Emily stared at the ceiling of her bedroom and listened to the waves rolling outside her open window. Nolan was still awake, still wired now at 3am. She could hear him working on his latest project in the living room and occasionally she would hear him go into the kitchen for a snack or drink. He worked like a man possessed. Yes he was a celebrity now, the executive officer of a corporation that he built from her father's investment, but at his heart, the man was an inventor.

She thought of the jewelry he'd made for her, the earrings that had carried her father's recordings from prison. Nolan had used his money, his influence and his genius to help the Clarke family, but the one thing he couldn't do was clear David's name and free the man.

That would fall to Emily.

After seeing her father, after speaking to him for the first time in over a year, she had felt a surge of renewed determination. David was suddenly real to her again, their life together was possible once more.

She would check in with Takeda for guidance, do her part in rooting out those who were truly responsible for what happened to Flight 197. It was beyond fortunate that her targets resided nearby.

I'll do it, dad. I promise.

Whatever it takes.


After Nolan had forged the bridge of communication between father and daughter, Emily had torn down the wall between them. In the course of one night, it was as if the ugliness they'd snarled at each other and the months of tension following had been swept out with the tide. Nolan woke up to the scent of food and had followed his nose to the kitchen where Emily had made a king's breakfast for them to share: eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, and waffles.

"Wow, Ems, you went all out!" He greeted her on entering the kitchen.

She was already dressed for the day with Nolan's "Kiss The Cook!" apron tied over her striped summer dress, her hair in a loose knot at the nape of her neck. Opposite to her, Nolan was still sleep-mussed in his loose lounge pants and a robe.

"It's the least I could do, after what you've done for us." She said as she began to serve him a plate.

Nolan slid onto a barstool across the counter from her, gratefully accepting the plate she passed to him. "Ah, what's a little bribery for a friend?" He asked glibly around a mouthful of eggs and sausage. "May I have some coffee?"

Emily was quick to pour him a cup, taking the care to add his preferred cream and sugar. She set the cup next to his plate and then took a deep breath before telling him, "I think we're stuck in a rut, Nolan."

He blinked at her, relatively useless before the caffeine kicked in. "Huh?"

"You've gone so far above and beyond for us. And every time I thank you, you dismiss it." Emily shrugged. "I know it's not in you to brag - not about this, anyway. You save all your bragging for when you talk about NolCorp."

"Hey!"

"Nolan." Here she gave him a knowing look. "I've seen your interviews."

Nolan thought back to his latest, in which he'd decided to take an interview with Katie Couric from a jacuzzi and gone naked beneath the jetting water. Cocky was an appropriate descriptor now that he'd established his dominance in the tech field. He shrugged, "Well, you've got me there."

"I know things haven't been great between us, and I accept my responsibility for that."

"Oh, Ems-"

"Nolan, please. I just...being Emily Thorne and Amanda Clarke at the same time, for years now, and dad's confession last summer and not knowing where he was and then him refusing to see us, I just, all of it, everything...it can be a lot. Sometimes it can feel like too much." She took a deep breath, "But none of it has been your fault, and it wasn't right that I shut you out after going back to school. I'm so sorry, Nolan."

Nolan reached across the counter and held out his hand, grateful when she put her hand in his. He squeezed her fingers, hoping to convey his love better than he had the night before when she'd caught him off-guard. "There's nothing to forgive, Emily. I said it last night, there's no road map to what's been happening these last few years. All our worlds have been rocked by the Initiative. I don't want you to ever feel like I'd cut ties with you because we've disagreed on something or even had a big fight. I won't. We're in this together, I promise. We're a team, we're partners."

She squeezed his hand in return, "I wouldn't have anyone else on my team."

"Now that's a first, I was never chosen to be on teams while I was in school."

"Nolan, please. Can we be friends again?"

"Oh, Ems. We never stopped." On impulse, he leant forward and kissed her hand.

The man then drew back and smiled. "Now, tell me. What would you like to do today?"

Emily's color flared, her cheeks and throat suddenly heated pink. "I, um...do you want to go into town?"

"Of course. You drive. I had your car brought in from the city. Give me some time to get ready." With that, Nolan was quick to finish his breakfast and then moved off toward his room.

Emily remained in the kitchen, cradling the hand Nolan had kissed.


As Nolan dressed, Emily was quick in typing out an e-mail to Aiden.

The man had irritated her the last time they'd seen each other: in her opinion, he had been overly critical of her performance at pick-pocketing in a crowd and then later, when she'd refused him sex, he'd had the gall to tell her to get over her "tantrum".

Being back on strong terms with Nolan, Emily couldn't help but compare the two men and find Aiden wanting.

I have returned to the States. I'm staying with Nolan and will soon make contact with my father. I will inform Takeda of anything that could be useful.

Emily smirked at her own cattiness. The tone of her message was ice-cold, apathetic to Aiden and what connection they had, being purposefully vague and giving no hint to what had already happened. Petty? Definitely. Immature? Of course. Served him right for annoying her, Emily figured. She would fully explain things when she was in a more generous mood.

She sent an equally direct - but far more respectful - message to Takeda before putting away her tablet and rejoining a dressed and refreshed Nolan in the front of the house.

