Chapter 75 .
Song recommendation Nxde by (g)idle . Fearless by le sserafim . Case 143 by straykids
Emily struggled to keep her eyes open . The red wine was long gone and now she tipsy and the earth was spinning under her feet

Her face had gotten red , no doubt , from the alcohol .
The atmosphere was silent , serene even and she feared she might do something she'll regret for quite a while unless she get going now .
She knew what she had to do . Just tell Micheal and he'll send his driver to send her home .
But the words refuse to come .
She closed her eyes and tried again . Nothing !
Only a few croaking sound that never even left her throat .
"I ....err ...think I better get going .. " she managed to get the words out . In a slur though and he seemed to have gotten the gist of what she was saying as he nodded in understanding of the situation .
He still has that aura to him . That subtly impeccable aura . That impenetrable vibe and Emily wondered how soon would it be for to penetrate that thick layer .
To get under his skin .
Later . Later
She thought as she gulped . She could start getting under his skin , later . But right now she needs to get home right now .
"Yes . She's ready now . " He spoke into the phone .
He turned to face her and Emily thought she caught something on his face .
He was getting worked up and was staring at Emily quite intently.
What was wrong now ?? Emily thought to herself but said nothing . Surely nothing could have gone wrong just with her demanding to go home right ? Nothing .
She stared at her feet and groaned . The shoes were slightly pinching her and she's very uncomfortable right now . Coupled with the alcohol effect on her head .
"Zeke . " Micheal said slowly and watched Emily's face for her reaction .
Did he know something?
"Hmm what about him ?? . " Emily struggled to keep her voice under a reasonable degree of coherent .
"Oh I'm just trying to see if I still remember his name correctly . Such a carefree nice boy ." He sang praise of Zeke and Emily couldn't help but feel proud .
"Handsome even . " He added and Emily nodded in agreement .
Beauty runs in their blood.
"It's hereditary . The beauty I mean . " She replied again in a slur
Why did hell did she get drunk ?? She isn't supposed to drink at all !! This is a business meeting for God's sake? A business date ?
No ! This couldn't be a business meeting .
People don't get drunk in meetings that were purely business . People don't smile like this, neither does their heart pound this hard when their in a business meeting !
Perhaps this was wrong . Perhaps she shouldn't have in this place . She shouldn't have agreed with Mariah's proposal
A tall lean man , whose face Emily couldn't make out very well . Maybe because of the bright light or because of the alcohol . Or both I
He bowed to Micheal and Emily and said nothing .
Emily figured that it was time to leave but suddenly it felt like she was been stuck by a very huge wave of melancholy .
She cleared her throat , carried her mini purse and stood up , without wobbling away . How she did that ?? Well she didn't know .
"Goodnight Mr Gerald . It was a wonderful experience even though we couldn't talk about the business but at least ...." She trailed off not knowing what to say next ??
But at least her heart was in her eyes throughout the whole thing ? At least she had simply embarrassed herself to the core ?? At least something has happened .
"Good night ily . I mean Jennie . " He smirked subtly .
Emily panicked . Did he just say ily ?? What do that mean ? It felt like he knew something ! Like he was hiding something..
Was he simply being the jerk that he is or was it another thing entirely??
Sweats begin to form on her forehead and the beads were rolling in circular motion.
What suprised Emily was how scared she was getting ? Why was she getting nervous when it's not like she had something to hide ? When it's not like she did something bad ?
She might have been hiding something and sooner or later he'll find out. She was a tad bit more sure that he's up to something . The glint in his eyes said as much .
"Bye Micheal . " She turned her back on him quickly and walked away albeit wobbly and unfocused . She almost kicked a stump if not for the gruff man who grabbed her quickly .
She murmured something like thanks and hoped the man bought it . He didn't seem to mind or accept her gratitude as he rightened her and step away from her .
They got to the car and she slumped down with a tired sigh . This was harder than she thought
Even if she managed to wrap things up quickly in Canada , there is still no saying that she'll meet with him sooner or later .
She ruffled her hair and sighed again. Slowly she drifted off into a dreamless sleep .
*
Her throat was dry and her eyes was itchy . Her head felt heavy and it was pounding with so urgency that Emily wondered what was wrong .
She didn't stand up from her bed , she couldn't ! But she knew better than to sleep in the warm bed when there was a lot for her to do .
