04.

Oddly, Emily was eagerly anticipating the private dinner with Daniel. Obviously, she needed to advance things in their relationship to keep the plan in motion, but she couldn't help reveling in the...benefits of this particular scheme. After all, Daniel was extremely attractive and suave and a really good kisser. No. She had to remember what Takeda told her. Don't stray from the path. Never lose your focus.

No matter how handsome Daniel was, Emily was confident he wouldn't divert her mindset from the ultimate goal.

But Jack? That was a different story entirely.

Ever since she arrived to the Hamptons, her goal had been to push Jack away. The more she could avoid him, the greater chance he had of being unharmed in any way.

When Nolan mentioned the possibility, Emily wanted Jack to sail away...leave unscathed from all of this. She was relieved. At least she wanted to be.

The problem with Jack was...the problem...he- he just brought about a feeling of security within her that she hadn't felt in nineteen years. But if it was what he wanted, who was she to stop him? Revealing her true identity to him would be self-serving and put him in probable danger. As much as she wanted to give him that option, she couldn't. If Jack was anything like he was as a child, she knew he would nobly stay to protect and help her. Or worse. He would be disgusted with her and her choice of vengeance. Yes. The best thing for Jack was to keep him from the truth and let him escape the devilish pit that was the Hamptons.

But when he showed up at her door instead of Daniel - with his adorable wingman, Sammy - and then proceeded to tell her he was staying until at least the end of the summer, she realized how much she didn't want him to go.

She had no romantic feelings whatsoever towards Daniel. He was just a means to an end. But if this was true, why did she feel like she was betraying Daniel as she thoroughly, unabashedly enjoyed her dinner with Jack?

She knew she wasn't built for love. For true romance. She needed no therapist to impart that bit of wisdom. That wasn't part of the plan. Part of the path she chose. She made herself ready, training with Takeda. With Aiden. And she could certainly appear heartless underneath a perfectly agreeable exterior. But under the coldness, there was a true, real beating heart torn apart from hurting the innocent. And shattered from being the only one standing in the way of some sort of normal happiness.

So she would continue to keep Jack in the dark and let Daniel think she was letting him in more and more and just silently hope. For what? That she could hardly figure out herself.