Emanuel's Gift

Chapter - 8

1927 

"Do you know what Anna-Maria is up to?" I queried Claire

"Do you have feelings for her?" 

Her voice had a hint of jealousy in it. I stood up from the chair.

"No, I don't, technically, I just met you. I think you're really making yourself too vulnerable too fast. I'm going to find out what is going on. Please excuse me" 

I swiftly walked away from the crowd and Claire.

I left the ballroom and started to venture around the house. I assume the dining hall and kitchen is on the lower level I'm on, I passed some servants and hid in the shadows.

"Cilan, can you go in there and feed me some sound?"

 I asked the misty man.

"Emanuel, I'm not going to eavesdrop on a conversation for you" 

He hissed and my lips thinned tightly at his retort. I reluctantly moved closer to the door and placed my ear against it, suddenly I was grabbed and pulled away.

"No, come with me." Claire led me off into an empty room and closed the door.

"What are you doing?"

"I know what's going on. The Christianson's want to merge our two family businesses into one. I wish this wasn't happening. My family is getting by just fine, now to hear we have to merge and form one larger business. I'm sure your grandfather jumped at this opportunity considering you were struggling" she clung onto me.

"We are in tough times, and if my grandfather accepts this opportunity I would rather prefer to just finance our company and keep it afloat. This is the only thing that is keeping me going. The business is my families legacy I hate to lose it"

Then I grabbed her wrists and held them between us searching desperately in her eyes. Hopefully she wasn't going to become hysterical.

"Claire, is this true tell me please." I pleaded, awaiting for an answer.

Claire looked the other way then spoke.

"I'm sorry, it's true my father has been considering the business proposition and if the Christianson's see benefit in making a joint family company we could end up working together. I am worried about everything. This isn't what I wanted to do, I wish I wasn't tied to my family's business"

I wanted her to talk to me face to face at least.

"I understand what you mean. Whilst this may be a good thing, I can't help but wonder if this is going to work out at all. I don't want my family to lose their income as much. I hope the same for you"

Claire slowly turned to face me; she had something she needed to tell me.

"I'm sorry Emanuel, Anna-Maria wanted me to meet you in hopes we could establish courtship. She knew you were alone and wanted someone to love you." 

I was quite taken by what was said that Anna-Maria was trying to match me up with Claire, it touched me deep inside that she seemed to care about me.

"I never told Anna-Maria anything about that. How come she knows? I haven't talked to her in years," 

I said, letting my hands rest on Claire's shoulders. Claire stared into my eyes before removing my hands holding them in her own before releasing them.

"Maybe this is all too sudden, I can't expect you to fall in love with me. It's not like I noticed the look you gave Anna- Maria. You have known her a long time and clearly you have feelings for her"