Emily’s Dilemma: Seduced by Billionaire Brothers

Emily Hatton stared at her phone, rereading the text countless times over trying to make sense of it, but it wasn’t forthcoming. She had a memory, a memory bursting to set free but her brain wouldn’t let it, something had happened to her causing that part of her memory to be locked. Her head had began to hurt and she massaged her temples with her fingers, the text messages still going over in her head and the confusion plagued her. Should she trust her and go or was this a very thoughtless prank. But also, she felt overwhelmed by curiousity. What happened to her parents and why did her mother abandon her and run away? These are the questions she had asked her whole life and no one had been able to give her the answers she needed and now they were being offered to her on a platter of gold, why does she have to refuse it and in that moment of hesitation, Emily made up her mind. She was going to go and confront her past.

Later that evening, Emily sat at the penthouse dressed beautifully in a blue corset dress in preparation for the date Ethan had promised in celebration for getting the contract. She was going to tell him about her mother, and the phone calls and text messages she’s been getting. She was going to tell him everything and use it as a method to bond with him a little bit, maybe just a little bit she missed him.

Although she hadn’t heard from him all day, she wanted to believe he had gotten the deal and was probably just running late but an hour passed, and two hours and even an extra thirty minute yet Ethan was no show. The embarrassment was apparent on Emily’s face and the anger shown in her eyes as she stood in front of the mirror taking of her jewelry one after the other. She was struggling with her necklace when she heard the elevator ping and could hear Ethan stumbling through through the house before getting to the room and opening the door. His mouth formed an ‘o’ shape when he saw her, a hint of amusement and a hint of guilt mixing together to form an expression she couldn’t fathom.

“You’re drunk” she stated, the smell of alcohol hitting her nose from where he stood as he walked towards her.

“I stopped by the bar for a few drink, I guess I lost track of time” Ethan explained

“And totally forgot you made plans with me, where is your phone?”

“Here” Ethan held it out, confusion etched on his face as he swung drunkenly unable to keep his balance.

“Ohh you have there it with you, I assumed you must’ve lost it judging from the fact that you refused to return my calls or even send a text” she said to him, her voice laced with anger.

“Hey chill!” Ethan moved closer to her but she stepped back not wanting him to touch her.

“You should just go” she said to him, all her pent up anger slowly building up inside of her while she struggled to keep herself in check, she wasn’t the type to let her anger get the best of her and Ethan wouldn’t be the one to bring it out.

“What are you getting so riled up for, you were the one that said there’s no love here” Ethan said to her and Emily’s eyes flashed as she processed his words

“Right?!” She yelled this time “I wasn’t the one who made plans and refused to show up or have the courtesy to let me know”

“Then maybe you should reduce your expectations of me” Ethan matched her tone.

“Maybe I should” she said in finality and tried walking out of the room, heart nearly bursting out of her chest when the memories came rushing back overwhelming her once again. She could hear the voices, man’s voice yelling and a woman crouched down in a corner, her hair falling over her face as she sobbed.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Maybe you should expect less of me, maybe you should leave. Take Emily and go!!” The voice said, looking from the eyes of her younger self. The lady crying in the corner, blood dripping from her knees as she struggled to get up.

The memories weighed Emily down so much she didn’t realize she had crouched down to the floor with Ethan screaming over her too.

“Emily!” He called but she couldn’t hear, she could see his silhouette from her partially closed eyelids bent over her, a single tear falling from her eyes as his voice faded and everything went blank.

Emily!

Emily woke up the next morning with a blinding headache encompassing her forehead. She slowly opened her eyes to find Ethan standing before her already dressed in a suit ready for work. He was holding a cup of scalding coffee which he handed to her.

“Careful it’s hot” he said, sitting down beside her on the bed and smoothing her hair down “Are you okay? You passed out last night, scared the shit out of me”

Emily sipped her coffee trying to fully recall the events of last night, she recalled the memories, the screams, the blood and she closed her eyes to push the horrific feeling she felt.

“I probably have a lot going on, nothing you should worry about”

“But I’m worried” Ethan insisted “I’m sorry about yesterday, I should’ve called”

Emily shrugged, sipping more from the cup and allowing the warmth spread through her body but she wasn’t in the mood to talk. She was going to meet her mother, the anxiety stemmed from her extremities spreading upwards and nearly gripping her throat choking her, she almost found it hard to breathe.

“I’m running late now but I’ll keep good to my promise and we’ll have that celebration tonight” he kissed her forehead and walked out of the room, leaving Emily with her thoughts and anxiety.

The hours rolled by quickly, and it was difficult to move her limbs with the different scenarios running out through her mind on how their interaction would be. She tried to picture the face she knew from social media, the vibrant woman with wild curls and red coloured lips, sipping red wine on loop videos and catching private jets, that same woman she had envied from a distance but still wondering while she left abandoned her.

Slowly, the anger and resentment began to build but when she actually saw her, stood before her, her spicy perfume drifting into Emily’s nose, Emily stood enchanted, that anger and resentment slowly fading away to curiousity.

Truly her mother was beautiful, Alyssa Walker. She had kept the name. Her eyes stayed solid, never wavering for a second, they pierce hard and confident while Emily trembled.

“Mum?” Emily whispered, staring at the woman before her, who neither smiled nor frowned. Her expression pensive, but there was warmth in her eyes, radiating through her to Emily when she picked up Emily’s hand.

“Emily” the woman called “You’ve grown so well”

“You left” Emily said, not missing the woman’s pained expression

“I had to” she said

“Why?” Emily asked and brief silence ensued between them before Alyssa finally spoke

“I loved you father so much, but I killed him and I had to leave”