CHAPTER FIVE

AMBER

 

THE SECURITY HAD escorted me back to my room, where they questioned me like a suspect.

“Look, guys, I don’t think this is necessary and I need to wash my feet.” I pointed at my dirty and cold feet for emphasis. Blondie looked at the other guy, who stood with his hands held together in front of himself, like a bouncer. They exchanged a look, before looking back at me.

“We can wait, Miss Green.”

I folded my arms over my chest; the other guy had been looking at my chest more times than I was comfortable with. My arms blocked his view, and he finally made the journey to my narrowed eyes. “I would prefer if you both left my room now.” I couldn’t add, or I’ll call security. Their behavior was bizarre, and giving way too much truth to Mikael’s accusations. Of course, I didn't tell them what Mikael had told me. I could only imagine what would happen if I did.

I didn’t wait for them to answer but went to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I took off my jeans and sat in the bath while running the water. Once the temperature became lukewarm, I put my feet under it and cleaned them with a bar of soap that had the word ‘Harrington’ embedded in it. I dried my feet off and noticed the name stitched in gold on the towel, also. Everything was personalized. How was all this paid for? Was Mikael right? Was this the result of drug money? Blood Money?

“Miss Green.” I froze at the sound of Emmett’s voice through the hotel room door.  Clutching the towel, I watched as the door handle wiggled, and my heart jumped. “Miss Green.”

“One moment.” I pulled my jeans on and opened the bathroom door to find Emmett standing near the window. I was relieved to see that the two security men had vacated my room, but the newest intrusion wasn’t welcome, either.

“I hear we had an incident in the lobby, and that you were involved in it.” He hadn’t looked at me yet. Instead, he was straightening the cups and saucers supplied by the hotel, making the handles parallel, before moving to my nightstand, where the paper and a pencil sat. He straightened the pencil, and it pissed me off.

“I wasn’t involved, I defused it,” I told him as I moved to my nightstand and deliberately shuffled the pencil and paper out of sync.

He looked at me now. I couldn’t read him, but he paused briefly before speaking. “You knew Mikael?”

I stood way too close to Emmett for comfort, close enough that I could smell his cologne.  He towered over me, so I moved away and sat down on my bed pulling one of my bare feet into my hands. “No, I didn’t know him.” Emmett moved around the room, straightening things, touching things. But then, when he fixed my blue dress strap that had come off the hanger, I just couldn’t stay quiet. “Could you stop doing that, please?” I said. He paused again before standing in front of me and placing his hands behind his back. Nice to know he was a fidget and had OCD—more things to add to his charming list of characteristics. 

“Why did you tell my men you knew Mikael?”

I now pulled up my other foot and looked at my chipped toenail polish. It was another thing to add to the list of things to do. I looked at Emmett. He wasn’t looking at me directly; he focused on my hands as they massaged my feet. He looked baffled and I don’t know why I smiled, but it dissolved off my face when he looked at me. I let my feet go, sitting up straight. “So they would leave him alone. Honestly, I don’t understand why I’m being treated like a criminal?”

“It's simple protocol, Miss Green, to question any guest after such an incident.” Bullshit.

“I never said his name.” I folded my arms across my chest now. Emmett’s hands reappeared, and he fixed his gold cuffs. The letter H, engraved in a striking red on both of them, caught my gaze. It was yet another symbol of how far apart our worlds were.

“My men told me.” He looked up at me now.

“Oh, so they knew him?” I questioned. Two could play this game.

“Yes, they did and now I have established that you didn’t know him.” He said it like a question, as if I had lied.

“Exactly, I’m glad we got all that cleared up.” A muscle flexed in Emmett’s jaw. So, he had facial muscles after all. His irritation was visible in his tightening jaw. I didn't hide my own irritation with this situation. “Are we done?” I snapped as I got off the bed. I kept my arms folded, emphasizing that we were done here.  

“For now,” he finally said. What did that mean? I didn’t comment on it, he was draining me.

“Oh, and when your men brought up my things, they never gave me my newspaper.” I swallowed when Emmett looked at me with the unsettling stare that I wanted to look away from, but I didn’t.

“Apologies. If you let reception know what paper it was, we would gladly replace it.” His tone told me he didn’t give a shit.

 PRICK.

“I want that one back. I spent ages looking for jobs and circling them. I could just buy another one. I wouldn’t have asked, only for all the time I spent on it.” I shifted as he looked like he was considering it. Patience, I told myself.

“I will look into it, Miss Green.” He said once more as he moved away from me, closing the door as he left my room.

“It’s Amber,” I told the closed door. Fucking Miss Green. I wanted to kill her, so I didn’t have to hear that annoying name ever again. 

 

EMMETT

 

“Riley, who cleaned away the table that Miss Green had occupied today?” Riley tapped away on her keyboard as I waited.

“Jack, Mr. Harrington.” Riley smiled now.

“Get him for me,” I told her and looked away, examining the lobby. I had ordered two more men to be stationed close to the doors; we didn’t need bad publicity. Any guest who had witnessed the incident got a complementary night free. I looked at the tables myself as I waited for Jack to arrive. I remembered the boy. I had interviewed him myself last week, and he had potential, but just needed a bit of guidance. Me guiding him wasn’t the best start for the boy.

“Mr. Harrington.”

“You tidied over this area after the incident?” I questioned. I watched as Jack gulped before answering.

“Yes, Mr. Harrington.”

“Did you find a newspaper?” I asked, trying to soften my tone a little, without letting him think that I was a pushover.

