Diana clapped a hand over her mouth. Her jade eyes bugging out with excitement when—

"Relax. We aren't. Engaged." He stated , killing her excitement right there.

Emma noted the confident smile slipping off Laura's face as she glanced at his stoic face.

"Yeah. I forgot. This is a promise ring." She gave off a nervous giggle. . looking at his side profile for affirmation.

Diana kept looking back and forth between them whilst Emma acted like she was a statue placed at the wrong venue.

"It's not. I got it because she liked it." He shrugged his heavy shoulders.

Emma wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She could see the color of embarrassment spreading on Laura's cheeks. Her baby blue eyes blinking rapidly as if to ward off. .tears?

"Max, what is this?" Diana asked slowly.

Maximus looked her dead in the eyes.

"She wanted to come and—"

Diana cut him off. " I'm asking about the ring. You don't just go off and buy a girl a diamond." Her voice was low, trying to make him understand the gravity of situation.

His dark eyebrows screed up.

"I got it simply because she —"

Laura didn't let him complete as she snatched her arm away from him and sprinted off. The sob escaping her red painted lips. To Emma it was a scene staring out of a soap opera, with the girl running up the stairs . .tears splashing down her face.

Diana sighed softly. . sounding tired.

"I didn't get engage." He repeated.

Closing her eyes, Diana struggled with her patience.

"Break this news to her because apparently she thinks it's an engagement ring. Of course the poor girl doesn't expect much from you so in her goldilocks head, you proposed to her by giving her a ring." Diana broke it down patiently and a knowing look dawned on his handsome face..

"Fuck. ." He breathed out.

"Please settle this with her. " Diana said while looking at the stairs as if Laura was lurking by.

He nodded. . looking up at the staircase.

Shaking his head , he walked towards the stairs.

And Emma turned rigid.

Acting like she was invisible as he came near with each step he took. Her eyes were glued to Diana's back but still. .still she felt the weight of his gaze burning her face. .his jaw flexing at seeing her watching everything from a safe distance.

Emma stopped breathing altogether when he passed by her. The woodsy cologne filling up her lungs. The tiny moment between them flashing in her head—the half hug— It was the sound of heavy footsteps that made her take a breath . .a huge lungful of breath.

He made breathing hard.

Slowly, she made her way towards her boss who was busy dictating a maid and Emma looked down , her eyes roaming over the . . .Dior suitcases.

"—you know how she is. I don't think they will be sharing a room."

The maid nodded obediently.

"Take her stuff to the guest room. Guess they will be spending some time together. " Diana seemed to be talking more to herself then at the maid.

The woman scurried off, taking all the instructions.

Noticing her presence, she huffed in annoyance. Emma had a feeling she didn't like the sudden entry.

"Is everything okay?" Emma asked noticing the frown lines on her beautiful face.

"Fine. It's just that. .," She trailed off , her eyes having a far away look ," why don't he notice you—"

"What?" Emma's puzzled voice electrocuted her.

She jolted awake.

"I mean—i don't think Laura and Max. .are made for each other. I know my brother well and I know what kind of girl he should be with but . . .it's too soon to say anything."

Emma nodded.

Yeah, too soon to say anything at all, she agreed.

××××××××××××

Turned out Laura Vitale was. . .a child stuck in an smoking hot body. A model , a fashionista .Emma had enough experience to read people and she had been observing her around .

Over the table.

With Diana.

At the lawn.

She had heard about a man child but now she was meeting a woman child. Laura would pout at not getting her poached egg at breakfast. She would end up in tears over the slightest of things.

And most importantly, she clung to Maximus like an eight legged octopus. For Emma, it was a rare sight to see the hardcore man engaging with the blonde bombshell.

Also, she had been actively avoiding Emma's existence. It's not that she had gone out to be a bat shit crazy bitch but. .she didn't recognize her presence. At all.

And to Emma it made her life easy at the mansion.

It had been half a week of her staying over and finally on the weekend, the ice broke between them. Decked in a body hugging dress, the plunging neckline leaving nothing to imagination. .she walked right in the kitchen.

Emma who was preparing a sandwich for herself, stilled at the sudden blast of perfume.

Knowing well who could it be.

She glanced around at the intruder and found her . . looking back at her. The baby blue eyes eyeing her with a guarded look.

"Do you want something?" Emma asked politely.

Her blonde eyebrow went up.

"You speak too? I thought you were mute or something." She said while flipping her golden locks over her shoulder. The silver dress blinding Emma when the light would hit it off.

"Umm I do speak quite well." Emma smiled watching the ice melting in her blue eyes.

"Can you get me a glass of water? My throat stings and Max will be here any moment."

Emma obliged , getting a chilled glass of water for her.

Greedily, she drank all of it. Not leaving a single drop. Sighing in pure pleasure, she thanked her.

"I have a question." She asked suddenly as Emma got the glass back.

"Yeah?"

"Do you love Maximus? It must be hard to resist him."

Emma's eyes shot up to her pretty face. Wanting to know if she was joking or—

Nope. She wasn't joking.

In fact she expected an answer.

Emma shook her head with force.

"No. No way. I don't— no." Emma's throat turned dry.

Laura's face cracked into a smile.

"Good. All this time I thought you were eyeing my man. I'm sorry for giving you a cold shoulder."

Emma was surprised at her open admission.

"I understand where you're coming from." Emma said sounding breathless.

