When Blood Turns Cold

It was a quiet Sunday morning when Emerald stirred awake, nestled in David's arms. Sleep still clouded her mind as she turned toward him, only to find his deep eyes gazing back at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. For a fleeting moment, she thought she might still be dreaming. Up close, David looked impossibly handsome—a thought she'd had before but had always tucked away behind guarded glances.

This time, though, there was no need to conceal the warmth in her gaze. It was as if the walls around her heart had crumbled, letting her affection shine through.

David's gentle kiss on her forehead broke her reverie, sending a spark of reality through her. Emerald blinked herself back to the moment and, with a soft blush, slipped out of bed to freshen up, her heart quietly racing from the tenderness they shared.

Emerald headed to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and letting the warm shower wash away the remnants of sleep. Refreshed, she slipped back into the outfit she had worn the day before and tossed her nightdress into the laundry basket.

When she returned to the bedroom, she was surprised to find the bed neatly made. A faint smile played on her lips as she smoothed her hair and checked her appearance in the mirror, her reflection revealing a quiet excitement she couldn't quite hide.

Curious, she made her way to the kitchen, only to find David rummaging through the cabinets, clearly in search of something.

David turned around with a radiant smile. "Good morning, babe," he greeted warmly.

"Babe?" Emerald raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with playful skepticism.

"Or would you prefer I call you honey?" he teased, his chuckle deepening as she rolled her eyes, her cheeks tinged with a blush.

"What are you doing?" she asked, steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Can you cook?" he shot back, tilting his head inquisitively.

"Do you want me to make breakfast?" she countered, crossing her arms.

David sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "The chef and househelp you saw yesterday? Yeah, that was a one-time arrangement. I didn't plan it properly—that's on me."

Emerald giggled her laughter light and teasing. "Impossible. A flaw in 'your' plan?" she said, drawing out the word with a smirk, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

"And why can't there be a flaw in my plan?" David asked, raising an eyebrow with mock indignation.

"Because you, Mr. CEO, are manipulative," Emerald quipped with a playful grin.

He chuckled, shaking his head as she stepped closer. "Now, are there enough ingredients, or are we winging it?" she asked, scanning the kitchen.

"I made sure the kitchen was stocked with everything we'd need," David said

David stepped aside as she continued, "Fine, I'll make breakfast. Move over."

With that, Emerald set her phone on one of the shelves and made her way to the sink. Rolling up her sleeves, she washed her hands with practiced ease, ready to take charge of the morning meal.

David settled onto a stool by the kitchen island, his eyes following Emerald as she moved gracefully from one corner of the kitchen to another. "I didn't know you could cook," he remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Emerald paused and turned to him, a frown creasing her brow. "And why's that?" she asked, arching an eyebrow in mock challenge.

"Well," he began, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, "you just seem like the type who'd rather order takeout than trouble yourself with cooking."

"Hmmm… you're right," Emerald admitted with a small smile. "But my grandmother always used to say that every girl should know the basics of running a household, and cooking was one of them. Even though my cooking isn't as great as Amy's, it's not bad either. Grandmother loved it." She spoke while whisking the eggs, her movements quick and precise.

David tilted his head, studying her thoughtfully. "You seemed close to your grandmother," he said softly.

Emerald paused for a moment, her expression shifting. "Yeah," she replied, her voice tinged with a sadness that dulled the brightness in her eyes. "We were," she added, the weight of the past flickering in her tone. They continued chatting as Emerald worked on breakfast.

A few minutes later, the kitchen and dining room were filled with the mouthwatering aroma of breakfast. As Emerald and David set the table, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves. She had prepared a hearty spread of fried eggs, sausages, bacon, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and toast—nothing fancy, but comfort food.

Emerald watched intently as David took his first bite, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her napkin. "How is it?" she asked, trying to mask the anxiety in her voice. Even though she knew her cooking skills, there was still a lingering doubt. After all, David, the CEO, probably had the luxury of dining with professional chefs, not someone like her.

David paused, chewing slowly, his gaze focused on his plate. Emerald's heart skipped a beat, waiting for his verdict. Then, with a smile that reached his eyes, he looked up at her.

"It's amazing," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "You're not giving yourself enough credit, Emerald."

Relief washed over her as she laughed, feeling the tension ease. "I'm glad you like it," she said, her voice light again.

David leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now I know I won't need a chef when we get married," he teased, his words hanging in the air.

Emerald rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. She playfully hit his arm. "Who said that will be happening anytime soon?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

David raised his own brow in return, clearly enjoying the playful banter. Without missing a beat, he started filling her plate, his movements smooth and easy.

They ate their breakfast in comfortable silence, the occasional glance or smile shared between them, the atmosphere warm and familiar as the morning stretched on.

