Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
EMMA
We arrived back at Alex’s estate later that day, and he carried my case in for me, telling his footman, who was waiting at the door, “I’ll take the case up to Emma’s room later. And we’ll get our own drinks. Thank you, Clive.”
He was making it clear that no one else would touch my things or tamper with anything. It was his way of letting me know I was safe.
But I still had my guard up.
I had to stay alert, because nowhere felt safe to me anymore.
S.K.A.M. had told me I was next, but I had no intention of being hung on a wall as his next piece of fucked-up art. It didn’t stop my mind from going on a crazy journey of what could happen, though.
We entered the foyer, and Alex directed me to a drawing room to the right.
I followed him, clutching my bag tightly as I scanned the hallway for any signs of danger, before walking in behind him.
The room was wood-panelled, like a gentleman’s smoking room from days gone by.
It had a snug and cosy feel, which was in stark contrast to my current erratically fearful state of mind.
On the far wall was a huge fireplace with a roaring fire that billowed heat out into the room.
It felt like it was beckoning me in with its promises of warmth and security.
Directly above the fireplace was a stunning landscape painting that I couldn’t help but get lost in, with its rolling hills, lush greenery and stormy, atmospheric skies.
“It’s a Constable,” Alex remarked when he saw me looking at it, giving me the name of the artist as he walked over to a side table full of glasses and drinks bottles.
“Wow,” I replied. I knew who Constable was. I also knew how much his works sold for. “Is it a reprint?”
“No. It’s an original.”
“Holy shit,” I couldn’t help but blurt out. “I bet that cost a bit.”
Alex hummed in thought.
“About twenty million, I think.”
“And you’ve hung it over an open fire?”
“It gets cold in here.” He shrugged. “And it’s well insured.”
I had no words.
So, he could be reckless.
A risk taker.
My terrified heart couldn’t handle any more risks.
I sat on a sofa by the window as Alex picked up a crystal decanter and poured out two glasses of amber liquid, whisky, I guessed.
Then he picked them both up, walked over to me, and handed me a glass before he sat down beside me and took a sip of his own.
I placed mine on the coffee table without drinking it and he frowned.
“You are safe to eat and drink here, Emma.”
Am I, though?
I’d thought I was safe the last time I was here and look how that turned out.
I kept my thoughts to myself and smiled.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m not much of a whisky drinker.”
And I’d prefer to drink something that came from a bottle with a secure cap, that I could twist off myself.
I was feeling so neurotic and I couldn’t seem to stop my brain from overanalysing those neurosis. I felt jumpier than I had been at my house, with the threats painted on my wall. The stress of the day was compacting, snowballing into an uncontrollable threat ready to explode at any minute.
Because he can get to you anywhere. Give yourself a break. You’re allowed to feel this way.
“I can get you something else if you like,” Alex went on. “Or some food, if you’re hungry. I can fix you something to eat, order something in, or if you prefer, you can make it yourself.”
I nodded in response, even though the thought of eating made me feel sick.
“Maybe later.”
I couldn’t shake my nerves, I felt on edge, so I took the mail I’d picked up at my house from my bag, to give me something else to focus on.
I could see the blue box with the pink bow nestled in there and a shiver ran down my spine.
I’d have to hide that later. I didn’t want Alex to see it.
I couldn’t even bear to think about it myself.
Knowing what he wanted to do to me, filled me with terror.
As I began sifting through the envelopes, trying to hide the fact that my hands were shaking, I noticed a familiar one that I’d used myself on numerous occasions.
An envelope with the Merivale Echo name across the top, along with their business address, and my heart leapt into my throat.
I tore the envelope open, took the letter out and scanned the contents, and then my heart dropped, shattering on the floor, as I gasped.
“They’re suing me.”
Alex sat forward, snapping to attention. “What? Who the fuck is suing you? What does that letter say?”
I held the letter out for him to take and read, feeling disbelief at what was in it.
“They’re suing me for breach of contract.” I could barely get my words out; my throat was dry, and my nerves were completely shredded. “They’re saying I left without fulfilling the terms of my employment contract because I didn’t give them one month’s notice.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at Alex’s furious face.
I had no money.
I had very little will to fight every knock back I kept getting.
How was I going to get out of this?
What the fuck could I do?
“I can’t go back there and work for another month, not after everything that’s happened. I just can’t do it. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
Alex stood up, paced the floor for a few seconds, then turned to face me. “I’ll deal with this.”
“You can’t fight all my battles.” I sighed, feeling totally and utterly helpless and furious at the same time. How fucking dare they do this to me after everything they’d put me through.
