Torn By Two- Book One

First Sight- Chapter Two

Chapter Two

After the usual walk up the six flights of stairs in the older apartment where she resided, Emma  headed straight for the kitchen to grab herself a drink. As she opened the refrigerator, she noticed the little post it note stuck on the freezer door. It was from Abby, her only friend she had made and kept at high school who was also her room mate

Gone out with Jake, don't wait up!

Emma took a bottle of water out and closed the door. She walked to her room and shut the door, although she knew nobody was going to come in and disturb her, she never liked to leave it open.

She sat at her desk and immediately booted up her computer.

After putting her playlist on iTunes on, she typed Bennett Dean into the search engine and was suddenly bombarded with his gorgeous face from websites which featured gossip on this mega rich man. Emma felt a small rush at the sight of him there on her computer screen. She had been unable to get a good look at him, so brief and so closed was their introduction that now was probably her only chance.

Oh yes, he was divine. Everything about him was just so captivating. He was quite a sight to behold.

It was funny how she had never even knew he existed and yet he was such a big part of the New York business scene, one which her father was also a part of since their big move five years ago.

Upon closer inspection, the photos that were generating around the web were mostly all the same. His clothing was exact in many photos, a black suit and tie, his blonde hair slicked back and those gorgeous, searing green eyes all falling under the same heading -Promises Charity Gala.

There were a handful more, at different charity events and that was pretty much it. Some snapshots of him entering and exiting a building and getting into a limousine, and some outside what most probably was his apartment. In those photos he was dressed a little more casual, in jeans and sweaters or polo shirts and he was never looking at the photographer.

Emma clicked on a website that promised juicy gossip on Mr Dean.

Another photo of him at a charity event, this time though, he had a lady on his arm. She was leaning into him and laughing, yet he was standing tall and distant.

Bennett Dean and friend at Promises Charity Gala. Could this be the lucky lady to snag the reclusive young millionaire?

Reclusive? Is that why there were hardly any photos of him out and about town? Was he some sort of hermit? When she looked closer at the date, it was from four years ago.

Emma briefly pictured herself beside him. On his arm, laughing with him, kissing him even..

She ended it right there by shutting down the computer abruptly and walking to the bathroom, appalled and guilty at her wayward thoughts.

What would Adam think?

After a long, cool shower, Emma changed into a sundress, put her sandals on and headed out to grab a bite to eat.

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New York was not the place for her. Living in the Upper West side, even though it was a more affluent area, did not make any difference. To say Emma despised it would be an understatement. The hustle and bustle, the yellow swarm of cabs that weaved dangerously in and out of traffic and the sticky, stifling humidity was unbearable. Everybody was always in a rush to get somewhere.

She missed home with a passion, and swore she would return. She just had to save her money, which was hard now that she had moved out into an apartment with her only friend. Rent was incredibly expensive in New York but luckily for her, Abby's parents owned the apartment and the rent was quite cheap.

Emma walked into Rock's Deli, where she worked. Tonight, she was off.

Johnny, the Italian owner, an older man in his fifties with grey hair and smiling brown eyes, greeted her as she stepped inside.

"Emma, hi. What can I do for you?"

Emma liked Johnny a lot. He was like a grandfather to her, always concerned for her welfare and worrying about her. She was hoping she would not have to give her job up when Seth called her back with the Tiger Bar's schedule.

Emma stood behind the glass counter and ordered her usual salami, cheese, sundried tomatoes and olive toasted focaccia. She then took the only table available on the other side of the deli.

"How is everything. Emma? Are you doing okay?" Johnny asked when he returned with her free dinner.

Emma smiled, "No, things are good, Johnny. Thanks,"

He smiled, patted her on the shoulder and walked off.

Emma sat by herself and began to eat.

Months ago, when she had first gotten this job and moved out of her apartment, the loneliness was stifling. She felt out of place, even with her family. Her sister Ella had been apprehensive about the move, but not as much as Emma. It hadn't taken her sister long to fit right in, make new friends and start dating. She was now off at Harvard College on a scholarship studying law. Emma simply stayed behind, way behind. She had no dreams, no hopes. It had all been dashed not only when she moved away, but when Adam had never come back for her.

That had been the hardest thing to adjust too. Not only was it crushing, it was embarrassing. She had spent her entire time fighting and arguing with her parents about Adam's return.

Adam and Emma had been friends since they were five years old. In a small town like Bainbridge, everyone knew everyone. Adam had lived in a trailer park that was on the same street as her and attended the same school as her. When they had turned fourteen, their relationship changed. There was a lot of experimenting. Cuddling, kissing, touching until just after her fifteenth birthday they had slept together.

Emma was head over heels and was more than delighted that Adam was, too.Yet Adam had a dark side to him that made Emma have to keep their relationship a secret from his parents.

Adam loved trouble. He loved getting into fights, stealing and causing havoc wherever he went. His home life was in ruins, his mother skipped out on him when he was a baby and his father was an alcoholic low life who never took proper care of Adam. The trailer they resided in was always filthy and there was never any food.

That made Emma love him even more. She loved to take care of him. She was crazy about him, and she knew as much as the rest of the town knew that Adam wasn't interested in any other girl. Everyone knew except her parents, of course.

So when it had come time to leave, and when Adam had promised her he would come looking for her as soon as he could, Emma believed him with all her heart. She had no reason to doubt him. She had confessed the entire relationship to her parents, and they had been furious. She hadn't cared because she knew that Adam would be coming to take her away.

Five years later, she had not even heard a word from him. His old cell number was now someone else's cell number, making him unreachable. Emma had never had the money to fly back home, and her friends from Bainbridge had told her that Adam had packed up and left not long after her.

In todays society where it is so easy to get in touch with long lost friends, Adam had all but disappeared.

Emma finished her dinner and thanked Johnny. Having nowhere else to go, she went back home, put her pyjamas on and did the same thing she did every night. She reached under her bed and pulled out her shoebox that contained all of Adam's photos.

She crawled into bed and stared at the pictures in her hand. His black short hair, full lips and big blue eyes staring back at her was all she needed to see before the tears flowed and she cried herself to sleep.

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This next chapter is dedicated to @bookdreamer2012. The first to comment on each of my chapters, the first to read my new uploads, she is great. The glowing review she has given this book on her page The_Advertiser really made my day and means so much!! :D