The man stood tall and stretched his arms out to either side, showing off his wingspan. "Summer in the Hamptons and we are back in business! What do you say we visit the Stowaway?"

Emily thought for a moment before it dawned on her, "Oh, right! I nearly forgot about that place."

"It's doing a lot better now with my investment." He told her. "The business is profitable and the Porters are doing well."

"I barely remember the bar, but I remember we were there the day we were almost swarmed thanks to that tabloid."

"Mmm, good times." Nolan nodded. He took a deep swallow to finish his coffee, perversely enjoying the burn working its way down his throat. He'd launched a libel lawsuit against the tabloid for implying his involvement with David Clarke and his daughter, but the real damage had already been done the moment that rag had run the story. "We don't have to go there if you don't want, bad memory and all."

Emily finished off her own coffee and slipped the cup into the dishwasher. "No, I'd like to see it again. We can't avoid things just because of bad memories, we have to take control and make better ones."

He whistled at that, impressed. "Sage advice straight from the Self-Help section of Barnes & Noble! But you're right. We can't control everything, we can only control how we react in certain situations."

"See? Sometimes I'm right." Emily joked as she slung her purse over her shoulder.

"Yeah, well, even a broken clock can be right twice in a day. So, what do you think? Check in at the Stowaway, and then what?"

"Mmm. Catch a movie, some shopping, all our usual spots?"

Nolan warmed to the picture she was framing - the two of them together, swanning around the Hamptons again, the way it had been before, the way it should always be. "You're the boss, and here are your keys."

"Oh, you trust me to drive now?" Emily smiled. "You always say I have a lead foot."

A metaphor occurred to Nolan just then, and he seized on it. "Yes, well...while it can seem fun to go fast, sometimes it's better - safer - to slow down. That being said, I know you're grown now, Emily. You're free to go at your own speed."

It wasn't what Nolan said so much as how he chose to convey his meaning. The man wasn't only referring to her driving skills, it was clear he was referring to acts far more intimate. He was providing advice, acknowledging her freedom and expressing a measure of trust in her judgement. All this without forcing an uncomfortable discussion.

Inside, Emily rankled at her own vulgarity - pulling that stunt had been an awful decision, one she'd immediately regretted. She would take it back in an instant if she could, neither Nolan nor Aiden had deserved being manipulated in such a way. They both deserved better from her, and she deserved better from herself.

Well.

It was a new day.

"Thank you, Nolan. I promise I'll be more careful."

Their eyes held, the silent exchange behind their words conveying everything.

After a moment, Nolan nodded, then tossed her keys across to her. Emily easily caught them.

"Let's go."


"It looks a lot different than it did last time." Emily remarked as she took a seat at the table across from Nolan. Indeed the Stowaway had undergone a facelift since Nolan had initiated his investment. Less of a dock dive bar and more of a trending spot on the pier with a rustic-chic atmosphere. Mr. Porter had overseen everything and ensured that Nolan received all the credit, not to mention excellent preferential treatment.

Ever since the incident with the tabloid, Porter had kept quiet about whatever suspicions had been stirred over Nolan's summer "cousin". Still, the man had looked at Emily for a few seconds too long upon meeting them at the door, in Nolan's opinion. Porter wouldn't say anything - he had too much to lose, and Nolan would ensure the man lost everything and more if even a hint got out that Emily Thorne was truly Amanda Clarke.

Nolan smiled lightly as his favorite drink was immediately set before him by the cute server before he'd even made the order. A Sprite was likewise set before Emily. "Yep, it's been a real turnaround. The place is profitable and the Porters are doing well. Jack is graduating soon."

"Jack?"

"Jack Porter, the owner's son. Older than you, but not by much. You're bound to see him this summer."

Emily didn't think much of that. She had bigger things to focus on this summer than making friends.


The pair continued on for weeks, happily rebuilding their partnership as they roamed the Hamptons and in the evenings, Emily was free to contact David.

Emily was able to speak with David at length from his cell, though the man was reluctant to speak on his affair with Victoria or the woman's ruse being the driving force behind his abrupt confession. Emily was equally careful in omitting the directives she'd been receiving from his former business partner Satoshi Takeda - not to mention her involvement with Aiden! Some things were best left unsaid.

"Still no appeal date?" Emily asked David for the third time that week. She was outside, walking laps around the perimeter of the backyard and holding the card screen out in front of her. She'd started their talk at the patio table, but grown so agitated with their conversation that she'd had to get up and express her frustrated energy.

Watching the scenery around her change as she walked in circles, David sighed lightly. He knew his girl was impatient. He was as well, but he had a more intimate knowledge of how slow legal proceedings could be. Even if he had been accused of a crime on a far smaller scale, things would take at least this long. But this? The bombing of a civilian aircraft, the fallout from it, the involvement of a terrorist network...the only reason he was making any kind of headway in his reversal of testimony was the media scrutiny keeping his case forefront in the public's mind.

"No, honey. These things take time-"

"This is taking forever!"

"I know. My lawyer has to meet with the original prosecution team, and they have to regroup since they'd dispersed last year. It'll take more time to reunite all the original people involved." David explained. "We just have to be patient."

