040.Later that evening...Jack stood in front of Amber's door, contemplating on whether he should ring the doorbell or not. He'd been so pumped up to come talk to her, but now that he was standing in front of her door, he couldn't help feeling nervous. He'd wanted to apologize to her and ask her out on a Valentine date in advance because he didn't want Axel to beat him to it.No one needed to tell him that Amber still had a soft spot for Axel, and before Axel would win her back totally, he had to take her attention away from him. He couldn't lose her, not after all the efforts he'd put in to be here.He stretched out his hand to knock when the door suddenly opened. Amber, who wanted to take out the trash blinked in shock when she saw Jack in front of her door. "Jack," she called, smiling. "You didn't tell me you were coming."Jack quickly took the trash leather from her and smiled as they walked out together. "I kinda wanted to surprise you. Also, I've missed you so much so I wanted
041.GLAM MAGAZINE Amber sat in the office the next day, her head replaying the conversation she had with Jack the previous night. She hadn't been able to give him an answer and even though he acted like he wasn't hurt by that, Amber knew he was. But she couldn't bring herself to answer him no matter how hard she tried.And then he'd told her to forget he asked and left after giving her a peck on the cheek. She drew in a long breath. How long was she going to keep this up? She really wanted to let him go, but then she had to wait. On the other hand, she didn't want to keep hurting him like this."Amber!" Gina suddenly called, causing Amber to jerk up in shock. She turned to look at Gina who was staring at her with a frown. "Seriously? What's wrong with you? You've been zoning out and barely got any work done. It's so unlike you. And it's almost time for you to leave for A.A Entertainment."That seemed to snap Amber out of her confusion. "What!""Duh, it's a few minutes to 12pm.""Shi
042."Can you move back a little please? You're kinda invading my personal space." Amber forced these words out of her mouth, but Axel didn't budge."You haven't answered me," he replied, his voice laced with amusement. He knew what he was doing. If she really wanted him to move away and he didn't budge, she'd have moved away by herself. It wasn't like he was holding her or anything. He didn't have her trapped on the wall either. She had the liberty to move away, but she's still standing here, the scent of her strawberry shampoo driving him wild. "I asked you a question. Do you like it?"Amber exhaled, trying to bring words out of her mouth. "I like the arrangement," she answered for the least embarrassing one. "Can you move away now? Or do you want one of your employees to come see us like this? I bet you'd love it when rumours spread about us."Axel snickered, and moved away. Amber smiled, happy that she had gotten to him. But before she could say anything, Axel turned her to face h
043."What the readers are most curious about now is the fact that you are anonymous, Mr. A," Amber said, looking up to meet Axel's gaze from her laptop. "I'm certain you must have seen their comments on the latest interview. They want to see your face and at Glam Magazine, we strive to give the readers facts to their satisfaction. So permit me to ask when you'd be doing a face reveal? Don't you think you've been too anonymous for long?" she asked.Axel leaned back in his seat with a smirk. "A face reveal isn't a hard thing to do. Infact, I've been thinking about it," he said and Amber's eyes lit up. "But tell, Ms. Smith, do you really think a face reveal would actually be worth it? I mean, I've been anonymous for three years and my company has thrived wonderfully. Why does a face reveal matter to the readers so much?"Amber raised an eyebrow. "You know, Mr. A, that's actually an interesting question," she said thoughtfully. "I think the fascination with a face reveal stems from the s
044.Amber felt uncomfortable as they walked into the elevator together. The door to the elevator closed and Amber's heart began pounding. Fuck, she was in the same elevator with Axel. Axel! Alone.Axel turned to look at her and noticed how she fiddled with her fingers. He smiled, tempted to pick on her but he had to control himself. Why was she so nervous? They were only going to his private cafeteria to have lunch."So," Axel began, his voice smooth and controlled. "I've noticed you seem a bit uneasy." He cocked his head to one side, a playful smirk on his face. "Not used to being alone with the boss, huh?"Amber bit her lip, embarrassment flooding through her. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice higher than she intended. "Just not used to...you know, private lunches. With the CEO." she rolled her eyes, her tone sarcastic.Axel chuckled, his dark eyes dancing. "Relax, Ms. Smith. It's just lunch."Amber let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Right. Just lunch. No bi
045.KING'S MANSION "Are you making any progress?" Kevin asked Axel, who was seated opposite him with his back leaned on the couch.Axel sat up with a sigh as he bent and steepled his fingers. "I think so, but I think I need a little push," he said, his tone laced with frustration. "It's been a week working with her, Dad. And aside the fact that she doesn't look at me coldly anymore, there isn't really much I can attest to and claim that I've won her trust. I catch her staring from time to time, but sometimes I see confusion in those cat eyes of hers; sometimes inquisitiveness like she's studying me or something.""I understand your plight, son," Kevin said and stood to his feet. He walked to his son shelf, took a bottle of one of his expensive wines and two glass cups. "Amber is a sweet girl. I feel like she's just curious to know if you'd hurt her again or you really meant it when you said you've changed and want her back," he poured the wine into the glasses and gave Axel one.Axe
