She declined with a shake of her head. If she ate any more, she was sure she would burst out of the tight dress she was wearing.

  He shrugged. “Oh well. More for me then.” He smiled as he sunk into one of the plush seats. Reaching out he pulled her down beside him, wrapping his arm around her.

  In her ears she could hear the erratic beat of her heart hammering furiously from within. She watched him turn on a movie using a remote built into the chair, pressing various buttons with ease. Soon the room around them dimmed and the screen lit up with opening titles. She wanted to focus on the screen in front of her but the smell of popcorn and his expensive cologne swirled through her mind.

  She tried to make no obvious movements, to keep her eyes on the movie playing out on the screen in front of her. Her pulse raced. She had to do something, anything other than remain seated here beside him, acting as if everything was normal. Like this was a Friday night date night or just any other Tuesday. “Hi, honey, how was your day? Let’s eat, watch a movie, then go fuck.”

  She shifted her body, breaking from his embrace. Come on Birkehart, the quicker this party gets started, the quicker you can get out of here and back to safety of the hotel.

  Amelia stood up, summoning all the courage she could find. “Why don’t we just skip the pretense, Sebastian, and get to why I’m really here?”

  His eyes broke from the screen and rested on her with a smirk. “That eager, huh?”

  They walked in silence back to the room, Amelia unsure of what to do next. She’d never been in the position where she’d had to make an effort to get someone into bed. Nor did it help her that that someone was so incredibly handsome and such a big arsehole at the same time.

  He took her hand and slowly led her over to the bed. Their kiss was soft at first, then with a growl her mouth opened to his. Heat burst through her veins, blood rushing to her head. She pulled away from him, feeling lightheaded from his presence. She looked at him, his gaze locking onto hers. She could see his eyes darken, a shadow taking over them as they stared at her full of lust and desire.

  “Sebastian,” she moaned with pleasure as he slowly kissed the sweet spot on the side of her neck, nibbling ever so gently at the sensitive skin. How could something so wrong, feel so good? “Please…” she cried out, her body betraying her better judgment.

  His tongue was back on her lips coaxing low sexual moans to break free. Her head was swirling with need and confusion. His hands were everywhere: touching her, exploring her, pushing her senses to extremes. She felt him tugging the hem of her dress upwards, she shivered as the cool air hit her bare thighs. She was shocked at the feelings taking over her body. How could her body be reacting this way? How could something so dirty, make her so excited? Did she want him? She wasn’t so confident on where she stood with that anymore.

  Taking matters in her own hands, she climbed off him. Reaching for his belt she undid the buckle. The sound of his zipper being lowered broke through the air. She could feel his hardness straining underneath the material of his designer briefs. Slipping her hand under the soft fabric she clasped onto him, gasping at his size and girth. She freed him and steadily began to stroke his length, up and down, in long smooth motions. She kept his gaze on him as she lowered her mouth to his slick head, ready to take his full length in.

  “Amelia.” He stopped her in mid-motion, hastily pushing her from him.

  She fell back onto the floor, a look of surprise spread over her shocked face. What the hell? She was at a loss for words.

  Sebastian stood quickly, clearly distressed. He stepped away from her and tidied himself up. Slipping himself back into his briefs, he zipped his trousers in one swift motion.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” he said exasperated, running his hands through his hair. He’d started to pace back and forth, muttering to himself as he did so.

  Amelia stood from the floor, pulling her dress back down, trying to gain some semblance of decency. She tried to take a step towards him, but he shied away like a skittish colt.

  “What do you mean you can’t do this?” She asked with wide eyes. “Isn’t this what you wanted? A whore for the evening!”

  “I don’t know…just go.” He shouted out pointing to the door. “Just go, Amelia!”

  “Sebastian, I thought…” What the hell as happening here?

  “JUST GO!” He roared stepping towards her, fire lighting up his eyes.

