Chapter 19: Who Is It

She gave him her resignation letter.
"Isn't there any other way for us to settle this?" he pleaded.
Emma shakes her head.

There is a way. They can go back together, they can start over and this time do it right. He will tell her he loves her. She can answer the affirmative. Happily ever after.

But that's not the way now. It's too complicated.
It's easy to put it on paper. She used to love him most ardently. And he actually loves her. There's no reason why she can't be with him.

Maybe Adelia....

Ah screw Adelia... why must she care about Adelia. Does Adelia cares when Adam left Emma to be with her? 
Yeah... that's why...
It's not about her feelings. It's not about Adelia.

It's him.

"Emma, I need you here. I can't function without you."
"Relax. I'm not rushing to go anywhere. The protocol clearly said that I have to be here for a month." she said.

Adam sighs.
"Two months." he said, finally tearing off the envelope and read the letter as if it copntains something else, and not Emma's resignation.

"What?" her forehead creases.

Adam leans towards her.
"A month only for those who worked here at least two years. YOU have been here for as long as I can remember. You can only leave after two months." he said.
Emma was speechless.    
"But I can't stay here for two whole months!"
"It's in the protocol, Emma. The protocol we made together, remember?" Adam smiled, feeling victorious.

"But two month? I... I..."
She can't finish the sentence. Not at the moment when her mind failed her miserably.

"Look. I'm being generous. In fact you are not to resign until three months period. You have been here the longest. It has been Adam and Emma all the way through. All your workloads are exclusive to my knowing and to yours alone. You can't teach somebody new for just a month." he lied.

There is never three months duration. But he needs her to agree to stay for at least eight week. He can do something in eight week. He may be able to change her mind. He may be able to win her back.

"It's not somebody new... "
"Who do you have in mind?"
"Ann." she answered.
"Ann?"
"Ann from human resource. She works well with others and she's a fast learner. Anad I know she can do this because I've seen her and ...." she explains.  
"I am not talking about whose your replacement, Emma." Adam stopped her.

Emma looked up and saw him staring at her again.

"Excuse me?"
Adam sit up straight.
"I'm talking about him. Who is it? Who is the person that made you like this? Who is it that convinced you to resign? Who is the lucky guy who you sacrifice your job for?" he puts his fingers on his temple, lazily eyeing her up and down.

Edmund... she can just say. But it's not true.

"Nobody. I am not in love, if that's what you're getting to." she looks at him suspiciously. He smiled almost lazily, and nodded.

"Yes. You are not in love. I am convinced." he sound so cynical that Emma wanted so much to argue with him. But it's no point. It's easier if he thinks that. Maybe that way he will leave her alone.

"Two months, Emma. That's it. You can go now." he said finally. Emma turns and head back to her table, but not without hearing him humming and asking with a singsong voice....
"Who is it..."

To be continued...