As they finished their meal, Doctor Jack glanced at his watch. "I should probably get you back to your hotel," he said, smiling at Emily.
Emily nodded, gathering her purse and phone. "Yes, that would be great. Thank you."
Doctor Jack stood up, holding out his hand to help Emily up from her seat. As they walked out of the restaurant, he asked, "Would you like me to drive you to your hotel? I'm parked just around the corner."
Emily hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should accept a ride from someone she hadn't seen in two years. But as she looked around, she realized that she couldn't get an Uber on time. "Okay, that would be great, thank you," she said finally.
Doctor Jack smiled, leading her to his car. As they drove to the hotel, they chatted easily, catching up on each other's lives.
Meanwhile, across town, Emma was excited to welcome Cynthia to her newly furnished apartment. Cynthia had arrived promptly at noon, bearing a bouquet of flowers.
"Wow, your apartment is gorgeous!" Cynthia exclaimed, as Emma showed her around.
Emma beamed with pride. "Thanks, I just moved in a few weeks ago. I'm still getting used to it."
As they sat down to eat lunch, Cynthia asked, "So, Emma, what do you like to do for fun?"
Emma launched into a story about her job in the fashion industry, and Cynthia listened intently.
Just as they were finishing up lunch, Cynthia said, "I have to invite you to a fashion event tomorrow. It's going to be amazing!"
Emma's eyes lit up. "That sounds incredible! I'd love to go."
But then she remembered that her twin sister Emily was in town, and she had promised to catch up with her tomorrow.
"Wait, I'm so sorry," Emma said, "but I think I have plans tomorrow. My twin sister is in town, and I haven't seen her in ages."
Cynthia's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, you're a twin? That must be really cool!"
Emma laughed. "Sometimes. It has its perks and downsides."
That evening, Emily called Emma on the phone. "Hey, Em! When are you going to come see me tomorrow?"
"I'll be at your hotel by 3 pm tomorrow to pick you up," Emma replied. "I want to give you a tour of my new apartment."
"Sounds like a great idea," Emily said. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," Emma said. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
As Emma was getting ready to pick up Emily, she had a sudden thought. Why not invite Emily to Cynthia's fashion event? It would be a great opportunity for the three of them to hang out together.
Emma arrived at Emily's hotel room promptly at 3 pm. The two sisters were overjoyed to see each other, hugging and kissing each other tightly.
"I've missed you so much!" Emma exclaimed.
"I've missed you too!" Emily replied. "How's New York? How's everything?"
Emma laughed. "It's all good. But first, let's get going. We have a fashion event to attend."
Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "A fashion event? What's that about?"
"It's Cynthia's event," Emma explained. "She's a fashion designer, and she's showcasing her latest collection. I thought it would be fun for us to go together."
Emily nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds like a blast. Let's go!"
The two sisters arrived at the venue, where they were greeted by Cynthia. She was thrilled to meet Emily, and she welcomed them to the VIP section.
As they sipped their cocktails and watched the runway show, Emily was stunned by the gorgeous outfits that Cynthia had designed.
"Wow, these are incredible," Emily said, turning to Emma. "Cynthia is so talented."
Emma smiled proudly. "I know, right? She's amazing."
As the show came to a close, the MC called up Cynthia to give her vote of thanks. Cynthia walked up to the microphone, beaming with pride.
"Thank you all so much for coming," she said. "I'm so grateful to have such amazing friends and supporters. And a special thank you to our wonderful boyfriend Jack."
The crowd clapped as Cynthia invited Doctor Jack to the stage. Emily's eyes widened in surprise as Doctor Jack walked up to the stage, smiling at Cynthia.
Cynthia continued, "I would also like to give a special thanks to the man behind my success, my wonderful boyfriend Doctor Jack."
As Doctor Jack reached the stage, he pecked Cynthia on the cheek, and the crowd applauded. Emily's eyes were fixed on Doctor Jack, her mind racing with surprise and curiosity.
Is this not the same Jack I met yesterday at the restaurant? she thought to herself. And he's Cynthia's boyfriend?
As Emma looked up at the stage, her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait a minute," she thought to herself. "This is the same Doctor Jack I met two years ago. And he's Cynthia's boyfriend?"
Emma's eyes darted to Emily, who was also looking at Doctor Jack in surprise. The two sisters exchanged a glance, both of them thinking the same thing.
As Doctor Jack finished his vote of thanks and stepped down from the stage, Cynthia took his arm and led him over to the twins.
