As they entered the penthouse, the silence between them was palpable. Amber felt a knot form in her stomach, her thoughts still swirling from the gala and everything that had happened—the unexpected appearance of Jessica, the ex-fiancée, and Ryan’s tense reaction when she appeared.
Amber had tried to brush it off earlier, but now, in the quiet of the penthouse, it was harder to ignore the knot of jealousy that had been steadily growing inside her. Watching Ryan’s reaction to Jessica had stung more than she expected, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more between them than Ryan was letting on.
She slipped off her heels, the sound of them hitting the floor echoing through the otherwise silent apartment. Ryan stood by the door, his posture stiff, not looking at her.
Amber crossed the room, unable to keep her emotions in check. “What was that back there, Ryan?” she asked, her voice tight with tension. “You acted like you were about to tear Jessica apart.”
Ryan turned to fa
