CHAPTER SIXTY THREEThe drive back from the media house was filled with an awkward silence. Amelia sat in the passenger seat, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn't shake off the memory of that unexpected kiss or the weight of Jackson's words hung heavy in the air. He had declared her as someone he wanted to be better for, someone he cared about deeply. But why? And what did it mean?They had been no mention of doing anything of that sort and as much as she wanted to barrage him with loads of questions. She decided it was better to remain silent until he was ready to offer an explanation.As they traveled in the comfortable confines of the car, Amelia stole glances at Jackson, trying to decipher the enigma that he had become. She could see the crease of concern on his brow, his eyes focused on the road ahead, It was clear that he, too, was grappling with the aftermath of their shared moment but she could also feel the elation oozing out of him in wa
CHAPTER SIXTY FOURAmelia was sure of her mistake when she was awoken the next morning by the incessant ringing of her phone, she groaned trying to untangle the sheets that had wrapped itself around the legs. Her eyes remained closed as she groaned again, slapping a hand to her forehead.Jackson had said she should take a break from work for the time being because he was sure people would be looking to photograph her at any given opportunity and he did not want that for her.“I can handle it” Amelia had told him“I know you can but please do this for me”She had agreed albeit very grudgingly which was why she was still in her pajamas and sleeping while her phone bustled beside her.“Fuck it” she cursed and reached for her phone.Her mother had called her fifteen times in the last hour and it could only be because of one thing… she had kissed Jackson!The calling was exactly as she had thought it would be and she had not been disappointed. She was still yet to check the any social medi
CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE“What are you doing here so early in the morning?” Jackson asked as soon as he answered the door and saw his brother, George standing there with a stupid grin on his face.“I saw the news and thought to check up on you” he told him, pushing past him and into the house.“I do not need you checking up on me George and do not think we are on speaking terms. I have not forgotten your disrespect with that…”“Brother, can we not put that past us? I am here to talk about how well you bodied the interview and Sophia and to congratulate you on finally getting out from underneath her thumb and then that declaration to Amelia… very tactical. I am not going to lie and say I wasn’t impressed and you almost fooled me”George said, settling down on the couch in front of him“You are here to gloat and do it for all I care but what do you mean by I almost fooled you?” He asked.He was sure he wasn’t going to like wherever his brother was going with that talk.“Your claim of wanting t
CHAPTER SIXTY SIXSophia's apartment felt suffocating as she sank onto her bed, burying her head in a pillow to drown out the torment of the television. The room was dimly lit, mirroring the heaviness that engulfed her heart. The incessant bashing from the media served as a constant reminder of the lies she had spun, the damage she had caused.As the reporters' voices filled the room, Sophia's body tensed, her grip on the pillow tightening. She had fled from the interview room, desperate to escape the relentless pursuit of reporters and the anger of the disappointed public but no matter how fast she ran, the repercussions of her actions clung to her like a shadow, unrelenting in their pursuit.She could not help but think that she should have seen this coming; she should have fucking seen it.The voices on the television droned on; it would seem that she was the hot topic with the way everyone was talking about what she had done and all the lies she had weaved. "Sophia's betrayal has
CHAPTER SIXTY SEVENAnna arrived Chicago and was in a hotel when she placed the call to her friend; Amelia. She had seen the news and it was surprising that it coincidenced with her arrival to the countryb and so she placed her phone call and waited until Amelia invited her over for dinner.She had told her she wanted to meet the billionaire; Jackson Logan. The person that she had seduced and the man who had declared his love for her on national Television.She did not think that her friend had it in her and it was surprising how her life had turned out since the break up with Ethan.Ahh… Ethan, Anna thought with a rueful smile on her face.She could remember advising Amelia not to settle for such a trashy human being but then it was said that love was blind and she could see the after effects of that blindness.When she had been cordially invited to his wedding; she had expected that it was going to be her friend’s name on the invitation card but it had not been and she had not gone
CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHTAmelia was not blind to the undercurrents running in the room as Liam entered and she could swear she had seen a hint of recognition in Anna’s eyes and even one of shock in Liam’s before he kissed her hand and took a seat beside her.She made a mental note to ask Anna what exactly she had to do with Liam but in the middle of all the eating, curiosity got the best of her and so she leaned forward, pinning her friend with a stare, her eyes sparkling with intrigue."You and Liam seem to have a great rapport, Anna. I could not help but notice how well you both exchanged pleasantries. How and where did you two meet?” she asked, smiling at the glare on her friend’s face.They had come to talk about her relationship with Jackson but it was time to move away from that subject matter all together.Anna's cheeks flushed with a tinge of embarrassment as she glanced towards Liam who was making no disguise at staring at her.She felt flushed and she had been ever since she saw
CHAPTER SIXTY NINE Jackson stirred in his sleep as the shrill ringing of his phone cut through the silence of the night. He and Amelia had talked about so many things through the night which involved them both.Groggily, he fumbled for his phone on the nightstand, his heart pounding slightly in his chest at being woken up in such a manner. With a heavy sigh, he answered the call, his voice still laden with sleep.“Hello” he answered“I am so sorry to disturb you, but I have some devastating news. Your father... he has passed away." the housekeeper’s voice came through.As those words hung in the air, time seemed to stand still for Jackson. Shock and disbelief washed over him, threatening to consume his senses. His mind struggled to process the news, but the weight of sadness soon settled deep within his chest. He sat up abruptly, his eyes welling up with tears as a rush of emotions flooded through him.Jackson knew that this was expected but it still did not stop the sadness from env
