She could hear some shuffling behind the door, and there stood a half naked girl...

Emerson's breath hitched, her heart clenching painfully in her chest.

The girl in front of her looked nothing less than model.

Her brown hair were messed, she wore a red lingerie, her robe covering nothing. Her lipstick was messed and love bites were spread on her neck and breasts.

But she still looked beautiful, towering over her.

"What? " The girl rudely asked.

Emerson gulped and pulled her phone out, checking the address.

It was 904 .

"Is-is this 904? " She asked, fearing for the answer.

The girl scowled.

"Yes, can't you read on the door, now if you don't have I have more important things to do ,with my boyfriend I may add." She snapped at her.

Emerson took deep breath.

"So-sorry. Probably I am at wrong adress. Bye."

Without waiting for reply she fled from there, her heart beating in her chest badly and she could feel herself hyperventilating, her throat closing.

She gasped for air in the elevator, tears streaming down her face. She was having a mini panic attack.

"Your ex fucked me before your wedding and soon your husband too will do the same."

Stephanie's words were ringing on her ears. The only difference was Steph wasn't the one he was with, but some other model.

She also remembered Adrien's word on their first day of marriage.

"Don't cry or throw a tantrum if you see me with another women."

The elevator opened and she stepped out. Her vision was blurred, she couldn't see anything properly.

A man approached her.

She could hear distant voice, a little familiar.

She took deep breaths to calm herself.

In. Out. In. Out.

Slowly her breathing became normal and her vision cleared.

A worried looking Carl was in front of her.

"Are you ok Ms Leone? It was some scary situation there." He spoke worriedly .

She gave him a watery smile, wiping her tears.

"Yeah, I am fine, just a little problem. It's ok now. "

He didn't look convinced.

"Are you sure, Mr Stone lives here, we can contact him." He said worriedly.

She shook her head.

"I am completely fine, it was just some breathing problem, nothing major. I should go now." She said.

Carl frowned.

"Are you sure you can drive? " He asked.

She nodded.

"I will just sit for sometime. To be completely fine." She assured.

He pursued his lips and gave her a paper scribbling something on it.

"It's my number, call me when you reach home or if you need anything." He said.

She nodded.

"Thanks for your concern." She said, her tone full of gratefulness.

He gave her a nod and she left.

When she reached her cabin, as soon as she closed the door, she broke down.

She cried and cried, wondering what her mistakes were to deserve so much pain. She knew Adrien already told her not to expect much from her, but could you blame her? No matter what her every partner did the same thing of breaking her heart. And she had started to feel something from their time in NYC. She couldn't deny it, but her control was good . But she couldn't control her breakdowns.

It's enough now, I won't let anyone else walk down on me now. It's too much.

She thought , her mind was set.

~~~~~~~~~

Adrien was in his office when Carl came in and told him the board members were present in the meeting room and left.

Adrien frowned. Emerson didn't come or at least didn't come to him.

His lunch was sent by the peone who left without telling much .

He wondered if she had completed her presentation. She didn't tell him anything about it.

He shrugged and went to the meeting room, where the members were already present. He also saw Emerson there, sitting in jeans , tee shirt and blazer, looking professional in her attire. A blank look on her face.

The board members nodded at him and he nodded back, but Emerson didn't even glance at his direction, her sole attention in her laptop.

"So, we are here to discuss the changes that will happen in our two hotels;" He paused and looked at Emerson, " And Ms Emerson Leone here, would present the framework on it. She is assigned as our temporary MD as our previous one is on leave for medical purposes." He said.

The board members went blank for a second. They thought she must be some assistant or something, not as a sexist person, but she was too young for the position.

Adrien sat on his seat.

"We should start now, without any further delay. Ms Leone? " He addressed her.

She nodded and stood up, taking a pendrive and connecting it with the computer. She didn't look at Adrien once, and her blank face told him something was wrong.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. As you heard I am Emerson Leone, and I am here as a substitute for MD. So here is what I think our plan for the hotels should be."

She clicked some buttons and the pics of the interior of hotel popped up.

Adrien wondered when she took those pics, because they were yesterday's.

She started explaining what changes should be done, and how the expenditure too could be reduced . The furniture, interior designs, paints, everything. She explained it very well.

Some members asked her questions in between and she explained them.

Adrien was astonished how she could explain everything so well like she studied the hotels for years when yesterday was the first time she saw it.

But one thing itched him, she never spared him a glance, and he could feel coldness radiating from her.

When she finished, most members were awestruck and shocked by the young lady or say just a girl who was confident like a well experienced business woman and smart like she had a PhD in all the factors of business.

"So, I think this is it, these are my ideas and opinion. " She concluded.

A man in his fifties narrowed his eyes at her.

"Why do you think it is better to go we your idea? People change preferences easily. Even hotels need to change completely to keep up with trends. I think we should renovate the complete hotel in East London."

Emerson gave him a blank look.

The man is nuts if he is thinking about renovation the complete hotel.

"Sorry sir, but you can't expect a hotel infrastructure changing every year if he keep up with trends. California is famous for beaches, it can't miraculously grow up a mountain just because it is trending to hike. Beaches is it's speciality, no matter what the trend is. But the final decision is yours, I am just a substitute. " She spoke calmly.

The man looked embarrassed. Emerson was too smart.

Most members applauded for her and a light blush rose on her cheeks.

" Where did you find her Mr Stone? She is quite unique." A lady spoke, admiring Em.

Adrien gave a polite smile.

"She was in our internship program, a best one at that. " He told her the half truth.

She frowned.

"Isn't the internship yet to complete? Then how did you bring an intern to UK directly as the substitute for MD? " She asked him.

He smiled tightly.

"She didn't take the internship, and is here for exchange program in Oxford." He told her proudly.

"Wow young lady, you impress me. " She praised Emerson.

Em gave a shy smile.

"Thanks."

Emerson took her seat and the board members finalised what they will be doing to the hotels.

When the meeting was over, the board members left, but not before praising Em.

She politely replied to all of them.

Adrien sat there observing her, when the previous lady, Mrs Gilbert passed him.

"She is a keeper. " She said and winked at him, leaving without waiting for a reply.

Emerson was gathering her things when Adrien saw Mr Carl approach her, a worried expression on his face , confusing Adrien.

"Are you ok Ms Leone? You didn't look good yesterday. You also didn't call, I was worried. " He said.

He saw Emerson tense visibly , her haw clenching and palms fisting.

"I am fine I just forgot that I had your number and to call you. I apologize for the bother." She spoke, her tone blank.

Adrien was worried wondering what happened to her and how Reid Carl knows that.

Carl frowned, not convinced but nodded nonetheless.

When Emerson left the room, without greeting Adrien I may add, Adrien was confused and annoyed by her behavior.

He stopped Carl.

"Mr Carl, care to explain what happened with Ms Leone? "

Carl frowned.

"I saw her rushing out of the elevator of your building yesterday. She was in hysterics, breathing heavily and tears streaming down her face. I asked her what happened she didn't tell me. She was driving on her own so I told her I could help but she wasn't listening so I gave her my number to call me if she needs anything and when she reaches home so I knew she was safe." He explained.

"What? " Adrien frowned.