Emerson Thornsworth picked at her nails throughout the unveiling, only stopping every few moments to glance at her brother. The presentation nearly left her snoring, and yet Sebastian leaned forward, his hands on his knees.
On the shining black stage, Phillip Thornsworth droned endlessly. Emma flicked her eyes at her brother once again. She mimed her father’s dramatic gestures.
Her efforts went unnoticed.
“Bas!” She whispered.
He didn't turn, mouthing, “watch.”
Emma crossed her arms and resumed her slouch. She tried not to notice the black suited men blending into the crowd. What good was extra security? Thornsworth Inc had yet to prevent a single attack.
The next could be right here.
“For the price of one pill a week, you can elevate the quality of your life. Never be sick again. Never fear disease.” Michael Harvey had taken over the conversation. He had always been Phillip’s second in command. A genius young man who just gets business. At least, that’s what Phillip claimed. “Enter a new world with Thornsworth Inc. Enter. Elevate. Succeed.”
The crowd applauded, and Bas slapped his hands together so hard his chair rocked.
Emma rolled her eyes. At least there would be an after party.
She took her time to stretch and groaned the stiffness from her limbs before snatching her bag from her body guard. Her father constantly bemoaned the presence of the gray canvas sack at his presentations.
“Why did you bring that thing?” Bas appeared at her shoulder. Despite the roar of the evacuating crowd, his voice rang clear. Emma and Bas had always been so attuned to each other.
Until recently.
Emma held the bag in front of her dress. Itchy. Cream colored. Her mother’s choice. “I need my essentials.”
Bas raised his eyebrows, but as soon as Phillip placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, Bas’s playfulness melted.
Emma slumped.
“That was excellent,” Bas said.
“Thornsworth is excellent. This’ll all be you some day, Sebastian.” The lead Thornsworth panted through his beam. A sheen of sweat glistened against his pale forehead. “At least we weren’t interrupted. Today went well.”
Emma had heard rumors. Thornsworth wasn’t as popular as her father would have hoped. Thornsworth buildings around the world had been subject to hijacking. Theft. Arson. Emma’s foot tapped.
“I’ll never be as good as you, Dad.”
Phillip ruffled Bas’s hair, sending inky strands all over the place. “You will be.”
Harvey hurried to keep up with Phillip, but spared a quick smile for Bas as he passed.
Bas fell into step beside Emma as they made their way to the top floor of the research center. He pushed his hair back into place.
“What’s up with you?” Emma quickened her step to keep pace with him.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re obsessed. Like Dad.”
Bas met her eyes in the way she hated. He looked down on her not just physically, but also morally. Mentally.
Yet his words betrayed a hint of apology. “One of us has to be.”
Emma silently disagreed.
They piled into the elevator roped off for VIPs one trip after their father. Travis was the only other occupant. A blank faced, stony man, Travis always stood as if her were part of the secret service. He rarely spoke. Never smiled. Phillip had hired him under the pretext of needing someone to drive Emma and Bas around when he couldn’t. But Bas and Emma both knew their father paid Travis to protect them.
Not everyone loved Thornsworth as much as Bas.
She and Bas reached for the button at the same time, and their hands brushed. Emma knew he wouldn’t keep her company at the party. Images flashed through her mind. Bas sitting at a table, laughing with two other people. Neither of them her.
She pulled away first.
The doors opened to pulsing music. Emma kicked her heels off under the nearest table and nudged her brother. “Let’s go find the desserts.”
Bas held up a hand. “In a minute.” He started toward a group of neatly dressed reporters huddled around a table. Waiting.
Emma blew her long bangs out of her face. She should have stayed home.
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