Alexander Reed had been trying to contact James for two days, with no response. This was unlike James, and Reed’s patience was running thin. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, he sent Peter to find out what was going on.
Peter discreetly tracked James down and found him with Emma. He saw them talking closely, and then, to his surprise, Emma broke down and hugged James, crying in his arms. Peter quickly took photos of the scene and sent them to Reed.
When Reed saw the photos, his blood boiled. The sight of Emma in James’ arms set off a wave of possessiveness he couldn’t control. His thoughts raced—how could James, his trusted man, get so close to Emma? Without hesitation, Reed grabbed his car keys and sped off to Emma’s place, fury clouding his judgment.
At Emma’s house, she was feeling better after spending time with James, who had become a comforting presence in her life. She now considered him a friend, someone who had been there for her when she needed it most. As they stood at the door, saying goodbye, Reed’s car screeched to a halt outside.
Without a word, Reed stormed up to James and threw a hard punch at his face, sending him stumbling. James nearly lost his balance, but Emma caught him just in time. Startled and enraged, Emma looked up at Reed with disbelief.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you do that?" she shouted, her voice filled with anger.
Reed, already on edge and seething with jealousy, demanded, "James, come with me. I need to talk to you in private."
Emma immediately stepped in front of James, blocking Reed's path. "Oh really? You think you can just hit him and act like nothing happened? I’m calling the police!" she declared furiously.
James, holding his swollen face, tried to calm the situation. "Emma, please, wait. Let me talk."
Reed, glaring at both of them, hissed sarcastically, "Oh, so you’re close friends now, huh? How long did it take to get this cozy?"
James quickly responded, "No, sir. I can explain. It’s not what you think."
He turned to Emma, gently asking her to go inside and wait. Emma hesitated but eventually stepped back, though she was fuming inside.
Reed stormed back to his car, and James followed him, along with Peter. As soon as they reached Reed’s mansion, James tried to explain himself.
"Sir, please, let me explain. Emma… she lost her parents in a terrible accident. I couldn’t just leave her like that. She was devastated, and I only offered to help her, to make sure she was safe. That’s all."
Reed’s anger simmered, but James’s explanation slowly started to sink in. He wasn’t convinced right away, though. The thought of Emma leaning on anyone else, even for a moment, had driven him mad. The jealousy and possessiveness he felt toward her were something he hadn’t anticipated.
James continued, "I swear, sir, I only did my duty. Emma needed someone, and I stayed to safeguard her, just like you ordered."
Reed clenched his jaw, the tension still thick in the air. "And you became friends with her? You think that’s part of your duty too?"
"I didn’t mean for it to happen, but she needed someone to talk to. That’s all it was."
Reed stared at James for a long moment, torn between his anger and the realization that James had only tried to do what he thought was right. But deep down, Reed knew his anger was less about James and more about his growing feelings for Emma—feelings he hadn’t fully admitted to himself until now.
"Go," Reed finally muttered, turning away.
Alexander Reed was torn between his emotions and the need to see Emma again. Despite his earlier anger and confusion, he felt a growing desire to console her after everything she had been through. He turned his car toward her small apartment, determined to make things right, even though he knew it wouldn’t be easy.
Inside, Emma was focused on her laptop, desperately searching for a job to sustain herself. Her savings were running low, and the stress of her parents' death weighed heavily on her.
James had tried to explain Reed’s outburst with a made-up story, telling her that Reed was upset with him because they hadn’t caught up earlier. They were good friends. Emma was skeptical at first but decided to let it go. She had more important things to focus on.Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Startled, Emma opened the door to find Reed standing there, his expression soft yet intense. She didn’t want to deal with him after what had happened with James.
“Oh, your friend’s not here. For your information, James is just a friend and he doesn’t live with me,” she said curtly, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Reed, looking down for a moment, then stepped forward and said, “Emma, I’m sorry. I wasn’t there when you needed me.” His voice was unusually gentle, and before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a hug. She froze, completely caught off guard.
For a moment, she stood still in his embrace, but the confusion quickly morphed into anger. Emma pushed him away and snapped, “I’m fine, I don’t need your help. Thanks.” She began to step back, wanting him out of her space.
Reed, unwilling to let her go so easily, grabbed her arm and pulled her closer again. “Emma, I’m here for you now,” he whispered, his voice thick with concern and something more.
Before Emma could respond, the lights suddenly went out. Her breath hitched, fear instantly washing over her. In her panic, she instinctively held onto Reed tightly, clinging to him in the dark. Reed, feeling her fear, held her protectively against him, his hand gently stroking her back to calm her.
He quickly took out his phone and made a call. “Get the lights back on, now,” he ordered sharply.
Within minutes, the power was restored, and the small, cozy apartment was lit once again. Emma quickly pulled away, the vulnerability she had shown now replaced with discomfort. She stepped back, keeping her distance.
“Sir, please leave. I don’t want any strange man in my house at this hour,” she said coldly, emphasizing the distance she wanted to create between them.
Her words stung Reed. He had never felt so unwelcome, especially by someone he cared about. Without another word, he stepped outside, giving her the space she demanded. Before leaving, he turned to James, who was stationed nearby, and quietly instructed, “Look after her. Don’t let anything happen to her.”
Returning to his mansion, Reed headed straight to his personal bar. Pouring himself drink after drink, he tried to drown out the thoughts of Emma. But no matter how much he drank, he couldn’t escape the image of her in his arms, the feel of her clinging to him in the dark. She was slipping through his fingers, and it was driving him mad.
With every drink, the weight of his feelings for her became clearer—and heavier. He couldn’t deny it any longer. Emma meant more to him than he ever intended, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. But for now, all he could do was sit in the silence, alone with his thoughts and his regret.
YOU ARE READING
Professor doesn't preach
RomanceSuddenly my eyes caught him. He started walking towards me, He was speaking on phone call. I just ignored his presence, he started following me, I thought he just wanted to get aside, so I diverted my path. But.... He grabbed my waist and led me st...