Betrayal | ✔️

4. Yonderly

Yonderly: an adjective from the 1800s meaning absent-minded, woolly-headed, or weak in body and spirit.

- E m m a -

The party is in 30 minutes. I smooth out the creases of my red dress and put matching red lipstick on. I give myself a once-over in the mirror before grabbing my keys and heading to the door.

I arrive at the office five minutes early. I get out of my car and give the doorman a brief nod. Walking inside, I notice that most people from the office are already here, including Noah. He starts to make his way over to me while I look around for Lachlan, pointlessly.

"He isn't here yet," Noah mutters to me.

I turn around and quickly push him away. "Okay," I reply.

I start to make my way over to the bathroom when Noah grabs my arm.

"You look so beautiful in that dress," he says.

"Thanks," I try to shake my arm out of his grasp, to no avail. "Let me go, I need to go to the bathroom," I say and he lets go. I shake my head.

I walk into the bathroom to a horrible sight. Lachlan and Olivia kissing. My heart drops.

"Lachlan?" I ask, hearing the quiver in my voice.

He turns around. "Uh, oh no. Emma, you weren't supposed to see that!" he quickly comes over to me but I put up a finger to stop him.

Uh oh. Here comes the waterworks. I turn around when I feel a tear drip down my face. He chases after me but I start running towards the door. I sigh, grateful when he stops following me. I step outside the door. I furrow my eyebrows when I hear Noah yelling. I walk over to the side of the building, wiping a tear off my face and peek around the corner.

"Hai dimenticato?! COME HAI POTUTO DIMENTICARE?!" I hear Noah yell at someone. [Translation: "You forgot?! HOW COULD YOU FORGET?!"]

The cool breeze blows on my face, leaving me with nothing to do but shiver.

"Mi dispiace, capo. Non sbaglierò la prossima volta," another man says. ["I'm sorry, boss. I won't miss next time."]

"È meglio di no," Noah responds, spitting on the man. ["Better not."]

I hear Noah start to walk over to the door and I start to quickly go back inside when his voice stops me.

"Emma?" Crap.

"Are you...crying?" Noah asks me in the dim light.

I curtly shake my head in reply.

"C'mon, Emma. I know you are. Why?" he asks, wiping a tear away from my eye.

I sigh. "Lachlan cheated on me," I say, sniffling.

"What?!" his eyes widen a lot, making me giggle.

"Quell'idiota," he murmurs angrily. ["That idiot."]

"I'm going back home, see you tomorrow," I say, before realising.

"Never mind. See you whenever," I close my eyes for a second.

"I'm coming in tomorrow," he responds. I nod and head for my car.