After Emma had finished telling me about the plans regarding Elouise, I hung up, still trying to process it all. 

Brendan caught my eye, rushing to my office door. 

"Hey, are you okay?" 

I faked a smile. "Yeah. Just some family drama." 

Brendan bursted out in laughter. 

"I know exactly how that is. My parents are constantly fighting over mother in laws. Between you and I, neither of them are peaches." 

I closed my eyes, trying to think of a way to get Brendan out of my hair. It's not that I didn't enjoy talking to him. I just needed my space. 

"Brendan, could you get my morning coffee? I really need to get started on these files." 

He instantly jumped into action, grabbing my blended caramel drink, then tipped his head as he backed out the door. 

Sipping on the straw momentarily, I eyed my office computer, knowing I  had a list of people I needed to contact that had nothing to do with work. 

Elouise was first on my list.

I knew it wasn't a big deal. I'd gone to lunch dates with her before. I just felt out of place with everything that was going on with the cops. 

I felt as if she could see right through my mind, right to the guiltiness I felt. 

So I didn't psyche myself out, I rushed towards my mouse, dialing up the system.

As soon as my front screen loaded, I clicked on my email, typing in Elouise's contact. 
_________________________________________
To: [email protected]

Subject: Lunch date? 

Send: Hi, mother. I was doing a lot of thinking about my behavior and want to make it up to you. Are you free tonight?
_________________________________________

I didn't bother waiting around for her reply. If I did this, it would only eat away at my thoughts. I nedded to distract myself so the impending doom didn't seem worse.

Just as I grabbed a roll of towels I'd set on my shelf, I heard a ding come from the computer. With disdain I saw that it was indeed a response from Elouise. 
_________________________________________
Re: Lunch Date

From: [email protected]

Send: Yes I am free. I'm glad you're seeing things my way. What time? I could bring your father as well. 
_________________________________________

I froze at this response. She wanted Charlie to come. No. I couldn't do that. I couldn't handle it.

He was the one that started all the problems in the first place. Though he and Elouise had been in it together, I despised him more.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I hovered the mouse over the mat. Time was already running thin and I needed to make a decision. 

Without much thought, I responded to the email. 

_________________________________________
Re: Lunch Date

From: [email protected]

Send: Sure. That would be a good idea. Let's go for seven.
_________________________________________

As I made my way around my office, I was relieved that I didn't receive another response. I had a lot to finish before the end of the day and I still had to call both Emma and Hero. 

Calling Hero would be the worst of them all. I already knew how he'd react to me visiting Elouise again let alone Charlie. 

The call with Emma went pleasantly smooth. She was excited that I had managed to schedule another meeting and let me know that she would update me later. 

Hero's did not. I had barely told him about the dinner when he began shouting through the speaker. 

"That's not fucking happening!"

I glowered, ready to stand my ground. 

"Emma said the cops need another bust. This could be it... besides, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do." 

Hero's voice cracked like a whip through the reciever. 

"I sure as hell will make sure you can't leave my sight! I don't care if I have to watch the building you work in."

I huffed.

"You simply don't have that much power or authority... if I really wanted to, I could get Cole to escort me out the emergency exit." 

You fucking idiot. Why oh why, couldn't you say Josephine or Brendan? 

"The fuck he will!" Hero boomed. "Over my dead body." 

I sighed. "If you're going to be like this, I'll find someone else to take me. I'm done with this conversation now." 

"Kristina-" 

I hung up the phone before he could finish his sentence. I knew I'd regret that later, but I couldn't worry about it now. I had rooms to clean and breakfast runs to do. 

As the day went on, I had many thoughts swirling through my mind. In a nutshell, I knew what to expect from Elouise, but Charie was a different story. 

He and I hadn't really spoken since he'd disowned me from the family. Some of the first things I could expect to come from his mouth were my failed obligations and failure to complete college. 

None of this would matter regarding where they were in my life, but it didn't stop from hurting me deep inside. I wanted to believe I was achieving success. Somehow.

Before I cleaned my office one last time around five, I contacted Emma to coordinate my plans with her.

I'd initially had the idea to meet them at a restaurant in town, but Emma had other ideas that seemed more logical. 

"The department wants to take a different approach," She'd said, "I offered that you host the dinner at my bungalow. No worries. I won't be there."

I kept my promise to Hero. I refrained from speaking with him, asking some of my co-workers for another way out of the building.

There happened to be an exit that led out onto the busy intersection.

Luckily for me, Emma offered me a ride to her bungalow so I could prepare for everything ahead of time. 

When we arrived, I was taken aback by the gigantic castle of a home. It was built like a large white beach house with several wide glass windows that overlooked the gigantic lawn. 

For dinner I'd decided on salmon and rice. It was simple and easy to prepare. The last thing I needed was to stress on timing when I had less than hour until they arrived.

As soon as I set the food and silverware on the long wood table, I heard a dense knock on the door. Rushing over to the peephole, I saw that it was Elouise and Charlie looking as disinterested as ever. 

That made me two of us. 

Opening the heavy door and greeting them both with a tense smile, I was met with one sentence from Charlie:

"Did you even bother to iron your clothes? You look like you've been through a brothel." 

I instantly ran my hands down the front of my dress feeling nervous. 

This was not off to a good start. 

Oh, Emma. What do you have planned?

Sorry for the short cliffhanger 💔💔

I did my best to make the chapter good for you all 🤗