A new face after the race
Chapter 19
The days flew by fast. Emily was kept busy with work and school while Lucky found himself in much of a mess with the company computers. She didn't know the specifics, not that she would understand if he went too much in detail, but she knew it kept him on his feet. But that was a good thing considering she was too busy for him at the moment.
Jason also was running on low energy and was especially patience thinned with the current mess. His visit to the doctors gave him nothing, but Brenda was being looked for, not as much as he liked though. The police officers he spoke with outwardly seemed concerned, but after not much found, he found them saying they had better things to do.
Melissa knew nothing and continued happily with her life. She visited Lulu much and she had a birthday party a couple days ago which she came home with cake, some party favors and a bright smile that even Jason returned even though he wasn't feeling happy at the moment.
Yeah, life seemed like it couldn't go wrong, but that never lasts. Emily knew that too well, but she kept quiet. If someone didn't know that by now, they would never. Melissa was still too young to understand the concept, but a good childhood was needed. Emily wanted her to have the childhood she didn't. A happy, social time that people would want to play over and over again.
It made her sad sometimes to think she would never have good memories to look back to, but she didn't let it bother her too much. She concentrated on creating good memories now, because they said the best years were the college ones. She found out as much so far, so that said something.
It wasn't until Friday night she sensed something wasn't right. She closed up after a busy evening and decided to go by Jax's business location, perhaps Lucky would be there and they could talk. She missed him more than she wanted to admit.
She slung her bag on her shoulder and walked to where Lucky might be for all she knew. She could always use the excuse she was looking for her boyfriend, which was the truth.
She made her way to the building and found the doors open. It was strange, but she assumed one of the janitors just forgot to lock the doors. It was common enough. She heard some sounds coming from a hall that led to the left, so she went to check it out.
She found a janitor messing with the large, square yellow bucket that contained the dirty water they used for moping the floors. The man looked up from his job when he heard the noise of heels coming from down the main hall.
Mark was immediately suspicious at first but saw who it was. It was Emily who was no doubt looking for Lucky, the boyfriend. It tasted bitter when it came to his mouth silently. Emily was much too good of a woman to be wasting her time around Lucky Spencer. He didn't deserve her. He constantly took her for granted and from what he saw, spent much of his current time working and staying away from her. No, Emily needed a much supportive boyfriend, one who would dote and spoil her and spend as much time with her as possible. Lucky or Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr. he found out, needed to step away and let a real man take care of her the way she needed to be treated. He didn't voice these thoughts though he had more control than that. Lucky Spencer was a loved citizen, so he couldn't speak out, if he did he would be shunned and he was new as it was.
"Hey Emily." He greeted, glad for a reason to pause in his work. He needed the money, but he hated he had to clean up for those slobs Jax called employees, especially Spencer. He had snuck in and found his office a mess, but stopped to look at a picture of him and Emily in the park. She was smiling and was dressed in a spring like white dress with red roses. It helped her glow become more radiant. Her figure was emphasized and no one could deny she wasn't attractive. He had definitely seen bigger chests and waists, but they were overrated anyway. Emily's torso and waist was just right, making her look like a prom queen, perhaps even a supermodel.
"Hey Mark, I haven't seen you around. I know why now." Emily said pleasantly, not looking down at him for the job he had. Most did and gave him glares. He was happy to see Emily not do that, but he expected that, Emily was much too polite to point out he was working minimum wage.
"Yeah, the works not glorious, but it keeps you alive and well." He said, a bit ashamed for making the job seem bigger than it was.
"Yeah, I have to agree. Waitressing isn't all that more glorious but I'm doing alright." Emily said, comparing his job to hers, which she enjoyed if the work wasn't all that demanding; which was often even though they lived in a small town.
"You do a good job though, I can't even figure out how to use this contraption!" He complained, gesturing to the water holder.
"It's not that difficult if you ask for help, surely the others can help you." She suggested, blushing at his comment. It was good to hear she was doing a good job, sometimes she felt like the worst waitress possible.
"I tried, but they're too bitter and into their own lives to do so. I asked and they walked away." He said, thinking of his nasty co workers.
"Well, perhaps I can help. I don't know how to exactly work this thing, but maybe I can try to if you tell me what you know of it." Emily offered, bending down to study the yellow object.
"I'd like any help I can get." He said and stole a glance at some areas that became clearer in her current stance before looking away before Emily noticed even though she was busy studying the contraption.
