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Chapter 12 : Misplaced Trust
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2024-04-03 14:13:35Related chapters
Empire of Deception Chapter 13 : Danger
*Adrian*"Oh, fuck it," I groaned, my conscience growing larger by the second. I shoved away from my desk and stomped to the reception area."Evelyn, can you page Amelia's office and see if she came back or if she's leaving for the day?" I asked.Evelyn nodded and grabbed the phone, "Hello, Alice. Is Amelia Hartley in?" She paused while she listened, then looked at me and shook her head, "Okay, thanks so much. Have a great day."The frustration was palpable, and I clenched my fists as the heat of anger crept up my neck. I marched into my office, grabbed my cell phone, and dialed her number on the way out. The silence of the courthouse felt oppressive as I walked its hallways, but when I heard it go to voicemail for the second time, it became clear that she was purposely ignoring me.Why did I care so much? I barely knew her, and she was entirely too green and naïve for me to get involved with. Yet, here I was, chasing her down on the off chance a multi-billion dollar company
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 14 : A Means to an End
*Amelia*So this is how Adrian lives? I thought as we pulled into the parking garage of the luxurious, high-rise apartment building. It was in the nicest area of downtown DC, and for some reason, I was surprised. It looked like something out of a movie set - lined with glass walls and dripping with opulence. Adrian parked his Rolls Royce, and we exited the car and began to grab our belongings from the trunk.Once my arms were full, I followed Adrian to the private elevator on the far side of the garage. Adrian held the elevator doors open with his foot and motioned for me to hurry up. He pulled out a keycard and slid it through the reader on the wall before pressing the button for the top floor.The air was thick with a strange electricity as we rode up in silence, and for some reason, I found myself thinking about what it would be like to have Adrian press me against the elevator wall. I was losing my God damn mind.The doors opened, and I stepped out into a luxurious foyer fi
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 15 : Nightmares
*Amelia*A few hours later, Adrian and I were in his car, driving to my apartment. We hadn't spoken since I had told him I could drive myself to my apartment, and the air was thick with tension. I stared out the window and watched the streets of the city fly by. I refused to be the one who spoke first, and I decided to give Adrian exactly what he gave me. And right now, that was nothing.The sun had already set, leaving behind an eerie orange glow that illuminated the night sky and gave off an air of mystery as we made our way through the city. We arrived at my building just moments later, and I rushed inside while Adrian remained by his car to make a quick phone call. As soon as I entered my apartment, I heard the faint sound of Nina in her bedroom."Nina?!" I called out for her.I heard something clatter to the floor followed by footsteps rushing through the small apartment. She busted out of her room and ran toward me, her face held relief and happiness."Oh, Amelia. I've
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 16 : A Dichotomy
*Amelia*I cursed my luck as I watched streams of rain pour down the window of Adrian's luxurious penthouse. It was a typical dreary Saturday morning, and with no job to escape to, I saw no way out of spending a full day trapped inside this lavish, yet suffocating, space.I got up from the sofa and walked towards the grand piano in the corner of the living room. It was one of the few things in this place that I enjoyed, and I decided to play a few notes to calm my nerves. As my fingers danced across the keys, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. But the peace was short-lived as I heard the front door open. Adrian must be back from whatever errand he was running.See, I was trapped here, he had deemed it unsafe for me to go out alone. But the ever infallible, invincible Adrian Chase could come and go as he pleased.I turned around to see Adrian walk in, his suit and hair drenched from the rain. A small part of me felt like celebrating the fact that his expensive ass suit was ru
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 17 : Taking Control
*Adrian*“Let’s go home,” I grunted, anger coursing through my body. Amelia didn’t say anything, so I turned toward the direction we came from and walked away. I could hear her steps echo behind me. I walked a few steps ahead of Amelia the entire way back to the penthouse. And I couldn’t tell if I was walking quickly purposefully to avoid her, or if she was walking slowly to avoid me.We entered the gold-tinted glass doors and hurried through the lobby to avoid talking to anyone. The unoccupied elevator was dark and empty except for the reflection of our faces as they closed shut and started their vertical climb.Amelia cleared her throat and asked, "Where did you learn to defend yourself like that?"I felt a tightness in my upper body and tried to relax. Memories of years spent studying taekwondo and hapkido flooded back into my head, the long hours of drilling strikes and counterstrikes. Even now, I still made sure to train once a month, pushing my reflexes and keeping my bod
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 18 : Forbidden Attraction
*Adrian*It wasn’t easy, but we made our interaction better. She did everything right, and I felt like an idiot for it, but she fell into routines and peaceful conversations after a few more days.I stepped into the penthouse foyer, took off my gym shoes, and hung up my duffel bag. I could see Amelia in the kitchen stirring a steaming pot of her famous vegetable stew that filled the large space with its earthy aroma. I held back a smile as I walked towards her. This had been our routine for the past three weeks. Amelia always got home before I did, and she had dinner waiting for me when I walked through the door. Am I being domesticated? Ha.Anyone looking from the outside in would assume we were a regular couple and not two people who were forced to live together because we were working against one of the most powerful pharmaceutical companies in the world.It was alarming how quickly I felt like I became more tame due to a woman's presence. More specifically, Amelia. I’m not
