After her lunch, Emma hailed a cab and reached the towering building of Grayson & Co. Law firm, where her scheduled appointment with Charles Grayson, the Watson Family’s Lawyer was about to take place.
She entered into Grayson & Co. law firm and confirmed her appointment with the receptionist, who informed Charles Grayson’s secretary about Emma being there for the appointment.
A few moments later, a woman dressed in a crisp business suit walked out to the reception and greeted Emma with a polite smile, she introduced herself with a firm handshake which Emma returned with equal elegance.
“Royce Grayson. I will be handling your case.”
“Emma Wright.”
“Shall we take this to my office?”
Royce asked curtly as Emma nodded with a gentle smile, surprising Royce at her gentle demeanor.
When her Uncle passed her a divorce case of the Watson family, she expected a haughty complaining woman, now plotting to get the maximum of what she could from the family by the divorce because that is what most gold-diggers nowadays did.
The duo walked the elevator and went up to the 18th floor, where Royce’s office was located, along with other Junior Partners of the firm.
The double door opened to reveal an office furnished in modern style, imbibed in cool tones. Royce directed Emma to the navy blue, leather couch placed by the large floor-to-ceiling windows which provided a scenic view of the city.
As Royce was already expecting Emma, a hot cup of chamomile tea and some snacks were readily served as they entered her office.
“I only requested to meet with Mr. Charles to deal with some paperwork. I don’t need a lawyer for myself.”
Emma said calmly once they were settled inside Royce’s office, as she did not want to refuse the latter in the reception and make a scene in front of the receptionist.
“I was told it was about the alimony. Since he is the one proposing divorce we can fetch for more than the provided...”
Royce got started, not wanting to explain how things worked at the firm and how her Uncle was a corporate lawyer and couldn’t handle divorce cases, whereas she was a divorce lawyer.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I don’t want anything in alimony. I just need the papers according to this.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want anything from this divorce. Process the papers accordingly. I would like two copies as soon as possible, it would be best if I could have it within the next few hours.”
Emma said in a calm voice as she smiled gently at Royce who seemed taken aback by the request, she was confused by the contradictory request.
‘Didn’t gold-diggers want as much alimony as possible? What is with this lady’s weird request?’
Was the first thought in her mind but Royce quickly covered it up and composed herself as she smiled at Emma and asked once again to confirm.
“You... Don’t want any alimony?”
“That is right.”
“But why?”
“I don’t want to do anything with him after the divorce.”
Emma answered curtly, her tone calm and serene without any hesitation, making Royce hesitant.
Her Uncle asked her to help this lady get as much alimony as she could for this lady, so she thought he was fulfilling his obligation and she was just another gold-digger but here Emma was asking something poles apart.
“But...”
“Don’t worry. I’m not uneducated. I can very well support myself without his alimony.”
“I don’t doubt that. It’s just... never mind. I’ll get the paperwork ready.”
Royce sighed softly before standing up and walking to her desk to get the changes done to the previous divorce agreement and get her Uncle’s approval before getting it printed.
While she was getting the papers ready, the double doors of her cabin opened revealing two men in their late twenties.
Dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blue suit, and paired with oxford leather shoes, with hair neatly styled back was a man who looked strikingly similar to Royce but had an easygoing smile, which froze when he noticed the client sitting at the navy blue leather couch, elegantly sipping the steaming hot tea.
The other man dressed in a three-piece suit and derby leather shoes, with his hair which was styled with little gel, looked messy after having ruffled it several times, was none other than Christopher Howard, whose calm expression a moment ago turned amused and surprised when he saw who the lady inside the office was.
“Huh… I did not know you had a client…”
Richard Grayson, Royce’s twin brother said with an awkward smile as Emma faced them in surprise at the intrusion.
Royce on the other hand was surprised and embarrassed, the former was after seeing her best friend after a long time and the latter was because of the intrusion by her twin and best friend.
“I apologize, Mrs. Watson. They weren’t aware of my appointment with you.”