"We wouldn't be here if you hadn't confessed last year." Emily had shocked herself by saying that, but all the same it had to be said.

"I know. I never should have done it and I've regretted it every day since." David tried not to let himself show the upset she stirred with the accusation. Amanda deserved the world from him after everything he'd put her through. "But we have a chance to move forward now. Thanks to Nolan, we can talk more often and that's one thing we can be grateful for."

Emily was truly grateful, but by the same token she was resentful that she should have to feel grateful at all when it was David's actions that had derailed the trial just when it had seemed to be turning in his favor. Had he only kept quiet and allowed his lawyer to do his damn job, then everything might be different now - David might have walked free and then she, David and Nolan could have gone away and built a new life together, the way she'd hoped.

But no.

Instead, Emily was advised to sit back and just be grateful.

She bit the inside of her cheek. "I am grateful." She bit out.

I'm so grateful that I have to lie to everyone, everyday. I'm so grateful that I haven't seen my father in over a year. I'm so grateful that I don't have any real friends. I'm so grateful that you put us in this situation all because you just had to have an affair and they blamed everything on you and then you-

She then went on to change the subject, smooth and light once more, "Nolan said he'd take me to the city later in the summer."

"Oh good, honey, that'll be fun. Maybe he'll take you to another show on Broadway."

"Maybe. He actually mentioned I could start an intern rotation at NolCorp." Emily told him. Nolan had brought it up several times, actually, his want to bring Emily into the 'family business'.

"That'd be a great opportunity for you." David wanted that for her, to have something more serious to occupy her time and take her mind off things. Working for a company like NolCorp, even without her connection to the owner, would look amazing on her applications to university and pave the way toward a true career.

"Yeah, he's already taught me some coding and I've taken tech classes in school." Emily said. "Time to put some of it into practice."

"Never too early. What other things do you want to put into action?"

Passing the patio table, Emily eyed her new cell phone. It was NolCorp's latest gadget that wouldn't hit the stores for another year and Nolan's latest gift to her. It had all the latest apps and a better camera than anything on the market. Truly, there was nothing that could compare. "Well, photography is interesting. I plan on doing something with that."


"In an unexpected turn of events in an already compelling case, accused terrorist David Clarke has changed his plea to not-guilty. Clarke has been charged with conspiring with the infamous terrorist group Americon Initiative in the bombing of Flight 197 in September of 2001. Last year the case had gone to trial, the prosecution's argument based only on circumstantial evidence - when Clarke stood in the courtroom and declared himself guilty, confessing to planting the bomb. Now, fourteen months after the confession, Clarke has reversed his stance. This statement from his attorney reading, "Due to the stress of my imprisonment and receiving constant death threats, I confessed under duress. In fact I had nothing to do with the bombing of Flight 197, nor have I ever had any contact with Americon Initiative prior to my arrest. In appeals court, I am determined to clear my name so that the true culprits can be brought to justice." No court date for the appeal has been set but we will continue following this case and keep our audience fully informed of the proceedings. In other news-"

Conrad turned off the television and set the remote aside. He looked over to his wife, who was sitting across the living room in her favorite chair. It'd been an anniversary gift to her, what she'd come to call her "throne". She looked far from regal right now. The Queen of the Hamptons looked as afraid as he'd ever seen her. Their relationship had its complications, but Conrad loved her - thus, he hated anything that made her feel even the slightest of unease.

"Conrad."

She only said his name, but her tone and expression conveyed everything.

He understood.

They'd thought Clarke's confession would be the end of it. They'd thought he would stay quiet.

They'd thought they were safe.

The man schooled his face to mask his own sense of anxiety. He wouldn't show fear to his wife - he refused to be anything less than Conrad Grayson.

"Victoria, don't worry about this. I'll handle it."

"Handle it? Handle it, how? The only reason he'd change his-"

"Victoria, I said I'd handle it. Please be patient." Conrad told her firmly. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a scanner. Victoria collected herself and waited until the device showed a green light, indicating that their immediate surroundings were free of any electronic devices that could record their conversation. The Graysons hadn't made it to where they were by being careless with their words.

"What are you going to do?" She asked him.

Her knee was shaking and she quickly shifted her position to hide it.

She hated this. It had been a quiet year after Clarke shouted out his confession. A few follow-up interviews to clear Grayson Global of any lingering suspicion, and then with the trial dispersing, so did the tension focussed on her family. Victoria had then been happy to return to her life of shopping and social events, reigning high over the New York elite and especially here in their summer kingdom of the Hamptons.

Now, David was reversing his position and claiming himself innocent of everything - even worse, he wouldn't be doing this if he still believed Victoria's story of being hounded by the Initiative. Something had changed. Someone must have spoken to him.

And she had everything to lose.

Her marriage, her children, her power, her freedom, her life!

Conrad appeared unbothered by this development. Her husband was relaxed, an ankle resting on his knee, an arm draped over the back of the sofa. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect us, Victoria. By any means necessary."

His meaning was plain. Victoria felt a chill run down her spine. She ignored it.

Abruptly, he stood. "Let's go out to lunch."

"What? How can you think about food when he just-"

"It's too beautiful a day to stay in and worry over this." He stepped over to her and held out his hand, pulling her to her feet.

