The Trouble With Love: An Age Gap Romance (The Forbidden Love 1)

I use my words cautiously, aware that Heather is present. The last thing I need is for her to gossip with her co-workers, and it leaks to Lex.

“Amelia, Luciana.”

“How do you know each other?” Amelia blurts out rudely.

I lower my gaze but choose to be honest to avoid deception on my account.

“We dated.”

Luciana tilts her head with an overbearing smile. “We lived together a year ago.”

“You never said you lived with someone?” Amelia questions, folding her arms beneath her chest, angered by the truth.

“It slipped my mind,” I say, watching her expression shift from anger to pure rage.

Amelia storms out, the hurt evident on her face. I call her name, following through the office doors until we’re in the lobby. She presses the elevator repeatedly, desperate to get away from me. I grab her arm, willing she stop.

“Fucking hell, Amelia. What’s wrong with you? Someone could’ve seen that outburst.”

Amelia turns to me swiftly, nostrils flaring with widened eyes. “I thought you had a meeting all day?”

“I did. It ended early.”

“And you didn’t think to call me? I told you I needed to speak to you.”

“And I told you tonight.”

“But you have free time to do whatever it is you were doing with your ex-girlfriend in your office?” she accuses, raising her tone. “The girlfriend who you lived with, according to her. Must have been serious for playboy Will to commit to someone being in his bed every night.”

“Amelia, don’t start…”

“Don’t start what?” she yells, almost a cry. “I get it, okay? I’m not her. I am not a woman with my own career and money. I don’t have the freedom to do whatever the hell I want. I can’t just walk holding your hand without being questioned about our age. I’m everything that you don’t need, and everything you do need is standing inside your office, no doubt wishing you guys get back together.”

I lower my head, unsure what to say.

Just as I’m about to open my mouth to tell her how much I love her and that while some of that may be true, in the end, I only want her, the doors ping open.

We both glance at the opened elevator, and the familiar emerald-green eyes are staring directly at us.

Lex Edwards.

In the flesh.

Twenty-Nine

Amelia

My father’s eyes dart back and forth. The normally vibrant emerald-green pupils turning a darker shade as the three of us stand here inside the lobby.

“Amelia,” he demands, his tone deepening. “What are you doing here?”

“I…I…” I stumble on my words, thinking of anything, trying to rid myself of the hurt from moments ago when I caught Will and his ex-girlfriend in an overly friendly embrace. “I lost my wallet and didn’t know where to go. I had no cash on me.”

“You lost your wallet?”

“Yes, and I was upset,” I continue to lie, clearing my throat to sound more believable. “I was a few blocks over ready to meet a friend when I realized it. It must have been on the subway. I didn’t know who to turn to, so I came here.”

Dad’s expression remains blank, unreadable. If he does, in fact, suspect anything, he’s doing a great job at disguising it.