The Miller family had previously announced that if Emma would only break up with Nathan, she could return home at any time. It looks like she must have made up with them, he thought. He suddenly felt a sharp stab of regret for what he had lost. If he had only committed to Emma, if he’d been able to hold on for just a little bit longer and convince her to marry him, he could have lived on that private estate in Tribeca too.
In reality, Emma hadn’t been in touch with her family after leaving home, choosing Nathan and giving up on her career. All she wanted to do now was rely on her own abilities to return to the top of the entertainment industry. Then she’d be able to hold her head high and return home to apologize to her grandfather.
After hanging up with Ashley, Emma picked up the watering can again, but Eric didn’t want to let her go. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately, pouring his feelings into their embrace. Emma loved their kisses. Eric was so caring, so thoughtful. His charm and aura sparked her own passion. She dropped the watering can and wrapped her arms around him on the beautiful balcony surrounded by roses in bloom. She returned his passion, parting her lips to meet his.
Eric pressed into her, bracing his hands on the wall behind them as their kiss deepened. Emma felt her face warm as their kisses became more passionate. She delighted in the warmth coming off his body in waves and the feeling of his muscles tightening as he tried to resist being drawn in further. “If you keep resisting like that, will it be bad for you?” Emma whispered, her eyes twinkling like stars.
“What can I do? I kiss you every day, yet it’s never enough,” Eric reached out with his graceful fingers and gently traced her lips. “It’s like a drug. I’m completely addicted to you.” Emma nibbled softly on Eric’s fingers and then turned him around so that his back was towards the wall. “It’s the same for me. The more I tell myself to stop thinking about you, the more I end up thinking about you. Actually, the look on your face when you kiss me… can you see? You still exist. Having it all hold out for much longer, I want to taste all of you.”
Eric was tall and well-built, yet here he was being pressed against the wall as his slender wife tempted him. “A good wife wouldn’t tease me like that,” he said, his voice low and rumbling.
“A good husband wouldn’t seduce his wife and leave her unsatisfied,” she said in return. When Emma leaned in close and whispered seductively, “Will you show me that you’re mine?”
Eric looked at his beautiful wife, at this woman who was so gentle and calm with everyone else. She was driving him crazy with desire. He grabbed onto her waist and pulled her against his body so that she could feel his hardness. His voice husky with longing, he said, “I think about it and you all the time.” His next thoughts were unspoken though, as the intercom buzzed. Someone had arrived to see Emma.
They reluctantly pulled apart, both breathing heavily. Eric gently straightened out Emma’s clothes and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Go, we have all the time in the world to get this right. It changed and take care of yourself. You take one of the new cars.” She kissed him on the cheek as she went inside. “Thank you. Your support means the world to me.”
Nathan really did not want to see Emma. He was worried that seeing her would make him regret his missed opportunities even more. And now, as he pulled up outside her building and was asked to wait outside by security, he suddenly felt like he wasn’t anything special at all.
Ten minutes later, a bright red Ferrari pulled out of the alley and stopped right in front of Nathan. At first, Nathan didn’t notice Emma in the car. She’d never shown off in front of him before, out of fear of hurting his pride. She certainly didn’t need to worry about that any longer.
Emma lowered the window and turned her head to speak to Nathan. “Why are you looking for me?” she said coldly.
“Emma,” he said, feeling a pang of regret. He never thought she would be so much better off after leaving him. “What do you want?” she said in a straightforward, unemotional way.
“I need to talk to you about e-style magazine. Global’s already accepted the job for you, so you can’t just turn it down. You still have a contract with Global, and I’m still your boss. For the sake of the company, I’m willing to release a statement explaining that we broke up a long time ago. But you have to take this job.”
“I can’t,” Emma responded flatly. “I’ve already asked Ashley to reject all offers and spread the word that I’m sick.”
Nathan was enraged that she would be so selfish. “Don’t you have any respect for your obligations? We’re no longer in a relationship, but you can’t just do whatever you want. You know what’s in your contract. You have to accept all offers accepted on your behalf by Global. If you don’t, I can take you to court. Do you want that to happen?”
Emma didn’t care about the contract, but his threats made her even more resolved to make sure he would never benefit from her again. Her ultimate aim remained the same: to destroy Nathan and Amber completely. But perhaps now was the time to appear to be helpful.
“I already rejected the magazine offer, so there’s no turning back,” she responded with finality. “But I’ll help you out. You can go ahead and ask the team to give me the statement they prepared at next Wednesday’s event. I’ll make the announcement in public. Announcing it personally will have a better effect than issuing a written statement.”
Nathan’s expression warmed up a little, and he eventually nodded. “I guess that’s all we can do. But do you truly want to help the company clear things up, Nathan, even though you’ve been heartless towards me?”
“I’ll do what’s right,” Emma responded seriously. “I know Amber’s been forcing you all along.”
“Thank you, Emma.” He held her gaze for a moment, then he quickly drove away. He knew if he was to stay even a minute longer, he would start begging her to take him back.
Emma sat in the car for a while after watching Nathan drive off. She slowly began to smile. How could he not realize how unreasonable his requests were? He not only betrayed her, but now he was using her to clean up the relationship between him and Amber. Ashamed of himself.
