10. Amelia
Chapter 10
Amelia
I squint and stretch my arms upward as the morning light streams through my bedroom window. I never closed the curtains because I wanted the city lights to twinkle across the ceiling. I never thought it through because West’s penthouse is on the thirty-seventh level.
I turn my cell over and check the time. Not yet six in the morning. Too early to get ready for work. Too late to go back to sleep.
I slide out of bed, my toes sinking into the plush, thick carpet as I check my bag for what I have got to wear. My lack of clothes is so obvious now.
I snatch my T-shirt from yesterday, tugging it on and checking in the mirror to see that it covers my ass.
Just. But it will have to do.
The silence is eerie when I walk out of my room and into the living room.
Only now do I see how massive his penthouse is. The matte black colored kitchen is vast with two islands, one with a stove and the other for casual dining. Each has Italian marble tops.
There’s another dining area with a large wooden table and cream leather chairs around it. The chairs match the couches, of which there are three, and they surround a large fireplace. Then, at the other end of this living area is what I like best. A floating staircase that leads upstairs to West’s suite, a gym, and the rooftop terrace. I haven’t been upstairs yet.
“West,” I call out at the bottom of the stairs, but there’s no answer, probably sleeping or hitting the gym. I mean, he has to go to the gym, right? There’s no way a man can have a body like that without doing something to make him sweat.
I head back to the kitchen and fumble with the fancy coffee machine until it spits out a steaming cup of deliciousness.
A large smile curves on my face as I take in that this is my life for one whole year.
I could dance, but I’m not sure if there are hidden cameras around West’s apartment. And I don’t want to embarrass myself nor let him know how elated I am to be here.
I pop a slice of bread in the toaster, drumming my fingers on the marble countertop as I wait. When it pops up, I spread a thin layer of butter and take a bite, savoring the taste as I lean against the counter.
I stroll to the floor-to-ceiling windows while inhaling the aroma of my coffee.
I check the time again.
I wonder what time West wakes up.
We are normally at work by eight in the morning, but the office is only a short ride away.
I’m unsure what to do next. This isn’t my space. I don’t have my usual routine, my stuff, my life.
My eyes flicker around the room, looking for something to occupy me. There’s a sleek laptop on the coffee table. Maybe I could check my emails. I could start working early. But it feels wrong to touch West’s things without permission.
I wander to the bookshelf, running my fingers along the spines. Most are business books and not exactly light morning reading. So, I decide to make the most of my early morning rise, an empty apartment, and the lack of a fake boyfriend or anyone at all.
I grab my phone and pull up a playlist. Something gentle, but with a rhythm that matches the energy I need to shake off the remnants of yesterday.
I move to the rug in the middle of the couches. It’s a bright splash of color against the sleek black floor and cream couches. I kneel and close my eyes for a moment before pushing myself into my first yoga position.
I move through poses, stretching my limbs while letting the music flow through me. Focussing on my breathing and the calm of the apartment. But midway through the downward dog, I hear voices drifting from another room.
My heart skips.
Is West talking in his office?
The talking dies, and I continue.
My palms and one foot are on the floor while my other leg is stretched in the air behind me when a throat clears behind me.
I glance between my legs, seeing an annoyed looking West with another man.
“Uh…” I stumble out of my pose and straighten up. But I nearly lose my balance as blood rushes in the opposite direction.
Heat floods my cheeks when I glance at my T-shirt. I pull at the hem, trying to cover myself, but it feels like a waste, considering they’ve seen an eyeful of my crotch.
West raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching into an unamused smirk. “We need to talk about your clothing choices when I have guests.”
“I didn’t know anyone was here.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I thought you were asleep, not talking business.”
The other guy glances around the room, his expression unreadable.
“Nice to meet you,” he says as if he strolled into someone’s living room instead of catching me half-naked. He holds out his hand. “I’m Liam Franks, West’s lawyer.”
My throat tightens as I muster a smile, but it feels more like a grimace. “Um…hi. I’m Amelia.”
West rolls his eyes while I stand there, trying to regain my composure. “Seriously,” he adds, his eyes on mine before they roam downward. “Get dressed before we discuss business.”
I clear my throat, meeting West’s now stern gaze. “I actually need to talk to you about that. I don’t have any clean clothes left, and I was hoping you could take me to ‘you-know-where’ to grab some more.”
West’s expression darkens, his jaw tightening. “You’re not seeing that ex of yours again.” He gestures to my outfit. “I’ll have my driver take you to a boutique where my sister shops at. You can buy new clothes today.”
“I can’t afford a boutique.”
“I’ll set up an account while I organize your credit card.”
I open my mouth to argue, but West cuts me off. “You’re not going back to his place. I won’t allow it.” His voice is low, almost a growl.
My stomach twists at his possessive tone. This is supposed to be a fake relationship, but he’s acting like a jealous boyfriend already. “But I need my stuff—”
“I said no.” West’s eyes narrow. “You’ll get new things. I’ll buy you anything you need.”
I shrink back, feeling cornered. I knew this arrangement would come with strings attached, but I never expected West to be this controlling.
My fingers curl into fists at my sides as I struggle to keep my voice even. “I’ve got pictures there that are important to me.”
West shakes his head. “Not happening.” He glances at Liam Franks. “We’ll go over the paperwork now.”
Liam gives me an apologetic look.
I stand there, stunned, disappointed, as they disappear down the hall. My heart pounds in my ears as I hold back the sob swirling in my chest.
I pace the living room, trying to calm my nerves as West’s words ring in my ears.
His possessiveness caught me off guard. I thought this would be a simple arrangement, but it’s already feeling complicated.
A few minutes later, West returns, his lawyer in tow. He notices I haven’t changed but says, “Amelia, come with us to the office. We’ve got paperwork for you to sign.”
