Chapter 4: “No Turning Back”

Amber’s POV

By the time I got home, my head was a mess.

Everything felt unreal. Last night, the interview. Him.

Adrian Volkov, my boss.

I pushed the door open and barely stepped inside when Vee appeared in front of me.

“Amber!” she grabbed my arms. “Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was?”

I let out a breath.

“You might want to sit down for this.”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “That bad or that good?”

“Both.”

That was all it took.

We were on the couch in seconds.

“Start talking,” she said, practically vibrating with excitement.

I hesitated for a second.

Then I said it.

“I didn’t come home last night.”

“Well, I know that’s why I was worried. What happened last night? What were you…”

Vee froze.

Then slowly, a grin spread across her face.

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

“Amberrrr!” she squealed, hitting my arm. “You did not!”

“I did.”

“With who?!”

I ran a hand through my hair. “That’s where it gets complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

I looked at her.

“The man from last night…”

I paused.

“…is Adrian Volkov.”

“SHUT UP!”

“I’m serious.”

Vee jumped to her feet. “The Adrian Volkov? Billionaire? Face card never declines? That Adrian?!”

“The same one.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped, pacing. “Oh my God, oh my God. Wait, so you’re telling me you went to a club, had a one-night stand with a literal billionaire and then walked into your interview only to see he’s your boss?!”

“Yes!”

She lit up instantly. “That is not bad news, that is destiny!” she snapped.

“Vee, This is a disaster!”

“How is that a disaster?” she demanded. “Do you know how many girls are praying for this kind of problem?”

I stared at her.

“He asked me to move in with him.”

That stopped her.

For exactly two seconds.

“YOU’RE MOVING IN.”

“No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are!”

“Vee!”

“Amber, think!” she said, grabbing my shoulders. “You just lost your job. We are this close to being homeless, and now you have a job offer from a billionaire who wants you as his personal assistant and you get to live in his house?!”

“When you put it like that, it sounds suspicious.”

“It sounds like survival!” she shot back.

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

“We wouldn’t have to worry about rent,” she continued. “Or food. Or anything. And didn’t you say something about an advance salary?”

I blinked.

“…He did mention it.”

Vee’s eyes widened like she’d just won the lottery.

“Amber. That’s it. That’s our breakthrough.”

Our.

That word did something to me.

“We can finally breathe,” she said softer now. “No more struggling every single day.”

I looked away, my chest tightening.This wasn’t just about me anymore. It never really was.

“…Okay,” I said quietly.

Vee leaned forward. “Okay, what?”

“I’ll do it.”

She screamed.

“I knew it!” she yelled, pulling me into a hug. “This is our moment!”

I laughed.

Then she suddenly pulled back.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“You don’t have clothes.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re moving into a billionaire’s house, Amber. You can’t show up with your three tops and two jeans.”

I sighed. “I’ll manage until the advance comes in.”

Vee shook her head. “No. Go to your dad’s house.”

My entire body went still.

“No.”

“Amber”

“No, Vee.”

Her expression softened. “You can’t keep avoiding it forever.”

“I’m not avoiding it. I just don’t need to go back there.”

But even as I said it, I knew she was right.

My clothes were still there, my things. My past.

I exhaled slowly.

“…Fine. I’ll go.”

******

The house looked exactly the same.

And somehow that made it worse.

I stood at the gate longer than I should have, my fingers tightening around the metal before I finally pushed it open.

The memories came rushing back.

Laughter that never included me, doors closing in my face. A home that only felt like one when I was useful.

I stepped inside.

“Look who finally remembered this place exists. Wait, don’t tell me you are here to beg?”

She said mockingly.

My stepmother stepped out slowly, arms folded like she’d been waiting for this moment.

“I’m just here to get my things,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

She let out a dry laugh.

“Your things?” she repeated. “You mean the things my husband paid for while you sat here doing nothing?”

My jaw tightened.

“I worked for what I have,” I said. “And I won’t take anything that isn’t mine.”

She stepped closer.

“You?” she scoffed. “Worked? Please. You’ve always been a burden. Just like your mother was.”

That hit, hard.

But I didn’t react, not the way she wanted.

“Where are my things?” I asked instead.

“Oh, I had them thrown out,” she said casually. “I didn’t think you’d be coming back for scraps.”

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

“You, what?”

She smiled.

“If it mattered so much, you shouldn’t have left in the first place.”

My hands curled into fists, not from weakness but restraint.

“Dad,” I said, my voice quieter now.

He was there, standing by the doorway. Watching, Like always.

“Did you know about this?” I asked.

His eyes met mine for a second. Then he looked away.

This was the last straw.

I let out a slow breath and nodded.

“Okay.”

My stepmother frowned slightly. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” I said, calmer than I felt. “Okay.”

I looked around the house one last time.

At the walls. At the space that was supposed to mean something.

It didn’t, not anymore.

“You don’t have to worry,” I said, my voice steady now. “I won’t be coming back for anything.”