“It is alright. Carry on with your appointment, you can just mail the papers to me.”
Emma said with a small smile as she stood up and picked up her bag, ready to leave, Royce immediately stopped her in panic while glaring at Richard for being rude.
“Oh no! Mrs. Watson with all due respect, please stay. It is our fault for intruding without checking beforehand. We can totally wait, right Chris?”
Richard quickly explained in a hurry as he did not want to offend any high-profile client and get reprimanded by his Father and Uncle for it later and given Royce’s history of cases till now this one was no doubt a big shot again.
“That’s right, Miss. Wright.”
Christopher who was silently observing Emma till now, addressed her directly after Richard prompted him.
When he addressed Emma with her maiden surname, both Royce and Richard stopped short, looking at him as if he was an alien, whereas Emma’s lips twitched in annoyance.
Of all the ways to meet you Ex, this was surely the most innovative. Meeting your Ex in your Divorce lawyer's office while going through a divorce with your husband for whom you broke up with your Ex in the first place.
“Umm… Do you both know each other?”
Royce asked with uncertainty.
‘Wasn’t she just a middle-class lady who married into old money and now that she couldn’t conceive was being divorced by her husband?’
Royce thought as she looked at Emma and then at her childhood best friend Christopher, who seemed extremely amused by the situation much to the former’s chagrin.
“We went to the same university.”
“She is my Ex, Emma Wright.”
If an earthquake occurred and the ground beneath opened up, Emma would happily jump into it. That is how eager she was to escape the predicament she was currently in. On the other hand, the man who is the cause of this predicament was enjoying every bit of the moment. “E-Ex?” Richard’s eyes bounced between Christopher and Emma to find any hint of a joke before he looked at his twin, who looked equally surprised by the revelation. “How are you, Emma?” Christopher ignoring the baffled expressions on his friends' faces, smiled and asked in a gentle tone while taking in her features. “I am good. When did you return to the country?” “Not pleased having me back, are we?” “There is nothing to be pleased or not to be pleased about. It was just small talk.” “Since when did you start liking small talk?” “5 years is a long time for me to start liking anything.” Nothing betrayed Emma’s steady voice and calm smile as she looked straight into Christopher’s eyes. Despite her sweaty, cold
Emma, who exited Grayson & Co. hailed down a cab and went back to the Watson mansion. To find Madam Watson fuming over something and lashing out at Amanda, with the poor woman trembling in fear.Unable to bear it any longer, Emma cleared her throat, making her presence known, her expression gentle and a calm smile painted on her lush pink lips.“Where were you? Have you seen the time?”Madam Watson’s expression soured even more than before as soon as her gaze fell on Emma.“Did you need me for something?”Emma calmly asked, disregarding Madam Watson’s tone, as this was how the older lady always spoke to her.“The dinner is not yet ready! And Stella’s room looks like a haunted house! Is this how you arrange things?”Madam Watson lashed out at her in a shrill voice, a few octaves higher than her usual tone, stating how angry she was.“I will take care of it before dinner. As for dinner, I will see what is taking time.”Emma’s smile was intact, her voice steady as she softly spoke.“You
“We meet again.”Startled by the sudden voice from beside her ear, Emma stumbled back by instinct making her trip onto the air and fall backward.Resigning to her fate, Emma shut her eyes tight, waiting for the impact of the hard, cold ground on her butt but was confused as it never came, instead, there was a pleasantly, familiar pressure on her waist.Peeking her eyes open, her eyes clashed with Christopher’s ocean blue eyes full of mirth.“Though is it an extreme honor. I can’t have you falling for me left and right, I don’t want such a pretty lady to get hurt.”“Thanks for the save and it is Madam, not Lady.”Emma still cool as cucumber answered in a calm, measured voice, a complete contrast to the rampage of elephants inside her stomach and the sprint her heart was currently running.“Oh? I thought I was here to d