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 19 : You Make Me Crazy
*Amelia*It's been two days since the bathroom incident, and Adrian and I haven't spoken. He avoided me pretty effectively until we had to get into the car together to ride to work this morning. I specifically chose the skin-tight skirt and cream-colored blouse for him, I wanted him to look at me and acknowledge how he felt.But he didn't. He got in the car and turned the music up loud enough for me to take the hint that he didn't feel like talking. I felt so powerless as I sat there, not knowing what to say or do. The silence was stifling, and a million questions raced through my mind.I wanted to ask him what was going on, but his expressionless face made me weary. His eyes were firmly fixed on the road, and with every passing second, my heart sank further into my stomach. As we finally pulled up outside of work, I knew that nothing would be resolved this morning.We pulled into a parking spot, and Adrian jumped out of the car and walked away without looking back. I paled whe
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 20 : Disgusting Rat
*Amelia*"How have you been, Amelia?" Dr. Sullivan asked me once we were settled in my office.I sighed, and my shoulders sagged."It's been chaotic," I admitted. "I've spent so much time working that I'm not sure who I am outside of the courthouse."Dr. Sullivan gave me a sympathetic look and nodded his head in understanding."It's the same way in medicine. The good cases are easy, but the bad cases stick with you and change who you are," he said, patting my hand comfortingly. "But I have faith in you, Amelia. You're smart and courageous, and you have integrity that many in law lose. You'll come out ahead in the end"He then leaned forward, his blue eyes twinkling with excitement as he said, "Now, let me look over the medical notes for this suit you're working on. You said they're trying to say the accident at work wasn't responsible for the permanent nerve damage?"I nodded, and he began reviewing the notes. After a few minutes, he looked up at me with a frown."Did you say t
Last Updated : 2024-04-03
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Empire of Deception Chapter 50 : The Darkness That Brought Us Together
*Adrian’s POV*My breath tickled her neck and I lightly bit into her earlobe, eliciting a soft moan from her. I had carefully pinned Amelia's wrists above her head, keeping her trapped beneath me. The contrast between the vibrant California sun-kissed hue of her skin and the stark white tile of the bathroom floor was striking, and I could've easily stayed in that moment forever.“I bet you’re already wet, aren’t you? You don’t even know what your punishment is yet, and I bet your panties are drenched,” I muttered, “You keep trying to pretend you don’t fucking love my dark side. Yet, here we are.”Her eyes widened and her lips softly parted, “Please, Adrian,” she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. I loved how I could make her body come alive beneath my touch, “Please what?” I asked, trailing my fingers up her arm, savoring the sensation of her skin against mine. “Punish me. I deserve it,” she pouted, her bottom lip poking out deliciously. I used my left hand to hol
Empire of Deception Chapter 49 : Insolent Little Goddess
*Amelia’s POV*“No, Amelia. Not just sex. I want this. Us,” Adrian admitted.I felt my face get hot, and my stomach lurched at his statement. Adrian's eyes, those same hazel eyes that had first drawn me in, bore into mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. He had always been a master of charm, but this time, he was unveiling something deeper, something more profound."Adrian, you can't just drop a bomb like that on me," I stammered, my fingers nervously toying with the sheets. "I mean, it's not like I don't want this too, but..."He sighed, his hand reaching out to gently cup my cheek. "But what, Amelia? We can't keep pretending that this is just a casual thing. I can’t keep pretending." I could feel him struggling to say those words, and they rang true, but my fear ran deep-rooted in the knowledge of Adrian's troubling history of lying, manipulation, and deception. The shadow of his past actions had cast a dark cloud over our relationship, making it difficul
Empire of Deception Chapter 48 : I Need To Tell You Something…
*Adrian’s POV*“Hello, ‘wife’”, I said as she stepped into the living room and set down the grocery bags full of food. She rolled her eyes and flipped me the bird, “Don’t stand up to help me all at once. It’s not like I just carried all this shit up three flights of stairs.” I stood up from my spot on the couch and walked over to help her. Things between us had been a little tense since the WPP placement. We both missed our old lives and to say we hadn’t had to adjust would be a lie. Amelia had been emotional, and I resorted to anger and rudeness whenever I was uncomfortable.It’d be perfectly acceptable for Amelia to kick me in the nuts for how I’d treated her. Not only since we’d moved here, but before that, during what had happened with MID, as well. My life had slowed down exponentially, and it allowed me to look back on my life and come to some new realizations. We silently unpacked the groceries Amelia had picked up, and I thought about everything I wanted to tell he
Empire of Deception Chapter 47 : A New Life
