Hot Coffee (The Hollens)

Chapter 29 (Tale Of Two Rings)

Emma's POV

I woke up and noticed I was all alone in bed. A note was next to me so I read it. It stated that he had

gone to the office and he loved me. I blushed. I couldn't believe that my life had changed suddenly. The

nerd in high school, the outcast at college, the one that couldn't fit in at the fosters home, was now

engaged to a very successful man who loved her and she love him back.

I got dressed and got out of bed. I headed downstairs to make something to eat. Halley was in the

kitchen.

"Congratulations on the engagement, again, that's so unbelievable."

"Thanks Hal, I can't even believe it either. I have to keep pinching myself because I still think I'm

dreaming."

"It's not a dream, darling. He really does love you."

"And I can't seem to understand why. Why me?"

"Why not you? You're beautiful, caring, and you're sweet."

"Yeah, but I am just his maid."

"Now you're his fiancee."

We prepared pancakes with chocolate chips and strawberries for brunch. We sat outside by the pool

and enjoyed the lovely, warm atmosphere. Summer was the best time of the year.

"He's going to spoil you," Halley said as she bit into a thick pancake.

"I could only imagine," I giggled as I felt like a queen on her throne.

"Sharon will be back soon. Are you ready to face the music?"

"Actually, he'll be meeting her at the airport to end it with her. She won't have to come here."

"Thank God."

But little did we know.

__________

The Weekend

I was in the kitchen making my fiance his cup of coffee when the front door of the mansion burst open.

"Darling, I'm home!"

I would recognize that voice anywhere. Sharon had arrived.

I peered from the kitchen door. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs, accompanied with a very

slim woman in an cream color suit.

"Ethan!" she called again.

He appeared at the top of the stairs then slowly strode down to her and the other woman. "You're here

early."

"Yes. We caught an early flight."

"We?"

"Yes. Oh, this is Mrs. Dianna Promme."

"Okay. Why is she here?"

"She's here to plan our wedding, baby. With the extra time I spent in Italy I found her. She's the best in

the world. She can plan our dream wedding perfectly." Sharon was overjoyed as she hugged him, but

he pushed her away gently. Her excitement died. "Baby, is everything okay?"

"There's something I have to tell you."

"I already know what it is. You miss me and you love me and you can't wait for us to get married. I

know, I know. I can't wait either." Sharon turned to Dianna and handed her a book. "This is the book

I've been telling you about. You'll find all the wedding dresses and decorations there. Just look at it and

tell me which one will–"

"Sharon, I said I have to talk to you."

"Go ahead and talk." She was still pointing at the pictures in the book.

I stepped out of the kitchen and stood alongside the wall close to Ethan.

He looked at me and ran his fingers through his hair, a pale look on his face. He exhaled hardly. "Go to

your room and lock the door," he whispered to me.

Sharon was still worked up over the wedding magazine.

I was sort of disappointed that he'd dismissed me from his side. I wanted to stand next to him when he

told her about us. I wanted to see the look of humiliation on her face. All those damn mischievous

stunts she pulled on me were finally over. No more shouting and calling me names. No more annoying

sound of her thin heels on the marble floors.

I was restless. I stepped out of the room, quietly, and tiptoed down the path to the main living room. I

could hear her voice, still excited about the pictures in the book.

Why hasn't he told her anything yet? Why is she still here? And where is he?

I peered out further, and almost had a damn heart attack. He was sitting down right next to Sharon,

pointing at pages in the book as well with a smile on his face.

What is going on? He said he'd break it off with her as soon as she gets back. He didn't even wanted

her here. He wanted to meet her at the airport and end it once and for all.

So what the hell was he doing, sitting next to her and looking at the wedding magazine with the

wedding planner? An ill feeling came over me and I felt as if I was about to vomit. I ran back to the

guest room and threw myself on the bed, feeling defeated. Tears streamed down my face as I buried it

in the pillows.

Was all this just an act to get me into bed with him? Does he really have intentions of getting married to

me instead of Sharon? Why would he chose to be married to me when he has Sharon in his life

already?

I cried even more. I was so blind. Ethan would never marry me; all that was just to get me to sleep with

him because of my pathetic past. He must have been feeling pity for me, but it wasn't love. Those two

things could easily be confused.

I held my head up and rolled myself into a ball. My eyes laid on the coffee cup.

Oh damn, I haven't given him his coffee. I came into the room with it.

Well, to hell with his coffee. I didn't care to serve him his coffee anymore.

Oh, wait a minute. I will serve him his coffee after all.

I wiped my tears away and gathered the strength and the courage I knew I had. Nothing could break

me. I'd had one of the toughest childhoods ever and I still made everything work out in my favor.

Although it wasn't much, I was a winner back then and I would be a winner now.

I pulled off the engagement ring and threw it into the cup of coffee. I slammed the door as I walked out

and headed to the main living room, coffee cup in my hand.

He turned around and saw me.

"Here's your cup of coffee, sir." I handed it to him.

Sharon didn't even noticed me.

"Thanks Emma," he said without any expression on his face or in his voice.

I wanted to scream at him and slap him in his lying mouth. But I controlled my anger and walked back

to the direction of the room. I peered from behind the wall again as he drank his coffee, waiting

patiently for him to see what was in the bottom of it. I had a long wait because he was drinking so

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He turned in my direction and I was certain that he saw me. I turned on my heels and ran to the guest

room. He was quickly against the door, forcing it in.

"Emma, open the door!"

"Go to hell, Mr. Hollen!"

"I told you don't call me that! Open the door! Why the fuck you did put the ring in my coffee?"

"Because I hate you. I regret falling for you. Go back to your first fiancee!"

"Emma, don't say things you'll regret. Open the damn door!"

"Go away!"

The banging on the door stopped, so did his voice.

Is he gone? He just gave up just like that?

I watched underneath the door to see if I would notice the shadow of his feet, but the coast was clear. I

slowly approached the door, wondering if I should unlock it or just stay in. I found myself unlocking it

and peering out.

A strong hand pushed it completely open and he walked in. "What's this?" he asked, holding up the

ring.

It's your ring, duh!

"Didn't I tell you that if you take it off we'll have a serious problem?" His eyes were getting darker.

I stood there in complete silence, looking at the floor instead of his dark eyes. He stood there too,

looking at me, hard.

"Why is she still here?" I finally spoke up; I wouldn't be scared of talking anymore. "What, you can't

hear me now? I asked why is she still here?"

I didn't braced myself for his answer.

"She's here because I want her to be here."