The morning was like a long eternity.
Amelia sat beside Sophia’s bed and watched her friend sleep as the sunlight slowly moved across the room.
Time had passed, hours had gone but time stood still.
Sophia’s breath was regular, calm, safe.
Amelia’s mind wouldn’t calm down.
Damien’s words reverberated in her head.
Board meeting.
Evidence.
Expose.
Everything was going so quickly.
Too quick.
She stood up and walked to the window and looked down at the city below.
The mansion loomed high above it all, buildings sprawling beneath her, cars creeping like little insects, ordinary people living their ordinary lives.
No one knew there was a war going on behind these walls.
They knew nothing of murder, kidnapping, or betrayal.
She put her forehead against the glass, the coolness grounding her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the memories came anyway.
Her father’s face, cold and calculating.
Damien’s voice, steady and honest and somehow terrifying.
Sophia’s tears, the fear in her eyes, the bruises on her wrists.
Amelia’s hands tightened against the glass.
“Amelia?”
Sophia’s voice spoke from behind her.
Amelia turned round.
” You should be resting.
Sophia sat up, wincing.
“I had my rest.”
Amelia returned to the bed.
“How do you feel?”
“I need some coffee.”
Amelia nearly smiled.
“Be right there.
She went to the door.
Sophia shouted after her.
“Amelia.
She stopped, turned.
Sophia locked eyes with her.
Don’t forget to breathe.
The words were softly spoken.
Amelia nodded.
I’ll try.
She went into the hall, closing the door gently behind her.
The manor was quiet this morning, but she could feel the stirrings below staff at work, guards posted, all of it moving with the hum of a well-oiled machine.
Everything is controlled.
The kitchen opened and warm light spilled out.
Amelia stepped in and a member of staff looked up.
“Miss Laurent.” “Amelia.”
The woman nodded.
“Amelia.
Can I get you something?
“Coffee.
Two.
The woman turned and walked away.
Amelia leaned against the counter and let the silence wash over her, until footsteps approached.
She didn’t turn.
“Sophia awake?” Damien’s voice.
“Yes.” “Good.”
At length she looked at him.
He stood by the door, in another black shirt, with an unreadable expression on his face, though his eyes looked tired.
“You slept?”
He shook his head.
Not really.” “Neither did I.
They stood in silence while the coffee pot hummed.
Amelia folded her arms.
„The board meeting.
“When precisely?”
Got nearer.
“Tomorrow morning, ten o’clock.”And you’ll be there?
“Yes.” “And my father?
His eyes grew hard.
“And he’ll be there too.”
Her stomach churned.
“Victor?”
If he’s clever.
But victor isn’t intelligent.”
The comment nearly made her smile.
Almost.
The employee placed two cups of coffee on the counter and handed one to Damien and Amelia thanked her.
He took it slow, their fingers grazing for a second.
A small jolt went up her arm and she jerked back quickly.
Damien saw.
His face didn’t change, but something flickered behind his eyes.
She stared into her coffee.
“How did they find the evidence?
He leaned on the counter.
Years of investigation.
Files concealed where your father won’t think to look.
“Where like?” “International accounts.
Private Server.
People who owed me money.
She looked at his face.
“You’ve been planning this for a long time.” “Yes. And I was on the plan? The question loomed in the air. He put his coffee down slowly. The plan didn’t include you.” His voice was calm.
“But you were part of it.”
She wrinkled her nose.
He moved closer.
“The idea was to destroy your father’s empire.
Proof.
“Exposure. Ruin.” He paused.
Then you kissed me.
Her heart was pounding.
“And then it all changed.
She looked off.
I don’t know if I can believe you.
“I know,” he said softly.
“Why then should I trust you?
He fell silent for a moment, then said, “Because I’m still standing here.” He went on.
After the contract I could have walked away.
When the evidence was procured.His eyes caught hers.
“But I didn’t.
She knew that.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He moved closer again, close enough that she could feel the heat off him.
“It means you matter.
The words sunk in deep.
“To the question?NopeHis voice dropped.
“To me.
Her confession dislodged something inside her.
She wanted to trust him.
I wanted to believe him.
But the wounds were still too raw.
“Damien…
I’m not asking you to believe.
He took a slight step back.
“I’m asking for time.
“Time for what?
“See, I’m not your dad.
The words cut right through her defenses.
She looked away quickly, but the tears came anyway.
Damien didn’t come any closer, didn’t touch her.
He waited for it.
She rubbed her eyes hard.
“I hate to cry.
You said that.
The near-joke got a laugh from her, but it was weak.
“Don’t make me feel.”
His face softened.
“I can’t promise that.” “You’re impossible.
“I’m told.
They stood in silence, an odd, comfortable silence, the coffee cooling in her hands, something in her chest warming instead.
