Bad News.

"Thank goodness the meeting was a success." Emily said excitedly to Jake as they walked outside.

"Do you still want that stroll?" Jake asked. He didn't wait for her reply and held her hands instantly. 

Emily wanted to protest but she couldn't. She was tired as hell and it just wasn't a good time to go for any walk.

Instead, she smiled and told him to lead the way.

Street light brightened the walk way as they threaded down the paths of L.A streets. They occasionally stopped for deserts, sometimes ice cream, sometimes cold drinks.

"I can't believe one week is over and we're heading back home today." Jake said.

Emily smiled. "Now, we just gotta worry about making a boring presentation about this whole experience."

Jake was still holding her hand firm. "They're not all boring. Look, like right now, we're having this chocolate something. We can put it there on the slide, then we had ice-cream earlier."

Emily bursted out in laughter. "I can't believe you, Jake. Seriously, you're so funny. We should go ahead and put every of our date moments then. Like back there at the hotel?" She mentioned and her cheeks flustered red.

"Well, they need to know a little something called romance. And we're going to teach them."

She smiled. They walked in silence again for a while.

Some teenage girls walked over to meet them. "Want free pictures? I'm posting cute couples on my YouTube channel.

They didn't protest and took a nice pose for the picture. It came out really nice. 

"You won the best couples, I gotta say." One of the girls said. "Here, it's not much but it'll do." She handed out two fine roses, then two handmade beads. "It's to strengthen your romance life."

With a big smile on their faces, they thanked the girls and went on their way. The bracelet beads had two mixed color of light and dark brown and it was pretty.

Emily cherished it like it was a million dollar worth jewelry. Back at the hotel, she had written a sweet letter for Jake. It was about their favorite song, Fear mislead, Courage lead. It had been a short message to him about how they would learn to love and cherish each other.

Jake rushed out from the bathroom with a worried look in his eyes. "I have to travel today." He said to her.

Emily frowned. "Wait, what? Why?"

"It's an urgent call. I've been tipped by my sister May's boyfriend." Jake explained. "It's important I'm home right now. It's about--"

"Doesn't matter. We'll leave together. That's not an issue."

"But Mr. Kenny, he called and asked that you stayed for a final meeting."

"What? There is no final meeting. Things have been concluded today." Emily protested.

"Emily, I know it sounds crazy. Both of us should be there tomorrow for the meeting but it's important I'm home tonight. If not, I dunno what's going to happen."

"Why would you just go back like that...it's too sudden." Emily felt like she would burst into tears. She couldn't sleep alone that night! She was used to spending the night with him, sleeping right next to her.

"I'm sorry this has to happen. But I promise I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow night, we'll have that dinner at an even more exquisite restaurant. Then we can even go to the cinema to see your favorite movie of all time."

She knew he was trying to bribe her.

"Don't patronize me, Jake. This is still so insane." She frowned.

Jake leaned forward and pulled her close to a tight hug. "We'll see tomorrow evening and then I promise you can nag at me all you want. I'll be yours by then, okay?"

She wanted to protest but she couldn't. 

"Fine. I want steak and fine wine. And I chose your place for the venue. Pinky promise?" she stretched forth her smaller hand to Jake.

"I promise." Their pinky fingers were locked together until they were finally pulled apart. Jake stared at her one last time with his piercing eyes as observing carefully, then he gave a sweet smile.

"I'm walking you to the airport." Emily was not asking, or suggesting. She was making herself clear. Jake did not protest.

***

"This is so frustrating!" Verona cried out from the dining room. She was angry at everything and everyone.

Her mother walked by and a frown was now on her face. "What the hell is happening now?"

"That wicked with, Jake's sister?" She gave her mother some time to know who she'd been referring to. Finally, her mother caught on the tea. "Her name is May, mother. And it's so annoying! I don't get it, why does she hates me like that?"

Barbara took her seat next to her daughter. "Well, who cares. What matters is that you should find some other man who is more powerful and well respected than--"

"--well keep those thoughts to yourself you old woman." Verona said at an instant. "You have no idea how insulting it is to have someone speak so low of you. All because of my so-called mom."

"Yea yea, whatever. Just get a whole of yourself. Soon, that stupid girl will come back and you're still single as heck!"

"My life and future is with Mr. Jake. Emily is going to have to get out of the way."

"How? It's obvious that man doesn't even love you."

Verona gave a long whine again muttering to herself how useless she was feeling like. Then she turned to face her mom. "And you too, you're a rich woman with wide connections. Why can't you just use your magic to speak with this May of a sister so she'll let me marry my love."

"Oh so he's your love? Wow." Barbara snorted.

"He's good looking isn't he? He has money and power and he's everything I've been dreaming about." Verona chanted with dreamy eyes.

Barbara was about to leave when she came back to meet her daughter. "Hold on, what is her last name anyway."

Verona frowned. "I dunno."

"What do you mean you dunno. Don't you know the last name of your so called lover?"

"Oh right. His name is Hilton. See how special his last name is, mom?" Verona said with a smile. "Jake Hilton..."

"I know a Hilton. May, May Hilton."

"Maybe she's famous..."

"She's one of our Queens!" Barbara sounded so certain that it instantly brought a smile on her daughter's face.

"Is that so? Can you arrange a meeting with her? Can you??"

***

Emily had not heard from Jake since the night he traveled. It was noon already and she was already preparing for her flight that would take off in the evening.

Where the hell can you be, Jake? Why aren't you calling or picking my calls?

She remembered how Jake had said he would tidy up his apartment because of their date. He reminded her just how much he hated Verona and how he couldn't wait until she was away from her weird family.

"Why would they be so evil like that? Once you're back, from tonight, you're sleeping in my house." He has said to her.

"It's fine, Jake. I'll be fine." She had smiled to him, reassuring him.

Now, she hasn't heard from him since then. And she hated the fact that his sister May would not even pick up her calls too! 

Abruptly, her phone rang. She saw it was Verona calling her.

Verona? What happened now. Emily frowned. She hesitated whether to pick up or not.

Finally she did. "Hello?" 

Suddenly, her eyes blurred from the painful tears that had gathered in it. "What do you mean he got into an accident??"