Unexpected Journeys

"I loved it! Another one!" Lisa exclaimed, then let out a big yawn.

Emmy sighed, feeling her energy drain away. She was on the verge of collapsing, completely worn out. Lisa was exhausting her last reserves of patience. After school, Emmy had stayed back for extra classes with Lisa, but the little girl had refused to do her math problems. To motivate her, Emmy had promised to tell her a story if she completed them.

That had been three stories ago, and Lisa still wasn't ready to stop.

Emmy rubbed her aching temples and said with a polite but firm tone, "Darling, you look tired now. Why don't you retire for the day? I need to head home too."

"But—" Lisa began, only to be interrupted by a deep, magnetic voice.

"Miss Emerald is right, Lisa. You should go to bed now, or you'll miss school tomorrow," David said as he entered the room, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Emmy rolled her eyes. Of all the people in the house, why was he the one showing up to rescue her? She couldn't help but muse at the irony.

"Alright, fine, I'll go now," Lisa said with a pout. She stood up reluctantly, gave Emmy a quick hug, and began packing her things, her disappointment evident in her slow steps as she left the room.

David silently made his way to the couch opposite and sat down while Emmy looked flustered at his piercing gaze, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. Why did he make her feel so uncomfortable she thought?

"Lisa is very lucky to have you," David said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of sincerity that made Emmy uneasy. She stared at him, unsure how to respond, her thoughts a jumble.

Standing nearby, Titan, David's trusted assistant, observed the interaction with curiosity. Who is this young woman, and why does the boss seem so captivated by her? He mused silently.

"Yeah," Emmy finally managed to reply, her tone hesitant. "But she can be a bit stubborn sometimes." She stood up abruptly, beginning to gather her belongings, ready to make her exit.

Noticing her discomfort and guessing David's unspoken intentions, Titan stepped in smoothly. "Ms. Peterson, why don't you stay over for dinner?" he said with a polite smile. "And since you seem to be friends with the young master, he'll surely appreciate the company."

David shot Titan a silent look of gratitude, mentally noting to reward his quick thinking.

Before Emmy could object, Titan smoothly interjected, leaving her little room to refuse. "Madam specifically mentioned that whenever you visit, you shouldn't leave without having a proper meal. Lisa is very close to you, and the family considers you one of their own," he said with a warm yet persuasive tone.

The "Madam" he referred to was none other than Diamond Rosewood, the matriarch of the household—a woman Emmy deeply respected.

However, Emmy couldn't shake the thought: Since when did David and I become friends?

"My friend will be waiting for me," she finally managed to say, her voice hesitant as she sought an excuse to leave.

This time, David stood, his presence commanding yet calm. With his hands casually tucked in his pockets, he spoke, his tone gentle but firm. "Then you can text her and let her know you'll be having dinner here. Consider it my way of thanking you for spending your precious time with Lisa when you could have been relaxing at home."

Before Emmy could protest further, Titan quickly added, "I'll arrange the dinner." His tone was polite yet decisive, ensuring that Emmy had no choice but to accept the invitation.

Realizing it would be impolite to refuse any longer, Emmy sighed in resignation. She glanced at David, who gestured for her to follow him, and silently trailed behind him toward the dining room.

As the chef finished arranging the dishes on the table, he took a full five minutes to explain each one in detail. Emmy couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Are we at a five-star hotel? Do they always get a lecture before their meals? She mused.

To her surprise, as if the chef had read her thoughts, he addressed her directly. "Since I wasn't familiar with Ms. Emerald's preferences, I wanted to provide an explanation," he said with a slight bow before stepping back.

David nodded in acknowledgment, dismissing the chef, while Emmy tried her best to mask her amusement.

Thankfully, Titan joined them at the table, ensuring that Emmy wouldn't feel too out of place in such a formal setting. It seemed like a small gesture, but Emmy appreciated it, even though the atmosphere still felt a bit overwhelming.

The room was quiet, save for the soft clinking of cutlery against plates.

"You've got a good chef; I'm impressed," Emmy finally said, breaking the silence.

David offered a small smile. "Then you should consider having meals here more often, Ms. Emerald," Titan chimed in smoothly, his tone light but encouraging.

"Thanks for the offer," Emmy replied with a polite smile. "And please, call me Emmy."

Titan nodded, acknowledging her request, while David suddenly realized he had neglected to properly introduce them. Clearing his throat, he said, "I apologize for not saying this earlier. Titan, this is Emerald Peterson—Lisa's teacher. And Emmy, this is Titan, my trusted right-hand man."

Titan chuckled softly at David's phrasing. "Nice to meet you, Titan," Emmy said warmly.

"The pleasure's mine," Titan replied with a friendly nod. The atmosphere lightened slightly, making the dinner feel less formal and more comfortable.

The rest of the dinner passed in comfortable silence, save for the occasional clink of cutlery. When the plates were cleared and they were served green tea, David finally broke the quiet.

"Tell me about yourself, Emmy," he said, his gaze steady and focused on her.

Emmy paused, feeling slightly taken aback by the directness of his question. Across the table, Titan masked a knowing smirk. What could you possibly want to know now? You've already dug up her entire background, he thought to himself.

Titan had come across the files earlier and immediately recognized Emmy from the picture and name. Though he wasn't privy to all the details, he knew enough to be intrigued by David's interest.

Emmy stirred her tea thoughtfully, choosing her words carefully. "There's not much to tell, really. I'm a teacher. I enjoy working with kids like Lisa—they're the reason I love what I do." She offered a small smile, though she couldn't shake the feeling that David's question carried more weight than mere curiosity.

David nodded, his expression unreadable, while Titan sat back, silently observing the unfolding conversation with growing interest.

"Do you mind us being friends?" David asked suddenly, his tone steady but with a hint of something deeper.

Friendship was a modest start—it wasn't really what he wanted, but he knew better than to leap straight to something more. Relationships, after all, were built step by step.

Titan, observing the scene, couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight of his usually composed boss treading so carefully. Quickly covering his amusement with a cough, he thought, since when did he start pursuing women? And in such an old-fashioned way?

Emmy, however, didn't catch Titan's reaction. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, her face unreadable, and her thoughts spinning.

"Friends?" she finally said, her tone neutral, as though weighing the idea. For a moment, the air was thick with anticipation, David's gaze unwavering as he waited for her response.