Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 200: Cold Breakfast

After Emily’s phone call with Mari, she couldn’t go back to sleep, so she spent the next couple of hours reading the brochure since she didn’t want any more surprises or embarrassment from not reading it.

If she had read it when her father sent it she would have know about Callan being the sponsor and not have to hear it from Dan.

She finished reading the brochure just before dawn, and decided to shower since she knew she wouldn’t be going back to bed.

As she showered, she thought about Callan and what Jamal had said about him having nightmares and seeing a therapist.

She wondered what he was seeing a therapist for. She shook her head, telling herself not to wonder or worry about Callan. He wasn’t her problem, and there was nothing she could do for him that his therapist couldn’t do.

She wondered if his parents knew he was seeing a therapist. Her Dad would know, wouldn’t he? She contemplated asking him, but then decided against it.

What if they didn’t know and by asking her father they found out about it? Callan would be mad to know they heard it from her and he’d easily trace it back to Jamal and then everyone would be upset.

By the time she was done dressing up it was just past seven. She wasn’t due at the hospital until nine. So, she headed for the kitchen to make breakfast for herself.

As she stepped out of her bedroom the aroma of coffee hit her, but more than that her heart skipped a beat since she knew perceiving coffee meant that Callan was probably in the kitchen.

She braced herself as she walked into the kitchen, and just as she suspected she saw Callan standing by the coffee maker, dressed in a tank top and sweat pant and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

”Good morning, Em,” he greeted pleasantly, flashing her his usual smile as he looked over her simple outfit.

She was wearing a baby blue button-down shirt on navy blue pants with black low flats. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and she looked virginal.

One day at a time, Emily, she told herself as she looked past him, not wanting to look into his face. ”Good morning, Callan,” she responded politely.

”Did you sleep well? Want a cup of coffee?” He asked, already taking out a mug for her.

”I slept fine. No need to ask how you slept. We both know that. And no coffee, thanks,” she said in a clipped tone as she walked over to the refrigerator and took out a bowl of Greek yoghurt and some fruits.

She wasn’t sure what to make of his behavior. Why was he acting like he had not brushed her off so rudely earlier? What was it with him and always moving on like he had done nothing wrong after being offensive?

”When did all of that get there?” He asked, watching as she took out a bottle of granola.

”I bought them yesterday,” she said politely as she walked past him to get a bowl. ”Should I make some for you?” She asked, trying her best to sound aloof.

Callan watched her, partially relieved that she wasn’t bringing up what happened earlier, and at the same time he felt guilty for the way he had dismissed her concern. He was torn between apologizing to her and letting it go since he didn’t want to give her the window to ask him what he had been dreaming about.

”Sure. Thanks,” he said, and sat by the island, watching her as she silently diced peeled the apple and then diced the apple and banana.

”So, what’s your plan for the day?” He asked when she didn’t say anything to him.

”I have to be at the hospital by nine. I will know all about my scheduled rotation and shifts when I get there,” she said without glancing at him.

”You’re pissed,” he observed.

”I’m not,” she muttered but focused on what she was doing without looking at him.

”I know you, Em. I know you’re pissed. You don’t make eye contact when you’re annoyed and don’t want to speak about it. And you’re being very polite. I shouldn’t have reacted that way earlier,” he admitted, and then swallowed.

When she still didn’t look at him, he reached out and tugged on her hair, ”I’m sorry.”

Emily raised a brow but said nothing to him. She was surprised that he was apologizing so easily now, but she was also annoyed that he was always putting them in situations where he had to apologize to her.

”Say something,” he said when she remained silent. As much as he didn’t want her to ask what he had been dreaming about, he didn’t want her to stay mad.

She straightened and looked at him, ”If I ask what you were dreaming about are you going to tell me?”

”I’d rather you don’t ask. It’s not something I like to talk about,” he said, and she said nothing as she poured some yoghurt into two bowls and then added some fruits and granola.

”Does it happen often? I’m not asking because I care about you or your dream. I just want to know if I should ignore you the next time I see you having a nightmare or if you’d like me to wake you up as long as I don’t ask you questions,” she said coolly as she pushed his bowl to him and sat down to eat.