"You don't seem worried at all."

"Rest assured I'll look into this. Right now it's all talk. After his confession there's no way anyone will believe him, but just in case, I'll call the law office and see if any mention about Grayson Global has been brought up. There's a chance he'll try to bring us into it again, but if that's what he wants to do, I'll make sure it's the last thing he ever does." He punctuated the dark sentiment with a kiss to her forehead. "Now, how about we go into town and remind everyone who we are?"

"We're the Graysons."


Nolan shrugged at Emily's text - she was running a bit late. Very unlike her, but Nolan didn't think much of it as he moved toward the beach club bar to wait.

There was a light tap on his shoulder, "Is that Nolan Ross?"

"Why, yes I - agh! I mean, ah, hello!" Nolan stammered, completely caught off-guard to turn around, expecting a fan, only to be faced by none other than Victoria Grayson.

There was no denying the woman was beautiful. Long dark hair, engaging eyes, plush pink lips parting to reveal even white teeth. A lovely face topping a superbly shaped body. Had Nolan not known the truth of what a liar she was, he might have been tempted to make a pass at her. Of course her husband would have something to say about that...as would David.

"I'm Victoria Gray-"

"Victoria Grayson, yes. I know who you are." Nolan finished for her.

He felt a wrathful impulse toward her, this siren that had lured his friend to ruin. He clenched his jaw and flexed his fingers, wondering if it would be worth the assault charge to lash out and crush her new nose.

The woman blinked.

Nolan wasn't smiling back at her, he didn't even seem impressed that she had approached him. He almost looked...annoyed?

She had to remember that Nolan Ross was new money, ignorant of elite manners and his place in the hierarchy. She smiled wider at him. "My reputation proceeds me, I suppose. As does yours."

"Yeah, me being the new kid on the block and all." Nolan drawled, his eyes steady on hers. "One thing I've realized since coming here: everyone will know everyone else's secrets eventually. The Hamptons can be like a small town in the summer."

"And a ghost town in the winter!" She smiled widely again, her face straining to the point where she almost looked grotesque. What Nolan had just said rattled her already stressed sense of paranoia. What did he mean by that? Why is he looking at me like that? What does he know?

Still, she had to press on with him. "Everyone who's anyone returns to the city for the social scene in the fall and winter. But you and I have gained some notoriety, no matter which setting we choose, haven't we? This Americon Initiative business just keeps dragging our names through the mud and then the press just piles on. In times like this, it's important to close ranks with people on the level who understand." She said, lowering her voice in a conspiratorial tone.

Nolan furrowed his brows. It was clear she was trying to forge some kind of kinship with him but he was damned if he wanted anything to do with this snake. "I'm not sure I follow what you're-"

"I'm hosting a dinner at Grayson Manor on Saturday night. A man of your standing should be there, you deserve a seat at the table." She said. "I'll add your name to the guest list. I hope to see you there."

The woman shocked him again by leaning in and kissing his cheek. Nolan could feel the smudge of her lipstick on his face.

"I...I'll check my calendar." He said, unnerved by Victoria's behavior toward him.

He understood the why of it, of course. Nolan had seen the news, indeed he was the driving force behind David's reversal of testimony that had just been made public. Victoria knew nothing about their connection, she only knew that it was a short matter of time before David started singing the song of the Graysons' betrayal. She probably thought that Nolan would make a useful ally, given that he'd been dragged into things after Amanda made the front of that tabloid.

Nolan clenched his jaw. He'd never help her - he'd redouble his efforts to monitor her, expose her affair and ruin her reputation, ruin her whole life for what she'd done to David.

I'll build a spy satellite and shove it so far up her-

Feeling dirty, he grabbed a cocktail napkin from the edge of the bar and wiped furiously at his cheek, sure that he'd only smeared the color further.

Ugh, I need a shower.

"Nolan."

"Agh!" He jumped at being touched on the back again but was relieved to see it was Emily. "Oh, it's just you."

"Uh, yeah. Who else would it be?" She asked, raising a brow at his jumpiness.

"Nothing! No one! I was just - hey, let's get that table over there." Nolan said, moving to guide her to the far side of the floor, lest she turn around and see the Graysons as they were leaving the club. God only knew what she would do if she saw them face to face.

"Oh, can I have a real drink?"

He rolled his eyes at her baiting him. "A Shirley Temple is a real drink."

"What happened to me being grown? You let me have drinks at home." Emily drawled.

Yes, Nolan had relaxed the house rules. The man figured that if Emily was mature enough to make up her own mind when it came to sex, then certainly she could drink at home in the evenings with him. Another development that would upset David if he were to find out. Better to keep quiet about this, along with her new sex life.

"Well, how's this for a compromise: you can drink when we're at home, but while we're out and about, you stick to the kids' menu."

They took their seats and Emily smiled at him, liking the challenge. "Counteroffer: I can drink while at home, and while we're out of the house I can have one drink a day."

"Hmm..."

"Or I could just go get a fake ID that says I'm 21 and I'll have as many drinks as I want, whenever I want. Of course, if I overindulge, then who knows what I'll say? Gosh, I might slip up and say my real name, or worse, I could say who it was who gave me my new identity! Then who knows what would happen?"

