Amelia's POVMy mom, propped up in bed and sporting a mischievous glint in her eyes, piped up, "Amelia, is this the Eddie you were telling us about? The one with the…interesting…cooking skills?"A groan escaped my lips. Of course, Mom would latch onto that particular detail. I shot her a playful glare, which she only met with a wider grin. Eddie, however, looked mortified."Oh, no," he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. "That was…that was a one-time thing. I promise I'm a much better businessman than a chef."Blair, ever the instigator, chimed in with a mischievous giggle. "Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Eddie. A little kitchen mishap adds to the charm, wouldn't you say, Amelia?"I swatted playfully at her arm, mortified by her teasing. "Shut up, Blair," I muttered.Eddie, however, seemed to relax a little at Blair's comment. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He cleared his throat and offered the flowers to me. "These are for you," he said, his voice regaining a
Amelia's POV"I used to be a financial analyst myself, you know," Mom revealed, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness. "Before, well, before all this happened."Eddie's eyes widened with genuine interest. "Really? That's fascinating! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the potential merger."Mom seemed pleased at his interest. "Well, I may be a bit rusty, but I still follow the market trends," she admitted with a small laugh.And just like that, they were off.I watched in amusement as the conversation between Mom and Eddie shifted to a lively discussion about the intricacies of the acquisition. Jargon like "synergy" and "market share" flew back and forth, and I couldn't help but be impressed by Mom's sharp wit and insightful observations, even though she hadn't worked in the field for years. Eddie was clearly captivated, hanging onto her every word and asking insightful questions.Time seemed to slip away as they dissected the potential impact of the merger, their enthusiasm for
Amelia's POV"There you are, Daddy!" Chloe exclaimed, untangling herself from my embrace and throwing herself at him with a newfound glint of joy in her eyes. "You came to pick me up too?"Eddie knelt down to her level, his smile widening as he caught her with an exaggerated oomph! . "Of course I did, Chloe. I couldn't leave my favourite girl hanging, could I?"Chloe giggled and nodded vigorously. "Right! We're a team, aren't we?""So," he said, his voice breaking the silence, "what would Team Awesome like to do for dinner tonight? Pizza? Takeout Thai?"Chloe's eyes lit up at the mention of food. "Pizza!" she declared without hesitation."Pizza it is then," Eddie confirmed, pulling out his phone. "Any specific toppings, little miss?""Extra cheese and pepperoni, please!" Chloe chirped, bouncing on the balls of her feet.As Eddie placed the order, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. The emotional rollercoaster of the day – the girl's day out with mom and Blair, the awkward car ride, a
Amelia's POVChloe eyed Olivia with suspicion, then turned to me and tugged on my hand as she whispered, "Amelia, who is this lady?""Someone your daddy knows," I replied vaguely, not wanting to get into a complicated explanation in the schoolyard.Meanwhile, the little boy Olivia was holding had wandered over to Chloe, seemingly emboldened by his mother's interaction with us. He reached out and snatched a toy car from Chloe's hand."Hey!" Chloe shrieked, reaching out to grab it back. "That's mine!"The boy, however, held onto the car tightly and began to pull on it. "Mine now!" he declared, his voice thick with defiance.Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes. She looked at me helplessly, her lower lip trembling.Before I could intervene, Eddie knelt down between the two children. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said calmly, taking the car from the boy's grasp and gently prying Chloe's fingers off.He handed the car back to Chloe and then turned to the boy, his voice firm but kind. "We don't take ot
Amelia's POVChloe's face lit up with a smile, and for a moment, the awkward encounter with Olivia and the tangled web of emotions between Eddie and me faded into the background. The sound of Chloe's happy chatter filled the car as we drove to the restaurant.My jaw slackened in surprise when we got to the restaurant. It looked very fancy and not like a regular pizza joint like I had imagined. The restaurant, nestled in a quaint corner of town, was the antithesis of the stereotypical pizza place. Exposed brick walls adorned with local artwork gave way to a warm, inviting interior. String lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on the plush leather booths and sleek wooden tables. It had the air of a neighborhood hangout with a touch of upscale elegance. But the real magic happened in the open kitchen, which took center stage in the entire space.Separated from the dining area by a sleek, waist-high counter of polished concrete, the kitchen buzzed with an organized symphony. Glea
Amelia's POVAlex chuckled. "Always a classic. And for you two?"Eddie glanced at me, his lips twitching into a smile. "We'll take the same, I think."Alex raised an eyebrow at him, a playful smirk gracing his lips. "Sharing, are we? How domestic."Eddie rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in them. "Jealous?"The playful banter between Eddie and Alex put me at ease. It was clear they had a long and comfortable history, and their easy camaraderie felt strangely comforting in the wake of the earlier awkwardness with Olivia.After placing our order, we settled into a cozy booth in the corner. The server Alex had called over to take our orders rushed back into the kitchen.Alex presented Chloe with a basket of colorful crayons and a paper tablecloth. "Go crazy, little artist," he said, winking at her.While Chloe unleashed her artistic talents on the paper, the conversation flowed easily between Eddie and Alex. They reminisced about old times, exchanged jokes, and updated e
