Chapter 50 Episode 50

Chapter 50 Episode 50

The grip on Emeli’s neck gradually loosened, leaving a throbbing sting on her fair skin. Emeli’s body collapsed just like that onto the cold marble floor, coughing softly while scooping up as much oxygen as possible. Above her, Ken stood firmly like a stone wall, staring down with a pair of emotionless eyes.

"Starting tonight, you will not step one centimeter out of this penthouse without my written permission," Ken said, his voice sounding so absolute, cutting through the silence of the London night. "Juna will ensure all your door accesses are locked from the outside. You are grounded, Emeli."

Emeli looked up with tearful eyes, her tears finally dropping and wetting her cheeks. "Ken, you cannot do this to me! I have to go to college, I have to work in the design department!"

"I can do whatever I want to what is mine," Ken cut in coldly, turning his body around without caring about the shattered look of the woman. "I will not let you lie to me again. Stay in your room, or I will extend your confinement to forever."

After the main bedroom door closed with a loud thud, Emeli hid her face behind both of her knees. Her sobs broke out in the middle of the dim room. She felt like a bird in a golden cage whose wings had been broken by force. The sore sensation in her inner thighs due to Ken’s madness last night now piled up with the pain in her neck and the destruction of her self-esteem.

"How can I get away from this demon?" Emeli whispered between her cries, rubbing her chest which felt incredibly suffocating. That one-year contract now felt like a slow-running death sentence, and she had absolutely no idea how to break it without triggering a massive rage from an Alexa Ken.

In a separate study room, Ken had just poured whisky into a crystal glass when the phone on his mahogany desk vibrated loudly. The phone screen displayed the name he least wanted to see tonight.

Alexander Senior. His father.

Ken exhaled a heavy breath before sliding the green button. "What is it?" he asked without a tone of small talk.

"Come to the main residence tomorrow night. It is my sixtieth birthday event," the deep voice on the other side sounded full of emphasis, typical of a man accustomed to managing the course of a business dynasty. "All business associates from the Euro-Group and the board of directors of Alexander Group will be present. Do not cause embarrassment by missing out again like last year, Ken."

Ken drank his whisky until it was gone, letting the warm fluid burn his throat. "I'm busy."

"This is an order, not an offer," his father replied coldly before cutting off the call unilaterally.

Ken snorted curtly, throwing his phone onto the desk roughly. He was very lazy to face family drama at the main house, but he knew, ignoring his father's order in front of the commissioners tomorrow night would only trigger an unimportant conflict that could disrupt the stability of the company's shares.

Elsewhere, a bustling atmosphere and thin puffs of cigarette smoke filled one of the VIP rooms of an exclusive billiard spot in the Soho area. The clinking of billiard balls colliding with each other blended with the crisp laughter of two handsome men who were enjoying their free time.

Aric Anderson swung his billiard cue with precision, hitting the white ball until it slid smoothly, dropping the number seven ball into the corner pocket. He stood up straight, wiping thin sweat from his forehead while looking toward Victor Valdes who was getting ready to hit the next ball.

"So, tomorrow night you are coming to that grand birthday party of Mr. Alexander?" Aric opened the conversation, leaning against the edge of the billiard table casually.

Victor chuckled softly, aiming at the number nine ball with a sharp focus. "Of course. My mother has been busy preparing the best suit for me since three days ago. As the new Vice Director at Alexander Group, my presence there is an absolute obligation."

Tuk. The number nine ball shifted but failed to enter the pocket. Victor sighed in disappointment, then stood up straight. "Actually, I really want to invite the woman who has been distracting my world lately to come with me to that party. It feels like a boring formal party like that will be much more alive if she is there."

Aric smiled faintly, remembering the sweet figure who had been completely filling his head these past few days. "So funny. Our thoughts are the same, Vic. I am also thinking of a way to invite the girl I like to tomorrow night's party. She is the type of woman who doesn't like crowds, but I really want to introduce her to the world as my woman."

The two men threw smiles at each other, completely unaware that the mysterious woman they were talking about with full admiration was the same person: Emeli.

Aric took his phone out of his pants pocket. "Ah, while I remember, I'll try to contact her right now. Who knows, she might change her mind to accompany me."

Inside her locked apartment bedroom, Emeli jolted when her phone, which she had just finished charging, rang. Aric's name was listed there. Emeli hurriedly wiped the remaining tears on her cheeks, clearing her throat a few times to stabilize her voice so it wouldn't sound fragile or sad before sliding the screen.

"Hello, Aric?" greeted Emeli, trying to put a forced cheerful tone into her voice.

