Legacy Unraveled (Kendall Roy X Reader)

Chapter Three

Emma's heels clicked against the tarmac, the early morning mist curling around her as she approached the sleek, silver jet. The logo of GoJo glinted faintly in the dim light, mocking her with its mere presence.

Emma, clad in her tailored attire, clicked her heels on the pavement, phone pressed to her ear.

"Claire, just...handle it, okay?" Emma's voice was curt but not unkind, her face betraying the exhaustion she felt. "I need a few days away. Virginia. Some solitude. Some...fuck, I don't know...peace?"

Claire responded with a touch of hesitancy. "Virginia, Emma? Isn't that a bit...random?"

Emma paused, gathering her thoughts. "A friend has a cottage there. It's secluded, no paparazzi, no... Waystar bullshit."

There was a subtle sigh from Claire. "Got it. I'll draft an email. 'Emma Donovan taking a brief mental health hiatus in light of recent events.' Something soft, humanizing."

Emma smirked. "Make sure to sprinkle in some corporate compassion buzzwords. You know, 'prioritizing mental well-being over the bottom line' or some shit like that."

Claire chuckled, "You've got it, boss. Anything else?"

Emma scanned the horizon. "Just keep the hounds at bay. The board, the execs, whoever. Tell them I'm unreachable. And, Claire?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks. For everything."

The silence was palpable, the unspoken bond between the two women clear. "You just take care of yourself, Emma. We'll hold down the fort."

With that, Emma ended the call, climbing the jet's steps. She was met by a sleek cabin, leather seats, soft lighting, a far cry from the chaos she was leaving behind.

She settled into a seat, glancing out of the window. The cityscape loomed large, skyscrapers towering, a concrete jungle that had been both a playground and a battleground for her.

The engines roared louder, and she felt the gentle lurch as the plane began its taxi. It was a surreal moment, a break from the frenetic energy that had been brewing the past twenty four hours.

She allowed herself a moment of vulnerability, pulling up a recent company photo of Logan from the Waystar Royco website, with "Remembering Logan Roy" underneath. The weight of his absence pressed heavily upon her. Her newly minted mentor, the man who had shaped so much of her career, was gone.

Her phone buzzed. A text from Lukas: "Ready for some Swedish escapism?"

Emma smirked, typing back: "Only if it involves less buyout talk and more actual escape."

His immediate response: "Promise. Just nature, some local booze, and two workaholics trying to pretend they're not."

She chuckled softly. "To escapism," she whispered to herself, leaning back in her seat as the jet soared higher, leaving behind the city and its relentless pace. Just as the plane reached cruising altitude, a poised flight attendant approached Emma, her stride confident yet discreet. "Miss Donovan?" she began, extending a small, meticulously wrapped box towards Emma. "A gift. Compliments of Mr. Matsson."

Emma looked puzzled, the weight of the box betraying its size. "From Lukas? He's more traditional than I pegged him for."

She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a striking jewelry box with an intricate wood inlay. Emma's breath caught slightly as she opened it. Inside, nestled against the plush velvet lining, was an exquisite watch. The face was mother-of-pearl, adorned with small diamonds marking the hours, its hands moving smoothly over the Waystar logo etched subtly below the 12.