This chapter is dedicated to @oyeduntan! Thank you for your votes! 

Here's a long chapter for you guys, I hope you like it! 

***

"Had your fun analyzing people?" Charlotte, Levi's wife said to him with her eyebrow raised.

Levi's manner completely changed as he looked at his wife with a sheepish but non-apologetic look on his face. Charlotte sighed.

"Remind me why I married you?" Charlotte said with a straight face.

"Because I'm devilishly handso—" Charlotte put a finger to his mouth, cutting him off and rolled her eyes. "Just eat."

Levi smirked and picked up the apple, but before he could bite into it, his wife slapped his hand resulting in him dropping the fruit.

"Eat food," said Charlotte with a glare.

Levi laughed whole-heartedly, he knew how much his wife hated him eating apples all the time. It started when they were first dating, back in university. Levi didn't really like apples, but since it was all he could manage for a breakfast in a hurry before getting late for his psychology class, he used to eat it every morning.

It was actually in a Psychology class that he had first met Charlotte. It was the only class they shared together, and since he would always just make it in the nick of time, he would have to sit in the first row, where his extremely ambitious future wife would always be sitting.

Levi recalled the first time they had talked, his heart warmed at the memory. It was a normal morning, he was running late for class, as usual, and had grabbed an apple before leaving his dorm. He still hadn't finished it as he stepped into the lecture hall and took his usual seat next to Charlotte.

He had noticed her on several occasions before but always argued with himself that since they were polar opposites, friendship would be difficult let alone anything else. He didn't acknowledge the main reason though, that he didn't have the guts to speak to her. Which he didn't understand since he had no trouble speaking to beautiful women before, in fact, he was considered quite a stud.

Anyway, it was the middle of the lecture, his half-eaten apple forgotten on his desk. When suddenly, Charlotte had surprised him by turning towards him abruptly and given him a lecture on the importance of eating a proper breakfast.

Levi was stunned. Firstly, because he was looking at her up close and was stunned into silence because of how beautiful she was. Secondly, that she was talking to him, or at him, rather. And finally, the audacity the woman had that she was lecturing him on health, in the middle of a lecture. This was his thought process of five seconds before Charlotte swiftly turned around and resumed her notes. Needless to say, he was speechless for a while.

Before traveling further down the memory lane, Levi was bought back to reality when Charlotte all but shoved a bread piece with the dip in his mouth. As he started chewing it, he noticed the table had gotten very silent, with everybody's attention completely on their food.

"Oh my God, this is heavenly," Scarlett moaned as she bit into the bacon and cheese dip, letting her taste buds get used to the appetizer. Her eyes were closed in bliss and only opened when she heard a few chuckles. Had she said that out loud? She didn't care.

The rest of the dinner was uneventful with only munching noises filling the void. It came to an end as dessert was served, freshly baked apple tarts whose smell went up to every nook and cranny of the room.

With the whole room smelling like apple tarts, the lights and the fact that it was snowing outside, Christmas was definitely here.

***

Carter stretched against the bed, the blanket tangling in his long legs. He opened his eyes slowly, getting accustomed to his new surroundings. He was thankful that the curtains were completely drawn shut, he really didn't want to be faced with the harsh morning sun as soon as he woke up.

The curtains were thick and Red, effectively blocking any light trying to peek through them. The whole room was bathed in a Red glow, the effect of the Red curtains blocking the sun.

For the first time since the trip started, Carter felt an odd sense of peace. He checked the time, 9 am. One hour until breakfast. Good, because he really didn't feel like leaving the warm and cozy bed. He pulled the blanket over his face and snuggled deeper into the bed.

However, his serenity was only short-lived as a fast and loud rapping of his door shattered the peaceful environment.

Carter groaned and kicked the covers off of him, it's definitely Anthony, he thought.

I will kill him.

It took a great effort for him to drag himself out of the bed and walk towards the door. His frown was already set in place, ready to welcome whoever was on the other side of the door.

As soon as he wrenched the door open in frustration, his frown immediately dissolved as he saw who it was. Now, this visitor was definitely welcomed into his bedroom, Carter thought as he took in Emma's features.

Her hair was in a ponytail this morning, blue eyes bright with excitement as she talked to Scarlett who was standing on her right side. Carter didn't even notice her. When Emma realized he had opened the door, she faced him abruptly causing her blonde hair to fall on her face. She was absolutely radiant. Radiant enough that Carter didn't mind being forced out of the warmth of his bed so bright and early in the morning if it meant that he would be looking at that face.

God, he felt so pathetic pinning after her like this. As far as he was concerned, she didn't even notice Carter had any feelings for her. Carter mentally frowned at that.

This trip was his chance to make Emma see him in a different light. He would get Emma to be his, one way or another. Eric be damned. He would do anything to get her, he promised himself with determination as he looked at Emma's smile. Anything.

"Hey, you okay? Or still just very sleepy?" Emma said as she waved her hand in front of his face.

"Yeah, just sleepy I guess." Carter laughed.

"Okay, well get ready because breakfast is going to be served soon and I want to be the first one there and finish as quickly as possible," Emma said as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"The old man, what's his name... Ah! Yes, Mark! He gives off creepy vibes and I really, really, do not want to share another meal with him." She shuddered.

"Oh, come on, he wasn't that bad!" Scarlett interjected.

"Really? Try sitting directly opposite him next time," Emma replied.

Carter was silently standing at his doorway, listening to them. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. It was too early for this.

"Okay ladies, your point has been noted. I'll be there in 30 minutes," said Carter as he gently shoved Emma and Scarlet towards their room and then shut his door.

He walked to the full-length mirror at one corner of the room and looked at himself. Properly. Carter knew the effect he had on women. At 28 years of age, his body had matured quite well, his features were sharp with a refined jawline, and thanks to his meticulous fitness routine, he could easily pass off as attractive.