“I can and I will,” he stated firmly, shoulders taut like he was ready to fight those battles right this minute.
“I’ll get my lawyer onto this immediately.
But it’s bullshit, Emma. They can’t make this stick.
Not after the shit they’ve pulled, using your name illegally for stories you didn’t write.
They don’t have a leg to stand on. I’ll sort this. Please don’t give it another thought.”
I had no doubt he’d do exactly as he said, and yet, my stomach still ached with stress, and my body shook with fear. There was only so much one person could take.
Alex stood still for a moment, reading the letter again, then he crumpled it in his hand, making me lurch forward to try and stop him, but he was too angry to focus on anything other than how he was feeling.
“I swear to fucking God,” he seethed with his fists clenched. “That man will pay for this. They all will. I’ve had enough of people thinking they can do whatever the fuck they want. Of thinking they can fuck you over.”
He threw his head back and growled, then peered down at me and said, “I hate to do this, but I have to go. I need to do something to stop it all right now, otherwise I’m going to go insane. I’m so sorry to leave you like this, Emma. But I can’t stand by for another minute...”
“I’ll come with you,” I said, standing up, because I didn’t want to be left alone in his house and this was my problem. I wanted to sort it out.
But he put his hand up and told me, “No. Wait here. This is something I have to do on my own.”
“No way. I’m not going to let you walk out and play the hero while I’m left here like a bloody fool. This is my life. I’m in control. At least, I need to be. Whatever this is, I’ll sort it.”
He paced the floor in front of me, and I sat back down, giving him the time he needed to get his head around how he was feeling.
My life could be a bit much even for me.
He’d hitched a ride and discovered my rollercoaster was a death-defying journey with a broken track and fucked up wheels.
And we were seconds away from falling out of the cart to the cold, hard floor below.
Eventually, he stopped pacing and stood in front of me, then he knelt down so he could look right into my eyes.
“I’m so sorry, and you’re right. I need to learn to stand beside you, not continually dart in front of you trying to take each bullet.
” He hung his head for a moment, trying to find the words he wanted to say, then he lifted his head and gave me that penetrating gaze that made my heart flutter.
“It’s just a natural thing for me to try and solve everyone’s problems. I’ve always been like that.
Even as a kid. I find it hard to switch off, especially with you. ”
“I’m so grateful to have you by my side.
To have your help. Honestly, I am. But I’ve had enough for one day.
Tomorrow, I’ll address the work issues. Mr. Gold is an asshole who acts before he thinks.
But I’m sure I’ll be able to talk him round once he’s had the time to see sense.
And that letter is bullshit, you’re right there. ”
I wasn’t at all convinced that I could talk Mr. Gold round, but I felt like I had to say something to placate Alex and remove the deep scowl that was currently etched onto his face.
“Tomorrow, we’ll formulate a plan,” he replied, nodding to himself with purpose.
“It won’t hurt to have my lawyers go through everything.
I’ll do some digging and see what we can find out.
But for tonight, please, treat this house as your own.
While you’re here, I want you to see this as a second home.
Choose a bedroom, explore anywhere you want.
My house is yours. I mean that. Nowhere is off-limits.
You’re going through enough. I want you to find some respite while you’re staying here. ”
He reached forward, taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger, and he lifted my face to peer into my eyes.
I didn’t want to choose a room.
I didn’t want to explore.
I wanted to run as far away as I could and never look back.
But when he said, “I mean it, Emma. You’re not alone in this. You have me. And I’ll always be in your corner. Let me take on some of the stress. I want to be the kind of man you can rely on for anything. Please.” I knew I owed it to myself to stay and honour his wishes. For now.
I put my hand over his as he traced a gentle circle on my cheek.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without your help.”
His face softened, warmth glowing in his eyes, telling me he liked that. He liked that I was relying on him. That I needed him.
I hated that I had no other choice.
Or at least, that’s how it felt.
But it wasn’t his fault.
“You’re a good man, Alex,” I said, and I could see the pride rippling through him in response.
He stood up, walking slowly away from me like he didn’t want to leave.
“I’ll ask the kitchen to make us some dinner. You can’t go to bed on an empty stomach.” Then he left the room.
Who was this guy?
A man that was there when you needed him, helped whenever he could, looming larger than life in my tiny world.
“Where did you come from?” I whispered, thinking no one was here to hear me, now that he’d left.
But he hadn’t left.
He was still outside.
And when he took a step back into the doorway to reply, “I was here all along, waiting for you to show up.” I felt a tiny crack appear in the walls I’d always kept around me.
Was Alex Kingston about to change my whole world or turn it upside?