Amelia’s ears flushed hot with embarrassment and she couldn’t even look at Matteo. His words played in her head like a broken record, making her blush.I thought you would be sore!No, she had to divert her mind in some way.“Why was I in your room, Matteo?” was all she could muster up the courage to ask while walking towards the kitchen to grab a strong cup of coffee. She needed it badly. “What option did I have than to carry you there? Cadence was at the door and I didn’t want her to know the truth. She would force me to get back with her,” said Matteo, following her to the kitchen. His statements had her worried. So was the dream a reality? Did he touch his lips to hers? Did she beg him to stay with her on the bed? She poured her coffee absent-mindedly. “One for me too.” Amelia came out of her trance and looked at him, serving the breakfast he had prepared. She smiled at the delicious-looking toast, bacon, and eggs he had made and forgot her predicament. “When did you make so mu
“What’s the need for it? I have a spare ring we can use for the act.” Matteo shook his head and gently shoved her inside his car. “Just get in.” He closed the door and went around to the driver’s seat with a scowl on his face. Amelia found his behavior weird. Why was he willing to spend on a fake ring? The emerald ring she had bought on her last birthday could work perfectly. “Why are we spending so much for nothing? We could use my emerald ring,” she said, trying to put some sense in his stubborn head. “No, I want you to wear my ring, not anyone else’s.” He started the car with the same scowl, making her roll her eyes at him. “It’s not anyone else’s. I bought it for myself on my last birthday.” “Whatever! We won’t use it.” Amelia shrugged and looked out of the window. There was no point in arguing with such a headstrong man. Let him waste his money on a ring! “Have you checked out NYC yet?” he asked suddenly as they stopped at a signal. “No, we had just set out when the accide
Amelia wore a conservative navy blue dress, pairing it with small diamond studs. Her hands trembled with fear as she waited for Matteo’s arrival. With only 30 minutes at hand, shouldn’t he be here already? Weird thoughts about the man they were about to face haunted her mind. Her heart pounded with every passing minute, anticipating the worst viable treatment there. In Matteo’s absence, she had cowered in her room all afternoon, repenting her decision to stay back. Why did she have to bring this upon herself? Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lizzy for the fourth time since the afternoon, but she didn’t pay any heed to it. She wouldn’t tell anyone of her whereabouts until Matteo’s problem was solved. The door clicked open and she could hear Matteo grumbling to himself. Was he still in his shitty mood? God! He was such a jerk! She was right about him. He wanted to get into her pants right from the moment he lay his eyes on her. Maybe he was the same with all women! A knock
Amelia was immediately on high alert as the man approached them, his glittering eyes glaring at Matteo. She touched her sling bag, feeling inside to check her weapon. Yes, it was there! “Matteo, it’s good that you came over. I wanted to talk to you.” Matteo stood up at the sight of him, walking up to clasp his outstretched hand, leaving Amelia’s for the first time since they entered the house. “Hello, Bill. I wanted to talk to you too.” Bill Phantom frowned and released his hand to give Amelia a suspicious look. “What is it, Matteo? And who is this woman with you?” He sat down on the couch facing them, gesturing for them to take a seat. “This is Amelia. I have something to show you.” Bill Phantom scowled at Amelia and then held up his hand at Matteo. “Hang on. First, tell me what’s going on between you and Cadence. Why is she upset and shedding tears over you? Didn’t I clarify that the monetary concession for the shop would cease the moment you break off the engagement with her?”
The man’s pleas didn’t soften Matteo. He punched his face so hard that he dropped to the ground. His comrades came rushing in to help him but Matteo kept on hitting at the injured man. Before the others could restrain him, he pulled out a gun from inside his leather jacket and held it to the man’s head. “You know I don’t forgive anyone, Rob. You deserve to die.”“Drop the gun, Matteo. I’m sure he’ll never do this again,” said Ryan as he emerged with Cadence. The sight of him made Matteo’s blood boil even more. The men inched towards him to divert his attention, but Matteo was livid with fury. “Stay right where you are or I’ll blow his brains up.” “Let him go, Matteo. Don’t do it,” pleaded Amelia, as a strange fear gripped her heart. Was Matteo a criminal too, like them? “Please, Matteo. Don’t kill my brother,” sobbed Cadence. The sight of her made Matteo shove the gun more into his head. “This is all because of you, Cadence. Now watch your brother die.” “Your girl won’t live to
“My family won’t allow it. I’m sure you can appoint an accountant better than me, Matteo.” Amelia couldn’t look at him after she declined him directly in his face. Matteo frowned and drove on in silence, his hard expression not allowing her to know how he really felt. He parked his car and walked out towards his apartment while Amelia followed him in silence. She knew the time had arrived for her to pack up and leave. Maybe she would do that. “I’ve ordered dinner. Should be here anytime,” he announced the moment he entered the apartment. “Okay.” He walked away towards his room without another word and Amelia somehow felt he was upset with her decision. She picked up her phone to book herself a flight home. Her heart felt heavy as it revolted against her decision. She somehow couldn’t make herself press the button and book. The urge to stay back was so strong that it made her lose all her common sense. She went to her room to freshen up and change. There was no use living here with
After the third ring, Matteo trudged over to open the door, wondering who would disturb him so late in the night. Couldn’t Freddie wait until morning? What could be the emergency? He opened the door to blast him when his eyes popped out at seeing a tired Amelia on his doorstep. For a minute, his mind went blank, and he couldn't believe his eyes. Was he hallucinating? Was she really here? He rubbed his eyes to focus better and found her still standing there. “Emelia?” he breathed unsteadily.“What? Am I not welcome anymore?” asked Amelia breathlessly. Realization hit him and he blinked at her with disbelief. She really had come back! A lazy smile lit up his face, and he pulled her luggage inside, allowing her to enter. “How did you come back?” he asked, his gaze not leaving her even for a second. Amelia smiled and closed the door, turning to face him finally. “You wanted me to find my dreams, and I did. Pursuing an MBA is my dad’s dream, not mine,” she admitted breathlessly, her ch
“Any problem, my accountant?” Amelia rolled her eyes and flashed him a sweet smile, all the while groaning inwardly. “No, Matteo umm, boss.” He looked quite pleased with her address and squeezed in a chair beside his. “Here you go. You can use the spare laptop there. I’ll tell you what to do right away.” Amelia stood like a statue, wondering how she would squeeze in there. “Come on. Get moving, accountant.” She rolled her eyes at his enthusiasm. Why was he so excited? She squeezed in through the tiny space and collected the laptop he pointed at. Sitting with it on her chair, she waited for Matteo’s intervention. “What’s the password, boss?” Matteo chuckled and sat down beside her, leaning almost over her. With his arm resting at the back of her chair, she was almost in his embrace! This was what she had been dreading. Now all she could feel was her arm brushing against his chest and the heady smell of his aftershave tingling in her nose. It was the worst torture possible. “So this