chapter 6

Adam tried to go further, tugging at my clothes and trying to pull them down.

Just then, something in me shifted.

My mind snapped back to reality. This wasn’t right and this wasn’t me.

“Stop,” I said, pushing his chest.

but he didn’t stop.

“Please…” My voice shook, I pushed harder, with my breath coming in short gasps. Finally, after several tries. he froze, then pulled his hand away from between my thighs.

My whole body trembled, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding,

Then… I saw him raise his finger that had just been inside me to his lips and licked it.

With this, my stomach flipped.

My thighs clenched without warning, I hated how much my body still responded, even when my mind screamed no.

“You’re so hot,” he whispered, almost like it was a compliment.

I stepped back, pulling up and adjusting my clothes with shaky hands. “Please… stay away from me,” I said quietly.

He watched me with a smug expression, and with his arms folded, like he wasn’t the least bit sorry.

Without waiting for another word, I walked out of the kitchen.

I didn’t stop, I kept walking. With my mind racing with deep doubts.

Father and son, both of them had touched me

What kind of mess was I getting into?

On my way, I met Mr. Grey.

He was coming down the stairs slowly, with one hand on the polished wooden rail. He wore a deep navy-blue shirt, with the sleeves rolled just enough to reveal strong forearms.

His dark trousers hugged his long legs perfectly, and his belt sat neat around his narrow waist.

The first two buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a hint of his chest. His hair was swept back, still slightly damp, and his jawline was sharp like it was carved from stone.

My breath caught.

He was too handsome and calm.

I fidgeted, with my hands trembling slightly at my sides. My eyes quickly dropped to the floor, but I could feel his presence like heat on my skin.

Then, just as I turned to keep walking, Adam walked in from the other side of the hall.

I froze immediately.

He looked relaxed like nothing had happened between us in the kitchen.

Our eyes didn’t meet, I kept my gaze low, with my stomach twisting.

Mr. Grey’s voice cut through the thick silence. “Son, there will be a meeting later today .”

Adam nodded. “ok father, I can't wait to be part of the board meeting.”

Then Mr. Grey turned to me.

“Amara,” he said, his tone was lighter now. “You’ll prepare some refreshments, won’t you?”

I looked up, startled. “Y-yes, sir.”

He smiled gently, just at the corners of his mouth, and it made something flutter in my chest.

My cheeks warmed instantly, I bowed slightly. “I’ll get to it right away.”

I turned to leave, trying to control the heat rushing up my neck.

Just then, as I stepped past Adam, our eyes met.

He gave me a wink. A slow, flirtatious one. Like we shared a secret.

My heart skipped.

I didn’t say a word, I couldn’t. I simply hurried straight to the kitchen.

*********

Later in the day, the meeting started, and I began preparing the refreshments.

When I was done, I carefully balanced the tray and walked toward the dining area, trying to steady my nerves. My hands trembled slightly, but I forced myself to focus. Because all that matters now was doing my job right

I had to forget Adam’s scene with me in the kitchen.

I stepped into the living room where the meeting was already underway.

Several men were seated around the couch in the sitting room, with Mr. Grey at the center.

His eyes were sharp and calculating as he listened, taking in every word without saying much.

And then… there was Adam.

He sat to Mr. Grey’s left, dressed in a black blazer with the top buttons undone. He looked so confident, so at ease. Like nothing had happened between us.

But when our eyes met, even for just a second, my heart skipped.

I quickly looked away and focused on setting down the refreshments, by placing cups of tea, pouring wine, laying plates of snacks and biscuits on the dining table one by one.

The men were deep in conversation.

“Our international shipping deal just came through,” one of them was saying. “If we get Adam’s approval, we’ll move thirty percent of our goods through the Port of los Angeles directly. No more intermediaries. It’ll double our profits.”

Mr. Grey nodded slightly. “I want numbers by the end of the week.”

As I placed the last cup on the table and turned to leave quietly, I heard something that made my feet freeze.

“To seal this deal,” one of the older men said, “we need something stronger than signatures. My daughter Annie just returned from studying abroad. If Adam agrees to marry her, we’ll sign immediately.”

The room went silent for a moment.

I didn’t dare turn around, but I could feel the tension.

Then Adam spoke, his voice was low but firm.

“I have someone I’m seeing.”

with this, my heart dropped.

What? I thought

I stood still behind the doorway, out of their direct view, but my eyes flicked back.

Adam’s face was unreadable, but I noticed the way he glanced at me… and then quickly looked away.

Mr. Grey’s expression didn’t change immediately, but slowly, he turned his head in my direction.

Our eyes met.

He stared at me also, and something in my chest tightened.

What was going on, was Adam talking about me?

Was Mr. Grey realizing something?

The air in the room felt thicker than ever, and suddenly I wished I hadn’t come out to serve anything at all.