CHAPTER SEVENTYJackson could not believe his ears nor his eyes.He was staring at his uncle whom he had never met but had heard so many stories about from his father.According to his father, his uncle had left the family when they were both teenagers and it had been as a result of a woman.The law of their family did not accept a marriage outside the contract and his uncle was so terribly in love with the woman in particular that he had accepted to be disowned instead of part with her.His father had made mention of trying to reach out to him when their father had died and getting no response whatsoever.Jackson could not believe the man standing before him right now and trying to claim what he had called his share of the family’s wealth.Even George was staring at the man in disdain as they both listened to him talk.Jackson had no idea how he had heard about the death of his father but the man claimed that he had had no idea about the death, only about his brain tumor.“You dare c
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWELVE“He sent an address… we have to go” Jackson declared, reaching for the gun on the table.Liam and Simon got up with him wondering what the fuck he was on about “What are you talking about?” Liam asked“I was on the phone with Damien, he wants us to meet. Just me and I know it is a trap but there is no way I am going to allow him make good on his threat of sending me Amelia in pieces”“We cannot… I understand what you are saying but we cannot go there alone” Simon told himIt was the first time he and Liam were agreeing on anything “You are right, we aren’t going there alone… I am going on my own. I cannot let anything happen to her”“Nothing will but we have to figure this all out , come up with a plan. We are going to his own turf and he might as well kill the both of you.” Simon argued“He is right” Liam muttered. “We are going to go in with a plan, Jackson if we are going to have any chance of reaching the both of you alive.”Liam made a couple of phone
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND ELEVENDamien stared at the television in front of him, his teeth grating against themselves as he watched the news. It would seem that the man he had asked to do a good job of keeping Jackson off his scent was doing a rather poor one because why the hell was his picture in the fucking news.The fucker had put a bounty on my head, Damien thought as he stared incredulously as the voice of the news presenter droned on. He was hot topic at the moment and he did not need that for his business. It would seem that he had underestimated Jackson. He wasn’t going to let him go scot free; it only meant that he had to kill the guy and the one way to do that was to lure him here to his own tuff.It was going to be easy once he dangled Amelia in front of him like a fucking worm on a hook. He knew the man would come running because he loved her.Damien laughed at this; he was going to enjoy killing Jackson and it was one way to take Amelia if he did it in front of her. She had
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TEN“How could I have let this happen?” Jackson asked for the hundredth time, beating his hand on his thigh.He had contacted the cops about the kidnap and although Liam had spoken to one of them, he had sounded super vague which Jackson found suspicious“You could not have known what kind of asshole he was, Jackson. It is not your fault and the only thing we can do now is figure out a way to make sure we rescue her unharmed.” Liam told himThey were sitting at the table in a bunch with Natalie supplying snacks as they plotted. She had come along with Simon whom Liam still had not taken a shining to but she had said they had been together when he called so she could not refuse when he asked to accompany her.He wasn’t saying anything but he looked contrite as they tried to figure out what was going on and Jackson could not deny that he needed all hands on deck if he was ever going to see Amelia again.“I don’t think the detective is telling us everything we should
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND NINEDamien opened the car door and helped Amelia out who was still unbelievably silent even after all he had told her about Jackson and how he was going to make sure he wiped the bastard from this earth for daring to touch her.She had grown he had to give her that but she had to be aware that he was no longer the man she used to know. The one that tolerated indiscipline and had allowed her enjoy her years while she was running from him.He guessed he had Jackson to thank for making that open proposal. It has made him see his baby again and realized how much he wanted her back for himself.Oh, the things he planned to teach her and make her do to him. By the time he was done, she would never think of fleeing again.He escorted her into the house and straight for the den where he pushed her inside. She collapsed unto the floor, her eyes widening as they happened upon a portrait of her on the wall.He had had it made on the night he had seen the proposal by Jackson
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND EIGHTAmelia remained silent as the car moved, her head buzzing with thoughts and my mind far away. She was unexpectedly calmer than she had thought she would be and she made no move even as Damien touched a hand to her thigh, grinning at her.She had no idea where they were headed and tried to regulate her breathing as much as possible so she did not behind panicking.She knew by now that Jackson would be aware of what had happened and would come for her. She only hoped it wasn’t too late.“You have been specially quiet; aren’t you going to rave and ask me questions?” Damien questioned herHe was surprised at her level of calmness; nay, he was disgusted by it.He wanted her to scream and he wanted to enjoy the terror in her eyes but she wasn’t giving him the satisfaction he craved.She was nothing like the fiery girl he used to know who would scream and curse even as he hit he countlessly.“I promised to do whatever you want; do you want me to ask you questions?”
