You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 436

“Once you’re feeling better, you should go on a little vacation with Alex. Take some real time for yourself and relax,” her mom said, her tone soft and encouraging.

Nina smiled sweetly. “Thanks, Mom.”

As soon as the hospital room door closed behind her, Nina grabbed her phone and fired off a quick message to Patricia.

“Booked the checkup.”

Across town, Patricia had just stepped out of the bathroom, her hair bundled up in a towel. She saw Nina’s message, yanked off the towel without thinking, tossed it on the counter, and picked up her phone to make a call.

“How’s it going with Ruby?” she asked the moment the line connected.

“Tina’s still in Toronto. Word is, she and Ruby had a huge fight last night. Nothing really got settled. Ruby will probably be back home for the May holiday.”

May holiday. Of course.

Patricia walked over to the mirror. The glass was still misty from her shower. She lifted a finger and absentmindedly traced letters into the fog.

Her pale fingertip glided across the surface, spelling out names.

“Have Aurora send me Emerson’s recent schedule. It’s time to send a little welcome gift.”

She hung up. Two names stood out on the mirror.

Tina.

Emerson.

Patricia stared at them, lost in thought. Then she wiped the names away.

...

Riverdale’s social scene was a whole world of its own: lively, flashy, always buzzing.

But these days, the old drinking parties had given way to a new health kick. Executives rushed home after work for dinner with their families, then headed out to meet friends for tea instead of whiskey.

It was healthier, and it made them look like perfect family men.

The group fell silent. The man pulled out his phone, did a quick search, and turned the screen to show them.

“The news broke a couple of days ago. Ever since, every parent in Riverdale’s been scheming how to get their daughter to meet him—young, successful, loaded, and his family’s practically untouchable. If you can get in with him, you’re set for life.”

Power draws people in like nothing else.

“Mr. Martin, isn’t Ruby just the right fit?” someone teased, shooting Emerson a look.

Emerson just smiled, saying nothing.

Once the conversation moved on, he stood up. “I’m going to step out for a smoke. You guys keep chatting.”

He slid open the private room’s door and wandered down the winding, lantern-lit hallway. He pulled out a cigarette and his lighter, ready to spark up.

Just then, a girl glided past him on the opposite side of the corridor, her long hair cascading down her back, a cheongsam hugging her figure.

Emerson’s hand froze, lighter forgotten. His eyes followed her, completely captivated.