Chapter 2 COMPLICATED EMOTIONS

Barbara's POV

It's getting darker by the minute, I was looking left and right checking if Emily's car was going to show up sooner.

She did say she might get off work late earlier today while leaving home. But it seems her plans might not change. I wondered what could be the hold up, perhaps I should get a taxi.

I noticed Emily was a little dull also and wasn't opening up but I guessed it was just stress.

She mostly brings me to my studio with her ride from home before she gets to work. Same goes for taking me home, it was getting more frequent these days.

I hope I'm not giving her any troubles, I thought.

I turned to the sound of the car horn. It's her, Emily. She parks her car right in front of me.

"Hey babe." She said in a low tone from the driver seat through the window. I joined her in the car.

"How was today?" I asked her.

"Fine" she replied, still feeling a little down just as this morning. I'm pretty sure this wasn't just stress from work, there's something eating her up. I've known her long enough to understand her. She drives us both home.

As we driving through the streets usually, she would chat with me telling me about interesting stories at work but now she seemed lost in thought, driving automatedly. Her usual lively self was replaced by a sense of unease.

"How's John anyways?" She asked cutting me off what I was about to say.

"I was gonna ask you" I said baffled by her question. It was something I should have asked, I got more curious right now.

"Wasn't he in office today?" I asked staring at her intently.

"He was. I meant how are you two?" She replied and smiled akwardly. There was definitely something wrong and I was going to find out from her now.

"Emily, you don't seem like yourself these days, what's going on?" I asked her feeling concerned.

Emily glanced at me, her expression with a mix of hesitation.

"Barbara, there's something I need to talk to you about." She said slowly. My eyebrows furrowed, feeling a sense of foreboding

"What's on your mind Emily? You can tell me." I pressed further and got more curious.

"It's about John and..."she said really slowly and it was putting so much suspense on my mind.

"Did something something go wrong with publishing my artworks?" I asked impatiently cutting her off.

"No not all. John and I were able to publish them in our media today." She said easing my suspicion, if they couldn't help me, I would be very hopeless,

Emily and John are both journalists at their work, they both gave me a glimmer of hope for a possible change.

"He actually did most of the work" Emily added. I smiled, proud of John's effort, I knew he'll come through.

I've earned from people who love my arts due to their advertising and I hope it will get to the fullest audience and attract amazing bids.

"That reminds me, do you know about the Emiliano's family?" I asked intently.

"Yeah. What about them? She replied curiously, it seemed she wanted to know about it so I decided to talk to her about it to kill time till we got home.

"What do you know about them?" I asked so I could know where to start from.

"It's actually about their son Dante Emiliano, his engagement got called off recently with his fiancée, Victoria Houston, a millionaire heiress." She explained.

"What?!!! Why? I asked curiously.

"I really don't know, it's not my story but it's John's, he knows about it." She replied.

Why are you so worried about it? Emily asked in a curious manner.

I explained my experience with Diego in the art studio. I told her about the contract marriage. For a while, she listened to me attentively while driving.

"What the fuck? You rejected the offer?" She said in a surprised tone which amazed me.

"What the heck Emily? What's wrong with you? Am I supposed to betray John?" I asked irritated by her comments.

"No, I'm sorry it's just your family. They need it much better than you do and it's really a great opportunity." She said carefully.

"And then what? Betray John?" I asked with shock all over my face. I still couldn't believe Emily was telling me this.

"John and I have been through a lot, you should know better." I said.

"Barbara, don't get me wrong, I just want you to be happy." Emily explained calmly.

"It's not all about the money, we've planned a lot together and he has always supported me, I can't just leave it all because of someone else' wealth, not even for the sake of love." I said firmly like I was assuring myself all over again.

"It's alright Barbara". She said in a tone of conviction. I know she cares a lot about me and also I did. She is my best friend, I couldn't imagine myself having another.

We both said nothing for a while, Emily continued driving, her eyes focused on the road. I looked out the window at the passing city scade.

The tension in the car seemed to have dissipated and the silence got deeper and more comfortable. We're about to get to my apartment, I felt I should say something but I didn't know what to.

She pulled up in front of my apartment building. Well what was next?, I thought. I reached out for the door handle to leave the car and I closed the door. I walked towards my apartment door.

"Barbara" she called softly through the car window.

"Yeah?" I replied walking back towards the car to see her through the window.

"Take care of yourself and make sure you're ready when I get here by tomorrow" she said with an akward smile on her face.

"Of course, thanks babe." I chuckled. That was Emily's way of apologizing, she wouldn't say it but she just had to care somehow.

"Alright, goodnight." I said joyfully.

"Goodnight." She replied in a low tone. She starts the car and drives home. I turned back to go inside our apartment.