"Hai, Emeli. Sorry to bother you this late at night," Aric’s soft voice was heard from the other side, instantly providing a little peace in Emeli’s heart which had just been torn. "I just want to ask... tomorrow night, do you have free time? There is a formal birthday party that I have to attend, and I really hope you can accompany me to go there."

Emeli's heart beat a bit fast. The thought of a formal party instantly made her remember her status as Ken's prisoner in this apartment. Leaving the room alone she could not do, let alone going to a party.

"Ah... sorry indeed, Aric," Emeli answered slowly, composing a logical reason so Aric wouldn't be suspicious. "Tomorrow night I really cannot make it. My body condition has not been fit since returning from the office earlier, it feels like a severe flu symptom. Plus, I have to finish the revision of my intern design drafts which are piling up for Monday. I have to fully rest at home."

Hearing that reason, Aric's voice tone immediately changed to worried. "Oh, really? Have you taken medicine? Don't push yourself too hard with your intern work, Emeli. Your health is much more important."

"Yes, Aric. I've taken vitamins anyway. Thank you so much for the invitation, okay," Emeli said, feeling guilty because she had to lie again to a man as good as Aric.

"Alright then. Get enough rest, Em. Good night."

After the call was disconnected, Emeli exhaled a long breath, throwing her phone onto the mattress with a mix of feelings.

Back in the billiard room, Aric put his phone back into his pocket with a disappointed face that could not be hidden. He shook his head weakly toward Victor who was chalking the tip of his billiard cue.

"How is it?" Victor asked with raised eyebrows. "Did your woman accept your invitation, Ric?"

Aric exhaled a short breath. "No. She refused. She said she is not feeling well and has to finish her intern tasks tomorrow night. Even though I really hoped she could come."

Victor patted his best friend's shoulder, trying to give sympathy. "Such a pity. But health is indeed number one, don't force it."

Victor then reached into his own pocket for his phone, smiling full of self-confidence. "If so, it's my turn to try my luck. Our relationship without status just started last night, I think this is the right moment to invite her to step further."

Victor searched for Emeli's contact name and immediately pressed the call button.

In her room, Emeli was just about to close her eyes when her phone vibrated again. This time it was Victor's name that appeared. With a deeply furrowed brow in confusion, Emeli picked up the call. "Hello, Victor?"

"Hai, Emeli. I hope I am not disturbing your rest time," Victor said in a voice tone that sounded excited. "Tomorrow night, there is a big birthday celebration party that I have to attend downtown. Since we have agreed to undergo a relationship without status that is sweet, would you like to be my date tomorrow night?"

Emeli massaged her temple which suddenly felt dizzy. Why was everyone inviting her to go to a party tomorrow night?

"Oh, Victor, sorry indeed," Emeli replied, using the exact same excuse formula as the one she had given to Aric previously. "I really cannot come tomorrow night. My body is feeling feverish and not good at all since returning from the office. I plan to sleep all day tomorrow and finish my delayed intern design drafts in the room. Sorry, okay."

Victor was silent for a moment, a little surprised by the refusal but still tried to keep his voice sounding sweet. "Ah, is that so? Such a pity. Even though I really wanted to show off your beauty in front of my colleagues. Well then, you must rest and drink a lot of warm water, okay. See you at the office this Monday."

"Yes, Victor. Thank you," Emeli replied before closing the phone connection.

In the VIP billiard room, Victor lowered his phone from his ear with a sigh of disappointment similar to Aric’s earlier. He looked at Aric with a bitter smile. "Turns out our fate is the same tonight, Ric. The woman I admire also cannot come. She said she is sick and has to work overtime finishing her office intern tasks at home. Really a pity."

Aric only laughed lightly, considering it a mere coincidence. "Maybe tomorrow night is indeed our destiny to go as two single men without partners."

Meanwhile, on top of her penthouse bed, Emeli sat thoughtfully staring at her phone screen which had dimmed. Her smart brain suddenly caught a strange common thread from the two phone calls she had just received.

"Why at the same time did Aric and Victor invite me to a formal birthday party tomorrow night?" Emeli muttered to herself, her brow furrowing deeply thinking about the strangeness.

They both mentioned the same type of party, at the same time, and an event background that sounded similar. Plus, Victor was the new Vice Director at Alexander Group—the company where Emeli was interning—and Aric was a young doctor from elite circles who clearly had high-class relations in London.

A wild speculation suddenly crossed Emeli’s mind, making her goosebumps stand up instantly.

"What if... Victor and Aric know each other? Or the party they mean is the same party?" Emeli covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes widening fully in the darkness of the room as the pieces of the puzzle be

gan to feel connected in her head.

To be continued