Emily's Dilemma: Seduced by Billionaire Brothers

Dear Emily,

We sincerely thank you for taking the time to apply and meet with our team for the position of secretary. After careful consideration, we have decided to move forward with another candidate. We thank you for your interest in the company and we wish you the best of luck in your job search......

Emily Walker quickly hit the power button on her phone in annoyance, another rejection letter, and the fifth one this week if she was keeping track. Her mind became immediately clouded with the bills she had to pay and working part-time in her grandmother's noodle shop, also cleaning toilets at a luxury hotel wasn't going to cut it. She hated to remind herself of how her life had gone downhill since she had to quit her last job. She felt tears sting her eyes but she was determined not to let it fall.

"Emily" she heard her grandmother yell which snapped her out of her depressing thoughts, perspiration gathered at her forehead while popped back into the heat of the kitchen.

"How many people do we have out back" she asked and Emily stood frozen, she'd been distracted and wasn't taking notes and it was no news that her grandmother had zero tolerance for slacking.

"I'll need to check," she said quickly and rushing back outside before the woman had the chance to complain but in the process, her apron caught on the handle of the door causing her to spiral into a tray of glass cups and they all went spiraling unto the ground shattering into a million pieces with a few pieces clinging unto her hair and clothes. She could feel the sting of the glass in her hair but the silence in the kitchen was louder than the pain she felt

"Emily!" her grandmother yelled, throwing a plastic spoon that hit her square in the head.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident Grandma. I'll clean it up" "Sorry's not gonna cut it Emily, this is going off your paycheck"

"There's nothing left, you keep cutting it for little mistakes I make" she retorted

"Then maybe your next paycheck, how about that and the next one if you keep running that mouth" her grandmother shot back in finality before turning back to the whistling pot and Emily fumed, her eyes rolling back in sadness that was slowly turning to anger.

"You know what Gran, I don't need this," she said as she took off her apron and slammed it on the counter

"Look at you running that mouth again, so what are you going to do? Quit? Run away just like your mother did...."

"Don't...." Emily wanted to say but the woman beat her to it

"Don't what? Mention your mother? That slimy whore that destroyed my son....." "She didn't do anything, I didn't do anything" Emily cried, letting the tears flow freely as she didn't have any means to hold them back because her grandmother's words felt like a spiral knife that stabbed at her chest, twisting and turning till there was nothing left to give but pain

"She did everything, my son is dead because of her because she was a selfish bitch and she wanted more. If she's such a good person where is she now, she abandoned you, didn't she? You look so much like her I feel sick to my stomach" Emily stayed quiet, allowing the words to soak through her skin, embedding themselves in her till it was all she could feel. Her vision blurred, her heart raced and she felt weak to her knees, she had never known love all her life and her grandmother was right. Her mother did abandon her for a better life, she was somewhere gallivanting in the streets of California in Gucci shorts and Prada bags and she wondered why she defended her. Her grandmother was right, her mother didn't want her or maybe she didn't know the full story.

"She killed my son, that selfish whore. Broke his heart so many times over till he was nothing and then abandoned you for me so don't you defend her. Who knows, maybe you're not even my granddaughter and she burdened me with the responsibility of raising you" Still, Emily stayed quiet as the words pierced her heart and there was no defense against everything she always believed to be true

"If you want to leave, you should. Get out I don't want to see your face around here anymore, you're just like her ungrateful and selfish" She felt her grandmother grab her by her arm and push her out the back door alongside her bag before slamming it on her face. Emily stood broken, her legs weak and unable to protest, even oblivious to her bleeding knees from the broken glass because it didn't hurt as much as the pain in her chest from the reality of her grandmother's words. She stepped out onto the streets of New York City of anyways unsure of her next step even though she had to be at her other job in less than two hours. The October sun shone brightly on her skin, lighting up areas that had been darkened by sadness but still, it didn't change how she felt. The heat from the sun did nothing to warm her frozen heart while she walked aimlessly on the streets, going wherever the wind pushed her but she knew where her heart wanted to be, and who she wanted to talk to even though they would never be able to speak back to her. Instead, she walked to the park and flopped absentmindedly on a bench oblivious to a young man sitting next to her with a bouquet hanging lazily from his fingers

