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Fortunately, I don’t have to wait long.I hear her angry voice before she appears.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She bawls, her voice echoing. It bounces off the bare walls as she enters the room,
My eyes spring open and I lift my head to look at the gorgeous firecracker that’s oozing with anger. “What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about. I asked the nurse why I was rung so late, and she told me that you were the one that brought him in and you,” She points her finger in my direction, “you are his next of kin. What else don’t I know, Troy?”
I let out a sharp breath as I stand.
“You told me that the hospital rang you.” She adds. “Why can’t you tell me the truth? Is it too much to ask that even with my father lying there on his deathbed, you still can’t bring yourself to be honest with me.”
“It’s not like that, Em.” With tentative steps I move towards her, my hands held up in defence in front of me.“I swear to you…”
“Swear? You’re a liar. You’ve always been a liar. You couldn’t even lie straight in bed, Troy Parker!”
Her words go in one ear and out of the other. I don’t care. She can call me whatever name she wants; I know she’s hurting. With our bodies just centimetres apart. I know I could reach out to touch her, even pull her against me but I’m tired and with that weariness, my body sags. I only want to help her, if I can just show her… the sharp sting against my hand pulls me back. “I hate you.”
Those are literally the last words she said to me when she left for uni.
“Do you really mean that?” My pinched gaze collides with hers as the tears well in her eyes.
“Yes,” she sneers, her nostrils flaring in temper. “I do.”
We stand still for the longest time, staring at one another. Emily breaks first, glancing at her father in the bed, then clears her throat. “I’m going home. The nurses said there’s nothing else I can do here tonight; they’ll ring one of us when we can collect his belongings.”
She stalks around to the opposite side of the bed and kisses his forehead. “Bye, Daddy. I love you. I’m sorry we didn’t have more time together.” she stands up, her heartbreak is evident as tears stream down her face as she heads for the door.
“Emily, don't leave like this. Let me take you home.” I ask gently, walking back around the bed.
“No way.” she swipes the back of her hand across her cheeks.
“You can’t drive like that.” I add. Irritation lacing my tone. I’m worried about her. If she gets into a crash because she’s upset and it was me that let her drive away anyway, I’d never forgive myself.
“Why the hell do you care? What I do hasn't bothered you for ten years, why start acting like you do now?” She snaps, her eyes narrow.
I sweep up to her and stop within millimetres. “That’s where you're wrong. I know everything about you.” It’s probably wrong to say this, but here goes. “And I remember every little detail about you, Emily.” Not caring that she doesn’t want me touching her, I reach for her anyway and shift the hair that’s fell onto her face to tuck it behind her ear. Her head shifts from out of my reach, and my hand suspends in mid-air.
She lifts her chin, either she doesn’t hear what I said, or she’s ignoring it. I see that little twitch she always has when she’s being defiant and I know she’s just blanking me, “I’m arranging the funeral. At least give me that.”
Absentmindedly, I nod, reaching inside my jacket pocket and pull out a business card. “Take that. You can get me on either of those numbers. If you need money, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Ugh,” Her top lip curls, matching the scowl on her beautiful face. I can’t look away. “I don’t need your money.” She snatches the card from my fingers anyway. “I don’t need anything from you.” She snaps, spinning away from me and walks out. Her hips sway sexily, even in the casual attire she’s wearing. I wait until she’s disappeared around the corner before I turn back for one last look at Mitch.
“I promise I’ll look after her, Mitch.” On those final words I turn from him, leaving the room and nodding at the nurses, quietly thanking them as I walk past.
It doesn’t take muchfor my mind to flood with memories of Emily once I’m home and laid in bed. Reaching both of my hands up, my fingers cradle my head. I stare at the painting I bought recently. It hangs on the wall directly opposite my bed. I placed it there for a reason. So, every time I looked at it, I have a piece of Emily Lancaster. Another piece of her. God, as much as the hard-headed bastard I am, she can still bring me to my knees. The day she walked away from us both is still at the forefront of my mind, and as clear as the day it happened.
I hearshouting comes from Mitch’s office, so I head down the corridor to investigate. Through the crack in the door, Emily is standing in front of her father’s desk, her fists balled tight at her sides.
“I don't want to take over the business. I know nothing about stocks and crap. I don’t know about shitty mergers either, that’s your thing and Troy’s, not mine. I want to paint. I want a gallery.”
“I’ve told you more than once Emily, it’s a pipe dream, this,” his hand whirls around him, “this is what matters. Your legacy. If you don’t accept it, you’ll get nothing.”
“Dad! You can’t do that. You haven’t even seen what I can do. I’m good.” A frustrated sigh falls from her lips. “Just take a look at least, I can fetch them for you now.”
As she looks around the office, our eyes meet through the door. “Troy has seen my paintings.” She moves toward the door and opens it fully. “Tell my father that you’ve seen them, and you agree that I should follow my heart.”
I feel like a deer stuck in the headlights. I can’t betray Mitch, he’s my boss. He doesn’t even know what’s between us. No, I have to do what’s best.
