Page 125 of Strictly Business

“There’s nothing to fix. Not anymore.” I take a deep breath, forcing the words out even though they hurt like hell. “I know how you really feel about me.”

His brow furrows, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Tell me. How do I really feel about you?”

“I don’t—”

“Tell me, Amara,” he cuts me off. “Fuckingtell mewhat you think you know. Tell me what he—”

“And what about Amara?”

Nicholas stops dead in his tracks, his face draining of color as he hears his brother’s voice on the recording.

“You think I give a fuck about her?”

I hold my phone in my shaking hand, my stomach dropping when I hear Nicholas’s cold, unattached voice talking about me.

“She was just a distraction. Doesn’t mean shit to me. None of it was ever real. Just a dumb fucking arrangement I had to make the best of.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, my heart breaking. I loved him—love him still—but it was all just a game to him. A means to an end until he got what he wanted. He didn’t need to pretend to care about me, because I would’ve followed through with everything, no questions asked. I had already signed the damn contract.

He didn’t have to lie.

The tears fall freely, streaking down my face as I try to catch my breath.

Nicholas takes a step forward, his face contorting in disbelief. “Amara, I didnotsay that.”

“Are you telling me this isn’t your voice?” I ask, my voice cracking with frustration. “I know what I heard, Nicholas,”

“I didnotfucking say that,” he insists, closing the gap between us. He runs a hand through his hair in frustration, his eyes darting away as if he’s searching for the right words. “Alexander, he…” He stops, visibly struggling to find the right explanation. “He edited the clip to make it sound like—”

“You don’t need to lie, Nicholas,” I cut him off. “I don’t want any favors from you. I’ve already put in my resignation. I’ll find a job somewhere else, whether it’s as a designer or a waitress. I don’t want anything from you.” My voice cracks but I shake my head, trying to keep it under control. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep myend of your stupid deal. I’ll pretend to be your fiancée until you can get what you really want.”

“Amara.” His voice tightens. “I do not give a fuck about that right now. I need you to believe me when I tell you I did not say those things.”

He holds my face in his hands, but I pull away, his touch feeling like a lie. “It’s better this way,” I murmur.

“Amara.” His voice breaks as he reaches for me again, but I take another step back.

“The contract was going to end in two weeks anyway,” I continue, sniffing as my nose tingles. “It’s best if I leave now so I don’t get even more attached.” I bend down to pick up my suitcase, but before I can move, Nicholas’s hand lands on mine, forcing the suitcase back onto the floor.

“You’re not going anywhere.” His eyes narrow, fire burning in them.

“Nicholas—”

“You are not leaving.”

“The contract ends in two weeks,” I remind him.

“I told you, I don’t give a fuck about the contract. How many fucking times do I need to tell you, you’re all I fucking care about!”

I shake my head, unable to believe anything he says.

He sees the look in my eyes, the confusion, the hurt, and it makes him pause. He straightens up, his jaw tight, and then he turns, walking away from me. The sharp click of his footsteps echoes in the silence.

“Nicholas?”

He doesn’t turn back, his silhouette fading into the hallway as he walks into his office. Less than a minute later, Nicholas walks out of his office, a piece of paper in his hand.

“Is that…?”

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