Then Sophia’s voice cut in from upstairs.
Amelia!
Amelia instantly went on edge.
“What happened?” She ran for the stairs, Damien close behind.
Sophia was near the top, her face white.
“There’s someone out there.
Amelia’s blood ran cold.
“What?”
Sophia gestured toward the front windows.
“Car.
Black.
It has been sitting there for ten minutes.
Amelia’s heart pounded.
Damien hurried past her toward the front entrance, his face going cold and dangerous.
“Don’t open it,” Amelia called to him.
He didn’t look at her, but at the security monitor by the door.
His jaw clenched and he stepped back.
Edward KANE.
Amelia froze up.
“What?
“Outside the gates,” he said.
She went to the monitor and there he was, Edward, sitting in his car, staring at the mansion, his face dark, angry, obsessed.
Her throat surged with nausea.
“Why is he here?
Damien’s voice was cool.
“Because he hasn’t accepted that you chose someone else.
She pulled back.
“I am not dealing with him.
“No,” said Damien, picking up his keys.
“Stay inside.
She seized his arm.
What are you doing?
“Reminding him of who he married.”
He walked to the door.
She went after him.
Damien—
“Wait.
His voice brooked no argument.
But Amelia wasn’t following that today.
Not any more.
“I’m going with you.”
He looked at her, searched her face, then nodded once.
“Stand behind me.”
She nodded and went with him to the gates.
Edward stepped out of the car, engine still running, and walked slowly away.
In the daylight he looked older.
More furious.
His eyes found her straight away.
He looked over at Damien.
“You.
“Me,” said Damien, calm as ever.
Edward gave a harsh laugh.
You think you won?”
“I think you have to go.”
But Edward’s eyes were on Amelia.
You made me lose face.
She stood her ground.
You’re putting yourself to shame.
His face clouded.
“I’m not done with you.
The threat didn’t disappear until Damien moved his body, cutting off Edward’s view of her.
“Listen well.
His voice dropped.
Dangerous now.
You are coming again to my wife-
“Your wife?” Edward laughed a bitter laugh.
“This is a contractual.
Nothing more.
Damien’s face didn’t change.
“That’s the way. It started as a contract.” He stepped closer.
But I’m beginning to like the arrangement.”
Edward’s face turned white, then red.
“You are playing games.” “Yes,” Damien said, his smile cold.
and I’m winning.
Edward looked again at Amelia.
“She’s not going to stay with you.
“She’s already here.”
“You’ll regret it.”
Damien nodded slowly.
I regret a lot of things.
He hesitated.
One of them is not to marry her.
The words simply took her breath away.
Damien didn’t move, didn’t flinch, but Edward’s face twisted and he stepped forward, aggressive now.
He just looked.
And waited.
Edward stopped a few feet off.
His hands balled into fists, but he never threw, couldn’t throw, because Damien’s calm was somehow more terrifying than any threat could be.
Then Edward stepped back.
“This isn’t over.” “No,” Damien agreed.
“No, it isn’t.”
Edward returned to his car.
The engine roared and the car shot off.
Amelia let out the breath she had been holding, and her whole body shuddered.
Damien turned to her, his voice low.
“Are you all right?” “No.” They were both surprised by the honesty.
He moved nearer.
“What do you want?”
She looked at him, breathing hard.
“I don’t know.
He laid a hand softly on her arm.
“Then let’s go inside.”
She nodded, and they headed back toward the mansion.
Sophia stood at the entrance, her face a mask of worry.
“Where did you go?”
“Nothing,” said Amelia.
“Edward Kane,” said Damien.
Sophia’s face went white.
“He’s still obsessed?” “Yes.
“This is getting worse,” Sophia said, looking at Amelia.
“I know.
Damien passed them both.
Sleep a little.
You guys both.
Sophia nodded, and then slowly went back upstairs.
Damien caught her arm gently before she could follow.
“Stay here.
The request took her by surprise.
“Damien.
“Only a few minutes.” His eyes fixed on hers.
“I’ll keep out of the way.
She gulped a mouth of air and nodded.
All right.
They went into the living-room where the fire was burning, the flames dancing.
Damien sat at one end of the couch, Amelia at the other, and the space between them was enormous and somehow, not enough.
The fire popped.
Neither said anything.
But oddly the silence was comfortable.
Finally Damien looked at her.
“When all this is over, when it’s all out in the open, what will you do?”
She thought about it.
“Rebuild.” “Good.
“What’re you gonna do?
He smiled a little.
“Ditto.”
Sounds honest enough.
She didn’t push for more.
She didn’t have to.
Because for once the waiting didn’t seem like waiting.
It was a dry run.
And Amelia Laurent was prepared to fight.