"The Neighbors: A New Emaya Story"
Maya's on her way to be with Emily. Can the FBI save them in time or will they have to save themselves?
Rated M for Mature Content.
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New York…
"Please fasten your seat belts as we are about to depart the gate," the pilot says over the intercom.
Maya takes a deep breath letting it out slowly, "I'm coming for you Emily. I'm coming for you…"
Chapter 39: Trapped in Paradise
Emily POV
Miriam has us gathered in the sitting room of their enormous estate awaiting the arrival of Josh's soon to be ex-wife and soon to be my wife, Maya. I sit on the sofa with my arms and legs crossed pissed at this whole situation especially the thought of putting Maya's pregnancy at risk. And why? All because the Graysons are used to getting their way…
It's a shame a simple attraction between two people that turned to love could turn so many people to hate. Yet this house or should I say this mansion looks anything but hateful. It's actually beyond spectacular with views of the ocean as far as the eye can see. What a fantastic getaway this would be if it was for all the right reasons instead of all the wrong ones...
I sit in jeans and a t-shirt ditching the formal breakfast wear I was forced to have on this morning. It just didn't feel like me and I think that was the point. I also grabbed a pair of running shoes in case we have the opportunity for a quick escape. But who am I kidding there are more armed personnel around here than the white house!
"Emily, can I offer you something to drink?" Mr. Grayson asks rather politely like we're on vacation and they're not holding me against my will.
"Umm, I think I had enough at breakfast but thank you," I say and then I'm like hold up! You're not on vacation! He kidnapped you!
Luckily we're interrupted by what looks like the head butler in black formal attire. He approaches Miriam whispering into her ear. She nods before dismissing him from the room.
"It appears that the jet has landed. Our guest will be arriving shortly," Miriam says so aristocratically. And I so just want to aristocrat her ass!
But those evil thoughts pass quickly because Maya's here! My beautiful pregnant soul mate! I can barely hide the smile that flows through me even though I'm dipping my head forward trying to conceal my delight!
Mr. Grayson approaches me from behind where I'm sitting. He leans to my ear, "I suggest you sit and wait. Don't get up when she walks in. Just wait."
His tone is serious. The last thing I want is for any harm to come to Maya so I heed his advice and stay where I am until, until I'm not really sure. I don't know what Miriam has going on in that head of hers and I don't want to give her reason to keep Maya from me.
I hear voices, "Right this way Mrs. Grayson."
She walks into the room looking so tired. Aww, my poor baby, I try to leap from the couch when I see her, ignoring Mr. Grayson's instructions, but a hand grips my shoulder reminding me to stay put. All I want is to hold her in my arms and all I can do is what Joseph asked me to do so Maya can stay safe.
When she spots me she quickly runs over to me without any fanfare. No one tries to hold her back. I open my arms and she collapses into them, both of us crying and kissing and crying kissing.
"That's enough," Mr. Grayson strongly suggests practically pulling us apart with his words.
"We're so glad you could join us Maya," Miriam says as though we're gathered for a family soiree.
"Did I have a choice?" Maya fires back. Good girl!
"No. But nonetheless you're here and your healthy," she casually dismisses Maya's remark.
"So what now? Are you going to let Maya and I go?" I ask with little confidence the answer will be yes.
"Don't be ridiculous dear. You and Maya will remain here for the duration of her pregnancy," my eyes bug out of my head. What the fuck! "Then the two of you can do as you like. You can stay here. You can go back to New York. You can start over in California. We really don't care," she says rather dismissively.
"And my baby?" Maya waits for the catch.
"Your baby? You mean Josh's baby. She will return home with us," Miriam says matter of fact.
"That's not going to happen," Maya challenges.
"But it is. If you value the life of your girlfriend," she rolls her eyes as though she's bored with this conversation already.
"Are you threatening us?" Maya tries standing but I hold her back.
"Oh no dear, I never make threats, I only make promises." And I believe her.
"You can't do that!" Maya cries.
"But I can. And we will. Rest assured you'll have free rein of the house and its staff, however, leaving this estate is completely out of the question until that baby is born," she treats us like honored guests in one breath and captives in the next breath.
Maya tries to get up again but I hold her back, "It's okay, we'll figure something out."
"It's all quite simple really. You disgraced the Grayson family name. Your price for your indiscretion is your daughter." Blunt and to the point. So Miriam. So awful. So needs to be stopped!
Maya falls back into my arms crying, holding her belly, unable to imagine her baby's life as a Grayson, and her life without her.
"Well, I think we covered everything. Enjoy your stay. Joseph dear it's time for our walk," Miriam goes right back into welcoming matriarch mode.
"Yes Miriam," he says like a trained pup.
"Joshua, I suggest you come with us. I wouldn't want to find out you've gotten soft in a matter of minutes."
"No mother. I'm stronger than ever," he attempts to reassure her.
"Good. Then you won't be disappointing me, now will you," she gives him a snarky smile.
"No mother," Josh says glaring at us before leaving the room with his parents. Or on second thought was he asking for our help. I think I'm seeing what I hope to see in his eyes.
"That's messed up," I say to Maya, having been left alone but not too alone, as the armed personnel are standing at the door.
"That's not Josh. I don't ever remember him being like that," Maya says sadly.
"It's his mother. If only we could get him away from her long enough to convince him of that," I suggest.
"That's not a bad idea. He could be our way out with my baby," her eyes are as sad as her voice.
"I have an idea," I say.
"What's that?" she perks up.
"Let's walk all around this mansion and the grounds. We can rule out escape routes and rule in possibilities. Whaddya think?" I smile for her. I smile in an attempt to rid her of her sadness.
"That's a good idea. I just want to be with you Emily. And I want to start our lives fresh with this little girl inside of me," she leans in to kiss me sweetly.
