“And so, Mr. Romano, as you can see on this chart, our company has a lot to offer.”
Staring blankly at the screen, I blink my eyes to break the trance I find myself in… again. Fuck! What the hell did he say? Not wanting to come off like an idiot, I demand a break.
“I need to make a phone call.”
Without waiting for an answer, I storm out of the room and back into the solitude of my office. The glass windows surround me, a view of Brooklyn Bridge not too far in the distance. The city is busy, the usual peak-hour hustle as commuters rush home.
Pacing up and down, I clench my fists, willing to rid myself of these thoughts.
She’s too young.
Immature, obviously, by her dig at my sex life.
And she’s Lex and Charlie’s daughter.
But the minute I stepped into that elevator, something drew me toward her. I’m used to seeing women in the building dressed in corporate wear and flashing any piece of skin they can get away with. It often ranges from younger women, interns in their twenties, to sexier, more confident women, aged yet mature in their demeanor.
Not this girl though.
She appears different.
I didn’t catch her eyes, only the supple pink lips which often sighed when she stared at her phone. There was an innocence to her, and perhaps it was that which left me curious as to why she ended up in my building.
Assuming it was an interview, I found it highly inappropriate to wear Chucks, yet admired her fashionable choice in wardrobe on this exceptionally warm fall day. Nevertheless, I’d never allow hiring someone dressed in such attire. I pride myself in recruiting a professionally presented workforce, and Chucks aren’t part of the dress code.
Then I find her in my office, and the second she spun around, those emerald-green eyes did something I can’t explain. I couldn’t breathe like I’d been punched in the chest, which has happened to me during several boxing matches. The exact feeling stays with you, almost as if you’re close to death because you can’t perform the simple act of breathing.
But there’s nothing to do but ignore it, blame all of it on Lex after he got into my head about being alone.
And the irony—his daughter is the one consuming my head.
When we sat inside my office, she struggled to make any conversation with me worth my attention, giving me too much opportunity to examine her. My memory can’t recall the last time I’d seen her, only snippets of our childhood and the way she’d taunt me with her overbearing ways.
Yet, she’s turned into a beautiful woman, one I didn’t expect to see sitting on the white leather chair across from me. Amelia’s face has changed, slimmed out with her features more defined, including her cheekbones. Her hair is shorter and a different color, offering a more mature style than the waist-length hair I remember she always had in pigtails.
But it was her quiet, rather introverted attitude, which puzzles me the most. As a child, she was a boisterous daredevil, nothing at all like her sister, the Little Miss Precious, Ava. She dared me to jump out of trees and tested me in the pool with ridiculous races she’d have us compete in. And the little girl who would demand my attention on my family trips to California had soon become the bane of my existence.
Shaking my head, I push the thoughts out of my mind and send a text to Elisha—a woman who offers a great fuck whenever I need it. Within seconds, she responds eagerly with an open invitation to her place tonight.
There. Done.
This will bring me back to reality.
As the afternoon drags on, so do my rampant thoughts. By the time everyone leaves the boardroom, I’ve abandoned Elisha’s invitation. Although I had prompted it, I decide to head over to my parents’ place, needing a good old pep talk from Dad, who’ll knock some sense into me about staying single and fucking whomever I please.
I punch the code, opening the door, and yell out to my parents.
“Will?” Mom responds, unsure, as I walk through the apartment toward the kitchen.
“Yeah, it’s me, is Dad around—”
My words fall flat, stopping at the dining room as emerald-green eyes feast upon me. Fuck.
“I’m glad you’re here, come join us. Beau is visiting your grandparents,” Mom offers, opening a seat beside Amelia.
Amelia’s eyes widen until she drops her face quietly, not saying a word. Huh, interesting from Miss Keep-Your-Dick-in-Check Edwards. Curiosity overcomes me as I accept my mom’s offer and take a seat beside her. Her body almost stiffens, making this all the more fun.
“Amelia tells us that she visited you today?”
“Yes,” I say, taking a sip of the wine Mom poured, though eyeing the beer Dad has in his hand. Would it be wrong of me to ask for something stronger? Perhaps, something hard like shots of Patrón, an excellent way to rid myself of this unwarranted feeling.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” Dad chuckles with his ridiculous grin. “You’re going to drive all the college boys crazy, just like your mother.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Uncle Rocky,” she answers politely.
Mom slides the dishes over to me, and almost instantly, I recognize all the food from the Chinese restaurant across the street. Mom’s hectic work schedule means she often has little time to cook. I don’t blame her as I order take-out more than I care to admit. It was only Dad who complained, which always prompts an argument between them. How they’re still married is beyond me. Dad can be a dick, and quite frankly, Mom can be a bitch. They are like fire and gasoline, a deadly combination.
“How are you enjoying college life?” Mom asks.
“I love it, to be honest. Homesick at times, but aside from that, I’m enjoying being in New Haven. It’s a beautiful place.”
“Yale had the most wicked parties.” Dad whistles, digging his fork into his chicken like the caveman he is. “Do you remember that one when the cops were called, and you and I were—”
“Jesus, Dad, please don’t continue that sentence.”
My mom purses her lips, hiding her smile. I take it back, I know why they are still together, and lord knows I don’t need any details. On more than one occasion, Dad has used the word kinky, and I demanded he stop talking, especially because it involves my mother.
“I hope you’re enjoying the social aspects. It’s good to have a well-rounded college experience. A college boyfriend isn’t so bad, either.”
