“When were you planning on telling me about the letters?” Joel breathed out coldly as he helped Noah rest his back against the car.
“Boss…” His voice trailed off.
Joel gazed at him with a frown on his face. “I’m all ears,”
He sighed. “I… I didn’t want to disturb you, Boss.”
Joel stared at Noah unwaveringly for a short while and let out a chortle.
He shook his head and tore the piece of clothing covering Noah’s lap. He took a bandage from his pocket and bandaged his assistant’s lap.
“You can sew it up when you get home.” He stated as soon as he was done wrapping the bandage.
“Nde.” Noah nodded his head.
“And,” His voice trailed off. “… I want to see those letters on my desk tomorrow morning.” He added.
“Ye.” Noah bobbed his head.
He twitched his lips and disappeared into thin air.
? E C S T A S Y ?
“So who was the stalker?” Joel asked, his phone to his ear as walked into his room.
?SILENCE?
He scrunched up his face. “Mwo? Her stepsister?”
?SILENCE ?
He frowned. “Tell one of the boys to keep an eye on her. I don’t trust that girl.”
? SILENCE ?
“Good.” He nodded his head and hung up.
He stripped, walked into his bathroom, and took a hot shower. After he was done bathing, he dried his body and wore his robe.
*****
Silently, Joel creaked Emily’s door open and walked in.
He smiled and crossed his hands on his chest as he watched her move from one side of the bed to the other.
He chuckled silently, “restless because of me?”
Instantly, Emily sat up on the bed and looked in his direction.
He waved his hand and walked closer to the bed. He sat on it and placed his hand on Emily’s, gazing deeply into her eyes.
“Did you miss me?” He asked.
Tongue-tied, Emily nodded her head. He smiled and hugged her.
She pouted her mouth. “Why are you just coming back?”
He smiled again. “Hmm… I was busy with work.”
He stroked her hair and tucked some fallen strands behind her ear.
‘Emily, you need to be careful…’ He thought innerly and smooched her forehead.
*****
Saying he was confused was an understatement. Michael was beginning to go crazy.
He had tried the number that was used to send the message but it was switched off.
He ruffled his hair with his hand and took his phone in his other hand. He stared intently at it. He wasn’t sure of what to do.
He was deep in thought when he received a text message on his phone.
? IF YOU DON’T BRING EMILY BEFORE NEXT WEEK TUESDAY, CONSIDER YOUR WIFE DEAD.?
He felt chills run down his spine as he read the message. He was definitely going to kidnap Emily. He had no choice.
Not long afterward, he received another message.
?SEND THE DATE AND YOU’LL GET THE TIME AND ADDRESS SOON.?
He lowered his head and threw his phone on the bed. He knew there was no point in calling the number or trying to track it.
Since it was Emily they wanted in exchange for his wife, he would give her to them. Most definitely.
*****
“See? Your stupid husband thinks I’ll release you to him if he comes with Emily…” Anderson chuckled and handed the phone he used to send the message to Michael, over to one of his subordinates.
He chortled. “Hmm, an idea just popped into my head.”
“Why don’t I hold him, hostage, too?” He smirked, caressing Evelyn’s face.
“With that, I can bring down Empire World. I’m sure the little boy will stop at nothing to get back his brother and his lover.” He snickered.
Evelyn’s body shook in fear as his words hit her. If Joel truly found a companion, and he loved her, it meant there would be war if Michael kidnapped his lover. She didn’t want that.
*****
Danielle was unable to sleep. She kept tossing from one side of the bed to another. She was extremely excited. Her problem would be gone the next day and she would finally have Joel back to herself. All to herself.
“Ahhhh,” She voiced out happily.
She took a peek at the wall clock and saw that twelve had stroke.
Her lips curled up in a cute smile, “in a few hours, you’ll be gone, Emily.”
She wanted to get rid of her before the anniversary so that she won’t be put to shame; and so, everyone would think that she and Joel were together like they had always thought.
She would have gotten rid of Emily since, but after Joel heard her talking about killing someone, she had been scared to do anything.
