Page 122 of Blades of Obsession

God dammit, that was supposed to be a surprise. I suppress an annoyed groan, not wanting to ruin their moment. This is why I hate humans, they always mess shit up.

“You look great, Aunt Sheila,” Amelia says with genuine happiness in her voice. I can tell because of the infliction, not like when she’s pretending to be happy.

“Thank you, dear. I’ve been clean for two years now, and I’ve remarried. Now it’s time to focus on getting your mom better.”

“I agree. I’m glad that you’re going to be around to support her.”

They exchange a few more pleasantries before her aunt goes back to find her seat, and I lead Amelia to the dressing room. I start changing into my suit, and I can feel her gaze on me the entire time. I glance over, catching her biting her lip.

“Enjoying the view?” I tease, pulling on my jacket.

“Maybe. Has anyone ever told you that you have the perfect body? And a nice ass.”

I chuckle and finish adjusting my tie. “Even if they did, it wouldn’t have mattered as much as coming from you.”

We make our way to the show, and by the time we arrive, almost everybody has found their seats. Frankie, Asher, Amelia’s mom, and her aunt sit in the front row, leaving two empty seats for us.

Amelia gasps. “Frankie is here? Oh my God, front-row seats cost twenty thousand dollars! How does everyone have one?”

“You know with John’s passing I’m practically a billionaire now, right? From an inheritance. Well, not technically an inheritance because you have to pay taxes on those.”

She looks at me, a playful smile on her face. “Hm, I guess I picked the right man to fall in love with then, huh?”

I look back at her with a smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. When we first met, she wasn’t really the type to make jokes or play around and I’m glad that she’s grown more comfortable.

“I guess you did.” I kiss the top of her head.

•••

The show went even better than expected. The audience wentwildabout her designs. It made Amelia’s face light up like the moonlit sky, she was practically glowing the entire time. Not a single moment passed where her smile—so big it could’ve used its own zip code—faded from her face.

The meeting with the executive went smoothly as well, even though I still have bad energy towards the bastard for extorting me. As planned, he offered her a deal to design a custom dress line for their fashion brand. Six unique dresses, all centered around one theme, that Amelia gets to collaborate on picking.

Like with Anne, when we left I got a confirmation text from the executive of the payment going through. And he had to rub the extra payment in my face by putting it on a separate line on the invoice. The bastard.

I can’t be mad though—they’re making her dreams come true and for that, what’s an extra million dollars? Seeing her face when he offered her the deal made it all worth it. And even more so when her laughter rang out, clear and bright, doing a little happy dance in her chair before turning to me with the most beautiful sparkle in her eyes.

It’s a good thing almost anything in this world can be brought when you wave enough money around. And a million dollars—well, two million now—is surely enough money for a simple dress line in their catalog.

But the point is, this opportunity is priceless. Having her designs on the website and in the shows of one of the most influential and famous fashion brands in the world gets you noticed. Her career can catapult just like that. Of course, it won’t be instant. It’ll probably take one or two years just to go through approvals and the creative processes to even get the line launched.

But afterwards, she’ll be able to have her dream career. And soon enough, smaller fashion brands will be busting down her door with deals. Deals that won’t have to be paid for anymore.

This will set her up for life, and she deserves it. I know she doesn’t see it sometimes, but she’s very talented. And smart. And beautiful. And caring. And ambitious.

Okay, maybe I’m getting carried away, but it’s hard not to when you have the perfect woman by your side.

Chapter 46

AMELIA

“We lost Frankie and Asher!”

“They’ll catch up, don’t worry. Knowing them, they’re probably back there fucking.” Blade puts his arm around me and guides me forward along the trail.

It’s March, and we finally have a break from the winter chill, the weather is absolutely beautiful this time of year in Albuquerque.

Asher’s birthday is today, and he insisted on taking a birthday hike, saying it’s a tradition he had with his father before he passed. I’m trying my best, but I probably look like a worn out donkey right now with how much I’m sweating. And people do this for fun? Even in the summer?

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