Professor doesn't preach

Betrayed

On their way home, Emma chatted happily with James, recounting her eventful day at the company and her unexpected encounter with both David and Reed. She was feeling light, for once pushing her worries aside, just wanting to enjoy the moment. James, as always, had become her comfort, someone she could confide in, laugh with, and trust completely. She saw him as a dear friend, and nothing more.

As the conversation flowed, James hesitated for a moment, then said, "Umm, Emma… I think I like you."

Emma burst out laughing, thinking he was joking. "Oh, Jammy, darling, I like you too," she teased, using the nickname she often called him by.

Suddenly, the car stopped. The playful atmosphere shifted. James turned to face her, more serious this time. "Emma, I mean more than a friend."

Her smile faded, and an awkward tension filled the air. She hadn’t expected this, and her heart was still a tangled mess of emotions. Her thoughts were scattered, and she didn’t know how to react.

Sensing the tension, James quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, hey, don’t stress! You don’t have to answer right now. I just… I wanted you to know how I feel. That’s all. No pressure."

Emma nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. She looked out the window, feeling a sudden heaviness in her chest. After a pause, she turned back to him and said softly, "James, you know I’m not in the phase of my life to get into a romantic relationship with anyone right now. I hope you understand."

James gave her a small smile, masking his disappointment. "Yeah, of course. I get it."

The rest of the ride was quieter, and when they reached her place, Emma quietly said her goodbyes and went to her room, her mind swirling with confusion and guilt.

Meanwhile, James stayed in the car for a moment, pulling out his phone. He typed a message to someone, the recipient unknown, his expression hard to read. He hit send and drove off.

The next morning, Emma went about her tasks at Vertex Dynamics, but she couldn’t shake a feeling of exhaustion that clung to her throughout the day. She pushed through, completing her work, but her mind kept drifting back to the tension with James from the night before.

After work, she tried calling James, but he didn’t pick up. It was strange, and a little unsettling. She shrugged it off, took a cab, and headed home. As soon as she stepped through the door, her phone rang. The number was unknown, but something told her to pick up.

“Hello?” she answered.

A woman's voice on the other end spoke quickly, "Ms. Carter? I’m calling from the hospital. James has been admitted, and his condition is critical."

Emma’s heart stopped. Without thinking, she ran out the door and hailed the nearest cab, barely able to process the news. James? Critical? She was filled with a deep sense of dread and guilt for not checking on him earlier.

When she arrived at the hospital, her breath hitched seeing James on the bed, pale and covered in blood-stained bandages. He looked broken, vulnerable. Tears welled in her eyes as she approached, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch him, but just then, she saw a familiar figure standing at the counter.

Reed.

Their eyes met across the room, and for a brief moment, everything else faded. She hadn't seen him in what felt like ages, and suddenly, all the confusion, all the anger, melted into something she couldn’t quite place. She realized just how much she had missed him, even though she tried to deny it.

Reed broke the silence, walking over with a cold, commanding presence. He addressed the doctor brusquely. “Is he alive?”

“Yes, he is,” the doctor replied, “He’ll be fine in a few days, Mr. Reed.”

Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion. *How does he know James? Why is he even here?*

She turned to him, demanding, “How do you know about James? Why are you here? Are you really friend with him? ”

Reed’s gaze sharpened as he looked down at her. “I’m here to take you, Ms. Carter. And I don’t think you need to know anything else.” His voice was firm, almost possessive, leaving no room for argument.

Emma felt a surge of frustration rise in her chest. “You can’t just show up and—”

But Reed interrupted, “Enough. This isn’t the place for a discussion.” He glanced briefly at James, then back at her. "You're coming with me".

Emma tried to walk past Reed, her only thought being to check on James. But before she could take a step, Reed grabbed her arm with a firm grip. Before she could protest, he effortlessly lifted her off the ground and slung her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

“Reed! Put me down!” she shouted, her fists pounding against his back. She struggled, kicking her legs, but he was much stronger, and her efforts did nothing to faze him. “I said put me down!”

Without a word, Reed carried her out of the hospital, ignoring the stares from onlookers. Emma felt a rush of embarrassment and anger bubbling inside her, but there was also a strange sense of safety being near him, no matter how furious she was.

He opened the car door and placed her inside with a controlled, but forceful motion. As she scrambled to sit upright and make another protest, Reed got into the driver's seat, locked the doors, and started the engine.