AMELIAI returned her smile, not wanting to cause a scene. Just get through today, Roman will handle the rest. “You are the new head of operations?” I asked with surprise in my voice, my sweet smile similar to Bertha's never faltering. “Yes, dad felt it was only proper now that I've returned from Europe for good,” Bertha replies with a smug looking grin, tucking a stray lock of blond hair behind her ears and then meeting Roman's eyes. She immediately looked innocent, nothing like the actual rude bitch she was. Roman was silent, stiff and avoiding her gaze. How does she manage to have such an effect on the man? I mentally shrugged away the faint pang in my chest. It was non of my business. They can fuck themselves with their eyes for all I care. All I need right now is to figure out the next step to take, moving forward. Grayson Holdings is my mother’s legacy, one I had lost before…now I have it in my palms, now I have the opportunity to make it all that she wanted it
Roman didn’t say a word to me till we got back to his house. I was surprised that I’d actually expected such an attitude from him but then again, I needed him to help me adjust, I didn’t want to offend him. Then you shouldn’t have called him sloppy seconds… Ugh. I turned to look at his face a few times, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was the cold man was thinking but nothing. When we walked through the large double doors, his strides became slower and Trenton was right at the entrance, like he was waiting for us. “Mrs—Amelia,” He greeted, catching himself before he called me by Roman's surname. I offered him a smile. Roman walked past us and headed upstairs. My nerves were all over the place as I looked around, wondering where his mother was. He said she was here, how come I don’t see anyone? “Is Roman’s mother really here?” Trenton nodded and proceeded to gesture a maid forward. “She will help you change,” I raised a brow, “I need to ch
My father never really cared about what went on in my life, after my mother died, it became even worse because not only did he not care, he only gave a fuck when I had something Bertha wanted. Now there’s Roman, handsome, enigmatic, asshole. Who I supposedly fell in love with, with no support from my family or his parents, just his grandfather and an unknown agreement made with my mother before she passed. I let out a heavy sigh, staring at the ceiling like a lost child. Probably because I was utterly lost, I felt like I was float on space, hands trying to grab on to a solid handle. After changing into different clothes, relieving myself of the juice stained suit, I spent about thirty minutes staring into space and trying to convince myself not to have a mini-mental breakdown from just how overwhelming the last few days have been. But sometimes I feel the tears just at the brim, threatening to fall. Then I through my contacts again and realized just how sad my life was.
ROMANThe sun had fallen into the horizon and the moon had risen, yet clouds shielded it’s light and left the night dark and gloomy. Much like my mood. I sat in the garden, a glass of whiskey in hand as I stared off into the distance. I sat there wondering when I’d become a man with misplaced priorities. There was so much at the company I needed to set straight, so much with Bertha I needed to fix yet, here I was, staring up at the sky like a fool, her voice ringing in my ears, her words repeating like an omen. ‘Why don’t you let go?’ She had asked. ‘I’m a person too,’ she had said. Those words resonated in my and now they plagued me. And it made me wonder if I’ve ever given her a reason to think otherwise. Of course she’s a person! Or, maybe it’s just me, who hasn’t seen her that way since we married. When we had only just met, I had no impression of Amelia because she practically blended into the background like she belonged there, and when she was finally out in
AMELIAThe next morning came slower than I wanted it to, my night though, was over the second it began. Looking around the spacious room, I felt so cold and lonely on that king-sized bed. What use is having a mansion if it’s this empty? Thinking back to me and Matteo’s final conversation the previous day, my eyes began to water and I had to fight back tears. I will not cry over it again. Soon, I’ll leave, I just need to grasp everything properly, understand what my role in my mother’s company truly is, understand why I was poisoned. Then I’ll move out of this mansion, get a small place by the country side, assign someone capable or work from home. Anything will be better than living with a man who hates me. With a frustrated sigh, I got off the bed and made my way to the bathroom, washing up and fixing my hair. Staring at my reflection longer than necessary, the sight never did appeal to me. Even now, I looked worse. My eyes were bloodshot and my skin was pale, my cheek
The first challenge is getting accustomed to everything new. The advanced smartphones, the changes in the city that made me feel lost though I was raised in it, an apartment. I thought to myself as the car pulled to a stop in front of a small building that had a large sign in front of it. ‘For The Specials And For The Lost’ My brows pulled together as I turned to look at Vincent with a questioning gaze. “Where are we?” I asked. “A place where those clothes would be much appreciated,” He replied, gesturing at the large luggage behind us. I nodded, strangely I trusted the man. Maybe because he was the first friend I was making since I woke up or maybe it was just his smile. Somehow I knew I could trust Vincent. The place turned out to be a home for kids who had aged out of the system and had no means to go on. Kids my age, or at least, the age I remembered. They reminded me of myself, being all alone with no one, with no favors, no luck. Vincent and I were welc
