7

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Emily took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had to be strong, she prepared herself. She would not let him use her.

"What are you doing here? If you want to talk about what happened at the event, let's talk about it later" He sat up on the bed, his frets on the floor and his arms resting on his leg.

"I think you know why I am here darling" he said.

"No I don't... frankly, I am tired of all of this. Please let's stop before we both have a scandal. I don't want trouble, "she said pleadingly. He stood up and said as he walked towards here.

"You should know by now that scandal is my middle name..." He stopped right in front of her, lifting her chin up to look at his beautifully sculptured face, his thumb stroking her lower lip.

"And the problem is my best friend.... we have been for quite a while now," he said. After a whole full minute of being distracted by his beauty, she shook her head and said.

"No, we have to stop... I am a human being and I deserve to be treated like one. I know I'm not a social butterfly or.... that I'm awkward Emily, but that doesn't mean I should be treated this way.... I deserve to be treated right, taken on a date, going to picnics and th__ "her words were cut off the lips that were now on hers.She was grateful that her robe sagging off her shoulders did not show a lot of her flesh. Then his hand slid across her waist. The calluses became entangled in the smooth and soft material as it traveled down her side to the fullness of her breast.

Inwardly, she cringed as his big hand opened and stretched over her curves. She was so big. It had always been too big. Like a big fat cow that no amount of sucking in her stomach could ever hide it. Especially when a man held her in his hand... at least only one. Like her first had done. Like Hayden was doing. She braced herself for the scathing comment that was sure to come_ like how far she is. She'd heard them all since her breasts had grown when she was twelve years old. Someday, she'd be immune.

"Darling?" Hayden's lips brushed the side of her neck.

"What?"

"Slide your arms out of your robe."

"Here? Are you serious? Now "There was a flick of something hot and moist on her neck-his tongue? It sent shivers of goose bumps down her arms.

"Hayden, please, we need to stop... this," she said softly, but was heard and let go.He walked away, his hands intertwined and his hair tossed.She adjusted her robe, tying it firmly.

"Why do you keep doing this to me?" He asked.

"I didn't do anything..I just don't want to be treated like a one-night stand... and I know that if I give in.. that would be the last time I ever see you "she said with her chin raised, trying to sound firm.

"And how do you know that? What if I wanted to give this a shot? " Hayden asked. She didn't know what to say.

A pulse began to beat insistently at his temple because Hayden wasn't used to such a reaction-and never from a woman. Yet it made him want to pull her into his arms and crush his lips down hard against hers. It made him want to push her up against the wall and have her moaning with pleasure as he slid his fingers inside her panties. He swallowed.

"Bloody hell, please just answer the question" he said, but somehow she managed to compose a cool sentence and said this...

"Why do women always notice you whenever you walk into a room?"

"What do you think?" And it was then that Emily realised that she didn't have to play this game. Or any game. He was nothing to her. Nothing. So stop acting like he's got some kind of power over you. Yes, she'd once made a stupid mistake-but so what? It was in the past. She'd been stupid and she'd paid her dues, not to him, but to the world. She owed him nothing after what he put her through at the office. Not even politeness.

"Honesty" She gave a short laugh.

"I think you're unbelievably rude and arrogant, as well as having the most over-inflated ego of any man I've ever met." He furrowed his brow.

'And I imagine you must have met quite a few in your time. " She would die before she told him that there had only been one before him.

"Nowhere near the number of women you must have been with, if the papers are to be believed." She was so proud of herself for remaining strong, she said.

"I don't deny it-but if you try to play that game, I'm afraid you'll lose." His eyes glittered as he spoke softly in his wonderful accent.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that the rules for men and the rules for women are very different," he said

"Only in the world you seem to live in." He gave a careless shrug.

"It may not be fair, but I'm afraid it's a fact. Men are allowed to behave in a way which would be disapproved of by a woman. " His voice had dipped into a velvety caress and it was having precisely the wrong effect on her. Emily could feel a hot flush of colour flooding into her cheeks as she made to move away.

"Let me pass, please," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I don't have to stand here and listen to this kind of talk."

"No, you're right. You don't. " He placed a hand on her forearm.

'But before you go, maybe this is the... " He stopped them dropped a sweet kiss on her lips, then he left the room. She wanted to turn away. To close her eyes and shut him out... yet she wanted to watch him like the rerun of a favourite TV show and also watch the powerful thrust of his thighs as he walked.

She shook her head, then went to eat her cookies with tea, then put on her pajamas and got ready for bed because she didn't feel like reading a book tonight.

The next day, they left earlier than expected and by then it was all of them. Eric had a meeting to get to because of the new business he was opening and he also planned to open some more coffee shops. So Emily took a quick shower and put on her most comfortable gown. They left by 7 AM on the dot, so they had to have breakfast on the plane. It was awkward for Emily because she was on a plane with someone who had just kicked her out a few hours before, and Paola wasn't helping matters by throwing herself at Hayden.

Eric noticed what was going on and asked Emily to help him with some of his work so she could get her mind of it.

She took the documents he gave her and quickly scanned through them.

"Our operating costs were higher than we'd estimated," she said honestly, frowning slightly as she caught the gleam in Hayden's eyes. Was it jealousy?

"Among other things, refurbishing ten of the coffee shops cost more than we planned. But we've addressed that and I have lots of ideas for the future. " Hayden continued to watch her for a moment and the atmosphere thickened between them. He sort of reminded her of hisoka, which wasn't a bad thing at all.

"You're very good at this, Emily, 'Eric said softly. Emily took a deep breath and gave a shaky smile.

"I'm going to be completely honest here. It's taken longer than I thought it would and the figures aren't what they should be. The cafés are all so busy that I can't understand why we're not already in profit. "

"Can you not?" Faintly encouraged by Eric's smooth tone, she decided to be completely open.

