“So, did your man hit a jackpot or something?”

Emily turned to look at Joe as they walked to the conference room.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Well, he looks good and he is actually wearing an expensive suit.”

She shrugged. She had also noticed that and that was even the reason why she had been moody. Why was he looking good the next day after asking for a break from her?

“Are you okay, Emily?” Joe asked and she immediately jerked out of her thoughts.

“I am fine Joe. The truth is, Liam and I went on a break yesterday.”

Joe stopped in his tracks. “Really?” he asked, without any hint of surprise on his face.

“Yeah,” she replied, looking down at the floor.

“Wow! I am so sorry,” he mumbled but she knew he wasn’t.

“Thank you but we both know you never liked him.”

“Well, I never did. I think he is too ordinary for such a high flying woman as you.”

She sighed.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“Not really. Is there anything else you would like to tell me about the case?”

Joe grabbed her warmly on both shoulders. “Go home Emily, take some time off, you must be going through some emotions right now.”

“No, please, I don’t want to go home. I don’t need to take any time apart. I just need to bury myself in more work.”

Joe inhaled deeply. “Are you sure that is the best thing right now?”

“Yes, I think it is.”

“Would you like to talk about it, seriously?”

She sighed. She wasn’t sure if that was she had in mind.

“Come with me.” He said quickly before she could change her mind.

Soon they were in his office and she was cleaning her tear-stained face.

“So, he just told you he needed a break, just like that?”

She nodded. She had just recounted everything to him. “Yea.”

“So why are you crying?”

For a minute, Emily thought that was a mistake.

“You are not seriously asking me that.”

“Well, I just think you should be happy that you are finally rid of him.”

Emily was more surprised. She knew that Joe never really liked Liam but this was much.

“What do you mean by that?”

“He has always been pulling you back, He is jealous and envious of your career and you shouldn’t be with someone like that.”

“I don’t think he was jealous. He had always supported me.”

“Really? So why did he break up with you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t been giving him much attention lately so I understand his point.”

“That was not enough. If he really loves you, he would never have done that. “

She sighed. “Either way, I don’t blame him. Besides, he said it was just time for us to take a break and realign our priorities,” she said looking at the floor and continued. “He thinks you and Tommy are taking me away.”

Joe scoffed. “Was that why he went to have a new haircut and get a new suit?”

Emily looked up sharply. “You noticed that?”

“Of course. I bet you he has been planning this for a while. I mean, if he actually loves you and not feeling insecure, he wouldn’t have done that right the next day after breaking up with you. Did he see you with us last night?”

Emily nodded. “Yes, I think he must have.”

“Has he been stalking you?”

“No, I don’t think so.” She replied. “He was only at the restaurant same time we were last night and let’s face it, the whole thing with Tom and I must really be giving him some insecurity issues and I should have handled it better.”

“So, he just happened to be in the same restaurant as us last night?”

Emily could deduce that Joe was being sarcastic about the way he was talking.

“I was supposed to prepare us a dinner last night and since I couldn’t do that, he went out to eat. He said that was how he found us.”

“Hmm. I see. So how long is the break for?”

“It’s just a break for a little while,” she replied.

“And you are sure he is not interested in another woman?”

She shook her head. “No. Liam is not interested in another woman. I am sure of that at least.”

“So he came to the restaurant alone, then he saw you with both of us and then broke up with you. What if he had seen you with Tom alone, what would he have done?”

She was quiet as she had no idea.

“If he had run into us at the dinner just like he made you believe, why didn’t he come over to say hi or at least give you a call?”

Silence.

“Obviously he is hiding something,” Joe concluded.

She inhaled fheavily or the fifth time, she was just tired. “I don’t know Joe.”

Joe shrugged, “Okay, but he definitely is up to something. Are you sure you don’t need some time off?”

“Yes, I am sure,” Emily replied.

“Have you met with Kate about the latest development concerning the case?”

“Not yet but I will once I leave this place.” She replied, standing up.

As she walked towards the door, Joe called her back.

“Emily, I think this break will be good for you. You can have a chance with someone else who will push you and encourage and who will understand your career perfectly because he is also working hard to achieve his goals.”

She nodded, with a smile. She knew he was talking about Tom, undoubtedly.