A complete turn of events in which, if he knew the extent of our relationship, he’d never approve.
I’m not stupid. He taught me everything I know, and when the master himself has taught you all his tricks, you know well enough that his proposal for me to move is because he knows the secret we’ve been keeping.
The forbidden affair between his nineteen-year-old daughter and me.
My throat begins to tighten, the same time my knuckles turn white around the pen still resting in my hand. Pressing hard against the paper, the pen glides across as the blank spot above the line is filled with my signature.
Without a thought, the pen falls against the table as my head slowly lifts to the ruthless stare of the man who pulls all the strings.
The same man who Amelia chooses over me.
Her father.
Lex Edwards.
The new stakeholder in my soon-to-be billion-dollar company.
I rise from my chair without a single word and exit the boardroom. Instead of going to my office, I walk the streets aimlessly, desperate for this pain to subside. Trying to gain some sort of control over this, I head back to my apartment to pack.
Inside my living room, all I see is her. Laying on my bed, all I see is her. Everywhere I look, the memories become as painful as the next. I stomp toward the liquor cabinet, not bothering to pull out a glass and drinking straight from the tequila bottle. Desperate to numb the pain, I busy myself by packing my suitcases, standing them near the door.
Lost in my misery, there’s a knock on the door.
Still dressed in the suit I wore today, I open the door to see Amelia on the other side.
Just like me, she appears worn out, even more so than the last time I saw her. I ache to touch her face but restrain myself, willing to shield myself from further pain.
“Can I come in?”
I pull the door completely open as she walks past me, keeping her distance.
“Will,” she breathes, lowering her gaze while tugging her sleeve. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? Choosing your flesh and blood?”
Her lips press tight, still avoiding eye contact with me. “It’s too hard, we’re too hard together.”
My hands clench into fists until my head falls, hanging with a pained expression. The truth is we’re too hard together. We are tearing each other apart and fighting for something which neither one of us have the strength to fight anymore.
“I’m going to London.”
Her gaze lifts, then falls on the suitcases near the door. “You’re leaving?”
“I think it’s for the best.”
Silence falls between us, but then I allow myself to stare into her eyes one more time.
“Amelia, I never wanted to hurt you nor make you choose. But we’re at different stages in life. I can’t have you give up everything for me.”
“And I can’t have you give up everything you’ve worked hard for just for me.”
Our breathing echoes in the room, the weight of our gaze locked into a catatonic state. Neither of us blinks an eye until my hand reaches out to caress her cheek. She rests into my hand, a tear escaping her.
“Don’t say goodbye,” I tell her. “I need you to walk away.”
“But, Will…”
“I’m begging you,” I plead, struggling to control my emotions. “Please walk away to a life you deserve.”