”I think I end up annoying a lot when I really don’t mean to,” he said, and she looked up and met his gaze.

”That doesn’t answer my question,” she stated.

”It won’t happen again. I’ll stay in my room so you don’t have to see me that way if it ever happens again,” he promised.

Emily sighed inwardly. Without another word she began to eat without looking at him.

Seeing that she didn’t want to talk, Callan focused on his breakfast while wondering what she was thinking and why she wasn’t saying anything.

”Would you rather take a cab to work? If someone sees my assistant dropping you off they might guess that you were the one I was talking about,” Callan said after a while.

Emily almost snorted. If he hadn’t given that stupid speech last night would being dropped off by his assistant had been a problem?

She could tell her silence was making him uncomfortable and he was trying to get her to talk.

Good. Let him squirm.

”If you can drop me off somewhere I can easily get a cab, I’d appreciate it.”

Callan could tell now that she was bent on ignoring him since the Emily he knew would have snapped his head off by pointing out that the only reason his assistant couldn’t drop her off was because of the speech he had given.

”I’m sorry for all I’ve done or said to upset you both past and present,” he said after a while, but Emily kept eating without looking at him or responding.

She wanted to ask why he did that six years ago. Why he had sex with her and then introduced her to his girlfriend the very next day. She wanted to ask if the sex had been a mistake but she knew it was a bad idea.

It was best to leave the past in the past. No good could come out of bringing that up. The last thing she wanted was to hear him say something that might hurt her again. Besides, she had told him she was over him so why bring up the past again?

Callan was the first to finish his meal. He washed his bowl and went in to dress up so he could leave for the office. By the time he returned, Emily was ready to leave.

As they got into his car, his phone rang, and he received the call when he saw it was his mother, Delilah. He smiled despite of himself.

”Hey, Mom!” He greeted as he drove out of the compound.

”How are you doing, darling? I’ve been thinking of you all day,” she said, and Callan smiled.

”What are you thinking about? Missing me?” He asked, while Emily looked at him from the corner of her eyes.

”Yeah. I was thinking of visiting you soon since you’ve refused to come home even for a short visit,” she said, and Callan chuckled.

”Why don’t we talk about that when I get to the office? I’m driving,” he said, glancing over at her as she stared out the window. ”We’re on our way to drop Emily off so she can get a cab to work.”

”A cab? Why aren’t you dropping her off at the hospital?” Delilah asked, a frown in her voice.

”She doesn’t want anyone to know we are connected,” Callan explained.

”I see. How’s she doing? Hand her the phone,” Delilah urged him, and he handed the phone to Emily.

”She wants to talk to you,” he told her and Emily took the phone.

”Hello, aunt D,” Emily greeted cheerfully.

”How are you doing, Emmy? Is Callan taking good care of you?” Delilah asked, and Emily glanced at Callan.

”He doesn’t have to. I can take care of myself,” she said, and Delilah laughed.

”Sure you can. So, while at it can you help me take care of him? I worry about him a lot” she said and Emily wondered if she knew about Callan’s nightmares and that was the reason she was worried.

”I doubt my program will give me the time or space for that, but I will try if he lets me,” she promised before handing the phone back.

”Mom, I’ll call you when I get to the office,” Callan said and hung up as he pulled over near a taxi stand.

”I’ll drop you off here,” he said, turning to Emily.

She nodded. ”Thanks for the ride,” she said curtly, opening the door.

Callan watched as Emily got out of the car, feeling a pang of worry at her behavior. He wanted things to be cool between them, but he wasn’t sure how.

Emily hailed a taxi and got in, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was glad to be away from Callan and his unpredictable moods.

As the taxi drove away, she gazed out the window, lost in thought as she reflected on her interaction with Callan.

She patted herself for being the bigger person and handling herself maturely. Slowly she was going to do it. She was going to get over him one day at a time, she promised herself.

As she arrived at the hospital, she took a deep breath and prepared herself for the challenges ahead.

She had a long day ahead of her at the hospital, but she was ready to focus on her work and leave her personal concerns behind.