Semua Bab FOR HER SAKE: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Amelia’s POVThe air in the conference room felt heavy but warm after I slid the papers back to the lawyer. He nodded twice, going through the papers before passing it to other parties to sign. For something that had been twisted and violent from the start, the actual ending was quiet and almost anticlimactic.Vasquez leaned back in his chair, tapping ash from a cigar into a crystal tray by his side. His cheeks still looked reddish from the hit but his face held no thoughts on the matter. “There,” he muttered, his voice casual but laced with menace. “The lawyer nodded again, packed his files neatly, and left without glancing at any of us. I couldn’t blame him, being in this room must have felt like sitting in a den of snakes.Rafael was the first to move. He rose, tugged at his jacket sleeve, and smirked faintly like the whole process had bored him to death. He glanced at his wristwatch with a frown “I’ve wasted enough time here. Unlike the rest of you, I actually have things to ru

Amelia’s POVThe valet was waiting with a small, polite bow when I stepped out of the Vasquez building. I blinked at the gleaming black sedan he gestured toward and then at the keys he pressed into my palm.“I…this isn’t mine,” I said, frowning.“Compliments of the house,” he said smoothly, though his eyes flicked toward the street.And that was when I spotted it. Mateo’s crest on the plate. Which meant Gabriel had left the vehicle behind and went ahead with Mateo even though all the yelling would have busted his nuts. Typical, annoying and somehow thoughtful even in the worst of situations.He was a proper bodyguard quite alright. It was no wonder Mateo almost lost his mind when he defaulted.I slid behind the wheel, muttering under my breath. “Overprotective jackass.”By the time I pulled up the drive to Mateo’s estate, the air felt less light. I remembered how excited I had been when I left with the dreams of building something for myself. Now though, even though I had actually som

Amelia’s POVThe elevator hummed low, its mirrors catching us in many angles. . My reflection looked too bare, too raw, my lipstick slightly smudged, and my pupils were wide. I wondered if it could tell how fast I could feel my pulse at that moment. Beside me, Kelvin stood relaxed in that way that was anything but relaxed: one hand shoved into his pocket, the other holding the railing behind that went around the elevator box. His grip is tight on it and I can see his veins pop alongside his muscles.The numbers blinked up one after the other. 5…6…7…I tried to breathe steady, but it came out weak, shallow. My chest rose higher than it should, my throat catching like I’d been running.I turned. He was already watching me.And before I thought better of it, before I reminded myself of all the reasons I should keep my distance, I leaned in and kissed him.It wasn’t gentle. My mouth found him like it had been waiting for years, desperate and greedy. He didn’t hesitate. His hand slid to t

Amelia’s POVThe glass doors of my building gleamed again. Mine.The golden plaque outside no longer carried the ugly “temporarily suspended” notice Mateo’s men had slapped there weeks ago. Now it shone under the morning sun, polished like a badge of victory. When I pushed inside, the hum of voices, ringing phones, and printer clatter hit me all at once. It was chaotic, but I would get right through it.I dragged my fingers along the reception counter, the cool marble grounding me. “We’re back,” I whispered, almost to myself.A few of the staff had already gathered near the lobby, watching me the way you’d watch someone resurrected from the dead. I didn’t blame them. The last time most of them had seen me, I’d been carted out like a pawn in Rafael’s game.“Good morning, Ms. Hart,” one of the assistants said, her voice careful.“Morning,” I replied lightly, and the whole cluster of them seemed to relax at once. Like me showing up, smiling even, was permission for them to breathe again.

Amelia’s POVThe morning sunlight cut through the curtains in faint rays, brushing across Kelvin’s face where he lay on the bed, tangled in the hotel sheets that were rumpled from last night. His lips parted slightly, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. For the overprotective man I knew, he looked almost boyish in sleep, all softened and vulnerable.It was cute and made me feel giddy and warm inside, but also scared of how deep I was beginning to fall for him. Last night was awesome. We visited an uptown restaurant and giggled around sushi and some wine. It had been bliss, even after the chauffeur drove us to the hotel and it didn’t stop being beautiful after the rushed sex.I leaned down, brushed a feather-light kiss across his cheek, and whispered to myself, “Don’t get used to this.”He stirred but didn’t wake, and I slipped out of the bed quietly, taking a fast shower and getting dressed in a blue blazer and some pants. Kelvin was awake when I was slipping my feet into