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This is her time to experience all that.
Our lives are at completely different stages, yet somehow, it almost feels like our worlds are the same, and that alone terrifies me. Whichever way I look at us, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
My phone buzzes. Lex’s name appears on the screen, demanding attention.
“Lex,” I greet.
“McGuire tells me he’s still waiting on you to send across the proposal?”
“Yes.” I clear my throat, stretching my neck to ease the tension. “I’m on it.”
“Well, get on it faster. You don’t want him to look elsewhere. I thought you were sending this last night?” Lex stresses with an agitated tone. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“I’m trying to play catch-up, that’s all, Lex.” I strain, biting my tongue not to give anything away. “He’ll have it in an hour.”
Lex doesn’t say another word, hanging up the phone. Fuck. I’ve riled the beast. I’ve witnessed Lex on the warpath, and it’s not pleasant.
I tell my new secretary, Heather, to hold all my calls and bring me some coffee so I can power through this. Exactly an hour later, I’m beyond done, sending across the email to McGuire with a follow-up phone call. By the time it ends, night has fallen, and I want nothing more than to forget this day existed.
As I enter my apartment, not a single sound can be heard, the outside noise disappearing the moment I step inside. Suddenly, this apartment feels incredibly lonely. I can almost hear the echo of Amelia’s laughter, only to realize she’s not here.
There’s nothing to do besides continue to work. I sit on the couch with my laptop, answering an email from some fucker trying to sell me something I’m not interested in. There are a few emails from Lex, some of which I answer because I can, but even he’s getting on my nerves with his ridiculous demands.
I check the time, noting it’s after midnight. There’s no text message from Amelia. I think about sending her a text but talk myself out of it. The worry turns into jealousy once again, and I find myself stalking her stories like a fucking maniac. There are many images of food and them sitting in a restaurant with the only male being Andy.
Feeling somewhat relieved, I grab a drink from the liquor cabinet and pour myself a glass, welcoming the taste of the smoky whisky to ease the tension I’ve been feeling all day.
Another hour passes before the door opens, and Amelia stumbles through, dressed in a navy blue tight-fitting dress and oversized white
winter jacket. Her camel-colored boots touch her knee, exposing her thighs more than I’d prefer.
There’s a cheeky smile on her face, and the glassy eyes tell me she’s been drinking. It only validates my concerns, but I keep my opinion to myself, not wanting to get into an argument now.
She sits on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. I close my eyes briefly, inhaling the smell of her perfume and burying my head in her neck, allowing her hair to fall gracefully against my face.
“I missed you,” I murmur.
I lean back on the sofa to get a better look at her, still in my work clothes, as she begins to unbutton my dress shirt. I graze my hand along her thigh, knowing that every touch makes it harder to pull away. She runs her hands along my chest before placing soft kisses along my collarbone.
“I love you,” she utters, followed by a small hiccup. “I love you, William Rockford Romano.”
My body freezes as she says the words. But slowly, her tiny snores fall between us. I shut my eyes tight, just for a moment, begging myself to ignore the three words attempting to break down all my walls.
Three words that change everything between us.
I carry her to the bedroom, laying her on the bed, removing her coat and shoes with incredible difficulty. She’s dead asleep, so I place the blanket over her and head to the shower to get changed for bed.
With only three hours of sleep, the morning light hasn’t even risen as I’m sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in my suit with the car service waiting downstairs.
“Amelia,” I say softly. “I have to go.”
She begins to stir, her eyes opening a few seconds later. “Go? Go where? What time is it?”
“Shh, sleep. It’s early.”
“But…what time is it?”
“Early,” I state, letting out a sigh. “I need to fly to Boston today, but I’ll be back tonight.”
