"That night shouldn't have happened. I'll pay you- whatever you want. Just.. don't make this into something it's not."
Greyson went still.
Then he laughed.
"Pay me? You think this is some kind of joke, Emy. I don't need you to compensate me.
Emeralde scoffed, folding her arms.
"Listen, Greyson. It was a mistake on my side. Just take whatever I give you and let's act as if nothing happened."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Stop!"
Another step.
"Or what?" Greyson whispered, his voice low.
He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear
Shivers ran down her spine when the warmth from his lips touched her ear
"What, Emy?"
"You're going to say this is also a mistake?"
"Ahh.." A soft moan escaped her lips; her fingers tightened against his shirt.
He dragged his tongue slowly along the curve of her ear. A shiver ran through her.
His hand slid over her back - slow, deliberate - pulling her closer.
His lips followed, brushing against her skin.
"Grey... ahh. Greyson, stop..."
"What Emy? What do you want me to stop? This?"
His lips dragged slowly down her neck.
Her breath hitched.
For a second- just a second- she let it happen.
Then reality snapped back into place.
She pushed against his chest, stepping away from him.
"Enough," her hand clenched beside her.
She turned her back to him
*********UK******
Avery stood in the quiet of the condo, the space still unfamiliar - temporary. She hadn't figured out how long she is going to stay in the UK.
Her footsteps echoed softly as she walked through the empty rooms, taking it in.
The door to her study squeaked when she opened it.
A brown envelope sat on the desk.
"Surprise me, Edison Family"
She pushed her chair back and sank into it, sliding the envelope open. She removed the pictures of it.
Four photographs slipped into her hands—the Edison family.
Albert Edison, Katherine Edison, Charles Edison and Zoey Edison.
Her face lingered on each face, slow, deliberate.
"Nice family," Avery murmured, a faint smirk tugging at her lips
She took her phone and clicked on a contact.
"I need information about them."
The person at the other side hesitated before speaking.
Avery's gaze dropped back to the photographs.
"I'm waiting."
"Albert Edison has been the head of the family for twenty years."
Avery leaned back slightly.
"He has an illegitimate son in Turkey."
Her brows lifted - just a little.
"Katherine Edison is his wife."
A pause.
"And Charles..."
This time, the hesitation was obvious.
"He is the doctor treating your mother."
Silence stretched between them.
" He has a mental illness," the voice added, quieter now. "He manages it with one of their family's medications."
Avery didn't speak.
"And Zoey..."
A small shift in tone
"She's the princess of the family."
Weeks of digging. And still nothing.
Avery exhaled sharply, tossing the documents onto the desk.
A dead end.
Her jaw tightened.
Her fingers curled slowly against the papers in her hand.
"If I can't get what I want, then I would give myself to the lion."