Daniel’s eyes, filled with worry and anger, met Emily’s gaze. Memories of Emily’s biological father’s words about her destiny of death if she was with him continued to haunt him. Emily’s action of blocking his moving car intensified his fear.
“Why are you always avoiding me? asked Emily, her tone serious. “Can we talk for a minute?”
His eyes met hers, sharp and cold. “We have nothing more to talk about,” he replied, his voice flat. “Go away and don’t get in my way again.”
Daniel turned and quickly entered his car. Emily rush to the car door, knocking on the window. “Daniel! Wait!” she shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the roar of the engine as he sped away, leaving her standing in the middle of the road.
“How am I supposed to explain this proposal to him if he keeps avoiding me like this?” muttered Emily, her voice tinged with depression, reflecting the annoyance gnawing at her heart.
Emily stared at Daniel’s retreating car, as if she wanted to shout at it to stop. However, her anger quickly gave way to determination. “I have to earn his trust, no matter what.”
A fierce determination shone in Emily’s eyes. Tonight, she would visit Daniel at his residence. No matter how difficult it was, she had to earn his trust to secure his investment in her company.
***
By nightfall, Emily was already in front of Daniel’s residence. Her determination to persuade Daniel to invest in her company was clear in her eyes. As she pressed the doorbell, a housemaid employed by Daniel’s grandfather opened the door.
“Ms. Emily,” greeted the maid politely.
“Excuse me, is Daniel home?” asked Emily, trying to act calm, but unable to hide her nervousness.
The maid nodded slowly, but the look on her face showed doubt. “I’m sorry, but the Young Master has ordered us not to let anyone in, including you,” she replied in a soft yet firm tone.
“Please tell him. I just want to discuss work, nothing else,” Emily said, showing her determination not to give in that easily.
“I’m sorry, madam. But it seems that the Young Master’s emotions are not in a good state, and I wouldn’t dare to tell him,” the housemaid replied, her voice a whisper, indicating her fear of Daniel.
Emily sighed as she said. “Alright, I understand. Then, I’ll just wait here until he comes out,” she replied calmly, her eyes radiating determination.
“But Madam…” the housemaid began, wanting to explain that this wasn’t a good idea, but Emily seem not to hear her. She had already lowed herself onto the step, sitting patiently.
The maid looked confused, but she had no other choice. It seemed she had to tell Daniel. After hesitantly closed the door, the maid turned to leave. Emily took out a small note from her bag, a note full of numbers. It was a list of the expenses she had incurred over the past few months.
If Emily didn’t find a job, she couldn’t help with the finances at home. Not to mention, she still had to pay damages to Daniel for the car she damaged and compensation to the family of the child her daughter injured.
Emily turned to the door of Daniel’s house, still locked tightly. Her eyes, filled with anger, glared at the door. “Do you think I wanted to see you so badly? If it wasn’t by force, do you think I would have come here?” she muttered, her voice trembling with anger.
She rubbed her face roughly, trying to control her raging emotions. “Alright, we’ll see who loses tonight. Me or you!” her voice now sounded cold.
The ringing of Emily’s cell phone shattered the emotions in her heart. The name ‘Dad’ was clearly displayed on the screen. “What’s wrong, Dad?” she asked.
“Mom, it’s me,” Grace replied, her voice full of longing. “Why aren’t you home yet? Grandpa said you worked late today. Is that true?”
Emily was silent for a moment, her heart breaking at the sound of her daughter’s voice. “It’s true, dear. I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. She imagined Grace’s innocent, sad face. Her heart ached because, since Grace’s birth, she had never left her daughter at home without her.
“I can’t sleep without you, Mom,” Grace replied, her voice filled with disappointment.
“Mom will try to get this work done faster, okay? If you get sleepy, ask Grandpa to read you a story before you go to sleep,” Emily said, trying to calm her daughter.
“I don’t want Grandpa. I just want Mom,” Grace said.
“Grace, please don’t be like this. Be a good girl,” Emily said sternly.
“All right,” Grace said, relenting and handing the phone to Fred.
“Emily, there’s no need to worry. I’ll try to put Grace to bed, even though it might be a little difficult later,” Fred said softly, trying to calm Emily down.
“Thanks, Dad,” Emily replied.
“Hurry home. It looks like it’s going to rain soon,” Fred said worriedly.
“Take it easy, Dad. I’m in the office. I won’t get caught in the rain,” Emily said, lying.
“All right. Be careful on your way home,” Fred said before disconnecting the phone.
Emily sat upright on the front steps of Daniel’s house, waiting anxiously. The wind whipped around her, making her hair messy and sending a chill down her spine. The first drops of water fell slowly, before becoming increasingly heavy raindrops.
“Why am I so unlucky? Why does it have to rain at a time like this?” Emily muttered, biting her lower lip. She looked up at the darkening sky, hoping the rain would stop soon.
Emily huddled closer, trying to protect herself from the chilly air. The sound of wind and the rumble of rain filled the air, breaking the surrounding silence. Anxiety etched itself on her face as she waited for Daniel, who never appeared.
“It’s raining so hard. How am I going to get home now?” Emily muttered.
Daniel, standing on the balcony of his house, watched the increasingly heavy raindrops fall. The rain pounded his yard, the roar of the wind shaking the trees in the garden, adding to the tense atmosphere.
“Is she still not leaving?” Daniel asked, his voice laced with worry. He paused for a moment, thinking about Emily, who was still waiting in front of his house.
The housemaid shook her head. “Ms. Emily is still waiting for you, sir. She’s still at the front of the house.”
Daniel sighed heavily. “Open the door for her and prepare some warm clothes for her to wear,” he said, his voice flat, but the maid could sense the worry hidden behind his words.
“Is Young Master not going to see Ms. Emily?” the housemaid asked. Daniel was silent, his jaw clenched, his eyes staring blankly ahead. The question seemed to pierce Daniel’s heart, reminding him of the complicated situation between himself and Emily.
“No,” Daniel replied curtly.
Meanwhile, Emily was startled when she heard the door opening from inside Daniel’s house. She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise, thinking Daniel had come out. But when her guess was wrong, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Please come in, Madam. It’s raining very hard outside,” the maid said, inviting Emily in.
“Come with me, Madam. We need to change your wet clothes,” the maid said politely.
“No need,” Emily replied, shaking her head. She didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, and she didn’t feel comfortable changing in Daniel’s house.
“I’m sorry, Madam, but this is a direct order from the Young Master,” the maid replied. “He’ll be angry if I don’t do as he says.”
Emily sighed, resigned, not wanting to cause the maid any trouble. “Alright, I understand,” she replied, following the maid’s lead.
“Where is she?” asked Emily. “Is he still unwilling to see me?”
The maid shook her head slowly before answering Emily’s question. “I’m sorry, Madam. I’ve been trying to persuade him, but it seems my efforts have been unsuccessful.”
“It’s not your fault. You don’t need to apologize,” Emily said.
The maid led Emily into a guest room. “If you don’t mind, please put on Mr. Daniel’s clothes first,” she said, handing over a set of clothes.
Emily accepted the clothes. “Thank you.”
“Tell Daniel I’ll leave when the rain stops,” Emily instructed.
“Very well then, Madam. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need any help,” the maid said, a thoughtful look on her face.
Emily simply nodded in response. “Very well.”
After making sure the maid was really gone, Emily remembered her purpose in coming here was to meet with Daniel. Her heart skipped a beat as she slipped out of the room, determined to find him.
“That bastard is giving me a hard time. He really makes me feel like a thief here,” Emily grumbled, her face was flushed with anger, as she sneaked off to search the house for Daniel.