Chapter 13: “Not Again”

Amber’s POV

“Amber, it’s time to go.”

His voice came through the door again, not the usual arrogant tone but firm enough to pull me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I stared at my phone, my hands still shaking. A million dollars by tomorrow, where do I get the money from ? My chest tightened just by thinking about it.

“Amber?”

“I will meet you downstairs. ”I managed to say, my voice barely steady.

I quickly got out of bed, forcing myself to move like everything was normal. Like I wasn’t about to break down in tears.

The drive to the office felt longer than usual.

I sat beside Adrian, quiet, my mind replaying the video over and over again.

I shut my eyes briefly, I couldn’t afford to break down now at least not in front of him.

“Did you sleep at all?” he asked suddenly.

I blinked, turning to him. “Why would you ask that?”

“You look like you didn’t.”

“I’m fine,” I replied quickly.

He stared at me for a second longer than necessary before he looked away.

“I didn’t ask if you were fine.”

I swallowed.

“I said I’m fine.” I snapped hoping he would get the hint and not disturb me again. Luckily, he did.

The moment I stepped into the office, I could feel the stares, the whispers and judgmental talks at the background

Oh, i remember. They must have seen the news of our marriage which I forgot because of the problem at hand.

“Good morning, ma’am.”

Ma’am? That’s a first but what do I expect? I just got married to my boss, their boss.

I forced a smile. “Morning.”

I tried going about my day so as not to let Adrian notice anything fishy but I guess I couldn’t mask it or he just knew me too well.

I placed Adrian’s files on his desk, trying to act normal.

“Your schedule for today….”

“You’re distracted.” He said cutting me off.

“I’m not.”

“You are.” He said.

I exhaled slowly, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing serious.”

“That doesn’t look like nothing.”

I gave a small shrug. “Just didn’t sleep well.”

He didn’t look convinced but before he could say anything else a knock came at the door.

“Sir, there’s a delivery for Ms. Amber.”

My heart dropped, Delivery?

“For me?” I asked, confused.

The receptionist stepped in and handed me a brown envelope.

There was no sender, no label just a blank envelope.

My fingers went cold as I fidgeted with it.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

The moment she left, the office felt too small. I stared blankly at the envelope, wondering what was inside and hoping it wasn’t what I think it is.

“Open it,” Adrian said.

I hesitated but I opened it anyway.

And the moment I saw what was inside, my brain stopped and my head began spinning.

They were pictures and they very detailed and clear.

No… no, no, no…

I quickly closed the envelope, my hands trembling violently now.

“I… I need to go.”

“Amber…”

“I need to go,” I repeated, already backing away.

I didn’t wait for permission, I didn’t wait for questions.

I just left.

****

“I don’t know what to do, Vee.”

My voice broke this time.

We were seated in her apartment, and for the first time since morning, I finally let myself fall apart.

She went through the pictures carefully, her expression darkening with each one.

“This isn’t recent,” she muttered.

“I know,” I whispered. “But I don’t even remember when this was taken.”

Vee paused then looked at me.

“Amber, think.”

“I am thinking!”

“No, think properly,” she said firmly. “Who has seen you like this?”

I froze.

“…no one, you of all people should know that Vee.” I snapped.

She raised a brow obviously shocked at my outburst.

“Look, I’m sorry ok? I’m just agitated right now and your questions aren’t really helping matters.” I said.

“I understand but I really want you to figure this out yourself. You have only been with man sexually and that’s Adrian but you and I know it’s not him. So who else has seen you this way?”

“…Aaron.” I said still doubting.

Vee leaned back slowly. “Exactly.”

My stomach churned. Aaron can be an asshole but this was extreme.

“No, he wouldn’t…”

“He would,” she cut in. “And clearly, he did.”

She picked up one of the pictures again, studying it more carefully.

“Look at the background.”

I leaned closer, my vision still blurry from tears.

At first, I didn’t see it. Slowly, it started to make sense.

That bathroom, the exact tile, that was his place.

“Oh my God”

My hands flew to my mouth.

“It’s him,” Vee said quietly.

“Why didn’t I even notice? ” I whispered.

I felt sick and stupid for trying to give him the benefit of doubt and for also violating me like that.

“How did I not see this?”

“Because you were panicking,” she said softly.

I stood up, pacing.

“He wants a million dollars by tomorrow, Vee. Where am I supposed to get that from?”

She didn’t answer, because we both knew I didn’t have it.

“And I can’t involve Adrian,” I added quickly.

“Why not?”

“Because this” I gestured helplessly “this will ruin him too. The press is already watching us. If this gets out…”

“I’ll figure something out,” I said, more to myself than to her.

But even as I said it, I knew I couldn’t do anything.

Adrian’s POV

Something was wrong.

I knew it from the moment she stepped out of her room down to the office.

The way she avoided my eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly and how she tried to clean her sweaty palms.

Then the package came, she didn’t even try to explain, she just ran.

I leaned back in my chair, my jaw tight.

“She’s too easy to read,” I muttered under my breath.

Later that night, I got a call.

It was an unknown caller but apparently it was her friend. The same woman who came with her during the contract signing.

She didn’t waste time, she told me everything.

Every detail, every threat, every fear Amber had and also sent the pictures.

And instead of feeling surprised, I felt something else.

Anger.

Amber’s POV

I was sitting on the bed, staring blankly at nothing when I heard the door open.

I looked up and it was Adrian.

“What are you doing here?”

He walked in slowly, his expression unreadable.

“We need to talk.”

I stood up immediately. “It’s late, I…”

“I know everything.”

I paused, hoping it wasn’t what I was thinking.

“What?”

“Your little problem,” he said calmly. “The blackmail.”

My breathing hitched.

“Who told you?”

“Your friend, Vee.”

Of course.

I looked away, embarrassed. “You shouldn’t have been involved.”

“And why is that?” his voice hardened. “Because you thought you could handle it yourself?”

“I didn’t want to drag you into it!”

“You’re already dragging me into it,” he snapped. “You’re my wife, Amber. Whether you like it or not. Do you think I enjoy finding out about my wife’s problems from someone else?”

His wife? Somehow that made me want to blush but it wasn’t the time for that. I was in deep shit and needed rescuing.

“I’m sorry,” I said finally, my voice softer now. “I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

“You should have.”

I nodded slowly.

“I will, when I have a problem next time.”

He studied me for a moment.

Then said something that completely threw me off.

“You’re panicking over nothing.”

I stared at him wide eyed. “Nothing?”

“That video,” he continued. “Did you actually look at it properly?”

“Yes, I did.”

He stepped closer.

“That’s not your body,” he said.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze intense.

“I’ve seen your body,” he said, his voice lower now. “And trust me, that’s not you.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

He didn’t break eye contact.

“You look better than that,” he added bluntly.

I stared at him.

Completely speechless, confused and relieved all at the same time.

“So stop panicking,” he continued. “Whoever is behind this is sloppy.”

“But, it’s still my face.”

“And we’ll handle that,” he said simply.

We.

That sounded nice to my ears. For a while now, the only we I was used to was Vee and I but hearing him say it made me feel loved.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I should have told you.”

“You should have,” he agreed.

“Next time, don’t try to handle everything alone.”

I nodded, “I won’t.”

“I’m going to bed now, so sleep with no worries now, Amber.” He said and for the first time I saw his lips twitch into something that looked like a smile.

Still holding the stare with him, I walked towards him and gave him a hug, I felt his restraint at first but then he hugged me back and I couldn’t be anywhere else than here. It felt perfect, too perfect.