Chapter 7
Frank sat behind his desk, the view of New York's skyline spread before him, but his mind wasn't on the city. It was on her Emma. His thoughts had been consumed by her since the moment she had walked out of his life. He couldn't stop thinking about the way she looked that night, the way she had seemed so vulnerable but so strong at the same time. How had he let her slip away so easily?
His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a text from his assistant.
"Mr. Parker, someone is here to see you. She says it's urgent."
Frank frowned. He hadn't scheduled any meetings for the day, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was Emma. Without a second thought, he stood up and walked toward the door.
A moment later, it opened, and there she was—Emma, standing in the doorway. She looked as stunning as ever, but her eyes were filled with determination, mixed with something else he couldn't quite place.
"Emma…" Frank said, his voice catching in his throat.
She didn't say anything at first. She just stood there, her gaze fixed on him, measuring him as though she were trying to figure out if he was the same man she had met weeks ago—or if he had changed.
Finally, Emma spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "I'm not here for a reunion, Frank," she said, stepping inside. "I'm here because we need to talk about the reality we're both facing."
Frank's chest tightened at her words. He had been hoping for a chance to explain himself, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon, or with so much weight.
"What do you want to talk about?" he asked, his voice low.
Emma crossed her arms, looking at him with an intensity that made Frank feel as though she could see right through him. "I want to talk about the consequences of that night. The night we both got drunk and made a mistake. A mistake that now involves a child."
The air between them felt heavy, and Frank felt as though the ground had shifted beneath his feet. His heart began to race, and he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "I know I messed up," he said quietly, looking away. "I know that I shouldn't have let things go as far as they did."
Emma shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. "It's not just about the mistake, Frank. It's about what comes next. We have a responsibility now—both of us."
Frank stepped toward her, a sense of urgency flooding his chest. "I don't want to run away from this. I'll take responsibility, Emma. I know I haven't been there, but I will be. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."
Emma's eyes softened slightly, but there was still doubt in them. "It's not just about the child, Frank," she said, her voice quieter now. "It's about trust. And I don't know if I can trust you."
Her words cut through him like a blade, and Frank had no answer for her. How could he expect her to trust him? He had pushed her away when all she had wanted was honesty and understanding.
"I understand," Frank said, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't deserve your trust right now. But I'm willing to work for it. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Emma sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She was clearly torn, but Frank could see that the walls she had built up weren't as strong as they seemed. "I didn't come here for promises, Frank. I came here because I need to know if you're willing to step up. If you're willing to be there—not just for me, but for the child."
Frank's heart thudded in his chest. The weight of her words was almost too much to bear. "I am," he said firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "I will be there. I'm not asking for anything from you. I just want to be part of the child's life. That's the least I can do."
Emma looked at him for a long moment, her face unreadable. Finally, she nodded, though the uncertainty in her eyes remained. "We'll see," she said softly. "But this won't be easy. You've hurt me, Frank. You've hurt both of us. And it's going to take time for me to trust you again."
Frank nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle on his shoulders. "I'll prove to you that I'm serious. I'll do whatever it takes. I just need a chance."
Emma stood there for a moment, considering his words. Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward the door. But before leaving, she glanced back at him.
"Don't make me regret this," she said softly, and with that, she was gone.
Frank stood there for a long time, the silence in the room pressing down on him. He had just made the first step, but he knew it wasn't going to be easy. Trust, once broken, was hard to rebuild. But Frank was determined. He wasn't going to let Emma or their child slip through his fingers. He had to prove that he could be more than the man who had made a mistake. He had to be someone worthy of her trust and of their future.