Chapter 27 – Panic and Encounters
hing in short, irregular gesps, donments attered all on her desk,
In her little office, Emily paredback and fouth, het heels clicking on the tile floor, her hair a little sinkempt, her breathing spreadsheets staring at her on her laptop seen
“What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” she muttered to hersell, kunning her fingers thingh her halt. Her friend, Balley entered her office as the door opened, carrying nay lead. cullers. Her pleasant demeanor faded the instant she spotted Emily’struified face.
“Emily!” Balley asked, setting the coffees dom m a small side table,
Emily’s lips moved but no words came out as she from
dep
As if attempting to expres everything at once, she made wild pestries toward her work, the men, bei phone, att den herself.
“Hey, hey, calm down” Balley said, crossing the room and grabbing Emily by the shoulders,
“Take a deep breath, Come on, inhale,exhala”
Emilyhestrated bus followed her falenda instructions, taking a shaky berath.
“Good Nowell me what’s going on Bailey said, her tone soothing but thing
“It’s Sebastian” Emily said, her vele trembling
“It’s my cent’s my finances, it’s everything!”
Baileyfrowned,
What about Sebastian?
an? And your tent? I thought business was going well? ̈
Emily nodded frantically,
“it is, but there won’t be a business if I don’t pay my rent. The landlord will kick me out, and then I’ll have nowhere to work, and then I’ll lose everything
“Okay, okay” Bailey said, holding up her hands.
“One thing at a time. Didn’t Sebastian promise you five million? What happened to that?
Emily let out aber laugh and threw her hands in the ali,
“Oh, that? We met at the hotel like we planned, and by morning, he was gone. No calls, no texts, no money. He blocked me everywhere! I can’t reach him‘
Bailey’s eyes widened in surprise,
“I wish I was” Emily said, her voice breaking,
“I don’t even know what I did wonge minute he’s all promises and charm, and the
“Jeez, Em Thar’s terrible, he did you wrong for real”
“I know” Emily said, sinking into her chair and burying her face in her hands,
“Maybe I shouldn’t have asked for that much. Maybe I pushed too hard”
“Don’t do that,” Bailey said sharply.
“Don’t blame yourself for his shady belunvice, he’s the one who ghosted you after making a promise
Emily looked up at her friend, her eyes filled with tears,
“But what do I do now? I can’t wait for the landlord to show up and humilate me, I don’t want that embarrassment”
Bailey pulled up a chair and sat next to her,
“Don’t break out, slay? We’ll figure something out, you’re not alone in this
Emily nodded, still trembling but grateful for her friend’s support.
Abering Sebastian’s home and returning hissing Madeline felt at peace for the first time in months. She had moved on from the turmoil and treachery that had previously dominated he extence. She didn’t give a damn if she saw Liam, Sebastian, or anybody else associated with that chapter
She was done and had moved on, everyone else needed to move on, to Madeline made the decision to treat herself to a visit to her favorite restaurant the next day, the quaint café always been hearite place to grab a quick bite and a good cup of coffee, and she needed munchles
She thought about the chance of running into someone she didn’t want to encounter as she parked her car in front of the tiny eatery. After all, this was Sebastian’s typical hi dismissed the notion,
“What if I do?” she asked herself, it’s not like he even owned the place. The familiar smell of freshly made coffee and baked goal immediately lifted her spus as the exited the cat and entered the cafe. She walked up to the counter, dered, and waited while tapping her fingers on the counter,
Just as the baristared to retrieve her snacks, a voice called out from behind her,
Het stomach fell, she groaned to sell, recognizing the somewhat familiar voice, She pull on fake smile and turned around, Preparing for what was about to happen.
