Emerald Cove

Chapter 23

Katherine's POV

I laid in bed awake for a while watching Charlotte sleep. She was quickly becoming my everything. That thought alone sent so many emotions through me. Relief, happiness, and fear were the main emotions flowing through me. I was relieved to have found her love again. Just thinking about her made me happier than words could explain. However, under all of that was fear.

This was a new feeling for me. There is not a lot in this world that scares me. So why am I afraid? More importantly what am I afraid of? I almost laughed out loud at that thought. I am afraid of everything. I am afraid of loving Charlotte. I am afraid of being hurt. I am afraid of losing her again. I'm afraid of letting my parents down. I am afraid of losing my position in the law firm. I'm afraid of what everyone else will think or say about us and our "ways". So yeah it turns out I am big coward. Afraid if I do and afraid if I don't.

What am I going to do? I worked late tonight because I didn't know how to face Charlotte. Tomorrow I have to go on a blind date with whoever this mystery man is for the sake of not pissing my parents off. However, I don't know how to tell Charlotte. If I she were to tell me she had to go out with some guy for her parents I would be super pissed and probably ripe the guys head off. So how can I ask her to be ok with this?

When my alarm clock went off I groaned knowing this was going to be a long, long day. I had maybe 2 hours of sleep last night. There was going to need to be heavy amounts of caffeine for me to make it through this day.

I quickly text Laura, "Make sure the coffee is strong today".

"Rough night?"

"You have no idea... Is it possible to just get an IV of caffeine???"

"I'm afraid not, but that is why you pay me the big bucks..." I laughed at her response and made my way to the bathroom to shower and start getting dressed.

Before I left the house I kissed Charlotte's sleeping forehead and left her a note saying that I had to work late, but I'd try to be off tomorrow so that I could make it up to her. I tucked a rose from the garden into the note and headed out off to work.

The work day turned out to be as long and as tedious as I had imagined. All of the partners were in the office today, my father and Luke included. There was not enough caffeine in the world to prepare me to put up with both of them at the same time. Halfway through the day I received a call from a very prestigious client of mine informing me that his 16 year old was arrested... again. I mean don't get me wrong, I love work. However, there is only so many times I can get this punk off before we run out of luck. As icing on the cake I found out that my father is calling a board meeting tomorrow morning with all of the partners to discuss the Macduff merger I had been researching. A little birdie also told me that Luke is trying to weasel his way into taking that account.

After hours of prepping for the meeting tomorrow and arranging for a junior attorney to see to the little punk's case I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than a bottle of wine and bubble bath.

My phone rang and I groaned when I realized it was my mother.

"Hello," I said into the receiver trying my best to mast my annoyance.

"Kathryn, you're father and I are on the way to club. Do you need us to pick you up?" she asked as I cussed under my breath. I had completely forgotten about my dinner date with my parents and whatever guy my mother was setting me up with tonight.