He had struggled hard to get to where he was today. A high-paying job as a data analyst, a decent apartment he was proud to call home, and a hefty bank balance. But he was far from done. Carter wanted to climb the ladder to the upper class, one way or another.

He had the brains, he had the looks, and he had the money. So why, why was it that he couldn't grab Emma's attention? But he already knew the answer. Eric. It was just so frustrating.

Why would a perfect girl like Emma look anywhere else when she already had a smarter and richer man in her life? He slammed his palm on the wall beside him, his chest rising and falling as he tried to reign in his anger.

Why was his life like this?

Unlike Emma, Eric, and Anthony who were born into a family of riches, Carter came from a poor background.

His father had abandoned his mother the moment he had learned that she was pregnant with Carter. He went to work one day and then never returned.

The bastard didn't even have the courtesy or guts to end it properly.

Carter had no recollection of his mother as well, the little memory that he had of her was either of his mother's drinking or crying. He never felt nurtured or love, even as a child.

Soon after he turned 5, his mother had killed herself, unable to handle the burden of a single mother and still heartbroken over her pathetic excuse of a husband.

Carter closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath, his hands fisted on either side of him. He finally exhaled when his lungs started to burn and rested his head on the wall. He felt the tears stinging at the back of his eyes, but he refused to cry. This was no time to be feeling sorry for himself.

This was time for action. Emma's face flashed in his mind. So gorgeous, so caring, so... rich.

Whatever it takes.

***

Carter knew he was late the moment he walked into the dining hall. However, he still took out the time to appreciate the weather and view the huge windows of the room provided. There wasn't much to see during yesterday's dinner, but today, however... He was rendered speechless for a moment as he assessed the view in front of him, now in broad daylight.

The Swiss mountains stood tall and majestic before him, each peak carved beautifully, reaching towards the sky. The sun was out with intermittent clouds scattered over the brilliant Blue sky. His eyes traveled down, towards the base of the mountain and realized the trees were much denser and bigger than he had witnessed yesterday. It was breathtaking, to say the least. The scenery was so perfect that it looked fake.

His appreciation was short-lived when Anthony cleared his throat and gave him a look which told him to sit at the table without wasting any more time. Noticing an empty seat beside Emma, he quickly made his way over there and sat down. Eric wasn't here yet, he noticed. Good.

Emma was deep in conversation with Ella, the creepy man's wife. She tried to keep her focus solely on her, instead of Mark. But it was hard to ignore the uncomfortable vibes he kept emitting.

He's so strange.

When she noticed Carter take a seat beside her, she welcomed the distraction and tried to force him into the conversation she was having with Ella.

"Carter! Ella was just telling me how much she likes staying in New York!" Emma said to him, her voice laced with desperation. She clutched his elbow and looked at him expectantly, begging him with her eyes to say something.

Carter was shocked but tried to mask it, channeling all his attention towards focusing on Ella instead of where Emma held him. She had never done that before.

Before he could respond, his eyes fell on Levi for a split second. He was laid back in the plush chair, a secretive smirk on his face as he looked at him. Carter's heart rate picked up but he willed his eyes away from him and finally looked at Ella.

"Really?" Carter asked, his tone inquisitive. He noticed the thick french accent and couldn't help but ask her about it. "Pardon me, but aren't you french?"

Ella laughed. "Well, aren't you observant. My husband was posted in New York for about 2 years. But it was way back. I loved it so much that we used to go there for a vacation at least once in a couple of years." Ella paused for a moment. She looked at her husband, Mark, but found him already staring at her.

"We just recently stopped going there," Mark continued, his gaze intense on Carter and Emma.

Behind the table, Emma's grip on Carter's elbow only got tighter. She didn't know what it was about Mark, but she never wanted to talk to him again, ever.

Carter noticed, or more like felt, the tight grip and frowned. Emma never reacted this way. He leaned a little back to look at Scarlett and found her looking directly in her plate, but not touching her food. Anybody could tell how uncomfortable she was.

Carter had enough of it. He was about to request Robert, the hotel manager, to send their food upstairs so the girls could at least eat properly. He knew Mark was not your average man. Even he felt a little queasy under his intense gaze. His dark demeanor and cold treatment didn't help either. Not to forget his intense staring.

Carter threw his napkin on the table, pushed his chair back, and almost got up when Eric stumbled in the room. Carter stopped mid-action and looked at his friend, his mind going in a state of shock.

Eric's hair was all over the place, his blue eyes bloodshot. The neatly trimmed beard that was his signature look was a little too grown out. He looked and probably felt like a mess.

Anthony was quick to react and was already on his feet, trying to help Eric.

"Don't touch me."

Anthony let the hurtful comment slide and asked him if he was okay.

Eric frowned before saying, "Do I look okay to you?" He shrugged his shoulder off from his best friend's grasp and sat down between Mark and Levi, and opposite Anthony.

Eric picked up the coffee pot and tried to pour the coffee in his cup but ended up spilling everywhere. With shaking hands he picked up his napkin and attempted to clean himself up, scrubbing furiously at his sweater where the coffee had spilled.

The whole table was silent, with his friends in shock. Emma looked worried out of her mind and tried to remain calm. But given her personality, she was bound to burst sooner than later. Into tears or into shouting, that was the question.

In all of her 27 years of existence, she had never seen Eric like this. Nobody had.

Once Eric was satisfied with the scrubbing, he looked up and found everybody staring at him.

"What are you all looking at?" He said through his clenched teeth.

"Why are you so jittery boy?" Mark asked him, totally unfazed by Eric's appearance, or attitude for that matter. "Are you on drugs or something?"

"What did you just say?" 

***

So, what did you think? I personally loved this chapter! Please vote if you liked it!