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Chapter 23 : Paranoia
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2024-04-03 14:13:35Related chapters
Empire of Deception Chapter 24 : Gossiping
*Amelia*"Knock, knock," Evelyn said as she walked through my office door, "Are you ready? Sorry, I'm a few minutes early. Mr. Arrogant had to leave to meet with someone, so I snuck out."I laughed at her nickname for Adrian and motioned for her to come in, "Yeah, I can be ready in two minutes. Let me send an email, then I'll grab my stuff."I watched Evelyn out of the side of my eye as she walked around my office and looked at some of the photos I had set out. There was one of my mother and me from right after we found out the cancer had come back. Her hair had grown out some from the first round of treatment, and it was the last photo we had taken where she looked healthy. The others are of Nina and me."She was beautiful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah, she was. She passed away a few weeks after that photo was taken.""I'm so sorry, Amelia," Evelyn said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder."It's okay
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 25 : A Villain
*Adrian*"Amelia is too nice for you," Evelyn said when we got back to my office, "Promise me you won't chew her up and spit her out like you have the last ten women you've been involved with.""You know damn well "nice girls" aren't my type. Amelia and I may have sexual chemistry, but that's all it is. We've been trapped together, and we used each other for temporary stress relief. That's it. Now, can we please stop talking about my sex life? It's not appropriate in the workplace."Evelyn punched my shoulder, "You were just telling me the other day about how you seduced the executive from MID, you just don't want to talk about Amelia because you have feelings for her somewhere in that black heart of yours."I was beginning to get pissed off. I didn't have feelings for Amelia outside of concern and a morose understanding because of our similar losses. I wasn't going to entertain this conversation with Evelyn any longer, so without a word, I left her standing by her desk and shu
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 26 : An Old Friend
*Amelia’s POV*“Don’t be deceived, Amelia. You only like me because we’re standing on the same side of this case. I am a villain. It would do you well to remember that.”Adrian's words echoed in my head as I tried to sleep last night and all through the following workday. I had no idea if I could trust him, and with everything that was going on, it had left me unsure if he had my best interest in mind. Last night, he had left his cell phone on the counter in the kitchen while he took a shower. I managed to sneak in and send myself the picture of the men that followed Evelyn and me.Now, I wanted to speak with someone impartial to MID and Adrian, and there was only one person that came to mind: James Callahan.I dialed his number and waited for him to answer. Anxiety coursed through me because I knew he'd be intensely concerned for my safety. Not only because of MID and their henchmen that were following me around, but also the proximity the case had caused between Adrian and me
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 27 : Do You Want Me To Stop?
*Adrian’s POV*Amelia and her cop friend embraced. The man's hands rested on the small of her back, and his eyes lingered on her face as he leaned in. There was a long pause before they finally parted. I felt a fierce jealousy swell up in my chest as I watched them.I had no right to feel this way. Amelia was free to do whatever she wanted, and I had made it perfectly clear to her that I wasn't interested in pursuing anything with her. The sexual attraction we shared was a nuisance, and I knew that we shouldn't have ever gotten involved in that way.The man gave me a hostile look when he saw me, and I grinned voraciously and offered him a small wave. He didn't return the gesture, and stood and watched as Amelia walked to my car."What are you doing here?" She asked when she slid into the passenger seat."I was worried about you," I said honestly, "and wanted to make sure you were safe. Rent-A-Cop doesn't understand the gravity of the situation, and it was stupid of you to lea
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 28 : Dark Stains
*Amelia’s POV* I worked through reading client testimonies and tried to make sure I was prepared for the next day's juror selection. I had the facts memorized, I knew they were responsible for the injury, but I still worried about the outcome. Law was always unpredictable like that.The first thing I learned when I began working was that you had to prepare for the unexpected. There wasn’t a single case that would come without surprises, and even the most straight-forward case would have twists and turns.I put the paperwork I needed for later that night into my bag, then tidied up my desk and looked out the window. The sun was still up, and there were people milling around the sidewalk. I liked to try and picture what they were here for, some for court dates because they were criminals, others were innocent people like my clients waiting to hear the fate of their cases.My mom and I had always loved ‘people watching’ together. We used to sit in the mall and make up silly stori
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 29 : Bribes
*Adrian’s POV*I watched Amelia storm out of the diner, and for the first time in my adult life, I felt a little bad about intentionally hurting someone's feelings. I had been doing whatever I needed to secure my spot in the world for so long, that I forgot what it was like to care about others.Amelia was gradually causing me to become vulnerable, whether she knew it or not. My emotions towards her put me at a disadvantage, and I wanted this case to be over quickly. I couldn't risk being pulled away from my work - the life I led was too perilous.I wondered what Amelia would do when the case was over: Would she be able to go back to her old life and forget about me? Or would I be stuck with a pining stalker who couldn't let go of the idea of the two of us having a happily ever after? I couldn’t imagine Amelia going to those lengths, but infatuation made people completely and utterly useless. She looked at me sometimes, and I swear I could see a future with me bubbling under the
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 30 : Something Sinister
*Amelia’s POV*My heart raced as I waited for what was going to happen next - surely whatever was about to occur wasn't good.The hand over my mouth tightened, and then a familiar voice whispered in my ear, "Shh, Amelia. It's me."My head spun with relief when I heard his voice, but then he let go of me, stepping away from me so that he could look at me properly."What the fuck is wrong with you?" I asked sternly. "You shouldn't have followed me and snuck up on me like that. You know everything that's going on, I thought I was going to be killed."James straightened and gave me a serious look, "I'm sorry. But I don't trust Adrian and his men. I wanted time to talk with you without them breathing down the back of our necks. I have something to show you.""You couldn't have texted me and warned me?" I quizzed him.He shook his head, and his hair fell into his eyes highlighting the handsome boyish charm that exuded from his every gesture, "No. I don't know who’s reading your
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 31 : Making Connections
*Amelia’s POV*"We have to follow that van, James," I urged him.He shook his head, "Absolutely not. You're not a cop, Amelia. You can't just approach people you think may be committing a crime and confront them. Hell, I can't even follow them and confront them right now because this isn't a case I'm even supposed to be working on. My Captain has no idea I've been doing extracurricular stakeouts. He'd be pissed."I gave him a shocked look, "You can't tell me he would be mad at you for trying to stop a company from exploiting some of society's most vulnerable people?"James sighed and took my hands in his, "Look, we don't have a shred of evidence that says anything bad is happening to those people. I can't go on a wild goose chase when nothing has been substantiated. Think of what could go wrong with you interfering with this when we already believe MID has a hit out on you. Do you think they'd let you leave alive?"Realistically, I knew he was right, but I still hated it when
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
