Chapter 110 My Mother Is With The Enemy

Chapter 110 My Mother Is With The Enemy
Emma

The door to Knox’s office bangs open so loudly that I jump in my chair. My eyes fly up just in time to see Knox dragging Monica out by both arms. Her body twists awkwardly. 

Her red heels scrape against the marble floor as she tries to find her balance. She almost crashes face-first into the ground, but at the last second she grabs the edge of the doorframe and catches herself.

Knox doesn’t give her a chance to recover. He pushes her fully into the hallway and slams the door shut behind her. The sound echoes like a gunshot through the quiet corridor. The glass wall vibrates for a second before going still.

Monica stands there frozen for a heartbeat. Her chest rises and falls quickly. Strands of her perfect dark hair have fallen across her face. Her cheeks are flushed red, not from makeup, but from pure anger and humiliation. For one tiny moment, I actually feel a flicker of pity for her. She looks small. Exposed. Like someone just stripped away her armor.

Then her head turns. Her eyes find mine.

The pity vanishes instantly. She glares at me with so much venom that my stomach tightens. Her lips press into a thin, furious line. She straightens her posture, smooths her dress with quick, angry movements, and starts walking toward me.

Her heels click sharply against the marble, each step loud, deliberate, like she wants me to feel every single one. My heart starts beating faster. I stay seated behind the desk and pretend to be busy. I shuffle a few papers. Straighten a pen. Anything to avoid looking directly at her. But I can feel her getting closer.

She stops right in front of my desk. Too close. Her shadow falls over my hands.

“So it’s you,” she says. Her voice is low and icy.

I lift my eyes slowly and meet her stare. “I think you should leave,” I say, keeping my tone calm and firm. “And stop causing trouble.”

She leans down until her face is only inches from mine. Her expensive perfume wraps around me, sweet, heavy, almost suffocating. Her warm breath brushes my cheek when she speaks.

“You’re nothing but a cheap little slut,” she hisses. Then she moves even closer, her lips almost touching my ear. “Imagine what will happen when the whole world finds out your dirty secret.”

My heart stumbles. Shock hits me like cold water. How does she know anything? What exactly does she know? My throat closes for a second. I can’t breathe properly. But I force myself to swallow the panic and look straight back into her eyes.

“I have nothing to hide,” I say. My voice stays steady even though my hands are trembling under the desk. “And if anyone here is a slut, it’s you.”

Her eyes narrow. For a split second she looks surprised, like she didn’t expect me to push back. Then her face hardens again. She straightens up slowly, smooths her dress one more time, and gives me a slow, dangerous smile.

“You’ll regret every single word you just said,” she whispers.

A small shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to let her see it. I lift my chin higher. “You know he doesn’t want you anymore. So quit trying.”

She laughs, sharp, and cruel. “I won't quit, darling. I always get what I want.”

Before I can fire back, a familiar voice cuts through the tension.

“Monica, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

My mother hurries down the hallway toward us. Her heels click almost as fast as Monica’s. She’s smiling widely, arms already open like she’s greeting a long-lost sister.

Monica turns instantly. The anger melts from her face like it was never there. She opens her arms too, and the two of them wrap each other in a warm, tight hug. They pull back smiling, still holding each other’s arms.

My mouth falls open. I stare at them, completely stunned.

“You look absolutely stunning,” Monica says, touching my mother’s sleeve with genuine-looking affection.

“Thank you, darling,” my mother replies. She beams. She doesn’t even glance in my direction. It’s like I’ve suddenly become invisible. “I heard you’re the new investor. That’s wonderful. So good to have you on the team. Come on, let’s go to my office. I have so many things to show you.”

They link arms like they’ve done it a hundred times before. Then they start walking away together, heads close, talking and laughing softly. Their voices grow quieter as they disappear around the corner.

I sit frozen behind the desk. My jaw is still hanging open. My brain feels like it’s short-circuiting.

What just happened?

My mother, my own mother, just hugged Monica like they were best friends. She smiled at her. Complimented her. Invited her to her office. She looked excited. Happy. Thrilled, even.

But Monica is Knox’s ex-wife. The woman who hurt him so badly he still carries the scars. The woman who just threatened me in the middle of the hallway.

Shouldn’t my mother hate her? Shouldn’t she at least be suspicious? Or be angry on Knox’s behalf?

Instead she acted like Monica was some kind of VIP guest.

I press my palms flat against the cool surface of the desk, trying to stop the shaking. My mind races through every possible explanation.

Does my mother know something I don’t?

The thought makes my stomach twist into a hard knot.

I look down the hallway where they disappeared. The space now stands empty. 

Knox is in his office. The door separates us, yet I sense his intense anger. Monica walks through the building with my mother as if she belongs here. I sit here in disbelief, watching my entire understanding of reality shatter into pieces during the past five minutes.

My fingers curl into fists.

I don’t know what game Monica is playing. 

I take a slow, deep breath and straighten in my chair.

Deep down I feel scared. I don't know what is going on. Should I tell Knox or just let it slide?

I stay at my desk while I continue to look down the vacant hallway which leads to the spot where Mom and Monica vanished. My mind spins with questions I don’t have answers for. Then I hear footsteps, steady, coming closer.

I look in the direction and my breath catches.

“Ethan!”

I jump out of my chair and rush to him. He opens his arms just in time. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tight. Both of us laugh together.

“I came to see HR,” he says.

I pull back a little but keep my hands on his arms. Then I pull him to my desk and push him down into the extra chair while I take a seat nearby. 

“Tell me what HR said. Don’t keep me waiting.”

His happy smile disappears. His eyes transform into a sad expression. My heart starts to pound hard.

“Is it that bad?” I whisper.

Ethan looks at me for a long second. Then his face lights up immediately. “I got reinstated,” he says, voice full of excitement.

I squeal and throw my arms around him again. I hug him so tight I almost knocked him off the chair. “It’s so good to have you back!”

“Yes, I feel the same,” he says, laughing. “But there’s a new change.”

I swallow hard. “Tell me.”

“I’ve been moved to work with Georgina Collins.”

I let out a long, frustrated sigh. Of course. Knox did this. Anger bubbles up fast in my chest.

“She’s my mother,” I say quietly.

Ethan scratches the back of his neck. “I know.”

I glance at him sharply. “How did you know?” I’ve never told him. Not once.

“Uhm… someone mentioned it. I can’t remember who.”

I shrug. “Well, it’s not exactly a secret.”

“You don’t look happy,” he says softly.

“I just feel worse. You’re the only person around here I can really talk to. And now they’re taking you away from me.”

He pulls me into another hug. His arms feel safe and steady. Then he leans in and kisses me quick, soft, and right on the lips.

I freeze. We both pull back at the same time. Our eyes meet. We laugh awkwardly, cheeks warm.

The moment hangs between us.

Then we both look up.

Knox stands by the door. Arms crossed. Face dark. Eyes locked on us like he wants to burn a hole through the floor.

My stomach drops.

“Emma,” he growls. His voice is low and dangerous. “To my office. Now.”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He turns to leave, dragging his feet across the ground.

I stare at Ethan while my heart beats faster than before.

I stand up slowly. My legs feel shaky.

“I’ll… see you later,” I whisper to Ethan.

He nods, looking worried. “Be careful.”

I take a deep breath and follow Knox to his office. The door to his office is already open. He’s inside, waiting.

I step in and close the door behind me.

The air feels thick.

Knox turns to face me. His jaw is tight, his eyes are stormy.

I stand there, waiting for what will come next.