Emily delivered the veiled threat so easily, so prim and properly, that Nolan actually clapped at her. "Wow. Ems, you just gave me chills! How about this: you can drink with me at home and one drink every other visit while we're in town."

He held out his hand to her, and Emily took it, giving it a firm shake. "Deal. Can we start now?"

He rolled his eyes at her and started perusing the menu. "Fine, but I'll have a Coke and drive us home. You ought to go for a light drink, like a mimosa or a mojito. It's bad enough that I'm taking my ward out drinking, no need to make it look even worse with you swigging Scotch in the middle of the day."

Emily could only laugh.


Nolan watched as Emily pulled out of the driveway and then moved down the street, off to whatever errands she had of her own.

He didn't mind, and he knew he had to let up from his role as guardian if he wanted - and he did, more than almost anything - to rebuild their friendship as equals. Emily hadn't been a child since this ordeal began, and now more than ever she carried herself with the confidence of a woman. Perhaps it was the regular communication with her father, perhaps it was being back in America, hell, perhaps it was because she was back to blonde - the why of it could be anything, but Nolan was simply happy to have Emily back with him and in such good spirits.

If only the other woman in his life was as cheerful.

His poor Padma had had a hell of a week and off her upset phone call, he had hurriedly invited her to stay over the weekend. She knew his "cousin" was staying with him for the summer, so she'd relented to his plea for private family time but all the same she needed her man. Nolan had buried his neglected libido for weeks while Emily was home, but that part of him had reawakened with the promise of Padma's arrival.

I'll be at yours soon ;)

He smiled at her text message and rushed around the house, clearing up the clutter and readying a bottle of champagne. Phone calls were a pale comparison to human contact, the lovers had been separated for too long.

Nolan hadn't mentioned to Emily yet that they would have a guest. He'd meant to tell her earlier that day but she had been in a hurry to get out to her errand and told him she'd be gone for a few hours. Nolan and Padma would have the house to themselves for a time before Emily's return. There would be questions from both the women, he knew, but he wasn't terribly bothered. In fact he had the loose idea that they would all go to dinner later on that night, but no true plans yet.

The man was hungry, just not for food.

He took the time to shower and shave, choosing a blue shirt she'd once said made his eyes stand out, readying himself for Padma's arrival.

There was a knock at the front door and he rushed to answer it.

Whatever plans he'd had for them that day - brunch, lounging poolside, taking her into town - fled his mind on seeing her at the door. Thankfully, the woman was like-minded as she dropped her weekender bag in the foyer and jumped into his waiting arms, her lips as hungry as his own. He could feel the smile in her kiss and he smiled too, so happy to see her again, so happy to have her to himself.

"Padma, Padma, come on inside, let me give you the grand tour." Nolan laughed, his every word punctuated with a kiss to her neck, then her shoulder, then her collarbone as he pulled at her top to expose more and more of her. It was their joke, his giving her a tour - they had already become intimately familiar with most rooms of the house.

The woman was likewise busying herself with toeing off her shoes and pulling his shirt from the waistband of his pants, unbuckling his belt and sliding it through the loops, tossing it away. "It's a beautiful house, show me your bedroom first."

"The, ah, office is closer." He gasped, his hands seeking under her skirt.

"We can start there." She giggled, biting his earlobe.

Nolan reached into her hair and pulled at the roots, slowly forcing her head back to make her look at him. "We'll start there, and finish together."

His meaning was plain, and Padma smiled, cupping his face to bring him down for another deep kiss.

He guided her into his office, and swept an arm across the desk to clear the surface before lifting her and setting her down before him. "So dramatic!" She teased him, lifting her hips as he reached under her skirt again to slip her panties down her legs.

Padma brought Nolan close and drew down his pants and underwear, freeing him. His body was as eager as her own, there was no hiding it. Nolan leaned over her, bracing his arms on the desk on either side of her. "I aim to please."

She raised her legs around him and crossed her ankles, drawing him in closer to her. "Show me."

So absorbed in their joyful lust, neither party noticed Emily in the doorway.


Emily had kicked herself on reaching the edge of town only to realize she'd left her cell phone charging in her room.

She was expecting a call from Takeda a bit later in the day and she knew the man wouldn't be pleased at having to leave her a voicemail, so she had pulled a sharp turn and headed back to Nolan's.

When she pulled back to the house, a strange itch came over her neck and her senses went into full alert. An unfamiliar car was in the drive, having taken her place beside Nolan's new Lexus. As Emily entered the house, she paused. There was a small piece of luggage in the foyer she didn't recognize, a pair of womens' shoes, a belt. There were distinctive noises coming from the back of the house; very familiar and distinctive noises.

Emily could hardly believe her ears, yet she followed the noise to Nolan's office. She had to see for herself, she had to know. With every grunt and moan and gasp she heard, Emily's heart pounded harder in her chest, the pulse flaring into her ears, flooding enough adrenaline through her to the point where she felt nearly weightless and intangible.

Silent as a cat, Emily moved down the hall to Nolan's home office, to where the half-open door revealed a sight she never expected.

