5. Amelia
Chapter 5
Amelia
I stared out the window as the plane descended. I’d finally done it. I stood up to my parents and I made a decision entirely on my own. I was in a new city and here, I would have the fresh start that I needed. Well, as fresh a start as I can get while living with my ex.
I still couldn’t believe that my dad was forcing me to live with Matteo for the first four months of my stay here. I knew he only set this up because he doesn’t remember who Matteo really is. If he knew Matteo was the same man that he’d forced me to break up with five years ago, he would never have suggested this arrangement.
I wanted to tell him the truth. Telling him would get me out of living with Matteo but I was worried that my father would prohibit me from coming to New York altogether. He’d use the situation with Matteo as an excuse to keep me in California and under his watch for the rest of my life.
Living with Matteo wasn’t an ideal situation, but it was a small sacrifice for a better future. Once those four months were over, I would be free to finally live my life on my own terms. All I had to do was endure these four months.
I took a deep breath as I walked towards the crowded area of the airport where people waited to welcome their loved ones. I expected to see Matteo standing somewhere in the crowd but instead, I saw a young man holding a sign that read ‘Amelia Pierson.’ I quickly realized that Matteo had sent a driver to pick me up instead of coming here himself.
I told myself it was for the best. The less I saw him, the better I would feel. I still hadn’t recovered from our encounter in the park. I was so humiliated watching him walk away while I stood there in my wedding dress. I hated him for how he rejected me, but I also knew I couldn’t complain because I did the same to him and even at the same location. It was like life had come full circle for us.
I rejected him and he rejected me which was why I didn’t understand why he’d agreed to let me live with him for four months. A small part of me wondered if he’d agreed because he still had some residual feelings for me, but I knew that was impossible. After the way he treated me at the park, it was clear that he had no feelings for me whatsoever. I supposed that was my own fault.
“Miss Pierson. I’m Eddie. Mr. Hayes sent me to pick you up and take you to the house,” the man said as he placed the card with my name under his arm.
“Nice to meet you, Eddie. You can just call me Amelia.”
He nodded and smiled. Eddie took one of my suitcases and walked in front. “The car is parked outside.”
“Okay,” I said, walking behind him and pulling my other suitcase with me. I felt tempted to ask him about Matteo, but I bit my tongue. If I asked him, the man in question would likely find out.
The last thing I wanted was Matteo thinking I was still interested in him. He’d made it clear that he didn’t love me anymore and I had no desire to have him reject me a second time.
Eddie stopped beside a sleek black car and opened the backseat door for me. I thanked him and got inside. It was becoming increasingly clear to me that Matteo was not the man I remembered from five years ago. It was obvious that he made a lot of money in the years we were apart. So much so that even my father was eager to do business with him.
I wondered if he started the company that he used to tell me about back then. I couldn’t hold my curiosity anymore, so I asked Eddie. “What does Matteo do, Eddie?”
“Mr. Hayes owns a construction company. I don’t know much about what the company does, but I know it’s doing really well. He’s quite successful for a man his age.”
“And how long have you been working for him?”
“Almost three years now. A friend of mine got me the job.”
I bit my lip to hold back my next question, but it came out anyway. “What’s he like?”
“Mr. Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“He’s great!” Eddie responded enthusiastically. “Working for him is easy. He pays well and he’s super considerate. If he’s going to be working late, he sends me home early. And there are times when he drives himself so I get the day off and he still pays me a full salary.. I’ve never worked for someone so kind.”
“He sounds like a great boss,” I said.
“He sure is.”
I leaned back and stared out the window at the city that was to be my new home. The man Eddie described sounded exactly like the Matteo I knew. He’d also been so kind and considerate of others. It was one of the things I loved most about him. The magnanimity of his heart was what originally drew me to him.
As we drove down the street, I found myself wondering which version of Matteo would be waiting for me at home. Would he be as kind to me as he was to Eddie, or would he be cold like he was when we met in the park last week?
I knew the answer and it broke my heart to accept it.
Eddie pulled into the parking lot of a tall building. I stepped out of the car while he grabbed my suitcases. He led me to an elevator. We rode it to the top of the building. Eddie pulled my suitcases into the living room of the penthouse. Then he stepped back and said, “I’ll leave you here ma’am.”
“Where is… Where is Matteo?” I asked as I glanced around the luxurious room. The large open windows allowed me to gaze out at the city. I could tell from the tinted glass that no one could look inside the penthouse.
