Chapter Twenty-Four

JC pushed Emma down on the bed gently and kissed down her neck. It had been days since they had been “together” and he was glad that they had a break in the day.

“Mmm, Jace, you feel so good.” She murmured between kisses. He captured her lips again and began unbuttoning her shirt.

“Emma, I want you so bad.” He whispered,

“I can feel it.” She giggled a little as his body caressed hers as it laid on top of hers. JC moved off her shirt and she pulled his off, tossing it aside. Quickly she undid his belt and their kisses became more heated. JC shucked off his pants and worked on hers.

A familiar ringing interrupted their heated session and Emma pulled her lips away.

“Jace, it’s Stuart. I need to get the phone.” She said out of breath,

“Ignore it baby, if it’s important he can leave a message or call back.” He said kissing her neck,

“Baby please, I’ll only be a second.” She pleaded and JC sighed as he rolled off of her. She got up quickly and snatched her phone.

“Hello Stuart…Uh huh, I see…” She walked over to her laptop and booted it up. “I’m pulling up the file now, yes.” She glanced up at JC who was eyeing her, ‘I’m sorry’; she mouthed to him and looked down to her laptop again.

JC sighed and flopped back on the bed. There went his plans with Emma. She’d probably be on the phone with Stuart forever. How did that man know exactly when they were alone together? This was getting ridiculous, she was here to spend time with him, not work. This was supposed to be her vacation from work, but it seemed that all she ever did lately was talk on her phone and work on her laptop. JC got up and huffed to the bathroom, slamming the door.

Emma winced at the door, she knew JC was upset but Stuart needed her. It was her job, he had to understand.

“What Stuart? I’m sorry my mind was else where for a moment.”

JC walked out the bathroom with a towel around his waist. He heard Emma who was still talking to Stuart.

“Stuey no! I simply can’t! That’s not fair! I know I have to pull more responsibilities at the-… Stuart DeCour, do not try and tell me about MY company! I have been there since I was five! Remember what the doctor said about my condition? Well this isn’t helping it at all!” JC’s ears perked up at this, “Do you want me to be alive in two years to take over the company?!…I just need time Stuart; I know this is really stressful for you. I just need some down time, that’s why I was on vacation in the first place. You know what a vacation is, right? You probably need one too. Please…Thank you; I’ll get you those final papers tomorrow by two, okay? All right…uh huh, I love you too, Bye Stuey.” Emma hung up the phone and sighed. She rubbed her temples and stared at her laptop. Work was not something she really wanted to do right now. She could probably skip the concert and do it then. That way she could spend some time with JC. She sat there and calculated the time it would take to finalize the files. She wondered if she’d get any sleep that night. It was then that Emma realized that it was really quiet in the room and she glanced around, it was completely empty. “I wonder where Josh went?”


JC went down to Kitty and Joe’s room. He was wondering about that phone call. What was wrong with her that she’d possibly not be alive in two years? Joey answered the door,

“Hey C, come on in. Is something wrong? Where’s Em?”

“Oh she got a phone call from Stuart. She’ll probably be a while. You know how she is.”

“Is that girl working again?” Kitty exclaimed, “I swear she doesn’t know the meaning of vacation. She’s not happy unless she’s doing something.”

“Emma’s a work-a-holic, seems like the perfect match for you C.” Joey commented.

“Yeah, I guess.” He said sitting down heavily in a chair, “She’s always on her phone or e-mailing someone or working on something for Stuart.” He sighed,

“Jace, take it from me. You just have to be blunt and throw her phone out the window.” Kitty said, “It’s the one way I know to keep her off of it.”

“Is Emma sick?” JC asked out of the blue and Kitty looked up in shock,

“What? She looked fine this morning.”

“I over heard her talking to Stuart on the phone about how she might not be alive in two years, and…” he trailed off,

“Oh.” Kitty said quietly,

“She’s sick? Is it serious?” JC asked worriedly,

“Jace, it’s not really my place to discuss that with you. Just ask her about it.”

