Chapter 41 You, Zoe, and Me
Emma’s eyes widened at the sight before her. Her heart pounding and her body beaten by the rain “Mr. Queen?”
Ezra peered his head out of the car window that rolled down. "Get inside!" he called out over the storm, concern etched on his face.
She hesitated only for a moment then hurried to the car and jumped into the passenger seat. The relief she felt from escaping the rain was matched only by the surprise of seeing Ezra.
"Thank you!" She managed to say, breathless and grateful.
"No problem," Ezra replied with a warm smile. "I saw you from afar and thought you could use a ride.”
“Oh. I could use one.” Emma nodded, feeling a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She was uncomfortable about how wet she would make his car seat, but Ezra wasn’t concerned about that. He reached out to turn on the heater instead.
As the rain continued to fall outside, she and Ezra found themselves in a cocoon of warmth inside the car as he drove.
Ezra turned a corner that led to the road to her house, and the car was silent the entire time. He had left work late in the hopes of giving her a ride, but she had already left when he went to her office to look for her. He took that as his cue to return home.
As he drove down the road, he could see people running helter-skelter. Then, while driving, something caught his eye, and he came to a complete stop. She sat down under the tree, hurriedly packing her belongings into her bag.
He watched her run out, and he couldn’t help but honk his car to get her attention. When she turned to look at him, the rain had already begun to fall more heavily. He could see the expression on her face. Of course, she was taken aback to see him. One would have thought he stalked her.
"Are you all right?" He inquired, casting a sidelong glance at her.
Emma gave a nod. “Yes, sir. Thank you very much."
"I am glad I came across you."
“Huh?” Emma shot him a quick glance, but his gaze was fixed on the road.
"It would have taken you a long time to get to the bus stop. You would already be drenched more. By the way, what were you doing out here instead of going home?"
“For a walk.”
“A walk?” He looked at her, and she motioned for him to return his gaze to the road. Ezra did, not even a second later. "But, why?"
"If I had known it was going to rain, I would not have done it. I just needed to stretch my legs because today was crazy."
"Would you mind sharing?"
Emma took a breather and turned to face him. Mr. Queen, her boss, wanted to know about her day? That only added to the strangeness of the ride.
“How was the office?” He abruptly altered the subject of the conversation. Her silence made it more awkward. He did not want things to move too quickly between them. He desired for life to take its natural course. Why else would she have been on his mind? He was curious. Was it because of Zoe, or did he care enough about her to think about her?
“It was really nice; thank you.” Then she began, which made him smile. That was how he got her to talk without making it seem like he forced her to. It was similar to employing reverse psychology. "The interior looked fantastic, and I adore the colour. Such maturity. I also like that it is a little away from the main office. Man, sometimes you just need that peace and quiet to make something of your life."
“And what about Scar? Were you able to work with her?”
"Of course," she replied immediately. Of course not, she told herself. "It is just that I was having difficulties."
Ezra snorted. “You? Having difficulties? It is just not believable.”
"Just because you think I am good does not make me so."
“But you are good.”
"In most cases, I am not." Emma let out a sigh. "That was why I came out here. I wanted to find some motivation. I have been drafting and tearing them apart since this morning because I do not think she would like them. I am looking for something that will blow her mind."
"Perhaps what you really need is to take a break."
She leaned into the chair, pouting her lips like a small child whose mother had just disapproved of her hanging out with a friend on a Saturday night, and folded her arms across her chest. "I do not have time for a break."
"The purpose she wants to use it for is still valid until the end of next month. You have got plenty of time." When they arrived in front of her gate, Ezra packed the car. He turned off the engine and faced her. “I tell you what. How about we all go out this weekend? You, Zoe, and me.”
“What?”
"You will be preoccupied with the media tomorrow, and I would like to spend some time with her as well. I want us to bond in the same way that a father and daughter would. This will take your mind off of a lot of things, and who knows, you might get the inspiration you need."
He was not wrong. A short break would not hurt. But there was one thing that bothered her, and that was Zoe. She does not want them to become too attached to each other. When they discovered the truth, it would hurt them both. But she could not stop herself. If she were caught now, Phoebe would be dragged into the mess she created.
The way he was looking at her with so much innocence, she did not want to betray the teeny-tiny amount of trust they had developed.
“Alright. I will let her know about it. The news that you will be spending time with her will make her very happy.” Emma smiled a tiny bit.
Ezra clasped his hands together. “Great. "I am so happy right now that I could burst."
That she could clearly see. "Thank you very much, Mr. Queen. For the ride.”
“You know you can call me Ezra, right?”
“You are my boss.”
“I am also your baby father.”
Emma let out a groan. "I just cannot address you by name. It makes me very uncomfortable."
"I see what you are saying. That is why, when we are not at work, you can call me Ezra. It will make everything less awkward. Imagine addressing me as Mr. Queen in front of our daughter."
Our daughter? That sounded so strange; she thought her intestines were going to burst through her mouth and fall into the car.
"I will give it a shot." She opened the door to leave but was gently pulled back. Emma cast a glance at him. Her eyes searched his eyes. Was there anything else?
He reached beneath the chair and pulled out a small umbrella. "It is pouring buckets outside. This will allow you to enter the house without getting wet."
With a smile, she took it from him. "Thank you, Mr… Ezra. Good night.”
“Good night.”
She opened the door and the umbrella before stepping outside. She waved at him then when she approached the gate, she motioned for him to leave.
Ezra nodded and he reversed the car and drove away. He could not help but smile as he drove home. Now he has to make reservations for wherever they go on Saturday. Of course, he would be the one looking for the best place to hang out with Zoella. Also, no one would be present, meaning that the venue would be purchased for the entire Saturday.
Emma would prefer that he do it quietly, without making Zoe public. And he was well aware of the pressure. He also had that as a little kid. Be followed around with guards. He wanted Zoe to have a normal childhood, which meant not being known as Ezra Queen's daughter just yet, but rather having normal friends to hang out with based on her intelligence rather than her father's wealth and status.
When the gate opened, he smiled cheerfully as he drove into the garage. Ezra turned off the car and reached for his bag, which was sitting alone in the back seat. He approached the main door while humming "Love sight by T x T."
"You look happy today, sir," the security guard said as Ezra passed through the door.
"Today is a joyful day, John. It is also pouring outside." He made his way to the elevator and pressed the button to his floor. As the building's owner, he appreciated the fact that his tenant uses the other elevator rather than his own. Ezra leaned in, his eyes closed, still humming his music, and then he heard a ding. "Wow, that was quick." He blinked his eyes open and walked away from the wall.
He walked into his house and noticed that the atmosphere had changed. Furthermore, the smell was that of a female, and he knew exactly who that female was.
"Hello, Ezra." When he turned around, he saw Heather standing in his kitchen wearing his shirt. "The security let me in. I hope you do not mind."