She knew Joel was a smart guy. He would connect the dots without any problem if she had sent the assassin to kill Emily at that time. She couldn’t have afforded to risk that. She decided to eliminate Emily a day before EW’s Anniversary which was the following day.
*****
The next morning, in the office, Joel tilted his head to the left as he eyed the threat letters on his desk. There were thirty-four of them.
He scowled and looked up at Noah. “You got all these and didn’t bother to inform me?”
“I’m sorry, Boss.” Noah bowed.
He shook his head, sighed, and looked away.
“Who do you think it is?” He asked, picking up one of the letters, scrutinizing it as if thinking about something.
“I’m not sure, Boss. I don’t think it’s your friend.” Noah stated.
Joel twitched up his lips and clicked his tongue, “you mean Vincent? Vincent would not do something like this.”
Noah sighed. “Yes, boss. I’m not sure who it is.”
“I’m not, either. The handwriting does not even look familiar…” Joel replied.
He grimaced. “… I have no idea whatsoever.”
*****
“Emily,” Stephanie chirped happily as she watched Emily approach her.
She had decided to play ‘nice girl’ so that no one would suspect anything since Emily’s scandal was the next day.
Emily stopped in her tracks as she examined Stephanie. She narrowed her eyes and bowed her head.
“Annyeonghaseyo,” She greeted respectfully.
Stephanie grinned. “Ahhh, Emily no need for the formalities.”
She walked closer to her and pulled her in for a tight hug.
Emily furrowed her brows dumbfoundedly as Stephanie wrapped her arms around her.
Stephanie broke away from the hug and took two steps backward. Noticing Emily’s puzzled look, she chuckled softly.
She let out a cute smile. “You don’t need to have that look on your face Emily, I’m a changed person.”
Her face fell, “I know I’ve been bad to you- I’ve been very harsh on you,”
She sobbed, “can you ever forgive this poor girl?”
“Ah,” Emily’s voice trailed off.
Stephanie sobbed loudly. “Mianhae Emily, mianhae.”
Emily felt pity for her as she watched her cry.
She blushed in embarrassment, taking a peek around to see if people were watching. “Sunbae, stop crying… You are embarrassing me.”
Rapid tears streamed down Stephanie’s face, “I’m sorry Emily. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness; I’m really sorry”
“Oh, Sunbae gwenchana.” Emily pouted.
Seeing the poor unnie cry touched her deeply. She was sure Stephanie was indeed sorry for treating her badly in the past. She decided to forgive her.
“I have forgiven you, Sunbae. Please, cry no more.” She pouted.
Stephanie’s cries seized.
She sniffed. “Huh? You have forgiven me totally?
Emily nodded her head. “Yes, Unnie.”
Her face lit up instantly. “Mbo? Uwa! She just called me Sis,”
She rushed forward and pulled Emily into a tight hug, “kumawo, kumawo Emily.”
Emily patted her back. “Hmm, gwenchana”
She was happy she and her role model were now on good terms.
Stephanie smirked behind her back as they hugged. Now that she has gained her trust, it would be easier to drug her at the party.
? E C S T A S Y ?
Rachel furrowed her brows as she watched Stephanie walk off with Emily, from afar off. She watched the whole drama that transpired between them; it left her extremely shocked.
One thing she was sure of was that Stephanie never befriended people who served as obstacles to her. But seeing her hug Emily like that… she was sure that something was up.
She narrowed her brows, “Lucy, find out what Stephanie is up to.”
Lucy bowed. “Nde.”
“Have you gotten the list I told you about?” She asked as she walked away to her office, with Lucy trailing after her.
Lucy bowed. “Nde.”
“Hand it over to me.” She stretched out her hand a bit as they stepped into her office.
Lucy took out a sheet from the file she was holding and handed it over to her boss. “Here.”
Rachel took her seat and glanced through the list of people that resided in the GRC. Emily was living with one of the people on the list and she would make sure to find out which one of them she lived with.