"What if you pull this latch?" She suggested and Mark tried it and to his amazement, it worked. Emily got up and smiled. "See it wasn't that difficult."
"Yeah, thanks." Mark said even more embarrassed considering a female knew how to work it and he didn't. Now where was the male dominance?
"You shouldn't be ashamed; some things come easily to females more than males." She explained politely, sensing his embarrassment.
"I'll keep that in mind." He said, gaining his composure. A silence followed, but he found it got to him. "Yeah, so, what are you doing here?" He asked, knowing she was looking for Lucky.
"I'm looking for Lucky, but I was curious about the sounds coming from here, so I came to investigate." Emily replied, finding his company suddenly uncomfortable.
"Not that I don't mind you being here, but being alone at night can be dangerous especially in a dark building like this." Mark warned, a warm growl threatening to come from his mouth, but he didn't want to scare Emily, at least yet.
"I appreciate your concern Mark, but I can handle myself, besides I came here hoping for a ride from Lucky, that is if he is here." She added, hoping he was. He would protect her if anything happened when around at least.
"You'll be wasting your time asking me. I've been doing my job." Mark said innocently, knowing he had to get back to it if he wanted to get home and get some sleep.
"I expected as much, but I should leave you to your job, I have taken enough of your time." Emily said, excusing herself before she got anymore bad feelings from his presence.
"Don't think nothing of it, you helped but can I ask you something first?" He said gaining the courage to speak his mind. He just might have a chance with her if her response was good enough.
Emily wanted to say no and retreat, but manners came into motion despite what she was sensing. "Sure, but its getting late as you said so make it fast so I can get home before it gets too dark." She requested.
"So I assume Lucky is your boyfriend." He commented, knowing what she would say.
"Yeah, he is of a couple years too. I'm sorry if I led you on or anything, but you never asked if I had one or not." Emily apologized.
Mark waved the apology away. "You didn't, don't worry. And I expected you too anyway."
"You did, how's that?" Emily asked, not seeing how he can tell she was taken. She had no promise ring or anything to show of it and she and Lucky weren't together that much in public.
"It's kind of hard to see a pretty face like yours without a boyfriend." Mark explained, causing an instant blush from another comment. She hoped he didn't notice. She hated to make it look like she was that embarrassed. She just didn't like comments unless they came from a fatherly, sisterly, brotherly, or motherly person, and Lucky, who had every right to do so. But comments from an acquaintance that she barely knew and felt suddenly uncomfortable around, was different. He could be flirting for all she knew, but she wasn't interested and Mark knew that, or at least she thought so.
"That judgment can be wrong at times. During high school I was single until senior year, when I and Lucky started dating." She said, not revealing the why. She always got uncomfortable around strong dominant men, if you discount Lucky who doesn't look it, but was. She knew he wouldn't do anything to her unnecessarily, but that knowledge was the only reason she was comfy and safe around him. She thought he would die for her at times.
"Well, it's a shame I wasn't around then." He joked, knowing he wouldn't stand a chance even then. Guys must have been pinning for her, but knew Lucky wouldn't like other guys acting interested. That must have scared them off, and sent the guys looking for a second choice.
A silence fell, but he quickly filled it again. "So yeah back to my question. I was wondering how you felt about Lucky cause what I have seen is anything but a boyfriend. He works often and doesn't exactly spend much time from the looks of it." He observed.
Emily was taken back from his observation. It seemed a little personal, but she would answer politely and then say she was off to find Lucky. Just cause she was a little scared and freaked out doesn't mean she could be rude. "It looks that way, I know, but it really isn't that way. We don't get out often together, were home bodies and usually at night he comes to my place and we hang out, or occasionally I go to his home. But I'm happy with the arrangement and with my work and school schedule, we don't get to see each other as much as we like. I love him though and we had some hard times because of it, but were on the track to being better." She said full heartedly, breaking Mark's hopes. He didn't know a lot about relationships, but he knew love was not something to be fought over. It was an internal thing and the way Emily talked, any chance of them breaking up was low even if as Emily said, they had hard times.
"I see, well I guess there's more than meets the eye between the relationship you share." He said as if defeated, though he was everything but. Lucky hadn't left yet, he knew that much. He had been watching him for the last few days and he knew Lucky didn't notice. He probably was thinking of seeing Emily no less. She had said he usually came to the penthouse at night. He was busy at the moment though and that bought a few stolen moments. Maybe he could steal a kiss or two. Lucky wouldn't be happy to hear about it, but one kiss from the beauty would be enough to hold him, at least for the moment.
