Kneel Before Me, Ex-husband のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

The morning light drenched through the curtain as I shifted slowly, my body heavy from what was left of last night's wine. Victoria and I had gone over every detail of the plan, though the wine had dulled my senses at the time. It sharpened my focus today, however. Today, I wasn't Amy Sanchez. Today I was Amethyst Amadeus. And today I took what was mine.I leapt out of bed and onto the cool floor, my feet on their way down even though my mind was racing ahead to what lay in store. The fifty-billion-dollar stake Eleanor had left me in Grayson Industries was my weapon—my means of control over Gideon's empire, the man who betrayed me and left me. Today, I would be taking my first step toward claiming that power.In the shower, I let the hot water cascade over me, washing away any lingering sleep. My thoughts were busy going around the meeting I had to hold with Gideon, the man who once thought I was nothing. He didn't know what I'd become. I wasn't that weak Amy he'd discarded. I was som

Gideon's features put the irritability to flight, replaced by amusement, his dark eyes for sincerity in mine. "Beloved ex-husband? You really like flinging that around, don't you?"I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "It has a nice ring to it. But let's not bother with our history, Gideon. I'm here for the company. My grandmother believed in this place, and now I'm determined to prove her right.".He just sat there for a minute, staring at me, turning something over in his head. Then his phone rang up from the top of his desk. He glanced at the screen, then back at me, annoyance flashing across his face for a fleeting instant."Personally hold that thought?" he said, reaching to answer his phone. "Be right back."I nodded as he stepped out of the office, leaving me behind to pretend to admire this almost sterile space. Skyline of the city pierced through the glass panes beyond. I was reminded at how far both of us had travelled.Moments later, Amethyst's phone rang in the silence. I pic

"You can wait a little while."I had hung up before she could say a word; the jarring click of hanging up was almost slyly satisfying. She could wait; she'd always expect me to come running, but those days were over. I was no longer her puppet. I went to the restaurant in time, accompanied by the heel strike on the pavement. The world outside waited for a breathless second as I emerged from the car; sunbeams danced on its glossy metallic surface. Heads turned, and I didn't care. I had not come here to be adored.I entered the dining room, my footfalls needing no words to command attention. There she sat -- my so-called mother -- already seated, nervously fidgeting with her napkin. She looked older, fragile than when I'd last seen her. Life hadn't been nice to her; and then, a part of me took satisfaction in that fact.I barely nod to her when going to the table. I sit slowly, unleashing my quietness on her; she squirms under its pressure. Sh

GIDEON’S POVIt had grown dark by the time I got out of the car and was throwing that golden light across the driveway. I pressed my temple where, I felt, the weight of the day lay. The company was in trouble, one of our biggest investors having pulled out. I had spent hours trying to salvage what was left. As I approached the front door, I could hear raised voices inside. Alexa and her mother.I crept into the room quietly, just in time to hear the voice of Alexa break into the house."Why do you always ask me for money? I'm not an ATM, Mother! You're not my responsibility anymore.”Her mother, Mrs Sanchez, spoke in a softer tone almost as a pleading. "I tried to ask Amy to help. But she's different now. Not the same person—she's Amethyst Amadeus. Heartless, Alexa. She won't help us."I moved aside, stepping out of the living room, and listened. "Amy …. Her name still stung, even now. The problem wasn't that. That was everything collapsing around me.”Alexa’s voice turned cold, dripp

I clamped my jaws shut and swallowed hard to silence the cyclone storming within me. "Home, resting," I lied, jerking my face into a smile that felt more of a grimace.I wanted laughing sounds-of it being utterly completely insignificant that Amethyst was there, radiating and unreachable. And as I captured her eye, a shiver of amusement danced across them and heightened my frustration."Ah, how noble of you," Nicolai added in, sarcasm dripping from his voice like acid. "Making sure she doesn't overexert herself. Pregnancy can be quite the task, can't it?"She stung with the jab, but bit my feelings."I'd like to see our baby," I said in a false display of excitement. "We have everything waiting for us at home.".For one moment, Amethyst's gaze gentled as she revealed me, and the burden of our past bore down on the space that had seemed to crowd in between us. And then no, she lingered on Nicolai, and the moment shattered.“Good for you, Mr. Grayson”, she said coolly, I hope that you t