"We probably made a few mistakes at the beginning. Our operating costs were too high. Much higher than I planned. Perhaps the advertisement will help us hire two more people for the cafe, allowing us to move faster and profitably." "That is correct; I have decided to make Lindsay the manager now, and she will be on the register, Ben will help with serving, and the other will be in the kitchen; you will be the new manager at the new restaurant in Alberta for the time being, how about that?"

Eric said.

"I think that would b__"

"Don't worry, your resident will be taken care of." Eric said, which made her shoulders relax.

"Okay, I will let my family know,"

"I think we have covered that much for today when we get back. Make sure to tell Lindsay to update the job offers online. In fact, tell her to make it three"

"will do, and I will remind her that we are going to have a meeting soon."

"Yes, thank you" Eric said and she smiled.

They finally arrived home. Eric volunteered to take her home while Hayden went with Paola. Emily felt sad that Hayden had gone with Paola, but it was for the best, she thought.

She had to move on.

When they went to the apartment, Eric helped her carry her stuff up and said.

"Thank you so much for today"

"No, I should be the one thanking you...." She said as she kept her handbag on the counter.

"I had a lot of fun and the dresses you bought I can't explain how thankful I am."

"It's okay, you don't have to come to work tomorrow I w___"

"No, I will come so we can have the meeting. The earlier the better," she said, cutting him off.

"You are right, we need to hire them as soon as possible. I will see you tomorrow"

"Don't you want to stay for dinner?" She asked.

"Not today, I have to meet with someone"

"Oh okay, see you" he waved goodbye then left. Since she was left alone, she took her suitcase to the room to unpack, then took a quick shower. When she was done in the bathroom, she ordered Chinese, then called Lindsay.

"Hey, it's me Emily" she said as she sat on the couch.

"Hey, you're back. We were so busy today. I think we need more people to help with serving because I can't do it alone." "Yes, that's what I called you for. Eric said we're going to have a meeting tomorrow so we can hire people to help in the cafe."

"Oh that's great"

"Okay, talk to you later" she said and hung up.

A few minutes later, the delivery man was there, so she went downstairs to collect her order. Then she ran back upstairs..... okay, so she took the elevator. When she got to her apartment, she called Alex so that they could both talk as she ate her food.

"So what's up with your boy?" Alex said.

"What boy?"

"Oh come on, you know who I'm talking about,... Hayden, your former boss" Emily didn't know if she should tell Alex what happened just yet.

"He is not my boy, he is my former boss and that is how it is going to be," Emily said firmly as she stabbed her noodles with the chopsticks.

"Okay now spill it, what happened"

"Nothing happened"

"I can hear it in your voice, something happened, so start talking" Emily sighed and told her what happened at the gallery and how Paola was his date to the event and what happened in the bathroom.

"Oh my...... was it good like did you like... you know?" Alex asked, feeling excited.

"Alex" Emily whined.

"Just say it was mind blowing or just meh?"

"Mind blowing" she whispered.

"Way to go girl," Alex yelled over the phone.

"But sadly..... it will never be more than that. "I wish he'd just treat me like a girl he wants to be with, not some one-night stand or fuck body."

"Yeah, but you had a good time, didn't you?" "Yeah, but you had a good time, didn't you?"And maybe you both might... I don't know see if you can like really date or something "

"I doubt that, I already told him that I could not do this anymore"

"Well, if he really wants to be with you, he will not back down. Trust me on that one."

"I don't know, I just want to focus on myself and be a better person, and lately I have been doing that"

"Yes, I know and I am so proud of you. Honestly, I am so shocked that you could make out with him in a bathroom. And the fact that you are going out more "

"I am shocked myself"

"Don't worry babe, you are doing good. I will talk to you later. I have to help my mom get some stuff"

"Okay, tell her I said hi and I can't wait for you all to come"

"Me too and will do" After Alex hung up, Emily finished dinner and went straight to bed.

After Hayden dropped a reluctant Paola off, he went straight home because of how tired he was. When he arrived, he quickly took a shower then went to bed. The next day he woke up late..... well he woke up at seven when he is normally awake by 5:30 am. It was because of how restless he was at night. Because of her. He was planning on going back to England to see his family. It might do him some good. He called his assistant to book his flight for him next week. Then I went straight to bed.

On Monday, Emily went to work in a good mood because they were about to expand the business. When she got there, Eric said he had to leave to check on the new restaurant.

"I apologise again for not being able to be with you all for the meeting," Eric said.

"That's not a problem, right guys?" Lindsay said.

"Yeah, we've got things covered for her, and you don't have to be here for the meeting; we can do a video call whenever you're available."Emily agreed.

"You are right"

"Sorry, I will not be around till tomorrow because I have to go look at the building for the new restaurant," Eric said to Ben, the new worker, Lindsay and Emily.

"It might be a while because it's all the way in Alberta, Edmonton"

"That's great, don't worry boss, you can leave it to us, and we will make you proud," Lindsay said. And they agreed.

"We can have the meeting virtually tomorrow"

"That's true. Don't forget to put the notice out that we will be needing extra workers," Eric agreed.

"Of course," she said and he left.

After he left, they went straight to business. Lindsay went out to the back to bring our the freshly baked pastries while Ben went to Stan in from the register. Emily turned the sign so it said open, then she sat down and quickly wrote out the to do list.

1) Photoshoot for Advertising

2) Going on TV

3) Recruiting new coworkers.

4) o—

Emily stopped because she heard some customers walking in. She quickly closed the book and went to ask the customers what they would like to order. The day went on as usual until they were about to close and someone walked it. Emily was about to tell the person they had closed for the day until she saw who it was.

Hayden.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter