-CHAPTER 19-

"Thompson. Hmm." Emily nod and stepped forward to caress his sharp chin, gently. "If only you didn't leave, that surname would be different by now."

It got Theodore under his skin. Emily is smart enough to play with her dialogues, she knows what skeletons to pick and rub on his face. He gave a silent glare, feeling the sharpness of his air huffing out of his nose. It has been a while since he had Emily this close.

"Andrew, I—"

"Not that name, Emily. It's Theodore," he said with a clenched jaw and aching desire to be expressively furious.

"Whatever floats your boat, Theodore. I missed you." Earnestly, she leaned her face closer than she did and grabbed his nape for a kiss.

This was the woman Theodore once knew. A bold, audacious, and tender. Her lips pulled him back to what he was way back home. She tasted like margarita and a familiar cigarette brand that he used to puff as well. That lips he kissed on important dates, steamy nights, luncheons, and business meetings. She was everywhere and everything, Emily was that significant.

Theodore moved his lips as a response, deciding to play with it. He knows he did it well when he earns a moan from her. Cutting the kiss, disappointment from Emily's face became visible.

"Do you think that's too easy?" he released a grin that surely would crush her ego. Theo cannot afford to be fooled for the second time around. He had been encountering a lot of women for the past few years and this isn't new at all, Theo is a veteran in the field. "Not so fast, Emily."

"You used to not resist me." With a sly intent, Emily complained without breaking eye contact.

"Right. I used to," he replied. "What do you want, Emily? Cut the crap, will you?"

He stepped back and went to the kitchen and tried to clear his head while cleaning the remaining mess from dinner. Theodore didn't expect her to leave as he heard the door closed; the sound of her heels remained in the room. Fuck this, why now?

"Your father."

That stopped him from wiping the stove. He had always been hating that man. Since he left, Theodore claimed himself as fatherless. The shame that he always felt remembering that he was blood and flesh of a conniving and dire. He worked a lot to build his own decent character, figured his way out of the narrative that people want him to play.

Remembering his father easily shook his grounds pulls him back to who he really was.

"He's not my father." After a long period of silence, he replied. Emily got herself some water from his fridge, looking mad.

"You can't run away from that truth—

"And you can't keep rubbing it on my bloody face! I ran away for my safety regardless of the expense on my name. I was vilified and dehumanized for something that I didn't commit, having charges against me dismissed was the first thing that I want to happen after my mom died!" Theo exclaimed, letting go of his fuming emotions. "So no, you don't get to say that I can't run away where stories are twisted in the first place."

Aggressively, she scoffed, "you think it was easy for me? Do you think I did all of this for kicks? I had to earn your father's trust after our engagement was canceled, and you left me with a stupid pathetic letter, saying you'll be back in a week— you lied!"

"Emily, I didn't—"

"Liar! You lied!"

Theodore was certain that it was his dad who made his exit worse and more questionable than it appears. He left with no traces, nor did contact any friend before he flew. He can remember how few clothes he grabbed just to arrive on his flight on time.

It was a hard time communicating with his cousins in Wyoming, he can barely use his cellphone that has a modified contact restriction. He had to purchase a separate telly secretly.

I never knew freedom until I left.

Theo stood up and went close to her across the table. "Look, it wasn't me. It was my father who left that note, he made my disappearance questionable. Especially for you." The next thing he knew, he found himself wiping a woman's tears.

"I made myself clear before." He pauses to dart an intent stare on Emily and console her. "I never make promises. I never pursue you. We are both forced into a shithole and play nice. We both know that for god sake." Hoping that Emily would understand that point again, he expressed his words as gently as he can.

Emily hates sobbing, especially in front of a man. She's desperate to calm herself down that she couldn't stop her tears from "You lied on that letter. You never fucking came back. How am I supposed to feel?"

He shrugged his head in disagreement. "Believe me, I was chasing my flight way out in England, I had no time to leave everything. Not even a letter to you. Everything was fucked up for me to think of anyone. I just have to get out alive."

"I don't know what to feel right now," that was all left for her to say.

"Your lips tasted alcohol. Emily, you need to rest." Theo didn't mean his first comment, but that made him chuckle softly.

Emily refused to stand up and he gripped both of his jaws with her soft hands. "Theodore, just— please..." Closing her eyes, she felt his sharp and freshly shaved chin. They both stilled and smell each other's breath, closely.

