Chapter 22

"Grandma, I'm back!" Emilyn shouted as soon as she closes the door behind her.

"You don't have to shout, I'm right here." Grandma Lou said, sitting on the couch.

"Oops, sorry," Emilyn said.

"Is fine, how was your trip?" Grandma Lou asked.

"Terrible, my back is sore from sleeping in the car," Emiyln told her. "But the other half is not as bad." She shrugs her jacket off her shoulder. "Why aren't you worried about me staying the whole night with a guy?" Emilyn asked

"Because, I know that Christopher is a good guy, he won't do anything to hurt you."  Grandma Lou said. "Besides, he texts me about your situation and promises he'll take care of you."

"You easily trust this guy, that you met like 3 or 4 times." Emilyn places her hands on her hips.

"You don't?" Grandma Lou asked Emiyln. "He gave me a very positive impression and are you hurt?" Emilyn shook her head. "Then he didn't treat you badly or taken an advantage of you when both of you are in the car alone."

Emilyn huff, "Yeah, I guess you are right. I'm going to shower and head out right after."

"Okay, I'm heading out now to the orphanage." Grandma Lou stood from the couch.

"Have you taken your medicine?" Emilyn asked, before going into her room.

"Yes, I did." Grandma Lou shakes her head. "You know you don't have to remind me all the time."

Emilyn sigh, "I know grandma."

"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine." Grandma Lou hugs her. "Don't worry too much."

Emilyn nods her head and break away from the hug, "I'm heading out now, see you later." Grandma Lou said, taking her bag and left.

***

"Hi, I saw the wanted a sign on the window. Are you still hiring?" Emilyn asked the guy at the front of the counter.

"Yes, we are hiring. What can you do?" He asked

"I don't really have any profession in making coffee or serving tables, but I can always learn. I'm a fast learner." Emilyn told him or more like begging.

"Hmm..." He looks at Emilyn and rubbed his chin. "Let me get the manager." He picks up the phone. "She's at the back, come." He opens the opening at the side for her to enter.

"Ms Blue, we have a new recruit." He pushes Emilyn into the room.

"Come in." She said and Emilyn closes the door. "So you want a job." She raises one of her eyebrows. "Resume?" Emilyn quickly took it out and gave it to her. "You are a journalist." She looks up at Emilyn, "Why do you want this job?"

"I need some extra money, some family issue," Emilyn explain.

"I see." She nods. "Have you waited tables before?"

"No," Emilyn shook her head. "But I can learn, I learn fast."

"Okay." She said. "You're hired."

"Can I request something?" Ms Blue nods, "I'm only able to work on the weekends."

"Okay, can you work late?" She asked, "We open till 1 am on the weekend."

"Yes," Emilyn answered without hesitation.

"Welcome to the team." She put out her hand for Emilyn to shake.

"Thank you, I promise I'll do my best." Emilyn shakes Ms Blue's hand.

"You can start this weekend, the salary is 14 dollars an hour." Emilyn nods and thank her for the last time before exiting her office.

"So, I assume you got the job?" The guy from before asked. Emilyn nod happily and smile. "Welcome to the team." He said with a smile. "When do you start?"

"This weekend, I'm working on Saturday and Sunday till 1 am."

"Okay, see you this weekend." He bids Emilyn goodbye as she exits the cafe.

***

"Emilyn, show us the pictures," Taylor said. Emilyn plucks the wire into her computer so that they can see it on the screen in front.

"I've picked some of the pictures that could be used for the article," Emilyn told them. "Here are the pictures from the last interview. We when to his race track the last interview."

"Girl, you got lucky to be there. And so close." Andrew said in awe.

"Andrew shut it." Taylor pulls an invisible zip across her mouth. Andrew slump back on his chair.

Emilyn scrolls through the pictures slowly for them to see. "Stop," Taylor said. Emilyn fingers stop at the picture where his friends stand in front of the car. "Is that Pierce Murphy the second hottest bachelor and Jax collin?"

"Yes?" Emilyn said unsure.

"Good job, put that in the magazine." She told me. "As for the other pictures, there all look good. Just pick any of them."

"Okay."

"That's all, any questions?" She asks everyone. Everyone in the room stays quiet. "Okay, get back to work."

"Hey, Emilyn."

"Savannah, you need anything?" Emilyn asked

"No, I was just going to ask if you need any help with choosing  the pictures?" She said. "If you don't mind, can I help?"

"Of course I don't mind. More eyes to see which one is better." Emilyn gave her a smile.

After a long day at work, she got ready to head out. Ana needs Emilyn to be her 'support' when she tells her parents that she and Fin are engaged. Putting on a coat of mascara and a tint of blush, she normally doesn't wear mascara because I'm meeting with her parents she got to be at least presentable.

Emilyn remembered the first time she visited Ana's house and she wore no makeup, they thought she was one of the help in the house.

