Amber's pov: The sound of the waves crashing ashore might be loud, but Harlow’s words were louder. Tears flow down my eyes uncontrollably. This can’t be happening. It feels surreal. I’m going to break before this goes down. My phone rings. I can’t pick it up…It’s Alessandro. One of the guards walks in, and orders, “Pick it up! And act normal!” I pick up the call. “Alessandro…” My voice breaks. “Tesoro, is everything alright?” Alessandro is worried. “Yeah, it is,” I justify. “It sounds like you’ve been crying,” he says. “I just got emotional thinking about us, like how far we’ve come and all that,” I tell him. “Tesoro…” he chuckles, “I love you.” I whisper, “I love you too.” He then goes on, “This Friday, I won’t be coming home to you.” “What?” I question. “I’m going to have you driven somewhere,” he utters. I know. “Oh, okay,” I say. “That’s all that I had to say,” he utters. “Mhm, okay,” I can’t form sentences. “Are you sure that you’re okay?” Alessandro questions. “Yeah,” I
“How’re you feeling, diletto?” Harlow questions a very agitated Amber through her earpiece as the car drives her to the venue. She doesn’t speak, causing him to growl, “Answer!” “What the hell do you expect me to say?” Amber mutters. “Nothing, just follow my lead,” he smirks, “I’m going to be your mouth for the day.” Amber rolls her eyes and shifts her focus to the gun hidden under her long dress. “Oh, and don’t think I don’t know about the gun you’re hiding,” Harlow whispers, causing her to shiver for a split second. FLASHBACK Five Hours Ago Amber lingers around the necklace, admiring it and trying it on one last time. “Hurry up already, we don’t have all day,” Harlow rubs his face. Amber places the necklace back in place and the guard runs a check through it. Amber heads to breakfast. Harlow talks, “The car that Alessandro sends, you’ll step into that and sit there like a good girl.” Amber internally barfs at his choice of words. He continues, “You’ve got to get this earpiece
“Alessandro…” Harlow says, “Give me a second.” Amber repeats his words out loud. Then, she bursts into laughter. Her laugh suppressed any sign of tears that had tried their best to flood her eyes. “You’re proposing to me?” She shrieks with laughter. Alessandro shuts the box close and stands up, confused. Then, she stops laughing. “Alessandro. My poor little Alessandro. Do you believe that I loved you?” She questions. Alessandro says, “This is not the time for jokes, Tesoro.” “This is a joke,” she says, pointing to the fairy lights and the cafe. “Did you think one portrait could win me over?” She questions looking at the painting. Then, she turns to the box in his hand, saying, “And this is the biggest joke of the century.” “What do you think?” She questions, rage in her eyes, “You bring over some stupid unicorn ring and I just say yes after all that you’ve put me through for the past two years?!” She screams. Alessandro is taken aback. Amber’s pov: With every word that hits
Ken, Emma, and Bianca crawl out of the bedroom. They stand upright and hold a gift box in their hands. Amber’s eyes widen. “Where’s Alessandro?” They ask in sync, confused at the sight of lonely Amber in front of them. Amber laughs hysterically. “Alessandro asked the three of you to come here?” She questions, her gun still in her hand, but she drops her arm to her side. Bianca says, “No. We came here to celebrate with you.” Amber smiles at them, “Bee, did you assume that I’d say yes?” Ken says, “So, you rejected him?” Amber nods in pride. All three of their mouths form an O. Then, Ken asks, “The choice is yours, we’re in no position to make the decision, but you guys are still together, right?” Amber shakes her head, “Not really.” Bianca asks, “Why? What happened?” “Nothing. I was just playing around with Alessandro…I was devastated when he threw me out of the house and left me all alone. I wanted him to feel my pain, so I did this out of revenge. I have no plans of getting ba
Alessandro’s pov:“Let’s catch up on some sleep, I will tell you tomorrow,” I disappoint him with my words and leave him on the cliffhanger. Why? Because I need to process all the information before I put it out of my mouth. I wake up at seven in the morning and head to the gym. I work out for over an hour and then, take a shower. I try to calm myself down. As I reach the breakfast counter, I see two plates stacked with a heavy dose of breakfast. “Blurt it out, I can’t wait any longer,” Ken leans against the counter and I roll my eyes. I sit down and thank him for the meal before cutting into it. “Damn, this is pretty tasty,” I tell him and he rolls his eyes. “Alessandro,” he groans and I make him wait until we finish our food and load our plates into the dishwasher. Then, I take a seat on the couch. Ken leans against the doorframe as I speak.“Around two months ago, Harlow invaded Amber’s apartment and told her to stay away from me,” I get right to the point. He does not interrup
Amber’s pov: Yesterday has been rather eventful. From practicing dialogues to trying on outfits, it feels like I’ve taken up the career of a full-time actress. The guards are constantly tagging along with me, watching my every move. I’ve had guards with me earlier, but they were there to protect me, but these guards are the ones that I need protection from. And tonight is the mission. I’m going to have to flirt with another man in front of Alessandro. I have faith in him, but how long before he cannot bear it any longer? How long before he stops trying? Hell, even I wouldn’t put up with it. “Amber, the boss will be here in two hours, you need to get in your outfit,” the guards' order and we get to work immediately. Two Hours Later The front door flies open and Harlow marches in. He takes a seat on the couch and looks me up and down, adding to my discomfort. The outfit is scandalous enough as it is. It is made of a flimsy material and it gives me the vibes of the same outfi
Alessandro’s pov:Her face tells me that she’s in shock. I take her in my arms and feel bliss. Pure bliss. But in a split second, she pushes me off, whispering, “Alessandro…You can’t be close to me…Harlow…”“I know what I’ve gotten myself into,” I utter. “But…How?” She questions a spark back in her brown eyes.FLASHBACKTen Hours Ago“Ken, what’s wrong?” Alessandro questions as he steps into Ken’s hotel room. “You were right, Harlow is the man behind this,” Ken utters.Alessandro keeps calm and takes a seat next to Ken. “Ever since I’ve set up my equipment in this room, all that I’ve done is observed the cameras, and I’ll show you the highlights,” Ken tells him.The CCTV camera displays Harlow instructing Amber about tomorrow’s clubbing activity, Alessandro clenches his fists as Harlow raises his voice at Amber. He hates seeing his woman helpless and at the loss of her fierce personality.“Turn it off, I’ve seen enough,” Alessandro stands up and walks away.“Alessandro, you’ve got to
Amber’s pov: “Good girl,” Harlow’s words make me uncomfortable, even more than his presence. I keep my sad face strapped on, but I know that Alessandro is going to fight for us. I walk into my room and thump down on my bed thinking about all that has gone down ever since I left the club. FLASHBACK Amber’s pov: All that has happened is going over my head right now. As Harlow walks in, I freeze in place. My clothes on me quiver with me. “Where is Ryan?” He questions. I answer, “By the time my eyes opened, he was gone.” “That bastard has fled from the venue, but oh, well, at least he has finished his task. We don’t need him anymore,” Harlow grits his teeth through the sentence. “He will be finished soon,” Harlow murmurs. I don’t speak. “You did well, Amber,” Harlow smiles at me. “Watching the scene made me feel anything but uncomfortable,” his smirk is remarkably gross. I roll my eyes and adjust the clothes on my body. His words make things clear to me. My phone rings. It’s Ale