Chapter 8 – Richard Learns About the Wedding

“I’ll just have a hot chocolate” Simone tells the waitress, sitting down next to Emmett at the local café; mid-afternoon. The pair decided to catch a movie during the day and stopped to grab a hot beverage on their way home. “I’m allergic to caffeine; I can’t drink tea or coffee” she adds; explaining her decision to Emmett. It was more for him to take note for future reference.

“What happens if you digest caffeine?” Emmett questions; thinking it might be like a nut or seafood allergy and he should be aware of what to do if she goes into anaphylactic shock.

“Migraines mainly. I can be locked up in a dark room for three or four days if I am not careful” Simone explains nonchalantly; trying to not make a mountain out of a molehill. “I know my limitations when it comes to caffeine. I try to avoid it because it’s easier.”

“Moan; why are you here? What unsuspecting soul have you offered yourself to, this time?” A voice snarls behind Emmett and Simone. Emmett’s eyes darken as he recognises the voice behind him. Although he has avoided Richard until now; his voice was very similar to his own and knew who it was.

“Just ignore him” Simone whispers, placing her left hand on Emmett’s arm.

Seeing the ring on her ring finger; Richard takes a few strides and grabs her wrist to look at it. “You got married” his shock and jealousy encompassing him; throwing her wrist to the side. “Who is the unfortunate man to have a whore like you.” ‘You are not allowed to be with anyone’ he snarls to himself. ‘If I can’t have you; no one can.’

At that moment; Emmett stands up and glares at his half-brother. “Fuck off” he seethes through gritted teeth; pulling Simone behind him to get her away from Richard.

Gasping slightly at the sight of Emmett; Richard quickly composes himself again; “when did you get back?” he sneers, looking at Emmett’s reaction towards Simone. “You married this bitch?” ‘How dare he of all people; marry her. I thought she was lying to get rid of me’ he shouts inwardly before regaining his thoughts.

“I said fuck off” Emmett states again; raising his voice slightly’ his fist clenching by his sides.

Releasing a snort; “You’re not worth my time or effort” Richard exclaims; turning on his heels and walking off.

“Moan?” Emmett questions Simone; his expression softening as he gazes into her eyes.

“It was a nickname Richard gave me in high school. He reckons; the only reason my father sent me there was to find a rich student to gain their inheritance and I would moan in bed to keep them around” Simone whispers; trying to explain Richard’s nickname and play on her actual name. ‘Didn’t stop him from trying anything he could to get me’ she adds to herself.

Emmett’s gaze darkens again, sending a chill down Simone’s back. She had never seen Emmett like this. ‘Does he think this is true?’ she asks herself. “I never had that intention and I don’t care what he thinks. I’m still a v….” she trails off her explanation. ‘What can I do to convince Emmett; I am not that sort of person’ she says to herself; not noticing Emmett raised an eyebrow at her.

‘She’s still a virgin?’ he remarks to himself. ‘That’s the only thing she could have been trying to say.’ “You’ve never…” Emmett begins; trying to find the exact words to ask her.

“No” Simone answers; knowing exactly what Emmett was trying to question. “My life has been a bit too complicated for that sort of thing.”

Leaning in; he gives Simone a kiss on her forehead “Drink your hot chocolate before it gets cold” he murmurs; grinning at his wife.

Sitting in his car; Richard pulls his phone out of his pocket; scrolling through his contacts before hitting the call button.

“Hello” the deep voice of his father comes through the receiver.

“You were right. The bastard is back in the country” Richard tells his old man. He didn’t hate Emmet like his parents did; he was upset at him for marrying Simone. “There’s more. He married the Fitzgibbon whore.”

There was a small pause before Paul started laughing down the receiver. “I can’t believe they actually went through with it” he chuckles amusingly.

“Went through with what?” Richard asks; not understanding what was so entertaining to his father.

“Victoria made plans for the bastard to marry her best friend’s daughter. The Fitzgibbon girl. I didn’t think the two of them would be stupid enough to go through with it” he snickers down the phone.

“You mean; they got married without knowing each other?” Richard questions; trying to pretend he didn’t know about it, turning back to see the two of them in the café. ‘Do they not love each other? They look like they love each other; but people will put on a show in front of others.’

“They know each other. He hasn’t seen her since I kicked his ass overseas. I’m surprised he even came back here; considering his home was away from Rocky Valley” Paul sneers at his son’s questioning. ‘Why is Ricky so caught up on the Fitzgibbon girl? Emmett can have her; he needs a better woman than her to become his wife. Someone like Claire Miller’ he wonders to himself.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this” Richard remarks; turning on his car and waits for his phone to connect to the Bluetooth. “I hope the bastard doesn’t try to weasel his way into the family because of her.”

“Is that what you are worried about?” Paul asks his son; knowing it wasn’t. “Or is it because he got the one woman who wouldn’t give you a second look at your advances.”

“That’s Bull Shit” Richard screams through the car. Still sitting in the parking spot; watching Simone with Emmett.

“Is it?” Paul questions; pausing for affect. “You have always had a thing for her. You need to forget about her and move on. What’s happening with Claire?”

Sighing at his father’s remark; ‘I can’t believe he is asking about Claire’ Richard complains to himself. “Claire is in a relationship with one of the CEO’s of Lester Drake Media. I have never met Drake Spencer; he keeps himself out of the spotlight. But the rumours around the city; he is ruthless and doesn’t tolerate people touching his property” he answers. ‘And she is not Simone’ he adds in his mind.

“Then he needs to learn to share” Paul chortles; hanging up his phone.

“Then he needs to learn to share” Richard imitates his father before putting his car into drive and speeding down the street.