CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Chase
THEY SAY YOU CAN’T DIE from a broken heart, but obviously ‘they’ have not had their heart ripped out by the person they love and cherish the most in this world. Finally, I thought she had opened the door to her heart and was letting me in. I’d opened the door to mine, and for the first time ever, I fell hard and fast for a woman. With one damn note, she ripped my heart to shreds. I knew as soon as Ma called and asked me to stop by that something was wrong, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be this.
It was a crazy day so I asked Ma to meet me at Tiff’s and as soon as I saw Ma walk in I knew. I knew from the look on her face that Ems was gone. With each step Ma took toward me, a piece of my heart shattered. Deep down, I knew that she was going to run, but I was hoping that if I gave her space, that she’d stay. That she loved me enough to stay, to let me help. Oh, how wrong I was.
For the next week, I’m a total grumpy ass. Everyone steers clear of me. Oddly enough though, I manage to finalize a few deals that have been lingering. I think my fiery attitude and take-no-prisoners approach is what sealed the deals. I’m just finalizing an e-mail when my phone rings, it’s Sheridan. Immediately I think of Emerson and wonder if she’s okay. I stare at my phone, wondering if I should answer it. If Emerson is in trouble, I want to help her, even with what she had done to me. On the third ring, I answer, “Is Emerson okay?”
“Well, hello to you too, Chase. I’m well. Thanks for asking,” she sternly says. I picture her sitting at her desk with a smug grin on her face right now.
“Sorry. Hello, Sheridan. How’s it going?”
“Things are shit, Chase.” Her voice is broken. “I need your help. Emerson needs your help.”
That shocks me and I sit up. “Anything. What does she need? I can be there tonight.”
“Hold on, hold on. She’d kill me if she knew I was talking to you. Look, things are bad. Like bad-bad, and I need your advice, help, hell, a magic wand to fix this. The board is out for blood, Emerson’s blood. And unless I can come up with a plan, they are going to fire her and remove her as CEO, she won’t have any say in the running of the James Corporation. Chase that cannot happen. This is her legacy. I worked closely with Mr. James for three years, Chase; he wouldn’t want this. If they take this from her, it will destroy her.”
“What can I do?” I say, without any hesitation whatsoever.
“I’ve just couriered you a box. Look though it and let me know your thoughts.”
Nodding, I say, “Can do.” Pausing, I purse my lips and then ask, “How is she?”
“Miserable. She’s missing you, but she’s too proud to say anything.”
“That sounds like her.” We both go quiet. “Sheridan, I think I’m in love with her. I’m going to fix this and then I’m going to win her back.”
“I know you love her, and I know she loves you too. Chase, it’s bad. I need all the help that I can get, and I know you are the person to help. No pressure.”
I laugh. “Yeah, no pressure, but I’m here, Sheridan. Whatever you need.” I say, “I won’t let her, or you, down.”
“I know you won’t, Chase. And thanks.”
The next day, the box from Sheridan arrives. I call in the big guns to go through this with me: Pa. For the next three days, he and I scour every document. We speak to Sheridan several times a day and a few other contacts as well. It gets to the point that I need to be on the ground in New York to finalize our plan, so I pack a bag and head to the big city.
* * *
It’s so hard to be in the same city as Emerson and not be able to see her. Touch her. Hold her. Talk to her, or make sweet love to her. With all my heart, I know that once this is sorted, that will happen…I hope. As Ma always says to me ‘patience is a virtue,’ but I’m sure whoever came up with that saying wasn’t in love with the most amazing person in the world.
I’ve been in New York for four days now, and the board meets in three days time. I’m pretty sure that Sheridan and I have a solid proposal that the board will approve of. It will save both the James Corporation and Emerson. I’m walking out of a coffee shop and I run in that last person I expect to see, Emerson’s best friend, Bella. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head when she sees me and then her face breaks into a megawatt smile. “Dude, please tell me you are here to swoop in and declare your undying love for my best friend?”
“Eventually, yes,” I say, before adding, “But first I need to save her company.”
