Page 9 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

I left out the part where we had amazing sex. However, Troy seemed to have noticed my hesitation to talk more about Amelia.

He concluded with only one guess, “You have feelings for this lady. That’s strange.”

“I'm as surprised as you are,” I continued. “I'm sure it's only an excitement that would fade out as time passes.”

I agreed with Troy. Falling in love with Amelia might be the strangest thing ever happening to me.

“My wedding is next month." Troy raised his head in surprise as I dropped the news.

“I thought it was in two months?” He had the same look I had when Mother told me over the phone.

“Not anymore,”

Troy looked more concerned than I was. “Do you think it has something to do with Mom?”

“I think it has to do with Amelia’s parents,” I responded. “The faster their daughter becomes a member of the Robinsons, the better.”

I looked at Troy's concerned face again and concluded his fear had to do more with him than with me. Once I got married, Mother could finally concentrate on getting Troy, a match she thought was for him. Troy had always wanted to stay unmarried for the rest of his life. He’d had a college girlfriend who left him after college; since then, he’d locked his heart for life.

Mother wouldn’t have that, so she was stepping into our love lives.

I stood abruptly to announce, “I need to shop for Amelia's engagement ring.”

“Henry,” Troy called me back, “you need to help me escape marrying Emilie.”

Troy sounded like his life depended on my assistance. "You escaped marrying her; why do I have to marry her."

I sighed, “Look, I escaped Emilie because I scouted for other ladies my mother thought were the best match for me.”

“I found Amelia, and everything about her fits perfectly,” I continued. “When I saw her at the airport while returning to Richmond, I had an awkward encounter with her, which made me treat her like an ass.”

“You think I should consider other women who might be on Mother’s list?”

“Yes.”

Troy beamed a genuine smile now. “You are a genius,” he laughed excitedly.

“I know I'm a genius, but you are the son who attended med school.”

Troy laughed at my joke, but his shoulder relaxed with relief. I closed Troy’s office door behind me. As I stepped into the hospital’s elevator, I hoped to get a glimpse of Amelia. Then, a tall, golden blonde woman walked across the elevator just before it closed. My heart skips a bit. She looked like Amelia; now more than ever, I longed to see her today.

I would give anything to look into Amelia’s soothing eyes. As I drove to the jewelry store, my mind dwelled on Amelia. Damn! She had never left my mind since I met her at the airport. I wondered what she thought of me. What did she think of this forced relationship between us?

A few months ago, I’d have my private investigator find out what he could about Amelia, and she ticked all the boxes. She was the one for me. My engagement was on the weekend, which meant I needed to get Amelia's ring ready. I got to the jewelry store and picked out the most expensive ring they had. Amelia may not mind the luxury of her engagement ring, but I do. I wanted everyone who looked at Amelia’s wedding ring to be amazed by its luxury.

****

My family shut down one of the restaurants we owned for the proposal. Troy was adjusting my collar.

“Are you ready for this?” Troy asked.

I nodded, “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

Troy shook his head and barked, "No, you don't."

I looked around the filled-up restaurant. The media are here to get every moment of the proposal.

This moment would make the headlines for the next few weeks. Henry Robinson Engages Amelia Johnson in a Grand Style. Mother’s big grin told me she was impressed with me. More than half of the guests present to witness my proposal to Amelia were people I hadn’t met. I smiled as Amelia sat across from me. We both knew that I was proposing to her today, and there wasn’t anything to be surprised about. Amelia put on a good show for the media.

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