I took my chances when I planned for Amelia to meet me back in Magnolia Hills for dinner to talk about the help she needed. My hunch proved correct, though, when she didn’t even argue meeting me at the Allister Estate. It was a gamble but also very telling. Whatever she needs from me tonight, must be important, and I plan to use whatever is in my power to help her get what she wants. I need her to see me as the person who can give her anything.
A quick glance at my watch reminds me that she will be here any minute. Provided she hasn’t chickened out.
“Why are we here?” Her voice catches me off guard, and I turn to find her. There is a flash of hurt in her eyes, quickly followed up with confusion.
“We’re having dinner,” I tell her, walking up to her and lacing her arm through mine. Her head tips back to look at me. Gone are her usual high heels, making our height difference really noticeable. Amelia isn’t dressed for business; she looks relaxed in dark jeans and a cream sweater.
“At the estate?”
I shake my head and start guiding her around the house and to the back, where the path will eventually lead us to where we are having dinner. Amelia is quiet, but I feel her fingers clutching my arm tighter, the farther down the path we go. When the willow tree comes into view along with the table and chairs set beside it, her feet falter.
“Zander…”
“There is a packet on the table for you. It has everything you will need. Have dinner with me and you can take the packet.” I lean down to look at her. Those sea-colored eyes are stormy, with hints of distrust floating in them. Her top teeth sink into her bottom lip while she thinks of a way to run. I can see her mind scrambling and wavering between fear and need. True, it was an asshole move to have her meet me here, when I could have taken her to a restaurant in the city, but I wanted Amelia to myself. I wanted her at the place we met, the place we reconnected, and hopefully, it will be the place we can finally let the past rest. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m not letting Amelia leave here tonight without rewriting my name on her heart.
Amelia moves with me, and even though her gaze looks zoned out, she makes it to the table. I pull a chair out for her to sit in and, true to my word, a black envelope sits between us. Grabbing the pizza box, I open the top and set it down, before removing the lid from the cheese bread she loves.
Amelia’s eyes me. “Pizza and champagne?”
I glance at her smugly. “Didn’t you just tell Forbes Magazine that you always celebrate with a bottle of rose champagne and pizza?”
“You’re reading news articles about me?” Her cheeks flush, and she looks away from the intensity I know I’m studying her with.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, and I am so damn proud of you. I made a lot of mistakes, Amelia, but I’m not stupid. If you can forgive me and let me in, I won’t hurt you this time.”
Silence hangs in the air for a second, before she turns to me again with a small smile. “Can we talk business first and then revisit about how proud you are of me?”
“Tell me what’s going on.” I follow her lead and pour her a glass of champagne.
Amelia inhales and glances around, almost as if she expects reporters to pop out of the bushes. I’m reminded again of the turn her life is taking and that the paparazzi is part of her new normal. “I was approached by a potential client, who is not yet legally able to make her own decisions. Her birthday is next week, and she wants to sign with me, but her previous label is Big Notes Entertainment. I’d for sure be putting a target on my back, but also, I think her guardian hasn’t been doing things in her best interests. She just seemed so…lonely. I could see it on her like a blanket. I know I’d be overstepping ethically and that BNE could destroy me. I need legal advice, and I need protection for myself and my business, in case things go bad.”
It’s cute how she thinks I’d let anyone hurt her. “I’ve heard the same rumbling for a year or so now that Ocean was being controlled by her uncle.”
She turns wide eyes to me. “I didn’t give you a name.”
“You didn’t have to. I make it my business to know everything going on in the companies I compete with and have business with. Big Notes Entertainment happens to be one of them, and they are known for shady contracts, but no one can prove it.” As I explain, her shoulders start to lose their tension.
“I want to help her. And not because of her Princess of Pop title. She genuinely looked hopeless when she cornered me. I’ve done some digging, but I’m scared to do too much. Tabbi has been repeatedly refreshing social media, just to make sure she wasn’t caught coming to see me.” Amelia divulges everything. I wonder if she’s even aware of how much trust she is putting in me right now.
“You need a lawyer then because of her contract?” I tilt my head and reach for the envelope.
Amelia finally grabs some pizza, taking a bite before she answers me, “There’s a time frame of when her contract ends with BNE that overlaps with her turning eighteen. She made this window of time sound super-sensitive. I need someone who can verify this, and fight it, should BNE ever come back and say anything. I have no doubt BNE will not let her go without a fight, unless I make sure all my Ts are crossed.” She drinks half her champagne glass in one-go while I contemplate what she’s told me.
“This is a list of names of a few attorneys specializing in music and entertainment. They’re all women. I highlighted who I think is the best, personally, but you can look at all of them. I know York gave you names before, but this list is a little more cut-throat. They focus more on contracts and specifics to endorsements and deals.” I slide her the envelope. “As far as finding out about her existing contract, I can help with that and get a copy.”
