Chapter 26
Emma sat down beside Lawrence and gave him a gentle smile.
"Mr. Mercer is my boss. He just needed to talk to me about something."
Her boss.
Lawrence's expression relaxed slightly.
He actually had no idea what Emma did for work outside of their arrangement.
But one thing had become obvious tonight.
Adrian Mercer was interested in her.
Very interested.
Then Lawrence felt someone staring at him.
He turned slightly.
Across the room, Adrian was looking directly at him.
There was no attempt to hide the hostility in his eyes.
If looks could kill, Lawrence would've been carried out of Trace's birthday party in several extremely expensive pieces.
Lawrence frowned.
Then, almost without thinking, he reached for Emma's hand.
The moment her fingers settled into his palm—
his heart gave a sudden, hard beat.
Soft.
Warm.
Lawrence went still for half a second.
Across the room, Adrian's eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
His jaw tightened.
Lawrence could practically see a vein beginning to appear in his neck.
For some reason, Lawrence didn't let go.
Instead, his fingers closed more firmly around Emma's.
Emma instinctively pulled back slightly when he first took her hand.
But she didn't actually remove it.
Lawrence had never held her hand before.
Usually, the most physical contact between them was Emma linking her arm through his.
And with Lawrence almost permanently dressed in a suit, there had always been fabric between them.
This was different.
Wow.
Emma understood immediately.
Isabelle bringing a boyfriend home must have hit him harder than she'd thought.
Fine.
She was being paid to do a job.
And Emma Carter believed in providing excellent customer service.
She shifted closer to Lawrence.
Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
Her smile became softer.
More intimate.
Isabelle's expression stiffened.
Are they seriously doing this in front of me?
No.
It had to be fake.
She looked at Emma.
"So you're Lawrence's girlfriend?"
Emma smiled.
"Yes."
Isabelle narrowed her eyes.
"Really?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Then why do you keep calling him Mr. Vance?"
Emma:
"......"
Good point.
That didn't sound particularly romantic.
She'd overlooked that detail.
Fortunately—
professionals improvised.
Emma lowered her eyes, looking almost shy.
"I don't use my pet name for him in front of other people."
Isabelle:
"......"
Pet name?
Lawrence's heartbeat, which had only just settled down, picked up again.
He looked at Emma.
A pet name?
So that was how she thought of it.
Interesting.
Isabelle's expression darkened.
She looked directly at Lawrence.
"What do you call him when you're alone?"
Lawrence paused.
Before he could say anything, Emma smiled sweetly.
"I just said it's a pet name."
She tilted her head.
"Why would I tell you?"
Isabelle:
"......"
Her smile tightened.
So now she wasn't allowed to know?
"Well."
She forced a smile.
"You two seem very happy."
Emma's smile became even brighter.
"We are."
Then she looked lovingly at Lawrence.
"He treats me very well."
Isabelle's breathing became noticeably heavier.
Finally, she couldn't help herself.
"Do you even know what happened between us?"
Emma looked at her openly.
"Of course."
Isabelle had expected her to pretend she didn't know.
Instead, Emma continued calmly.
"You were together. It didn't work out."
Then she smiled.
"So actually, I should probably thank you."
Isabelle stared at her.
Emma's eyes curved sweetly.
"If things had worked out between you two, I never would've met someone as wonderful as him."
Isabelle nearly choked.
Emma, meanwhile, was extremely pleased with herself.
She looked at Lawrence.
Her eyes practically sparkled.
Did you see that?
Did you SEE that?
She's jealous.
I'm earning every dollar tonight.
Lawrence met her gaze.
What he saw was genuine happiness in Emma's eyes.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around hers.
She's actually happy.
Because she's with me.
Lawrence's chest warmed.
She really did love him.
Their eyes met.
Lawrence, tall and elegant in his black suit.
Emma, beautiful in white, sitting close beside him.
From the outside, they looked ridiculously good together.
Eric smiled.
"You two look great together."
Silence.
Isabelle's expression changed.
Lawrence's face remained composed, but something in his eyes softened.
Emma:
Thank you, random boyfriend.
Excellent teamwork.
