Unexpected Journeys

Nothing extraordinary happened over the next few days, though Sunday stood out as David had invited Emerald to spend time together under the guise of friendship. Being her usual open-minded self, Emerald didn't think much of it and agreed.

They spent the day at Dolphin Mall, diving into the vibrant arcade corner where the duo competed over various games. Emerald's laughter rang out as she bested David in air hockey, while he redeemed himself with a claw machine victory, handing her the plush toy he'd won.

Shopping followed, with David politely offering his input on her choices. Their day ended with a meal somewhere between lunch and dinner, the conversation flowing easily as they shared snippets of their lives.

By the time the day wrapped up, exhaustion settled in, but so did a sense of satisfaction from the shared moments. David, ever the gentleman, insisted on dropping Emerald home, but she declined, asking instead to be taken to the bus station.

He hesitated but eventually agreed, sighing quietly as he watched her walk away. "At least its progress," he thought, a subtle smile tugging at his lips as the car pulled away. Though the day hadn't drastically altered their dynamic, it had laid the foundation for something deeper—perhaps a budding connection neither of them was fully ready to acknowledge yet.

On Wednesday evening, Emerald and Amy were enjoying a quiet dinner together when Emerald's phone began ringing. She glanced at the screen and saw Alex's name.

"Good evening, Alex," Emerald greeted him in her usual chirpy tone.

"Hi, Emerald. How are you and Amy? I hope I'm not interrupting at this time," Alex replied, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.

Emmy giggled lightly. "We're fine, thanks! How about you? And no, you didn't interrupt us—we were just having dinner."

"That's good to hear," Alex responded. "I'm doing alright, just a bit worn out. But I wanted to update you—the whereabouts of the woman have been found. I was wondering if you'd like to meet her. I can arrange for a safe place, but we'll need to deal with the people watching her first," he explained, his voice tinged with both seriousness and concern.

Emerald's expression grew somber as she processed his words. "By 'deal with,' you mean getting rid of them, don't you?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

Amy, who had been quietly listening, jumped in. "Em, you have to be strong, okay? Those people are criminals. If Alex spares them, they'll only come after you later. It's not worth the risk."

Alex chimed in as well, his tone firm yet reassuring. "Amy is right, Emerald. You don't need to worry about how I'll handle them. Just tell me what you want, and I'll take care of the rest. I'll make sure you're safe, no matter what."

Emerald felt a surge of warmth at Alex's protective words. She hadn't had many people in her life who truly looked out for her. After a moment of silence, she nodded. "Alright. Once you've relocated her to safety, let me know, and I'll meet her."

"That's a deal," Alex replied, relief evident in his voice.

"Thank you, Alex," Emerald said sincerely.

"Don't mention it," he said before hanging up.

As Emerald set her phone down, Amy leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Don't you think Alex would make the perfect partner?" she teased.

Emerald rolled her eyes. "What would make me think that?" she retorted, though she couldn't entirely hide her smile.

Amy smirked. "Oh, come on. Every woman I know is head over heels for either the CEO or his best friend, Alex. And here you are, working with Alex and being friends with David. You're living a dream!"

Emerald laughed softly, shaking her head as she picked up her phone to send Alex a quick message:

[Alex, I forgot to mention earlier—can you please keep this thing about my father a secret?]

[Sure,] Alex replied almost instantly.

[Thank you,] Emerald typed back with a smile.

Amy noticed her distracted and reached over, snatching the phone out of her hands. "Hey! How come you didn't tell me about your 'not-a-date' with David on Sunday?" she teased.

"First of all, don't call it a date," Emerald said firmly, narrowing her eyes at Amy. "And secondly, you didn't seem interested, considering you were too busy talking about your fashion unit with Alex."

Amy sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair. "Fine, fine. But at least tell me about it."

Emerald rolled her eyes but obliged, recounting her day out with David at the Dolphin Mall—the arcade games, the shopping, the casual meal. Amy, true to her nature, laughed and teased her at every turn, poking fun at the idea of David being so relaxed and lighthearted.

When Emerald finished her story, Amy's tone shifted to one of quiet certainty. "I think he likes you," she said flatly, crossing her arms.

Emerald shrugged, feigning nonchalance as she gathered the dishes. "I don't," she said over her shoulder, heading into the kitchen to clean up.

Amy wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily. Following Emerald into the kitchen, she smirked. "You can say that all you want, Em, but actions speak louder than words. He wouldn't treat just anyone like that."

