Chapter Two
Emma - End of August
I’d woken with a headache, like most Monday mornings lately.
It was probably because of the change in weather.
Days were cooler and were getting shorter.
I poured the hot water into my mug, the smell of spearmint already dulling the pain I was feeling searing through my temples.
I picked up my mug and wandered back to the bedroom, where the business news was just ending on the TV.
I set my mug down and grabbed the remote, turning the TV down, and made my way over to the bed where I’d placed the two skirts I had chosen for today.
I picked up one skirt and held it up against the blouse I’d chosen, and that was when I glanced over at the TV to see that the sports news was starting, so I grabbed the remote and turned the TV off, turning my attention back to my outfit.
When I finally decided, I slipped into it and then carried my mug into the bathroom.
I glanced at myself in the mirror and placed my mug down on the counter.
I couldn’t help but notice the bags under my eyes as I reached for my concealer.
While I was happy the summer was over, in some ways I wished it could start all over again.
We’d had one of the busiest summers ever, hosting dinners and visiting with friends, but as a couple, we’d had one of our worst. The arguing and fighting only got worse the deeper into summer we went.
“Emma, don’t forget we have dinner this weekend with the Chilton’s,” I heard Mark yell from the bedroom.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. This was the fifth time he’d reminded me in three days. Ignoring him, I swiped my eyeshadow on, carefully blending the color, and then doing the same on the other eyelid.
“Did you hear me?” Mark said, poking his head into the bathroom, smacking his hand on the doorframe, the noise causing pain to shoot through my temples.
“I heard you” I sighed. “Dinner this weekend with the Chilton’s,” I said, not bothering to look at him in the mirror.
Why hadn’t he left for work yet? He’d offered to drive me to the office, but I’d declined when he told me he was planning on leaving early.
Besides, I’d rather walk than get involved in another early-morning argument regarding the lack of bedroom activities.
He’d complained about that enough over the entire summer.
“I noticed when I mentioned it to you the other day you didn’t put it in your calendar, and I just don’t want you to forget.
This dinner is important,” he said, grabbing his suit jacket off the door handle and quickly putting it on, then adjusting his collar and tie.
“This deal is important. I know this dinner is going to wrap it up.”
“I know, Mark, I won’t forget.”
“Whatever,” Mark mumbled under his breath.
I huffed.
“Tell me when I’ve ever forgotten?” I muttered, annoyance filling me.
This was how things had been between us lately. We didn’t out and out argue; it was just underhanded comments and remarks to one another to get at one another. Each of us would get defensive, and then after a while we’d fight.
“I’m not saying you forget,” he said, coming up beside me, grabbing his cologne and giving himself a generous spritz.
“Then what are you saying?” I questioned.
“All I said was that I noticed you didn’t put it in your calendar.”
“I don’t see the need to put it in my calendar when all you do is harp on me about not forgetting. I’ve heard all about this dinner for the past two or three weeks. It’s hard to forget about something when it’s being shoved in your face every minute of every day.”
“Fine, I won’t mention it again.”
I watched as he picked up his razor, bringing it to his cheek and lightly shaving a spot that didn’t even need to be shaved.
“What time will you be home tonight?” I questioned, putting on my eyeliner.
“It will be late. I’ve got an action-packed day. What about you?”
I shrugged, grabbing my lip gloss. “I’m not really working on anything at the moment, so I might have an early night.”
“Well, don’t wait up. It will probably be close to ten or eleven before I get in.
I’m having dinner tonight with the partners and will probably have work to do after that.
I’m late, I have to go, and you’d better get a move on or else you’re going to be late as well.
Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you in? ”
“I’m sure.” I sighed, closing my eyes as Mark pressed a kiss to my cheek and then took off out of the bathroom, grabbing his laptop bag as he went.
The moment I heard the front door close, I felt the tension in my body release. For the past month, I’d constantly felt as if I were walking on eggshells around him, which wasn’t how a relationship was supposed to be.
I let out a sigh, swiped some gloss across my lips, and then took off out of the bathroom, grabbing my laptop as I went down the stairs and ate my breakfast in peace.