"Are you aware that you're bleeding or is that a recent New York fashion" she heard a voice beside her although she wasn't entirely sure she was the one being spoken to. When she turned, his eyes were fixed on hers though hidden behind sunglasses she wanted to assume he was speaking to her. "What?" she raised a brow "Your knees," he said again and she looked down "Oh" she simply said faking surprise at how she hadn't noticed it earlier "Nothing to worry about," she said hoping he wouldn't say anything. They managed to sit in silence, while she watched people pass by mostly couples hand in hand, smiling or laughing at the other, faces glowing and showcasing genuine happiness while she felt like an impostor wallowing in self-pity at her inability to find love or even genuine happiness. The gravity of loneliness hit her suddenly and she had to fight internally to keep the tears locked in, to keep her face straight pensive, and not falter at the sight of a young mother kissing her daughter on the head.

"Ever been in love?" she heard the strange man speak and she turned to face him but he stared straight ahead, the flowers still dangling from his hands. When she stayed quiet he turned to look at her "Not much of a talker, no?" "Sorry" she muttered and he sighed "Take this, looks like you've had a shittier day than mine" he offered her the flowers he held, and when she refused to take them he dropped them on the bench beside her, looking relieved to get rid of them.

"Don't fall in love, it's a trap" he said in a mere whisper and then he was gone.

Ethan Hatton stepped into the world of opulence and grandeur as he approached the towering gates of his father's magnificent mansion. The sprawling estate boasts exquisite architecture, with its elegant columns, intricate carvings, and a majestic entrance that screams wealth. He breezed into the house in slow strides as the motion sensor sliding doors gave way for him, his sleek Johnston and Murphy shoes hitting the marble floors in rhythmic motions.

He didn't necessarily live here but going back to his penthouse was a bit of a hassle for him especially when everywhere in his house smelled like her, reminded him of her.

Stepping into the foyer, he approached the sweeping staircase, adorned with a lavish chandelier that cast a warm, golden glow around the house. Each room was a masterpiece, from the luxurious ballroom with its sparkling crystal chandeliers to the cozy library lined with shelves upon shelves of leather-bound books that he never once bothered to read. Still, Ethan wasn't in the mood to behold the glory that was his father's house. His head thrummed with a dull ache while he went over the events of the day and it surprised him how well he was taking it. He found his way to his younger brother's room and he could hear the booming music from three rooms away and without knocking he twisted the door handle, surprised at how easily the door gave way, Jackson Hatton was not known to leave his door unlocked.

The strong smell of booze hit his nose instantly, strobe lights dancing from the ceiling and rap music booming from the speakers with his brother nowhere in sight in his suite room. He walked further into the adjoining bedroom not surprised to find Jackson making out with a petite blonde girl on his king-size bed. Without warning, he turned on the lights causing the girl to jump in surprise while Jackson remained calm, a streak of surprise across his eyes but there was no shame, no regret, only a bit of a smirk playing on his lips.

"Running a brothel here now, are we?" Ethan smirked, moving to sit on the ottoman at one end of the room as the blonde girl struggled to put herself together whom Ethan noticed was actually Asian.

"Not knocking on doors now, are we?" Jackson replied before whispering something to the girl and watching her walk away before turning to face his brother with a playful frown on his face.

"The door was open" Ethan offered defensively

"I doubt you'd have heard with all these noises and your pretty distraction, that one is new"

"Well what can I say" Jackson jumped down from the bed, pouring his brother a glass of whiskey before turning the music down

"Well you're here, brooding as usual so I guess the proposal went well and she said yes," Jackson asked taking a sip from his glass, and when he got no response his eyes went wide

"No way!" he yelled in mock surprise before bursting into fits of laughter.

