Chapter One| Mr Daniels.

I had just entered the ballroom with my arm hooked around my father’s while plastering a huge fake smile on my face. 

Why couldn’t he have just gone with one of his mistresses since he had many, I don’t get why I have to be forced to come to these suffocating functions? 

Still, with a smile inked on my face, I greeted everybody, and I mean every rich snob associated with my father, whom I didn’t like very much and don’t have the best relationship with. 

Here I was, in this super-tight uncomfortable dress that somehow attracted the eyes of people to places that should only be looked at by me. 

“Mr Adams!” I internally groaned as I heard the annoying voice of Howard, yay! “Amelia,” he gave me a curt nod and just like the whole night I gave him a fake smile. 

“Howard,” I replied through clenched teeth, silently praying he keeps all of his attention on my father and resists the urge to not try and flirt with me, or ask for my hand in marriage, again!

“You look amazing,” his eyes roamed my chest area before dropping right down to my leg that peaked out the long slit. “Just like a grown woman should.”

Pervert, always been and always will be. 

“Father, excuse me,” I said with the manners that had been instilled in me from a young age and which are now forced upon me by a man who hasn’t been my father for the longest time... “I’ll be by the bar.”

“Don’t be drinking too much now, I wouldn’t want to take care of you the whole night, although it would be a great pleasure.”

Howard, go stick your pervy comments up your ass, “I won’t, wouldn’t be much of a pleasure.”

I walked off to the bar and sat on one of the stools ordering myself some juice, I can’t even begin to understand why Mr pervy would think I drink.

He’s been dying to bed me and thinks that I’m too uptight when I’m sober, so probably that’s why he always tries to get me drunk, and I always disappoint.

I can’t wait to get home and sleep this night away, it has been a drag and I’ve been surrounded by people I don’t like or who I don’t know at all, the benefits of being the daughter of a rich, egotistical man is that I’m kept away from society – well ever since it was just the two of us left.

Whenever I go out to the mall, I always have some over-built man following me or one of the “only friends” which are the maids, come with me. It is a fact that I’m never alone but at the same time away from people. Something to do with dad and his trust issues.

Hearing a commotion by the entrance, I turned to see what had gotten people all excited and loud about, at first I couldn’t see anything but what I figured out was that they were excited for a person. 

At last, people finally dispersed but all eyes were still on him, mine too. I hadn’t seen this man since I was seventeen, last I heard of him was that he left this place and went ghost but somehow managed to become the greatest and most powerful businessman, the guy even topped off my father.

All the hype around him had finally calmed down however there was this new energy in the room, tension?

My father and he were standing in front of each other, glaring each other’s eyes off, I guess it was understandable seeing how they fell off and how they just disconnected. They used to be the best of friends or whatever, all I know is they had a great relationship. 

Finally, they broke that stupid gaze competition they were having and laughed while they hugged, they seemed to be talking about something but I couldn’t hear them because of the distinctive chatter that was around the room. 

Tearing my eyes away, I looked back to my drink and gulped down the rest of it before asking for a refill. The music was back on and people were back to mingling and the function carried on just as strong as it began.

“Amelia,” the voice sounded deep and powerful, a shiver ran down my spine and I slowly turned around but I was met with a broad chest, my eyes found their way to his honey brown eyes and my heart skipped a beat.

“Mr Daniels,” his eyebrows furrowed for a second before he smiled back at me.

“Whatever happened to JJ?” 

“Four years,” I shrugged and his smile fell. “However I feel as if Mr Daniels works better seeing how polished you are now! You look great,” I rushed out trying to bring back the mood, I was great at sucking the mood but I was better at creating one.

He chuckled, shaking his head and opened his arms, standing up. I allowed him to wrap his arms around my waist while I wrapped mine around his neck.

Oh my gosh, his musky, earth-ish smell was amazing but I loved the firm hold he had on me and I don’t think I was anywhere near to let go of him. 

“You look absolutely gorgeous, Lia,” he whispered as he looked at me and for one I was enjoying his lingering eyes. “Now tell me why the birthday girl is sitting all alone so far away from her party?”

“Maybe because it isn’t my party, to begin with?”

“Right,” he dragged out finally seeing the reason and smiled. “Twenty-one am I right?” 

“Yes! And you’re probably eighty-three right?” I teased.

“You wound me, Lia, it’s thirty-three. Extremely young if you ask me,” he winked and I laughed shaking my head at him.

“Sure, but you look okay for a man in his forties.”

“Thirties, Lia, respect the thirty.”

“Well, I apologize, sir!” I said putting my hand over my chest and his eyes followed to my chest, it was extremely hot the way his eyes looked at the area but at the same time, I wished I was covered up because this was one of the men I spent so much of my time with.

“It’s okay, happy birthday, Amelia,” he handed me a set of keys and I looked down at my hand noticing that they were car keys.

“No ways,” I whispered looking up at him and he grinned shrugging. “I can’t.”

I tried to push them back into his hands but he just pushed them right back into mine. “It’s really rude to push a gift back to the person that gifted you, it seems like you don’t like it.”

“No, I really love it, I do, but this is yours and-“

“It belongs to you now, Lia. Enjoy it,” he pressed his lips against my cheeks and I sort of leaned into him unexpectedly, not because I wanted him to kiss me but because I was starting to feel a bit light-headed. 

Looking back up to him, a giggle escaped through my lips and I covered my mouth just to have more giggles escape. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, trying to find my feet. “Have you seen my feet?”

“Are you okay, Lia?” he asked worriedly and I waved my hand at him. “What did she drink?” he asked the bartender and he pointed to my juice. Mr Daniels took my drink and sniffed it before bringing it to his lips, he muttered a curse when he was done and looked down at me. “Lia?” 

My brows furrowed and I blinked my eyes multiple times. Everything was becoming hazy and it wouldn’t stop moving around.

“JJ?” 

“Yes, Lia?”

“Since when do you have a twin?”

I felt my eyes close and my body fell into somebody’s arms.