All Chapters of HIRED AND WANTED : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

AMARA’S POV***He didn't answer my question. Only looked at me like he would burn the earth to the ground.His mouth hovered near my ear.“You want to act like a brat?” he murmured. “Then I’ll treat you like one.”I stiffened. “I’m not acting like anything.”His grip tightened slightly.“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because tonight you danced like you didn’t know who you belonged to.”I clenched my jaw.Oh.So that was what this was. Jealousy.And for some reason, it made me even angrier.I pushed lightly against his chest. “Put me down.”“No.”I glared at him. “You can’t grab a woman like this when you have a fiancée.”His entire face shifted, his voice dropped into something colder.“I don’t have a fiancée.”I laughed, but it wasn’t real. It was bitter.“Oh, right. Of course. And I also hallucinated the part where she sat on your desk and introduced herself like she owned you.”His expression tightened.“Sofia is not my fiancée.”I stared at him. “Then what is she?”“She’s my childhoo

AMARA’S POV****The hospital smelled like bleach and despair. Every time I stepped into that lobby, my stomach tightened, and my chest felt heavy. My mind was on Mum, on the steady beeping of the monitors, the pale skin, the weakness that had been stealing her away for months.I walked to the room, the first thing I noticed was how small she looked against the hospital bed. Tubes ran into her, machines keeping track of every shallow breath. I swallowed hard.“Mum?” I whispered, sitting down beside her. Her eyes opened slowly, a faint smile flickering. “Hey, baby.” Her voice was fragile, soft, broken.I grabbed her hand, trying to hold it without shaking. “I’m here, Mum. I’m here.”The doctor came in then, clipboard in hand, face drawn and serious. I straightened automatically, my chest tightening at the professional calm that masked bad news.“Amara,” he said, glancing at my mother, “we need to talk.”I braced myself. The words didn’t come yet, just the way he looked at me—like he had

AMARA'S POV***The gala was held in a high-rise building with glass walls and golden lights. The entrance alone looked like it cost more than my entire life.The moment we stepped inside, heads turned. People stared at Dorian and me.Dorian’s hand moved to the small of my back, guiding me forward. Not holding me, just claiming space.We were barely inside when people started approaching.Handshakes. Smiles. Business compliments.“Mr Wellington.”“Dorian.”“You’re looking good tonight.”Dorian didn’t smile much. He just nodded and responded with controlled politeness.I stayed beside him, doing my job. Until I realized something.Every time a man’s eyes lingered on me too long, Dorian’s body would shift slightly closer.Subtle. Protective. Possessive.Like he didn’t even know he was doing it. It made my heart beat stupidly.Then I saw her.Sofia.She walked into the room like she belonged on a throne. Red dress. Perfect makeup. The same confident smile.Her eyes landed on Dorian first

AMARA’S POVBy the time I stepped into the office that morning, the workers seemed relaxed and chatty. The first thing I did—without thinking—was glance toward Dorian’s office.His door was shut.I walked past my office and went straight to the secretary’s office. Wanting to ask her for clarity on a document.“Good morning,” I said, dropping my bag on the chair beside me. “Is Mr. Dorian in?”The secretary didn’t even look up immediately. She was flipping through papers, her brows slightly furrowed, like she’d already been stressed before the day even started.“No,” she answered. “He won’t be coming in today.”I blinked. “Why?”She finally looked up.“He’s sick.”I forced my face to remain blank.“Oh,” I said, nodding slowly. “Okay. Noted.”Then I asked her about the documents and meetings which she clarified, then I turned away, walking back to my office like my chest hadn’t tightened for absolutely no reason.Sick. Dorian?The man looked like he could survive a war with a broken arm

AMARA’S POV****“Go home, Amara,” he said again, his voice rough.I stared at him for a long second before I answered.“No.”His eyes opened fully this time. “No?”“I’m staying the night,” I said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.His brows pulled together. “Absolutely not.”I almost laughed. Even sick, he still had that tone. Like he could order the world around.“You can’t stop me,” I replied.His jaw clenched. “Amara, I’m fine. You can't sleep in a man's house.”I looked at him. “You're not any man, besides you’re burning up, I can't just leave you here alone.”He stared at me like he wanted to argue until I backed down. But I didn’t.For once, I didn’t feel intimidated by him. If anything, he looked too tired to scare anyone.He sighed, long and annoyed. “This is ridiculous.”“Good,” I said. “Then let it be ridiculous.”He held my gaze for a moment, then his shoulders dropped slightly, like he was giving up.“Fine,” he muttered. “Do what you want.”I nodded once. “Go