While quietly watching her, Emily calmed herself regardless of how tipsy she was. The gaze fell on her lips which he kissed; Theo recognized her favorite shade as he was the one who loves ruining it before. He kept wiping the tears and kept her breathing as she was aggravated by the alcohol, Emily failed to keep it minimal.

"Seriously, give it some rest." Theo insisted as he removed her caress and gently pulled her to stand. Once again, she tried to protest against the help he offered but Emily ended up clinging to his broad shoulders.

Her back landed on his soft and fab-con scented bed. She released a deep sigh and slowly opened her eyes to face the clean white ceiling. The lights were warm and dim, the wooden accent furniture softened the ambiance.

He was nowhere to be seen, and her body was getting heavy for her to get up and look for him. Emily closed her eyes once again to breathe at her own pace until she heard his footsteps. He felt Theodore beside her putting things on his bedside table, probably medicine for the hangover.

She hated being taken care of. Born from an average family, she was aware of the womanly circumstances in bigger industries. She had to take care and protect herself better than what was expected. She was built strong, wise, conniving, clever, and productive, Now, Emily is doubting her decision of following an ex-fiancé under the instructions of Harrison Fletcher. The thought was followed by a sigh.

"Are you allowing me to stay under your roof?" with her actual faint voice, she asked.

While pouring water from the pitcher, "I'm afraid I am. The rain's pouring again a few moments ago, you'll stay here with me." He offered a hot powdered coffee and some fruit bowl.

"You know my diet well, impressive." Emily can barely get up but it was enough to drink the glass of water beside the bowl. Using the steel fork, she picked for a few slices of banana to feed her stomach for at least.

It was a silly thing to ask but she let her tipsiness get the best of her. "Do I look bad?"

"You're always enthralling ever since." That was simply the truth for Theo. 

The semi-messy hair from a fixed salon curl, the eye make-up that she always nailed, and the fixed facial features speak a lot about her personality. She was the kind of woman who was capable and fierce. But now, she's a vulnerable one, and quite lost. Maybe because of alcohol.

Half-closed eyes, Emily smiled and gave him a grin. "You and your sweet words. Just like when we were arranged for marriage. Theodore knows how to use his charm, isn't he?"

"You got the point well. I am keen on being honest," he chortled.

"No really. I did miss you. A lot."

"Mmmh. Sure you did."

Even it was odd, she kept chewing the fruit with her head swirling. "I mean... it was so nice being with you again. Taking care of me, just like before." And Theodore just watched her laughing while slowly narrowing his brows.

"Oh yeah. I remembered when you picked me up at the pub because Florine made me chug a lot of sangria. And then you kissed hard at the car, and we even waited to arrive at your place at Brixton. And oh God, you had to wash to me before you can even ask for sex." Emily lost it and laughed her way out of her sentences.

He sighed out of embarrassment as the memories were rubbed in front of his face and tried his very best to be patient. "Gosh, we both knew how good it was to be fucked without the actual strings and because I had a boyfriend in the middle of our engagement— it was fucking-bloody hilarious."

"That's enough. I think you need to rest," said he who's impatiently waiting for her to cut the flashbacks. He doesn't seem to recognize what kind of man he was before; it was another abandoned character. "C'mon, let's get you cozied up." Theo insisted against her actions.

Everything is messy inside her head, and pretty sure that it was nothing compared to her untidy dresser. Even shrugging her thoughts couldn't help to resist her earthly urges.

"Can you kiss me? Again?"

He froze. He doesn't know what to do. Theo was about to fix his bed for her and the remaining spaces of it. And the question lingered in his head and between their paused gazes. It was blank, curious, and full of uncertainty.

Breaking their silence, he said, "I'd rather rest if I were you." The words were almost a whisper as Emily slowly leaned with her half-opened eyes, full of pleasure and need. Liking it was the last thing that he would want.

As if she was caressing a temped beast, she snaked her hands to the frozen man. Lost in her eyes, the hands swiftly and softly traveled on his skin and gripped his nape. This is the second kiss that occurred tonight, Emily and Theo got so lost in it.

Theo allowed himself for this kiss. He was certain.

He closed his eyes and smelled her breath, ignoring the reek of alcohol between them. Who would've known that he would taste such lips again? It felt authentic. From Home. They moved their heads as they simmered their souls on to the pit of glee, with moans in between.

