THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 43

When I went back to the kitchen, Yemi was still sitting at the table looking over every conversation we'd gone over.

She looked up when I came in.

"She is asleep?" she asked.

"Within thirty seconds," I said.

Yemi smiled. She was still sitting at the table and there was no professional reason for her to still be at the table.

I guess she stayed because she didn't want to come off as rude. I understood that so I sat down. Not at the other as I usually do but closer.

Just close enough for a human interaction between two people who had a go.

I was overthinking this already.

"She is going to remember this party for a long time," Yemi said quietly.

"I hope so," I said.

"Yemi," I called and she looked up at me.

“Thank you.” I said it the same way I usually do when I was truly grateful and meant it. “For agreeing to plan this birthday, for the ideas and for always being with her everyday.” I wasn't sure if I dhouod be thanking her for that since it was her job.

“She trusts you and that is rare. She doesn't trust easily.”

"She is easy to love," she said simply.

The kitchen was quiet around us. Outside through the window the garden was dark.

I looked at Yemi and she looked at me and the kitchen was very still.

But then my phone lit up on the table.

It was a message from Gerald about the counter case. All the talk about cake and sweets made me forget that I had a case to win.

I replied to him but before I could drop my phone, it rang. It was Emma. I looked up at Yemi suddenly and it seemed like she got the idea because she got up and said goodnight.

Only that, I didn't want her to leave.

I wondered why Emma was calling me. We didn't have anymore unfinished business and even if we did, I didn't think I'd want to continue knowing that she had deadly people around her.

“Ethan.” She was breathing heavily when I picked the call. “Ethan, can we talk?”

“Talk? About what?” I asked, not moved by that acting she was trying to pull.

“About Daniel. I promise this information would be worth it..”

I wasn't listening anymore. I wasn't interested in Daniel and the little stupid games he was playing. I had Hargrove and Victoria to handle.

And by the way, few weeks, Daniel had pulled a stunt which he clearly stated that Emma was aware. I didn't know if that was true but I was too uninterested to ask.

“Don't worry about anything, Emma. I can take care of myself.”

“Ethan, I'm no longer a free woman in this house. It just feels like I'm being held in hostage. No one is speaking to me, Daniel is so upset with me about what happened that he doesn't talk to me at all.”

I wasn't the right person, Emma shouod talk to about this but she kept talking.

“About Hargrove, I know something.”

I stopped.

That was what I wanted to hear.

“What do you know?” I picked up my laptop and headed straight to my office locking thedoor behind me.

“This isn't something I can say over the food. Let's meet.”

Was this another trap set by Daniel? I was honestly tired of the games and I wished that the Pierce family would let me be.

“Emma, you know what happened the last time you came looking for me at the Campus. You know exactly what happened. We can't let that happen again.” I reminded her.

“That's true..” Her voice was low like she was going to give up and finally tell me over the phone. “..I could meet you at your home.”

No.

That was never going to happen.

“That can't happen, Emma.”

“But why? This is a very important matter and the information I have will help you in your case.”

I felt helpless now. I don't know but it felt like Emma was laughing at me too.

If this information was as important as she claimed, then I knew I had to find a way to meet her. Emma knowing exactly where the Blackwell mansion was located was going to be the worst thing that'll happen to me in a long time.

“Alright. I'll meet you. I'll send you an address.” I said and hung up.

Was this really a good idea? Meeting Emma again after the drama she last pulled.

Even if she truly had any information for me, she always loved drama and that was why she wanted to visit me here at the mansion.

When I looked up from my desk, Henry was right there at the door. He must have overheard me and was now standing at the door glaring at me like I just made a big mistake.

“Don't look at me like that.”

“You know you could send me to her, right?”

“No. I know Emma. Once she sees that I sent you, she'd refused to say anything.” I shook my head. “I still wondered how I handled her in all those years, honestly.”

Henry nodded, knowing that he couldn't change my mind.

“The only thing I'll do is make sure she doesn't come over to the mansion.”

Henry had this look on his face. “How the hell do you want to do that?”

“I know my ways but for now, the only thing we should do is find a way to secure Lily's birthday party. She wants to invite lots and lots of people so we need to put systems into place to make sure that everything goes well that day.”

Henry still didn't seem happy about the arrangement with Emma but he couldn't say no to me. How could he?

______________

I met Emma at the gate rather than letting her in. I had to be careful with her so I told her that I'd send my driver to her and I did.

She stood at the pavement outside looking up at the Black mansion with an expression that I couldn't understand myself.

When we finally got down to talk, she looked like she was going to cry.

"What is so urgent that it could not wait for a phone call?" I asked.

She looked at me. "I heard Daniel talking last night. He knows about the birthday party."

I was still.

"He knows it is happening next week," she said. "I do not know how he knows. But he was on the phone and I heard him mention Lily's name and a date and he said something about an opportunity." She paused. "I do not know what he is planning. But he said the word opportunity and when Daniel uses that word around Lily's name I do not think it means anything good."

I looked at her.

I really thought she brought news for me concerning the counter case.