When I reach the office, I hesitate, unsure about what I’m getting myself into. “What kind of paperwork?”
West sighs. “It’s a non-disclosure agreement. Liam will explain it to you.”
Liam steps forward, a tablet in his hand. “This is a standard NDA that covers the details of your arrangement. It’s ensuring that you do not disclose any confidential information about West, his family, or NeuroPort Dynamics.”
I nod slowly, chewing on my bottom lip.
As Liam explains the NDA in more detail, highlighting the key points, he hands me a copy to read. I skim through it, trying to absorb the information.
West sits in silence, his gaze fixed on the window.
“If you sign here after you’ve read the details,” Liam says.
I don’t bother reading the other three pages. I scribble my signature on the NDA, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Well, that’s all taken care of,” Liam says, offering me a small smile. “West, is there anything else you need from me today?”
West shakes his head. “No, that’s it for now.”
I make my way back to my bedroom as West shows Liam out. I’m feeling quite annoyed with West. He is acting like he owns me, and I do not appreciate his lack of trust in me.
This is supposed to be a simple fake arrangement, but it’s already feeling more complicated than I expected.
I take a deep breath, trying to push down my growing unease. I need to keep reminding myself that this is all temporary. One million dollars for one year of playing pretend.
And nothing matters but the money.
Not the NDA, me, or West.
I lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling when there’s a light knock.
I know it’s West. It can’t be anyone else. And as I don’t want to talk, I ignore him.
The door opens and West leans his large shoulder against the doorframe as his eyes skim over my body.
I hate that I can’t stop the heat swirling low in my belly as I stare at him.
I clear my throat. “Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry about the NDA, but I have to protect myself.” He enters my room.
The door closes behind him. He gives me a smile that makes me swallow as he walks toward me, each step slow and controlled.
“I need one too.”
“What?”
“I don’t want you to talk about me once we’re finished.”
“What are you hiding, Amelia?”
“Not half as much as you are,” I counter.
The corner of his lip curls upward as he stalks closer. I turn and sit on the bed as he nears. “But I’m not hiding you anymore. You’re mine now.”
Mine.
My body hums as he lowers and rests his hands on either side of my hips. I try to ignore it.
“Look at me, Princess.”
My eyes roam up his body until I meet his gaze.
“The NDA is also to protect you. I noticed that you never read it. And I can tell when you’re annoyed. I know every quirk about you. If you read it, you’d have noticed that I added a clause.”
“What clause?” I ask, scared about what I’ve signed away.
“We have sex…bare.”
“What the fuck! There is no way I’m having sex without a condom! I never did that with Felix, never mind with a fake boyfriend who’s been frequenting sex clubs.”
His jaw ticks. “The very same sex club I watched as you danced.”
He was the reason I got goosebumps.
“I was there for a fun time.”
“I was there for a fun time,” he parrots.
I stare at West, stunned by his blunt words. “Having sex bare wasn’t part of the deal.”
West leans in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. “It is now.” His voice is low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. “We need to know we’re both clean, and then I want to feel every inch of you.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he silences me with a firm shake of his head. “No condoms. I’m happy I’ll be your first in that way.”
My heart races as I process his words. This is way more intimate than I bargained for. “But what if I’m not on birth control?”
West’s lips curve into a smirk. “Unless you want children, we’ll have to fix that.” He straightens up, towering over me. “We’re not going into the office today. We have both got a doctor’s appointment to get checked out.”
I blink up at him, confused. “For what?”
“To make sure we’re both healthy and...fertile.” He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching.
My face heats. “Fertile? What the hell, West? This is a fake relationship, not a baby-making operation!”
This is not at all what I signed up for. A simple arrangement, but now West seems intent on complicating things.
“This is for one year, West. No babies.”
He chuckles, the deep rumble sending a jolt of awareness through me. “Relax, Amelia. It’s just a precaution for my parents’ sake. They’ll want grandchildren eventually and proof that we can give them.”
I open and close my mouth, unsure of how to respond. West chuckles; the deep rumble sends a shiver down my spine.
At least I now know this is a joke. I gasp, “I thought you wanted to get me pregnant for a moment there.”
West shakes his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Not unless you want to be.”
He reaches out and twirls a stray lock of hair between his fingers before tucking it behind my ear. My skin tingles at his gentle touch.
“How many men have told you that you’re beautiful?” He stares into my eyes.
I lean into his touch, my body betraying the uncertainty swirling in my mind. “Beautiful.” My voice trembles. “Only my dad.”
West stares at me, his fingers trailing down my neck to rest on my shoulder. “Because everyone you’ve ever been with was scared of your beauty.”
“I doubt that.”
He smiles. “Don’t. They tried to keep that knowledge away from you. That’s what happens when you date insecure men.”
“Or they never thought I was,” I counter. My face warms under his intense gaze, a blush creeping up my neck.
He has a playful glint in his eyes that makes my heart flutter. “There’s no denying it. You are beautiful.”
No one has ever called me beautiful before, at least not like this.
His thumb traces the line of my jaw, up my cheek before resting beside my eye. It’s like he is lost in his own world. “Breathtakingly so.” His voice is low, almost a rumble that sends shivers down my spine.
I swallow hard, my pulse quickening. “I, um... thank you. I don’t know what to say.” I avert my gaze, feeling self-conscious.
He smiles as his fingers drift down, trailing along the curve of my neck. “You deserve to know how stunning you are.” He leans in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. “And I want you in my bed, Amelia. I want to see your face every night when I go to sleep and again when I wake up.”
“West…”
West leans in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. And I can’t help the way my heart flutters in his presence. “And in bed we will not be fake.”