The sentiments developing in his heart made him anxious. Before they got bigger and he lost control of his emotions, Jake had to devise a strategy and stop it from growing.
First, he should avoid Emily at all costs. This means he should only speak with her when necessary and on the phone, not in person, where things could happen at any time.
Jake was so lost in contemplation that he was unaware they had already reached their house.
"Thank you, Jake, for getting me home. "If you have time today, we should finish signing the contract so it is out of the way," Emily stated as she prepared to exit.
Jake pondered if his new conditions should still be used as a farce. However, if she agrees, it might not be a horrible idea.
It's an extra benefit that both of them may appreciate. They are already legally married, so anything that happens will be lawful.
And if she becomes pregnant again, having another kid is not a terrible idea. He was still unsure why he hadn't heard Emily speak.
When he came to his senses, Emily was already inside the house.
After much thought, Jake decided to return to his office and sever his communication and interaction as soon as possible.
He's not ready to settle down yet and doesn't want to let his family intervene in his love life.
"Return to the office." He ordered the driver, then leaned back and closed his eyes.
***
Meanwhile, Emily was met with commotion as she entered the house. She could hear their voices as she walked in.
One was Uncle Earl, and the other was Lewis's butler. She worriedly went straight to the dining room to intervene.
Jake's butler was arguing with Uncle Earl in the dining room. They appear to be about to fight with their fists.
However, at that moment, they were only having a shouting match while all the household employees were watching from the sidelines to see who would win.
"Who are you to tell me what I should do? What is your role in this household in order to behave as my employer? You are not paying my income; thus, you do not influence what I can and cannot do on this property!"
Butler Green yelled out, aiming a closed fist at Uncle Earl, which is hilarious from Emily's point of view.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about. I am not telling you what you should or shouldn't do. Since we will be living together, I am only advising you on how to run the home effectively. I've been serving the Moore Family for decades, and my wife and I have been with Miss Emily Moore since she was born with young master Aiden." Shouted back, Uncle Earl.
The two butlers were about to get into it. Emily had no alternative except to intercede.
"Stop! What are you both doing? I can't believe this is happening in our house."
Her voice was loud enough to rouse the dead, causing the two older guys to come to a halt and pause, staring at her as she approached them. Both couldn't look her in the eye.
John and James, who had been watching from the sidelines the entire time, moved closer to Emily and positioned themselves behind her in a menacing manner to terrify the two older men.
All of a sudden, the dining room was silent and unsettling. Nobody spoke as Emily, her two hands on her hips, gazed at them angrily.
"First and foremost, we need to have a meeting. Everyone, please come over to the parlor!" She bellowed for all the household staff to hear.
She turned to go back into the more secluded parlor, mumbling. Uncle Earl and Butler Watson showed up a few minutes later, accompanied by the ten uniformed household staff members.
Having been in Aiden's room, Aiden and Aunty Ofelia were unaware of what was happening below in the parlor.
But Aiden was thirsty and asked Aunty Ofelia if they could go down.
As they descended the stairs, they noticed every domestic worker meandering toward the parlor like a swarm of bees.
Aunty Ofelia followed to find out what was happening, along with Aiden in two.
Emily was sitting on the massive leather couch; her nose bridge pinched between her fingers.
She was under a lot of stress and had a developing headache. When she realized they were all there, she looked at each employee.
"Let everyone introduce themselves first and tell me about your responsibilities within the family. Both of you!"
She gestured toward Butler Watson and Uncle Earl with her finger. "Sit down and cool off." And with that, she sighed.
She had to pause for a bit since her headache was becoming worse. Aiden curiously walked slowly toward Emily, who sat beside his mother.
Aunty Ofelia also entered the room, following Aiden with curious eyes and looking at everyone before standing near Uncle Earl.
Emily gestured to Aunty Ofelia, "Aunty, please sit down," noticing she was standing.
"In this case, I need your assistance. I get a headache because of them." Emily's protests showed the pain on her face, so she became harsh and demanding.
The entire area was silent. Everyone appeared to be holding their breath, anticipating what would happen next.
The other employees regarded Uncle Earl and Aunty Ofelia as outsiders. Even though they weren't directly involved in the conflicts, they had been gossiping about them since they arrived, wondering about their relationship with Emily Moore.
Now that they see it, Emily refers to them as Aunt and Uncle, showing them that she treats them more like family than employees.
The staff members identified themselves and explained their tasks to Emily individually.
Emily compiled a list of everyone's jobs in the house and how long they had worked for Jake Lewis or the Lewis family.
She found it interesting that practically all of them had worked for the Lewis family for many years and were from a family that had supported the Lewis family for many generations...~~