Chapter 22
Meanwhile…..
"Sooooo?" Ruben spoke after Emmett left him with his father. And the awkward silence was killing him. Not to mention David always made him feel scared for some reason. 'Talk about being cornered…hah…damn you Em'
"I know my son wont share me with but maybe you can tell about this mysterious girl?!" David thought maybe Ruben would tell him about the girl.
David's curiosity got Ruben out of his thoughts. He didn't really know what to say, if he were to tell everything then Emmett would surely kill him and if not then David will kill him. 'AHHHHHH…WHAT DO I DO?' "Umm…sir….I mean David, I believe it would be best if Em were to tell you himself, I don't want to impose" When he received no response in return, Ruben got up to leave. "I guess I'll go to the guest room to rest. I am sure Emmett would want to go back soon." With that he left David own his own in the living room.
The same maid came over and picked up the glasses from the table but before she left she asked, "Is there anything else you need, sir?"
"Well my wife and I will be our room, so don't let anyone disturb us, thank you" with that the maid left as well.
David also got up to go to his and his wife's room as well.
Emmett's room
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!...
"Who is it?" asked Emmett. He was standing by his open window looking out the room and letting the soft wind in which helped him calm down. He had ordered a drink for himself. He was holding the half filled glass in his hand. And turned toward his door to notice Ruben stepping into his room. He had taken off his black vest off that was now on his bed as well as the black tie and had few buttons open of his white half sleeve shirt.
"You know getting intoxicated in the morning isn't going to help much?!" Ruben inquired.
Emmett just smirked. "Well do you have any better ideas, my dear friend" Emmett said with a little sarcasm in his voice and raised his now empty glass to his friend.
As he was about to reach for the bottle, Ruben came up and snatched the bottle out of his hand. "I know you are upset and stressed but this is not the way to work things out. We still don't know where your brother is? Aren't you worried?"
Emmett just laughed at him. "hahaha…..ha….of course I am. I was hoping maybe this time things will turn out to be for the best but….noooooo….he had to go and mess up again" Ruben could see the broken emotions on his friend's face. He put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"Em…look you tried to help him, it's not your fault. Now you need to focus on finding out where he has run to. Wasn't he supposed to come back here?" questioned Ruben.
Sigh… "Yea..he was. The last I talked to him, he didn't seem happy with the idea on coming back home. Besides I don't know where to look for him. I tried to contact him and Marian but no luck there. Their phones seemed to be switched off or something" Emmett shared.
"How are you going to handle Mary?" Ruben mentioned the issue at hand.
Emmett just walked back over to the window and stared outside and Ruben just sat down on the corner of his bed.
"I don't know to be honest. She trusted me with Robin and I failed her" Emmett spoke after few minutes on silence.
That statement just ticked off Ruben. "BULLSHIT!...your idiot of a brother is the one who doesn't understand when the chance is given to mend things. So how the hell is it your fault? Hmm…stop blaming yourself already. Let Robin deal with this now, stop supporting him in everything he does. You need to let him be responsible for once" Ruben tried to make his friend see reason.
"Then what do you think I should tell mother!? She already been upset many times before I don't want to see her hurt anymore…" Emmett let out not looking back to his friend, he could feel Ruben's eyes on his back.
"Look Em, you can't burden yourself every time Robin messes up, I understand he is your younger brother but that does not excuse his mistakes, he needs to start acting like a grown up and face the consequences. I still can't figure out how he managed to fraud with the Mills family? How did he got those property papers from them?" Ruben questioned out loud.
At the mention of the Mills family, Emmett turned around and saw his friend deep in thought. "Don't worry about them, I got the papers mailed back to the Mills family, so there won't be an issues related to those insane people" Emmett try to affirm his friend's worry.
Ruben looked up to look at his friend and said, "Of course. I know you wouldn't want a court case on your head now".
Sigh! "Either go to your room or go back when you want. I will be staying here for a night," Emmett decided.
"Ohh..okay well if you are staying the night. I should probably go back and check up on things at the office then" Ruben finished as he got up from the bed and started to walk to door.
"hmmp, more like to go see Belle" Emmett said under his breath as he watched his friend's retreating back.
"You know I heard that" Ruben said without turning around but stopped at the door.
"I have no idea what you are referring to, Ruben" Emmett tried to be oblivious. But still had the little smile on his face.
Ruben shrugged his shoulder and said "Whatever swan, I'll see you tomorrow morning then, enjoy your solitary" with that he walked out and closed the door behind him.
