Chapter 8




Although my day was surprisingly short, my hours today had been excruciating. My mind screamed migraine, and the light bothered me. The slightest sound made my head scream, and the ibuprofen at the local store was not fulfilling their jobs. It was an unending day, filled with unanswered question, and an unfilled glass of sparkling aranciata.

Taking a deep breathe in, I let my mind drift off a bit before I pushed myself off the chair, and into the living room. My legs wobbled, trying to steady itself while my fingers ran along the wall for support. The chatter of familiar voices were heard from the distance, but seemed to be clearer once I had walked closer. My family, or majority of it, had sat down at the table. An empty seat next to foreign jerk; the rest of my siblings had joined at the table. . . eating and chatting away as if I were not part of the family. Huffing once more, I dragged the chair to the side, and plopped myself down.

“It’s nice of you to join us for dinner.” My father speaks from the end of the table. A large flute of red liquid danced around the glass before he took a sip, acknowledging my presence.

“Finally. Seems you hid yourself in that room for the past few weeks.” Nikklaus laughs, and I glare at him before poking at the food in front of me.

“Well I’m sorry I’ve been working my ass off for the company lately, unlike all of you who are wasting two hours eating food.” I seethe back at my brother, and he chokes slightly on his crouton before clearing his throat.

“Since when have you become so mild?”

“When did you become so nosy?” I bit back, and my father cleared his throat in warning.

“Nikklaus . . . stop tempting Emilia. You know how she gets, and Emilia stop acting like a child, and act properly around your guests,” My father smiles widely at Harry beside me who hasn’t pried his eyes off me throughout the whole dispute between my brother and I.

“She was never like this! What happened to the proper Emilia! The one who knew when to talk, and respected others?” The second eldest Rhiannon spoke, smirking while she sipped on her wine.

“What happened to the rest of your shirt?”

Rhiannon slightly choked, and my father glared harshly at me again before Rhiannon poked at her food harshly. He had whispered something along the lines of ‘I told you not to tempt her’, and Rhiannon simply rolled her eyes as the rest of the siblings simply carried along eating, not bothering to mess with hell-child who had made her appearance today. The migraine added to the comebacks, but I generally was always like this. Something would always tick me off, but not until recently had I actually spoke my mind. A warm hand rested on my mid-thigh, and I immediately shot daggers at Harry.

“Take your hand off my thigh or I swear to god this steak knife will be lodged into you jugular,” I whispered harshly at him, and he chuckled a bit to himself before raising it a bit higher.

“Don’t you think you should lower the sass tonight?”

“You don’t know anything about me or my family.”

“Oh . . . actually I know a lot more than you think. How’s nonna?” He almost asks sincerely but he masks it up with a chuckle. Gasping a bit at the mentioning nonna, I threw my napkin on the table before storming back off into my room.

Speaking about nonna pushed buttons, but he knew of buttons I hadn’t even mentioned to my own family let along anybody else. He knew a lot more about me than I had wanted, and it scared me a bit. Nonna had always been a touchy subject, but not because of her disappearance but because of the impact she had on my life.

Nonna was sweet, and kind. The kind of old woman who would be offering a room to the worst criminals, just because she felt they needed it. She was the essence the family really needed, and had for quite awhile. She was the anchor that all of us had latched onto, but myself more so. When she had vanished, the family including myself had taken it quite hard. Mother had infidelity issues, and father had been suppressing emotional emotions throughout his own mother’s kidnapping. It shook up our family, and although she had been gone for a few years now. She was always someone I looked up to, someone I admired, and even the slightest mention would tick me off.

“Deep in thought?”

“Get out.” I growled at the curly haired mop at my doorway.

“Aw, did I find a soft spot?”

“Listen you little fuck.”

“Little fuck?” Harry cut me off, and laughed to himself at the name.

“Stop. Don’t think you can come in here, and act all jolly around my family. You’re some twisted human being who finds joy in confusing people. I am not in the mood to tolerate your shit, and will not play in these games you’ve played out in that egotistical mind of yours.” I walked over to him, poking him till he reached the outside of the doorway. “So, I suggest you fuck off!” I yell, before shutting the door in his face.

After a few minutes of silence, I had laid back down onto my bed before shutting my eyes a bit. “You know I live in there!” A raspy voice spoke, and I groaned. “The doors open you numbskull.” I groaned turning to my side. The bed beside me dipped, and I mentally wanted to scream. Why was he insisting on ruining my peace, and sanity today? Suddenly I was yanked to the end of the bed, and held close to his somewhat angry face.