“I’m kind of… well, seeing someone.”
My ears perk up, though I keep my gaze fixated on the plate in front of me. She’s beautiful. Of course, she has a boyfriend. This is what you do in college—date and fuck around.
“Oh, from Yale?”
“Actually, no, he attends John Hopkins.”
“How did you meet?” Mom continues. “John Hopkins isn’t exactly close.”
“Back in LA, we… uh… decided to continue our relationship.”
I don’t know why this information bothers me. A stupid high school crush means nothing. And she’s a fool to think she can keep a guy from screwing the girls knocking on his door. What do you care, anyway?
“Well, take it from us, young love can turn into a lifetime. I’m sure your parents can say the same.”
Great, now they just contradicted my entire thought process.
The rest of the conversation revolves around college. My input is required here and there. Dad steers the conversation to work, which raises the topic of hiring a new assistant. For fuck’s sake, why does everyone feel the need to entertain themselves with my goddamn business? This is beyond a joke now.
“I’m sure Amelia can handle the adult conversation,” Dad says, placing his fork down. “Son, sometimes you have to think with your head and not your dick. These women, not worth the quick fuck. What you need now is someone to make your head spin. The kind of woman you can’t stop thinking about.”
“I hate to agree with your father.” Mom grins, which is unusual for her. “When you find that woman, Will, nothing else in the world will matter.”
“Okay, so thanks for the pep talk,” I mumble, rolling my eyes of boredom. “This is exactly why I keep my personal life private and avoid your invitations to dinner.”
“You don’t want to knock up some hussy,” Dad tells me.
“Jesus, Dad. Give me some fucking credit.”
Beside me, Amelia has lowered her head, though from the corner of my eye, I can see a smile playing on her lips.
“Let me guess… you have something to add to this?” I question her.
“It’s late,” Amelia replies, checking her phone. “I should catch the train back.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort. Rocky, drive her back.”
“Of course.” Dad wipes his mouth, pushing his chair back to find his keys.
“I’ll take her,” I offer, all eyes falling on me, including Amelia’s, who isn’t shy in hiding her annoyed expression.
“Even better.” Dad winks, sitting back down and sliding the tray of chicken toward him.
Amelia says goodbye to my parents, agreeing to come back and visit soon. On the elevator ride down to the parking garage, other residents occupy the space making a conversation less than appealing.
My black Mercedes is parked in the corner, away from everyone else. As we enter the car, I expect her to say thank you or some sentiment worthy of a conversation starter, but nothing of the sort while I speed out of the city and fly down the I-95. The drive is quiet and unsure of what to say, I want to pry more into this whole boyfriend thing—the subject alone piquing my curiosity.
“So, does your dad know about your boyfriend?”
She clears her throat, avoiding my gaze. “Not exactly. He knows of him and that we dated in high school. Why do you ask?”
“Just surprised you lie to him.”
Her face turns to meet mine. “I don’t lie to him. I merely save that information for myself. It’s not like he asked me about it, so, therefore, no lying.”
“John Hopkins is far. What kind of a relationship is that, anyway?”
“One that’s none of your business.”
Her frustrated tone is obvious like she seems bothered to be in my presence.
“You better be careful,” I warn her, without a smile. “If your dad finds out, all hell will break loose.”
“I’m nineteen next week. I live across the country. He can say all he wants. He can’t expect me to stay celibate forever,” she responds with more bite than before. “And anyway, why do you care about what my dad thinks? If I have to fight my dad to be with someone I care deeply about, then so be it, I will.”
I almost laugh at the notion. No one goes up against Lex.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s like you haven’t met Lex Edwards.”
“As long as I’m with someone who respects me, I believe my father will be fine. Not some playboy like you who would break a girl’s heart with so much joy.”
“Ouch, so you think I’m a playboy?”
“Let’s just say I’ve heard Mom and Aunt Nikki talk, plus that dinner conversation sums it up to a tee. You’re no saint, which probably explains the revolving door of assistants. Mr. Bigshot, a CEO, can’t commit. It’s all too familiar, according to them.”
“I see.” I nod with a smirk. “I’m the son your father never had.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”
“You hear a lot of things, but hearsay isn’t always the truth.”
I glance over, noting her arms crossed in defiance. “My dorm is just over there. And you know what, I don’t care. Fuck whoever you want. It’s your life.”
“Well, you seem to care since you keep bringing it up? You seem to be bothered that I like to fuck beautiful women.”
“Trust me. I don’t care. I find it entertaining, but since we’re here, thanks for the ride, Will. I have no idea why you had to torture yourself by taking me home, unless, of course, you’re hoping to prowl the campus looking for a damsel in distress needing to be rescued?”
“You know what?” I growl, frustrated at her assumptions. “You’re just as annoying as you were when we were kids.”
“Yeah, and you’re just as arrogant.”
I let out a huff. “Well, are you going to get out? According to you, I have someone’s bed to be in.”
She shakes her head with a knowing grin before exiting the car. “Goodbye, Will, a pleasure as always. Remember to be safe… no glove, no love.”
The door slams, the same time I fall back onto the seat, annoyed with the entire night.
I just have to pretend this never happened. If Lex asks me to check on her, I’ll tell him I’m busy with work. Surely, he should understand that.
Yes, work, a distraction I need at this moment to ignore my bothered thoughts and rid myself of Amelia Edwards.
Once again, the bane of my existence.