“Look who’s finally decided to join us,” Roman's mother spat, sounding more displeased by the idea despite the fact that she was the person who called for the meeting. I stayed silent, making my way towards the table and then observing the seating arrangements, it bothered me. “Here I was thinking you would reject the invite and insult me again,” She added snidely, she was smiling yet her tone spoke otherwise. “Victoria,” Roman’s father, Yaakov called out, like a reprimand. That got her silent, and everyone’s eyes were already on me, eager to hear my response and watch me make a fool out of myself. I bit my tongue and took the seat between Roman and Greece, I preferred sitting close to him than the only available seat that was right between Bertha and my father, no doubt saved for me. Greece met my eyes for a few seconds and mouthed the word ‘hi' before looking away like she feared being caught. An awkward silence settled when I didn’t say a word in regards to Victori
Roman left the private dining area the second sweet little Tatyana Taylor came in and introduced herself. I had to stop my amusement from showing on my face but I could tell just father and Monica were not pleased, Bertha's expression was even worse and Roman's? Well he walked out. Victoria called pit to him angrily and I got up with an apologetic smile, nodding at everyone before following behind him. It is only proper that his wife follows. A good excuse to leave, finally. I found him in the parking lot, leaning on his car, frantically trying to light up a cigarette but his lighter seemed to be having issues. I didn't know he smoked. His perfect brown hair was touseled like he's ran his fingers through it a few times. Seeing him so frantic and tired made me almost feel sorry for him. His foot tapped impatiently as the lighter clicked repeatedly and from the low growls that left his throat I could tell he was reaching his wit's end. He didn't even notice
MARCUSWhat is a man without a craft? Without a passion? Without a purpose? I spent the first half of my life roaming endlessly, doing what was expected of me, doing everything a good son would do for parents as expectant as mine.A diploma, a degree, a doctorate, a phd, whatever the fuck i could achieve just to get them satisfied. It was never enough, they always wanted more, always thought I was capable of more.Then they died and i realized…fuck them!And the rest of the world thinks they can dictate the fate of a man like me. One capable of everything and so much…On the day i put those two fuckers in the ground, that was when i met her…Amelia Grayson.She didn't know who I was before she approached me, offering an umbrella I didn't even need at the time. I was enjoying the rain soaking me thoroughly but the second she offered, I realized that was the first time someone had offered something to me without asking for something else in return.Just plain kindness.I was enraptu
I was in the hospital for a few more days, under strict observation as the doctor wanted to make sure my blood pressure would be back normal and wouldn't become a complication. In those three days I stayed in the hospital, Roman tried as much as possible to spend his nights by my side while also juggling his work and mine. Colson still hadnt returned from his leave and when I asked Roman about it, he admitted that he hadn't heard from him in a while. Roman was exhausted, being stretched out to think and despite how well he hid his tiredness I could see right through his facade. We spent the evenings speaking about his past, or at least, the little parts he would tell me. The PG rated version of everything he'd experienced…and done. And even that in its own way was all shades of messed up. Still. He wasn't that person anymore… Though sometimes he spoke like…he missed it? "Tell me about your relationship with Alexander," I said, my tone deliberately neutral. I'd learned over ye
AMELIAThe hospital room seemed deathly quiet yet at the same time a certain kind of tension rose slowly as Jessica finally left the room, leaving only Roman and me. I watched as he fiddled, with the image from the scan and then sometimes my fingers, looking he intended to say something but yet kept deciding against it. I studied him carefully. The past hours had etched themselves into his face – deep lines around his eyes that hadn't existed before, a slight tremor in his usually rock-steady hands, the way his shoulders carried an invisible weight that seemed to press down on him with relentless gravity. He looked both familiar and foreign – my husband, yet someone I was still struggling to completely understand.He had a past. An entire life that I knew nothing about and I knew he intended to keep it that way because he feared what my reaction would be… I got a bit of an idea of what his life would've been like. Lonely. A child sent by a parent to assume a responsibility he was
