Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 68

The whole night had been one endless loop of Cecilia’s passive–aggressive jabs, each word another reminder of how embarrassed Emma was supposed to feel. By now, Emma was fed up.

“All right, enough. If you’re so worried about being embarrassed, just stay away from me. I’m barely holding it together as it is–no telling what I might say next. I mean, in your eyes, I’m already an embarrassment, so what’s the difference?” She gave up pretending to care and just hoped the others would get the hint and leave her alone. She didn’t want to so much as look at them.

But Theodore didn’t leave. None of them did. Instead, all three settled into the seats

around her.

Sebastian came over with a glass of juice, paused when he saw the little group clustered around Emma, and gave a bemused smile. There weren’t any open seats near Emma, so he handed her the drink and took a spot a little further away.

Cecilia, undeterred, launched into a detailed introduction about how impressive the Grant family was, especially when it came to Daniel. She listed his credentials as if reading from a résumé: mysterious head of the Grant Corporation, Harvard graduate, president of various international associations–the list went on and on.

“As Mr. Grant’s eldest son, rumor has it he’s finally coming back to take over the company. If he shows up tonight, Emma, you’d better not embarrass yourself,” Cecilia said pointedly, glancing at Theodore as if to say, See? I know how to behave.

Sebastian, who’d been listening with a faint smirk, finally interrupted. “Funny, I didn’t know Mr. Grant had an eldest son.”

“Oh, please,” Cecilia snapped, rolling her eyes at him. “You? What would you know? You’re just a dancer–how would you know anything?” She still held a grudge against him; after all, he was the one who’d exposed her for not being Mrs. Whitman. She’d looked into him, too–just a nobody from the Cresthaven Performing Arts Troupe. Probably only got in tonight by clinging to someone else’s coattails. This was, after all, an exclusive business event.

“Theodore.” Sebastian’s tone was light, but there was a bite to it. “Emma.” Theodore called her name, ignoring the tension. “Cecilia’s not wrong. You should at least know a little about the Grant family, just so you don’t make any mistakes.”

“Oh, and what would it matter to you if I did? I already said–I don’t even know you people,” Emma replied, stifling a laugh at Cecilia’s grand buildup about the Grant

1/2

10:48

10:481

Chapter 68

family’s golden boy.

“Forget it, Cecilia, don’t waste your breath,” Jared chimed in, rolling his eyes. “She already said she doesn’t know us, and she clearly doesn’t care what happens to Theo. Why do you bother with her?”

“If she won’t look out for Theo, then we will!” Cecilia’s eyes were turning glassy with tears again.

The two of them were clearly putting on a show, trying to make Emma seem even more callous in Theodore’s eyes.

But the only reason they dared act this way was because Theodore let them. People always know who they can push around; if Theodore actually stood up for his wife, none of them would dare speak like this in his presence.

“Theo, do you think Emma’s mad at me?” Cecilia’s voice trembled, her eyes reddening. “Maybe I just talk too much…”

“You do talk quite a lot,” Sebastian said dryly, taking a sip of his drink.

Theodore’s voice was cold. “Mr. Remington, is it? What business is any of this of yours? Why do you keep inserting yourself into my family’s affairs?”

“Your family?” Sebastian let out a short laugh. “Sorry, but all I know is that Emma is your wife. As for the rest of these people–what gives them the right to call themselves family? Take this woman, for example. It’s the twenty–first century–being a mistress is hardly something to be tolerated.”

“You…” Cecilia’s eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. “Theo…”

Theodore’s expression darkened, thunderclouds gathering on his brow. “Mr. Remington, this isn’t the place for conflict, but I won’t have you disrespecting the people close to me. If you have something to say, we can settle it later–privately.”

2/2