Chapter 9:“The Deal”

Amber’s POV

I didn’t stop running until I got to Vee’s place. My chest was rising and falling all at the same time. My mind still spinning from everything that had just happened.

The kiss, the cameras and him.

“Amber?” Vee’s voice came from behind me, laced with concern. “What happened? You look a mess.”

I turned to her, and just like that, everything came crashing down.

“He kissed me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened. “Who?”

“Adrian.”

“What? Why? What happened?”

I sank into the couch, running my fingers through my hair. “In front of everyone and the press too. Richard and I were dancing and all of a sudden, he just…he just pulled me and kissed me like…” I trailed off.

“Like what?” she pressed.

I swallowed.

“Like he was trying to claim me or something.”

Vee stared at me for a moment, then sat beside me. “Claim you ? Okay and what did you do, you ran?”

“Yes, that was all I could do.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Did you push him away immediately?”

I hesitated. I remember trying to match his pace instead more like I yearned for the kiss.

“Amber” her tone changed. “Did you kiss him back?”

I looked down

“It was just for a second,” I muttered. “I didn’t even think, it just happened.”

“Hmm.”

“What does that mean?” I snapped.

“It means,” she said calmly, “you felt something.”

“I didn’t,” I said quickly.

She raised a brow. “Then why didn’t you stop him immediately? Why did you kiss him back?”

I opened my mouth to respond to say something but nothing came out because I didn’t have an answer.

Vee sighed softly. “You can lie to me if you want, but don’t lie to yourself.”

I leaned back, closing my eyes. Everything was too much.

“I don’t know what I feel,” I admitted quietly. “But I know I don’t like how he treats me.”

Adrian’s POV

The house was quiet when I got back. I tried to mentally prepare myself in the car but getting home, I couldn’t find the words anymore. Instead of making a fool of myself, I decided to sleep through it and let her rest too.

I didn’t know how long I was gone for but I was awakened by the buzzing of my phone.

News alerts, I opened one.

“Rival CEOs Clash Over Mystery Woman”

“Adrian Volkov Publicly Claims His PA in Heated Moment”

“Is Love the New Battlefield Between Adrian and Richard Hale?”

I scoffed, tossing the phone onto the table.

Ridiculous. Of course they had to turn it to something else.

I ran a hand through my hair while pacing back and forth. Why did I do that? Why did I lose control like that? I stepped out of my room and walked towards her door to talk to her at least.

“Amber?” I called out, walking further into her room.

No response, I frowned. Her things were still there but she wasn’t.

Where the hell did she go?

Before I could dwell on it, another call came in. I didn’t need to check the ID.

“Grandmother.”

I should have known she would get involved, she always did.

“I saw the news,” she said over the phone.

“And?” I replied, uninterested.

“And I like her.”

I paused.

That, I didn’t expect.

“You embarrassed yourself,” she continued calmly. “But more importantly, you acted like a man who has finally felt something.”

I scoffed. “Don’t read too much into it.”

“Oh, I’m not,” she said lightly. “I’ve already met her.”

I froze.

“You what?” Here I was, wondering where she would be but this oldie of mine beat me to it.

“She’s lovely,” she continued. “And Sheila might be the only person capable of fixing you.”

“I don’t need fixing.”

“That’s exactly why you do.”

“Absolutely not.” I snapped.

My grandmother didn’t even flinch. She was the only one who wasn’t scared of me especially when I tried to showcase my domineering attitude.

“You’ve already created a scandal,” she said calmly. “Now we control the narrative.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“No,” she corrected. “This is necessary.”

I exhaled sharply.

“Fine,” I said after a pause. “If this is happening, it will be on my terms.”

Amber’s POV

By the next morning, everything had escalated. The news was everywhere, Speculations, pictures and videos. I couldn’t even recognize myself in them.

“This is bad,” I muttered, scrolling through my phone.

Vee leaned over. “Bad? This is chaos.”

Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” she asked.

I shook my head, she walked over and opened it.

A well-dressed elderly woman stood there, her posture elegant, her presence commanding.

“Good morning,” she said warmly. “I’m looking for Amber.”

I blinked.

“Yes, that’s me.”

Her eyes softened as she looked at me.

“Oh, you’re even more beautiful in person.”

I frowned slightly, looking more confused.

“I’m Adrian’s grandmother.”

I didn’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this.

I gently ushered her in and offered her a seat but for some reasons, she held on to my hands. She sat across from me, holding my hands gently.

“My grandson…” she sighed. “He’s not easy.”

That was an understatement more like he’s an arrogant, condescending and annoying man.

“But I saw something yesterday,” she continued. “Something I haven’t seen in years.”

I stayed quiet.

“I know this is sudden,” she said, her voice soft now. “But I need your help.”

“My help?” I queried.

She nodded. “He needs someone who can bring back his humanity.”

I blinked.

“And you think that person is me?”

“You are,” she said firmly.

“I’m not sure I’m the right person for that.”

“… please.” She begged.

Something in her tone made it hard to refuse.

Before I could respond, she added

“I want you to marry him.”