"Yes, you have that right, now if you excuse me..." Emily proposed, a bit rudely, but his grin was scaring her. She prepared to leave his presence, would have if he didn't grab her wrist to pull her near. He grabbed her other wrist to keep her in his grip securely even though she could kick him with her feet, but she was too fearful to even think of that.
"Mark, what are you doing?" Emily asked scared and tried backed away from the danger he possessed but found herself too tight in his grasp, unable to get away.
"Stealing a bit of your time if you don't mind." He said evilly, pulling even closer to him. She fought his grip, but found him too strong; much like Lucky. Strong though not visibility that.
"I do mind, now let me go!" She ordered, trying to figure out what to do. She could kick and scream as she liked, but no one would hear and the way Mark was, stuck in adrenaline shock, he wouldn't feel the pain even if she kicked him in a rather inappropriate area.
Mark had her up close, face to face forcefully, leaning to give her a bruising kiss when someone interrupted his plan.
"What do you think your doing?" The person asked interrupting Mark's wanted intimate moment and Mark turned to see Lucky, Emily's boyfriend. Mark said a silent curse, questioning why he wouldn't stay where he was until he was done with Emily.
Mark's grip lessened subconsciously with the arrival of Lucky and Emily slipped away when she had the chance. She went to Lucky quickly, feeling the need of his protective streak for once. She stepped behind Lucky, finding safety in that area. Lucky barely noticed, he was staring angrily at his adversary he found forcefully forcing himself on his unwilling girlfriend.
"About time you showed up, that girl of yours was flirting with me." Mark said innocently, acting as he did nothing wrong. Those obvious bruise marks on Emily's wrists would say otherwise though. Besides Lucky saw all he needed to know Mark was the one flirting, violently too.
"Don't blame this on Emily, she did nothing wrong other than try to be a friend following your new arrival." He said angrily, grabbing Emily's hand to tell her he wasn't going to let him near her, especially after this episode.
"And she was she just extended the lines of friendship." Mark said, continuing to call blame on Emily.
"Or maybe it was you." Lucky replied, still not believing Mark, a small look of fear passed across Mark's face as he noticed the anger seething from Lucky.
"I always say the most innocent were the guilty party." Mark responded, flashing a humorous grin.
That was the last straw for Lucky though; he stalked up to Mark, grabbed him by the collar and hurled him so that he and Mark were face to face. He wanted to send a warning out of Emily's hearing. "And the guilty one is right here. Besides the tight hold and no doubt bruises will show will tell otherwise. Even if they weren't any would I believe a little vermin like you over my girlfriend who would never betray me?" Lucky challenged Mark. Mark stayed silently, trying to get loose from Lucky's steel grip. Mark had underestimated him, something he would never do again he promised.
Lucky turned his voice into a whisper. "Thought so, now let's make something clear. You stay away from Emily or else I'm not going to be happy and when I'm not happy bodies pile up." Mark paled at his threat, to hear or else is bad enough, but to hear the phrase 'bodies pile up', that just would scare even the most intimidating person.
"Got this?" Lucky asked and Mark nodded as he couldn't speak. Lucky lessened his hold and let him down, but didn't let go until he sent Mark sailing to the wall with a violent and bruising punch to the face.
Lucky seethed with anger still, but took a deep breath and calmed down for Emily's sake. Mark was out cold from the look of things. He turned to Emily who was staring at Mark's unconscious form.
"He's alive, I promise, just had to assure a message was understood." Lucky told her, leaving out the details of his threat. He expected Emily to question him, but knew better surprisingly.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Lucky insisted and held her close as he led her to the parking lot, not looking back.
Mark watched them leave blurrily and touched his eye painfully. No doubt a bruise would form and he would have a black eye in the morning. I'll get you for this Spencer, he thought threateningly, before the blow he received finally got to him and he fell unconscious.
Lucky stopped in front of his truck and pulled Emily into a hug. "You okay?" He asked, putting his hand on the back of Emily's head.
Emily nodded into his chest and found herself calming down in his presence. She waited to speak though, until she knew she wouldn't stutter.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you about him before. I just couldn't see the evil in him earlier." She said still keeping him close.
"It's okay Em; sometimes you need to see things for yourself." Lucky soothed her, continuing to hold her close, assuring himself that she was okay and safe in his arms.
They stayed like that for a few more seconds until Lucky offered to take her home and Emily readily took the offer. They wordlessly climbed in his truck and drove away.
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