18. Amelia
Chapter 18
Amelia
P ushing the sunglasses over my eyes and pulling my long, brunette hair around my face as I step out of the town car.
My two new bodyguards step out with me and guide me to the bistro. It’s where I agreed to meet Carly for a drink and beg her to come to my engagement party at the weekend.
She’s worried about me. Worried I’m making a mistake by jumping from Felix to West and planning to make a life with him. I can’t tell her it’s not forever.
“Careful,” Jackson grunts as two suits rush past us. His arm wraps around my shoulder as Callum stands in front of me.
These two burly bodyguards, Callum and Jackson, are now my official security. Courtesy of my future fake fiancé since West wants to continue this charade.
It must be a charade–he hasn’t told me it isn’t.
He doesn’t want me to leave. He told me as much, and with so much hope he wants more, I’m staying.
I did have a long think about it. The plan was to go into hiding again. But with nothing to my name, the solution West gave me sure beats the one I planned for myself.
“Sorry,” a man grunts as he stares at the two giants.
Callum and Jackson are dressed in similar black suits and flanking me as I make my way inside the cafe.
I have to say; I have never felt more like the Italian princess I used to be than I do right now.
Carly glances behind me as I slide into the booth across from her. “What’s with the entourage?” she whispers, leaning forward.
I force a smile. “Just a precaution. You know how it is, dating someone like West.”
The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. I hate keeping secrets from Carly, but it’s safer this way. For both of us.
“Oh yeah, Felix called me,” Carly says, pulling me out of my thoughts and to a place I don’t want to think about. “He begged me to talk to you. He told me how much he loved you, and—”
“He loved me?” I laugh. “No, he didn’t.”
“We both know that, but he seems convinced.”
“Men will tell you anything.” I glance out the window, watching the city buzz with life. I have to remember that every time West tells me, “You’re mine.”
“Oh yeah, here,” Carly says, sliding a napkin across the table toward me.
A love heart is on the napkin with a note—a promise to never cheat again.
“Did you just write that?” I ask, a grin breaking through my frown. “Because Felix certainly didn’t.”
She laughs. “He handed it to me. Said you blocked his number.”
“I have. I’m getting engaged to another man, and he’s—”
“A god compared to Felix—” She leans back in her chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. She blinks once and then again. Leaning forward, she whispers, “Engaged?”
“Yes, I’m getting engaged.”
She blows out a breath. “So, it’s serious then?” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
I nod, sliding the tip of my finger around my glass. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. And that’s what I wanted to ask you. If you’ll come to my engagement party. I don’t have anyone else. Bring a plus one.”
I hand her a cream envelope with gold writing, embossed with the Davenport brand.
She takes the envelope and pulls out the card. “Engagement party. Jeez, Ames, this weekend. That’s fast.”
“He doesn’t want to wait.” I don’t tell her the sooner I’m engaged; the countdown starts for me to get the money that helps my future.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” She presses her elbows on the table, glancing at the server, who is walking toward us. “I’ve been reading up on him and he isn’t very nice. He has a mean reputation.”
I’ve worked for West for over a year. I know what he’s capable of.
“It’s all true,” I admit. I want to tell her the engagement is fake, but as I’ve signed an NDA, I can’t. It puts me at risk of being sued for one million dollars if the news gets out.
“Can I take your orders?” the server asks.
“Berry fruit smoothie for me,” I say.
“Same.” Carly smiles at the server, then turns to stare at me. “What aren’t you telling me?”
That the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. The heated nights have left me breathless, but doubt still gnaws at me. I answer, “Nothing. It is what it is. I’m getting engaged and would love for you to be there.”
“Is he blackmailing you?”
I laugh. “No.”
West is a businessman, through and through. Everything’s a transaction to him. Including me. I don’t know how true his words are. I could be just another asset, a pawn in whatever game he’s playing with his father.
At least, I’m well aware of what I signed up for.
