“Are you sure this dress isn't too extravagant? He did say to dress comfortable,” Emerald grimaced subtly, moving her palms over the fabric of the dress her friend had chosen for her.   “And to dress comfortable to you means a pair of sweatpants and tank tops, isn't it?” Oriana mocked, snorting as she rummaged through Emerald's shoe shelf. “Leave it to Emerald Pearce to wear sweatpants or a suit to a dinner date,” she laughed, dodging the white pillow Emerald threw at her.   Oriana couldn't believe that her best friend had actually changed all of her dark and gloomy bedspreads and comforters into bright coloured ones — well, not technically bright coloured, just white, but it was a huge step out of the darkness for her.    She had also changed her thick velvet curtains, which had always stood as an hindrance to the penetration of the beautiful rays of sunlight and now, as Oriana helped her get ready for her date, sh

 “Oh come on, Mera. I'm trying to help you out here but you're making it very difficult for me to. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to spend more time with him like I'm very certain you want to. Or am I wrong?”  Emerald sighed and bent forward to lean her elbows on the cool metal of the high balcony banister. A call from Oriana had interrupted she and Jordan's conversation and to give her some privacy, Jordan had cleared the table and had left to bring their desserts while Emerald spoke to Oriana. Her friend had called to inform her of her plans to spend the night over at Amari's high-end penthouse suite — one of the perks of being the personal assistant to one of the richest billionaires in America — alongside Aubrey.  They had hoped to invite Emerald as well but later decided against it and instead, chose to let her enjoy her first ever real date. Oriana ca

“Spill, J! Spill it!” “Drop it, Carol!” With flaming red cheeks and neck, Emerald sat completely still on the couch as she shied away from the arguing duo buzzing around the house. Carol had been teasing both Jordan and Emerald to no end after she and Keelan had walked in on their heated session and although, Jordan tried to hide behind his faux anger, from the looks of his red ears, one could tell that he was also inwardly dying from embarrassment. “Oh, come on, J. It's not as big of an issue as you're making it seem. I just asked if you two already had se—” “I dare you to complete that sentence of yours, Carolyn,” Jordan gritted out in annoyance as he stood in front of the huge LED television, steps away from his sister. He had been trying to get rid of her for hours now, but she was too much of a persistent pest to let go. 

Setting his phone down on the counter, Jordan carried the glass of warm milk in his hands and walked out of the kitchen, went through the living room and stood just by the glass doors opening up to his balcony. Letting out a sigh, he silently watched his woman stare off into space, deep in her thoughts. He had just gotten off the phone with Keelan after speaking with Carol, who had relayed a message from Leonardo as well. They were all worried about Emerald and had instructed Jordan to take good care of her before hanging up. She had been like that since she recovered from her short syncope in Carol's home. Jordan could've never imagined that something could ever make him as terrified as he had been when he saw her body go limp in his arms. Thankfully, Leonardo, who was a doctor, had been quick to revive her and she had been laid to rest in one of the couple's guestroom, all the while with Jordan hovering around her every second. 

Hearts beating, thudding ever so erratically yet so harmoniously in both their chests, Emerald and Jordan stared at each other, soaking in the sight of one another. One stoic expression against a pained and pallid face. Emerald shivered slightly, both from the wind gaining entrance into the house through the door left ajar and also from the empty, expressionless eyes staring right at her. Her eyes glistened with tears as she took a small, hesitant step forward. Gaining no reaction or expression from the man standing stiffly in front of her, Emerald continued to move towards him, her steps slow and shaky. The man had splatters of blood all over his face and tatted upper arms. His white cotton short-sleeved shirt was also soiled with the red pigment and his hands up to his wrists were painted in the same blood. Seeing him like that had knocked the wind out of Emerald so fiercely, so harshly and now, looking into his cold,