Once they finished breakfast, David cleared the table and, without hesitation, took care of the dishes. Emerald watched quietly, impressed by how easily he slid into the role of helping out. After a few moments, he excused himself to change.

When he returned, he stepped into the room in a sleek, black tailored suit that hugged his frame perfectly, radiating his usual confident charm. Emerald couldn't help but admire him from the doorway, the way he carried himself so effortlessly, as though the suit and the man were one. He looked every bit the CEO, but with a warmth in his eyes that made him feel accessible, real.

After a quick goodbye, David drove her back to her apartment, the car ride filled with easy conversation and quiet moments. Once they arrived, Emerald gathered her things and stepped out of the car. "See you later," she said with a smile, her voice light but genuine.

David nodded, a small smile curving his lips. "Take care, Emerald. I'll be in touch."

With a wave, she headed inside, feeling the morning's warmth linger in her chest.

As soon as he dropped her off, David made his way to the office, his day quickly filling with back-to-back online meetings.

As soon as Emerald opened the door to her apartment, Amy pounced on her with excitement. "So, how was it? I need all the details!" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with curiosity.

But as Emerald stepped inside, she noticed someone else in the room. Her first instinct was to politely push Amy aside, trying to maintain some space as she made her way into the living room. Alex stood up from the couch, his expression a mix of worry and annoyance.

"Where were you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Why didn't you reply to my calls and texts?"

Emerald froze, a sudden wave of realization washing over her. She had turned her phone on silent mode before going to bed, completely forgetting to check it in the morning. Her heart skipped as she glanced down and saw over 30 missed calls from Alex, accompanied by five unread messages.

"Sorry," she said with a sheepish smile. "My phone was on silent mode."

Alex's expression remained stern, his worry not fading. "I was worried something happened to you," he said, his tone sharper now. "You know we've provoked Luke, and he won't just sit back. You can't afford to be so careless from now on." His eyes locked onto hers, the concern in them unmistakable.

Emerald opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. "Hurry up and add me to your emergency contacts," he continued, his voice firm. "And make sure your phone is on 'all the time,'" he emphasized, stretching out the last words as if making his point clear.

"I'm sorry," Emerald said again, her voice softer this time, as she pulled out her phone. She quickly added Alex's number to her emergency contacts.

Alex watched her for a moment, his expression still tense but a little softer now. "It's not about being sorry," he replied, his tone gentler. "Just... be more careful, okay? We all need to look out for each other, especially with everything that's going on."

Emerald nodded, a quiet acknowledgment of his concern. "I will. I promise."

Amy, sensing the shift, gave them both a small smile before breaking the silence. "Alright, enough of the serious talk! Let's have some fun now," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Alex sat back down on the couch, and Emerald and Amy followed suit, settling in as the conversation took another turn.

"I heard that you're dating David," Alex suddenly asked, his tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.

"Yeah. He asked me out," Emerald replied, her voice light but her eyes avoiding Alex's for a moment.

Amy sat quietly, observing the exchange, her attention switching between the two of them.

"What?" Alex asked, his eyes widening in disbelief. He leaned forward, his expression one of genuine surprise. "David asked you to be his girlfriend?" His voice carried a hint of astonishment, almost as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.

Emerald giggled at his reaction, shaking her head. "Yes, he did." Then, with a playful glint in her eye, she turned to Amy. "You told him, didn't you?"

Amy sat back against the couch, crossing her arms with a mock pout. "Didn't I tell you to keep it to yourself?" Emerald teased, though her tone was lighthearted.

"I don't remember you saying that," Amy replied with a poker face, clearly unfazed. Her arms remained crossed, as if to say, Not my fault, and the tension in the room eased with her deflection.

Emerald rolled her eyes, but the smile that tugged at her lips revealed her amusement. "You just can't keep a secret, can you?" she joked, while Alex, still processing the news, looked between the two of them with a raised brow.

Amy shrugged nonchalantly, her tone playful. "He would have found out anyway."

Then both Alex and Amy immediately pressed her for details, eager to know everything.

Emerald hesitated for a moment, reluctant to dive into the details, but with both of them looking at her expectantly, she gave in. "Alright, alright," she relented with a soft chuckle, then began recounting the story.

Amy and Alex listened intently, their eyes wide as they absorbed every word. Alex's expression softened, and Amy's usual playful demeanor gave way to genuine interest.

"So, he's serious about you, huh?" Alex asked once she finished, his voice quieter now, more contemplative.

Emerald nodded, her smile softening as she thought about it. "Yeah, he is."

Amy leaned back on the couch, her arms uncrossed, clearly satisfied with the story. "Well, it's about time someone made an honest woman out of you!" she teased, but there was affection in her voice.

Emerald rolled her eyes but couldn't help the warmth spreading in her chest at the thought of David.