“I know that this isn't what you are expecting but this news is equally important. I can be stand by for you, Ethan. I live in that house and I hear their conversation. I could tell you everything you want to know.”

“And why would I want to work with someone like that?”

“What?”

“Someone like you who would betray her family just for their selfish gain.”

Emma looked at me like I had just broken her heart. I wasn't usually this cold but I say what I have to, to the people that deserved it.

She must have come to me expecting me to be all over her because she helped me but I just couldn't. Emma had thought me that no one is to be trusted.

“You don't have to be like that, really, Ethan. I'm only offering to help.”

"Thank you for telling me," I said.

"I want to help," she said quickly. "With the party. With the security. Whatever you need. I know these people Ethan. I know how Daniel thinks and I know who he talks to and I can be useful."

"You have already been useful," I said. "The information about Daniel and his plans are enough. That was useful."

"I mean here," she said. "Present. In the house. At the party." She looked at me directly. "I know what you are thinking. You do not trust me and you have no reason to trust me. But I am trying to do something right."

I looked at her for a long moment.

Even if she was trying to do something right, did it mean that I had to accept her? I couldn't let her close to Lily, not when anything and anyone can be an enemy at this point.

Then I heard a voice behind me.

"Brother."

When I turned, I saw Lily and Yemi walking towards me. That only meant that Yemi had not been able to stop her from coming over to this side.

Lily must have decided she wanted to see me and that was the end of it.

She looked at Emma, then at me.

There was silence.

“Hello.” Lily greeted but only out of courtesy. She still looked at Emma the way she looked at Adults that she was still assessing.

"Hello," Emma said. Her voice was different than it had been thirty seconds ago. Softer. "You must be Lily."

"Yes," Lily said. "Who are you?"

Emma looked at me briefly. Then back at Lily.

"My name is Emma," she said. "I knew your brother a long time ago.”

Lily looked at her for a long time then turned to me. “Is that true?”

I looked at Emma.

I said nothing but nodded in agreement.

“But why I'm I meeting her for the first time?” Lily asked me. “You never bring any of your friends home. She seems nice.”

“Yes, I'm nice and you knkw what I'm going to help you plan the party as well.”

I looked sharply at Emma but she was wasn't looking at me, she was instead smiling at Lily who turned to confirm from me.

“Is that true?” Lily asked, already clapping her hands.

I said nothing which could have been a good sign fir Emma to stop whatever came she was trying to play.

“Can I come in?” Emma asked Lily. “We don't have have so much time to plan.”

"Can she come in?" Lily turned to me. "I want to show her the butterfly garlands. Yemi and I made them and they are very precise."

I looked at Lily.

Then at Emma. Then at Yemi who was standing a few feet behind Lily with the expression of someone who had stopped trying to predict what was going to happen next and was simply present for whatever it was.

“For one hour only.” I was talking to Emma specifically, not Lily.

Emma nodded immediately without arguing. I wasn't happy where this was going. Emma was doing everything within her power to push herself back into my life.

According to her, she wanted to prove to me that she had changed.

Lily started to explain the butterfly garlands to Emma while she listened with complete attention.

Yemi walked beside me as we followed them towards the house.

"Is this all right?" she asked me quietly.

I watched Lily gesturing with both hands while she explained something about the precision of the folding technique to a woman who was nodding like it was the most important information she had ever received.

"I do not know yet," I said honestly.

A part of me kept telling me that Emma would only give me trouble but she kept pushing.

When Yemi noticed that ì had no answer to the question she let it be and let me be as well. Emma stayed for two hours, not one.

I did not correct the time because what happened in those two hours was not what I had expected.

Lily showed her the garlands. Emma asked detailed questions about the butterfly release which Lily answered with the thoroughness of a leading expert.

They sat at the kitchen table and Lily showed her the guest list and explained who everyone was with brief character notes and Emma listened to every word.

At some point Yemi made tea and put a cup in front of Emma without being asked and Emma looked up at her and said thank you and Yemi said of course and something passed between them that I did not fully read but that seemed to be the beginning of an understanding.

Lily at one point turned to Emma very seriously and said: "The cake is blue morpho butterfly shaped."

Emma said: "What is a blue morpho butterfly?"

This was the correct question because it gave Lily fifteen minutes of purpose.

I could have let them have their time, spend time but there was no way I was going to leave Lily with Emma alone.

“I think it's time I leave.” Emma finally said when she looked up and saw my signal to her. “Let's meet another time to finish our discussion.

“Oh.. you're leaving?” Lily asked, turning to me.

“Yes, baby. Emma here has an important meeting she needs to meet up with, okay?”

Lily nodded slowly then I signaled Yemi to take her upstairs. I waited for them to be out of hearing before I turned to Emma.

“I know I know.” She raised her hands. “I'm sorry that things had to turn out this way.”

“Really?” I looked at her. She was always like this, always willing to do anything to get what she wanted.

“Just let me help, Ethan. I promise I won't cause problems.”

“You already caused so much trouble.” I thought. At this point, there was nothing I could do even if I wanted to. Lily was already so excited and I wanted to cut that joy short for her.