CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO Jackson rose to his feet as soon as his uncle came in; Amelia followed suit, smiling as the man took her in very suspiciously. She had told Jackson that it would have been better if they met alone but he had insisted on her presence. He wanted her to be a judge of the man in front of them and that is what she was going to be. “Hello uncle… meet Amelia, my girlfriend” Jackson introduced. The man raised an eyebrow slightly but Amelia watched him relax a bit before he smiled in her direction. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Amelia… my name is John” he told her. Amelia smiled, shaking the hand he offered and then taking a seat. They had prepared dishes that she was sure he was going to enjoy and she watched his eyes light up as he picked up the fork in front of him. Jackson on the other hand was watching him like a tiger would watch a prey it was about to make dinner. He did not like the idea of inviting him over for anything but he had to figure out if the man

CHAPTER SEVENTY FOURJackson sat alone in his dimly lit living room after Amelia departure, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions. He has not wanted to dwell on what his uncle, John had mentioned about Amelia and the whole concept of their relationship but he could not help thinking about it now that he was alone.The whole idea of marriage to him was a foreign concept and one he did not want to ever get involved in. He like the freedom that came with being single or getting into a contract, knowing fully well that he held all the cards should incase there was something the woman involved wanted that wouldn’t fly.It had gone well for his father and the others before him and it was a family tradition, one that he had been comfortable with following through with in the past but now he was skeptical about it and because he was deeply in love with her.He had to admit to himself that he had come to love her more than anything and he wouldn’t want something like a contr

CHAPTER SEVENTY SIXSophia was expecting Jackson and as she stood in the center of her living room, she was unsure of what to say to him and the actions to give that would mitigate the tension that was going to be crawling all over them.The last time she had spoken or seen him was during the interview where he had made a mess of her life and where she had realized that all her plans had been for nothing. She was going to continue being the penniless girl that she was before and after she met him and took his father’s money.She smiled to herself as she took one last round tour around the house she had come to call home. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with the weight of the public’s judgment and she could feel their distaste for her as they feasted in front of her home, waiting for the slightest of reactions from her.Well, they were going to see a reaction today because she was leaving the country, going somewhere nobody would know of the crimes she had committe

CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHTThe phone by his bedside woke an angry Jackson early the next morning. He had a hangover from drinking himself to stupor the previous night after Amelia’s rejection.He had been unable to convince her to stay with him even when he was sure he could not commit to her idea of a marriage.“Hello” he muttered harshly into the receiver.“What are you still doing in bed?” Liam’s voice came through.“My father died… I think I am liable to take few days off work, don’t you think?” He snapped.“You are angry about something… what is it?” Liam asked“That is none of your business, Liam… what the fuck do you want?” He asked.“You might need a new assistant; Celine phoned me this morning when she could not reach you. She said Amelia resigned and I can only guess that is the reason for your sour attitude. It did not go well, did it?” he asked“No, now tell Celine that she can have her old job back. I am going back to sleep, thank you for calling”“You… come on, Jack. You are

CHAPTER EIGHTY Jackson settled in comfortably in the jet bound for Amelia.He had to go to her; he admitted to himself that he was miserable without her and even that had been ascertained by Liam who suggested that he better make the move before she is stolen from him.He had tried to reach out to her again but there had been no response and he wasn’t one to ever send voicemails so he always hung up after the beep.He just wished she would pick up the phone so he could talk to her and tell her what he wanted.Tell her that he was ready to give whatever she wanted a trial and it wasn’t about him anymore. He missed her more than he could admit and he realized after her departure just how much he always wanted to see her at work and how much she wanted to hold her hands… hear her voice and hug her.He tried calling her number one last time but was redirected to her voicemail again like every other time.“You cannot avoid me forever” he muttered to himself, dropping the phone beside him