I wake up abruptly. Something's not right. I check the time, and it's one in the morning. I sit up and turn on the light. Zach's not in the bed. I slip on my night gown and put on my glasses.
The suite is divided, the bedroom is separate from the rest of the suite. I exit the bedroom and go into the common room. He's not in there, so I walk into the kitchen, where I see his back turned towards me, drinking a glass of water. The light is off here too.
"Hey." I say softly as I walk up to him. I cross my arms because it's kind of cold and this nightgown isn't very warm. He smiles softly when he sees me, I can barely tell with the moonlight coming through the window.
"Are you ok?" I whisper. He has the ghost of an expression he had had the past couple of weeks: dreary, pensive.
He steps closer to me and kisses my forehead, but leaves his lips there for a while. I close my eyes, please don't let him regret anything. I don't regret anything, I feel more close to him that I ever had. I actually feel like we'll be ok, no more doubt.
He looks at me but it's so dark I can't make out any more of his expression.
"I just couldn't sleep that well. I got... scared. Again." He says softly and I know what he's talking about. His issues are so deep rooted that he can't switch off his emotions overnight. I don't expect him to. The difference here is that he's trying. He's fighting for us, and it warms my heart dearly. It also breaks my heart to see him like this. I have to reassure him that I'm ok, that he didn't take advantage of me, like I know his mind is trying to convince him of. We are equal partners in this.
"You shouldn't be. I woke up because I missed you in there. Come back to bed." I say, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his chest. He takes a deep breath and then rests his head on my hair, causing me to sigh.
"Come on." I say, taking his hand in mine and looking at him. He smiles and lets me lead him to the bedroom. I crawl in my spot first and lay on my side, looking at him. He lays next to me and looks at me.
"I love you Emma." He whispers
"I love you too."
"Come here. " He opens his arms so I can slip into them. I do, and he holds me, which soon sends me into a slumber, well, that and his breathing.
***
When I wake up again, this time I'm in his arms, my back facing him. I don't try to wake him up. He deserves a break, it's been a rough month, rough couple of years. This is the first time I can slow down and just relax, with Zach. For weeks I've been on fast mode between my new job, Maia, therapy with Zach. There was no time for this. No, I don't mean the sex, I mean just being with Zach, no talking, no stress, just being in each other's presence. And if it took jetting to another continent for that to happen, then so be it.
***
The press found out a number of things overnight.
For starters, that we've been attending therapy together. I don't care, but the media loves to twist things around. Second, that we've run off to Paris. That, plus the launch of the first authorized article about me, has paparazzi swarming the beautiful streets of Paris. At least we had a little time to our selves.
That didn't stop us from leaving the hotel though, we just left in style. I recently acquired some ties with some designers, and they were very pleased to give us some disguises.
We do look like we came straight out of Breakfast at Tiffany's, but nobody has recognized us thus far. Plus, it is kind of fun to not be Zach and Emma for a while. We were able to take a walk, have breakfast, tour the Louvre, typical stuff. We talked about nothing and everything at the same time, and it really reminded me of when we first started dating, when I was just learning things about him. I remembered the second day of our marriage, when I went through his stuff and he didn't harbor an ounce of anger. Memories flood back, and I share the happy and funny ones with Zach, who in turn laughs with me and shares some more. I remember how awkward it was sleeping in the same bed as Zach, when he found out I wear glasses and said I looked pretty. He made me feel pretty and important when before nobody did. I reminded Zach of that before we stopped in front of a boutique. Zach was there to pull me out of the dark place that may have very well been depression when my mom got sick. We remembered when we tackled the famous Christmas party, something so treasured. His obvious jealousy (although he denied it) when it came to my first college friend Theo, and the disaster that that turned out to be (remember the roses incident?). We even remembered some memories from college, and his promotion at work.
Then, we did some arguably immature and irresponsible things, like make out behind a cafe, try to pretend we were local Parisians and explain to tourists the real way to get to the Sacre Cour Basilica, and we hitched a ride on a train to Calais.
Then, we bought a real ticket to get back to Paris, but of course they figured out our real identity from Zach's credit card. And, the ticket person would not keep quiet because apparently a lot of reporters are dying to find out about our whereabouts. So, we just took the next train back, after we fought through the restless reporters.
Then, I got a call from Will saying that there's a problem with one of our departments, and that it is pretty serious. Zach and I had to come to terms with what we do: we can't always have long fabulous getaways. Reality snaps back faster than we want.
***
"What do you mean our whole biotech department is bankrupt? That's our whole specialty!" I yelled, frustrated, although mostly with myself at Will. This isn't necessarily my fault, but I can't let Remlor just fall in the cracks.
The Technology department, the actual people that put the Tech in Remlor Tech, spent more money that what was agreed for for the budget. So, essentially, now we owe several other companies that supply us with parts about 1.5 million dollars. Seems small for a billion dollar company, but with all the changes, Remlor is too thinly spread to handle bounced checks and, of course, the media scandal that will follow once news breaks out.
"And how did you not know of this sooner? You are in charge of finances and I am gone for two days-"
"It was a robbery. They took out many small miscellaneous expenses, starting from long before you got here. I didn't catch that on the budget report." I sigh and slump back into the chair behind my desk. I've been here for a month and now my family's legacy is on the verge of facing a terrible problem.
"Why would they do that? They already get more money out of all our other divisions." I ask Will. I still don't understand the situation, let alone how to solve it.
Will opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted when Deb walks in. None of the other employees know, and I intend to keep it that way until I can figure out how to solve this.
"What is it Deb?" I snap, not mad at her, but frustrated about everything else. She knows my tendencies, and no longer gets freaked out by my moods. We're working in sync now.
"The whole Technology and Materials department is in the conference room A and is demanding to see you and Mr. Collins." She says a little tentatively. I can feel the color drain from my face. This isn't a robbery, this is a mutiny.
I'm sorry for the super long wait! And sorry that this chapter is so short, it must be disappointing but I needed to get this awkward "filler-esque " chapter out, next chapter will be out soon!!
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The Struggles of Growing Up-Completed
Romance*Second book to the Struggles Series. Please read The Struggles of Being a Teenage Wife first* Emma Rembrandt has been through a lot in her past teen years. She didn't know that the death of her father, and years later his best friend's death, wou...
