Everything We Would've Been

Chapter Seven: Emilia

Content Warning: This chapter contains detailed graphic intimate scenes.

July 2023 . . .

I was infinitely grateful when Andre decided to fly with us to Milan. He could've taken his own jet but saving me from my parents was more appealing to him. A fifteen-hour flight with only my parents is never fun. Usually, I pretend I'm sleeping or listening to an audiobook. If I didn't, my parents would get anxious and start lecturing me on what to do and what I cannot do. Ember didn't bother to show up. So, at least I didn't have to listen to her party stories or crazy places she's gone since last Christmas.

I slept for a few hours before I woke up from all the turbulence. Andre was supposed to sleep with me in my room but he wasn't there. I got up to see where he was. My parents had gone to bed too but Andre was up, going through a file.

"Hey," I said, sitting in front of him.

"Hey. The turbulence finally woke you up?"

"Yeah,"

I wrapped my arms around my core, trying to make myself feel a little safer. I hated turbulence. It always made me anxious. Andre was a mess too. His hair was ruffled and his eyes were bloodshot. I knew he couldn't sleep. We took off around five in the morning and I knew Andre had a long day the day before as well. He hadn't slept for over twenty-four hours. I was worried about him.

"Hey," I said, reaching out to take his hand. "Did you even try to get some rest? You can't keep on running on caffeine."

He sighed and closed the folder, placing it beside him. He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled at the end. Something was making him nervous. Something other than the terrible turbulence. But what?

"I did. My head wouldn't shut up," he said, his voice exhausted.

"Wanna talk?"

He nodded and we talked until he dozed off on the couch. It barely took ten minutes. I got up and covered him with a comforter before going back to my bedroom. I took a sleeping pill that helped me sleep through most of the flight without waking up.

"Dad? How much time do I have to myself?" I asked as I started going through my schedule. It was packed.

When no one answered, I looked up from the tablet just to see an apologetic look on my mother's face.

"Not much, honey," my mother said.

"What? Why? I always have a little time to myself. I thought I'd find a firm in town I can intern at this summer,"

"Sorry, sweetheart. When your sister bailed on us, we had to add some events she was supposed to attend with us to your schedule," my father finally spoke.

"What? She gets to bail and I can't breathe for a month?" I asked in disbelief.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, honey. You'll have fun," my mother said.

"Have fun?"

I shared a disbelieving look with Andre and sighed. I couldn't believe them. How could they go so easy on her and this hard on me? Was she that much of a fuck up that they didn't even bother to drag her ass to Milan anymore? Or was I easier to manage? Was this because I promised my dad two months each year and signed a fucking contract because of it? Or did they rely on me to be responsible and one day be in charge of their empire? My dad had already told me that I'd be in charge when he stepped down not my older sister. True, I knew more about the companies when I was ten than Ember did when she was eighteen. But that didn't give them the right to hijack my plans.

I could feel my chest tightening and my heart beating faster and faster. My vision got blurry and came back to focus. I tried to find something to focus on but I couldn't find a thing. I couldn't focus enough. It was getting harder and harder for me to draw in any breath.