"Hi girls," Cynthia said, smiling. "I'd like you to meet someone special. This is my boyfriend, Doctor Jack."
Doctor Jack's eyes met Emily's, and he felt a jolt of surprise. He hadn't expected to run into her again, especially not here.
"Doctor Jack, meet my friends Emma and her twin sister Emily," Cynthia said, beaming with pride.
The group stood there in awkward silence for a moment, until Emma broke the silence.
"Doctor Jack, I remember you from two years ago when you came to our school," Emma said, smiling.
Doctor Jack's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh Emma, that's true," he said. "How have you been?"
Cynthia looked at them in surprise. "Wait, you guys know each other?"
Emma laughed. "Not really. We met twice two years ago, and then we lost contact."
Cynthia smiled. "Wow, small world. We should all go out for dinner sometime."
And with that, the four of them - Doctor Jack, Cynthia, Emma, and Emily - headed out to a fine dining restaurant for dinner.
As they sat down at the restaurant, they each took a moment to review the menu. After placing their orders, the conversation turned to their professions.
Cynthia, beaming with pride, talked about her latest fashion designs. Emma shared stories about her job in the fashion industry, and Emily discussed her work as a financial analyst.
Doctor Jack, trying to appear nonchalant, talked about his work as a medical doctor. However, his eyes kept drifting towards Emily, and he couldn't help but steal glances at her.
As the conversation flowed, Cynthia couldn't help but gush about Doctor Jack. "He's not only a brilliant doctor, but he's also an amazing partner," she said, smiling at him adoringly.
Doctor Jack smiled back at her, but his eyes betrayed his true feelings. He was still drawn to Emily, and being around her again was bringing up all sorts of emotions.
As they continued to chat, Doctor Jack asked Emily, "So, when are you heading back to Washington?"
Emily replied, "In two days' time."
As the meal progressed, Emily excused herself to use the ladies' room. As she was walking back to the table, she bumped into Doctor Jack in the passage.
Emily's head bent down, trying to avoid eye contact with Doctor Jack. But as she tried to walk past him, he reached out and caught her hand.
"Emily," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Emily's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him. She was shocked and surprised by his bold move, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions at his touch.
As Emily looked into Doctor Jack's eyes, she felt like she was drowning in the depths of his gaze. She held herself together and said, "Doctor Jack, please, can I...I would like for whatever it is that happened yesterday, that we spoke and all of that...I would like for it to remain in the past, and so that we can move on."
Doctor Jack still held her hand, looking at her with a deep longing in his eyes. "Emily, this is not easy for me," he said. "But ever since I lost my ex to a car accident, I've never felt this way for any woman in my life. The last time I felt this way was with my ex. I know you don't know anything about me, Emily, but I know love. I know this feeling. I know love when I see one. I know what it feels like, and I know you are scared, just as I'm scared too. But I know we could overcome it. We can overcome this together."
Emily felt a rush of emotions at his words. She knew she had to think fast, to come up with something to say to him to make him back off.
"I hope you're not thinking of calling off your relationship simply because you met someone you don't even know two years ago," Emily said, trying to sound calm. "Please, Doctor Jack, I know I told you I was single yesterday, but the truth is...I'm actually in a relationship with someone, and we're planning on getting married soon."
As soon as Emily finished speaking, she pulled her hand away from Doctor Jack's and walked back to the table. Doctor Jack followed closely behind her, his face expressionless.
As they walked back to the table together, Emma saw them approaching. The moment she saw Emily coming, with Doctor Jack behind her, it struck something in her. She could see the chemistry between them immediately, and she knew what was going to happen.
In fact, all of Emma's old jealousy and anger towards Emily started to come back. She felt a pang of resentment towards her twin sister, knowing that Doctor Jack was still drawn to her.
As they sat back down at the table, Emma suddenly got up, pretending to have received a phone call. "I'm so sorry, guys, but I have to go," she said, her voice urgent. "I'll drop Emily off at her hotel room."
The group quickly got up, saying their goodbyes. As Emma drove Emily back to her hotel room, the tension between them was palpable.
As they pulled up to the hotel, Emma turned to Emily and said, "Emily, I hope you're not trying to get down with Doctor Jack. As you can see, he has someone. I saw the way he stared at you at the table, and the way he looked at you while you were walking back. I just hope you don't want to come and ruin things for me and for my friends."
Emily looked
back at Emma, her eyes flashing with anger. "Emma, you are unbelievable," she said, before getting out of the car and walking back into her hotel room.