Chapter 53 Silent Treatment
Amelia
"Jeremy?" I called out. "Jeremy, I know you're there. Can we—can we talk about this?"
No response.
His footsteps continued. Farther away. Toward the kitchen.
I heard cabinets opening. The coffee maker—the one I'd prepared before being locked, just in case he wanted it when he got home. I'd made it fresh and timed it perfectly so it would still be hot.
But I didn't hear pouring sounds. Didn't hear him drinking it.
The only sound I heard was the cabinet doors closing. Then I I heard his footsteps moving away from me.
"Jeremy!" I called again, louder this time. "Please, I need to explain—"
His footsteps stopped.
Then: "Luca."
"Yes, boss?" I heard Luca's voice from somewhere down the hall.
"I'm going out."
My chest tightened. Going out? At one-thirty AM in the morning?
"Where?" Luca asked.
"Crimson. I need a drink."
Crimson.
The bar. The private rooms. The girls.
Jade.
"Boss, are you sure that's—"
"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm telling you where I'll be." Jeremy's voice was cold. Flat. "Observe the situation here." Make sure nothing else goes wrong while I'm gone."
"Understood."
His footsteps started moving again. Moving toward the exit.
"Jeremy!" I pounded on my door with my fist. "Jeremy, please! Let me explain!"
The footsteps didn't slow. Didn't stop. They didn't even hesitate.
The east wing door opened. Closed.
He was gone.
I stood there, my hand still raised to pound on the door again, my chest tight with something that felt like panic.
He'd come home. He'd been right there. He was just on the other side of my door.
And he'd said nothing. Done nothing. Just left.
Left to go to Crimson.
To the bar where the girls worked. Where Jade would be.
Where the private rooms were.
I sank to the floor, my back against the door, and tried to breathe through the feeling rising in my chest.
He was angry. That made sense. I'd broken the rules. I'd left the estate. I'd worried him.
But this silence—this was worse than yelling. This silence was even more distressing than any physical confrontation.
This was punishment.
And going to Crimson—
My mind filled in the images I couldn't see. Jeremy was waiting at the bar. Ordering whisky. Maybe going to one of the private rooms. Maybe requesting—
No.
He wouldn't.
Would he?
Jade had wanted him that first night. Had been jealous when Marco gave me the special position. Had probably been hoping I'd never come back.
And now Jeremy was there. Angry. Drinking. Looking for—what? Distraction?
The thought made my stomach twist.
This is what jealousy felt like.
Sharp. Painful. All-consuming.
I'd felt it before, briefly, when I'd learnt about Victoria. But this was different. Worse. Because Victoria was an arrangement. A political necessity that Jeremy didn't want.
But this—going to Crimson, going to the private rooms, possibly being with Jade—
That would be his choice.
I pressed my forehead against my knees and tried to fight back tears.
This was stupid. I had no claim on him. He was my employer. My protector. Nothing more.
He could go wherever he wanted. Be with whoever he wanted.
It was none of my business.
Except it felt like it was.
Except the thought of him in one of those rooms, with one of those girls, with Jade—
It hurt.
JEREMY
I drove too fast. Didn't care. Needed to get away from that estate. Away from that wing. Away from the door I'd stood outside of, fist raised to knock, unable to force myself to do it.
Because if I'd opened that door—if I'd seen her—
I would have said things I couldn't take back. Done things I'd regret.
Demanded to know why she'd been with Alexei Volkov. Why she'd laughed for him. Why she'd looked happier with a stranger than she'd ever looked with me.
I would have demanded to know if she liked him. If she wanted him.
She would rather be with someone normal than with me.
Except she wasn't with me. She was my employee. She was under my protection. That's all.
So I had no right to be angry. No right to be jealous. No right to feel like she'd betrayed me when she'd done nothing wrong.
She'd just had coffee with a friend.
A friend who happened to be the heir to our enemy family.
A friend who was probably using her to get to me.
A friend who'd made her laugh like I never could.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
I needed a drink. I needed to be somewhere other than the estate. Somewhere I didn't have to see her. Hear her. I felt a strong pull towards her that I couldn't seem to resist.
Crimson made sense. Neutral territory. Good whisky. Private rooms where I could drink in peace.
Where I could pretend I wasn't running away from my feelings.
The bar came into view. I parked, climbed out, and headed inside.
Marco looked up from the bar, surprise crossing his face.
"Santoro. Didn't expect to see you tonight."
"Private room, please. Send the best whisky you have. Don't disturb me unless the building's on fire."
"Rough night?" Marco asked.
"Something like that." I replied, heading towards room 3.
He gestured to Nina, who appeared from the back. "Room three. Set him up."
Nina's eyes narrowed slightly. "You want company, Mr Santoro?"
"No."
"You sure? Jade's been asking about you. She says she owes you an apology for something—
"I said no." My voice was sharper than intended. "Just the whisky. Nothing else."
Nina nodded, but I caught the look she exchanged with Marco.
They knew. Everyone knew. That I was here because of—
I was here for no particular reason. Because I needed a drink. That's all.
I followed Nina to room three. The same room where I'd first kissed Amelia while drunk. Where she'd slapped me. Where everything had started.
I made a poor choice of rooms. But I was already here.
Nina set up the whisky and left without comment.
I poured. Drank. Poured again.
The video played on repeat in my mind. Amelia laughing. Smiling. Happy.
With him.
I drained the glass and reached for the bottle.
This was going to be a long night.