“Yes.” Jack’s brows drew close together.

“I need it,” I told him, he paused. “If there is a problem Jack, you need to tell me.”

“No Sir, I’ll just be a moment.” He left swiftly, and I sat in the lobby waiting. I was surprised when he handed me the newspaper a few moments later, a smile on his face. I had really expected it to be thrown out. Had he climbed into a bin for it?  “I got it, Mr. Harrington.” Eager to please. 

“Thank you, Jack. Let Frank know that I’m ready to leave.”

“Yes, sir.” He left.

I didn’t open the newspaper. Instead, I placed it under my arm before leaving the hotel.

 

AMBER

 

After Emmett left, I took a shower, my mind on Mikael and his baby. My hand ran over my tattoo that was on the inside of my thigh. I didn’t want to visit the dark part of my mind where my demons hung out, drinking tequila and messing with my head. The phone ringing in my room had me switching off the water and wrapping myself in a fluffy dressing gown. Demons were forgotten momentarily as I grabbed a towel for my hair and wrapped it tightly around my head as I made my way to the hotel phone.

“Hello?” Static. “Hello?” I said again, feeling a shiver snake up my back.

“Miss Green.” The know-it-all tone of Emmett had my annoyance growing.

“Yes.” I snapped into the phone.

“It’s Emmett Harrington.”

“I know. Did you find my newspaper?” I sat on the bed, keeping my fingers crossed.

“I do apologize, but it was binned.”

I felt far more disappointment than I should have. I would have to get the paper tomorrow, but there was no guarantee that any of the jobs that I had circled would still be there. “Okay, thanks for checking.” I was just about to hang up when his voice stopped me.

“I actually have a proposal for you.” Did he sound nervous?

“Are you hitting on me?” I smiled into the phone. I could just imagine the look on his face.

“No, it’s of a professional nature.” God, he was so serious.

“I was joking, Emmett. I didn’t really think you were hitting on me.” Silence. I wondered if he had hung up. “Hello?”

“I have a nursing position that needs to be filled immediately.”

Surprise flittered through me and I sat down on the side of the bed. “In a hotel?”

“No Miss Green, in one of my gyms. One of our nurses is leaving and we need to fill the position.”

I chewed on my nail. “A gym? I couldn’t imagine many injuries occurring in a gym, to be honest. What would I do all day?”

“I’d hardly offer the job if there was no work. You will be kept busy.” This sounded as dodgy as hell.

“Is this legit?” I had to ask.

“Yes, Miss Green. Why would you think it wasn’t?” He sounded slightly pissed now, but then again it was hard to tell, he always sounded pissed. “I will leave my offer with you. Just let me know by the morning.”

“Hello?” The line was dead. Did he just hang up on me? “Rude!”  I told the phone before placing it on the receiver. Did I just really get offered a job after being turned down by several others? I couldn’t get a clearance cert because I had two drunk and disorderly penalties against me. Now I had a chance to start working again, get a place, and pay Emmett back the bail money I owed him.

I got off the bed and grabbed my phone, ready to text Grace but she had texted me already. TWICE.

 Soul sisters for life girl. x I do have news, funny enough, but I want to meet up and tell you in person.

The second message.

Soul sister my ass. If you were really my soul sister, you would answer me unless you are getting all freaky with someone, then I forgive you and we are still soul sisters.

I quickly texted back. 

I wasn’t getting freaky with anyone, it’s a long story but the bottom line is your brother offered me a job in one of his GYMS???? Is this a trick? Cause he has the potential to be a serial killer. Oh, can’t wait for your news, and don’t ever mess about us not being soul sisters. The universe wouldn’t like that, and if the universe becomes pissed, I am pointing my finger at you and looking the other way.

I got dressed for bed, after tonight's events, exhaustion tugged at me. Once I was settled in I picked up my phone as it had dinged five minutes before. I opened up Grace’s message.

Yeah, he does have a gym, but I can’t believe he offered you a job. LOL. He isn’t a serial killer. You’re so mean girl. But what happened with Columbia’s hospital? We really need to meet up. I feel like we haven’t spoken in ages and clearly, I am missing a lot here? The finger that you are pointing at me will turn to rubber with my magical powers, me and the universe will stand as one and laugh at you with your rubbery finger.

I knew Grace would have lots of questions, but I wasn’t ready to tell her I lost my job. But I would when we met up. I picked up the hotel phone, not sure how exactly I was meant to go about letting Mr. High and Mighty know that I would accept his proposal. “Reception, how may I help you?”

“Hi, It’s Amber Green, I was wondering if I could speak to Emmett, please.”

“One moment, Miss Green.”  I was put on hold.

“Miss Green.” The new voice was Emmett’s, and I had a moment where I wanted to put the phone down. “Amber?” My stomach tightened when he said my name. I wasn’t sure why, but I shook the sensation away.

“Hi. I accept the job offer.” I held my breath waiting for his response.

“A car will pick you up in the morning at nine. Mandy, the other nurse, will be informed of your arrival.” 

“Okay great. Hmm, thank you.” For the first time since meeting Emmett, I actually felt grateful to him.

“Goodnight Miss Green, and don’t be late.” PRICK. Don’t be late? I wasn’t a child.

He hung up, and I picked up my phone to text Grace.

Your brother is an asshole, like seriously you did not share the same womb as him. Any-who I accepted the job and I start in the morning. Let me know when it suits to meet up. Miss you girl. HA, I will take my rubbery finger and slap you silly with it, then me, the universe, and Karma will drink tequilas and dance circles around you.