Emilyn got her things ready in a bag and head out of her room. "You are going out?" Grandma Lou asked when Emilyn close her room door.

"Yeah, remember I told you that I'm having dinner with Ana's parents."

"Oh right. Good luck on persuading her parents not to kill Finley." Grandma Lou said.

"I will try." Emilyn laugh. "Grandma, I got to go. Ana said she's downstairs." Emilyn put her across her chest.

"Okay, if you decide to spend over at Ana's just text me." Grandma Lou said.

"I will," Emilyn reply and head out the door. "Hey," She said as she enters the back seat of Finley's car. "Are you guys ready?"

"Yeah." Emilyn can hear the uneasiness in Ana's voice.

"Why are you nervous?" Finley asks her. "I am the one who should be nervous. What if they try to threaten me again?"

"Fin, stop worrying they won't. I'll be there to protect you." Ana told him.

"You know if you didn't propose, this won't happen." Fin glare at Emilyn. "What! I'm not wrong."

"Emilyn you are not helping." Ana scolds her.

Emilyn pout, "Whatever, are we doing this or not?"

"Yes," Ana said with confidence and Finley drove towards Ana's house/estate.

A message notification blinks on her phone screen, Emilyn opens it and it is Christopher. "Hey, I've picked out a restaurant. Is called Le twist."

"That sounds fancy." Emilyn text.

"Yeah, it is."

"So, I have to dress formally?"

"Something like that, something nice will be fine."

"Okay. Btw, is it this Saturday? or is it next?"

"Did you forget? It's only been a day." Christopher put a sad emoji next to his text.

"Just joking, of course, I remember."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at 7 pm. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, is fine."

"Great. Don't forget."

"I won't." Emilyn ended with a smiley face emoji.  She didn't notice that her face grew a smile on it.

"What's that? A smile? Who are you texting?" Ana looks at the rear mirror.

"Nothing." Emilyn tucks her phone back into her bag.

"If there's nothing, why did you smile so happily? Who is the guy?"

"Guy, what guy?" Emilyn said. "Why do you have to assume that the smile on my face is because of a guy?" I shake my head, "It could be something funny I saw online."

"Oh, something funny you saw online. What is it? Care to share?"

Emilyn let out a breath, "Ana, stop butting into my business." She glares.

"Okay." Ana shrug. "I'll find out who is it." She smirks. "You know I think is someone whose name starts with a C." Emilyn eyes grew wide, but she tries to keep her face neutral, so Ana won't figure out. "Does his name ends with a tor?"

"No, Ana. Is not who you think." Emilyn stops her from spouting nonsense, eventually is not. But she doesn't need to know.

"We are here." Fin announces as he stops in front of the huge gate. He rolled down the window and the guard asks for his ID.

"Why are you here for?" The guard asks.

"Hey." Ana leans over the console. "Let us in," Ana said in a stern voice.

"Sorry, Ms Conner." He quickly gave back Finley's ID and open the gate for us to enter.

"I can never get used to this." Emilyn shakes her head.

"Don't worry, I'll tell my parents to put your name and face in the security. So they won't ask unnecessary questions." Ana told Finley and place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Finley gave Ana a smile before turning back to face the front.

Finley parks his car at the side of the house. Ana asked Emilyn to get out of the car because she has something to tell him. Emilyn got out of the car and look away from the car.

Shifting her feet from left to right outside of the huge house, waiting for them to do whatever they have to do in the car. But, she has the urge to see what's happening. "One little peek won't kill me," Emilyn said. "Just in case, they got into a fight or something," she said softly out loud. She turns around to found them making out in the car. Quickly, she turns back around.

"Why do I have to turn around at the moment?" Emilyn scolds herself. After scolding herself, they came out of the car. "Hey, guys are you ready?"

"Yeah." They both nod and intertwine their fingers together. Three of them heads towards the front door, Ana knock on the door and one of the servants open the door.

"Ms Ana and guest welcome." He greeted them. This is the other thing that Emilyn can't get used to, even though she has come over multiple times.

"Mum, Dad, I'm home," Ana announces.

"Your mum is in the living room Ms Ana," One of the servants said. Three of them once again made their way into the living room.

"Mum, Dad," Ana said. Both of them look up, her mother with beautiful long blonde hair and green eyes looks up and smiles. Her mother is the most elegant woman Emilyn has ever seen.

"Hi, my baby." She gave Ana a hug. "Welcome home." She broke the hug and her Dad came over and hug her. Her dad looks really intimidating, but secretly he is very soft on the inside. Her dad is also a blonde and has blue eyes which Ana exactly resembles him.

"Hi, Ana." He broke the hug. "What brings you home?"

"Uhm...I-I" Ana stutters. "I brought Emilyn with me," She said and pulls Emilyn next to her.

"Emilyn, long time no see." Ana's mum and dad gave Emilyn a hug too.

