Undeniable

Ch. 27

*Thomas POV*

There was a brief family meeting in my office before dinner. I hadn't told Polly the details of today but she knew enough to keep quiet at the table. My brothers were both eager to see Emilia, claiming I had been keeping her locked up like some tyrant. Little did they know she was the one with the house keys.

"I'd like for you to join us at dinner tonight" I knocked on the wooden door softly even though it was cracked open, "We have business to discuss."

"And I'm apart of it?" She spoke from across the room. From the stale smoke near the ceiling I took it she had been smoking by the window. A thick fog seemed to roll out with a gust of wind , she must have been chain smoking.

"Of course." I swallowed hard, "I'm requesting your presence."

"That's a first. Usually you just send Jon to do your begging." She swung the door open and I got a good glance at her for the first time in weeks.

The black dress she wore hung just above her knees and fit tight to her hips. Lace laid across each arm and formed a V at her neckline. She was stunning.

"You look beautiful."

Her cheeks seemed to warm at my complement but instead of indulging she just pushed past me into the hallway and headed quickly down the stairs. I followed quietly behind.

"Emilia!" Arthur exclaimed as he pulled her into an embrace, "You look amazing. I was starting to worry about ya"

She giggled giving him a smile, "Well thank you , Arthur . I've just been busy with some paperwork is all."

I could feel jealousy working it's way up into the pit of my throat , but I did my best to swallow it. Even after pushing it away, the heat never left my skin.

"So I understand we have business to talk about?" Emilia took a seat alongside my aunt and looked over everyone's faces to gauge their reaction.

Once we were all seated , I began.
"We have a man who's looking to partner but he has a few requirements we must meet."

The sound of silverware clanging against plates seemed to ring across the room as i spoke. My family wasn't interested in what I had to say, Only Emilias anwsers.

"And that would be?"

"When you lived in your apartment building , was there any other Americans living there?"

She laughed turned her attention back to her plate, "I'm sure there were several. I didn't talk to many of my neighbors."

I raised my eyebrow, "So not much has changed I see." My comment seemed to hit .

"Is there someone in particular you are looking for ?"

"A man. That's all I know , but he's American and lives in your old apartment complex now . I thought you might have seen him in passing."

"There's a lot of men that live over there , Thomas. And alot of men visiting . I couldn't tell you who I saw and who was from where."

Since I had asked my initial question she hadn't looked back at me. Her eyes completely averted my gaze and I wondered if it was because of the question or who asked it.

"How's the garden?" I asked.

She raised her head instantly , looking over into my eyes. The sides of her lips tugged up into a grin as she spoke, "Its going well . But im afraid with the cold moving in soon we might have to put everything on pause for now."

"That can be arranged. And you are positive you saw no one by that description at your old apartment?"

Just like clockwork she turned her face away , looking at the others at the table. It was almost as if she could lie to anyone else but me .

"There were some moving trucks the last time I went by , I think it was a couple. But they didn't speak to me. Maybe that was him?"

Shrugging, I took a sip from my cup before returning back to my meal.

"We can discuss it later."

"There's nothing more to discuss."

"I believe there is. And I can wait until after dinner"

Arthur and Jon exchanged looks across the table before their eyes landed back on Emilia. Silence fell over the table for a few moments. I felt as if she was trying to come up with something to deter me from interrogating her.

"I have nothing more to say to you." The words stung and she knew they would. There were other ways of getting my attention, but this was intentional.

"That's fine. I have ways of making you speak."

The red plucked at her skin all the way from her neck up to her cheeks. Even her ears started to blush as tried to hide it.

"Or not speak. Which ever you'd prefer, Ms Winters. Perhaps just drinks would be nice.  Tell me , are you thirsty?"

The chair scrapped against the wood as she slid it backwards and bolted up.
"Please excuse me , I'm not feeling well."

Her footsteps faded as she made her way back to the bedroom. Her plan to put distance between us would only last several minutes before I was back at her doorway once more.

"Can I come in?"

"I should say no."

"But what do you want to say?"

There was a long pause before she opened the threshold and looked up at me , "Please."

We sat across the room from one another. She crossed her legs on the side of the bed before letting on a soft sigh.

"I want the truth, Emilia. Who is he?"

"Raymond. Adonis sent him a few weeks ago to check up on things and he decided to do things on his own."

"Youve spoke too him?" I spat . My anger seemed to continue simmering from earlier.

"Yes. As I was instructed to do so they didn't come for you."

"I can handle it. You have no business with them."

"Well Tommy, I am apart of that business now. I am doing what I have to do to keep you safe."

"You aren't going over there anymore. You aren't speaking to him."

"You can't tell me what to do!" She stood to her feet.

I matched her courage , standing taller as if to hover over her slightly before looking into her eyes.

"If you want to keep your job , you will stop seeing him."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm taking care of you for fucksake. Just let me !" I screamed louder than I had anticipated.

"You haven't talked to me in months, you haven't looked at me. You haven't touched me. And now when you find out I've been sneaking over doing buisness without you, that's when you take an interest?"

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"There were several people on my ass looking for ways to gain advantage. I could not put you in a position to get hurt so I had to push you away and for that I'm sorry."

The cracked window creaked slightly as air blew in. The night sky seemed to hang so far above us as each star glistened in , watching each moment. It was a nice escape too look out the glass panes and pretend for a moment I wasn't here.

"You did this for me? Do you understand how it felt? For you to be so loving and then the moment we got here you just dumped me in this room and never spoke a word. You were always working. I didn't know if you were here or at the office or with someone -" her words seemed to trail off .

My hand cupped against her face and I used my thumb to caress her cheek bone. The way she nearly fell into my grasp showed how tired she was .

"Tommy." She gazed up at me through her lashes, "I don't want to speak."

A smirk crept onto my lips and a soft chuckle ran through my throat.

"I can arrange that."