Page 79 of Pride

Permanently.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

EMMA

Iwoke the next morning feeling a buzz of excitement at what the day would bring.

The flush of romance, that first flicker of the flame that could ignite and become so much more, was so intoxicating it was like a drug to me. My heart palpitated at the thought of seeing him. My mind obsessed and fantasised over every movement, look and touch, every promise of what was to come.

I fought the niggling fear of rejection, that it was all in my head, because how could it be?

This felt right.

Hefelt right.

Especially when he’d held me in his arms.

It felt like he was everything I was missing and all that I never knew I wanted. For once, I was excited for the future.

I climbed out of bed and turned off the lamp I’d kept on all night. Then, I headed to the bathroom, showered, and got dressed. When I was ready, I padded across the plush cream carpet towards the door, and as I opened it, I noticed something on the floor outside, and I gasped.

There, on the floor in front of me, was a red rose with a note tucked underneath it. I knelt and picked up the rose, then the note, and as I read it, tears welled in my eyes.

Mr Belmont,

I won’t steal your girl. But with your permission, I’d like to look after her and make her happy. I think that’s the least she deserves. You can trust me. I promise. Your girl is safe with me.

He’d listenedto my story about the Valentine’s cards, a tiny story in a sea of memories from my life, and he’d done this, for me. He’d taken the time to think about what my dad would want, how he’d question the man I was spending time with and want to know his intentions.

If my dad were here, I knew he’d welcome Alex with open arms, because this was beyond anything anyone had ever done for me before. It was selfless, thoughtful, the loveliest thing to do.

I stepped back inside my room and placed the rose and the note on the bed. Then I turned and left the room, closing the door carefully behind me. I’d find somewhere special to keep them later.

Feeling like I was walking on air, I wandered down the corridor towards the stairs. I felt myself glide down the staircase, and once I reached the bottom, I headed for the dining room, where I could already hear the gentle clatter of cutlery as Alex ate his breakfast.

“Good morning,” I said as I walked into the room, and Alex looked up at me, beaming.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, gesturing to the chair next to him.

“Yes, thank you. And thank you for the rose and note. It was really touching.”

“I hope you didn’t think it was corny.” He grimaced a little, picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.

“Not at all. It was lovely.”

“Well, I wanted to put a smile on your face, but I’m afraid it might not last when I show you todays newspaper.”

My stomach twisted at the realisation that my bubble of contentment was about to burst. It hadn’t lasted very long.

He put his coffee cup down and reached for a newspaper that was on the table beside him. Then he handed it to me, but I could already see the headline on the front page, and instantly, I felt sick.

Echo’s Editor-in-Chief Murdered in Cold Blood

“Is this his work?” I asked, holding the newspaper as I looked across at Alex. “Didhedo this?”

Alex shrugged and shook his head.

“I’ve no idea, but to be honest, after reading it, I don’t think it’s his M.O. And he’s not here anymore to commit an act like that. Emma, Gold had a hell of a lot of enemies. It could be anyone. It could be a random killing.”