It was as if she could physically shut out the memories, sealing them away, at least for the moment.
Emma felt a sense of insanity creeping in. Why was she allowing these thoughts to plague her again?
Bright.
The man who embodied her most bitter mistake.
Every encounter was destined to end in parting. What did she expect?
Emma kept slapping her cheeks firmly, attempting to shake off her thoughts, and then sat on the edge of her bed. It was better to focus on her work issues rather than drown in her melancholic past.
Emma was just starting to drift into a daze when her phone suddenly rang loudly. The quiet atmosphere of her home made the sound feel deafening. She nearly jumped in her place.
She quickly answered the call.
As soon as the phone touched her ear, Nina's high-pitched voice filled her ear. "Emma! Are you busy over there? Loads of work on your plate?"
"Hm, not particularly," Emma replied lazily. She hadn't meant to sound so lackluster, but Nina's question reminded her of what had happened the day before. "What's up? I'm actually considering taking a break."
"Oh? Have you broken up with your mama's boy boyfriend? What was his name? Kyle?" Nina inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Cole. Cole Armstrong," Emma replied, her tone tinged with irritation. Nina had repeatedly badmouthed Cole, and she was getting tired of it. "We haven't broken up. Cole has just been missing for a little over a month."
Nina let out a light, mocking laugh. "Where did he go this time? He does love to travel and spend his rich parents' money."
Emma sighed and replied with a hint of exasperation, "That's true. But, you know, it's precisely because he's wealthy that I'm dating him, right?" Her words carried a playful edge.
Nina's laughter continued, "Oh, you! I thought you loved him!"
Emma's voice turned more serious, tinged with a touch of cynicism. "Love? Does anyone still believe in love these days?"
Their conversation carried the weight of years of disillusionment, love gone wrong, and relationships that had shattered Emma's faith in the idea of true love.
"Oh, never mind love affairs! I have something important to discuss with you. But I want to make sure you're not handling divorce cases again, are you?"
"No, I'm done with that," Emma replied.
Nina chuckled, and it sounded like she was venting her frustration by pounding something. Emma hoped it wasn't a person, as the sound was quite loud.
Nina's laughter was a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that had taken hold of Emma's thoughts.
There was an infectious quality to Nina's energy that managed to pull Emma out of her emotional abyss.
Emma leaned back on her chair, allowing herself a small smile. "Alright, Nina, you've got my attention. What's this important matter you want to discuss?"
"Hey, you're not kidding, are you? I'm serious. I have a fantastic job offer for you!" she said.
Emma sighed. "I'm serious too. I'm not handling any cases at the moment."
More precisely, Emma wanted to take a leave of absence. She needed a break to prevent her head from exploding.
She also intended to close her law firm until her savings were enough to cover the overdue rent.
"Then, would you like to join me as part of the legal team in the neighboring kingdom?"
Emma raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Legal team? Where is this?"
"It's in Dominic Grant, directly under the command of Prince Alejandro!" Nina's voice took on an excited, almost squeaky tone as she mentioned the prince's name, as if she couldn't contain her admiration.
"You know, Prince Alejandro, the handsome, kind-hearted, charming, extraordinary, sweet as honey, and intoxicating as absinthe? He's still single. Who knows, maybe we'll find love while working there. We suspect he's searching for a life partner under the guise of a job opening in their monarchy!"
Emma chuckled, the idea of a prince searching for a partner in a job vacancy seeming a bit far-fetched. Nonetheless, the opportunity intrigued her.
Emma couldn't help but chuckle at Nina's enthusiasm. She found her friend's admiration for the prince rather amusing.
"Prince Alejandro, huh?" Emma teased. "I think I've heard of him."
Nina continued, "Yes, that's the one! He's been doing a lot of progressive work in his kingdom. And they're looking for legal experts to help with various matters, especially in international law. It's a big opportunity, Emma, and I thought of you immediately."
Emma considered the offer. A job in a neighboring kingdom, working with legal matters, and the possibility of crossing paths with the charming prince—how could she resist such an intriguing proposal?
"Alright, Nina," Emma finally said, her tone more serious. "I'm in. Tell me more about this position and what I need to do."
Nina's excitement soared as she shared the details, and for the first time in a while, Emma felt a glimmer of anticipation and excitement about her career.
"The salary is very generous, and they are in desperate need of a strong legal team. They're a small but prosperous kingdom, and the neighboring countries are attempting to encroach on Dominic Grant. They're looking for a legal way out, and I know you're an expert in this field," Nina continued after tempering her initial enthusiasm.
Emma fell into a brief moment of contemplation, weighing the offer. Her current job had been testing her patience, so joining Nina didn't sound like a bad idea. Plus, she could use a change of scenery.
The neighboring kingdom was vastly different from her city, and perhaps some time away would do her good.
Nina elaborated on the reasons the kingdom needed a robust legal team, describing the ongoing land disputes with the neighboring states. Despite being small, the kingdom was both prosperous and peaceful.
Nina painted a vivid picture of the kingdom's precarious situation, where the stakes were high due to the relentless efforts of neighboring nations to seize control of the prosperous Dominic Grant. Their peaceful and thriving territory had become a target of envy and greed.