At that moment , a car honked and Emma could hear the gates churning to open up.

"That's my cue to leave. See you later, Emma!" She grinned excitedly, turning around and click clacking away.

Emma's heartbeat had rise up.

She did not just ask her that!

Now , she could get why the hell had she been refusing to acknowledge her .

Because she was insecure about the man she claimed to be hers?

Someone should break it to her, it's not love if it's insecure.

"Whatever. ." She bristled.

But her heart had smirked.

×××××××××××××

The thunder was so bad, the glass windows shook with the force of it. Weather had turned from mild to dangerous. The harsh rain pitter pattered against the windows.

Diana had been asleep while she prepared to leave for her designated apartment.

But the awful weather didn't let her out.

Kopik had warned her not to leave tonight. Still, she had yelled at him that she would be alright.

And the old man had yelled back at her . "I ain't letting you go out on your own!"

Seeing the stubborn look on his face, Emma gave up. And walked back into the dimly lit mansion. The maids had gone out to their quarters tucked at the back of the house.

It was her and a sleeping Diana.

"She don't even know I'm staying over." Emma muttered to herself. Standing in the middle of the spacious lounge and hearing the wind roar. .

The leaping shadows on the walls seemed like floating ghosts. The oil paintings on the walls staring at her—or maybe she was staring hard at them? Hastily, she looked away. Not knowing what to do? Where to go?

She felt like the thunder was going to climb in the house any moment now. .

"Guess I should wake her up." She decided. The weather and the silence was getting on her nerves. .

She had just turned around when she heard it.

The honk.

And the gates opening up.

Emma stayed where she was. Knowing well who could it be . She warded off the dark whispers taking his name. . .

All she wanted were people. To surround her in this deathly silence. .it didn't matter if it was him. .

Her eyes were glued to the entrance, she twisted her hands around — jumping at the bellowing of the thunder—and that's when she saw the dark figure cutting in.

The lights flashed behind him. Illuminating half of his face . .

He seemed like a shadow standing on the threshold. A white dress shirt over charcoal black pants — he didn't notice her.

Emma too didn't make any noise.

He wasn't alone.

The woman stepped in , her figure wobbling around and she was giggling out loud.

"I can see my brain spinning!" She laughed and twirled her finger round and round in a spin over her head.

Sighing, Maximus stepped in and suddenly stiffened—as if realizing he wasn't alone.

It was time to make her presence know.

"Laura." She squeaked , stepping forward—his neck turning at her—that's when the lounge fell into complete darkness. The lights went out. Freezing her right there. .all that could be heard was Laura giggling and snorting.

Luckily, she had her cellphone. Quickly, she took it out and turned the flashlight on.

And she wished she hadn't.

Seeing him watching the pathetic state of Laura impassively as she continued to make a fool out of herself.

"I look beautiful right?" Laura asked sticking out her tongue at him.

A humorless smile spread on his face.

"You're the embodiment of embarrassment."

His icy comment did nothing to Laura but on Emma it had an impact for she suddenly wanted to escape.

And her heart dropped down, noticing the low battery flashing on her phone's screen.

"I'll bring something from the kitchen." She said hurriedly.

He didn't reply.

She took that as her cue to leave and sprinted off towards the kitchen before her phone could die on her.

Tearing the door open, she scrambled around the drawers , on the shelves looking for anything to keep the light alive and all she got was a candle. Swiftly, she flared it to life and slipped her phone back in her pants's pocket.

Carefully, taking the candle off the shelf. .she walked back towards the couple.

Noticing he didn't change his position and Laura was laying on her back on carpet. Making a snow angel.

"Come on. Lets get you up." Emma said softly at the laughing senseless woman.

Maximus glanced at her, helping Laura on to her feet. Balancing a candle in her free hand.

Emma's face was softly lit up with the orange light of the candle. Her brown eyes fringed with dark lashes and her lips seemed soft and . . . .what would it be like to kiss—

Laura tried to snatch at the candle as she tried to stand up .

Emma gasped , her grip on the candle loosening while Laura struggled to stand and seeing the hot candle descending down towards Emma's hand—

He leaped towards her.

Catching her wrist, his long fingers curling around her fist—steadying the candle in her grip at once.

Feeling the drop of wax burning at his skin.

A thud could be heard as Laura fell into a heap on the carpet. Her hand catching nothing but empty air for support .

Her drunken eyes watching the man she claimed to love , holding another woman's hand.

He did not catch her but her. .

Emma had gone breathless , her eyes widened at the sight of the small white dot on the back of his hand.

His hand wrapped around her fist .

Emma supporting the candle.

Him supporting Emma.

"You alright?" His harsh breath fell on her face and she couldn't look up. All she could see was his hard chest. Moving up and down.

"Yes." Her lips trembled.

Everything inside her seemed to be coming to life. .the blood in her, the dragons in her, the hope and a strange indestructible feeling. .

Laura moaned.

Breaking the glass like moment.

With her heart in her mouth , she glanced up at him. Candlelight darkening his eyes. . .he seemed stuck in the moment. . .so stuck he didn't feel the sting of wax dripping on the back of his hand.

Why was his hand so warm and why had her hand gone ice cold in his grip?

"My head. .," Laura struggled to stand up again . .

Emma stumbled out of the moment as she whispered. "Let go, please."

His answer made her breathless.

"Why do you always ask of me to let go?"

×××××××××××××××