They stood there for a moment, before her words came tumbling out. “You don’t have to be like him, you know?”
Nicolas blinked, looking confused. “Excuse me?”
She gestured toward the hallway. “Your father. You don’t have to be like him. You can be respected without scaring the living sh—I mean, daylights out of everyone.”
He glanced down at the handkerchief in his hand briefly, then back at her. “You really think so?”
“Iknowso,” she stressed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
He didn’t respond. His brows, however, lifted and his eyes held a flicker of realization, as though she’d just solved some longstanding riddle for him.
Without another word, Emily walked to the door. She paused before opening it, glancing over her shoulder.
“Good luck, Nicolas.”
He nodded, still clutching the handkerchief.
“Goodbye, Emily.”
Then she turned the knob and walked out, leaving him with little stars dancing in the palm of his hand.
1
PRESENT DAY
Although it wasn’t all men, it was alwaysaman who was the bane of a lover girl’s existence.
Jake had charmed his way into Emily’s heart by offering a shoulder to lean on in her times of need. He also gave a listening ear which led to brushed lips until they found themselves in a four-year relationship.
She had prided herself on seeing through people’sfaçades,yet she’d missed the signs of him cheating on her. Humiliating. Utterlyhumiliating.
She’d found out when Jake had picked her up from the bachelorette party her sister threw with just the two of them. The public knew she was dating him, but they didn’t know they were engaged, let alone getting married. Except her sister and another person who lived across the country.
Emily was pulled into a recollection from five days ago where her drunken self had been eased into Jake’s BMW. They’d been in the parking lot of an exclusive club in SoHo, Lower Manhattan.
He’d rounded his side and had gotten in. Halfway into driving he’d slipped in an earbud, having picked up an incessant call. “Don’t come over. I’m staying at hers tonight.”
She’d barely made out his words, but she’d registered a string of curse words before the car had come to a stop.
Her fiancé had gotten out. Then another voice had joined him. “This is where you were, huh? Playing house with your fiancée while you ghost me.”
Emily had cracked her eyes open, her head pounding. Jake had been pacing. Then he’d turned and whispered, “Stella, not here.”
Stella? As in Stella Peterson?The rising star Jake had been paying tabloids to praise. Her old understudy.
“You said you’re only using her,” Stella had hissed. “No feelings involved.”
“Lower your voice. She’s passed out, not dead.”
Stella had shoved him against the car, jolting Emily from inside. “Kiss me.”
He’d hesitated, his eyes having flickered to Emily through the half-wound window.
“Kiss. Me.” Stella had repeated. “I didn’t tail you for nothing. I need reassurance. I need to know that you want me and not her, sokiss me.”
With a huff he’d given in, kissing Stella based on her responding moan. That was when Emily had risked a peek and had seen it, Jake’s mouth devouring Stella’s.
Emily had felt like the world had been flipped upside down, her stomach lurching with the need to throw up. Her eyes had quickly closed when both of theirs had reopened.
