Chapter 18
The sun set glow spread all over the city, it was warm and golden. Emily Walker sat on the balcony of her luxurious hotel suite, lost in a sea of memories. How had her life changed so much in the span of a few days, from living in that tiny hellhole apartment to staying a luxurious hotel wearing expensive white bathrobes, and drinking expensive bottles of champagne while overlooking the city view.
Ethan had booked the hotel for her until after the wedding, which was happening in a week’s time and he was taking care of everything. The only thing she physically had to be present for towards the wedding preparations was for her dress fittings, she didn’t have to lift a finger or worry about anything.
News about the wedding had spread like wildfire throughout the city, it was on every magazine, social media blogs and mostly everyone was talking about it. It was a big shock once when a small group of paparazzi had followed her to the hotel asking her questions about how she met Ethan and if they were truly in love, only then did she truly understand the power of the Hatton name, and it was going to be her name, soon.
Soon, she heard a knock a door. Emily pulled herself up from where she sat and headed to the door, and a loud squeal nearly knocked her to the floor the moment she opened the door. It was Cheryl, this time her hair was a regular brown color and she looked so different now, her eyes were calmer.
“What’s with your hair?” Emily said, opening the door wider for her “It’s weirdly normal”
“My hair is not important right now, you are. Tell me everything. How did you get Ethan Hatton to propose to you, of all people among the New York Elites. I thought you said you didn’t know him” Cheryl said, her words coming in fast the way she did when she was excited.
“I didn’t” Emily admitted “It all happened too fast, I haven’t even fully processed it yet”
“Tell me everything!!” Cheryl squealed, pulling Emily further into this room “And this hotel? Damn! Better than The Luxe”
Emily told her about everything over a glass of wine she now knows to be 1975 Dom Perignon, it’s taste being a perfect symbol of luxury and refinement which she was now a part of. She mostly excluded the part about the marriage being a contract and was going last six months to a year at the very least.
“What of Jackson? Did you meet Jackson yet?” Cheryl asked and slow blush crept up Emily’s cheek.
“About that” Emily started “Remember that masked party we attended, I shared a drunken passionate kiss with Jackson and now I guess he’s in love with me and doesn’t want me to marry Ethan, he’s not invited to the wedding by the way”
Cheryl stood stunned, her mouth falling open to Cheryl’s confession “So let me get something straight, the Hatton brothers are in love with you?”
“It’s all too confusing Cheryl, and I don’t want to dwell on it. Just focus on the wedding which by the way you’re maid of honor, you’re literally the only person I know in the whole city”
“Girl I know” Cheryl smiled “Why do you think I had my hair dyed brown, I’m not about to start looking fiery red in front of all those rich people”
“You look beautiful either way” Cheryl admitted
“Thank you Ems, and I’m so happy for you. I’m rooting for you so hard and I love you
***
Later that night, after Cheryl had left; while the moon cast a soft ethereal glow upon the hotel room through the open windows as Emily prepared to retire for the night. She slipped into a luxurious silk pajamas, relishing the feel of the fabric against her skin. As she approached the nightstand, ready to dim the soft bedside lamp, a melodious chime echoes in the room. Startled, Emily’s gaze darted towards the phone, resting innocently on the polished surface.
It was a strange number calling. No one ever called her phone.
Her heart quickened in pace, an apprehensive flutter in her chest. Who could be calling at this late hour?
Hesitant yet curious, Emily picked up her phone, its cool touch sending a shiver down her spine. The screen illuminated with the unknown number, a mysterious invitation to the realm of the unknown. Her mind raced, considering the possibilities. Could it be the paparazzi? Should she answer? Or should she let it get to voicemail?
The room seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a moment of uncertainty, her fingers trembled ever so slightly before she summoned the courage to slide her thumb across the screen, her anxiety peaking. A faint whisper of apprehension mingled with intrigue as she brought the device to her ear.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Hello?” her voice emerged as a fragile whisper, echoing through the stillness of the room.
There was a momentary pause, the silence stretching taut with anticipation. Then, a voice, husky and unfamiliar resonated through the earpiece.
“Emily, it’s mom”
Emily’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching in her throat. The word hung in the air, both a revelation and a perplexing enigma. The woman who had disappeared from her life without a trace now stood on the precipice of her consciousness.
A whirlwind of emotions engulfed Emily, a tempest of longing, confusion and hope. Questions that had remained dormant for years surged forth, demanding answers. How had her mother found her?
“Mom?” she managed to say.
Then the line went dead.