Isabelle abruptly stood up.
Then glared at Eric.
"Seriously?"
Eric blinked.
"What?"
Isabelle turned and walked away.
Eric remained sitting there, completely confused.
"What did I say?"
Emma almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
She looked at Lawrence.
Go.
Go after her.
This is your moment.
Lawrence didn't move.
Emma stared at him.
Sir?
Still nothing.
Instead, Lawrence stood.
He was still holding Emma's hand.
"We're leaving."
Emma blinked.
We're what?
Then she understood.
Oh.
He wanted Isabelle to come after him.
He'd spent years trying to get her back.
Now he wanted her to experience what it felt like.
Emma nodded internally.
Damn.
Billionaires really held grudges.
"Don't."
Ryan grabbed Adrian's arm.
"Whatever you're thinking, don't."
Adrian took another drink.
Ryan tightened his grip.
"I'm serious."
Adrian had already told him what had happened with Emma.
He'd also pointed her out.
Ryan had to admit—
she was gorgeous.
The kind of woman people noticed the second she walked into a room.
Unfortunately, she was currently sitting beside Lawrence Vance.
Holding his hand.
Looking very much like his girlfriend.
Ryan looked at Adrian.
"They're obviously together."
He lowered his voice.
"What exactly are you planning to do? Steal another guy's girlfriend?"
Adrian immediately frowned.
"Steal?"
"Emma liked me first."
Ryan:
"......"
"That is not how relationships work."
Adrian tugged irritably at the silver chain around his neck.
Ryan stared at him.
"You know what? This is kind of your fault."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
"She chased you for more than a year."
"You didn't want her."
"Now she's stopped chasing you, and suddenly you're in love?"
Ryan spread his hands.
"What did you expect?"
Adrian tugged at his chain again.
"Like I can control when I fall for someone."
Ryan paused.
Then something occurred to him.
"Actually..."
He frowned.
"You barely went out this past year."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
"The clubs. The parties."
"You used to drag me out all the time."
Ryan studied him.
"You basically stopped."
Adrian blinked.
"Did I?"
Why had he stopped?
Then he remembered.
One night, months ago, he'd stayed out far too late.
He'd shown up at the office the next morning hungover, smelling like alcohol and feeling like death.
Emma had spent half the morning getting him water, coffee, food, and something for his headache.
Then she'd looked at him and said:
You should stop doing this. It's terrible for you.
After that...
going out hadn't seemed as fun anymore.
Adrian stared into his glass.
His mood somehow became even worse.
Ryan watched his expression.
"Oh, shit."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
Ryan pointed at him.
"You liked her already."
Adrian:
"......"
Ryan's eyes widened.
"You idiot."
"You liked her before you even realized you liked her."
Adrian's face fell.
That revelation did absolutely nothing to improve his situation.
He looked toward Emma again.
She was holding Lawrence's hand.
She was practically leaning against him.
And she was smiling.
That smile—
She used to smile at him like that.
Adrian's fingers tightened around his glass.
"No."
Ryan immediately became suspicious.
"No what?"
"I'm getting her back."
Ryan stared at him.
"You're what?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I'm getting Emma back."
Ryan's eyes widened.
"Dude."
He lowered his voice.
"She has a boyfriend."
Adrian looked at him.
"So?"
"So?!"
Ryan stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you seriously planning to break them up?"
Adrian scoffed.
"She liked me first."
"We already established that doesn't matter!"
Adrian looked toward Emma again.
"She liked me for over a year."
"She can't suddenly like him more than me."
Ryan rubbed both hands over his face.
"That is an impressive amount of confidence for a man who got blocked twice today."
Adrian:
"......"
"Shut up."
Ryan sighed.
"Keep your voice down, Romeo."
Adrian glared at him.
Then he saw Lawrence stand.
Still holding Emma's hand.
Adrian's jaw tightened again.
"No."
Ryan closed his eyes.
"Oh, God."
Trace had gone upstairs earlier to change into another dress.
When she came back down, one of her friends told her Adrian had arrived.
Her entire face lit up.
She hurried across the room.
"Adrian!"
Adrian turned.
