To Color Your Life

"Emily, are you all right?" Justin's alarmed voice was the first that the girl heard when she regained consciousness.

She found herself sitting (more precisely, reclining) on ​​the couch, where she and her boss had dinner in his office for the last time.

It was a few days ago. He then offered to act as her fictitious boyfriend in front of her grandmother.

It was quite recently. And the feeling is like a decade ago.

Since the appearance of Justin Evans, her every day has been like a year - her life has become so eventful.

"Mel called the doctor, he'll be there soon," Evans put a pillow under Emily's back as she tried to sit up, "Don't make any sudden movements."

And where does such a soft pillow in the study come from? Oh, exactly. There is also a rest room here.

Emily's brain began to slowly recover its functions. "No need for a doctor. I'm fine."

"Losing consciousness in the middle of the day, that's what you call fine?" the boss objected.

"Nothing unexpected, if you don't eat for two days," the girl muttered under her breath and immediately regretted what she had said.

The boss's eyes widened in indignation, "You haven't eaten for two days?! Emily, what were you thinking?!"

I was thinking about you! What an asshole and a traitor you turned out to be! Yes, that's just...

Hayes glanced sideways at the second Evans. He was sitting with the child on his lap and braiding the girl's hair. The man noticed her gaze and immediately winked.

Emily dropped her eyes and blushed.

God Hayes, that's the shame level 99...

You made a scandal and almost beat (although you are unlikely to beat such a person, his reaction was too good) an innocent person! Stop. Actually he sort of missed the hook to the jaw from her elbow.

Oh, foooooool...

She covered her face with her hands, but there was a feeling that not only her cheeks and ears were covered with a blush, but even her fingers were mimicking the color of her pink backpack.

By the way, where is it? It's scary to even ask.

"Sorry, Mr. Evans. I confused you with your brother, I thought it was Justin."

"It's okay, Miss Hayes. I am glad that you felt better after all," the man smiled kindly. Emily was almost relieved. Keyword: almost. If Jacob hadn't added next, "But that elbow swing to the jaw was quite something. It still hurts," he pointedly rubbed his chin and even grimaced a little at the same time.

"Did you hit my brother? But why?" Justin was surprised, Emily blushed even more.

Hmm, Hayes, you know how to make a first impression on the boss's relatives. First she appeared before his father in a defiant outfit, then hand-to-hand combat with his brother. What are the next options?

His mom catches you naked in her son's bathroom? And their new cat will choke on food because you have zero idea how to feed the cats properly?

"Wait," Justin remembered, "If you thought it was me, you wanted to hit me?!"

Oh, just don't look with such huge and confused eyes, boss! Emily already felt guilty as if she had accidentally told all the children of the world that Santa does not exist.

"And you," Evans turned to his brother, "Why didn't you tell her right away that it wasn't me?"

Jacob shrugged, "She flew into the office like a fire-breathing dragon, ready to rip and tear everything apart. My professional ethics did not allow me to leave the girl in trouble."

Justin shook his head, "What a strange argument? You don't seem to be a psycho."

The boss's twin said gravely, "Not a pyscho, but a psychologist. It is harmful to keep negative emotions in oneself, especially for women. Better to shout, and only then you can talk to her. As a married man, I tell you this."

Melissa Evans, sitting next to her husband, opened her mouth in amazement, "What are you talking about?!" The woman laughed and jokingly tapped him on the shoulder, "Emily will now think that I flip out at you every day."

"I don't mind occasional flipping out if you know the reason," Justin gazed at Hayes, "What made you so angry that you came to kill me, my beautiful dragon?"

Now she was definitely embarrassed. How to voice all her assumptions when the objects of these assumptions are sitting opposite and absolutely do not deserve her severe punishment?! 

"I met that woman yesterday morning who came up to you in the cinema. She told me that you are married to Melissa and you have a child, she showed me the photographs as proof." Emily smiled apologetically at Mel. It was not the way that she would really want to get acquainted with this family, but what is done is done.

"Who has such a sick fantasy, Miss Hayes?" Jacob asked. His suspiciously soft tone made her palms sweaty. Well, for sure, next to this brother, she feels like a delinquent teenager.

"She introduced herself as Lala. And she said hello."

"Lala?" Melissa asked and looked at her serious husband, "That same Lala?"

"Yes, that one," Justin confirmed Emily's words. "It appears to me that this bitch has forgotten where she belongs."

"Bitch?" repeated little Melonie. Jacob was ready to kill his brother with a glance.

"Karma is a bitch," added the girl with a dignified air, like a politician educating ordinary people.

"Darling, where did you get this from?!" gasped her mother.

"This is what one man said in the movies. Uncle Justin and I were watching it together," Melonie replied with an innocent smile.

If before that there was only a hint of fratricide, now death with a scythe, under whose hoodie Jacob was, was already waving over Justin Evans, "I seem to have asked you to look after the child, and not show creative upbringing."

"That was not on purpose! I just fell asleep! Here, Emily will confirm! I was going to go to her, but passed out. I didn't know Melonie would be sitting there watching a movie," the boss spoke up in his defense, "She was already asleep when I turned on the movie!"

So that's why he didn't come back that evening. He sat with the child and fell asleep? Emily had a hard time imagining a boss with diapers and baby food.

So who are you really, Justin Evans?

"Karma is a bitch," the girl repeated, satisfied with the effect on the adults.

"Yes, dear, you're right," Jacob brought his daughter down from his knees, "Come down with your mother. I'll catch up with you. Who is the first to the main entrance?"

"Me! Me!" Melony jumped on the spot and flew out of the office like a bullet.

Melissa Evans could only sigh and follow the small typhoon.

Jacob waited for his wife and daughter to leave the room, then got up from the chair and straightened his jacket, "Miss Hayes, I'm sorry to accidentally get you into our old business. The woman you met is my ex-fiancee. We parted not in the most peaceful way. She apparently decided to use you to mess with Justin and me. I hope you don't take this situation too close to your heart."

"She almost killed you, Jacob! I told you that bitch had to be thrown to jail even then!" the boss burst into anger.

"Let's save these details for later, Jus. I think you have something to talk about with Emily." He held out his hand to the girl, "It was nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you, but I didn't even count on such a stormy greeting."

Emily embarrassedly shook his hand back, "Maybe if I had heard of you, my greeting would not have been so stormy, Mr. Evans. Thank you for understanding."

The man nodded and left the office.

Emily and Justin were left alone. For a couple of minutes no one said a word until a confused Stephanie knocked on the door and said that Mr. Jacob Evans had ordered sweet tea and sandwiches to be served.

Emily took a bite of the tuna and avocado toast and stared at the mug in her hand.

This is how in the morning she looked into the black liquid with instant coffee. Then it reflected her condition well.

Now the tea, although it was black, was closer to brown in color.

Maybe if you add milk, then life will become brighter?

"So you studied at the Central Institute of our district?" Emily looked up from her mug of tea and met her boss's gaze.

He stared into her face for a while, as if he wanted to count all the interesting thoughts and emotions.

Confirming what he wanted, the man looked away and stared somewhere at the wall.

"You know everything…" He chuckled, notes of painful sadness in his voice were clear, "You know, Melonie was right.. Karma is still such a bitch."