Emily's POV
"I'll get an Uber. See you on Monday." I said to Freda as soon as we got out.
"I don't trust anyone at this time of the night." She protested, still holding me by the hand.
"You know what?" I asked, looking at her. "Same here. I don't trust you, don't trust anyone in that party, and I think I'll better look out for myself." I said to her,
"You don't mean that." She said in disbelief.
"I do. I mean every bit of what I've said. Please leave me." I wrangled my hand out of hers.
I heard her exhale a couple of times.
The guy who drove the firetruck sat still in the driver's corner, looking at the both of us.
"He's got a family to go home to." I said quietly, and Freda caught the drift.
She put my bag in my hands and left.
In those few minutes, I'd spent every ounce of strength within me. I felt myself get weak from within.
I hated myself for breaking my own rules, I hated myself for not being careful enough, I hated myself for not seeing it coming.
I sank to my feet and ripped bitter tears, ripping my head out.
"You're gonna rip the hair off your head!" A stranger shouted and ran in my direction.
As I heard his footsteps, I shuddered, but I was too weak to run.
"What's going on?" I was out here when everyone ran out in a frenzy. Are you okay?" He asked, kneeling beside me.
"Leave me." I whimpered.
"You know that's not gonna happen, Emily." He replied.
I looked up at him, stunned that he knew my name, and I met the face of the first guy who approached me at the party.
"Lucas?" I asked softly.
"Yes, it's me. Now please, stand up." He said, pulling me to my feet.
"I don't want to." I protested.
"I'm sorry, but I can't leave you here all night. I've got a suite, and you can stay in the bed if you please." He cajoled me, while lifting me up.
I wasn't used to being that woman, that woman who depended on men. It's been a decade since I did it, and I do not regret leaving that life behind.
But on a lighter note, Lucas was so muscular, I knew I couldn't fall if I depended on him.
"Someone else is coming with us, I hope you don't mind." He said lightly. I couldn't imagine how he didn't think to say it till we almost got into the car.
A lady, in a shiny outfit, with a little hat sat in the 'passenger princess' seat like Freda liked to call it.
"Let's put you here so you can be comfortable." He said as he opened the back door, and I thought to myself, 'where else would I have been, on the lady's thighs?'.
"Thank you." I said anyway, not letting my intrusive thoughts win. "And Good morning." I said weakly to her.
"Hello." She replied icily.
Lucas shut my door and was looking around the car, I do not know what for, so it was just her and I in the car.
The space felt too small, and the air felt too warm. That's asides the fact that she doused herself so much in cologne, and was still spraying some more.
"What is your name?" She asked me.
"Emily." I replied to her.
"oh." She said, unimpressed.
I hated when people made that sound. If I was pitching an idea and one of the clients went 'oh', I'd go the extra mile to prove how brilliant I was, and make them interested in the end.
But she was no client, and I was out of the office. I mean, it's a Friday night and I was wearing my most irresponsible clothing, so I couldn't care less.
I just needed Lucas to get me away. It was then it occurred to me that she could be staying the night with us too.
I knocked on my door but he wasn't hearing, couldn't hear. It is one of Benz's latest models, with crazy soundproofing.
"There should be smarter ways to get his attention." She chuckled. "I think." She then added, with her voice that was beginning to irritate me.
"It just occurred to me that I didn't ask for your name." I said, trying to contain my anger.
"I don't think that is necessary." She downplayed me.
"Well,, I just think you're being rude and I want to have a name to put on your character if I'm gonna talk about tonight." I shot back at her.
"Does Lucas know you're one of those girls who tell stories?" She snickered. "Girls with more thousands on their social media than in their bank accounts."
"He doesn't, cause I'm not." I boasted. "I run a consultancy here in Mount Leigh." I added proudly, even though I gradually felt strength seeping out of me, which was strange.
"Oh, well. I'm Grace, Grace Morgan. Lucas's ex-wife." She sucked her teeth, smacked her lips, and threw the little hand mirror she was holding back into her purse.
"Wow." I said. I wished I'd isn't let out my surprise but it was too late.
"Yeah." She dragged her words out, and chuckled a bit at the end
"Hello ladies." Lucas re-entered, after what seemed like standing a million years on an unstable volcano.
None of us said anything, at first.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"Back to my hotel." Lucas replied to her, in a gentle but obvious tone.
"I said I don't want to be there." She replied
"Yeah well, we've got company that's the best fit." He said, again, and held her hands this time.
I was sick to the stomach.
"Take me home. I couldn't care less how many strays you choose to spend your night with." She replied, and snatched her hand out of his.
I was gonna let her rip one more word out of me, so I took a deep breath.
Wordlessly, he pinched in the direction, and we were on our way out of the parking lot.
I closed my eyes, so I did not notice the change in their energy, or how long the ride was gonna take.