Chapter 6

Chapter six 

Malcolm 

“Here, dry your eyes!” I whispered, offering her a tissue.

Through a foggy gaze and with shaky hands, she took the tissue paper from me and dabbed her tears splattered cheeks, wiping off tons of make-up in the process.

Watching her squeeze the soft paper as if it could offer some form of solace, as if pouring her aggression on the paper could alleviate the pain she hoarded inside, pierced me in the chest like a hot dagger.

I didn't know how long I was going to watch her hurt herself or let some motherfuckers who didn't care about her hurt with their words and actions.

“Do you want to make them pay for everything they've done to you?” I asked, gently, but with the tenacity of a wounded beast.

I watched her nod, unsure of my next statement. I had no idea how she was going to take the idea going through my mind. Nevertheless, I still gave it a shot.

“Then marry me. Let's give them what to talk about.”

Emily froze, as did my brain. I was up for an adventure, yes, and I guess I was going to love it. Her eyes widened as she watched me, probably wondering if I'd gone crazy.

“You? What are you…”

“Just marry me, Emily. What's the point of sulking when you could make them pay, huh?” I asked, reaching a hand and pulling strands of her hair to the back. “Let me help you.”

Her jaw dropped, and she slumped deeper into the seat, flabbergasted, probably. Did I add to her pain? Certainly not, this to me was the only way.

“Marriage is such a big deal. You shouldn't joke about it.” 

“Don't worry, you'll have the liberty to pull out of the marriage anytime you decide to.” I answered, hoping that was enough to calm her fear.

Emily looked from me to the window, lost in her own world, just as I was lost in mine. I had no idea what she was thinking about, but I knew what was on my mind.

I didn't care what Louis was going to say, or anybody else, the goal was to give them what to talk about.

“Come on, I'll take you home.”

“I would love to, but I came with my friend, Tasha.” She replied, begging with her eyes.

“So you're going back in there?” I asked, disbelief creeping in. 

I'd rather go by myself than let her throw herself into a cyclone again. What was she thinking? 

“Maybe.” She answered, pressing her lips together. A gesture that echoed that she wasn't really considering that option. It took a snap for her to come up with a better plan. “Or I might have to call her out.”

“That will do.” I replied with relief, giving her the liberty to call her friend.

She didn't have to call her when the lady slipped out of the party hall like a prey escaping a predator’s net, and Emily climbed out of the car to see her.

“You're here. Good God, I was worried sick when I couldn't find you.” The lady cried, concern etched on her face.

“I'm fine…..” Emily whispered, and her voice trailed off. 

She turned and waved before walking away with her friend. I watched them as they both walked back to her car hand-in-hand like two teenage besties.

I watched the engine come alive, and the lady rev off into the darkness. She seemed genuine, that was why I left Emily in her care. I knew without a doubt that she was in safe hands.

***

Emily hadn't provided a response yet, I didn't expect her to. In my opinion, she was more astounded by my proposal than she may have been from the drama of the night.

I couldn't stop thinking about her as I paced the length of my room. The dim glow of my table lamp cast eerie shadows on the walls. The silence of my room and distant noise of horns blaring outside were too faint as opposed to the cacophony of thoughts racing through my mind. 

In my mind, I replayed lingering images of the party like a disjointed film reel. Uncle Louis’s mocked laughter, Emily's tears, whispers that seemed to hold subtle meanings that pointed towards Emily and the whole family's charade was a labyrinth I found amusing.

What was really going on with Uncle Louis? What really happened? The two were so much in love. I thought back to college days: I was supposed to date Emily - well, I didn't play my cards well enough, but Louis did. Things were going so well, until the real daughter resurfaced, and what changed? 

I'd heard of cases where a family was reunited with their long lost daughter after decades, but did Karen really have to take everything away from Emily to announce her return?

The more I walked, the more my thoughts tangled into knots I couldn't untie. Grabbing my phone, I put a call across to my bodyguard.

“Hello, boss,” a gruffy voice sounded at the other end.

“Lyon, I need you to do something for me.”

“What's that?” He asked, sounding like he was ready to take on the storm and all he needed was my command.

“Get me all the information you can dig up on Karen McKenzie. Who she is and when she started seeing my uncle, Louis.”

“Yes, sir,”

“Keep it low. Don't leave traces.” I whispered, looking out the window at the lights glowing up the city.

“Sure. Anything else?” he asked, waiting for another command.

“That'll be all for now.” I answered, and hung up.

It wasn't my place to meddle, but I doubt if Emily would interpret it as being meddlesome. Besides, if no one was going to do it for her, I would.

The next day went away in a flurry of activities like every other day. I barely had the chance to clutch my phone - thanks to a backlog of activities in the office. It wasn't until some minutes before seven in the evening that I received a phone call, and I knew that my day was just getting started.