Amelia freezes, her pizza a few centimeters away from her lips, her gaze flying back to mine. “And what do you want in return this time for that favor?”
I grin wickedly. “Dinner.”
Amelia sighs and sits back in her chair, while setting the pizza down on her plate. “Zander, the band is very busy. I am all over the East coast right now, then we’re making one stop in Atlanta before heading back to New Zealand. I can’t just stop and fly back to Magnolia Hills whenever you want me to for dinner.”
“I never said you had to fly back here. Dinner can be anywhere, at any time. I’m not trying to stop you from your business, Amelia, I’m just giving you my terms of the deal.” I shrug my shoulders, pretending to be playing it cool.
“Why?” Her fingers come up to her temples. “Do you get why this is all so hard for me? I don’t know if I believe your feelings have changed for me.”
“Amelia, if I had known ahead of time that you were going to enter that meeting and end our marriage contract, I would have stopped you. Things had already ended with Carrigan a year before then, but I’ll be honest, we were over long before that. We got engaged because I felt like we had to do so. Nothing about that relationship made sense, and I didn’t realize it until it was over. I wanted to find you right away, but York convinced me to take some time because of how shitty we were to you. I took the time to think things over, and all I thought about was what was missing. You are what I was missing. Yes, you’ve changed, and it’s fun as fuck seeing those changes and getting to know you again. But you’re also the same deep down and that is the girl who was my friend. I know I hurt you, and I’m trying to make up for it,” I tell her, my body leaning into the table.
She shakes her head, the pink curls in her hair swaying with the motion. “I’m not sure if you can.”
“Let me try.” My hand slips over the table and takes hers. I get to my feet and pull her up with me. Amelia stands, but she’s hesitant. “I want to be the one you come to when you need help. I want to solve all your problems for you and be there to celebrate when good things happen. You’re busy. I’m busy too, but I will always put you first, Amelia. Let me prove it to you. Stop ignoring me, stop running, let me catch you, so I can show you that we’re meant to be together. I hated that contract. I hated my grandfather. Now I think the only good thing he ever did for me was arranging a marriage for us. I fucked up back then. I know better now. I want to be with you, not because of our families, or our family’s companies, or out of guilt. I just need you.”
My arms wind around her waist and pull the front of her body to my chest. Amelia’s face turns up to mine and fat, crocodile tears run down her cheek. One of my hands tangles in the curls of her hair and the other cups her face, fingers brushing away the tears. I need her closer. My lips touch her eyelids, her nose, and her cheeks before I rest my forehead to hers. It takes everything in me to stop from pressing my lips to hers and driving her back into the tree, so I can let my hands roam all over her. She needs time, though. I laid a lot on her, and Amelia always needs to think. Plus, she has a plane to catch in two hours that is taking her back East.
I pull back, my eyes searching hers, looking for her feelings, while letting her search mine for my truths. The only way I will get her back is by showing her that things will be different, that I will be better. I drop one last kiss to her forehead, and her eyes close. When they flutter open again, I see it. Some of her walls disintegrate with the look she gives me. It’s progress. Her heart wants to forgive me, wants to give itself to me, but her brain is still holding her back. Luckily, I have time and thousands of frequent flyer miles.
“I’ll walk you up to your car. I don’t want you to miss your plane.”
Amelia nods. “What about the rest of the food?”
“You can take it with you. Eat on your way or before you go through security.” I grab the box and hand her the envelope. Amelia stashes the envelope in her purse and goes to grab the pizza box, but I intercept her hand, holding it in my own. Her brow rises. I don’t give her an explanation, I just take her with me back up the path to the front of the house. I don’t let go of her hand the entire way, and this time, she doesn’t try to pull away. See, Progress.
When we get to her rental car, I stop and pull her into my arms again. Amelia’s body rests against mine until I can feel her heartbeat in her chest. I bite back a groan of appreciation, and let my head rest on top of hers. It kills me to let her go. We made some steps forward tonight but time and distance can change things. Amelia isn’t secure in us yet. I might have taken down a few of her walls today, but there is still much ground to cover.
“Call me when you get back?” I ask, hoping she can give me that. She nods her head, her hair brushing against my cheek and the stubble of my five o’clock shadow. She steps out of my arms and turns to the car, keeping her eyes averted.
“Amelia.” I reach for her arm, and grab it gently, turning her to look at me.
She has tears in her eyes again, her cheeks turning pink. “I’m okay. I’ll be fine.”
“Baby…”
“I’m just…this is a lot, and now, I have to go and,” she catches her breath, her body shuddering, “I’ll let you know when I land.”
I try to reach for her again, but she closes the car door on me. I step back, willing to let her leave because she’s upset. My hands tuck into my front pockets. Amelia gives me a watery smile before cruising down the driveway. The minute her taillights disappear, my phone is out. I need to arrange some things in my schedule because there is no way I can let her be gone for long, still feeling so unsure.
“Katie, we need to change everything next week to this week…”
