Hot Coffee (The Hollens)

Chapter 15 (Early Notice)

Emma's POV

I paced around the rooms, moving from corner to corner with the tears rolling down my cheeks and

smudging my makeup. It was the first time in my life I could say that. It was getting late, almost

morning, and the medical team was still at Halley's side, doing all they could to revive her; she was

pulling through slowly, very slowly.

But the scary part, Mr. Hollen was on his way back home.

At 9:00 in the evening a black car pulled onto the pavement. Sharon stepped out carrying one of her Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

suitcases with Mr. Hollen following right behind. They burst through the front door and walked over to

me; I panicked.

"Who are you and where's Emma?" he demanded.

He didn't recognized me?! Breathe, Emma, breathe. I became speechless, wondering how to tell him it

was me standing right in front of him.

"Sir, she's right here," I responded.

"Where?" he looked around.

What? Do I really look that different? "I am Emma."

His eyes popped as they scanned me from head to toe. He passed his fingers through his hair as he

gave a small smile, but it faded as soon as a medical professional interrupted.

"Mr. Hollen, welcome back. Sir, I have news on her condition. She's responding to the treatment and

she's awake now."

I let out a sigh of relief, something I had been holding for the entire evening since our departure from

the party. I looked at Mr. Hollen, the grey in his eyes seemed to have fade to a darker color, like the

changes in a shark's eyes when it smells blood. I was never so scared in my life.

"Thank you." His voice was cold.

He followed the doctor into the room to see Halley. I exhaled again and slipped down onto a chair. My

feet couldn't support the weight of the fear in my body. I felt a touch of long nails on my shoulder. I

looked up and noticed Sharon was still standing there. For a minute, I had forgotten she even existed.

"Take these upstairs." She pointed to her over sized suitcase.

I attempted to carry it but it was too heavy to even shift. Did she picked up stones in the Bahamas and

put them in her damn luggage? I walked over to her. "Miss Sharon, it's too heavy for me to carry."

"That's Mrs. Hollen to you, you wimp!"

"My apologies, Mrs. Hollen." Are they already married? I wondered.

She sat on the chair I previously occupied so I stood against the wall.

Mr. Hollen appeared again. "Emma, what's wrong with the two of you? I was supposed to still be in the

Bahamas with my fiancee. I had to fly home early because of this, which shouldn't have happened in

the first place because y'all were supposed to be here!" His last word shot like a bullet.

I was shaking like a leaf now.

"Sweetie, why are you stressing over those lowly maids? Why don't you just fire them and get new

ones? This one, here, isn't even capable of holding a coffee cup. They're out partying and getting drunk

instead of doing their jobs," Sharon inputted as she stood up and stood beside him like he was one of

her possessions, glaring at me with disgust in her eyes.

She was upset, and that was understandable, but I was just hoping Mr. Hollen wasn't considering what

she was saying.

"Emma, when you came into my office, you were in need of a job and you were desperate. Now, you're

making me regret hiring you."

Oh no, please don't do this. Don't fire me. I admit we messed up, but, please, this whole thing isn't

even our fault.

"You're on thin ice. Walk carefully," he added again.

What does that mean?

What he said made Sharon more upset than she already was. "So that's it? You're just letting her off

with a warning? They interrupted our vacation with some bullshit and that's all you're going to do?" she

screamed at him as she held his shoulder and stomped her feet.

She looked like a kid who didn't get to ride on the pony at a carnival and threw a tantrum.

"Sharon, please! Not now!" he yelled back as he removed her hands and placed them at her sides. He

moved to Luis and began conversing with him.

Sharon glared at me again, moving closer. "This is all your fault. I can't wait for when I move in

permanently. I will make your life a living hell for this!" she said and went upstairs.

The good news was I wasn't fired, but the bad news was Sharon was moving in and was dead set on

ruining me.

Great, just what I need.

I went to see Halley again. She was laying on the small bed, talking softly with one of the doctors.

Thank heaven she was now awake and responding well to the medications.

"Hi," I greeted softly.

She looked over to me teary-eyed. She held my hand and sighed softly. She looked drained and

exhausted.

"She needs to rest," the doctor said, hinting that I should go.

I walked back to the living room, mind racing and bumped into something hard.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Hollen asked.

"Yes, sir. I'll be fine."

"This suits you, Emma."

I was lost.

"I'm talking about the makeover. Let me guess, this was Halley's idea?"

He wasn't so angry anymore and those soft grey eyes were back.

"Yes, sir. She took me shopping." I was smiling on the inside, he'd actually complimented me.

"I see. I'm glad you're alright and Halley will be okay. You should get some rest."

"Yes sir. Goodnight."

"Good night."

I headed towards my room but watched as he picked up the heavy suitcase and carried it upstairs.

The medical team left shortly thereafter, but one doctor stayed behind on standby, just in case.

_______________

The next day, I got up early and commenced to work immediately. I wanted to make up for what Halley

and I had done the day before by performing my duties the best I possibly could. I had already mopped

the entire living room and kitchen floor, dusted the sofas, chair sets, banisters, and picture frames when

Mr. Hollen woke up. When I noticed he was up-- I could hear him moving as I passed by his room-- I

prepared his coffee and found the courage to call to tell him his coffee was ready.

He gave me one of his sweet smiles as he took it from my hands and we walked to the living room

where I was mopping again just to be sure I hadn't missed any spots.

"I missed your coffee," he said after he took a sip.

It's only been one day. Attached much? I blushed as I mopped. What's coming over me?

"You know, I can't help but love your new look. It's really nice."

"Thank you, sir," I blushed again and attempted to put my hair behind my ear, but he leaned in and did

it for me before I had the chance.

His hand brushed against my neck and I felt the electricity rush again. My knees became weak and all I

wanted to do was fall into his strong arms. But my feelings were short lived when Sharon appeared

over the banister and peered down on us.

"What the hell is going on here?" she shouted, her eyes flaring down at me.