"She said she didn't want to be a company wife, what does that even mean?" Ethan said with a defeated look

"Our engagement was my redemption, seal the deal and get me on father's good books again. You know what he's going to think when he learns about this, I can't keep a woman, how the bloody hell am I going to keep the company" Jackson smiled, slicking his ginger hair backward while he enjoyed his brother's rant

"That's a pretty valid conclusion, judging from the fact that you lost the company a 30 billion dollar deal"

"Shut up" Ethan flashed suddenly getting up

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"She broke my heart," Ethan he said again, suddenly pacing the room

"You don't have a heart" Jackson reminded him "You're not exactly an easy person to be with Ethan. You should go to therapy and do it fast before Father starts focusing on me because trust me I have no interest in the company or getting married" "What did I do wrong, why can't Anita be with me?" Ethan went on, ignoring his brother

"Do you love her?" "I took her on vacations around the world, bought her freaking Chanel bags and shoes and she could have had a lot more if she freaking agreed to get married to me"

"I could do all that for a random girl I meet at the club because money is not a problem for us, but did you love her, did you care about her?"

"We'd been together for three years, how could I not?" "Did you care about her the way she needed you to care about or did you fly her around the world and neglect her emotional needs"

"What the hell is an emotional need, who needs that when you're lying bareback on a beach in Hawaii"

"Therapy Ethan, seriously consider therapy" Jackson sighed

"Fuck that" Ethan retorted back

"So what are you going to do now that you're back on the hot bachelor list, go wild or go home" Jackson asked. Ethan stood pensive for a moment, then like a bright bulb clicking on his head he smiled, wriggling his eyebrows at his brother.

"That's the look of a stupid idea Ethan" Jackson said "Well it is indeed stupid but I am going to find someone to marry me for sport and once the deal closes and I'm back on father's good books and the will, we create a scenario for a messy divorce"

"God, Ethan" Jackson massaged his temple in frustration "How are you the elder one, you're 28 for God's sake and with that look on your face, I'm pretty sure this is a solid idea for you"

"I just need my inheritance back brother; I don't care how it happens" "Either by crook or by hook"

A week had passed already and Emily had found herself shuffling odd jobs and crying herself to sleep in her tiny apartment, sleep-deprived and eating noodles out of a cup. She spent most of her nights when she wasn't working, scrolling through her mother's Instagram and Facebook, hovering over the message icon. She needed closure, an explanation on why she left, abandoned her without even a flick of her hair. She never married again, never had any other children and she wondered if she ever thought of her at all, ever missed her, or even ever thought to call her.

Emily felt distraught, the cold hands of loneliness pressing against her neck each night she had to close her eyes to sleep and wake up the next morning with the same feeling nagging at the pit of her stomach.

It was even harder to get decent jobs because she never completed high school, talk more of gracing the four walls of a community college. The most decent job she had gotten was waitressing at a little restaurant because she couldn't help her clumsiness stemmed from distress that weighed on her, she got fired multiple for tripping or breaking cups and plates and she was stuck cleaning hotel rooms and toilets because it was the only job that required minimal carefulness and precision.

She was grateful to get a job at one of the luxurious hotels in the City, which was graced mostly by the people wealthy enough to afford them, mostly celebrities and rich business families looking for a place to unwind for the weekend or holidays. It was supposed to be her day-off but a rich conglomerate family was throwing a formal dinner to celebrate a golden jubilee for their family business and everybody was required to be on deck for extra pay she jumped at the opportunity because she'd jump at anything that required her not to be by herself at home. She had no idea who the family where and she wasn't required to know, she wasn't sure she was supposed to care although she had overheard a few of her colleagues whisper about them, but at that moment it was the least of her problems. In the heart of The Luxe Hotel, the ballroom of unparalleled grandeur unfolded before Emily's eyes, as she stood at the entrance, rubber gloves tightly holding onto a mop, her brown hair roughly tied up in a messy bun with patches of sweat streaked across her forehead even though all corners of the hotel had been heavily air-conditioned. She pressed her lips as she took it all in, crystal chandeliers hung from the ornate ceiling, casting a soft, ethereal glow. The room was adorned with beautiful decorations, from intricate tapestries to glided mirrors lining the walls so people could admire themselves when they danced. The dance floor, a mosaic of marble, reflected the flickering candlelight as couples gracefully swayed to the enchanting melodies. The air was filled with an air of elegance and anticipation, as if every moment held the promise of a magical evening and Emily dreamed of being part of it. It was a sight that would be etched in her memory forever, a scene straight out of a fairytale. She sighed sadly.