With my coffee in hand, I opened the large glass doors of the building I worked in. I greeted Jeff, the security guard, while dropping a small brown bag on his desk while he was on the phone, and then made my way over to the elevator.
“Thanks, Emma!” I heard and turned to see him holding up the brown bag.
“No problem. It’s your favorite muffin, Morning Glory, as always.”
“You’re the best.” He waved.
I took the elevator up to the twenty-fifth floor and walked out of the elevator to see the familiar sign reading Image Hackers on the wall.
I opened the office door and made my way inside, walking through the office.
It was busy this morning, but I still heard the low mumbles surrounding me as I made my way to my corner office.
I rarely paid any attention to anyone in this office, but this morning those same inaudible murmurs I heard bothered me.
My co-workers deemed me the Ice Queen because I treated each case with a lack of emotion and precision, like a surgeon.
They also didn’t like the fact that I kept my private life private, which gave them less to talk about.
Not that there was much to talk about. Our private life was dead.
Mark and I never went on double dates; we also didn’t participate in any office events with this office.
With the amount of gossip that went on here, I’d had no other choice than to pull away, especially after the great scandal sheet that went around.
Actually, with the amount of gossip that goes on in any office, it should be enough to make everyone realize the importance of keeping important things private.
Then, sometimes I wondered if gossip might not spice things up between us.
I wasn’t happy with how things were, just like he wasn’t, but the truth was we were both married to our jobs.
The only dates we ever went on now were with his clients, which were always business related, and recently he’d stopped asking me to go with him on those unless it was an important dinner like this weekend because he claimed I was too busy with work to attend most times. Which honestly wasn’t a lie.
I placed my coffee down on my desk, pulled my laptop from my bag, and began setting up my desk, getting myself prepared for what I hoped was a busy week. I was just about to check my email when I heard a tiny knock on my door, and I looked up to see Jane standing there, a small smile on her face.
“Morning, Emma. I just wanted to let you know Kerry has asked to see you. She has an assignment for you.”
“Oh, wonderful. Do you know the details?” I asked, excited to learn more.
Jane shook her head. “All she said was that it was massively important, and she wants to see you immediately.”
“Okay,” I said, frowning as I grabbed my notebook and pen.
Five minutes later, I walked into Kerry’s office and took a seat across from her. I smoothed my skirt, then crossed my legs, opened my notebook, and got ready to make notes as I always did.
“You can put your notebook down,” she said, opening her top drawer, pulling out a file, which she placed on her desk, and then clasped her hands together in front of her.
“I’ve been working on some things for the past month, and this morning I got the call with permission to move ahead. I need someone to take on a rather urgent case.”
“I’m all ears.” I smiled.
“It’s a do-or-die sort of case, and you are the only person in this entire office I can trust enough to take this on. In trust, I mean holding yourself out there to represent this company the way you always do, but also, to keep things private for the sake of the client.”
“Wow, okay, well you’ve piqued my curiosity,” I said, smiling, knowing immediately it must be someone with a high public profile.
“I’m glad. It’s not just the case. I owe someone a huge favor, and when this came across my desk originally, I knew it was my way to pay them back. Under no circumstances can this fail.”
I sat up a little straighter, noting the look in Kerry’s eyes. She wasn’t joking around; she was serious.
“Of course. I’ll do whatever it is, and you know I’ll take it seriously. You can trust me on that,” I replied. “I love working for Image Hackers, and I always handle every case with discretion and professionalism,” I said.
“I know. That was why I immediately thought of you this morning when I got the approval,” she said, getting up and going over to her small coffee station, pouring two cups and bringing them back over to her desk, placing one cup in front of me.
“It also works perfectly since you’ve finished your entire caseload and are completely clear for a while. ”
“Thank you, yes, I worked hard to get all the loose ends wrapped up in a timely manner so I could start fresh in the fall, although the cases weren’t that challenging, but they are all finished now,” I said, taking a sip.
“Well, I hate to say it, but this one might be a little different from the others. Tell me, what do you know about hockey star Colton Fox?”
I swallowed hard. “Colton Fox?” I asked.
“Yes, Colton Fox.”