Any moment from now , Zeke or Mariah would come in to nag her .
She couldn't finish the thought when the sound of the door creaking open came to her ears .
Speak of the devil
Mariah's head popped from somewhere I'm between the door . She looked bubbly and ready to go with the day in her crop top with jacket and her tight pants . Her hair was tied into a lazy bun that sat atop her head.
Dangling earring and a pair of black sneakers that looked so cool .
She definitely isn't going to work today .
"Are you done accessing me miss?? Now get your ass up and get ready . We're moving in fifteen minutes . No you can take thirty minutes but no more than that . " She winked and closed the door gently behind her.
Emily took a leap of faith and stood up. Her head still felt heavy , no doubt as a reminder of yesterday's event . Meeting date perhaps? Or purely date ?
Whichever one. All she knew is that , staying with Micheal Ina secluded place is a no off her list .
Is something she shouldn't try to do if she's still trying to maintain whatever was left of her dignity .
She put on the fluffy slippers with a cute rabbit print on it .
She padded softly through the marbled floor towards the bathroom .
The door opened again and she turned her head to see who the intruder was . She was preparing to scold Mariah only to see Zeke by the door . Grinning
"Good morning Mom . " He said from outside the door . Without entering
Apparently he was all dressed up for school . Mariah had tied his hair into a low ponytail, leaving two braids to the curve of his chin . He looked like a child model advertising a school uniform
"Morning baby . How was your night ?? " She managed her best smile at him . Despite the loud ringing in her head .
"When did you came home yesterday. It was late right ? Mariah kept telling to go to my room to sleep but I wanted to wait . "
"But you fell asleep nonetheless . " She said and they both chuckled .
Yes , Zeke fell asleep on the couch yesterday and Emily came in right at the time when Mariah was carrying him to his room .
She hadn't take much note of her surrounding , but she surely need that the little fluffy bundle in Mariah's hand was Zeke .
Mariah gave her a once-over and said nothing . She simply shook her head and laughed a little under her breath . Probably from the unsightly way that Emily looked
"Yes baby . I came late yesterday . Now hurry off to have your breakfast . I'll be downstairs in a minute. " She blew him a kiss and he caught it and pasted it to his cheek .
Making Emily laugh a little.
She headed to the bathroom and did her business . She stood indeed the shower and breathed out a relieved sigh , when the hot soothing water from the shower cascaded down her body .
Soothing the ache in her head and her body .
She finished showering and came out of the bathroom . She went straight to the closet and wasted no time in searching for what to wear.
A black flannel pant and a blue shirt with a little cloudy white design.
Her Chanel bag would go well with it . And with that she carried what she needed and got dressed .
She braided her hair into two parts and added the Pearl pins that she had gotten last year for the end of their end of the year party and she had never had the chance of wearing it .
But she figured out that it would be good with her dress . She stood by the rays of lipstick that no one other than Mariah had shopped
Excessively of course .
It varied from matte , to glossy . From pink to purple to even some absurd color as purple and golden .
She opted for a lip gloss and ran it over her lips twice . She nodded to her reflection in the vanity .
"This should do . " She murmured .
She went out of the room , planning to skip breakfast so that none of them would be late . She got downstairs and of course Mariah and Zeke were taking pictures again.
One would think Mariah is a photographer or perhaps is studying about photography in school .
"Pictures again?? ." She eyed the two of them that were posing in front of the camera
"Yup . There's nothing better than starting a day with pictures . And ending a day with pictures . " She smiled widely and gestured at the camera with awe and admiration making Emily scoff
"Let's get going else you plan to spend the rest of the day taking pictures . " She spoke as a matter of fact
"Mom you're not gonna eat ? Mariah fixed breakfast for you . " Zeke said
Emily shook her head but the look on both of their eyes made her shoulder sag in surrender
"Ok ok ok . Sandwich and coffee only ? " She gazed up at them . They nodded stiffly , still not satisfied but at least that would do .
It was better than not eating anything at all or so they claim
Emily stuffed the sandwich into her mouth in two hurried bites and drank the coffee with a renewed urgency
"If not not because I've known you for so long . I'll think you aren't the CEO " Mariah scoffed and Emily had already grasped what she meant
Why was she always in a hurry when she's the one that make the rules .
She simply shrugged as the answer was unknown to her too .