046.Maverick rushed out of the office while Axel walked to where Amber stood. "You're going on a business trip?" he asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.Amber nodded. "Yes, sir," she answered and he arched an eyebrow. "It's a conference in Los Angeles for Mainland Tech. It's just for three days and I wanted to talk to you about it. My magazine chose me to represent them."Axel nodded with a smile. "Impressive," he walked to his desk and took a seat. "It's your work. Why do you need my permission?"Amber sighed, sitting down as well. "I'm just being formal and polite. After all, I work for you too. And it wouldn't be respectful of me if I just go without telling you anything. Besides, it's going to eat into my work time here. So, I wanted to let you know." she explained, taking a close look at him.Axel nodded and crossed his legs. "Sure. That's cool. You can go."Amber smiled. "Thank you, Mr. A," she typed something into her keyboard. "Also, I'm done typing out the interview I
047."How's that possible?" Amber whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "How did he get PTSD?" she turned to face Maverick. "What caused it? Something must have given him anxiety and depression. What's that?" Amber asked, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.Why was she feeling sorry for him? She couldn’t understand.Maverick sighed. "I don't think it's in my place to tell you, Ms. Amber," he replied, not daring to look into her eyes incase he'd be tempted to blurt it all out. "He is the one that can tell you everything.""Tell me everything? Just talk to me. I want to know why he's like this," she demanded but Maverick didn't say anything. Amber sighed. "Okay, fine. How long has he had it?" Maverick bit his lower lip. "He's had it for five years now. The PTSD is a recent thing. And... And he's been going for therapy, so-""Five years?" Amber arched an eyebrow. "Five years? Again?" she took a deep breath and walked back to her table then took a seat. M
049.Next Morning...It was a Saturday morning and Amber's rest day. Axel had begged her to stay, but not trusting herself and the foolish things her heart has been doing lately, she refused. The previous night, Axel had been a gentleman. He didn't flirt with her, and his food was absolutely amazing. She knew he was a good cook, but he'd improved and was the best at it.At first she had been nervous falling asleep, but then that was the most relaxing and peaceful sleep she'd ever had. Not to mention how she'd sneak into his room to check up on him and know if he usually got nightmares, which she was correct.She ended up spending the night in his room. They arrived at Amber's apartment and Amber was shocked to see Jack standing in her porch. "Thanks for the ride, Mr. A. Happy weekend" she got down from the car and walked to him.Jack rushed to her. "Where the heck have you been?" his eyes darted to the car, shock flashing in his face when he saw Axel. "Don't tell me you spent the nig
048.Amber said nothing and just allowed him to stay in her arms. Axel had his eyes closed while she just stared at him; his flawless face, eyelashes, hair and everything seemed to mesmerize her at this point. It's been a while since she got a closer look at him like this. Most times, he was flirting with her and she couldn't concentrate on his looks, but this time, he was right here in her arms, looking even more dashing than she gave him credit for. The boy she had loved during her teenage years was now a man; a successful man. Unfortunately, he has PTSD, and it makes her so worried about him. "What exactly did you go through, Axel?" she whispered, more to herself than him, but Axel heard her. He wasn't asleep. Infact, he felt the way her heart was beating wildly in her chest and his she'd try fighting to keep it at bay.But was he ready to tell her everything now? Was he ready for her reaction? Telling her meant he'd finally have the courage to face this anxiety, and it might als
047."How's that possible?" Amber whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "How did he get PTSD?" she turned to face Maverick. "What caused it? Something must have given him anxiety and depression. What's that?" Amber asked, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.Why was she feeling sorry for him? She couldn’t understand.Maverick sighed. "I don't think it's in my place to tell you, Ms. Amber," he replied, not daring to look into her eyes incase he'd be tempted to blurt it all out. "He is the one that can tell you everything.""Tell me everything? Just talk to me. I want to know why he's like this," she demanded but Maverick didn't say anything. Amber sighed. "Okay, fine. How long has he had it?" Maverick bit his lower lip. "He's had it for five years now. The PTSD is a recent thing. And... And he's been going for therapy, so-""Five years?" Amber arched an eyebrow. "Five years? Again?" she took a deep breath and walked back to her table then took a seat. M
