Chapter 1028 - Can she move from her world to his? (1/2)

~ Los Angeles, Ellie's villa ~

Brian entered the living room with two glasses of white wine.

He placed them on the table and sat next to Emma on the sofa.

Ever since the call from JoAnna, Emma didn't say a single word. She is staring into space and barely moving.

Brian didn't ask what happened. He heard everything while Emma spoke with JoAnna on the phone: four women who are interested in Charlie confronted Emma and spilled red wine on her dress. Emma is upset because Charlie paid for the dress and she does not know how to face him. And he heard Emma ask JoAnna several times not to tell Charlie what happened.

Brian is vexed. Why should Charlie not know what happened? If Charlie was by Emma's side, this would not happen, and Emma would not be upset. Brian can't understand why is Emma protecting Charlie? Why is she concerned about hurting his feelings when it's obvious that all this is his fault? If not for Charlie, Emma would not even go to that damned party!

The more Brian thought about it, the more upset he was getting.

Emma told Brian that she is with Charlie and that between the two of them can't be anything more than a friendship, and he said that he is OK with that. But is he? Of course, not. How can he be OK leaving Emma with a man who is causing her a heartache?

”Hey, I got you a drink.”, Brian reminded Emma. He knows that the white wine is her favorite, Sauvignon blanc.

Emma glanced at the glass in front of her and remembered Charlie's warning: ”…never trust premade or already open drinks… especially if someone is giving you one…”

She sighed. That might be true in the world where Charlie lives, but her world is simpler. In Emma's world, people don't try to drug her with every beverage that comes her way. She wondered if she is good enough to be by Charlie's side. Can she move from her world to his? Emma wanted to because of Charlie and she thought that she can, but after tonight, she is not sure.

She took the glass and downed it.

Brian observed her and shook his head slightly. He never saw her that upset. He swapped glasses, taking the empty one for himself and pushing the full one in front of Emma.

Emma glanced at Brian and gave him a grateful smile before focusing on a random spot on the carpet and drifting away in her thoughts.

Emma didn't think about the party, or about the ruined dress, or about the fact that she foolishly ran away on an impulse… But why did she call Brian? Now she regrets that rash decision and she hopes that Brian does not get any ideas that she is interested in getting back with him, because her heart belongs to Charlie.

Emma thought that it's for the best to thank Brian for his kindness and call a cab to go home. Staying here with him is not a good idea.

”You don't need to go through this.”, Brian's voice pulled Emma out of her thoughts.

Emma turned to look at him. ”What?”

”This! Why are you torturing yourself over a guy you barely know?”

Emma thought about Brian's question and split it into two: Is she torturing herself? Does she know Charlie?

She does not feel tortured. She feels guilty because the dress is ruined, because she ran away, and because she is sitting next to Brian instead of being with Charlie. Tonight is a mess... She made so many mistakes, one after another. She reminded herself to go home after they finish with this topic so that she does not make another mistake.

Does she know Charlie? She knows that he is kind, and funny, and smart, and tonight he was… amazing. Charlie did everything right. The one who did wrong was Emma. She came up with the idea to leave him alone so that he can talk to people, and she didn't think how that implies that she will be by herself as well, and she ended up exposed to attacks. As much as she was confident that she can handle whatever is coming her way, she was wrong. She didn't expect that Miss Davis will spill the drink on the dress, and if it's from anyone else it would not be so upsetting, but this dress was from the most perfect man Emma ever met… and now it's ruined. She escaped because by staying by Charlie's side she can see how imperfect she is.

Emma was startled when Brian held her hand in his. The touch was unexpected, almost foreign, and she jerked her hand away.

”Sorry, I would appreciate if you don't touch me right now.”, she gave a clumsy excuse.

”Emma, he does not deserve you.”, Brian said angrily.

He was upset because of her reaction. They held hands before, and they kissed as well. Why is she treating him like a stranger?

”That is not up to you to decide.”, Emma responded.

Brian opened his mouth to say something, but they heard the doorbell.

'Who can be this late?' , Brian wondered, but he had a hunch that someone came for Emma.

”I will see who it is.”, Brian said and walked away. He told the maid who approached the door that he will take care of it.