Mia approached Emily, who was lost in reverie, savoring the alcohol she had poured into the crystal glass. The bitterness and heat of the liquid burned her throat, as if reflecting the turmoil in her heart.
“There you are,” Mia said, her voice soft.
Emily was startled, her eyes widening at the sight of Mia, who had suddenly appeared next to her. “Leave me alone,” she hissed, her voice hoarse with pent-up emotion.
Uninvited, with what seemed like a caring gesture, Mia helped Emily pour the alcohol into an empty glass. “Are you in trouble?” she asked, her voice concerned, but her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Emily felt a sharp pain in her chest, a feeling that woke up at the thought of what had just happened. “It’s okay. Go away, leave me alone,” she said, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.
“Is there a problem with Mr. Daniel?” Mia asked.
“We’re not close enough to know each other’s problems,” Emily replied, getting uncomfortable with Mia being so close to her.
“Mr. Daniel’s wedding will be held behind closed doors. Do you know who his future wife is?” Mia asked.
“I don’t know,” Emily replied, her voice slightly nervous, then took a sip of the drink in her glass, searching for courage in the burning liquid.
“Can’t we just be friends and forget all the bad things that have happened between us? We’ve hurt each other to this extent. But, I didn’t expect that you could threaten me too. Where did you get all my secrets?” asked Mia, her voice sweet but her eyes demanding answers.
Emily was surprised and confused when she heard Mia’s question. ‘Threaten Mia? Did Mr. Daniel do that? Does Mr. Daniel know that Mia and I had a bad relationship as teenagers? Why would he threaten Mia?’ she thought, her heart raging with questions.
However, a moment later, Emily shook her head. She didn’t want to remember anything about Daniel anymore. The incident at home earlier still left an unhealed wound in her heart. Quickly, she took a sip of the alcohol in her glass, hoping to erase the memories that were too bitter to hold on to.
***
On the other hand, Daniel seemed to massage the middle of his furrowed brows, trying to relieve the heavy pressure inside his head. He had no desire to touch his work anymore, his normally tidy desk now looking like a battlefield because of his actions. All his thoughts were filled with guilt for treating Emily so harshly and making her cry. The image of her tear-drenched face continued to haunt his mind. He deeply hated Emily’s biological father, but the growing feelings of love divided his mind for Emily.
He went downstairs, his steps heavy and uncertain, as if every step was admitted his guilt. He walked towards the garage of his car, wanting to escape his own chaotic thoughts. But he was surprised, almost rooted to the spot, when he didn’t see Emily’s car there. An unfamiliar sense of panic crept into his chest.
“Are you looking for Madam?” the driver’s voice broke Daniel’s reverie, jolting him back to reality.
Daniel turned his head, his normally sharp eyes now looking tired and full of confusion. “Yes, you know where she went?”
The driver replied, his expression sympathetic. “I don’t know where Madam went, but she left half an hour ago. It seems she was in a great hurry.”
The words were like a crushing blow to Daniel. ‘Half an hour ago?’ he thought, his heart pounding. ‘Where did she go?’
“Do you need me to take you somewhere?” the driver asked in a polite tone, ready to help.
“No need. Let me drive myself tonight,” Daniel said as he got into his car, his voice firm but with a tremor that couldn’t be hidden. He needed time to himself, to contemplate his true desires, and perhaps to find Emily.
As the car rolled out of the garage, Daniel looked ahead at the dark and deserted streets. His mind kept drifting back to Emily, to the tears streaming down her face, to the words spoken in anger and regret. He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, the irregular rhythm illustrating the turmoil in his heart.
The ringing of his cell phone broke the suffocating silence of the night. The phone screen displayed a name that hadn’t appeared in a long time, ‘Grandpa’.
“Hello, what’s up Grandpa?” asked Daniel, trying to hide his anxiety.
“Is there something going on between you and Emily? Don’t you two love each other?” his grandfather’s voice sounded worried yet firm.
Daniel sighed, already guessing that the information about his household with Emily had reached his grandfather’s ears. Surely, the new assistant his grandfather had hired had reported everything.
“Nothing happened between us. Just a small quarrel, and that’s normal for couples, isn’t it?” Daniel replied, his voice shaking slightly, hoping his grandfather would believe him.
“You are newlyweds. I know you’ve kept your relationship a secret from the office but find some time to honeymoon with Emily. Make an excuse to meet the new business partner so you can go with her. With a honeymoon, your minds can be at ease and you can also give me a grandchild,” her grandfather said, his voice full of hope.
“Alright Grandpa, I’ll think about it,” Daniel said, agreeing to his grandfather’s request to end their conversation immediately.
“Don’t just think about it, do it,” Daniel’s grandfather’s voice sounded more urgent this time. “I’m too old and I don’t know how much longer I’ll last. Give me a grandchild so I can spend my old age with my grandchildren before I die.”
The words echoed in Daniel’s ears. However, behind the request, there was a truth that he could not reveal. Their marriage, built on covenant and not love, made his grandfather’s request feel like an impossible mountain to climb.
“I understand, Grandpa,” Daniel said.
***
Emily was already too drunk, every sip of alcohol tightening her eyelids. “I’ll have another glass,” she said in a voice that sounded distant, as if she was speaking from within a fog.
“My heart hurts so much,” she muttered, the words that escaped her lips describing an invisible yet tangible pain.
Mia, who had been sitting beside Emily, smiled slyly. This was the time she had been waiting for, the perfect moment to take revenge on Emily. She took out her cell phone, her fingers dancing over the screen before finally pressing the green button, dialing the number that would be the key to her plan. “Can you help me?” she said, her voice low but filled with certainty.
On the other end, the voice that answered sounded calm. “Sure, what do you want?”
Mia looked at Emily, who now looked even weaker, a meaningful smile etched on her face. “I want you to do something for me. Something that will make this night unforgettable for you and also for this woman in front of me,” she said.
“I don’t know what you mean. But if it’s about woman, of course I’ll be there. Where is your current location?” asked the voice on the other side.
“Our regular nightclub,” Mia replied.
“Alright, wait for me, I’ll be there in a few minutes,” said the voice.
“Emily, I’m going to make you regret having the nerve to threaten me. I’m sure you won’t easily forget what happened tonight,” Mia said, smiling triumphantly at her evil plan.
Mia poured the alcohol into Emily’s glass in a smooth motion. However, before giving the drink to Emily, Mia inserted something into it. In a soft voice, Mia whispered the words, “Em, I’m sorry if I have to do this to you. This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t challenged me,” she whispered.
Emily, in a drunken state, asked, “What? Are you talking to me?”
Mia smiled slightly. “It’s okay, drink this,” she offered.