Chapter 13 Games People Play
Blake: POV
I was about to start my car when a sharp knock on the window made me jump. Emma Parker stood there, arms crossed over her chest and a calculated expression on her face. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what Olivia's "sister" wanted from me.
"Going somewhere, Westwood?" she asked as I rolled down the window.
"Home. Did you need something?" I kept my voice neutral, though something about her expression already had me on edge.
Emma glanced back at the house before leaning closer to the window. The overpowering mix of expensive perfume and cigarettes made me wish I'd just driven off.
"I can see right through you," she said with a smirk. "The way you look at Olivia. It's pathetic, really."
I maintained my poker face. "Is there a point to this conversation?"
"I just don't understand why everyone's so obsessed with her." Emma's voice dripped with disdain. "My parents, Mike, now you. I'm the real Parker daughter, not that trash from some blue-collar family."
My jaw tightened involuntarily. "I'm aware of Olivia's background."
I only hated myself for not being there when she found out. When Nathan called three years ago to tell me about Olivia discovering her true parentage, I'd been stuck in London, helpless. I'd wanted to drop everything and fly back, but I was stuck in a hospital bed at the time, unable to get up.
I'd had my investigator dig into the Sullivans – a father with a drinking problem, a mother who gambled away their rent money, and a manipulative older brother. The whole damn family was a mess. Thank god the Parkers had kept her and continued treating her like their daughter.
"So?" Emma pressed, interrupting my thoughts. "If it's the Parker connections you're interested in, you should be pursuing me." She leaned further into the window, deliberately giving me a view down her top. "I could show you a much better time than she ever could."
Jesus Christ. I almost laughed at her transparency.
I stepped out of the car, forcing her to back up. With deliberate slowness, I moved toward her until she was pressed against the car door, my arms positioned on either side of her. I leaned in close, watching her eyes widen and her cheeks flush as my lips approached hers.
"You know what's interesting, Emma?" I whispered, our faces inches apart. "I'm not interested in you at all. In fact, if you weren't a Parker, you probably wouldn't even have the credentials to meet me."
Her face flushed with anger. She clutched at my shoulders, pressing her body against mine. "Why not? I can please you so much better than she can."
I carefully removed her hands and stepped back. "A lady should have more self-respect. Don't embarrass yourself or the Parker name." I fixed her with a knowing look. "Besides, you don't actually like me. You just want to take whatever Olivia cares about to prove you're better than her – that you're not just some kid from that messed-up family she comes from."
Emma's face contorted with humiliation. For a second, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Then she shoved past me and stormed off down the street.
I sighed, reaching for my cigarettes. One wouldn't kill me, and after that encounter, I deserved it. I had just lit up when the front door opened behind me.
"What did you do to her?" Olivia's voice was sharp with accusation.
I turned, taking a slow drag before answering. "Shouldn't you be asking what she tried to do to me? I'm the victim here." I gave her my best wounded puppy look, which earned me an eye roll.
"Don't joke around. Why are you still here?" She crossed her arms, looking genuinely confused. "I thought you'd left."
"I was about to, but your sister decided to ambush me." I exhaled smoke away from her direction. "What about you? What brings you out here at this hour?"
Olivia glanced down the street where Emma had disappeared. "I was a bit worried about Emma. I saw her sneaking out from the door." She hesitated, concern etching lines between her brows. "I suspect she's heading to another nightclub. I debated for ages whether I should try to stop her. She always has some issue with me."
I studied her in the dim light. Even worried, she was beautiful. The fact that she still cared about Emma despite all the girl's hostility said everything about who Olivia was.
"She's not your responsibility, you know," I said softly.
"She's family," Olivia replied simply.
I flicked my cigarette and crushed it under my heel. "Which clubs does she usually go to? I can have someone keep an eye on her."
Olivia looked surprised. "You don't have to do that. I can handle it."
"I know you can," I said, leaning against my car. "But you look exhausted, and I have people who can make sure she gets home safely without her even knowing."
She hesitated, chewing her bottom lip. "I don't know..."
"Consider it a favor between friends," I said, my voice gentler than usual. "You go back inside and get some rest. I'll make sure Emma doesn't do anything stupid."
After a moment, Olivia sighed. "Fine. She usually goes to Velvet or Eclipse. Sometimes Mirage if she's feeling particularly rebellious."
I nodded, already pulling out my phone. "I'll take care of it. Go get some sleep."
As she turned to go back inside, I called after her. "And Olivia? Don't forget about Saturday."
She paused at the door, looking back with a small smile that made my heart do something ridiculous. "I won't."
I watched her disappear inside before making the call to have my security team locate Emma. Only then did I finally drive away, the memory of that smile staying with me all the way home.