  A mixture of rage and embarrassment battled within her. What had she done wrong? Why didn’t he want her? Was she not good enough for him? The questions continued to run through her head as she picked up her shoes and began to retreat from the room. She stopped to look at him, but his back was turned to hers. She’d failed. If he didn’t want her, then they wouldn’t have a deal.

  She bit down hard on her lip. The first of many tears threatening to break free and course down her pale cheeks. She made her way back through the house, picking up her purse and heading to the front door, holding her head high as walked. Outside on the driveway the limo she’d arrived in earlier stood waiting for her, its engine purring in the black night. She slipped wordlessly into the backseat, the cold leather seats her only source of comfort. Outside the car the rain began to pour down on the city landscape.

  Amelia didn’t try to hide her tears as she climbed out of the SUV and walked through the busy hotel lobby. She knew the eyes of the hotel guests and staff were on her but didn’t care. She felt raw and vulnerable and was too broken to feel the need to hide it.

  In her suite, she rid herself of the dress she’d been wearing for Sebastian. She wanted to set it alight and watch it disappear in the flames. She showered, scrubbing herself of the torment she felt from his rejection, but nothing made the pain go away. Lying back on her bed, she hugged one of the enormous pillows in sadness. She wanted to get home, leave this place behind her. She wanted to erase the memories of the evening from her mind, but the rage she felt bubbled inside of her, waiting to break through. She would never let anyone humiliate her the way Sebastian did this evening. Never.

  Chapter Seven

  ONE WEEK LATER

  Amelia remained in her chair long after the board meeting had drawn to an end. The room was quiet, the sounds of idle chatter long since disappeared.

  “You have a minute?” Jerry asked popping his head around the glass door.

  Amelia shut the lid of her laptop, transferring her full attention to him. “Sure, Jerry, what’s up?”

  He walked in and took a seat opposite her. “I just wanted to touch base with you. See how you’re doing and all that. You’ve been pulling some serious all-nighters.”

  “I’m good, Jerry. Never been better,” she lied, averting her eyes from his. She fiddled with her pen that lay on the wooden tabletop. No, she wasn’t fine. She knew as much, but she wasn’t willing to admit that yet. She was going to be strong and not show any weakness if it was the last thing she did.

  She’d instead thrown herself into her work, pulling fourteen-hour days, trying to fill herself up with as much knowledge about her father’s business as she could. It’d been hard on her and despite how much she tried, she just couldn’t fill the gaping hole Sebastian had left in his wake.

  “I’m glad you managed to sort things out with Harris Construction.”

  “Mhmm.” Amelia bit down hard on her lip. She no longer knew if she felt depressed or just plain furious with what’d happened.

  “I heard this morning that Harris has put another four teams on the site,” Jerry smiled. “Perhaps, at this rate we might finish ahead of schedule.”

  I wish! The quicker they finish on site the quicker that bastard will be out of my life!

  Despite it all Amelia couldn’t help but smile. Her father would be pleased that the project was coming to an end.

  “Anyway, I don’t want to bother you any longer. I just wanted to say hello, see how you were doing.” He stood and walked back to the door. Pausing he turned back to look at her, “I’m always here for you. You know that right?”

  “Thanks Jerry, I appreciate it.”

  Jerry nodded and walked out the boardroom.

  Amelia sighed as her cell vibrated on the table in front of her, signaling yet another text coming through. She sat back in her chair and rolled her eyes. She knew who the message was from. Sebastian bloody Harris. He’d been sending them nonstop since he’d banished her from his house. Each time she saw his name pop up on the screen, she felt the humiliation of the evening searing through her body. It wasn't a memory she treasured or wanted to relive, but the shame of it all kept her focused on one thing. Payback.

  The ring of the conference phone in the centre of the table broke Amelia from her thoughts.

  “Hello.”

  “Miss Birkehart, I have a call for you on line one. Mr. Harris, from Harris Construction,” Cassandra’s clipped tones came over the line.

  Amelia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Does this man ever give up?