“Listen Bambi. I’m not here to play games, and I will not be one of your pets you can bark orders too. You of all people know how to push my buttons, and don’t think that I won’t tie you to your bed post, and leave you there for a few hours to contemplate on how rude you have been to me these past few days.” His hot breath hit my forehead, and I almost shuddered at how close he was. Too close, and I was uncomfortable. Still somewhat frozen I pushed him off me, but he gripped on my hands harder.

“You of all people should know I never listen.” I growled back and he smirked to himself before tossing me back onto the bed. Swiftly walking through the arch he plopped himself in his bed, and tucked his hands behind his head before staring back at me.

“I know I’m hot, doesn’t mean you have to stare at me all the damn time.” He chuckled, and I rolled my eyes before leaving the lights dim for sleep. “Fuck you Harry.” I growled back, snuggling myself in the cover, and shutting my eyes for slumber.

Dark eyes, and a gloomy forest. The smell of wood, and dirt overwhelmed my sense as the crackle of sticks pop behind me. Voices . . . So many voices, and they . . . they are all his.

His face, with his scar appears, and he inches closer.

I scream, but nothing comes out. I’m mute, and alone.

He’s closer now, and he laughs cynically before stepping even clos-

“Bambi!” A raspy voice yelled at me. His voice still thick with slumber, I jumped back from him before realizing I was safe, and home. Tears brimmed at my eyes, but I tried blinking them back as much as I could. Never let men see you weak.

“H-he was back, and he. He. He.” I repeated slowly before clutching tightly onto the comforter, and bringing it to my chest.

“Do you want a glass of water?” He offered, and for a moment I almost shook my head.

“No.” I sneered. “But thank you.” I replied a bit softer, as he was the only one who woke me up from my nightmare.

“You were screaming pretty loud. Are you sure you don’t want a glass of water?” He asked a bit more sincerely.

“No. I’m okay,” He nods, and stands to go back over to his bed.

“Wait! I-I mean um,” I wasn’t sure why I had said wait, but it was obviously for something involving him. “C-can you just stay here until I sleep or something. L-Louis used to do it, and it was the only thing that let me sleep properly.”

His gaze hardened as he kept his focus onto the edge of the bed but it never faltered. “Make space.” He grumbled, before lifting the covers and sliding in.

“I never do this.” He remarks, and I narrow my eyes at him in confusion.

“You’ve never slept in bed with a girl?”

“No. It’s never in my room.” He scoffs as if it were something I should have known.

“I find that odd.” I admit, rolling to my side, and snuggling with Sir. Wobbles my bear.

“Do you have clothes on?” He asks mid-slumber. “And why are you clutching a oversized stuffed animal.”

“Just my nightwear, and this is Sir. Wobbles.” I turn to face him, holding out Wobbles. “He’s a bear.” I smile, and Harry just stares at the bear like it’s some sort of alien. His eyes scan over him, and back to me before he’s silent.

“You should go put a robe on or something.” He changes the subject, and I groan sitting up on the bed.
“Turn around, and don’t look.” I warn, and he simply turns his head. I take it that it was the only chance, and shoot over to the door where my short silk robe hung. Grabbing it I slipped my hands into the cool fabric before tying a simple bow, and turning around towards the bed. Semi-wide green eyes peered back at me as I turned around, and I yelped.

“You told me you wouldn’t look!” I shouted at him, and he shot me a sly smirk.

“I never said anything, and that is see through.” He points at the robe before tapping the empty side of the bed. “Go to sleep, I’m tired.”

And before I knew it . . .my eyes were shut, and the only sound that could be heard were Harry’s light snores, and my heartbeat. Two things that oddly didn’t mix, but comforted me nonetheless. For once I felt peaceful, and maybe it was because I wasn’t bickering with Harry. But, it indeed was peaceful.

A slight vibration in my ear, and a light hum is what pulled me out of my deep slumber. My eyes hadn’t opened yet and my body felt awfully warm. My skin felt softer, and my hair felt smoother. Lazily opening my eyes, the humming started again. Roaming my hands around I frowned at the foreign feel of my bed until I realized I was nestled in Harry’s arms. Stumbling off the side of the bed, I shot up to see a surprised Harry.

“Wha- Why- Why didn’t you move me!” I barked.

“You looked comfortable. I am not that mean Bambi.”

