She was sure as hell lucky that tomorrow was Saturday. I went back to work irritated, and even more on edge than I was before. The media was getting worse. Not only that, but the people at the office were giving those looks. The look that said I was fucking everything up.

I couldn’t even focus as more pictures of Claudia and me together started circling. I needed this shit to stop. I needed this shit to go away.

---

Saturday came, and Emmalin decided to meet at work, which was fine, because my lawyers would be there to answer anything I couldn’t. She was stiff the entire time and didn’t say much. I held her hand tightly as she sat and listened, as well as peering at the pictures being set out in front of us.

“It’s more than likely that this is all just a way to get money from Mr. Mandrake.”

Emmalin glanced up at Francisco, one of the lawyer’s present. “Stop.” That was the first word she’d spoken since she arrived. Everyone froze, waiting for her to continue. Her grip around my hand, loosened, but I wasn’t letting her let go. Not now, not ever. “You said more than likely, so you’re not completely sure?”

Syed spoke up. ‘We’re very sure, Mrs. Mandrake.”

Her hand slammed on the table. “But that’s not what you said.” She looked to Francisco. “You said more than likely. Is there evidence somewhere that what this woman is putting out there could have cause to be true?”

“No!” I yelled way too loudly but quickly reigned myself in. “Baby, no. None of it is true.” She gave me a small smile that she was trying to pass off as genuine, but it was anything but.

“Mr. Mandrake, we do have video from Paris.” We watched as Syed turned the laptop around and hit play. I basically held my breath the entire time as I took in her expression. We watched as I sat at the bar, right by Claudia. I winced at the amount of intimate touches that went on. What I had perceived as an innocent touch here and there, I could see how any other person could perceive it differently.

The last video was of me going into Claudia’s room just before midnight…and emerging shirtless at around six in the morning. Sometime later, Claudia came out, wearing my button down. All of this looked shitty and sure as hell didn’t paint me in the best light.

“Mr. Mandrake, these will be some of the questions that will be asked.” I nodded preparing myself for the slaughter my lawyers were about to present to me.

“When did you begin a relationship with Claudia Schaffer?”

“The only relationship between Ms. Schaffer and I has been on a professional level.”

“And that answer may seem perfect, but you’re only opening yourself up to admitting that you did have a relationship with Ms. Schaffer. At all possible, exclude the word relationship from your admission.”

This went on for two hours. Me answering questions. The lawyers rewording the questions, to see if my answers would change, and how any of it could conflict or portray me in a bad light. After everyone left, it was just me and Emmalin. She looked distant and even more worn out than I felt.

My hand went to her nape, pulling her closer to me. “This will be over soon, I promise.” She nodded giving me a sad smile. I pulled her into my lap. “Talk to me,” I whispered against her.

“I believe you, I’m just…” she sighed trying to gather her thoughts. I could see her battling a war with herself. One side of her is trying to act like everything is okay, and that she's strong, and that she can handle this. But, on the other hand, she's completely conflicted. And for good reason no doubt. I just wish I had the power to take her from all of this. “It’s a lot to take in. While everything may have been innocent, you have to admit there were instances where it didn’t appear innocent. How many other women will step forward claiming the same thing?”

“None!” My tone came out harsher than I intended. “If I have to, I will fire every woman that works for me.” I paused. “Except you.” She knew I meant it, too. I didn't give a fuck about proving my innocence to the public. The only person I cared about proving my innocence and truth to was my wife.

She softly sighed. “I think it’s time for me to head home.”

She grabbed her bag and jacket. I lingered as she collected her things. I stepped up to her, blocking the door. “I want to come home." She lightly bit her bottom lip. "I want to come home, with you and our daughter.” I pleaded. I would do anything, and I sure as hell wasn't above begging, to be home with my wife and daughter. I watched as she thought it over, as she rocked back and forth on her heels. After a few seconds, she finally peered back up at me.

She took my hand in hers, and nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Emmalin actually had to be on campus tonight for some dumbass group activity. Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the fact that she wants to do this. I just have a small problem of having to share her, especially sharing her with people outside of my world. I was comfortable in my bubble. I could control who came in and who came out.

I decided to surprise her and pick her up from campus, hoping I could coerce her into having a late dinner with me. We were spending too much time fighting, and being distant from each other, more often than not. I hated it. I knew it was all my fault that we were this predicament to begin with, but I wanted to do everything in my power to make this right.

I strolled through the library, taking in the art, as well as all the people studying. I walked around, not really knowing where Emmalin was, but hoping I would find her eventually. After a half hour of walking around and backtracking, there was no sign of Emmalin. I sighed as I reached for my phone and pulled up the tracker on her phone.

I stared at the dot, waiting for it to pinpoint where she was. But she wasn’t in the library. In fact, she wasn’t on campus. Deciding not to call her, I went back to my car and I pulled up the GPS. The map had me driving a few miles away from campus. I finally pulled up to a residential area. I peered out the window. While the area didn’t look too bad, it sure as hell didn’t look too safe, either.

I parked and got out, still watching the signal. It brought me to a two-story house with broken shutters. What the fuck was she doing here? I walked up the stairs carefully as I looked around the porch. A light in a room was on, and I peered in. I spotted Emmalin sitting on a couch, with a book laid out in front of her. She wasn’t looking at the book, but peering up at some fuck making her laugh. It was the look she was giving him that made me see red.

It’d been a long time since I’ve seen Emmalin smile like that and look carefree. She stopped having that look the moment everything happened. And now, here she was giving that look that I thought she lost forever to some random fuck.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to unclench my fists. If I went in there now, I was going to fucking lose it, and I knew without a doubt, I would either fucking kill him or fuck her in front of him first and then kill him. I shook it off, headed back to the car, and drove home. Any sweet thoughts I had before I got to that house quickly went out the window.

I made a call to Magda and made arrangements for her to take Flick to my parents for the weekend. I got home and helped pack her things. Then I gave Flick the biggest kiss and told her that I loved her, telling her she was going to see her grandparents. Of course, she was more interested in the purple elephant she was playing with.

After I said my goodbyes, I poured myself a drink and waited for my wife to get home.