My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 881

That evening, just as she was wrapping up work, Emily Blair received an unexpected phone call.

Her eyes lit up as she answered, voice soft. “Hello? This is Emily.”

A gentle, steady woman’s voice came from the other end: “Emily, it’s me. My father needs your help with something—could you come by for a bit?”

Emily paused, surprise flickering in her gaze. “Of course. I’ll head over now.”

As soon as she hung up, Emily sent a quick message to her driver to bring the car around.

The call was from Melisa Vargas, the daughter of Tate Vargas. Emily had known the Vargas family for four years now.

Back in the early days of her company, nothing ever seemed to go smoothly. With so few hands on deck, Emily had to manage nearly every crisis herself. Despite two lifetimes’ worth of experience, there was so much she didn’t know—contacts she couldn’t reach, processes she couldn’t untangle. The chaos was overwhelming, and more than once, she’d doubted she’d ever make it as an entrepreneur.

Then came the second round of fundraising. Emily spent her days running all over the city, chasing down angel investors. Rejection after rejection, until finally, she met Tate Vargas.

He was sixty-nine then, well past the usual retirement age, but still working at Pinnacle Financial Advisors.

Emily would always be grateful for the impulse that led her to walk through the doors of Pinnacle that afternoon, seizing the chance to introduce her company to Mr. Vargas.

He proved to be both a sharp business partner and a generous mentor—despite his packed schedule, he gave her five minutes and offered a few, concise thoughts.

She ended up waiting in an empty office while his secretary ushered him out of a meeting. That day, he saw right away the potential in her project and agreed to invest.

Tate Vargas’s villa sat at the edge of the neighborhood, surrounded by scattered trees and silence. The streetlights cast long, dim shadows through the branches, giving the place a hushed, secluded feel.

Emily’s car rolled to a stop in the driveway. She stepped out and spotted Melisa waiting for her.

Melisa was in her early forties, with gentle features and an air of calm grace. Her eyes were kind, and she wore a loose, comfortable dress. She gave Emily a small nod. “Emily, it’s been a long time.”

Emily walked over and shook her hand. “It really has, Melisa. Is everything all right? What did you want to talk about?”

They started toward the front door together, Melisa looking apologetic. “I know it’s sudden, and I’m sorry to call out of the blue. But my father needs your help, and I couldn’t think of anyone else to turn to.”