"Emma!"

"I have to go." I say, slipping on my shoes before grabbing my bag. I turn to look apologetically at Piper but there is really nothing I can tell her.

"Is something wrong?"

I shake my head, trying on a thin lipped smile.

"I'll be back before you know it." I say, shutting the door behind me.

Whipping out my phone, I dial Edward while trying to flag down a taxi. It keeps going to voicemail but I have to go meet him anyway.

After a little over half an hour of me fidgeting in my seat, we finally arrive and I pay the driver hurriedly before rushing off.

"Miss." he calls. "You've over paid me."

"Keep it." I wave dismissively as I make my way into the building. That's the least of my problems right now.

"Ms. Domenico." The receptionist greets and I nod my head by way of answer.

"Is Edward in?"

"Yes but-

I don't wait for her to finish her statement but dash in the direction of the elevator.

"Hold it!" I scream at the man in the blue tweed suit. He obliges and I join him, expressing my gratitude.

He pushes the button for the fifth floor and I smile at him before picking the seventh.

The man gets off soon enough and after what feels to me like hours, I finally arrive at the seventh floor. Gathering my bearings, I make a beeline for the majestic dark oak door at the end of the hall way and burst in.

"Edward!" I cry, panting. However, the rest of my statement dries up on my tongue when I come face to face with an office full of important looking business people.

So that's what the receptionist tried to tell me.

Edward shoots me a glare but it quickly morphs to a look of concern.

Do I look that frenzied?

"Sorry." I say, doing a little curtsy type thing while dying of embarrassment. "I didn't know you were busy."

"It's okay Emma." He says, sounding just a tad bit ticked off.

"Gentlemen." He gestures at the group. "Ms. Emmanuela Domenico, granddaughter of Sir Antonio Domenico, former CEO of Domenico Empires."

Five pairs of eyes land on me and I do another curtsy like I've been taught. However, even after years of being introduced to business associates every now and then, I still feel uncomfortable.

"Pleased to meet you Gentlemen." I smile and they nod their heads respectively.

"The pleasure is all ours Ms. Domenico." A blond haired man says. A fedora sits on the table in front of him and he looks about as charming as a bulldog.

"Your grandfather was a very close business associate."

Yeah right.

"He was a good man, Sir Antonio." The man continues getting a bit misty eyed.

I nod, struggling to keep my emotions in check and Edward, gratefully comes to the rescue.

He clears his throat and moves a ways from his chair. "Sorry for the interruption gentlemen but I believe Ms. Emma has some important news for me. This will only take a minute."

The men nod their heads, offering different versions of consent and Edward smiles tightly, motioning for me to join him outside.

"I am going to kill Flora."

"No it's my fault." I reply, trying to defend the poor lady. "She tried to tell me but I rushed off."

"What was so important Emma? I am in the middle of closing a deal with those men back there."

I shoot him a look before reaching into my bag for the accursed envelop. Placing it in his hands, I wait.

I watch as his grey eyes scan the letter; once, twice, before scrunching it angrily into a ball.

"We have to take this to the police." He says in a monotonous voice.

"For what?" I ask. "What does that prove Edward? For all they know I wrote that myself. I don't trust the police anymore Edward. I'm not going to them for help even if they can offer it."

Edward begins to pace up and down the hall and I try not to fidget.

"That does it." He says, coming to an abrupt stop. "You" he points at me before going on. "Have to get a bodyguard."

"What?" I shriek. "Are you crazy?"

"What do you mean, am I crazy?" he throws his hands in the air. "Do you want to die?"

"Well of course not but I'm not getting some guy to follow me everywhere."

"I sure as hell can't do it." He exclaims, looking frustrated.

"No one's asking you to. I can take care of myself."

"Yeah right." He deadpans, pointing to the scrunched up paper ball. "This isn't some joke Emma. Fia is out to get you."

"Well, I'm out to get her too."

"No, you are going to get a body guard and keep going to school until we can get a plan underway."

"Pooh." I say sticking out my tongue.

"God Emma, why aren't you taking this seriously?" He sighs. Somehow, he manages to look even more looking frustrated.

"I am taking this seriously!"

"What I've said is final." He declares, ignoring me.

"You are not the boss of me Edward Gyllenhaal."

"That might be true." He replies coolly. "In fact, technically speaking, you're my boss but you see, I am under obligation both by business and family to ensure your safety and that is exactly what I will do."

"How do you know the person you're getting isn't working for Fia?"

"It's someone who has worked for me on several occasions."

"Whatever." I shrug.

I mean, I knew going back to school was in itself not risk free because my aunt is on the loose but I had hoped that it would return some normalcy into my life before I had to go after her.

I just thought that even though I was going back to school because Edward made me I would at least have a few decent months before things start spinning even more out of control.

Apparently, I was wrong.

"Hey." Edwards says, coming closer. "I know this sucks but if we don't get Jerome to keep tabs on you I'll forever be worrying about you."

"I get it." I shrug. "It's for my safety."

"Edward cups my face in his hand and pulls me towards him."

My heart rate picks up as per usual and I can practically feel it as my pulse quickens.

He leans even closer before whispering in my ear.

"Quit acting like a baby." He smirks, pulling away.

I have the desire to stamp my feet or at least kick the flower vase a ways down so it shatters into a billion pieces but that would only accentuate his statement.

"Whatever Edward." I reply, walking away from him.

I've only made it a few paces when he grabs my arm

"What?" I shriek, feeling frustrated.

"Bodyguard, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Him."

Edward directs me to go wait in the conference room while he tidies up his meeting with the all so important soon to be business associates.

With nothing else to do, I scan through some channels on the flat screen in the corner and use my phone on and off.

A little over an hour later, Edward shows up with dinner in the form of pizza and a mountain of a man walking next to him.

He places the pizza on the huge dark wood table before gesturing to the man.

"Emma." He says. "Meet Jerome. Jerome, Ms. Domenico."

Jerome extends his hand and I oblige. He looks to be the same age as Edward and carries the same aura of maturity and importance.

His dark brown eyes, gaze intently into mine as I give him a brief once over.

To say he is handsome would be an understatement. Jerome has chestnut brown skin, accentuated by the dress shirt he has on. His face seems to glow beneath the mass of dark hair on his head which he has on in a temple fade. He has toned muscular arms and grips my hand in a firm handshake. My eyes widen in unnecessary surprise.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Domenico." He flashes straight white teeth at me. "I'm Jerome Bankole."

"Pleasure's all mine." I smile, feeling satisfied when I spot Edward scowling from my peripheral vision.

When the greeting formalities are over, the three of us help ourselves to dinner while I get to know Jerome.

He is a year older than Edward and graduated two years ago with a degree in sports psychology. He however, picked up an interest in the line of work which he holds currently and indulges in it whenever need be.

He is very easy to talk to and we love all the same shows on TV. All in all, Jerome's a great guy and if I'm stuck with anyone for the next few months, I'm glad it will be him.

Edward on the other hand, acted all formal and stuck up throughout the evening. I don't care though. This was his idea in the first place.

When we finally finish, Jerome and I get up to say our goodbyes and Edward pulls me in for a tight hug.

"Who's acting like a baby now?" I whisper softly before pulling away.

That said, I lead the way downstairs where we find it's almost dark and my bodyguard escorts me back to school before heading back to his place with promises of being back.

He would have spent the night but he has to work on creating an identity and whatnot so he can infiltrate the school system and pass off as a student.

This will not end well for me.