6. Amelia
Chapter 6
Amelia
I ’m glad this day is over.
I towel off after my shower, the steam still clinging to the gym’s locker room mirrors.
My muscles ache from pushing myself harder than usual in the gym. But it was a welcome distraction from the chaos of my personal life.
I slip into my leggings and pull a soft tee over my head. Then I gather my damp hair and curl it into a messy bun.
My cell rings. I turn it over and check the caller.
Felix.
I glare at his name as it flashes on my screen.
I cancel his call.
I’m not in the mood to talk to him, not after Friday night.
But when it rings again, I answer, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Where have you been?” Felix’s has the nerve to sound panicked. “I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”
“I’ve been gone since Friday. Have you only just realized I’ve gone?”
As usual, he’s not listening.
He continues, “I had a call from the bank about some strange transactions on my account.”
“Maybe it was Jodie,” I tell him.
“Jodie—“
I chuckle, unable to help myself. “Yeah. I take it that you mean the same account you’ve been using to fund Jodie’s shopping sprees?”
“What are you talking about?”
I grit my teeth.
“I saw you, Felix. You and Jodie. I have got some photos and a nasty video on my phone to prove it was real, and I’m not being an untrusting girlfriend.”
“Ames, listen—”
“No, you listen. Keep Jodie tied to the bed, Felix. I’m already out of there. And out of our relationship.” My voice is firm, but a laugh threatens to spill out at the thought of Felix’s begging.
“Ames, please. Jodie was a mistake. I swear you’re the one I want to be with.”
“A mistake?” I snort. “So, a mistake is when your dick falls into her mouth, right?”
“That’s not fair, Amelia,” Felix snaps, his tone rising. “You’re being unreasonable.”
“Unreasonable?” My voice echoes off the locker room walls. “You’re the one who has been screwing my friend behind my back. I have every right to be unreasonable.”
“Look, please come home and we can talk about this, okay? The bank canceled the card, so you’re going to need to come home and sort it out with me or you’re homeless—again.”
I roll my eyes, incredulous. He thinks I’m going to walk back into that toxic situation. Not a chance.
“Goodbye, Felix.”
“I took you off the streets.”
“And you told me every day about how lucky I was that you did.”
“Ames…”
I disconnect the call and grab my bag and purse as I head for the elevator.
But as my finger hovers over the call button, I hesitate. I have one more night booked in the hotel, but what if it’s already canceled and Felix has been reimbursed?
I glance around the corridor at work before I pivot on my heel and march past the bank of elevators, straight to my desk.
The office is eerily quiet at this hour.
My computer hums to life.
I pull up the cheapest listings in the city for what feels like the hundredth time. My eyes scan over the prices, each one a hard punch to the gut. Too expensive. I would need a raise to afford a closet in this city.
I click through page after page, but hope dwindles with each swipe.
A studio that looks promising turns out to be in a neighborhood where I’d fear for my life. Another room claims to be a “cozy nook” but appears to be little more than a converted utility closet.
My shoulders drop as I check the time. 9 pm.
After drinking two more coffees from the vending machine, I consider my options.
The easy option is going back to Felix, which would give him a reason to keep mistreating me. But I can’t go back there; I have to stand on my own two feet.
I sigh and slump in my chair before glancing into West’s Office.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling before I dig my heels into the floor and move to my boss’s office. A couple of nights on his office couch won’t harm.
My knuckles are white as I lower the handle of the dark wooden door.
A dim, warm glow comes from the bathroom, and I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should leave or make myself at home.
I move past the sleek glass table with leather chairs around it, and head to the couch toward the back of the room. I know from experience that the soft, plush material of the couch is seriously comfortable.
West’s office has a full bathroom, complete with a shower and a closet. I’ve used it before when I’ve had to work late and didn’t have time to go home before an evening event.
After placing my bag of clothes on the couch, I head to the bathroom to grab a fluffy towel.
I yawn as I settle onto the couch, more exhausted than I first thought. Which is lucky because I need to get up extra early tomorrow morning to pull this off.
But that’s fine. I need the time tomorrow to figure out how to find a new, affordable place to live. And then how I get my stuff out of Felix’s apartment without him making a scene. I also have to make sure West doesn’t find out about my little sleeping arrangement. At least, not until I have a plan in place.
Even then, I should remain quiet.
I pull the soft towel over my body and close my eyes. The softness of the couch envelops me as I listen to the noise from the street below.
My life is horrible.
Not only because I have to hide at work while sleeping on a couch. It’s also because I’m unable to afford a decent place to live in a city that I hoped was my fresh start.
A humorless chuckle escapes my lips.
How long will I be safe for?
My eyes wander around the sleek, modern space, but my mind is in Felix’s apartment. Ironic, considering what happened there, but it was my sanctuary for a while.
It was the epitome of flashy and everything I thought I wanted. Marble countertops, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a view of the city that made me feel like I was on top of the world. But it was all a facade. Behind the gleaming surfaces and designer furniture, it was my safe place. The first place I had ever felt like I belonged since I lost my parents.
It was home.
Tears lace my eyes as I roll onto my side, running my fingers over the soft fabric of the couch.
“You’re not going back to him,” I tell myself.
It’s so tempting.
I sink deeper into the plush couch, feeling the exhaustion of the past few days wash over me.
West’s office is my refuge now. I’m grateful to have it, even if it’s temporary.
I sigh, letting my eyes drift closed.
Tomorrow is another day.
And tomorrow I will have a fresh new start.