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SEVENAnna could the loud screams that was hers as she watched the car drive away with Amelia.Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she clutched the phone, her trembling fingers struggling to dial the numbers. Fear and panic gripped her as she attempted to call Liam. She was finding it hard to breathe and unable to form coherent thoughts as she waited for him to pick up “God please” she muttered to herself.She wasn’t much of a prayer person but at the moment, she hoped Amelia would be safe and they find her before Damien did something to her or worse killed her.The phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, Liam's voice finally filled the line. "Hey, Anna, what's up?" he asked casually, unaware of the turmoil brewing on the other end.Anna's breath hitched, her voice barely a whisper, "L-Liam, it's Amelia. She's... she has been kidnapped. Damien came and he… oh my God, I am sorry for leaving her all alone in the house but I had to. I don’t know
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SIX“You don’t have to keep watch over me like a hawk, Anna. I will be fine and you did say that the meeting is quite important for work; do not let me be the one to keep you here” Amelia declared“I know you will be fine on your own but I still think I should stay back and maybe reschedule the meeting for…”“For when? Whenever Damien is not chasing after me? Don’t think about doing that and just go for your meeting. I will be fine and he has absolutely no idea that I am here so what could go wrong” she interrupted“Fine, I will be back in a jiffy so don’t go anywhere” Anna warned, taking the stairs in twos so she could prepare for the meeting.It was impromptu but it was important and although she wanted to stay home to watch over Amelia, she also had to consider her job and it is as Amelia had said. Damien had no idea where she was and even if he was looking for her, he would have eyes on either her house or Jackson’s and definitely not hersShe soon was ready an
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FIVE“I need all the information you can get on him” Jackson told Liam when they were alone.“I have already done some digging on him. I started looking into his operations, and it wasn't easy. He is elusive, leaving no traces behind, but I managed to uncover some crucial information."Jackson's eyes widened with surprise. "You investigated Damien already? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked“Of course I investigated him; how would you think I would after hearing all he had to say that evening. I needed to know what we were up against and how best to address the situation” Liam told him“So? What are we up against?” Jackson questioned. “What did you find out?” His curiosity now piquedLiam leaned forward, his voice hushed.“His full name is Damien Lodge and he is a well known drug dealer. It wasn’t hard getting information on him because he is wanted in about nineteen states for different crimes and no one has been able to pin him to any of the crimes. His empire is
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FOUR“You look really sick, Amelia. Is there anything I can get you?” Anna asked as she opened the door to her friend’s room who had not come out in days “I don’t need anything; thank you for asking” Amelia muttered, her eyes drowsing from sleeping too much “I know you don’t but is there not a way or anything I can do to get you out of that bed? You have been like this for days and it is scaring me; when was the last time you had a fucking bath” She questioned, her eyebrows shooting up in concern.Amelia groaned. She did not want to talk about what was bothering her, only that she wanted to be left alone to her misery and fears but if there was one person who would understand seeing as she had accommodated her when she had run out on Damien then it was going to be Anna.Amelia could see that she was waiting for an explanation or a lifeline but she did not know how exactly to begin talking about it without falling apart and she wanted no one to tell her she was e