Nolan had his back toward her, as naked as the woman twined around him.

Emily watched them only for an instant before she snapped out of her shock and practically ran back to the safety of her car.

What did I just see?!

They hadn't seen her, she was sure of that, and she'd only seen them for a moment, but that moment was enough to change everything.

Emily started her car once more and, her mind stunned and her hands shaking, she drove to town.

It was only after she'd settled into a booth at the Stowaway that she could stop and think clearly.

She hated what she'd seen, for following the noise and looking into Nolan's office. There had been so many hints to warn her away but she'd pressed on anyway, because she'd refused to leave. No. She'd just had to know what was happening, because after everything she'd been through, she absolutely refused to live in ignorance.

Emily rubbed her hands over her face, then groaned to herself softly. She wished she could scream out her shock to the entire restaurant.

She had hated herself for pulling her disgusting trick on Nolan when she'd had Aiden in her bed - but this was completely different. What she'd seen wasn't some elaborated staged scene designed to upset her. Clearly, Nolan had thought that he and the woman were alone.

And the woman!

Who was she, how did Nolan know her and even more pressing - since when was Nolan even attracted to women in the first place?!

Emily speared her fingers through her hair, scratching at her scalp and pulling on her roots, confused, so confused and shocked and aroused and disturbed and angry over what she'd just seen!

On reflex, Emily smiled up at the sudden appearance of the server as he set a Sprite down before her. "Thank you."

"You look like you could go for something a lot stronger." He said.

"Oh, you don't know the half of it!" She laughed. And really, she had to laugh - her life was insane already, and now Nolan being interested in women was just the icing on the cake.

"My shift ends in twenty minutes. Want to hang out?"

"Sure." She didn't think twice about it as she extended her hand. "I'm Emily Thorne."

"Jack Porter."


Nolan reached over and took the cigarette from Padma, taking a drag of his own before handing it back to her. "I thought you were trying to quit." He said idly, exhaling smoke in a soft floating ring. He had been a smoker once, and given up the habit for Marco.

Padma nodded and finished her cig, then stubbed it out on the cork coaster that Nolan had swept off the desk. They were still in his office, the both of them positively wrecked from the round of sex they'd just shared. Her shirt was askew, exposing the top of her left breast and Nolan's fresh teethmarks in the flesh. She sat on the floor, her back leaning against the wall as Nolan laid before her with his head in her lap. Her nails were lightly scraping over his scalp, at once arousing and comforting to him.

"I know. I don't smoke often. It's been a horrible week, that's all." The last thing Padma wanted to think of was work, however. After what Nolan had done to her she could barely think straight.

"Mmm. You told me. The trades are so unpredictable. Come back to NolCorp, business is booming."

"I'd love to, but I think you would be too much of a distraction. How could I get any work done with you at the office, wearing those sexy suits, just begging for attention?" She tugged lightly on his hair.

"You really like me in a suit?"

"Of course. Girls go crazy for a sharp-dressed man."

"I'll keep that in mind for later." Nolan hummed and turned his head, kissing her thigh. "Let me take you to dinner."

"You, me, and your cousin?"

"My cou-? Oh, yeah, her." So drained from the rush of sex, the heat in their blood, Nolan had let himself forget everything - just for a moment. He blinked, and he was focused again. "Emily was out on an errand when you arrived. She was in such a hurry to get out of here that I didn't even get to tell her you were staying for the weekend. You and me, us, we'll be a shock to her." Nolan confided as he moved to sit up beside her. He pulled on his pants in some semblance of respectability, nevermind that he'd just had Padma on his desk, up against the wall and they'd finished together on the floor.

The man reached to her and straightened the neck of her top, frowning at the mark he'd left on her breast. "I'm sorry. I got carried away."

Padma kissed him. "You don't hear me complaining. We're great together, and it'd been way too long."

Nolan put an arm around her and pulled her over to lean on his shoulder, the both of them sated, content, and more than ready for a nice nap. That last bit would have to wait, however, as Emily was sure to arrive home soon.

"You know, we never did get around to the house tour." He joked.

"No time like the present. I left my bag, my purse and my shoes in the foyer, can I put them in your room?" She asked.

"Sure. Let's get you settled."

Padma had been to his Hamptons home before, the last time being shortly before Emily's arrival. Nolan told her a little of his cousin, the canned story of how she had a rough family life and because of that, Nolan had taken the girl under his wing, sending her to a boarding school and keeping her over the summers. Padma thought it spoke a great deal to the man's character that he would support such a distant relative; Nolan Ross was admirable, loyal, and protective.

The woman sometimes thought that she had fallen for him right after their first date, though she hadn't yet said the words. Nolan hadn't told her he loved her yet or insisted on any hard commitments, but that he was introducing her to his cousin and letting her stay the weekend spoke volumes.

For the future of their relationship, Padma would not disappoint him.


After getting to know Jack Porter over a lobster roll and a Coke, Emily said her goodbyes and decided to return to the house. She was positive that they hadn't seen her peek in on them, she'd only looked for a moment before rushing away. Her training sessions with Aiden hadn't prepared her for anything like this, but she resolved to stay calm, act natural and find out as much as she possibly could about the entire situation.