  “Take a message Cassandra, and if it’s important please forward him through to Jerry. I’m not available for calls from him.”

  “Will do Miss Birkehart.”

  “Oh, and one more thing. Please make this a standing order.”

  Amelia replaced the handset on the cradle. Great, now he was calling into her office as well.

  Another notification tone rang out from her phone. She hesitated before picking it up. What could he have to say now that’d make me change my mind?

  Please Amelia, just talk to me. – Sebastian

  No way in hell! She rolled her eyes and debated responding to him. Every time she picked up her phone to send him a seething text telling him all the ways he’d wronged her, she stopped. Each-and-every time she ended up saying nothing, hoping that her silence kept him away. There was no reason for her to talk to him, there wasn’t anything left to say. Except screw you of course. His actions had been self-explanatory as far as she was concerned.

  She tapped her fingertips on the table with frustration before picking up her phone typing out a message in response, a message she hoped she wouldn't regret later.

  You had me in person for a night and wanted to play house, then threw me out the door. Now you expect me to believe you’d fly across the country to see me for five minutes and just ‘talk'? Give me a beak, Sebastian. Please leave me alone.

  Finishing work for the day she packed her bag and headed home. It’d been a good day, filled with many meetings and deadlines that had been met. She felt as she were settling in and getting a grasp on what her father had built. It also helped that Jerry was there helping her along, guiding her on what to do and what she should avoid. He was becoming a father figure to her, the thought of which brought her incredible comfort. She missed her father so much, especially on days when the pressure weighed heavily on her shoulders.

  She poured herself a large glass of red wine, relaxing on her sofa, switching on the tv to drown out the silence. She enjoyed being on her own, there was less drama and the only person she had to consider in it all was herself. That suits me just fine. She ordered herself a pizza from the local on the corner, pulled on a pair of sweats and decided to settle for the evening.

  Fifteen minutes later, Amelia jumped up from the sofa as her doorbell rang. She was ravenous, looking forward to sinking her teeth into a good slice of pizza.

  Swinging the door open she gasped and took a step back. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  In front of her stood Sebastian, dressed in a pair of jeans and a smart polo shirt. His normal handsome face was pale, his eyes tired.

  “I came to see you.” He pushed past her, walking into her apartment as if he owned it. He stopped and turned to face her, running his hands through his hair. “You wouldn’t text me back. You wouldn’t answer your phone. What was I meant to do?”

  “Sebastian.” She placed her hands on her hips. So much for her relaxed evening at home on her own.

  “How could I possibly leave you alone? We’ve got unfinished business”

  “Oh, do we now?” She scoffed shaking her head in frustration. “Listen, I think it’s best if you just leave. You’ve done more than enough damage. You threw me out like I was yesterday’s trash! Treated me like a cheap whore. As far as I’m concerned you and I are done. I don’t owe you anything at all. You got what you wanted, now just let me be.”

  “No, I didn’t!” he shouted, his well-built arms thrown up in the air. ‘You don’t get to stand there and…”

  “…and what, Sebastian?” Amelia screamed back. “Who do you think you are? You’re just some arrogant jerk who thinks he can do whatever he wants with whomever he wants because you have money.” She closed the space between them, her finger pointing at him. “Well let me tell you something. You don’t have the right, or the privilege for that matter, to come here, to my home, and tell me what I can and can’t do. What we had was purely business, I don’t owe you anything else, so you can just go screw yourself.”

  “For fuck’s sake Amelia…” He stepped towards her taking her shoulders in his hands.

  “Hey Miss B,” Arnold, the delivery boy called out as he walked into the apartment. He looked at the couple in front of him in and stopped in confusion. “Everything okay?

  Sebastian let go of Amelia and took a step back, his eyes narrowing at Arnold.

  “Yes, everything’s fine.” She smoothed out her top. “Let me get you some cash.” She grabbed her purse and handed him some money in exchange for pizza. “Have a good night, Arnold.”

