Chapter 19
The morning sun poured into the spacious office where Emma sat at her desk, tapping her pen against a notebook. Normally, her thoughts would be consumed by schedules, plans, and everything she was learning under Clara's guidance. But today, her mind was elsewhere—on Leo.
Since the night at the mall, a strange feeling had settled in her chest. She couldn't explain it, but every time she thought about Leo, she felt a flutter that both excited and terrified her.
"Why do I feel this way?" Emma murmured, flipping her notebook closed and leaning back in her chair.
Rebecca's voice interrupted her musings. "You've been awfully quiet today. Something on your mind?"
Emma flinched slightly and looked up at Rebecca, who had entered the room with her signature air of elegance and authority. "No, it's nothing," Emma replied quickly, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "That's not convincing at all. Come on, let's take a break. You need some fresh air and food."
Before Emma could protest, Rebecca had already grabbed her bag and was waiting at the door. Emma sighed and followed, hoping Rebecca wouldn't press her too hard.
They ended up at a cozy little café not far from the office. Rebecca ordered for both of them, her choices surprisingly simple given her usual high-class demeanor. As the food arrived, Rebecca leaned forward, her sharp eyes locking onto Emma.
"Alright, spill. What's been eating at you?" Rebecca said, her tone gentle but firm.
Emma hesitated, her fingers playing with the edge of her napkin. "It's nothing serious, really."
"Emma." Rebecca's voice softened. "You've been distracted all day. You're not yourself. You can trust me."
Emma looked down at her plate, struggling to find the words. "It's… It's about Leo."
Rebecca's eyebrow arched, but she said nothing, giving Emma space to continue.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," Emma admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Since the other night, I've been feeling… weird. Every time I think about him, my chest feels tight. And at the mall, when I saw him with that girl—" She stopped, her hands clenching into fists.
Rebecca leaned back, her expression unreadable. "Ah, so that's what this is about."
Emma glanced up nervously. "What do you mean?"
Rebecca smiled faintly. "It's obvious, isn't it? You like him."
Emma's face turned scarlet. "I-I don't! I mean, I can't—he's just—"
Rebecca waved a hand to stop her rambling. "Relax. It's not a crime to have feelings for someone, Emma. But if you're this confused, maybe it's time you figure out exactly what those feelings are."
Before Emma could respond, a commotion at the entrance drew their attention.
Two young men in designer clothes strutted into the café, their loud voices cutting through the peaceful atmosphere. They scanned the room and zeroed in on Emma and Rebecca.
"Well, well, look what we have here," one of them sneered, his gaze lingering on Emma. "Hey, sweetheart, why don't you ditch your friend and come sit with us?"
Emma froze, her heart racing. She averted her eyes, hoping they would go away.
Rebecca, however, didn't flinch. Her icy gaze turned to the two men, and her tone was cold enough to freeze the air. "I suggest you walk away. Now."
The second man laughed. "Oh, come on. We're just being friendly. No need to be rude."
Rebecca's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You have three seconds to leave before this gets ugly."
They didn't take the hint. The first man stepped closer to Emma, reaching out as if to grab her arm.
Rebecca moved faster than Emma could process. In an instant, she was on her feet, her hand gripping the man's wrist with enough force to make him yelp.
"What the hell—" he started, but his words turned into a scream as Rebecca twisted his arm behind his back and shoved him to the floor.
The second man lunged at her, but Rebecca sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a precise kick to his shin that sent him sprawling.
Emma gasped, her hands flying up to cover her eyes as Rebecca continued her assault. She didn't want to see what was happening, but the sounds of grunts and muffled cries made it impossible to ignore.
"Rebecca, stop!" Emma pleaded, her voice trembling.
Rebecca's tone was calm, almost bored. "Don't worry, Emma. I'm just teaching them some manners."
When the chaos finally subsided, Rebecca stood over the two men, her expression cool and composed. They were lying on the floor, groaning in pain and clutching their injuries.
"Now," Rebecca said, her voice razor-sharp, "apologize to the lady and get out."
The men scrambled to their feet, muttering hurried apologies before fleeing the café.
Rebecca sat back down as if nothing had happened, picking up her fork and resuming her meal. Emma slowly lowered her hands, her face pale.
"W-What was that?" Emma stammered.
Rebecca shrugged. "Just a little reminder that money doesn't excuse bad behavior."
Emma stared at her, equal parts terrified and impressed. "You… You didn't have to go that far."
Rebecca smiled faintly. "Trust me, Emma. People like that only understand one language, and I'm fluent in it."
Emma's heart was still racing, but a part of her felt grateful. Rebecca had protected her without hesitation.
"Thank you," Emma said softly.
Rebecca looked at her, her expression softening. "Anytime. Now, about Leo…"
Emma groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Can we not talk about him right now?"
Rebecca chuckled. "Fine. But you can't avoid the subject forever, Emma. You'll have to face your feelings sooner or later."
Emma sighed, picking at her food. Deep down, she knew Rebecca was right. But for now, she just wanted to focus on getting through the rest of the day.