I walked up the stairs, my mind filled with conflicting emotions. The shopping bags Amelia had given me felt heavier than they should, laden with a significance I wasn't ready to acknowledge. Reaching my room…which was once a guest room, I shut the door behind me and set the bags on the bed. For a moment, I just stared at them, reluctant to look inside. What could she have possibly bought for me? Why did I even care? An early birthday gift. She had said. My birthday is in three days, I figured she wouldn't remember, how exactly did she know about it? With a deep breath, I finally reached for the first bag. As I pulled out its contents, my breath caught in my throat. It was a tie, deep royal blue, the exact shade of that breathtaking dress she'd worn in the store. The material was silky smooth, clearly expensive. The second bag revealed a suit jacket and trousers in the same striking color. I held up the jacket, noticing immediately that it was slightly larger than my usual
AMELIANever have I met a man as infuriating as Roman. One second he is the nicest person, gifting me things I've never received from anyone, smiling at me like we could get along, and the next? He's an asshole who treats me like I am not human. I slammed the door hard behind me but winced when the sound reverberated in my ears. I plopped down on the mattress with a heavy sigh and buried my face in my palms. “I need to leave this place,” I muttered into my skin. I fell asleep with that single thought weighing down on me yet, in my dreams, I was plagued with blue eyes and a rare smile that was meant for me. I dreamt of a garden, somewhere I knew I'd been before yet I couldn't remember when or how I got there. I was there with Roman, he looked different in my dream. His hair was longer and was blonde rather than the black I was used to. It was tied back into a low ponytail and his blue gaze was as sharp as shards. He was dressed in an all-black attire that only showed his neck
I pulled on a black dress hurriedly as I prepared for a small gathering Roman put pm the schedule. We were attending the wedding anniversary of a major shareholder called Mr. Martinez and truth be told, I had no intention of leaving the house. Yet, the glare Roman sent my way said otherwise. I can't say no to him. I have to be careful as well, one wrong move and my mother's company might also be affected. So I begrudgingly put on some light make up and wore red heels along with a red clutch to match before meeting Roman down stairs. He didn't spare me more than a glance, which I wish didn't sting as it did. Making the image of him back at the mall seem like a false memory. We had a driver this time so I had to sit in the backseat with him. Something he looked visiblly upset by. I stayed on my side while fiddling wigh my fingers already feeling nervous for what was to come. My father never took me to such gatherings nor did he ever bother you teach me the way
Brilliant golden lights welcomed us as we walked into what I assumeed to be the man's house yet it seemed more like a castle with a rather extravagant design instead of a house. Roman's expression remained rigid as we stepped in, he was in a bad mood and he wasn't hiding it. It made me stiffen up and feel unsettled walking by his side. I had no idea who this Mr. Martinez was, though I tried my best to research a bit on him and his wife, I barely got enough info online. They stayed off social media and didn't like meeting up with the press from what I read. Though the people considered them a perfect couple, they've done countless charity works, have two teenagers who also engage in charity work…too clean. “You shouldn't look so glum,” I whispered into Roman's ears as we fell into the hustle of the golden crowd. There was not a tie or necklace out of place. Everyone held themselves with a certain elegance and grace that made it clear they were the top of the crop. They
Why is he so opposed to the idea of giving his mother a grandchild?Roman looked downright pissed off after we’d walked away from Tatyana, his expression darkening even further when we spotted his parents with the Martinez couple, the very people we were looking for.I could tell he didn't want to go, so I waited silently for him to make the first move.I didn't want to seem like I was meddling so I stayed silent despite the growing curiosity in my chest to understand the relationship between Roman and his parents.That includes his sister, they don't seem too close either.The entire family seemed rather tight-knit on the outside but in the few days, I've gotten to know them, I've come to realize they're almost as dysfunctional as my family.“We should just say hi, isn't that why we’re here?” I breathed while squeezing his arm lightly. Everything in me did want to be nice to the man yet, I sort of understood what he was going through, having parents who were only affectionate in the e
I wish I could say the night went on without a hutch, but quite frankly I had underestimated Victoria's severe dislike for me. After speaking with the golden couple, Roman and I became separated and I was surprised to find that I preferred staying by his side all night than with anyone else. He and Mr. Martinez had a few more things to close off on and seeing him go into business mode like that showed we would be staying longer than I wished. Victoria told me to come with her, that she had a few people she wanted me to meet. Politely declining was out of the question, Roman had walked away and so did Yaakov…I couldn't say no to ‘my beloved’ mother-in-law in front of Mrs. Martinez's scrutiny. So I agreed with a smile and we began to walk. There was a group of posh looking middle aged women that stood at the far corner, seemingly in their own worlds. They were four in number and unfortunately, Monica was one of them. When she noticed we were coming their way, she imm
My back was covered in cold sweat as I tried to remember how to breathe, my heart was pounding hard against my ribs and I'd almost choked from the lack of oxygen. The man didn't move, I couldn't speak. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I knew I was insanely terrified by what was happening, I knew I was being robbed and any small movement would get me killed. I also knew that this wasn't the first time I'd experienced something like this. It was like a knife at the back of my skull, reminding me, making my head throb so much that I'd almost bent over and heaved. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak. My whole body trembled as my mind became bombarded with images of me being tied to a chair, my wrists bound so tightly that my skin had begun to bleed and seep into the thick tops, my throat was raw from screaming and my ankles hurt like hell. And in that moment, I remember thinking…no one will find me, no one will come to save me, this is where I'll die. “Please…”
“You fucking bastard!” Roman's hands left my shoulder and he fell to the floor with a heavy sound. The drunk robber tackling him and immediately pointing the gleaming blade at Roman's neck. “You wanna die? Huh?” I shook my head, my tongue heavy. Fear consumed me when I saw Roman in that position, he came here to help and now he was going to die. Just as I made the decision to stand and distract the robber, Roman's eyes darkened with anger and a dangerous glint that I've ever seen in them. His eyes remained fixated on the drunk man, looking like he didn't give a shit if there was a blade pointed at his neck. Instead, he grabbed the blade, with his bare hand, gripping it tightly and making me gasp in both fear and astonishment. “Roman!” I gasped out, reaching out for him but stopping the second he brought up his knee and buried it in the robber's stomach. Roman stood to his full height, not giving the man time to recover as he grabbed a fistful of the man's hair and