جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

The week after Amelia met Edward Kingston passed more peacefully than any of them expected.For the first time in weeks...There were no emergency meetings.No threats.No mysterious phone calls.Even Daniel admitted the office felt strangely calm.Which, according to Victoria, was "probably a sign that something terrible was about to happen."Daniel had laughed.Alexander had not.He knew better than to trust silence.Still...When he looked at Amelia sitting outside his office, completely focused on organizing documents, he allowed himself to believe that perhaps life was finally giving them a chance to breathe.It was nearly six in the evening when Amelia finished the last report.She stretched her arms above her head."I think my back has officially resigned."Victoria laughed."That's what happens when you organize Mr. Kingston's impossible schedule."Amelia smiled."At least he hasn't given me another five-hundred-page report."Almost on cue...Alexander stepped out of his offic

The next morning, Amelia woke up with an unusual sense of peace.For the first time in months, her mother looked healthier.The color had slowly returned to Evelyn's face after her successful surgery.She was even preparing breakfast."Mom."Amelia hurried into the kitchen."You should be resting."Evelyn smiled."I am resting.""Making pancakes isn't resting.""It is if it makes my daughter smile."Amelia hugged her tightly."I missed this.""So did I."Noah walked into the kitchen, rubbing his sleepy eyes."Something smells amazing."Evelyn laughed."My secret recipe."Noah immediately sat down."I officially vote for Mom to cook every day."Amelia rolled her eyes."Traitor.""You make healthy breakfasts.""So?""They're... healthy."Everyone laughed.For a few wonderful minutes...The apartment felt like home again.Not a place weighed down by hospital bills and fear.Just a family enjoying breakfast together.When Amelia arrived at Kingston Holdings, Victoria greeted her with an a

Monday began with rain.Not the violent kind that flooded the streets.Just a soft, steady rain that painted New York in shades of gray.Amelia stood by the office window with a warm cup of coffee in her hands.She had always liked rainy mornings.They reminded her of simpler days.Days when her biggest concern had been finishing homework before her father came home from work.She smiled at the memory."What are you thinking about?"Alexander's voice came from behind her.She turned."My dad."He walked beside her and looked out at the rain."He loved rainy days.""Why?""He'd make hot chocolate."She laughed softly."And then he'd insist we watch old movies."Alexander smiled."That sounds nice.""It was."She looked at him."What about you?"He thought for a moment."I usually worked.""As a child?""My father believed free time created lazy people."Amelia frowned."So...""You didn't really have a childhood."Alexander smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes."I had responsibilities.

Silence filled Alexander's office.The photograph lay on his desk.Amelia stared at it, unable to look away.It wasn't just a picture.It was a message.Someone had watched them while they slept.Someone had stood close enough to photograph the windows of the penthouse.Her hands slowly tightened."They were there..."Alexander's expression remained unreadable.But those who knew him would have recognized the warning signs.His shoulders had stiffened.His eyes had turned cold.His voice, when he finally spoke, was frighteningly calm."They've become reckless."Daniel entered the office only seconds later."The building has been secured."Alexander handed him the photograph."I want every security camera within a two-mile radius of my penthouse reviewed."Daniel's face darkened."They got that close?"Alexander nodded once."They wanted us to know."Daniel immediately understood."This wasn't surveillance.""No."Alexander looked toward the city outside."It was intimidation."Victori

For the first time in years...Amelia woke up smiling.The silver bracelet on her wrist caught the morning sunlight.She gently touched the tiny heart-shaped charm.Come Home Safe.The words made her smile all over again.She had read them at least twenty times before falling asleep.Maybe thirty.She wasn't counting.A knock sounded on her bedroom door."Amelia?""Come in."Noah peeked inside with an exaggerated grin."So..."She immediately knew that look."What?""How does it feel?""How does what feel?""Being Alexander Kingston's girlfriend."Amelia threw a pillow at him."Noah!"He caught it easily."You blushed.""I did not.""You absolutely did."She crossed her arms."You're impossible."He laughed."I learned from you."At Kingston Holdings...Alexander had already been working for almost an hour.Yet every few minutes...His eyes drifted toward the office door.Victoria noticed immediately."You've checked the hallway six times."Alexander looked up from his laptop."I have