Pretend to be mine tonight (GXG)

Chapter 36

Emily's POV

I barely made it out of my father's office before the weight of everything hit me like a freight train.

The cold morning air stung my face as I stumbled down the steps of Dawson Enterprises, clutching the thick envelope in my trembling hands. My chest tightened, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I pressed my back against the cold marble wall of the building, feeling my legs weaken beneath me.

What have I done?

I had just made a deal with the devil. And if I failed, if he found out I was playing him, Alex would pay the price.

I clenched my fists, feeling the sharp corners of the envelope dig into my palm. I told myself this was the only way. I couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore, couldn't watch Alex fight my battles while I drowned in my own helplessness.

But standing here, with the city moving around me in an oblivious blur, I realized something...

I couldn't do this alone.

I needed help.

I forced myself to move, pulling out my phone with shaky hands. Michelle. Alex's lawyer. If anyone could make sense of this, it was her.

---

Michelle's office was a stark contrast to my father's empire of intimidation and control. Where his office felt like an ice-cold fortress, designed to remind everyone of his power, Michelle's space was warm, but still carried an air of quiet authority. Dark mahogany shelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged law books, their spines worn from years of use. A soft glow from the desk lamp bathed the room in a soothing amber light, yet none of it could chase away the suffocating weight in my chest.

As I stepped inside, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint scent of old paper, grounding me in the present, even as my thoughts raced ahead.

Michelle looked up from her desk, her sharp, intelligent eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed me. She was dressed impeccably, as always, in a crisp black blazer, her dark hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. Despite the professional calm she exuded, I could see the flicker of concern behind her cool exterior.

"Emily?" Her voice was steady but laced with a question, her brow furrowing ever so slightly. "What's going on?"

I didn't speak immediately. Instead, I walked to her desk and placed the thick envelope down with a trembling hand before collapsing into the chair across from her. My heart pounded against my ribcage, my throat dry, but I forced the words out. "I need you to look at this," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, raw with exhaustion. "Tell me if it's enough."

Michelle arched an eyebrow, clearly sensing the weight of the moment, but she didn't ask any further questions. She pulled the envelope toward her, carefully sliding out the documents and flipping through them with a lawyer's precision. The rustle of paper filled the silent room, each turn of a page punctuated by the click of her pen as she made quick notes.

I watched her intently, my stomach churning with every passing second. My hands clenched into fists in my lap, nails digging into my palms, grounding me from the spiraling thoughts that threatened to consume me.

The seconds stretched into an agonizing eternity before Michelle finally set the papers down and exhaled deeply, her expression unreadable.

"This..." she began slowly, her fingers drumming lightly against the top page. "Emily, this is... substantial." She looked up at me, her gaze piercing. "Combined with the financial records Alex and I have been compiling, this could be the break we need. Gabriel and Chloe... this could bring them down for good."