The woman's car - a blue Porsche - was still in the driveway when she got back. Emily parked behind it, immediately resentful that the Porsche was parked beside Nolan's Lexus, Emily's usual parking space. She chewed the inside of her cheek. This stranger, this interloping trespasser, she was trying to take Emily's place!

Calm down, she scolded herself. She couldn't jump to conclusions without proof and react based off emotion. She had to think things through and be logical. There was no reason to think that the woman - whoever the hell she was - was here to usurp her place.

That was jealousy and suspicion and resentment screaming through her when logic could only whisper.

Hell, perhaps the woman was just a prostitute with a very elite clientele. Anything was possible, Emily reasoned to herself, and she wondered if that was all there was to it.

In any case, one thing was clear: Nolan's tastes included women, which meant that Emily's secret hopes weren't as futile as she'd thought.

Rather than go inside, Emily went around to the back of the house. As much as she had wanted to see Nolan bare, the presence of that woman with him had rather ruined the experience and she didn't want to risk a repeat of what she'd seen before. She went out and stood near the tree, taking in the view below and hoping Nolan would see her from inside and come out to greet her. She heard the door open and turned, just barely catching herself as the woman neared her. Emily clenched her jaw but otherwise schooled her expression into mere curiosity as she took in the woman's appearance.

She was very pretty and clearly in shape, Indian heritage with the coloring to match - deep brown skin, coffee eyes, thick black hair. Her nails were done - neutral color on her fingers, bright pink on her toes. Her ears were pierced with small gold hoops. She was wearing a teal wrap dress that looked amazing with her complexion and the wedge heeled sandals that Emily had seen in the foyer earlier, they brought her two or so inches above Emily's height in her flats.

Emily stood her ground and let the woman come to her. "Hello, I'm Padma." She said, smiling and holding her hand out for a shake.

She didn't shake the woman's hand. She chose to be blunt in asking, "Where's Nolan?"

The woman faltered and dropped her hand, but didn't snap back. "I - he's inside. You're Emily, aren't you?"

"Yes."

And who the hell are you? Emily didn't say the words, but the sentiment was perfectly conveyed by her posture and expression.

Sensing a disturbance in the force, Nolan emerged hurriedly from the house, intent to diffuse the situation he found. He hadn't been thinking with the right head today, which had resulted in what looked like a tense standoff between the two women. He had firsthand knowledge of Padma's prowess, but Emily was a wildcard. For all he knew, Emily might shove Padma down the cliff if she so much as felt annoyed.

"Emily! Ems!" He called as he moved toward them.

"Nolan."

He stopped beside Padma and smiled, "This is my friend Padma Lahari."

Nolan was an eccentric, but he wasn't so shameless that he'd introduce a prostitute to his family.

Which meant...

Padma Lahari, you're more than just his friend.

Damn.

"We've met."

Nolan could sense Emily's tension, and he held her eyes with his own, signalling to her that he would explain things in depth once they were alone. "Good. I've invited her to stay for the weekend."

Padma could see that the girl was guarded - Nolan had said she had a rough home life, so naturally she would be suspicious of a stranger. Well, Padma might not understand their dynamic yet, but she knew that the weekend and any future time spent together would go smoother if Nolan could see her effort to befriend the girl. "Yes, I had a tough week at work and Nolan was kind enough to extend the invitation. A little getaway. It'll be great getting to know each other. Baking is a hobby of mine. Do you like making cupcakes?"

In the space of a second, Emily could see what was happening here.

Nolan and Padma were in a relationship, the man had invited her to stay for the weekend, and she was trying to impress him by being kind to Emily, maybe hoping to show him that she was marriage and mother material. This provided Emily with the choice to either act like a bratty bitch of a teenager and do all she could to drive the woman away, or play nice to get some insight into whether or not this Padma posed a threat to them.

She chose the latter.

Nolan stood, shocked at the change that came over Emily. The girl must have been taking a theater elective at that school, because in a heartbeat she'd gone from an expression and posture of suspicion to immediate sweetness and warmth.

"I love them. This will be so fun!" Emily gushed. "My favorite is a peanut butter cake with chocolate frosting, it tastes just like a Reese's cup. Oh, but I also like strawberry."

"So do I." Padma smiled. "Have you ever been to the Magnolia Bakery in the city?"

"Yes, Nolan took me there over winter break." Emily went so far as to link her arm through Padma's and together, the two women, suddenly BFFs, moved back into the house, presumably to the kitchen to get started on a batch of cupcake treats.

Nolan looked up to the sky and whistled, sure that he would be in for it tonight.


The women elected to postpone the cupcake fest to the next day.

Instead they all went to Seaside, a boutique restaurant on the pier, for dinner and drinks. Emily kept up her sudden eager kid sister act through the evening, though she threw Nolan secret looks every chance she got. For her part, Padma was happy to engage with the girl. Really she only knew what Nolan had told her, that due to her home life, Emily stayed with him over the summers and holidays from school. Out of respect, Padma wouldn't ask questions; clearly, things must've been very difficult for her if she preferred a distant cousin to her parents.