When he saw her, he looked genuinely surprised.
"What are you doing here?"
Trace stopped.
"......"
She stared at him.
"This is my birthday party."
Adrian:
"......"
He looked at Ryan.
Ryan nodded.
Adrian scratched his blue hair.
"Oh."
A pause.
"Happy birthday."
Trace felt something inside her die.
Still—
he was here.
That had to mean something.
Right?
She forced herself to smile.
"You didn't answer my messages, but..."
She stepped closer.
"I'm glad you came."
Adrian nodded vaguely.
Trace smiled.
"Dance with me?"
At least everyone would see them together.
If she could spend enough time with Adrian, she was convinced he'd eventually realize how good they could be together.
Adrian shook his head.
"Trace."
His expression became serious.
"If you're still expecting anything to happen because of the arrangement between our families, don't."
Trace's smile slowly disappeared.
Adrian continued.
"I like someone else."
Trace stared at him.
She hadn't expected him to say it so directly.
"Who?"
Nearly every wealthy young woman in their social circle was someone Trace knew.
She wanted to know exactly who had managed to catch Adrian Mercer's attention.
Adrian's expression changed the second he said the name.
"Emma Carter."
There was even the faintest smile in his eyes.
"You've met her."
Trace froze.
Emma?
Why did that name sound familiar?
Then it hit her.
Adrian's secretary.
The woman who had spent more than a year hopelessly chasing after him.
Trace's eyes widened.
Seriously?
After all that—
At her own birthday party.
Trace stared after him.
Then she spotted Isabelle.
Her eyes immediately turned red.
"Isabelle."
Isabelle was already in a terrible mood.
She frowned when she saw Trace's face.
"What happened?"
Trace pressed her lips together.
"My family's arrangement with Adrian is dead."
"He likes someone else."
Isabelle grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing server and handed one to her.
"Well."
She lifted her own glass.
"Welcome to the club."
Trace blinked.
Isabelle took a drink.
"I think Lawrence actually likes that replacement."
For some reason, Trace immediately felt slightly better.
Misery really did love company.
"Seriously?"
She took a sip.
Isabelle tightened her fingers around the glass.
"I walked away."
"He didn't even follow me."
Trace frowned.
"That bad?"
"He was too busy staring at her."
Trace scoffed.
"Sounds like Emma."
Isabelle paused.
"What?"
Trace rolled her eyes.
"Adrian's girl."
"Emma Carter."
Isabelle slowly lowered her glass.
"Emma?"
Trace nodded.
"Yeah."
"Adrian likes Emma Carter."
Isabelle's expression changed.
A thought occurred to her.
"Adrian Mercer..."
She looked toward the room.
"The guy with blue hair?"
"Yeah."
Isabelle's eyes narrowed.
"And Emma Carter is his secretary?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Trace looked at her.
"What?"
Isabelle slowly turned toward her.
"Lawrence's girlfriend is named Emma Carter."
Trace froze.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Trace shook her head.
"No."
"That can't be the same person."
"I've met Adrian's secretary."
"She didn't look like..."
Trace stopped.
Her expression changed.
Actually—
now that she thought about it...
There was something familiar.
Especially around the eyes.
"Oh my God."
Isabelle gave a cold laugh.
"It's her."
Trace's eyes widened.
"But she looked different when I saw her."
Isabelle's gaze hardened.
"Because tonight she's dressed to look more like me."
Trace stared toward the direction Emma had gone.
Then her expression changed completely.
"Wait."
"So she's been chasing Adrian..."
"And she's dating Lawrence?"
Isabelle's lips curved into a cold smile.
Trace's eyes widened.
"She's playing both of them."
Then determination appeared on her face.
"I have to tell Adrian."
"He needs to know what she's really like."
**To everyone who's been following the story so far—thank you so much for reading!
If you're enjoying Emma's chaotic journey, please follow, vote, comment, and add the story to your library/favorites. Every bit of support really helps the story reach more readers.
And things are about to get even more interesting—a new character is joining the story very soon. ??
I wonder what kind of chaos they're going to bring into Emma's already complicated life... ??
Thank you for being here and supporting the story! **