn't disturb you," came his calm, measured voice.

'Disturb? You woke me up from my sleep, you jerk,' Emmy grumbled inwardly. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and tried to shake off her grogginess.

"Hello, Alex. Is everything alright?" she asked, her husky voice betraying her annoyance.

"Yes, well, I've got the information you asked for," Alex replied, his tone steady and patient. "If it's not too much trouble, could we meet in person to discuss it?"

Silence filled the line as Emmy processed the request. She wasn't thrilled about leaving the comfort of her bed, especially so early.

"Alright," she finally said, though her reluctance was clear.

"Great. Let's meet at the same place as last time, in an hour," Alex said briskly before hanging up.

Emmy stared at the phone in disbelief. "He's too serious," she muttered to herself, reluctantly getting up to start her day.

On the other hand, David was seated in his office, a neatly arranged file open in front of him. Even on a Saturday, he couldn't afford to take a break—not when he had unfinished work from the previous night. Dinner with Emerald had left him unexpectedly drained, and for the first time, he had gone to bed without completing his tasks.

Titan, seated comfortably on the office couch, observed his boss with a knowing smirk. It was rare to see David deviating from his meticulous routine. "First time for everything, huh?" Titan quipped, unable to resist teasing.

David ignored him, tapping his finger thoughtfully on the table as he studied the file. It was Emerald's background information, the details he had specifically requested.

No family except for Amy, her best friend. A recently deceased grandmother. She was young—twenty-four—and, according to the report, hadn't been in any relationships.

David leaned back in his chair, the faintest trace of a smile playing on his lips. Younger than me, no strings attached. That's good, he thought, though the intensity of his focus betrayed deeper, more complex emotions.

Titan raised an eyebrow at David's silence. "You're overthinking again," he said lightly. "She's just a person, not a business deal."

David shot him a brief, pointed glance before returning his attention to the file. Just a person? Maybe. But not just anyone, he mused quietly.

"Good morning, Alex. I'm so sorry for troubling you," Emmy said as she sat across from him.

Alex offered her a polite smile. "Don't worry, it's my job. By the way, have you had breakfast? Order something first."

Emmy smiled back warmly. "Yeah, you know Amy is very thoughtful. She always makes sure I have my breakfast, so don't worry about me." She paused before adding, "I don't want to waste your plans for today."

Alex nodded, satisfied, and reached into his bag. He handed her a sleek tablet, the screen already displaying a document. "Here's everything I found."

Emmy took the tablet and began reading. For a moment, the world around her faded as she processed the information. Her expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief as the pieces of her father's life unfolded before her.

Alex studied her silently, giving her space while sipping his coffee. "Take your time," he said, his voice calm but attentive.

Tears welled up in Emmy's eyes as she finished reading. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the tablet down on the table, struggling to process everything she had just learned. This wasn't what she had expected—far from it.

"I'm… speechless," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Don't worry. I'm here to help. Just tell me what you need me to do."

"Really?" Emmy asked, her eyes searching his for confirmation, as if struggling to believe someone could genuinely be on her side.

He nodded firmly. "You might not know me well, but there's one thing you should know—I despise people who take what doesn't belong to them. Forcefully or otherwise."

Emmy blinked, the conviction in his voice anchoring her swirling emotions. She wiped her tears and gave a faint nod, silently acknowledging his words.

"Since you're working for me now, I'd like to know how I should pay you," Emmy said, her tone careful but sincere.

Alex chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "I'd like to be paid in something other than money."

Emmy blinked, caught off guard by his response. She had expected him to decline payment—perhaps with a polite wave of his hand or a straightforward statement. But this?

"What do you want then?" she asked, keeping her voice polite yet cautious.

Alex's expression softened, and a playful smile tugged at his lips. "I'll let you know when the time comes. Let's just say it's a favor I might need someday. Deal?"

Emmy raised an eyebrow, her mind racing. A favor? She hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright, deal. But I hope it's not something outrageous."

Alex grinned. "Don't worry, Emmy. I'm not that unreasonable."

"So, where do we start?" Alex asked, his expression shifting to a serious one, as though they were discussing an important business deal.

"We need to find the woman first," Emmy said, her gaze fixed on her lap. Her voice was steady, but her hands fidgeted slightly, betraying her nerves.

Alex leaned forward, his brows knitting together. "Hmm... But you know she's under his protection, right?" he asked, wanting to gauge how far Emmy was prepared to go. He needed to understand her priorities before deciding how to approach this delicately.

Emmy nodded slowly. "I know. That's why I want to start there. If we find her, maybe we'll understand why he made the choices he did."

Alex's gaze softened for a moment before he straightened up. "Alright. We'll start by digging into her connections. Let me handle the logistics, but I'll need you to stay focused. This won't be easy, Emmy."

She lifted her eyes to meet his, determination flickering beneath her unease. "I've waited too long to give up now, Alex. Let's do this."

Alex smirked faintly, impressed by her resolve. "Then we're on the same page. Let's get started."