Buttery. Soft. Romantic. Sensual. Amusing. Sex.

A sudden push on her stomach erupted, protesting their kiss. Emily's pleased gaze went weary and nauseous. A push was followed by another one. And another, until she finally vomited on the lavender scented sheets. 

Theo gasped in shock, leaving him no choice but to help her release everything. She was wailing every sound that her mouth could produce. Until nothing left on her stomach that was once full of Skinny Margarita.

"Fucking hell." He cursed. Theodore was back on his responsibilities.

+++

The king sun filled up the room, so as the sound of the dripping coffee from the machine. Two large mugs of homemade Hazelnut Bianco Latte were served on the table. Curtains were opened and the soft and calming heat from outside pooled his kitchen.

The kiss. Theodore remembered while getting some eggs from the fridge to cook a Philly Cheesesteak Omelet. A hearty breakfast for an empty stomach, especially for Emily whose dead to the world—sleeping.

Once the breakfast was served, he went to the edge of his bed to woke her up. Theodore can really tell how deep her slumber is. He reached for her soft shoulders and give it a light quake. "Emily."

"Emily, wake up." Theo's low morning voice was the first thing she heard. And she missed that. Weak wide eyes stared at the ceiling, trying to gather her senses and make her gears turn and work. She moved an inch of her legs and was lucky enough that it didn't sore from a drunk-sex-situation.

Emily felt her bare skin from her both legs and arms, her body was moving freely— only for her to realize that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. Some Hugo Boss boxers and huge Boston Celtics shirt. Oh God, I was clothed. Scanning and touching everything, Emily realized how messed up she was at this point.

"Hmmm. Yeah. I clothed you last night, your vomit was seriously fucked my whole bed. And it's' not that I've never seen you naked before, cut the crap." He's back at being annoyed by her presence. 

"How bad I am last night? Did we-"

"No, just kiss. Now let's get your stomach filled so that you can get the hell out of here." He cut her off as he stood, watching his shirtless figure under his dark green apron. Emily once again, appreciated his physique once again with a conscious mind. Her stomach was also wailing for food when he mentioned breakfast.

She had enough with cultural boundaries of the west, not even satisfied with the hotel cuisine. "This so American! And no offense for your coffee, but I really do want tea," Emily complained while trying to fix her messy hair.

"Not my innocent coffee. My patience and hospitality are getting thinner, I can't afford to adjust crap just for you. You're the one who put your heels in the West. Suck it up, Emily." There is a genuine and unfiltered annoyance in his tone while sipping the Hazelnut Bianco.

A sigh was released from her mouth before digging into the hearty breakfast. Theodore was slightly conscious of the cooking; he was expecting a positive response from his simple breakfast unlike what they usually had in their residence. The omelet was, indeed, hearty, full of carbs, and something that just doesn't fit her diet.

Well, perhaps, she liked the way how the cheese and meat melted together in her tongue. Theodore gained a smile. Of course, Theo is a good cook.

Emily nods while chewing, her eyes went to Theo. "Ambitious," the comment pertained on the food as she hates to admit that she liked the American Breakfast. Along with Omelet are toasted bread, strips of bacon, and a dip that is unknown to her.

"Will you leave me alone after this?" he asked casually as she chewed another spoonful of breakfast.

"No."

"Good heavens. Leave me be, Emily."

She remembered her intentions and went straight to her points, "Only if I drag you out of here. I'm not going anywhere." I have to.

After chewing he countered, "if you insist, I'm not going anywhere either." Tension build between the lines of Theodore, full of anger and resistance. Today's breakfast was unfortunate for him. He usually eats in silence, sometimes with his radio in the background or having a morning facetime with Matthew.

"But your father, he really needs his son—"

"We are not talking about Harrison Fletcher, Emily! Not on my bloody table!" He finally burst as if he's pinning every word on the table with force. Eyes darted at hers. She was disappointed to hear that as that manner insulted her as well. Theodore was the kind of man who rarely shows vengeance and fury, he always countered insults with kind sarcasm.

Both of them gave it a few seconds while their breakfast goes on. Theo sighed heavily and regretfully recalled his manners few minutes ago. He felt how the coffee soothed his throat as well as his nerves. Carefully composing his next actions, Emily broke the silence.