“Well you sure are to me.” I scoffed, and a material was thrown at my face.

“You told me it was too hot. Might want to put this on.” I stared down at the silk robe, and the heat rose to my cheeks before I groaned and ran to the bathroom.

“Who in their right mind listens to a sleeping person!” I yelled through the door.

“You seemed pretty convincing to me.” He replies.

“Well next time don’t.” I warn stepping out of the bathroom.

“Must I repeat that, that robe is see-through.” His eyes finally trail up to mine before he pushes off the covers, and pulls himself from the bundle of covers.

“I can wear whatever I want. To my recollection you claimed there was nothing nice to look at. Therefore, you shouldn’t be bothered.” I shrug, and roll my eyes in secrecy as I pick out an outfit for today.

“Where are you going?” He stands at the doorway of my closet. Forearms rested on the door frame above him, I wiggle into a fitted dress before scanning over my shoe rack.

“Lunch with Niall.”

“Why are you wearing that then,”

“Because I want to.”

“You want to or you’re just trying to get the man in your pants?” He raises a brow at me, and I roll my eyes at him before slipping on a pair of stiletto heels.

“I am almost positive that, that phrase is meant to be the other way around.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Well what else would you want me to do in this dreadful house?”

“What merges were you planning with him?”

“That is none of your business.” I reply.

“If you merge this company with him, you will have to move to his headquarters.”

“And.” I could hear him groan as he walked away. Phone in his hand he shut the door behind him and began to ramble on to the person on the other line.

Normally being nosy, I crept behind the archway and eavesdropped to the best of my abilty.

“Yes,” . . . “No, not really. Well that was then, and this is now. Send over the files to Claude.” He paused for a bit before a loud thud echoed through the room. “No, right now! I want this to start immediately. No, I don’t care about the other girls. Fire them. Good.”

The door flung open, and Harry eyes glued onto mine. His eyebrows furrowed, and he groaned something inaudible before storming past me and into his room. He muttered profanities, as he glided around the room. I didn’t know what he was doing, or why he was so antsy, but I knew he was a ticking time bomb waiting for someone to push the wrong button. Yes, he seemed annoyed, but more angry in my opinion. Harry was something. An egotistical ass . . . yes. But, he was up to something and I knew it.

Before I could interrogate Harry, my door flung open, and my father signaled for me to follow him. Something was definitely up . .. I knew it. Immediately sending glares Harry’s way, I trudged towards my father’s office, and shut the door behind me. Sitting in the chair in front of him, I nervously played with the hem of my skirt before clearing my throat.

“I assume this has something to do with Harry,” I huffed out, and my father sighed.

“Emilia you know your mother and I love you. Right?” My father changed the subject, and immediately my heart began to race. My palms involuntarily started to fidget, and I raised an eyebrow at my father.

“What are you trying to say?”

“The family business isn’t doing to well, and the whole family is short on money. We’ve used almost all of our savings, and I don’t think we can handle much longer. We would need to merge with a higher corporation,”

“Where is this conversation going? Why haven’t you brought any of the other siblings in?”

“You of all the siblings know about merges, and deals. It’s mandatory that the company bring forward their share to the merge or else the deal is quite useless.”

“Father,” I warned.

“We’ve merged with BE,” He spit out, and I let out a sigh.

“Oh god, you made me think this was going to be something horrible!” I chuckled to myself, but it soon faded as my eyes laid upon my fathers. “What are you not telling me?”

“We have nothing to offer BE while merging,”

“I’m sure we have something to offer,” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Yes, you.”

“Great, now I’m of- WHAT?” I spun around. “Please repeat that.”

“We’ve offered you. You will be the new CEO of BE and their son Harry’s wife.” My father shuffled the papers on his desk awkwardly, before looking back up at me.

“I’M GOING TO KILL HIM.” I screamed stomping back into my room, and meeting the foreigner I officially hated.

“YOU. You self-centered asshole! Couldn’t you pick someone else! Like one of the blonde’s or maybe anybody else but ME!” I yelled at him, before screaming at myself for blowing up.

“I guess you’ll be stuck with me for a few years, Bambi. Whether you like it or not.” He chuckles.

“I’m leaving. No, I have a date. Yes, that’s what I have. A date. Without you, and away from you.” I spoke to myself before taking a deep breath and scurrying out of the house.

Maybe this date will help me cool down, or maybe it’ll just make this ticking time bomb of a relationship . . . That much worse.

Notes