Chapter Text
Emma wandered down the long stage smiling softly to herself; this had been her life for many years now. But since starting a new job about a month ago she had to give it all up. Somebody else would design the stage and set this year. Emma watched as the children practiced their dance sequences and lines with each other across the stage.
She always loved to see their smiling faces and excitement. An older man standing off to the side watching caught her attention. Emma made her way over and came to a stop beside him. George a man, who had streaks of grey in his hair and little creases that were the beginning of wriggles forming in his eyes, had been working back stage for years.
“I see you’re not working on the set this year, that’s a shame”. He spoke still staring ahead expressionless. Emma nodded looking down at the floor feeling great sadness. Most days she wondered why she had given this up but it was all down to having the chance to work for one of the most successful interior designers.
“Yeah something else came up”. George puffed out a breath and glanced at her.
“Well it’s a shame because you were the best set designer this company’s ever had”. Emma smiled at the compliment feeling a rush of emotion pass over her. She had always liked him down to his no crap attitude. Emma was about to thank him when her phone started to buzz in her pocket. She dipped her hand into the pocket and brought out the phone quickly answering.
“Hey Emma, what time are you coming over?” Ruby one of her best friends spoke. Emma lifted her arm and quickly checked her watch, it had gone three already.
“Now I guess”. She listened to Ruby go on about how she really needed tonight and some gossip then hung up. Emma slipped the phone back into the pocket of her coat and said a quick goodbye to George. She hurried out of the back door and across the car park until she reached her car. Emma unlocked the car and threw her bag down onto the passenger seat before sliding in and starting up the engine. She pulled out onto the main road and drove ten minutes to Ruby’s apartment.
Once Emma had found an empty space she grabbed her things from the seat slipped out of the car. Making her way inside the building she bypassed the lifts and jogged up the stairs to the fifth floor.
Emma gave a knock at the correct door and let herself in calling Ruby’s name. A moment later she appeared from one of the rooms wearing a red knee length dress both elegant and revealing at the same time. Ruby flashed me a wolfish grin and lifted her hands flicking out her streaked red hair.
“Hey, was beginning to think you had forgotten”. Emma rolled her eyes at her friend and went to walk passed into the other room. Ruby had been one of her friends since high school and who had followed her to the city for a fresh start. She glanced around her friends apartment they had once shared noticing little changes.
Ruby wander across the room to the open plan kitchen and poured them both a drink. Emma turned on her heels and walked into the spare bedroom throwing her bag down on the bed. She quickly unpacked her bag and proceeded to get ready for the night. A few minutes later and she was stood in front of the mirror applying a little make up and checking how she looked.
Emma smiled at her reflexion; although she didn’t wear dresses very often this had been her favourite. She slipped her feet into some sandals and left the room entering the lounge. Emma sat down on one of the comfy seats and took the drink offered to her. She was just about to take a sip when her phone began to ring. Emma sighed reaching over and scooping the phone off the side table, wondering who that could be. She answered cursing herself immediately for not checking caller ID.
“Miss Swan I need you to come over to my apartment straight away. Instructions will be left on the kitchen counter for you to follow”. Emma frowned at the words of her new boss Milah Gold who instantly thought she would drop everything and see to her every need.
“I….”. She was about to answer but was cut off by Milah.
“Good”. The line then went dead no thank you’s or goodbye just straight to the point and hang up. Emma stood from the couch straightening out her dress she set the glass down on the coffee table.
“I have to go, sorry it won’t take long”. Ruby let out a sigh and shook her head.
“I don’t get why she expects you to drop everything the moment she calls. It’s Saturday night and you have plans”. All she could do was nod because this had been happening a lot lately.
“I know but I’m hoping this job will turn into something more, I’ll see you later”. Emma collected up her keys and other items them walked out of the room. She hurried out into the hall and back down the stairs feeling the chill in the air as she walked across the car park.
Fifteen minutes later and Emma was swiftly walking into a different apartment building and up the stairs. As she reached the right door she took a set of keys out of her bag and fumbled with them for a couple of minutes. Emma unlocked the door and stepped inside flicking on the lights.