And God, when he looks at me with those intense blue eyes, when his hands roam my body...it feels real. But nothing is like when he tells me I’m his. Then it’s too real. Luckily, those moments are always during sex, so I take them with a pinch of salt.
“Be careful. Men like that will hurt you.”
I take a long sip of my smoothie while trying to focus on Carly’s words.
“I know what I’m doing.” My life hasn’t changed apart from being in a new place.
Yet, I know she’s right. I can’t afford to get lost in fantasies. This is a business arrangement, nothing more. In a year, I’ll have my million dollars and a fresh start.
And I will have a fresh start. His money gives me hope. A place where I’m not looking over my shoulder.
Still, as I sip my drink and nod along to Carly’s gossip, I can’t help but wonder. What does West really want? And how far is he willing to go to get it?
The weight of the bodyguards’ presence reminds me of the precarious situation I’m in.
I’m thankful West provided them. The trouble is, they remind me I’m dancing on the edge of a world I don’t fully understand and possibly don’t belong in.
But is West’s world any worse than the one I left behind? The one where my toes are still dipping in the murkiness.
“I bet Felix doesn’t even measure up now, does he?”
I take a long sip of my drink, relishing the fruity flavor as I shake my head. “I don’t know how I ever put up with him.”
Carly snorts. “Probably because he was a better option than sleeping on the streets.”
I roll my eyes. “Only just.”
“But are you sure you’re doing the right thing marrying your boss?” she asks before leaning in closer, lowering her voice like we’re sharing secrets.
“I’m not marrying him.” I shoot a sidelong glance to the bodyguards. One shifts slightly. “We’re getting engaged, nothing—” I stop myself from continuing. “I’m not expecting it to last. You know already, you warned me about him. But I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. It does…he has plenty of plus points.”
“Two hunky bodyguards, for starters.” Carly flutters her eyelashes as she raises her glass to the bodyguards.
I glance over my shoulder. They both blink at her with deadpan expressions.
“Wouldn’t you love to be thrown around by those two in bed?” she says.
“Two?”
“It would be rude to choose,” Carly quips.
“Trust you.” I lift my drink in response and take another sip while trying to suppress a laugh.
Carly stops glaring at my bodyguards as she stares out the window for a moment. She turns back to me with raised eyebrows. “But seriously, Amelia, be careful. The Davenports have a bad reputation around here. I heard—”
“You heard? You mean you asked around?” I arch an eyebrow as I pick up my glass.
“Oh please! Someone has to look out for you,” she interrupts, laughter spilling from her lips. “You’re with a man. No, you’re getting engaged to a man whose face was all over the newspapers coming out of Club Elysium.”
“We were there too that night, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. But we’re not regulars.”
I clench my hands as I look toward the busy street again. Watching couples stroll by hand-in-hand as an emotion stirs inside me. It feels a lot like annoyance.
“He doesn’t go anymore,” I say, shaking my head in exasperation at Carly’s objections. “I asked him not to.”
“Wow. Cheers to you.” She lifts her glass in triumph and grins widely before taking another sip of her drink. “Maybe you’ll be the one who can tame him.”
I smooth down the front of my dress, still in awe of its silky texture. The deep emerald-green hugs my curves in all the right places, making me feel like royalty. It probably costs more than I earn in a month, but West insisted.
Speaking of West, he looks absolutely delicious tonight. The candlelight flickers, casting a warm glow on his chiseled features.
His tailored suit accentuates his broad shoulders. But the way he smiles at me across the table makes my heart skip a beat.
Daniel NYC buzzes with energy around us. There are famous people here, artists, actors, but I still feel eyes darting our way. Curious glances from other diners. It is clear West is showing me off, and part of me revels in it.
“How was your day, Princess?” West asks. His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine.
I take a sip of champagne before answering. “Busy, but good. I met up with Carly this morning, and I finally organized that mess of files you left on my desk.”
He chuckles, a rich sound that warms me from the inside out. “What would I do without you?”
