Page 12 of The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire

I must have been so lost in thought that I didn’t hear her knocking. “Sorry about that. What’s up?”

“I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving.” She must have noticed the confusion on my face because she said, “It’s seven.”

My eyes widened and I glanced at the clock in the corner. I had no idea it was so late. Despite the time, I still wasn’t ready to go home. I wasn’t ready to face Amelia.

“Please tell Eddie that he can leave now. I’ll drive myself home.”

“All right, sir.”

After she left, my mind went right back to Amelia. I couldn’t believe her presence was making me stay at the office this late. I typically worked late but this was a stretch, even for me. When I finally left the office, it was dark outside, almost ten.

I took the elevator down to the last floor and walked to the parking lot. The night air greeted me as I walked over to my car. I grabbed my keys from the nighttime security staff, thanked him, and took off down the road.

I spent the elevator ride up to my penthouse thinking about what I would say when I finally saw Amelia again. When the doors slid open, I walked into the living room. Somehow, the space already felt different now that she’d been in here. And I could smell her scent in the room.

I was walking towards my room when I heard Amelia laughing. The sound made me stop dead in my tracks. I hadn’t heard it in five years. It traveled across the rooms in the house, and I followed it to the kitchen. There I found Amelia chatting with Agnes.

The two women sat at the counter with glasses of juice in their hands. I stopped at the kitchen doorway and Amelia turned to face me. I watched as her laughter faded and her wide smile turned into a straight-lipped grin.

“Hi,” she said, her voice barely audible.

“Hi.”

Agnes must have noticed the tension between us because she coughed awkwardly and stood up. “Excuse me.”

The room fell silent in her absence. I held Amelia’s gaze but after a while, she looked away. She gulped down her juice and faced me again.

“How was work?” she asked.

“Fine.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Silence.

“How was your flight?” I asked.

“Comfortable.”

“Hm, that’s nice.”

More silence.

She poured herself another glass of juice and drank it all like she’d just returned from a journey into the desert. “You want some?” she asked.

“No.”

More silence.

I decided to put an end to both our miseries. “Good night,” I said as I turned to leave.

“Why am I here?” Amelia asked. Her question made me pause and turn around to look at her. She stood up from where she was sitting, placed the empty glass on the table, and walked closer to me. “Why am I here, Matteo? Why did you grant my dad’s wish when you could have just said no? I don’t understand.”

I considered telling her about the deal Joseph made me. It wasn’t the real reason I’d agreed to let her live here, but it wasthe one I was capable of sharing. I’d rather have her believe I was an ambitious businessman who would do anything for money than for her to know that I wanted her here because I still cared about her.

I’d done my best to deny it but that was the truth. I still cared about Amelia Pierson. Even after everything she did. Even after everything she put me through. Even after all that I still cared about her. This had to be some kind of mental illness. How was it possible that I still had any affection for a woman who tossed me aside without a second thought?

I should hate her, but I didn’t.

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