"And we will. We have to believe that. It's all we have," I kiss her back.
"You mean, hope?" she questions.
"Yeah, hope."
We kiss softly looking into each other's eyes. I secure my arms around her tilting my head for a more intimate kiss. And when I open my eyes, we're still there trapped by this evil called privilege. I half expected to open my eyes and we'd be in California, just me and Maya beginning our lives without the Graysons. It was wishful thinking on my part, I know, but it's all we've got right now.
"Come on, let's take a look around," I get up extending my hand to help her.
"Yeah, let's see if this estate is as secure as they're saying it is," she takes my hand.
Nothing catches our eye on the first floor so we start walking the grounds looking for anything that might aid in our escape. We don't see anything but we do hear the sounds of trucks entering and exiting the property. We follow the sounds and notice deliveries being made around back. We also discover the scent of something delicious. We let our noses lead the way. Maya hooks her arm through mine as we casually walk the premises.
"It's the kitchen. They have to get groceries somehow. Why didn't I think of that?"
"True. I wasn't even considering the need for supplies either."
Then it hits me, "That's it!"
"What! What's it?" she says sounding startled by my excitement.
"We need to keep track of the deliveries. What day of the week, what time, what's being delivered, how long they're here and maybe just maybe one of those delivery trucks can get us away from here with no one being the wiser!"
"Emily, I love you!" She wraps her arms around my waist snuggling into me. "It's the only way."
We hike back to the house wiping the smiles from our faces as we don't want anyone to suspect anything. We need to look sad not happy.
"Hey Em?"
"Yeah, I'm excited about all this but I'm really tired. I need to lie down."
And as we're making our way passed the kitchen we hear, "Okay, sign here. And we'll see you in a few months."
Maya and I look at each other mouthing, "Months!"
We scurry down the hall and up the grand staircase to the suite assigned to me and close the door.
"Months! We're stuck here for months!"
Maya falls back onto the bed scooting her body up towards the pillows. She's so tired and this news couldn't have come at a worse time. In a few months, she'll be more than six months pregnant. It won't be easy trying to get a 'that' pregnant woman out of here.
"Maya, are you okay?" I ask sitting next to her touching her forehead with the back of my hand to make sure she's not feeling feverish.
"Just tired baby. Will you lie with me?"
"Yeah, I think I can do that."
I settle myself next to her holding her in my arms trying to give her as much calm as I can muster for the both of us. We can do this. We have to do this…
Back in New York…
Narrator POV
"Mr. St. Germain, the FBI has everything under control. The idea is to infiltrate their compound at night. That way it will be easier for our team to extract them."
"So you have a plan."
"First things first Mr. St. Germain, our team needs to get on the island without being noticed and create a plan based on the security detail they have. The last thing we want are any casualties."
"There better not be any casualties!" Frank raises his voice.
"I didn't mean to suggest that there would be. We need to be careful, that's all. If we storm onto that island with weapons in hand your daughter and her friend might be taken to another location. It's better if we strike while the irons hot but we can't afford to give away our position either," Agent Markham explains.
"It's just that she's my daughter and she's carrying my grandchild."
"I know Mr. St. Germain, I know. We'll get them, all of them; just let us do that for you."
The FBI sets its plan in motion. They have the coordinates of the island and they'll be arriving on shore in a matter of days…
Mr. St. Germain arrives back at the hotel his wife and he are staying.
"Frank, Frank, what's going on? Did they tell you anything? Is Maya okay?" his wife, Eva, rushes to his side as he lets himself into the room.
"The FBI seems confident that they'll be able to bring them home by week's end," he recounts.
"Why can't they just go in the house and get them?"
"It's not United States Territory. They have to be careful that they don't give up their tactical strategies or tip anyone off by involving their government."
"But they were kidnapped."
"Emily was. Maya wasn't. Maya went of her own free will. We're talking about the Graysons here. Who knows who they have in their back pockets!"
"Why do these wealthy elitists think they can just throw money at people to get what they want?"
"Well, dear, because they can."
"I don't like this Frank I don't like this one bit."
He pulls his wife into his arms holding her close, "I don't either hon, I don't either."
Back on the Island…
Narrator POV
"Mother, why did you let Maya go to Emily? She's not her wife, she's mine," Josh asks sounding a bit embarrassed.
"Your needs at this time are not the needs that matter. That baby needs a healthy mother physically as well as emotionally. If we keep Maya away from Emily then your baby's health is put at risk," Miriam practically scolds.
"But…"
"Maya is with whom she needs to be with to keep her calm and thinking about the baby's well-being."
"I could do that," Josh insists.
Miriam lets out a proper cackle, "Joshua, you can't be serious. You would make Maya miserable."
"Miriam, he still loves her, I believe," Joseph tries to empathize.
"Love? I doubt neither Joshua nor Maya know what love is," she dismisses.
"Maybe she's right father," Josh concedes.
"There will be no more talk of this. Maya will remain with Emily in their suite until the baby is due," Miriam solidifies her plan.
Emily POV
I wake from our nap realizing we slept for hours as dinner is fast approaching. I slip out of Maya's arms walking into the sitting area of our suite. And as I'm about to look out the window to check the timing of the armed guard's shift change, I notice that dinner attire has been selected for us and is lying across the back of the couch. This woman is unbelievable! She kidnapped us and now she's dressing us up like her favorite dolls!
It's whatever now. We have to keep up this charade for as long as it takes to free ourselves from this place and the Graysons, or maybe just one Grayson, Miriam…
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To Be Continued…
Will the FBI thwart the Graysons plans or will Emily and Maya be stuck on that island forever…
Is Josh a victim of his mother's desire to control everyone and everything around her?
We'll soon find out!