“Probably drown in paperwork,” I tease.
West reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. His thumb traces circles on my skin, my breath catches. “I’m serious, Amelia. You’re invaluable to me. You get me.”
The intensity in his eyes makes me wonder if he’s still talking about work. I push the thought aside, reminding myself this is all for show. And probably why we’re eating here. In public for all to see and put a band-aid over his reputation.
“Well, you did rescue me from sleeping on that couch in your office,” I say lightly. “Oh, and Carly will come to our engagement, so that’s a relief that I have someone there for me.”
He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. “I’ll be there for you. You’ll have me by your side the entire time.”
My heart flutters. But I remind myself it’s all part of the act, but God, he’s good at it.
I sigh, the weight of my lies pressing down on me. “It was hard lying to Carly. She’s my best friend, and I hate keeping secrets from her.”
West’s grip on my hand tightens. “It’s necessary, Amelia. We agreed on this.”
And now I know I’m not his, as he claims.
“I know, but...” I trail off, biting my lip. “She thinks this is real. That we’re actually getting married. And in a year, when I have enough money to disappear and start afresh...”
His eyes flash, a storm brewing in their blue depths. “Disappear?” he repeats, his voice low and dangerous.
I realize my mistake, too late. “I mean, when our arrangement is over—”
“Is that all this is to you?” West’s jaw clenches, his earlier warmth evaporating. “An arrangement? I thought—“
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” I challenge, pulling my hand away. “A fake fiancée to get your father off your back?”
He leans back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “I told you. You’re mine, and I’m yours. We’ll show everyone that.”
“West, come on.” I lower my voice, aware of the other diners around us. “This isn’t real. In a year—”
“A year is a long time, Amelia,” he interrupts, his jaw clenches with barely controlled emotion. “Things change. Feelings change.”
I shake my head; confusion and frustration warring inside me. “That’s not what we agreed to. You can’t just change the rules.”
And I need this money to get rid of my problem.
“I already did.”
I need a moment to breathe. I stand up on shaky legs; the chair scraping against the floor as I excuse myself from the table.
I glance over my shoulder. West’s eyes follow me, a storm brewing behind them.
The restroom is quiet, a small oasis from the tension simmering between us. I splash cold water on my neck, trying to clear my head.
As I dry my hands, the door swings open behind me.
“Amelia.” His voice wraps around me like silk.
I glance in the mirror. He stands there, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp features. My heart races as he steps forward and closes the distance between us.
The air is charged, thick with words unspoken.
One of his hands finds my waist, as his other hand moves upward, cupping my breast through the fabric of my dress. My breath hitches in my throat as electricity shoots through me, disguised as desire.
“West,” I whisper, but it sounds more like a plea than a warning.
My back is against his chest. His hand slides up my body, igniting something deep within me.
“I want to fuck you here, over this sink.” He leans close, pressing soft kisses along the curve of my neck. His hand curves around my throat as we stare at each other in the mirror. “I want you walking out of here with my cum running down your legs, reminding you that you’re mine.”
My knees tremble and a moan escapes my lips before I can stop it, surprising me more than him.
His grip on my neck tightens just enough to hold me in place without causing pain.
As always, West’s dominance washes over me like a wave crashing against the shore and my feet can’t move away. I really am in quicksand.
“Tell me you want this,” he murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and inviting.
Every rational thought slips away as desire swells inside me, and all I can think about is how much I crave him. Of how much I want to lose myself in this illicit moment with no thoughts of fake engagements or secrets.
I want it so much.
I want it to be real.
I have to trust him when he told me he will deal with my past.
I nod. My words feel trapped somewhere deep inside me as he spins me around again until I face him. His hungry mouth finds mine in an urgent, desperate kiss.
West pulls away and smiles as he holds my cheeks.
“And just so you know. The rules have changed, Amelia.” West says, leaning forward. “I’m not letting you go. You’re mine, forever.”