"Are you heading somewhere, dear?"
"Umm yes, my friend Niki is outside. We decided to go on a drive. I was feeling a bit suffocated in the house. Since Jake is busy, she volunteered." I lied on her face, in plain cold words.
"Sure darling. Come, I can help you walk out." She offered politely.
"No, I am fine. I am recovering well. It's time I start doing things independently." I insisted.
She reluctantly nodded, and before she could ask anything further, I turned around and left the house.
As soon as I sat in the car, I felt chills; part of me was not ready to face this. I knew this would be the sticking point, the conclusion that will decide what's coming next, and seal our future.
"Did you find anything?" I asked in anticipation.
"Everything. Here take this." A big white envelope was handed to me.
"What's this?"
"Take a peek."
My hands were trembling as I opened it carefully. The items included the same small envelope I had found, a pen drive and a huge file.
"What is in the pen drive?"
"Audio recordings. There is blackmail involved."
"Oh my god. You tapped the phone?"
"I had to pull some strings."
"And what's in this file?"
"Read it for yourself."
I sighed and nervously went through the contents of the file. I was shocked.
"You mean... God!" I stuttered finding hard to let out words from my quivering lips.
"You have to tell him Emma, and you have to do it today."
"No, I don't think I am ready. I cannot do this."
"You have to. He deserves to know. Keep yourself in his place. Would you like to be kept in the dark? Would you not want to know?"
"I am so scared. This will break him."
"I know. But he is strong."
"Pam is flying in tomorrow. I am not sure how will she react to this. She will not take this well." I recalled my earlier conversation with Jake today when he mentioned his mom would be back by tomorrow.
"All the more reason to tell him tonight."
I nodded and placed the envelope in my bag. I slowly got off the car and walked towards the garden in the front yard. I don't know how long I sat there. I just could not bring myself to the fact that I was going to be the one making Jake live his biggest nightmare.
Chapter 42
Web of lies
Jake
"Sir, sorry to call you again. I have arranged for your visit, in an hour from now."
"Are you sure? How did you change his mind?"
"Yes Sir, I tried coaxing him to make the deal, it was all your doing. The quote you offered was hard to decline."
"Great. I will see you in an hour."
I quickly left the study and headed back to my bedroom. I was extremely excited and could feel the blood pulsing in my nerves. I thought of making an excuse in front of Emma; I wanted this to be a surprise for her.
I did not see Emma around, so I started looking for her in the house. One of the staff members told me that she was out in the garden.
I stealthily approached her from behind, and snaked my arms around her waist, causing her to jolt by my sudden intrusion, "Hi, sweets. Getting some fresh air?"
"Jake. You scared me!"
"I am sorry. I was looking for you." I chuckled as I turned her around and saw her furrowed brows and anxious eyes.
"What's wrong, Emma? Are you feeling ok?"
"Yes, I am fine. I just feel a bit tired." She stuttered. I could see her mind was elsewhere; she was never this nervous around me.
"What were you thinking?"
"Nothing much, just random things. Nothing in particular." I was not convinced, but I decided not to pester her any further.
"Come, let's go inside. You can take some rest. I wanted to give you company, but I have to go to an urgent meeting. I will be back in a couple of hours."
"Oh! Sure, no problem Jake. Take your time." She replied with a small smile and again got lost in her thoughts. I slowly walked her inside with my arms around her shoulders. I was curious about what grabbed her attention so much that she hardly spoke five words to me. Usually, she is so cheerful and talkative. I wanted to know more but now was not the time. Maybe she was just exhausted.
I tucked her in bed and hurried to meet my estate agent, who would be most likely waiting for me by now.
Since the last week, I had been looking to purchase a penthouse. Keeping in mind, Emma's preferences, only one of the dozen listings I saw, appealed my heart.
It was a duplex condo on top of a fifty-story tall building, with two outdoor terraces on each side of the seven-bedroom residence.
Its meticulous interiors looked modern yet cozy, and the fact that it is sun-facing made it become my top preference. Its massive living hall has huge French style, floor to ceiling glass windows, and quite wishfully it's the perfect abode to beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
The gracious foyer offered spectacular views of Central Park, Hudson River and the downtown skyline on all three sides, and the moment I stepped inside this house, I was sure, that this was where I saw myself living happily with Emma.
I immediately finalized the deal and did the initial paperwork, having the lease in both our names. I was adamant on quickly moving it along as I had very little time left to make this condo ready to move in for us.
I had been planning this with her best friends Niki and Britney