As promised, Emma was out of the house by the next sunrise, leaving behind two puzzled members and three relieved family members. Her disappearance puzzled Mr. Watson, whereas Spade was unsure as to how to interpret her words from last night and her disappearance this morning. On the other hand, Shayne and Stella were rejoicing on the inside to be finally rid of Emma’s annoying presence in their lives. Madam Watson was also on cloud nine to have freed her son from the good-for-nothing woman, who brought no advantages to Shayne, unlike Stella who was already a well-established actress. ******************** Emma rolled her suitcase into the elevator of the apartment complex she bought the other day. Readjusting her sling bag, she pressed her floor and leaned back to wait for the elevator to close. Just as the doors were about to close, a muscular arm interrupted, prompting the door to slide open again. The unexpected interruption
Stanley’s no-nonsense tone, made Emma tremble, but she caught herself in time.She expected it, she anticipated the hate but when it was thrown at her face, in reality, it hurt like someone pulled out her heart.Catherine, with tears running down her bubbly cheeks, pulled at her husband’s sleeve, shaking her head, asking him to not hurt their daughter with such harsh words.She might not be their blood, but she was still the daughter they cherished with their all, at times even more than their own flesh.“It is alright, Mom. I deserve this but I won’t give up this time. I will make up for all my shortcomings and right my wrongs since last 5 years.”Emma smiled softly at her parents before, heading into the stairwell, unable to wait there any longer for the elevator.Descending the stairs, she was once again lost in the past.Time was unforgiving, 5 years seemed to have sped past in a blin
Looking at the smirking Christopher and a slightly bewildered Richard, Emma almost groaned out loud in annoyance but held it in at the last moment.“What can I help you with, Sir?”“Sir?”Christopher bit out in laughter but his eyes held a different story altogether.“It hasn’t been a fortnight since your divorce and this is your condition? What kind of man did you choose over me?”“Chris, drop it. I apologize, Miss. Wright, my friend here is a little tipsy…”“I’m very much sober, Richie. Emma, VVIP room 3, I stored a bottle of whiskey a few months back, bring it along with a couple of shots.”Saying this Christopher left the place without looking back, his tone biting cold as if the very thought of breathing the same air as her was intolerable to him.Richard who wa
Inside a spacious room, designed with minimalist and monotone colors, a young couple were spooning each other. The man peppered small kisses on the lady’s neck as she tried to hold back the smile about to bloom on her beautiful face.“Stop it.”She mumbled, her voice still sleepy, but the man continued to assault her with kisses on the crook of her neck. When the lady ignored it and still fell back asleep, the man started tickling her, leaving her no choice but to wake up and open her eyes.As her eyes fluttered open, a dazzling pair of violet irises came into view, which could put even the angels to shame.“So beautiful”The man mumbled as he kissed both her eyes, one by one, leaving behind a lingering warmth.“Now turn off the alarm.”“Huh?”“Turn off the alarm.”“Wha-”“It is giving me a headache, turn off the alarm quickly.”Emma was snapped awake by the harsh voice, and her eyes met with the cold, piercing eyes of her husband, Shayne Watson, making her realize she was dreaming a
“I was...”The two simple words made Emma’s heart skip a beat, she still saw hope. She saw a hope to change his mind about divorce. All was not in vain, if she could move his heart even once, she could do it again and she was willing to do it no matter how hard it was.She knew he wouldn’t discard her like this after 5 years of companionship. Or would he?“...when I took you to bed. I am still a gentleman, I wouldn’t use just any women. After all, you were a goat who willingly came to her slaughter, how could I refuse? But I made sure to never impregnate you, I couldn’t be unfaithful to Stella now, could I?”“What?”Just when she thought her heart couldn’t break anymore it did. So, all the time when she was thinking there was a problem with her for not being able to get pregnant, it was never possible because he never allowed it? How stupid has she been, to not even realize this?A feeling of foreboding engulfed Emma, as one by one everything fell into its place. The truth was alwa