She made her way further into the apartment and decided to have a little bit of a look around. It was nothing like she expected everything was just so dull and lacked personal style. She couldn’t believe this was in fact the home of one of the greatest designers it was to basic.
One thing that did catch Emma’s eye was the view from the glass patio windows; she slowly slid the glass doors open and stepped out. Emma leaned on the metal railings and looked out over the brightly lit city. She could of stood there all night but sadly there was still work to be done. Emma walked back into the apartment and slid the door closed again, glancing around the room for the instruction sheet.
She padded across the room and into the small modern kitchen spotting a piece of paper on the counter. Emma picked it up and read the neatly written list of orders. She sighed so Milah wanted it to be romantic for her boyfriend coming home. Emma crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it into the bin, decided to start in the kitchen.
She searched around in the cupboards for some cutlery and place mats then set the long glass table in the dinning room. Emma then set some small tea lights around the huge Jacuzzi bath and lit them. She wasn’t one for the whole romantic gestures having never had anyone like that. Well not anyone that was worth it anyways. Emma followed the list and ended by ordering some food and setting a red vase of flowers on the glass table.
She wandered into every room making sure everything was perfect for the happy couple then left. Emma shut off the lights and pulled the door shut making sure it was locked before hurrying towards the lift. The last thing she wanted was to bump into Milah.
The lift doors opened with a ding and Emma stepped inside feeling her legs begin to ache from being on them for most of the day. She leaned against the wall trying to relieve some pressure not realising the doors had reopened and somebody had entered. Emma looked up to see a tall handsome dark haired man. He had bright blue eyes and a breath taking smile.
“Merry Christmas”. The man spoke with a slight accent that made her even more curious about him. Emma smiled and wished him a merry Christmas also trying to keep her voice even. He briefly glanced at the numbers counting down the floors. Suddenly the lift began to shake causing Emma to stumble forward straight into his arms. The dark haired man placed both of his hands on each arm trying to steady her.
She felt like an electric shock was running through her body in that moment. Emma looked up into his blue eyes and found herself leaning forward until their lips was touching. The kiss lasted for a second until she came to her senses and pulled away just as the doors flew open. Emma spun around to see a group of carol singers about to enter the lift, she quickly ran forward and pushed passed them.
She heard him calling her name but urged herself to carrying on moving not wanting to risk anything.
Emma blew out a breath as she slid into the seat of her car and started the engine. Her mind was still reeling at what had just happened in the lift of all places.
She shook her head and sent Ruby a quick text before driving off to their favourite bar. It wasn’t long until Emma was striding into the half full cocktail bar spotting Ruby perched at the counter. She slumped into one of the seats and her friend instantly knew something was wrong.
Emma ordered a drink and recalled the night’s events to Ruby. She tutted and scolded her for running when the doors had opened. Emma rolled her eyes and took a large gulp of the drink that had been placed on the counter for her.
It was well into the night when the pair managed to return to Ruby’s apartment. By the next morning they were both seemingly regretting having had so much. Emma like usual woke to the sound of her phone ringing in her ear. She reached out her hand and slid it off the arm of the sofa pressing answer.
“It’s about time. Do you know how long I’ve spent trying to get a hold of you? I could have been doing other things not wasting my time phoning you. I want you to come over to discuss things”. Emma sat up feeling her head beginning to pound the last thing she wanted was to hear Milah’s voice. She rubbed her head and muttered a reply not surprised when the phone went dead.
“You should switch off your phone and have a relaxing day then tomorrow just say your phone ran out of battery. And of course there was no way of charging it”. Emma slowly stood stretching out her arms and shaking her head.
“Yeah then I would have probably got fired and I need this job. You know what it means”. Ruby shrugged and slinked off to the kitchen not in the mood to argue. Emma gathered up her things and went into the spare bedroom changing into her every day clothes. She shouted a quick goodbye and left trying not to think about what had happened last night in the same apartment building.