Still, Padma had thought that Emily might have been jealous or more possessive of Nolan, but truly the girl was a sweetie now that she'd opened up. Nolan had certainly taken notice of their bonding, which could only benefit their relationship. This would be a wonderful weekend.

Nolan was content to see that Padma and Emily were getting along, but he wasn't fooled. Emily was only playing at being sweet; much as Nolan loved her, he could admit that she wasn't your average giggly affectionate teen. He doubted she genuinely liked anyone other than he and David, and certainly she didn't trust anyone outside of her circle.

It was all an act, but it was an act that was keeping the peace so Nolan wasn't bothered. He would need to explain things to Emily, he knew, but it wasn't anything they could speak of in front of Padma. Emily locked eyes with him over the rim of her water glass, the look in them quite clear.

She would have her answers, one way or another.


Much later in the night, after Emily had gone off to bed and with Padma sleeping soundly in his, Nolan slipped out to the backyard for a bit of fresh air.

The man stretched his arms straight up, hands reaching for the stars. Being lanky of frame, he enjoyed a good stretch, especially after the day's exploits. He was sexually satiated, content with life - for the time being, in any case. Freeing David was still a priority and headway was already being made on that front. He was happy to be with Padma again, they'd been apart for weeks, far too long for a new couple.

"So, Padma seems nice."

Nolan spun around to find Emily standing mere feet away.

He hadn't even heard her approach.

He nodded, knowing he owed her an explanation but unsure of what to say. "Yeah, she is."

Nolan cared for Padma, but he didn't care to give away too many details about this new relationship. The summer, the holidays that Emily spent with him, they were about her and doing what he could to help David, not him or whoever he happened to be seeing.

"Have you told her who I am?" Emily prodded.

"No." Nolan said plainly. "That's our secret."

"And Padma has been yours." Emily kept her voice level, more a statement than an accusation.

Still.

"I wasn't trying to keep her a secret."

"You never mentioned her. Or any woman, ever."

What she said was true. "There hasn't been a woman worth mentioning until now."

"I thought you were gay."

Given that she'd only known him to be with another man, it was only natural to think so. Certainly her father had thought the same.

"So did I, at first." Nolan swallowed, feeling heat rise over his cheeks, ears and throat at discussing this. He hadn't brought up her sex life, but clearly Emily felt no hesitation in speaking of his. "Turns out not everything is so black and white."

"Have there been a lot of other women?"

"No. A few through the years. Nothing serious. Nothing serious with the men, either." Nolan said, reflecting back over his love life. Several brief flings, a few relationships with men and women that simply hadn't gone the distance. "Marco was my first...we were going to have a future together, but all that went away."

"Because of me."

"No!" Nolan reached to Emily and took her hands in his. "No, that wasn't your fault. I never blamed you for him leaving me."

"Do you see a future with Padma?"

"I honestly can't say. This is still so new."

"She likes you, Nolan."

"Good, because I like her too. We'll see where things go, I don't want to risk things by rushing." Something occurred to Nolan, then. Hints of what might change between them, of how the things he'd said and done could seem to Emily now. "Emily are you all right with staying here, knowing this about me?"

Emily knew what Nolan was asking, he was worried she'd see him as a potential threat now with the revelation of his attraction to women. Had their situation been different, then Emily might have felt that there could be some risk to herself, being as vulnerable as she was. But this was Nolan. If the man had ever had any wicked intention toward her, he would have struck when she was younger, weaker, still raw from her father's arrest and traumatized from her time in Millhouse. Physically, he could have forced anything he wanted; psychologically, he could have threatened to turn her away if she didn't do want he wanted.

That wasn't him.

No, Nolan was everything that every man should be. He would shield her from every shade of harm, she knew that down to her bones.

Nolan was no threat to her. He had only ever been a blessing, even while she had thought of her feelings for him as a futile curse.

Emily loved him, and now, there was the potential that he could love her beyond friendship. Already, hope had renewed its grip in her heart.

Today had been a good day.

"Of course. Nolan, this doesn't change anything between us, if anything I'm glad you're comfortable enough to tell me the truth." She tightened her hold on his hands. "Thank you for your trust."

"If anyone has earned my trust, it's you." Nolan lifted her right hand and kissed her knuckles. "Am I the only one you've ever met who likes both?"

"No. There's a girl at school. She had a boyfriend one semester and a girlfriend the next."

Nolan narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was Emily's way of confessing that she was like him. "And this girl, is she just your friend?"

"She's my partner...in crime." She teased. "We cheat at calculus together."

"Emily!"

"Just kidding. Kind of." She shrugged, returning to topic. "Nolan, I really do like Padma. Not just for you, but I like her. She's nice and she's smart. You made a good choice when you chose her."

Nolan shook his head, thinking back to that first day when Padma had approached him at NolCorp. "Funnily enough, she's the one who chose me."

Oh, I'm sure she did.

She nodded. "Hmm. I'd like to hear that story. Tomorrow, if you'd like to tell me. It's late. I'm going to get back to bed."

"Emily. Thank you." Nolan brought her into a tight hug, feeling genuine relief at having told Emily this side of himself. "Good night. Maybe we could all go to town tomorrow."

"I'd like that."

Armed with so much new information, Emily returned to her room.