"Lovely, isn't it?" the question snapped her out of her daydream and she turned to find Cheryl, her friend and colleague equally admiring the sight before them.

"It's a dream I can't seem to catch," Emily said

"It's all so lovely and beautiful and I can never be a part of it because well, I'm scrubbing toilets for the people who are indeed part of it"

"The self-pity is indeed pitiful girl," Cheryl said, as her very brown eyes always seemed to light up with every statement she made and it was an absolute delight when she got excited.

"But girl, the Hatton family are rich rich, imagine being able to afford all these"

"Hatton?" Emily had her eyebrows raised in confusion "They're the rich billionaire family that is throwing this ball, they're old money rich. They have two sons, Ethan and Jackson, and those hotties keep gracing the hot bachelor list every damn year"

"How do you even know all these?" Cheryl smiled her pickled smile that only seemed to expose her two front teeth, it was easily one of the best features on her heart-shaped face. "Nights when I'm not scrubbing toilets or riding a bike to deliver pizza, I keep myself busy with a gossip magazine, or even a playboy" she whispered the last part in a raunchy tone "And I know, I know" she went on "Who still reads a Playboy at this time and age, but I still love to keep things old school and traditional" She winked after and Emily winced.

"First of all eww Cheryl, and I promise you no one cares and also too much information, but what other gossip" Emily pressed on, she had always appreciated Cheryl's sunny personality. She always seemed to know the right thing to say, always seemed to know how to lift her mood unknowingly. She was the kind of friend to tried to stay positive regardless of whatever situation; she always seemed less lonely whenever Cheryl was around her.

"Well" Cheryl started, her eyes instantly lighting up and Emily peered in eagerly. "Word on the street is that the elder Hatton son proposed to his girlfriend of three years and she rejected him and now he's on the prowl frantically searching for a wife"

"Why? What's the big deal?" Emily asked "I'm not sure really, but the gossip is that he lost out on his inheritance because of a contract gone wrong and now the only means for redemption is to get married"

"I still don't see the problem, I mean he's rich, right? Thousands of girls would jump at this, I mean I know I would" Emily cracked a smile, turning from her friend to behold the marvelous sight that was the ballroom.

"Girl same but then word on this same street is that he's weird and mysterious and nobody wants to put up with that"

"What does that even matter? I mean for even a few thousand dollars I'll put up with the highest level of crazy, my grandmother is living proof" Emily said.

"What was even the deal with that" Cheryl asked, this time pulling Emily out of the way because of the servers rolling the food in.

"She fired me, kicked me out, and called my mother a slimy whore, which isn't so far from the truth but still it hurt to hear. But I swear, I'm over it" she admitted although lying through her teeth it but didn't matter, she was trying to move on from it.

"That's good Em, I'm proud of you. But I have an idea" Cheryl's eyes lit up again, looking from the ballroom back to Emily's cautious but curious eyes.

"Go on" Emily urged her "So I heard that after the whole formal golden jubilee celebration, the Hatton brothers are throwing an actual party here in this very ball after the parents have gone off to sleep. Trust me, there are no restrictions, no guest list no nothing, although it's pretty low-key to still keep it classy and at bay. I think we should come, I know a guy in Williamsburg....."

"Are you fucking crazy Cher?" Emily cut in immediately in a whisper pulling her farther away from the entrance.

"We're not allowed to do that, we could get fired for that. We're not allowed to attend occasions within the hotel, and if Aubrey....."

"Oh my God, slow your good girl horses. It doesn't start till like well past midnight, and Aubrey is off duty tonight which leaves Gerald he's old so he wouldn't care and you didn't let me get to the best part, it's a masked party so nobody would recognize us, we just be by ourselves and have fun, drink the kind of booze rich people drink"

"Cher...." Emily wanted to say but Cheryl shushed her

"Don't overthink it, I know a guy who can lend us pretty dresses and a mask so it's all covered for, come on Emily, pretty please. You need this, I need this, just one night Emily"

Emily stayed pensive for a moment, her overactive mind suddenly going through scenarios that could go wrong, although she had come up with a million in her head, they didn't seem feasible at that moment plus it was impossible to say no to Cheryl, and her puppy eyes, so she nodded her head with a smile. "Fine, I'm in"