He stared at her and she gave him a knowing smile as the name rolled off his lips. The resemblance was uncanny and if he was being truthful, it scared him a little. Who was this woman? “Manny?” A known voice interrupted him and reluctantly he tore his gaze from the lady on the pole. “You're here?” He grumbled. “And you are thinking about your dead wife.” She lamented, seemingly annoyed. She brought him here to have fun with her, not mop it and hallucinate about his dead wife. “I wasn't thinking about her.” He argued, not sure why he thought he'd seen her. “Of course you weren't.” She muttered still annoyed and took her seat beside him. Andrew looked back at the pole, but the woman was gone. His eyes scanned the room, yet he couldn't even see a glimpse of her. Giving him more reasons to question himself. He sat there thinking while Brenda stared angrily at him. He wasn't even making a move to touch her. “Andrew.” She snapped her fingers and he flinched at the soun
Amelia smacked her red lips as she looked into the mirror and fixed her makeup. She was finally getting to meet him, after a month and some days. She wondered what changed his mind. She looked at herself once again in the mirror. “Perfect." She remarked, blowing a kiss at her reflection. Grabbing her purse, she left the house. Her driving was chaotic. Amelia held the steering wheel tightly that her knuckles had started to turn white. Her wide eyes flickered between the road and the rearview mirror and her heart pounded as if it might burst through her chest. She had never been good at driving. Sebastian was the one who'd always drive her. Oh, how she wished he was here with her. “Why is it so hard to keep this car straight.” She yelled, her teeth clenched Amelia approached a stop sign, braking too late and jerking to a halt halfway through the intersection. She glanced around, hoping no one had witnessed what she had just done. "Focus, Amy, focus," she muttered t
“Do you think it's Andrew? Maybe he's trying to lure you out?” “No way.” Amelia blurted out in defense. “I don't think he suspects anything, he's too busy catching feelings for me.” She heard Sebastian snort through the phone and she threw her hands in the air, ready to fight. Only if she could see him. “So who can it be? Is staying here still a good idea?” She sounded scared. She wasn't afraid of death, she was afraid of her secret being out. It would spoil everything for her. “I don't know, the message was pretty coded.” He answered. “I can give the guys to check where the message was from…” He paused and waited for her response, he wasn't going to do anything she didn't want to. “Yeah do that and in the meantime, what do we do?” “I know you can't see, but I'm putting on my thinking face.” Sebastian joked, making Amelia snicker. “I'm serious, this can affect—” “I know, I know. I'll think of something.” He assured her. “And in the meantime, you have to stay in
“Let's be partners." Tristan's face held a grave look, never in his life has he been so serious about something. He was tired of working for Andrew, it was time she upgraded his status. “Partner?" Andrew repeated teasingly, what made him think that far? “Is there something wrong with that?" “No…not at all." He answered, almost laughing. “But I don't think my father will agree to that." He added. “When have you ever needed your father's permission to do anything?" A smile tugged at his lips. “Either we're partners or you can find someone else to do your dirty work for you." Andrew scoffed as he continued the work he was doing. “You aren't my only option." Tristan's face turned sour and Andrew relished the look. If he wanted to be partners with Andrew, he'd have to work harder for it. "Okay then. I hope they find who's killing your men.” He said, walking to the door furiously. All of a sudden remembering something, he turned to Andrew, that serious look back on hi
**FIVE YEARS AGO. Amelia's screams echoed in the tiny room as the belt landed on her back, leaving her with marks with each strike. “You've been a bad girl.” A gruff voice said and struck her back again. “Now, you'll have to pay.” Her screams got louder as his strikes got more painful. “Please…I'm sorry…spare me.” She begged as sweat and tears ran down her face and snot from her nose. Her body was read and filled with wounds that were left to fester. Her body ached from the beating and she felt pain on her vulnerable part. It was all too much for her. The door to the door opened and Alejandro entered, his face devoid of any human expression as he peered at her “Alejandro, help me…” Her breathing was ragged, and she stretched her hands to touch him. “Why did you do that?” He roared. “You know we need them!” His bored holes into her body with his now angry eyes, the only expression he seemed to have. “It…hu…hurts…” She cried, her breath ceasing. “No more, please.”
‘they're suffering because of you.’ His words rang in her head, reminding her that it was all her fault. ‘why did you run away?’ ‘it’s all your fault. come back!’ ‘if you want to see them again, you know exactly what to do….’ ‘or else—’ the sound of the gun firing replayed in her mind and she screamed. “Amelia! Are you okay?” Josie asked, rushing out of the kitchen with gloves on and sweating all over her face. Amelia looked at her confused, she herself not understanding what was going on. “You screamed, are you fine? You look pale and have wrinkles.” Josie touched her forehead, trying to crease the lines that appeared there. “I'm fine, just a little tired.” She gave Josie a smile just to get off her back. She was far from fine. Her mind was running with every action possible to take. Still, they all led back to her on the bed with him. There was no escaping it, that was her fate. “Thank God we're going shopping then. Since the death of Manny, I haven't really bee
Amelia jolted in shock as her phone rang, disturbing her leave and quiet. Just as she picked up the phone, she threw it back in the bed as she saw the caller ID. ‘Sebastian.’ It showed as it continued ringing. She knew too well who was calling, and she was terrified to pick up. She breathed, inhaling and exhaling heavily, calming herself down. Sounding sacred to the enemy was not an option. Even though she was dying inside, she had to appear tough, it was the only way to get through this. “Javier?” Her voice shook as she said his name. So much for appearing tough. Sebastian and Alejandro were suddenly on alert hearing her voice. “Pequeño ángel, you're running out of time.” He cautioned. “And my patience is wearing thin.” “Release them first and I'll come. I'll do as you say, just leave them alone.” She pleaded the familiar words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. “That wasn't the agreement was it?” He tsked, “Don't think I don't know where you are little Angel. I
“You need my help?" “Yes, urgently." She stood timid in front, twisting the handle of her bag in anxiety. His silence was killing her. Why wouldn't he just say something? Andrew eyed the woman who had caused a commotion in his office. Why was he so drawn to her? What was it about her that made him want to keep her close? Even now, he was fighting himself. He didn't want to get invoices in whatever her family was in yet every path of his body was screaming at him to help. Why? “Why? Why should I help you?" He kept his work aside and crossed his arms. If he was going to help her, at least she should have a particular reason. “Aren't you going to ask me to sit first?" “Aren't you going to answer my question?" Amelia scoffed and adjusted her clothes, yes she was here to plead with him but couldn't he show a little bit of courtesy? She was starting to question all the signs she saw. Didn't he like her anymore? If that was the case, agreeing to her request wo