Amelia's POV"You know, a lot of our customers here are always looking for new and exciting dishes to try. Maybe you could whip up a special for the menu sometime?" He continued. The suggestion took me by surprise. Me, cooking for a fancy restaurant like this? It seemed like a dream, completely out of reach."Oh, I don't know," I mumbled, my voice laced with uncertainty. "I'm just a home cook, really. I doubt my recipes would be good enough for your clientele.""Don't sell yourself short, Amelia," Eddie said, his voice firm yet gentle. "You have a real talent for cooking. I have no doubt Alex's customers would love your food."Alex winked at me. "Besides, a little home-cooked magic is exactly what this place needs sometimes. What do you say? Up for the challenge?"I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. The idea was both terrifying and exhilarating. Could I really pull this off? Cook for a real restaurant, with paying customers? A wave of doubt washed over me, threatening to
Amelia's POVAs I slipped into my nightgown and crawled into bed, the events of the evening replayed in my mind like a movie on fast forward. The awkwardness with Olivia, the warmth of the restaurant, Alex's playful offer, the comfortable silence on the drive home – it all swirled together into a confusing cocktail of emotions.But most of all, it was the image of Eddie carrying me to bed that lingered in my thoughts. The way he looked at me when I woke up, the concern etched on his face, the warmth of his touch – it all sent a delicious flutter through my stomach.***The next morning, I woke up to my bed making a creaking noise, but I ignored it. The insistent bouncing on my mattress finally managed to pry open my eyelids. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. I groaned, swatting at the air in a feeble attempt to silence the source of the annoyance.A giggle erupted right next to me, and I realized a mop of blonde hair was the culprit behind the
Amelia’s POVIt's been a few weeks since Eddie and I had gotten back together. It had taken him only a couple of weeks to convince me to move in with him again, but this time around, it was not as his nanny or his chef, it was as his girlfriend. According to him, he wanted to spend as much time as possible before I had to go back to Florida to resume duty with my agency. Jenna had been slammed with a restraining order along with the promise of a lawsuit if she did not leave us alone. For good measure, Eddie had made sure to properly adopt Chloe as his legal daughter. That way Jenna would not be able to cause us any more trouble.“Babe! Hurry up, we're gonna be late!” That was Edie yelling from downstairs, while I was in the closet in his… in our room, getting ready. Together with my parents, Blair, James, and Chloe, we were all going to a restaurant to celebrate my mom finally beating cancer.I looked down at Chloe who had gotten her hand on my lipgloss and was now putting it on and
Eddie’s POVAmelia's gaze flickered between me and the bustling crowd before she sighed and gestured toward a doorway at the back."Let's talk somewhere else, shall we?"I did not want to have to talk to her. I wanted to be with her at my home, where I could talk to her and have all to myself."Forget the break room," I said, a newfound determination coursing through me. "Let's go somewhere we can actually talk."Amelia hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright," she conceded. "But I do have to finish my shift first."Frustration bubbled up within me, but I knew pushing her wouldn't help. "Fine," I muttered, trying to tamp down on my impatience. "How long?""Just another hour," she replied, checking her watch. "How about we meet somewhere? My place isn't really ideal.""My place is close by," I offered, surprising myself with the boldness. "It's quiet, we can talk there."Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Your place? That wasn't exactly part of the plan, Eddie.""Well, plans change," I said, a play
Eddie’s POV"It was a mistake, Eddie," she choked out, her voice barely audible. "A one-time thing… a long time ago.""A one-time thing?" I repeated, my voice cracking. The image of a younger, naive Jenna flashed before my eyes, a girl I thought I knew everything about. Now, she seemed like a stranger."Who was he?" I demanded with the need to know gnawing at me.Jenna hesitated, then whispered a name I vaguely recognized. It was someone from the film industry, a rising star she'd met during her brief stint in Los Angeles. They had a short fling, a whirlwind romance that ended as quickly as it began.The revelation hit me like a sucker punch. All the doubts I'd ignored, the whispers in the back of my mind, the nagging feeling that things weren't quite right – it all came flooding back with a terrifying clarity. Years of my life were built on a lie. Chloe, my sweet, innocent daughter, was caught in the crossfire of my naivety and Jenna's betrayal.Fury boiled within me, a churning infe
