Emilia Peyton
Emilia was glad she made the decision to not check out of the hotel because it looked like she was going to be spending a few days there. She had already packed all her belongings from the house and sent them to one of the many apartments she owned. She hadn't bothered to furnish them before, she didn't see the need because no one was living in them. She would move into the house but it was still empty. She would have to put it in order before she could settle in and that would take a few days. So for now, the hotel was going to be her home.
She was tired and hungry. She had forgotten to eat with all the trouble going on.
She was staying at the royal pavilion hotel, a well known hotel. It was owned by her father's friend, Mr Daniel McKay. The only person she trusted in this cruel world she was forced to live in. He treated her like she was his daughter and when he heard that she was staying in his hotel, he made sure she got only the best treatment despite not being in the country.
He was currently in Greece, alongside his wife and daughter, who recently gave birth. They were a really wonderful family and Emilia sometimes envied them. She wanted something like that, a family. She wanted to be loved, not because of her looks or money. A genuine love.
By the time she arrived at her hotel room, it was already past 8.
Today was indeed a stressful and eventful day. From the encounter with Liam to the one with her uncle and his family, she just wanted to have a nice dinner, a long bath and a good sleep.
*******************************************************
1 week later
Emilia was now settled into her apartment, after days of buying furniture and home appliances. The apartment was two hours away from her uncle's house and the company. Just the way she liked it.
About the company, her uncle had taken a foolish move recently.
She went to the company as usual on Friday but when she entered her office, there was someone else in her chair. Julia.
He had fired her from the company and given it to Julia to handle. Julia! What a joke.
The only thing that bothered her was the fact that she was going have too much work by the time she claims ownership of the company. It had only been a few days and the company was already suffering. She knew this because she was an anonymous shareholder in the company. The workers in the company were all her people and they loved her despite how coldly she acted towards them. They knew that she was good at her job. Naya was keeping her updated on the happenings in the company and things weren't looking good.
Julia was taking decisions on her own without consulting the board of directors or even Naya. She had no experience in business management and she wasn't good at anything, well if sleeping around counted as one. had to take back her company fast before Julia damaged it beyond repair.
She was staying in today since she had nothing to do and she had no friends. Before, she had been too busy with work that she didn't realize how boring and lonely her life was. She wanted to share her problems with someone, to laugh and cry about random things with, but she had none. Her life was so sad that it made her want to cry.
Ring Ring.
She felt the buzzing of her phone and then the ringtone followed immediately.
She only had a few contacts saved on her phone and they were all work related well apart from her uncle and his family.
Looking at the caller ID, she realized that it was an unknown number. She hadn't given her number out to anyone recently so she was skeptical about answering the call. She answered anyways.
" Hello." The person on the other line spoke. The voice was too familiar. It was impossible to forget, not when the person behind the voice has been invading her thoughts these past few days.
" Hello, can I know who I'm speaking with please." She says pretentiously.
" It's Liam, Emilia." He says with a bored tone.
She had no idea that hearing her name from someone's mouth could cause butterflies to erupt in her tummy. She could feel her body reacting once again, but this time, it was to his –voice?
She quickly shakes her head and clears her voice before speaking.
" How did you get my number?" She asks, her voice coming out strong.
" I have my ways." He replies and Emilia rolls her eyes. He probably said that with a shrug. He was so full of himself.
The line goes silent for a bit before Liam continues.
" I called to inform you that we will be having dinner with my family tomorrow. My mom wants to see you. I'll pick you up from your house at 6." He says.
Emilia was furious. The nerve of this man.
She hadn't told him that she agreed to the marriage yet and here he was commanding her like she was a little child. He wasn't even asking her.
" No, no Liam. Look, I know you're used to this life were you just tell people things and they do them without question but I'm sorry to inform you that you won't be doing that with me." She says angrily.
" I'm sorry what? You said something?" He says over the phone acting like he didn't hear her.
Emilia groaned in annoyance.
" You need to ask me first Liam, ask if I'm free tomorrow, if I want to go to that dinner. Don't tell me to do things, ask." She says in a low but frightening voice.
" You are free tomorrow Emilia. You no longer work at Peyton Inc. You may not have realized this but you are now jobless." He says mockingly.
It's been barely a week since she stopped working there and the news of her dismissal was everywhere.
The media was good. Too good for her liking.
" If my calculations are right, you now need this marriage more than I do. After all, it is the only way you can get your company back, IF you want it back." He says.
He was right. She would be foolish to not get married to him. Her uncle has just made the negotiation easier for Liam. Hell, he wasn't even negotiating anymore. He had the upper hand and he knew it.
" Of course I want my company back." She replies immediately.
" I thought so. I'll pick you up at six tomorrow. Do I need to arrange for a dress and make-up team." He says in a sarcastic tone.
" Thank you but I can handle my own things. I'm not exactly poor you know." She retorts immediately.
" I know, just jobless." He says.
Damn this man.
" Well, I guess that is all. See you tomorrow Emilia." He says as he hangs up.
Well, that went well.
She was really doing this then. Once she goes for that dinner it would mean that she consented to the marriage. There would be no going back.
" Let's do this Emilia. It's for mum and dad." She assured herself.
She couldn't loose her parents company to her uncle, not when she had a way of saving it. It would be unfair.
Her decision was final.
She would marry Liam.
A few hours after the call, she suddenly remembered the conversation and--
He said he was going to pick her up from her house. Her uncle's house to be precise.
Shit.