"Look at you Emilyn, is been so long since you visited and you grew prettier." Ana's mum smiles down at her. "So, any boyfriend yet?"

"No, no. None." Emilyn quickly said.

"Not yet, but soon." Ana nudges Emilyn.

"Oh," Her mom's eyes light up. "Who is the special guy?"

"No one." Emilyn shakes her head. "Ana is just messing around." She glares at Ana and asks her to zip it.

"Whoever it is, I'm sure he will be a great one." Her mum smile. "So, have you eaten yet?" Ana and Emilyn both shake their heads. "Come on, dinner is almost ready." Ana's mum pulls both Emilyn and Ana to the dining room.

"Mum wait," Ana pull back. "Finley is here with us too." She pulls Finley next to her.

"Oh, sorry Finley. I didn't notice you." Her mum said which made Ana scowl.

"Why are you here?" Her dad stood in front of Finley with arms crossed and brows furrowed.

"Dad, stop scaring him." Ana pulls her dad away from Finley. "Finley and I have something to share with both of you." She took her place next to Fin and intertwined her hands with his. "We are engaged." She rips the band-aid off. "And there's nothing you can do about it." She said with a stern voice but Emilyn can see Ana fingers tapping at the side of her leg

"Engage? I see." Her dad is unmoved. His face portrays an unidentified expression. Emilyn watch as Ana's dad turns to her mum. Your mum and I are going to have a small discussion, may you excuse us?" They left the living room.

Finley let out a deep breath, "Thank god they left, if they don't I think I'm going to pass out."

"Relax, babe." Ana rubs her hands up and down his back. "Even if they don't agree, I'm still going to marry you." Ana gave him a smile.

Finley stood up straight and that's the cue that Ana's mum and dad have entered the room, "Your mum and I have discussed."

"Mum, Dad, I don't care if you don't agree to my engagement to Finley. I love him and that's all it matters." Ana said. "Em, tell them."

"Uhm...Finley is a great guy. He treats Ana like a princess and they hardly ever fight. Even if they fought, they make up within minutes. Not only that, he treats me equivalent to a sister. He is like a brother I never had." Emilyn ramble on.

"Enough." Ana's dad's loud voice echoes throughout the house. "Emilyn, you don't have to back them up." Her dad said to Emilyn gently. "Come here." He gestures for Emilyn to come over to where they are standing. She walks slowly towards them and stood next to them. Emilyn mouthed sorry to Ana and nod saying that is fine.

"As we were saying," Ana's dad pauses for a while and turns to look at his wife and smiles.

"Welcome to the family." Her mum said. The three of them look at each other, confuse.

"Did I hear you right? You guys approve the engagement?" Ana asked them.

Yes," Her mum said.

"But I thought you hated Finley." Ana Asked.

"If we hated him, you won't be dating him for 2 years. In those 2 years, he won't be able to step into the house and most likely be sent away to another country." Her dad explains.

"Oh," Ana said silently. "So when did you guys accept him?"

"In those two years, we have seen Finley progress into the engineering world and have done an amazing job on all the projects. Especially, the hotel in China."

Ana look at her dad confuse, "Why especially China?"

"Because that's the hotel I own." Finley's eyes grew wide and his mouth opens wide. "That's when I know he is hardworking and aside from that, he treats my daughter like a princess." He praises Finley.

"I've already accepted him in the beginning, I saw how he looks at you and the way he treats you. I know there's no other man who will treat you and love you as much as Finley." Her mum gave Finley a smile. "We just pretend we don't like Finley, to see how long are you guys last knowing that we hated him and threaten you to married someone else." Ana rolled her eyes annoyed by how her parents acted.

Emilyn tilts her head to motion Finley to say something instead of gaping like a fish out of water, "Thank you, I will most definitely be the best husband to your daughter." Finley finally said.

"Welcome to the family." Her mum walk towards them and gave both of them a hug.

"You think I can't figure out your plan of bringing sweet Emilyn here." Her dad said. You brought her so that she can help both of you with your so-called 'situation.' " He quote. "How dare you make Emilyn your middle man?" Ana's dad glare at her.

"Well done, Emilyn You have completely turned my dad against me." Ana claps her hand dramatically.

"Mr Conner, I think your daughter is jealous." Emilyn pointed out and giggles.

"Don't worry Ana, you'll always be my daughter." He said. "But right after Emilyn." Everyone laughed except for Ana. She frowns and crossed her arms. "Come here." He said and Ana walks grumpily over to us. "You both are my daughter, okay?" He wrapped his hand on both of our shoulders.

"Fine." She huff. "But I'm your number, one daughter."

"Of course." Ana's dad said. Ana finally looks happy again. Mr. conner shakes his head at his daughter.

A/N: Hey, Hey my readers. I present you with another chapter. But this one is a little long, so hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to vote or comment. You can do both or neither, is your choice.