Unexpected Journeys

Emmy groaned in frustration as she flopped onto her bed, her phone alarm buzzing insistently to remind her of her tutoring session. She glanced at the screen, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. "Why can't I just take a break?" she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples.

The thought of heading to Lisa's house to tutor the bright but energetic child felt overwhelming, especially knowing she'd have to rush to her meeting with Alexander afterward. Her body ached from the long, draining day, and all she wanted was a moment of peace.

After finally making it back home, Emmy had managed to catch a short nap. But just as she began to feel a sliver of relief, she realized with a sinking feeling that her day was far from over. The weight of her commitments pressed heavily on her as she sat there, staring blankly at the wall, wishing for just a little more time to herself.

After thirty minutes, Emmy stood at the bus stop, ready to tackle the rest of her demanding day. She wore a crisp button-down shirt tucked neatly into tailored grey pants, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. The setting sun cast a golden glow on her face, highlighting her features in a way that could catch anyone's eye. It was moments like this that made it easy to see why she had earned the title of "beauty with brains" back in school.

As she waited, Emmy pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to Amy:

[Don't wait for me. Head straight to the meeting venue—I'll go there directly after class.]

Hitting send, Emmy let out a small sigh. The evening still stretched ahead of her, but she mentally steeled herself, determined to see it through. The bus approached in the distance, and she straightened her posture, ready to move forward despite the fatigue clinging to her.

Though it wasn't her first time entering the Rosewood family mansion, Emmy couldn't help but glance at the vibrant flowers lining the path as she made her way to the main door. The perfectly manicured gardens and colorful blooms seemed to exude a quiet elegance that still managed to catch her attention, even in her tired state.

The walk from the grand main gate to the imposing front door felt like an exercise routine in itself, especially after her long day. She wished, not for the first time, that the bus could stop right at the mansion's gates.

As she approached, the guards at the entrance gave her polite smiles, their expressions warm with familiarity. Emmy returned the gesture, grateful for their kindness, before stepping into the mansion.

As Emmy entered through the grand main door and walked along the hall towards the study room where she usually met Lisa, her mind wandered to the enigmatic Rosewood family. Lost in thought, she was abruptly jolted back to reality when she collided with something—or rather, someone—tall and unyielding.

Quickly regaining her senses, she looked up to find herself face-to-face with David Rosewood. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized her mistake.

"Sorry, Mr. Rosewood," Emmy mumbled, her eyes darting everywhere but at him.

David raised a brow, his expression unreadable. "I guess Lisa has an extra class to attend today," he remarked, seemingly brushing off her apology. Then, after a beat, he added casually, "David. David is fine."

Emmy nodded, eager to move on, but as she attempted to sidestep him, he cleared his throat. She froze, internally groaning. What does he want now? She wondered.

"I just realized I don't know your surname," David said, his tone conversational yet his gaze piercing. "So, I suppose I'll call you Emerald?"

Emmy suppressed a sigh. Why was he engaging in unnecessary discussions?

With practiced patience, she replied, "My name is Emerald Peterson. And yes, you can call me Emerald—or Emmy, as my friends do." She finished her sentence with a polite but firm tone, then quickly made her way to the study room before David could prolong the conversation.

David stood in the hallway, hands tucked into his pockets, watching her retreating figure. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he shook his head. There was something about her—a quiet determination, perhaps—that always seemed to pique his interest.

…

Away from the Rosewood mansion, three men stood before an old wooden door, their harsh knocking shattering the eerie silence of the quiet neighborhood. The sound echoed ominously through the narrow alley, drawing no response from inside.

The tallest of the three, a bodyguard with a steely demeanor, clenched his jaw in impatience. "Break the door," he commanded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Without hesitation, the other two men stepped forward and rammed their shoulders into the door. It splintered open with a loud crash, revealing the dim interior of the small house.

Inside, in the corner of a sparsely furnished room, an elderly woman lay on a creaky bed, her labored breaths filling the stale air. Her frail body trembled as her eyes widened at the sight of the intruders.

The three men loomed over her, their faces shrouded in shadow. Her heart raced, and panic surged through her as she struggled to speak. Before she could utter a word, her vision began to blur, and darkness crept in at the edges.

Her final conscious thought was a mix of fear and despair, as the presence of the men became the last thing she registered before everything went black.

…

Amy checked her phone for what felt like the hundredth time, her foot tapping against the floor in barely concealed impatience. She glanced at the door, still no sign of Emmy. Across from her, Alexander leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, though the slight smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. Every so often, he'd glance at her, finding her restlessness amusing.

Earlier that evening, as Amy was about to leave work, Alexander had unexpectedly approached her. "I'll drive you to the hotel," he'd said matter-of-factly, leaving no room for argument. Before she could protest, he'd already called one of the company drivers, instructing them to take her car back to her apartment.

Now, as she sat across from him in the upscale hotel restaurant, she couldn't help but feel a little awkward under his sharp gaze. Amy wasn't used to being chauffeured around, let alone by someone like Alexander. But despite her impatience and the growing worry about Emmy's tardiness, she had to admit—Alexander had a knack for making people feel both at ease and on edge simultaneously.

Just as Alex was about to say something that would only make things worse, Emmy walked up to their table, offering a sheepish smile.

"I hope I didn't take too long," she said, her voice tinged with slight embarrassment.

Amy rolled her eyes in exasperation, while Alex glanced between the two women, captivated. It was hard to decide which one was more beautiful.

"I'm Alexander Jonas," Alex said, offering his hand to Emmy, who took it with a warm smile.

"I'm Emerald Peterson. Nice to meet you, Mr. Jonas."

"Same here, and by the way, Alex is fine," he replied, and they moved on to place their orders. When the waiter left, Emmy cleared her throat.

"Since we're here to discuss my issue, I'd like to get straight to the point," she said, her tone both serious and polite.

"Of course, Emerald. I'll do my best to help you—unless, of course, you'd prefer I dig into the CEO's background and make him fall for you," Alex said, his expression deadpan. This time, both women couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, the thing is, my dad is Luke Peterson, and I'm sure you know he owns The Queens," Emerald began, pausing for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I want you to investigate his past and find out if there was any specific reason why he abandoned me and my grandmother when I was three years old. By the way, I'm twenty-four now," Emmy added, ensuring she left out no detail that might help with the investigation.

"Also, I'm not sure if he's still married, because I haven't seen or heard from my mom either," Emmy added, taking a moment to think of anything else that might be important. Meanwhile, Amy quietly observed the exchange between the two.

"I never really…" Alex started, but his words were interrupted as the waiter arrived, placing the drinks and appetizers on the table.