Jessica's eyes darted between Roman and me, her gaze sharp and calculating. She was dressed in her coat, she looked like she'd just run over without any prior preparation, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. I looked between her and Roman, mirroring her actions as I wondered if he was the person who called her here or if she found out on her own that I was in here. She was fuming, hands crossed over her chest and a deadly glare being sent in Roman's direction. "Do you both have any idea how serious this is?" Her voice was a controlled explosion, each word measured but heavy with enough emotion to make the hospital room thick with tension. She wasn't just here as a friend, from the looks of things she was here as a doctor as well. Roman immediately looked chastened, his shoulders dropping several inches. I'd never seen him look so vulnerable, so stripped of his usual commanding presence. Today he looked that way and even worse.I was beginning to feel bad, thinking up words
When I woke up, the world reassembled itself in soft, sterile white and cream. The familiar antiseptic smell. The rhythmic, almost musical beeping of medical equipment creating a strange symphony that sobered me up completely. I was in a hospital, a rather spacious room from what I could see. My entire body felt like it didn't belong to me, except for my eyes that took in every detail of my surroundings. And Roman.He looked tired. Beyond exhaustion.There were dark circles beneath his eyes and an unusual slump of his shoulders. His blue eyes looked dull, pain filled as he stared down at his hand. His hair was disheveled, as though he had been running his fingers through it repeatedly.His hand was wrapped around mine. Not just holding. Clutching. As though I might disappear if he were to let go.Seeing him in that state made my heart ache. How long had he been by my side? How long have I been here? "Roman," I rasped, my voice was hoarse, like I'd swallowed a fucking frog.His r
“Oh I see…” Monica chuckled, I could already imagine her satisfied expression as she spoke. “You've gone silent because you realize you've lost, haven't you?”My brows furrowed, “You think this is a competition? You think this is something to be prideful about?” I scoffed, “You should be advising your daughter as her mother to not throw herself into a married man's lap, much less a man like Yaakov,” I shook my head, feeling immense disappointment at the woman on the other end. “But then again,” My voice turned dark, “Why am I surprised when you did the same thing to my mother?” I stated the obvious. Like mother, like daughter as they say. Monica probably didn't see anything wrong with what Bertha did because she saw it as nothing. And yet my mother is the one they call a whore.“You fucking bitch!” She screeched, “You're only mad because my Bertha has surpassed you…time and time again she has continued to surpass you in everything. What use is the son when we have the father? The
AMELIAThe moment Victoria's words hung in the air, time seemed to fracture. My heart raced, a thunderous rhythm that echoed in my ears, drowning out everything except the sudden roar of blood rushing through my veins. I stared at her, my mind struggling to process the accusation, my body frozen in disbelief."I don't…I don't know what you're talking about," I managed, my voice a careful whisper. Each word was measured, controlled, despite the hurricane of emotions swirling inside me.Because what the actual fuck does she mean by that?! Bertha…and Yaakov? Oh hell no! Even the image of it made my stomach churn yet, I could see the seriousness in Victoria's gaze and deep inside, I could see something that bordered on desperation. Victoria's perfectly manicured fingers – nails a, nude shade that caught the light with every movement, curled into fists. Her immaculate composure cracked, just for a moment. A hairline fracture in her usual porcelain exterior.She looked fucking stressed i
AMELIAAfter breakfast Roman decided he had a much better way to spend our day off. “You can't be serious,” I rolled my eyes, still I found myself watching intently as he pulled his shirt over his shoulders, heat pooling in my belly as those sharp blue eyes met mine with a glint of mischief in them. “I am very serious, Amy,” He took a slow step forward, and then another…and then another until his bare chest was pressed against my chest and his arms went around my waist. “Is it wrong of me to want to have a nap with my wife?” His lips stretched into a lazy smile and I chuckled, feeling his heart race against mine. “Of course not, but why do we have to do it naked?”He shrugs, “Body warmth is good for the baby,”I smacked his shoulder playfully but didn't pull away, instead I kissed him slowly, feeling his hardness press into my abdomen. I pulled away and smiled knowingly, “Just say what you really want,” I teased. He chuckled softly, “A nap…with benefits,” He confessed sheepishly
I huffed out in annoyance, taking a bit of my toast and glaring at the man. He had this all knowing expression on his face that I wished I could slap off it. He spoke like I was a child who couldn't own up to her actions. I hated it. For many reasons. “Yes,” After a long stretch of silence, I finally replied. I noticed he cocked up an interested brow but he didn't raise his eyes to meet mine anymore. He remained silent, as if trying to prove his point and I became increasingly annoyed. But I was more hungry, and I knew better than to poke a man who I'd seen kill another for too long. Even so…why was I conjuring up excuses for what I saw? Have I gone mad? The silence in the condo was suffocating, broken only by the distant sounds of Mexico City coming alive outside. Colson cleared the dishes from the table and proceeded to wash them. I didn't stop him. Instead I stood there watching as I let my mind shamelessly wander. I watched Colson move with a predatory grace that both ter