Eddie’s POVThe doctor gave a small smile. "Of course. Let her rest for a few minutes, and then you can go in."As we waited, James explained what little he knew. He'd been picking up Chloe from school when a call came through from the hospital. Apparently, another kid had swerved into Chloe's path while riding his scooter.A surge of anger flared up within me. How could someone be so careless? But the anger quickly dissipated, replaced by a fierce protectiveness over my little girl.Minutes later, we were ushered into the room. Chloe lay propped up in bed, her face pale and drawn, a white cast encasing her arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw me."Daddy!" she cried out, her voice small and wobbly.My heart ached at the sight of her distress. "Hey, champ," I said, rushing to her side and pulling her into a gentle hug, careful not to jostle her injured arm. "It's okay, I'm here now."She buried her face in my chest, her small body trembling slightly. I showered her with comforti
Amelia’s POVThe question hung heavy in the air. Friends? Could we really go back to that after everything that had happened? A part of me longed for the simplicity of our old friendship, the easy camaraderie we'd shared. But another part of me worried that friendship wouldn't be enough. The feelings I had for Eddie, the unspoken desires that had simmered beneath the surface of our relationship, wouldn't just disappear. They would linger, a constant reminder of what could have been.Taking a deep breath, I typed out a reply. "I… I don't know, Eddie. Honestly, I need some time to think. This whole situation has been a lot to process.""I understand," he replied almost instantly. "Take all the time you need. Just know that… I care about you, Amelia. More than you probably realize."His words sent a blush creeping up my neck. Did he really feel the same way? Or was this just a desperate attempt to hold onto me in any way he could? I didn't have the answers, and the uncertainty gnawed at
Amelia’s POVI stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, my mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Finally, with a shaky breath, I typed out a reply."Eddie," I began, my fingers hovering over the screen, "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you for the money. It means the world to me and my mom. But ...is everything alright? James said you collapsed. Are you in the hospital?" I hit send, the weight of the question hanging heavy in the air. The money, the cryptic message – it all pointed to something more serious than he was letting on.The wait for a response stretched into an agonizing eternity. Just as I started to pace the room, my phone buzzed. It was Eddie."Amelia," his voice rasped through the phone, weaker than I'd ever heard it. "Yes, I'm in the hospital. They're still trying to figure things out, but the doctor says I have Angiina due to stress."My chest tightened. Stress. The word echoed in my head, a stark reminder of the turmoil I'd left him in. "Eddie,"
Amelia’s POVI knew that there was no way that he and Jenna had actually been together in the way that she had been insinuating.Jenna had probably been playing another of her manipulative tricks. Regardless, I was exhausted and had had to tell myself that it would be better to end it with Eddie than to be dealing with hurt and frustration every day. James had been giving me updates on both Chloe and Eddie and although I knew I should tell him to stoop so that I could have a clean break, I did not think I had the heart to do so.The rhythmic rumble of the bus engine vibrated through the worn leather seat I occupied. Outside the window, the cityscape blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, each passing image signifying my new reality. A reality where I, Amelia Brooks, was no longer Eddie Turner's nanny. Today's successful interview meant I could finally stand on my own two feet, financially independent. A bittersweet victory, considering the reason behind this newfound freedom.A soft c
Eddie’s POVHis words held a truth that stung. Jenna's behavior had become increasingly erratic, her possessiveness suffocating. But the thought of facing Amelia, of dredging up the hurt and confusion of that day, filled me with dread.I could not say anything, I could only nod my head in response. Just then, my head began to pound again, this time around in sync with my heart.My vision swam, the pounding in my head morphing into a relentless drum solo. The room seemed to tilt on its axis, James' concerned face warping into a blurry mess. A guttural cough ripped through me, sending another jolt of pain lancing through my chest."James…" I croaked, the word a raspy whisper. My hand reached out, blindly grasping for something solid. My fingers brushed against the armrest of the chair, anchoring me momentarily."Eddie, mate! What's wrong?" James' voice was laced with alarm, his concern cutting through the fog clouding my mind."Head…" I managed, the word slurred. My grip on the armrest
Eddie’s POVAmelia had left a gaping hole in my heart."But will she ever come back?" Chloe persisted, her lower lip trembling slightly."I… I don't know, sweetheart," I admitted, the truth a bitter pill to swallow. A heavy sigh escaped Chloe's tiny lips. "Okay," she mumbled, staring out the window with a wistful expression. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions.Reaching over, I squeezed her hand gently. "Look," I began, my voice softened with love. "No matter what happens with Amelia, you'll always be my little girl. And no matter what, I'll always be here for you. Always."Chloe looked at me, a flicker of reassurance sparking in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper."Really," I confirmed, my voice firm with conviction. "You're the most important thing in the world to me, you know that?"She nodded slowly, a small smile gracing her lips. For a moment, the tension seemed to ease, a fragile connection established between us.Reaching t