Bella smiles at me before proudly saying, “I knew you were a good egg.” She grabs my arm and leads me back into the coffee shop, “You and I need to come up with a plan.” With a wicked smirk, she adds, “And I know exactly what we are going to do.”
“Karaoke, that’s your plan?”
Bella excitedly nods at me, taking a bite of her chocolate chip cookie. With her mouth full she says, “Yep, and I know the perfect song for you to sing to our girl.” I’m looking at her hesitantly, this chick can’t be serious, but what’s scary is that I think she might be onto a winner here. I need a grand gesture to win her over and this crazy plan just might work.
“Bella, what if she doesn’t go?”
“Have you met me? Like she will have a choice in the matter. By the end of tomorrow night, she will realize that you are meant for each other. Then the following day, you swoop in and save the day-slash-company-slash-her. And then voila, you both live happily ever after. The End!” She finally takes a breath and I’m still processing all that she just said to me.
I find myself smiling as I laugh. Shaking my head, I say, “I think you’re right, Bella. This crazy-ass plan of yours, and mine, just might work.”
“Of course it will, Chase. You need to throw those positive vibes into the atmosphere, bring in all the good juju and all the crap.”
“You are one crazy chick, but I can see why Ems likes you so much.”
“Please, she loves me. I’m her sister from another mister,” she matter-of-factly states. “Okay, I have to run, but tomorrow night, eight p.m., at the Five Lounge over on Madison. And Chase, don’t be late.” Then she scarily adds, “Or I’ll find you.”
“Trust me, Bella. I will be there. I love Emerson with all my heart.”
“Naw, I know you do. See you tomorrow.” She stands up and leaves me sitting in the coffee shop grinning like a dumbass, a dumbass in love…and I could not be happier.
* * *
The next day I wake earlier than usual and I decide to jog around Central Park, rather than on the treadmill in the hotel gym. It’s so peaceful in the park this early in the morning, I can see why Emerson loves it here so much. After a few more miles, I take a seat near the carousel and start thinking about Emerson. I’m smiling when I realize that I would move here in a heartbeat if that’s what she wanted. Not sure a country boy like me could live in the Big Apple, but with Emerson by my side, I know I could do it.
Heading back to my hotel, I pass a memorial. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and when I walk over to it, I realize that this is the spot where Emerson lost everyone. Walking up to the memorial chair, I place my hand on it and I whisper, “Hi guys. I’m Chase and, umm, man this is weird, but umm, I promise to love and look after Emerson for all of you.” Pausing, I take a deep breath before adding, “Brian, you will always be her first love, and I will never take that away from her, or you. Mr. and Mrs. James, you have raised an amazing daughter, you should be proud of her. She’s been a little lost, but I think she will be okay, and I will do whatever it takes to make her happy.”
Walking away from the memorial, I feel a sense of acceptance and happiness. I know that they would want Emerson to be happy and I will do everything in my power to make that happen…even sing karaoke. I have the perfect song in mind, sorry Bella, but I’m going with my choice, your song just won’t cut it.
Arriving at the lounge early, I head to the bar to grab a beer and a shot of bourbon. I need the bourbon to calm my nerves. As agreed with Bella, I will hide out in the back of the bar. We don’t want Ems to see me until I’m up on stage. I’m lifting my beer to my lips when I feel her presence. Looking up I see her, Bella, Sheridan, and a few other people walk in. My heart literally stops at her beauty. She’s wearing ass-hugging black pants, and a black and white monochrome corset top. She looks absolutely beautiful. It’s taking everything I have to not race over there and whisk her away. She’s smiling, but it’s her fake one, the smile she gives when she’s miserable. My heart breaks for her and I want nothing more than to go over to her, wrap my arms around her, and hold her. I know that I can’t because—A. Bella would kill me. And B. She needs a grand gesture, and this will be epically grand.
Bella spots me and grins sheepishly at me. When she walks toward the bar, she winks and subtly gives me the thumbs-up. Sheridan spots me, her mouth drops open in shock, but I shake my head and nod toward Bella. Sheridan whispers in Bella’s ear and the two of them whisper to each other. Sheridan looks back over at me and giggles. Man, I’m never going to live this down, I think to myself.
