Chapter 5: AMELIA POV

I take a deep breath and click send.

I tap my fingers anxiously against the glass desk.

Did I do the right thing?

What if he refuses now?

I take a deep breath and calm myself down, what's the worst that could happen? He would just say no, I would have to find another company to work with and I could still get the partnership with Mr. Chopra.

Or he could agree to work with me.

In just one month, I would have to see him every day for hours upon end to make our partnership a successful one.

I don't know which one was worse.

"I did it," I confessed as I walked into Jodie's office.

"Did what?" she asked mindlessly, engrossed in her work. She paused for a minute. "Oh, you did that."

"Yup…" I didn't know what to say.

"But I thought that wasn't even an option,” she wondered.

"Well, Mr Chopra said he'll only partner with me if I get some experience soon of collaborating with another company, and I don't have time to go and find a company to work with, so I agreed to work with Kings Corp.," I explained.

"Yeah, you did." She smirked.

"Jodie," I said sternly.

"I shipped you guys the first time, and I'm going to do it again." She raised an eyebrow knowingly.

"Whatever." I roll my eyes and leave her office.

No one knew why Xavier and I got divorced. I had told everyone including Jasmine and Jodie that we just fell out of love. That's why I didn't blame Jodie for rooting for me and him again.

Deep inside I wanted it to all be false, and if no one knew the truth, then maybe it could be.

I decide to put it in the back of my mind and get some work done, but my mind couldn't concentrate on anything except what Xavier would reply with.

I hated the fact that I might have to let him back into my life.

I spent the last 4 years perfecting my life without Xavier, making my life a private haven without him, but to let him back inside was risky.

I knew it was worth it, to expand Eva Enterprises and make my mum proud. Funnily enough, the only way to do that was to work with the man who is responsible for her death. 

Whilst I'm eating lunch, alone in my office, my laptop gets an email notification.

I don't know if I want to look at it or not.

After deep personal contemplation, I open my mail tab. A breath of both annoyance and relief escapes me when I read the email.

20% off bikini wax.

I was annoyed that I didn't receive his email, I wanted to know his reply as soon as possible. At the same time, I wanted him to never reply, so I would never have to go near him.

My relief is short-lived as I hear another notification on my email pop up.

Dear Miss Davis, Mr King would be delighted to work with you, please contact him via his phone number to arrange a meeting.

He wanted me to call him?

I sit there for about 5 minutes, considering whether I want to hear his voice or not.

Groaning, I saw that it was only 3 p.m., and office hours were still open, so I took my phone and dialled the attached number.

I hesitantly press the small green phone icon to initiate the call.

It's ringing.

I feel the soft vibrations of my cell phone against my ear.

It's still ringing.

Why is he not answering?

Maybe he won't answer.

"This is Xavier King," his husky voice said.

I breathed out heavily. My mouth was suddenly dry. What should I even say?

I mentally slapped myself.

Get it together.

"Good afternoon, Mr King. It's Amelia Davis." It's all I can get out, before grabbing my water bottle to fix my dry throat.

"Good afternoon." His tone doesn't change. He's not affected by me the way I am by him.

Why would he? He's heartless.

"I'm calling to book a meeting with you regarding the partnership you proposed."

"I'm free right now," he suggested.

I had nothing better to do and I'd rather this meeting be now and get it over with than dread over it.

"Perfect. I'll see you in an hour. I've emailed you the address for Eva Enterprises," I said and hung up.

I don't know if he was expecting me to come to his office, but that was not going to happen. I was doing this for my own benefit, not for him.

An hour passed by surprisingly fast, and I soon found myself telling security to let Xavier into my office.

I see him coming in through the glass wall of my office. I stand up, fixing my dress and getting ready to greet him.

I take a deep breath, I had to be completely professional and absolutely emotionless—just like I knew he'd be.

I don't know what it was about me but, as insecure and apprehensive as I would get, it would all wash away and I would be a completely different person when other people are around.

I knew I wasn't the confident and sassy girl-boss that everyone portrayed me to be, but putting that facade on was easier than letting everyone see the real Amelia.

Three sharp knocks on my door, before the handle twists.

There he is.

Xavier King.

He was wearing an all-black suit, unsurprisingly, which allowed his Rolex to shine even more. I almost scanned him up and down.

He hasn't changed one bit since the divorce. His dark chocolate eyes are still full of hatred, his sharp jawline like a blade. And his lips.

The lips that tore me to shreds. The poison that poured out of them. 

"Good afternoon, Mr King." I put my hand forward to shake his, plastering a smile onto my face.

His hands, cold as always, make contact with mine and a slight shiver runs down my spine. My heart was banging against my chest, and I was surprised I was even breathing normally.

"I hope I'm not disrupting anything?" he asked as he took a seat opposite me, my desk separating us.

"If I had other plans, I wouldn't schedule this meeting for now," I said, raising an eyebrow. "Now, what exactly is the reason you contacted me?"

"Kings Corp. is losing money," he admitted. I was a little taken aback by his brutal honesty.

"And what exactly am I meant to do about that?" I asked, crossing my arms against my chest.

"I want you to work with me to fix it."