Emerald shot her a look while scrubbing a plate. "Amy, it's just friendship. That's all he asked for, and that's all it's going to be."

Amy raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "We'll see," she muttered with a sly grin, grabbing a towel to help dry the dishes.

Meanwhile, miles away, David sat in his office, staring out at the city lights. Titan stood nearby, silently observing his boss. "You've been quiet all day," Titan finally said, breaking the silence.

David sighed, his mind clearly elsewhere. "She's different, Titan. She doesn't try to impress me or treat me like a CEO. It's... refreshing."

Titan smirked. "Sounds like someone's smitten."

David shot him a glare but didn't deny it. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and said softly, "Maybe. But I'm not in a rush. She deserves to take her time."

Titan nodded, impressed by his boss's uncharacteristic patience.

…

Thursday after school, Emmy strolled out of the gate, casually scrolling through her phone. She glanced up, and her steps faltered. Leaning against a sleek black Mercedes was David, looking effortlessly composed. His back rested against the car, legs crossed, hands casually tucked into his suit pockets. The afternoon sunlight highlighted his sharp features—the defined angles of his face, the perfectly arched eyebrows, and the striking jawline that seemed to belong in a magazine rather than real life.

A murmur rippled through the crowd around her, students and parents alike whispering in awe, trying to guess who this dashing man could be. Few knew he was the new CEO of Dawn Group—David had yet to announce his position publicly.

Emerald blinked, breaking out of her trance as she caught him straightening up, his eyes locking onto hers the moment she stepped into view. She swallowed hard. "Don't make a fool out of yourself," she muttered under her breath, trying to calm the sudden flutter in her chest. There was no escaping now.

Plastering a polite smile on her face, she approached him. "Hi," she greeted, her tone casual despite the nervous energy buzzing within her.

"Hey," he replied warmly, but his eyes flicked to the gathering crowd of onlookers. "Can we talk in the car?" His voice was calm, yet there was a subtle tension in his tone as if he didn't want to make her uncomfortable but also wanted to shield her from the attention they were drawing.

Emmy hesitated, glancing at the curious faces around them. Understanding his unspoken concern, she nodded. "Alright," she said softly, her smile now genuine. She followed him to the car, her nerves quieting under the steadiness of his presence.

As they settled into the plush leather seats of the car, a moment of silence filled the space. David adjusted his position slightly, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. He turned to Emerald, his expression unreadable but with a faint hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"I wanted to, umm…" he began, his voice low and measured, as though carefully choosing his words.

But just as the atmosphere started to build, Emerald's phone buzzed loudly, cutting through the moment like a sharp blade.

"Oh no, sorry," she mumbled, fumbling to silence it, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She glanced at David apologetically, but he simply nodded, his usual composure intact.

"Go ahead," he said softly, leaning back in his seat as if to give her space, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his face for just a moment before he masked it.

Emerald quickly glanced at the caller ID and debated whether to answer. Reluctantly, she picked up the call, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried not to prolong the interruption. Meanwhile, David turned his gaze toward the window, his thoughts unreadable, waiting patiently for her to finish.

As soon as Emerald answered the call, Alex's voice came through, urgent and rushed.

"Emmy," he began, the strain evident in his tone.

"Yes? Is everything alright?" Emerald asked, her brows knitting in concern. She cast a quick glance at David, whose expression subtly shifted to one of curiosity as he observed her.

"I'll pick you up from your apartment. Send me your address—we need to go," Alex said, his words clipped but filled with an unmistakable urgency.

"Alright, I'm on my way there," Emerald replied before hanging up. Quickly, she typed out her address and sent it to Alex.

"Is everything okay?" David asked, his tone gentle but probing. His sharp eyes caught the flicker of tension on her face, even as she forced a smile.

"It's nothing, really," Emerald replied, her voice steady but betraying a hint of unease. "I just need to head home now. Amy needs me." she lied.

David frowned slightly, not entirely convinced but unwilling to press further. "If it's urgent, I can drop you," he offered, his tone firm but kind. Before Emerald could protest, he started the engine, his calm demeanor masking his concern.

Caught off guard by his decisiveness, Emerald sat in stunned silence for a moment. She glanced at him, ready to argue, but the resolute kindness in his expression stopped her. Instead, she quietly adjusted her bag on her lap, murmuring a soft, "Thank you."

David glanced at her briefly, his focus shifting back to the road. "It's no trouble," he said quietly, his voice filled with an understated reassurance that made her feel oddly comforted.