“Good,” she snapped. “Because you’re not welcome here.”

I smiled faintly.

“That’s fine,” I said. “Because I don’t have a family here anymore.”

That made her pause but I wasn’t done.

I turned to my father.

“I needed you once,” I said quietly. “Just once to choose me.”

He didn’t respond, of course he didn’t, that’s all I needed to know.

I stepped back, toward the door, toward freedom.

“From today,” I said, my voice firm now.

“I don’t have a father. I don’t have a family. And whatever this place was to me…”

I shook my head slightly.

“It’s nothing now.” I turned and walked out.

And this time, I didn’t look back.

I didn’t realize I was crying until I stepped onto the road. Everything blurred, my chest felt tight.

And then I heard a horn blare, tires screeched.

I froze.

A car stopped just inches away from me.

“What the hell?!”

The driver’s door opened quickly and a man stepped out.

“Are you okay?” he asked, rushing toward me.

I couldn’t answer, I just stood there.

Shaking.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice softer now as he took in my face. “I didn’t see you, you just walked straight into the road.”

“I…” I wiped my face quickly. “I’m fine .”

“You’re not,” he said gently.

There was something about his tone.

It wasn’t forceful, It wasn’t cold. It was kind.

“I’ll take you home,” he added. “You shouldn’t be out like this.”

“I don’t even know you.”

He gave a small smile. “That’s fair. Richard.”

I hesitated.

Then nodded slightly.

“…Amber.”

***

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the house.

I let out a quiet breath, wiping at my face quickly before reaching for the door.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice still a little unsteady.

“Anytime,” he replied.

I stepped out, closing the door gently behind me, and turned toward the house just in time for the door to swing open by Vee.

“Amber, what…”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Her eyes moved from me to him.

And then widened.

“Wait, wait…” she whispered, stepping forward slowly like she didn’t trust her own eyes. “No way.”

I frowned slightly. “Vee”

“Is that who I think it is?” she cut in, already walking past me.

He looked mildly amused.

“Depends,” he said calmly. “Who do you think I am?”

Vee let out a small, breathless laugh.

“Richard Hale.”

I gasped then turned to look at him, he didn’t deny it instead, he gave a small nod.

Vee turned to me so fast I almost jumped.

“Amber,” she whispered harshly. “Do you even know who just dropped you off?”

“Apparently not,” I muttered.

“Billionaire,” she said. “Top tier. Old money meets new power and” she lowered her voice, “very much not on friendly terms with your boss.”

I blinked, “What?”

But before I could say anything else, Vee turned back to him instantly.

“Would you like to come in?” she asked, suddenly polite. “Maybe coffee or something?”

He smiled faintly.

“Another time,” he said. “I have a meeting to catch.”

Of course he did, men like him always did.

“Nice meeting you, Amber,” he added, his gaze lingering on me for just a second longer than necessary like he could see more than I wanted him to.

Then he got back into his car and drove off.

We stood there for a moment.

Then, Vee grabbed my arm.

“Start talking.”

We were inside before I could even process anything.

“What happened to you?” she asked again, softer this time, her eyes scanning my face.

I sat down slowly.

And this time, I told her everything.

From my dad’s house, to my stepmother, to my father doing nothing.To the way I walked out, to Richard.

She didn’t interrupt, didn’t joke, didn’t push. She just listened. By the time I was done, the room felt quieter.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

I shrugged, even though it didn’t feel like nothing.

“It’s fine.”

“No,” she said gently. “It’s not.”

That was the thing about Vee, she never let me pretend too much.

She moved closer.

“Listen to me,” she said. “Whatever you decide next, do it for yourself.”

I looked at her.

“Not because of me. Not because we’re struggling. Not because we need money,” she continued. “Do it because you want it.”

Silence settled between us, for a moment, I didn’t answer.

Because for the first time since everything started, I actually thought about it.

Not survival, not desperation. What did I want?

I exhaled slowly.

“I don’t want to feel small anymore,” I said quietly.

Vee didn’t speak.

“I don’t want to keep depending on people who make me feel like I’m nothing,” I continued. “And I don’t want to keep running either.”

Something steadied in my chest.

“I want that job,” I said finally.

Not softly this time, not unsure.

“I want it because I can do it. Because I deserve it. And because I’m not going to let anyone make me feel out of place again.”

Vee smiled slowly.

“That’s my girl.”

Later that night, I sat on the edge of my bed, my phone in my hand.

Adrian’s number stared back at me, I just looked at it.

Then I pressed call.

It rang once, twice.

“Volkov.”

Cold, direct and controlled as usual.

“I’ll take the job,” I said.

Silence.

“Good.”

Something about the way he said it made my fingers tighten slightly around the phone.

“Be ready tomorrow,” he added.

Then the line went dead, just like that.

A new job, a new life, a new beginning.

I stared at my phone for a moment longer. I had the unsettling feeling that this might cause me more than i was ready to lose.