046.Maverick rushed out of the office while Axel walked to where Amber stood. "You're going on a business trip?" he asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.Amber nodded. "Yes, sir," she answered and he arched an eyebrow. "It's a conference in Los Angeles for Mainland Tech. It's just for three days and I wanted to talk to you about it. My magazine chose me to represent them."Axel nodded with a smile. "Impressive," he walked to his desk and took a seat. "It's your work. Why do you need my permission?"Amber sighed, sitting down as well. "I'm just being formal and polite. After all, I work for you too. And it wouldn't be respectful of me if I just go without telling you anything. Besides, it's going to eat into my work time here. So, I wanted to let you know." she explained, taking a close look at him.Axel nodded and crossed his legs. "Sure. That's cool. You can go."Amber smiled. "Thank you, Mr. A," she typed something into her keyboard. "Also, I'm done typing out the interview I
045.KING'S MANSION "Are you making any progress?" Kevin asked Axel, who was seated opposite him with his back leaned on the couch.Axel sat up with a sigh as he bent and steepled his fingers. "I think so, but I think I need a little push," he said, his tone laced with frustration. "It's been a week working with her, Dad. And aside the fact that she doesn't look at me coldly anymore, there isn't really much I can attest to and claim that I've won her trust. I catch her staring from time to time, but sometimes I see confusion in those cat eyes of hers; sometimes inquisitiveness like she's studying me or something.""I understand your plight, son," Kevin said and stood to his feet. He walked to his son shelf, took a bottle of one of his expensive wines and two glass cups. "Amber is a sweet girl. I feel like she's just curious to know if you'd hurt her again or you really meant it when you said you've changed and want her back," he poured the wine into the glasses and gave Axel one.Axe
044.Amber felt uncomfortable as they walked into the elevator together. The door to the elevator closed and Amber's heart began pounding. Fuck, she was in the same elevator with Axel. Axel! Alone.Axel turned to look at her and noticed how she fiddled with her fingers. He smiled, tempted to pick on her but he had to control himself. Why was she so nervous? They were only going to his private cafeteria to have lunch."So," Axel began, his voice smooth and controlled. "I've noticed you seem a bit uneasy." He cocked his head to one side, a playful smirk on his face. "Not used to being alone with the boss, huh?"Amber bit her lip, embarrassment flooding through her. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice higher than she intended. "Just not used to...you know, private lunches. With the CEO." she rolled her eyes, her tone sarcastic.Axel chuckled, his dark eyes dancing. "Relax, Ms. Smith. It's just lunch."Amber let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Right. Just lunch. No bi
043."What the readers are most curious about now is the fact that you are anonymous, Mr. A," Amber said, looking up to meet Axel's gaze from her laptop. "I'm certain you must have seen their comments on the latest interview. They want to see your face and at Glam Magazine, we strive to give the readers facts to their satisfaction. So permit me to ask when you'd be doing a face reveal? Don't you think you've been too anonymous for long?" she asked.Axel leaned back in his seat with a smirk. "A face reveal isn't a hard thing to do. Infact, I've been thinking about it," he said and Amber's eyes lit up. "But tell, Ms. Smith, do you really think a face reveal would actually be worth it? I mean, I've been anonymous for three years and my company has thrived wonderfully. Why does a face reveal matter to the readers so much?"Amber raised an eyebrow. "You know, Mr. A, that's actually an interesting question," she said thoughtfully. "I think the fascination with a face reveal stems from the s
042."Can you move back a little please? You're kinda invading my personal space." Amber forced these words out of her mouth, but Axel didn't budge."You haven't answered me," he replied, his voice laced with amusement. He knew what he was doing. If she really wanted him to move away and he didn't budge, she'd have moved away by herself. It wasn't like he was holding her or anything. He didn't have her trapped on the wall either. She had the liberty to move away, but she's still standing here, the scent of her strawberry shampoo driving him wild. "I asked you a question. Do you like it?"Amber exhaled, trying to bring words out of her mouth. "I like the arrangement," she answered for the least embarrassing one. "Can you move away now? Or do you want one of your employees to come see us like this? I bet you'd love it when rumours spread about us."Axel snickered, and moved away. Amber smiled, happy that she had gotten to him. But before she could say anything, Axel turned her to face h
041.GLAM MAGAZINE Amber sat in the office the next day, her head replaying the conversation she had with Jack the previous night. She hadn't been able to give him an answer and even though he acted like he wasn't hurt by that, Amber knew he was. But she couldn't bring herself to answer him no matter how hard she tried.And then he'd told her to forget he asked and left after giving her a peck on the cheek. She drew in a long breath. How long was she going to keep this up? She really wanted to let him go, but then she had to wait. On the other hand, she didn't want to keep hurting him like this."Amber!" Gina suddenly called, causing Amber to jerk up in shock. She turned to look at Gina who was staring at her with a frown. "Seriously? What's wrong with you? You've been zoning out and barely got any work done. It's so unlike you. And it's almost time for you to leave for A.A Entertainment."That seemed to snap Amber out of her confusion. "What!""Duh, it's a few minutes to 12pm.""Shi