Emmett's sight went back to the table where the bottle was still sitting. He picked up his glass and poured himself another glass and continued to enjoy the breeze from the window.
Ruben
After about one and half hour drive from Nolan's place, Ruben reaches the Nolan's Construction Company building. The building was about 30 minutes away from Emmett's personal apartment/home. The building was 30 stories high. Ruben parked the car in front of the building and got out and locked it behind him as he walked to the entrance door. As he walked into to building, he walked up to the elevator and pressed the up button. After about 5 minutes of waiting the elevator opened and he moved to the side so the people inside could walk out. When it was empty he walked in and clicked the close door button and clicked on the 25th floor button. Before the doors completely shut off, Ruben saw a hand come in between the doors, he quickly clicked on the open door button and saw the doors open and looked up saw Belle standing in front of him.
'BELLE!..oh god. Damn you Emmett! You had to mention her before I left!' Ruben cursed in his mind and didn't notice Belle walking in and stand beside him.
"Hello, Ruben sir!" Belle greeted him. The doors dinged closed and he looked to his side and saw Belle smile at him.
'Oh god she's so pretty! My heart is beating so fast!' meanwhile Belle's face was filled with concern when she received no response from Ruben. "Umm…is something wrong?" Belle spoke up again and asked.
The concern in Belle's voice finally got Ruben out of his thoughts and he finally decided to speak. "No..nothings wrong. I..was just thinking. And you don't have to call me 'sir' or anything just call me 'Ruben'. I think we are past formalities, Belle." He smiled at her trying not to make a fool out of himself.
"Well...I am just a receptionist and you are the vice president. Our positions are very far apart. It wouldn't be professional to call you by your name alone. Sir" Belle clarified as she looked up at him and noticed that Ruben was still smiling at her.
Ruben couldn't get enough of her beauty; he couldn't take his eyes off her face and couldn't stop staring into those blue eyes. Then he noticed her flushed cheeks and saw Belle her face away from his sight and look at the closed door in front of them.
"I am sorry Belle, I didn't mean to stare. I guess you are right but I wouldn't mind if you just called me just by my name, it doesn't matter if it seems professional or not. I have given you permission to call me by my name but that is if you are comfortable" Ruben spoke as he turned to look at the closed doors of the elevator like Belle.
"Its..alright and I don't mind. I guess it will take time to get used to call you by your name. Si…I mean Ru-Ruben" Belle said without looking away. But Ruben looked back at her and saw the small smile on her face and smiled himself. He loved the way his name sounded when Belle said it. He wished she would call him by his name more often now.
The doors finally opened to the 25th floor and both parties stepped out. Belle walked to her desk and sat on her chair, she placed few papers on her desk that she was holding in one of her hands, Ruben hadn't noticed during the ride. Ruben's office was past few offices on the way. He didn't move from Belle's desk to go to his office but instead stood there and again started staring at Belle as she was working on some papers now.
Belle also noticed that Ruben hadn't moved from her desk to leave. "Was there something you need? Um..Ruben?" she still wasn't feeling comfortable saying his name but was trying her hardest not to stutter. Belle's voice took Ruben out of his daze.
"Huh…uh no..no no" sigh…. "well I did want to ask you something and please don't feel pressured to answer or anything" Ruben looked at Belle's and noticed her confusion.
"Wouldyougotothedinneriwithmetonight" Ruben mumbled out so fast.
Belle was still looking at him with the same confusing expression on her face. 'Idiot, you can't even…..you are a mumbling mess now, great! Now she will for sure reject your invitation' Ruben thought, losing all hope.
"I didn't understand what you just asked me, Sir?" Belle spoke up and quickly realized her slip "I-I-I meant Ruben" she whispered.
"Hah…Belle….hoofff….Will you give me the honor of taking you out for dinner tomorrow night?" Ruben let it out, not caring about the consequences.
Belle just stood there with her mouth open and eyes wide open. When Ruben didn't receive no response. He started fidgeting. "You know….you can reject me, I wont hold that against you…so…." Still there was no response.
Belle then realized that she was still in her shock phase and quickly closed her mouth and tried to answer. "umm…Forgive me Ruben, I can't" Belle forced the words out. She looked at him and saw the hurt on his face and in his brown orbs. She then sat down on her chair and continued doing her work, ignoring Ruben.
Ruben let the words sink in and tried to get over the hurt. He then noticed Belle getting busy with her work again and left without saying anything. But he was able to notice the hurt on her face as well, which confused him even more. 'Why did she say no then?' was Ruben's only thought as walked to his office.