"Mr. Harrison's condition is getting worse," Emily disclosed after taking another bite on the omelet. Emily knew that it affected him, from the sight petrification of his body movements,

"Well, good for him." And just right on the spot, Theodore was trying not to care nor even ask about it.

"Andrew, there's no easy way to say this, but your father's days are counted. Can't you see that he wants the presence of his son?"

"I heard you. I'm giving you, my answer. No," It took a few seconds for him to reply as he munched the last spoon of his breakfast. The words were firm, and it felt right— liberating. Facing her confidently, it was no surprise for her reaction that Theo doesn't give a fuck anymore.

His stare definitely fueled her to clap back, her soft hands placed the mug that she was sipping. "I'm gonna face you soon, with your face full of regret and remorse. And you'll be dead wrong about your decision right now?"

"Is that a hint of threat from you?"

"Hmm. Do you think so? Perhaps, are you challenged?"

"I can tell if my ex-fiancé is lying. Be my guest."

+++

It wasn't a good start of the day with her. Clearing the online bank notification on her phone, Ella received five hundred bucks. And that speaks to her expenses in the past few weeks, and the lube that she ordered last week from Europe. Haven't tried that yet. Ella needs to save more to cover the remaining balances of her school account and the books, research papers, and grammarian fees that she dealt with for the whole semester. So much for a morning thought.

The girls are dead to the world working last night on a worksheet. As soon as she decides to cook breakfast for the girls, Sasha, her mom, hits her up. She missed having face time sessions with her but today isn't a desirable timing.

"What did I tell you about your maintenance, you ain't a bozo, Mom." Ella, while chopping mushrooms, a sermon about maintaining her mom's meds.

Devin texted her last night about this, making Ella call her mom first thing on Saturday morning. It is always odd for a college student to do nothing on Saturday, their bodies were used to working on something.

"Oh, c'mon give me a break. It's just one day. Katherine and I had a pretty rough day dealing with shipping, our people needed extra hand. It happens in small business." Sasha tried his best to alleviate the daughter's worries. They were extra busy these past few days. Besides that, she misses her daughter's voice. "What in the world are you cooking, by the way?"

After cutting the button mushrooms, Ella dried her hands using the apron. "Just some pasta I found online, following steps right now."

"Honey, you don't cook."

"Well, cooking is following instructions," she clapped back with that nonchalant stare. "And this is kinda unhealthy—hearty so you mighty scold me for this one. Hence, I won't give you details for this." That made her mom crack the shit out of her. She was about eating healthy wellness crap. Sasha could preach about it for the whole day.'

"Silly. So... how are you and Theo?"

Her soul left her body, barely holding her cool. "Who's Theo?"

Sasha covered her open jaw; she knows Ella is too bad for lying in things like this. Getting her off guard is one of her weakest points. "Kath told me the whole thing. No sweat, baby— oh please you're flushed! Good heavens!"

A palm immediately landed on her heated cheeks. "N-no I'm not! And since when did you guys start talking, really?" Ella was flooding with reasons, acting up in her best defensive state.

From the other line, her mom was fixing her earrings and basically getting ready for the day. "Well, about that. Ever since you've been spending a lot of dinner in someone's condo, I had the incentive to check on you or even Kath."

Ella almost forgot that Kath was a family friend.

"Mom. Seriously?"

"I know, dating is good. It keeps you guys away from bulky calculators and excel sheets. I don't even know how to use those. I used to date stupid father two years from your age— we both know that."

She released fake chuckle from her nervous lungs. The lie even got bigger. Now her mom knows about his boyfriend. A sexual partner— sugar daddy, some would say. The pause between the call extends for a few seconds as she pretends to be really busy with cooking. Or whatever the hell that she is doing.

"So.... you cool with it? Me having... dudes?" Theo isn't a boyfriend in the first place. Ella just asked for the sake of lies, countless times. Now she has to deal with this. For them, Theodore Fletcher is really her boyfriend, a new name on her life as percieved by them.

"Why should I bother my daughter in dating? I am disgusted in that behavior, for real," popping her lips after putting some matte tint, her mom answered. "Knock yourself out, I'm putting a lot of faith in you since I allowed you to study in New York. What's the fuss of having a dick to play around—"

"Mom, seriously?" Ella is trying to get the conversation done.

"Just sayin'. Just sayin'."

Boyfriend. That doesn't sound good for her either.