Her stomach is in her throat. The house looms over them like a huge shadow. Liam takes her cold hand in his.
"Don't be nervous, Emma. This is going to be great."
She squeezes back tightly. The door opens and there is a tall woman standing there. She's frowning. Then she's yelling.
"Get out of my sight!"
She wakes drenched in her own sweat. Another nightmare. She groans as she rolls over and sees that Liam has already gone to work.
She was so damn nervous about meeting his family. She'd been having these dreams for weeks. Of course, he'd tell her that she had nothing to worry about. He'd assure her that his family would love her. But she couldn't help it because in the sixth months they'd been dating he repeatedly told her how amazing they were.
His real parents had died when he was young. Liam and his brother lived on the street for several years until an older lady named Margaret Lucas took them in. She had one daughter of her own named Ruby who Liam called his 'dear little sister'.
But she didn't have time to worry about them right now. She had too much writing to do. Being a journalist had it's advantages. One of which was working from home. One of the disadvantages was you could procrastinate a little longer then you probably should.
She sits down at her laptop with a cup of coffee when her phone begins to ring. She smiles when she sees the caller ID.
Jones Publishing
"Good morning!" She answers.
"Good morning? It's noon!"
"Liam, stop being such a pain in the ass."
"You are such a lazy bones," he teases.
"Just tell me what you called for."
"Why don't you come down to the office and we'll discuss it in person."
"You can't just tell me over the phone?"
"No. Come as soon as you can."
And then he hangs up.
For a moment she just sits there in stunned silence. It wasn't like Liam to act this strangely. So she hurriedly grabs her keys and her coat.
She arrives at the publishing house a bundle of nerves. She doesn't even say hello to Belle, the receptionist. She just goes straight to Liam's office.
"What the hell was that about?" She hisses.
"You're angry, I know. But I really thought you see this for yourself."
"What?"
He slides a file towards her.
"What is this?" She asks as she opens the file.
"It's an assignment. One of a kind."
"Really? Oh, Liam this is," her stomach sinks. "Overseas."
"I want you to take it. Promise me you'll take it."
"Even though that means you won't see me for months?"
"Emma, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"It is," she replies softly. Her fingers play with the edge of the file. "What about your family?"
"It will just have to wait."
"But you've been so excited!"
Liam takes her hand in his. "I promise, they will still want to meet you when you get back."
Six months later
She's watching the group of men carefully. For months she's been tailing them. She knows all their dirty little secrets. Drug cartels, selling women on the black market. They were the lowest form of scum she'd ever come across. She takes a few photos and stashes her camera back in her bag. These photos would be damning evidence for her article.
When she gets back to her small apartment there's a letter under her door.
Dear Ms. Swan, I thought I should tell you that my brother is in the hospital. I know you two have drifted apart over the past months- but I think it would still be good if you could come and see him.
K. Jones
The letter falls from her hands and onto the floor. A wave of nausea washes through her and she barely makes it to the sink in time.
As she's washing out her mouth she's certain of one thing. She would find the first available flight to New York City.
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