  Arnold tipped his baseball cap and gave her a big smile before disappearing back to the elevator.

  “Listen, Amelia,” Sebastian was quieter this time around, more composed.

  Amelia lifted her hand to silence him. Shaking her head, she pointed to her front door.

  “Sebastian, seriously I can’t. I don’t know what is up with you and I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to go.”

  “Amelia,” he looked at her, “just hear me out.”

  “Nothing good will come of this, Sebastian. Just go.” She placed her hand on his chest and aimed him towards the door.

  “Please, Amelia.” He tried again but let her push him out.

  “Just go.” Amelia closed the door behind him as he left. Leaning against the hardwood door she slid down to the floor. She didn’t know what game he was trying to play, but once Legacy Towers was complete, she wanted him out of her life, once and for all…

  Chapter Eight

  Amelia stood at her kitchen counter idly scrolling her social media accounts on her iPad. She’d woken with a smile plastered on her face, having not slept so well in ages. On the counter behind her, the smell of coffee brewing drifted through the air. Pouring herself a cup in her favourite white and rose gold mug, she made her way out on to the terrace of her apartment. She had an entire list of books on her kindle she’d always promised to read, but never got around to it. Today that was going to change!

  She happily sipped on her drink as she opened her first choice. Her eyes roamed over the words on the pages. Her mind took her to a faraway place as the scenes of the book unfolded in her imagination. She was so engrossed in the novel she almost didn’t hear the knocking on the front door. Shutting her iPad with frustration, she placed it on the table and stood to investigate. If that is Sebastian again, so help me, God! With her fists clenched at her sides, she stopped at the door and took in a deep breath to steady her annoyance and looked through the peephole.

  “Morning, Miss Birkehart.” Her doorman Julio smiled from behind a bunch of red roses.

  She opened the door to let him in. “Good Morning, Julio.”

  “These arrived for you. I thought I would bring them up on my break.”

  “Oh,” Amelia was dumfounded. “Thank you, you didn’t have to.”

  “Oh, you know when something arrives for a beautiful lady, you can’t wait on that.” He said cheerily. “Would you like me to put them down for you? They’re a bit on the heavy side.”

  “Oh yes please. “Amelia motioned to the large circular table behind her. He walked past her and with caution placed the vase of flowers down.

  “Have a good day.” He smiled and walked back down the hall.

  She slowly walked towards the delivery. It was a stunning bunch of tall long-stemmed ruby roses and oriental lilies, mixed together with sweet smelling palm and baby’s breath, the smell of which already started to fill the room. In the middle of the bunch sat a white envelope with her name written on it in black ink.

  She hesitantly picked up the envelope, the handcrafted paper sitting heavy in her hands. She wanted to see who it was from, but at the same time her gut screamed out for her to throw the card away and carry on with life. Against better judgment her finger slid along the seam, revealing a single pale cream card inside.

  Amelia,

  I’m sorry.

  Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but please give me a chance to explain.

  Just give me five minutes of your time.

  S x

  Up yours Sebastian. Amelia ripped the note into tiny pieces, discarding them without thought. She walked back to the entrance table and picked up the flowers and vase, making sure to get rid of those too. She didn't want any traces of him in her life, let alone her apartment.

  Who did he really think he was? Did he think sending me some cheesy flowers would make amends for what he’d put me through that evening? Making me feel like a whore, then kicking me out? Did he think I would suddenly forgive him and come running into his arms? Screw you Sebastian!

  She wiped her hands off on her jeans, hoping to further rid the thought of him from her mind. Walking back onto the terrace, she picked up her iPad and hoped to escape once more. Minutes later there was another knock on her front door.

  “Oh good Lord,” Putting her iPad down, she headed back to the front door swinging it open with irritation.

  “Hi, Miss Birkehart, looks like another delivery for you.” He walked past her and placed the bunch of flowers on the table. “I know it’s not your birthday, but it looks like it should be.”

 

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