A black grand piano sat in the corner behind a cream divan couch. There was a similar but larger couch on the other side of the room. Two medium-sized center tables sat between the couches. On top of them sat books, a vase of white flowers, and small porcelain sculptures. Above us, a magnificent chandelier dangled, its unique structure making the room look even more extravagant.
“He’s at work. He just told me to drop you off here,” Eddie said.
“Oh.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No!” I said quickly. Then I cleared my throat and tried again. “No, of course not. Thank you so much, Eddie.”
“You’re welcome.”
Eddie left and I finally allowed myself to feel the sadness in my heart. Not only did Matteo send someone else to pick me up from the airport, but he also couldn’t even be bothered to welcome me into his home. I knew it shouldn’t bother me, but it did.
I noticed a white card sitting on the grand piano in the corner. I walked over and picked up the card, reading the words out loud to the empty room. ‘Your room is the second door on the left. Matteo.’
I flipped the card, but the other side was blank. That was the whole note. Once again, I tried to force myself not to care. I pulled my suitcases to the room he’d given me. Pushing the door open, I was welcomed into another world of luxury.
The spacious room contained a king-sized bed, two chaise lounge chairs, a center table, a dressing table, and two small drawers on either side of the bed. I walked around the room, admiring the exquisite decor.
A bright reading lamp sat beside one of the lounge chairs. Its light shone brightly despite the sun obscuring it. I imagined myself sitting there to read on some days and I smiled happily at the thought.
Then I strolled back to the bed where I ran a hand over the white sheets, the warm feeling letting me know that it had recently been laundered. I noticed two other doors which I assumed led to the bathroom and the walk-in closet. I opened one door and sure enough, it was a beautiful closet, albeit an empty one.
I walked back into the bedroom and returned to the closet with my two suitcases. Initially, I had no intention of settling in this much, but it would be a shame to let such a lovely closet go to waste.
After settling into my new room, I went in search of something to eat. It was easy to find the kitchen because an incredible scent emanated from the room. I followed it to where I found a pot of food. I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
Sure, Matteo didn’t pick me up from the airport and he wasn’t here to welcome me but at least he cooked me something nice to eat. That had to count for something. Maybe he still cared about me even just a little bit.
I opened the pot and my mouth watered when I realized it was coq au vin. I’d tried the dish many times on my trips to Paris with my parents.
“You must be Amelia,” a voice said behind me.
I was so shocked that I dropped the pot cover. It fell to the ground with a loud clang.
“Oh my, I… I thought I was alone. You scared me,” I said as I turned to look at the older woman behind me. She had a few gray strands in her otherwise dark hair, and she wore a loose-fitting blue gown with a white apron on top.
It wasn’t hard to deduce that she was Matteo’s chef and likely the one who made this meal. I couldn’t believe I actually thought he cooked for me. Why do I keep getting my hopes up when he’s made it clear that he doesn’t care about me?
“Sorry, dearie. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Agnes.”
I bent to pick up the pot cover and walked over to the sink so I could wash it. “Nice to meet you, Agnes.”
“Are you hungry?” she asked. Without waiting for my response, she opened the dishwasher and pulled out a white bowl.
“No, I’m fine.” I tried to lie but my stomach grumbled.
Agnes laughed loudly. “From what he told me, you just got off a long flight. You should eat something.”
“What else did he say about me?” The question was out of my mouth before I could even stop it.
The older woman smiled. “Nothing much, just that you’ll be staying here for four months.”
“I hope that’s not a problem.”
“It’s not my house, dear,” she said with a shrug. She opened a second pot and scooped a serving of mashed potatoes into the bowl. Then she served the coq au vin on top of it. “I don’t make the rules.”
“Yes, but you’ll have to cook food for another person,” I said as I placed the washed cover back on the pot.
Agnes set the bowl of food down on the counter and gestured to the stool in front of it.
I took a seat and smiled. “Thank you.”
She leaned forward as she spoke. “I don’t mind cooking for an extra mouth. I love cooking good food and having people enjoy my cooking warms my heart.”
I looked up at her and I saw the kindness in her eyes. It felt good to know that she would be here during the four months I spent in this house. Hopefully, her presence would ease the tension between Matteo and me.
I took a bite of the food and the savory flavor made me hum with satisfaction. “This is incredible, Agnes.”
She and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking. It was only when I heard the elevator ding that I realized how much time had passed. I glanced down at my watch. Matteo had come home at past ten p.m.\. Either his meetings ran late or he’d been avoiding me.
I was inclined to believe the latter.