“How bad is it?” He asked worriedly,

“JC, don’t worry everything’s okay.” Kitty reassured him,

“But-” Just then someone knocked on the door and Joey hopped up to get it.

“We’re a popular room today.” He joked as he answered the door, “Hey Emma, C’s here come on in.” Emma followed Joey into the room. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Sorry about that.” She whispered into his ear.

“Can I talk to you out on the balcony?” He asked as if she hadn’t said a word.

“Yeah, sure honey.” JC stood up and they went out on the balcony. He closed the door and she leaned her back against the railing. “Josh, I’m really sorry about the phone call-”

“Are you sick Emma?” He interrupted her and she paused thinking over his question for a moment.

“I don’t understand, what do you mean by sick?”

“Are you seriously sick, like something could kill you?” He asked worriedly, “I just heard you on the phone talking with Stuart.” He shrugged and she sighed.

“I had, I have,” She corrected herself, “acute myeloid leukemia. I had my first bout when I was a six. Then when my parents died and everything went down I had reoccurrence of it. Since then, I’ve been in remission for six years. Stress and exhaustion can cause the leukemia to come back. Which is why it’s important for me to take this vacation.” She blew out a long breath. JC walked over to her,

“So you’re okay now?”

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. I throw it in Stuart’s face every now and then to get my way.” She explained, “I’m sorry that I scared you.”

“Stop apologizing, I feel like that’s all we do.”

“Yeah I guess so.” She said dropping a kiss on his lips.

“What did Stuart want you to do?”

“Fly to Japan tomorrow to finish a deal.” She said with a sigh and JC pulled back slightly,

“What!?” He exclaimed and she smiled,

“That’s exactly what I said.”

“You only have like a week left with me.” He said worriedly,

“I know, which is why I had him push the trip back a week. Which was the original date.”

“So you’re definitely leaving in a week?” He pouted; secretly he was hoping that Emma would stay on longer with him.

“Yes, but by my calculations in a week and four days you’ll be in California for a week and a half, true?” JC thought about it for a moment,

“Yes.”

“So I was thinking of visiting a certain boyfriend of mine while he was there.” She smiled up at him and he grinned,

“Well tell that boyfriend tough luck, cause you’ll be with me.” He pulled her closer,

“Mmm, I love a man who’s direct.” She kissed him slowly and slid her hands up around his neck.

“Everything’s okay! They’re making out and being all lovey dovey!” Chris shouted through the door and the couple broke down in laughter.

“It’s like having kids.” She laughed,

“You have no idea.” He grabbed her hand and led her towards the door. “Good thing we can lock ourselves away in our room.” He said making her giggle and followed him into the room.

“Where are you two going?” Kitty asked teasingly,

“Away from the kids.” Emma laughed as JC pulled her out of the room.


JC woke up and stretched. He realized that he was alone in bed and didn’t hear the shower running. He glanced around the room and saw Emma asleep with her head down on the table by her laptop. He got out of bed and went over to her. JC gently shook her,

“Baby, wake up.” She shot up suddenly and rubbed her face.

“What? Oh geez, I must have fallen asleep working last night.” She pulled some papers together and was attempting to work again. JC took the papers from her and put them down. “Josh I need to work.”

“You need some sleep.” He pulled her up from her seat, “Who was just telling me stress and exhaustion could cause your leukemia to come back?”

“LARGE amounts of stress and exhaustion.” She protested and he ushered her into bed,

“Yeah, well not on my watch. I prefer my women in bed.” He teased and slid in after her,

“Cute, but I really need to do that work.” She said looking back at the table with her work all laid out.

“Later, after some sleep.” JC said pulling her to face him,

“But-” She began to protest but JC stopped her with a kiss,

“Stop resisting and get some sleep. You have all today to work on that file.”

“Okay.” She sighed and settled into bed with JC.

“I love you, Emma.” JC whispered into her hair and Emma realized that this was more important than her work.

“I love you too.” She sighed happily as she drifted off to sleep.

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