Before I know it, the karaoke starts. My nerves kick in and I feel like I want to vomit. I’m the third person on tonight, but I don’t notice the first two who sing because my eyes are steadfastly locked on Ems. It’s killing me to be so close to her, but soon I’ll have her in my arms again, I hope. All of a sudden I hear, “And up next we have a special guest. You know who you are, so come on up.” Everyone in the lounge is looking around. Chugging back my beer, I place the empty bottle on the table and stand up. As I walk to the front, my eyes are locked on Emerson. She’s looking around the bar and when she spots me, her eyes pop open in shock. Her face is totally confused. Our eyes are locked on each other as I walk past her toward the stage. As I pass her, I wink. She shakes her head at me like she used to when we first met, but this time her face is lit up like the Rockefeller Christmas tree.
Taking the mic from the DJ, I clear my throat. “Evening all. I’m here to let the woman I love know that I’m here—ready and waiting.” Nodding toward the DJ, he presses a few buttons and the opening bars of “Die A Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett begins to play. Ems knows that I’m a huge Thomas Rhett fan, and I know that from spending time with me, she is now also a fan. The lights on stage are bright, but my eyes are locked on Emerson as I begin to sing.
Everything and everyone else in the lounge fades away. It’s just Ems and me. I sing every word to her and mean every single one of them. When the song ends, I stand there on stage and continue to stare at Emerson. She stands up. I smile and say, “Emerson James, I love you.” The bar is silent as I hand the mic back to the DJ. I jump off the stage, walk over to Ems, wrap my arms around her, and dip her back like they do in the movies. She gasps as I whisper, “Ems, I love you. No more running. You and me, together forever.” I don’t give her a chance to reply and smash my lips against hers. She moans into my mouth, nibbles at my lip, and I open my mouth to let her in. She flicks out her tongue and licks my lip. Breaking our kiss, she whispers, “I love you too, Chase, but…” I don’t give her a chance to finish that sentence as I plunge my tongue back into her mouth.
The crowd around us erupts into a chorus of cheers, but I don’t hear any of them. I’m solely focused on Emerson. Lifting her back into a standing position, we stare at one another before she jumps toward me and wraps her legs around my waist. She plants her lips on mine again and I pull her tight against me and deepen our kiss. We break apart and I finally register the applause from everyone in the bar. I had totally forgotten that we were in the middle of a bar. Lowering her down, Ems looks to the floor in embarrassment. I grab her hand and lead her over to the booth where I was sitting. We sit in silence, staring at each other. Ems opens her mouth and says the one thing I didn’t think I’d hear, “I’m sorry, Chase, I have to go.” She jumps up and runs out of the bar. I sit here stunned, watching her red hair dart between the other patrons as she exits the bar.
Bella storms over to me. “Go after her, you fool.”
That snaps me into action and I race after her. I reach the outside just as I see her red locks climb into the back of a taxi, “Emerson!” I shout. She looks up, our eyes connect and she freezes. Sadly she smiles at me before she turns and climbs into the cab. I’m left standing on the sidewalk, watching the girl of my dreams drive off.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I look over to see both Bella and Sheridan standing there. Sheridan is the first to speak, “Chase, give her time, you know she has a lot going on at the moment. Not only is she contending with the board, she’s also processing her feelings for you. Might have been better to do this grand gesture after tomorrow’s meeting.” She places emphasis on the word after.
Nodding my head, I mumble, “Probably.”
The three of us fall silent. Bella breaks the silence when she says, “Chase, if she doesn’t fall for you then she’s a fool. That was the most romantic thing ever, that song was perfect, even if it was country crap. Give her time. I know she feels it too, because that kiss between you two was electric. I could feel the heat radiating between you guys from where I was sitting.”
“I hope you’re right, Bella, but Sheridan is correct. I should have done it after the board meeting. I’ve just dumped this on her too; it’s going to overwhelm her. I hope I haven’t ruined my chance with her.” I pause, then turn and hail a cab. Before I climb in, I look back at them and I say, “I love her so much. I need tomorrow to go as we planned, Sheridan, otherwise I think I’ll lose her forever.”