*Amelia’s POV* “Sarah, do you have a minute?” Mia leaned against my office door and asked.I sat aside the report I was working on and looked up, “Of course, what’s up?”Mia was wearing a button-up Hawaiian shirt and black slacks. Her blonde hair was pulled back into two buns that sat on top of her head, and her blue eyes sparkled with charisma. She was adorable and seemed like a really fun person, though we hadn’t talked much. She reminded me a lot of Nina. The non-profit I worked for, Sunshine Global, had a business casual dress code with an emphasis on casual. It had been a month since Agent Gregory had whisked me away from DC and shoved me into a new life as Sarah Mitchell, research liaison. I was in charge of finding new projects to take on all across the state of California, and Gregory thought my background as a lawyer would make it a good fit for me.It was a huge adjustment, but I was beginning to see why he had placed me here. Outside of being a force in the court
Empire of Deception Chapter 46 : I'll Be Here When You Wake Up
*Adrian’s POV*I sat in the sterile hospital room, the hum of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic filling the air. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast an unforgiving pallor on everything, and the room seemed too small to contain the weight of our collective worry.I watched as Amelia lay unconscious in the hospital bed, her face pale and fragile against the white sheets. Nina was next to her holding her hand, and I desperately wanted to trade places with her. Almost losing Amelia had put into perspective how much she meant to me, but I was still working through those emotions. Because of that, I continued to keep my distance.James and Evelyn also sat in a tense silence, their faces etched with concern. I hadn’t wanted James there, but Nina was insistent that Amelia would want him to know she was okay. In the end, I caved and called the son of a bitch. I watched his face and could see the strong emotion he felt while staring at Amelia’s angelic sleeping face.The
Empire of Deception Chapter 45 : Federal Jurisdiction
*Amelia’s POV*Sirens wailed as the cop cars, ambulances, and firetrucks careened around the corner and pulled up in front of the building. Numbly, I stood in the dew-wet grass of the early morning and watched as emergency responders approached us. The men who had helped us rescue Adrian had left because James had said it was too suspicious for civilians to have an armed SWAT team. It was just Nina, James, Adrian, and me standing and waiting to be questioned. We had readied our story, and then James called it into the local precinct. He had told them we had gotten a call to come pick Adrian up from the address. Bill had already tied up the men from MID and was holding Adrian hostage, but we didn’t know it until we got there. There had been a struggle, and Bill was killed. The men from MID may have a conflicting story, but they were criminals, so it would be their word against ours. We just needed to stay consistent. “Ma’am, are you alright?” a kind EMS worker asked as she place
Empire of Deception Chapter 44 : The Death Of A Friend
*Amelia's POV*James had interrupted an intimate moment between Adrian and me, and I was mortified. I walked into a different room, away from the two men, and opened a window to get some fresh air. The night air entered my lungs quickly, making them expand as it rushed in. I took deep breaths and tried to focus on grounding myself.I was fucking pissed at Adrian for how he had treated me the last time we saw each other, so how did he have me falling over myself at the chance to kiss him? He hadn't even initiated anything in the bedroom, I did it of my own volition. Was this Stockholm Syndrome or what? I didn't understand how I had gotten so emotionally involved with him, the man without emotions.I did see a glimmer in his eyes when he thanked me for saving him, though. There was something there, he felt the same things I was feeling. I was sure of it. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of scuffling and shouting behind me.I turned just in time to see Bill sprin
Empire of Deception Chapter 43 : It's Not Fun To Be The Prey, Is It?
*Amelia’s POV*The sun had just set by the time we had everything we needed to rescue Adrian. All of the men were dressed in tactical gear, and we walked to the van and settled in for the drive across town. The air hummed with anxious energy, and Nina said, "I don't know how cops do this shit. I'd never be able to relax.""Right? I feel sick to my stomach and my hands are shaking," I replied.A hush fell over the people in the van, and we all contemplated what was to come. James had been quiet all evening, and I think it was mostly because he knew I cared for Adrian.He leaned in close to me and whispered, "It was stupid of you to ever get involved with a man like Adrian. You're never going to be safe in his world, Amelia. He can't protect you, he can't even protect himself."He was right about never being safe. Even after the MID case was over, Adrian's life would always be dangerous. We weren't dating or exclusive, but I realized at that moment that I wanted to be something
Empire of Deception Chapter 42 : Tactical Planning
*Amelia’s POV*I felt the vibrations of heavy boots thudding up the stairs and pounding at the front door. Evelyn's eyes widened and her body tensed as she snatched a paperweight from Adrian's desk. I quickly grabbed the fire poker, its end cold against my sweating palms, and stepped in front of her. The door handle rattled and I held my breath, raising the metal bar between us and whatever was outside.Suddenly, the door burst open, and six men walked in. Their faces were set with determination, and I let out a loud, relieved laugh, "Thank God.""Are you two okay?" Adrian's head of security asked. He walked toward us as we threw our weapons to the ground."Yeah, we're fine. Adrian isn't here. But I think I know where he was last night," I informed him, "He was checking out this warehouse. He had to have taken Bill along with him, he wouldn't have gone alone.""You're right," he agreed, "We need to go to the warehouse and see if there's anything there that can tell us what ha
