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Chapter 50 : The Darkness That Brought Us Together
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2024-04-03 14:13:35Related chapters
Empire of Deception Chapter 1 : Conflict of Interest
*Amelia*“Don’t get yourself in trouble, Amelia. This case is dangerous as it is,” my friend Samantha mentioned as we said goodbye. “I bet your boss won’t be happy when he finds out that you started interviewing people behind his back.”“I promise I will be careful. I won’t put my life at risk until I get a solid case against them. In Mom’s memory, I need to make it work.”She nodded and gave me a smile, waving a hand and blowing me a kiss as we both parted ways. I sighed, walking back home, Sammy’s words resonating in my mind all the way until I made it to my apartment.I sat in my threadbare, sparsely decorated apartment and looked at the mountain of case files and legal documents piled before me. On top of the stack closest to me, there was a picture of a gorgeous woman with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. She had smile lines that showed grace and poise. She had the most beautiful, kind smile that resembled my own. I caught a glimpse of myself in the window, and I could see
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 2 : Clash of Wills
*Amelia*I stepped into the well-lit reception area and was surprised by how cozy it was compared to some of the others in the courthouse. There was an assistant’s desk sitting clear and uncluttered other than a calendar, computer, and notepad. There were two comfortable-looking armchairs with a small coffee table between them that held an array of magazines. The adjacent wall had a bookcase full of legal books and crime novels. The walls were painted in a deep shade of green and adorned with paintings and various artwork on the available space on the opposite wall."How can I help you?" a beautiful woman with silky blonde hair styled into an effortless twist asked me. Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked up to welcome me, a warm smile gracing her lips. I almost jumped because I was lost in thought, but I recovered quickly and replied, "Hello, I'd like to see Mr. Chase, please."The woman glanced down at the calendar, no doubt checking his appointments. She looked back up and
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 3 : The Man behind the Name
*Amelia*I wearily trudged up the steps of my apartment, the leather of my work bag creaking with each step. When I pushed open the door, a boisterous rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart filled the air. My roommate, Nina, was spinning around the room, her curly black hair flying in all directions as she gesticulated wildly and sang into a hairbrush microphone."What the hell are you doing?" I yelled over the chaos.Nina spun around with a smile, "Just getting my steps in. The rain kept me from going on a run, so I decided to dance it out. How was work today?"I rolled my eyes and walked to the kitchen to grab a snack, "It was long and tiring, per usual. But I made progress on the wrongful injury case I'm working on with Michael. I just need his final approval before we can move forward."Nina followed me into the kitchen, "That sounds promising! Did you find out anything about the suit against MID?" she asked cautiously.Nina was well-versed in my obsession with justice
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 4 : That Day
*Amelia**I slumped against the headboard of my bed and surveyed the scene before me. Multiple textbooks, a few highlighters, freshly sharpened pencils arranged in a neat row, and my notepad littered with notes were all laying on my comforter. I had been studying for hours but still felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information needed for this semester's final exams. My second year of law school had been the most brutal yet.I stood and walked to get my third cup of coffee when my cell phone began to ring. I picked it up and saw it was Heart of St. Francis Hospital, and my heart lurched in my chest, "Hello?"The nurse on the other line spoke quickly, her voice laced with urgency, "Ms. Hartley?"I began to feel panicked by the tone the nurse's voice was conveying, and I was barely able to squeak out, "This is she."The nurse spoke again, "We need you to get over here right away.""What's going on? Is my mother okay?" I asked, hot fresh tears developing in the corner of
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 5 : Working Together
*Amelia*Adrian was seated behind his desk, a picture of poise and power. His tailored charcoal suit fit his frame perfectly, emphasizing the definition of his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Though he was facing away from me, I could feel the energy radiating from him like a force field.His eyes met mine as he turned around in his chair, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat. His gaze was piercing and cold, sending shivers down my spine. There was something about him, something in his eyes that exuded danger, intimidation, and sex, a combination that left me feeling completely off-balance.He motioned for me to take a seat across from him with a nod of his head before searching through some paperwork on his desk. My stomach twisted into knots as I sat there waiting for him to start talking; I had no idea what this meeting would entail, and my anxiety was running rampant.I cleared my throat and spoke, "Mr. Chase..."He interrupted me almost immediately, "Adrian, please.
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 6 : Keep It Professional
*Adrian*I had to keep it professional, no matter what. I had dangerous thoughts about corrupting her body in so many ways. It was dangerously exciting to know she would be under my thumb and, perhaps later, after the case was over and won, she could also be in my bed.As I left Amelia standing in the corridor, my spine prickled with awareness of her eyes on my back. The faint scent of her lavender perfume lingered in the air, and I struggled to keep my focus on the case at hand.Even though I knew I couldn't let my guard down around her, every step away from her felt like a loss. Her stunning beauty had already set me on a dangerous course, but I refused to let it cloud my judgment any further."Adrian?" Evelyn asked, jarring me from my thoughts rather abruptly."Yes, Evelyn?" I asked as if I hadn't just been staring blankly at the ancient marble floors of my office.She stood and walked around the reception desk, straightening her pale yellow skirt as she walked, "I don't
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 7 : Adrians' Influence
*Amelia* I was so caught up in the details of my personal injury case that I almost missed my lunch meeting with Gregory. I glanced at the clock and realized it was nearly time. I hurried to make sure I wasn't late. A few muttered curses later, I shoved off my desk and packed my bag as hastily as I could.We had plans to meet at a diner around the corner, and if I hurried, I'd make it in time. As I walked, I couldn't help but reflect on how we first met. It was at a conference for private investigators that I had attended out of pure curiosity. During a break between presentations, we'd struck up a conversation about the food, and it resulted in me feeling uncharacteristically comfortable with him.Little did I know, that conversation would be the first of many. I took his number that day and ended up calling him for advice on tracking down a witness in a case I was working on at the time. We became fast friends after that. In little more than a year, we had developed an unbreak
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 8 : Weakness
*Adrian*Twenty minutes later and without an apology, William "Bill" Donovan came to the table in a cheap suit, thin hair combed over his bald spot in a feeble attempt to conceal it. He didn't apologize for being late, instead, he gave me a smarmy smile and took the chair opposite me. He said nothing at first, just looked around the restaurant with thinly veiled cockiness."The next time you show up late, I'm docking your pay by fifty percent," I informed him angrily.He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Couldn't be helped. I had things ta do this morning. Took longuh than expected.He had the most Jersey accent I'd ever heard, and he was perpetually late and money hungry. There was a list of things I despised about the man, but damn it, he was a great private investigator. If the situation ever called for it, I knew that Bill could be trusted to take care of business without any questions asked. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy who got the job done with ruthless efficiency–eve
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
