Chapter 61 The Fiance

Chapter 61 The Fiance
JEREMY
Was that what this was? This constant need to know she was safe? This your inability to let her go? This feeling like my chest was caving in when I thought about her with someone else?

"You are," Victoria said quietly, reading my face. "Cristo, Jeremy. You're in love with her."

"I don't—I'm not—"

"You are. And if I can see it, others can too." She pulled out her phone. "This is why you need to come with me right now." We have business to attend to. My family's business. You're going to be seen with me today, doing a couple of things, reminding everyone that you're still engaged, still committed to this arrangement."

"Victoria, I can't."

"You can and you will. "Do you want your father to hear about your late-night trips to Crimson with your maid?" Unless you want Antonio using this as proof that you're unfit to lead?" She headed toward the door. "Get your coat. We're leaving in five minutes."

"I need to—" I glanced down the hallway. Toward Amelia's room.

I needed to talk to her. I felt compelled to clarify the situation. Needed to—

"Whatever it is can wait," Victoria said firmly. "Business first. Personal matters later. That's the deal, Jeremy. That's always been the deal."

She was right. And I hated that she was right.

But if I refused, if I stayed here to talk to Amelia instead of going with Victoria—it would confirm everything Antonio had been saying. That I was compromised. Distracted. Weak.

I'd choose a girl over a business.

And that would put Amelia in even more danger.

"Five minutes," I said through gritted teeth. "I need to leave a message."

"Fine. I'll wait in the car." Victoria left.

I stood in the empty hallway, my hands clenched into fists.

This was exactly the wrong time.

I'd finally admitted to myself what I felt. I had planned to discuss with Amelia this morning. I wanted to tell her that my feelings from last night were not merely a result of being drunk.

And now Victoria was dragging me away to play the dutiful fiancé for appearances.

I grabbed a piece of paper from my office and wrote quickly:

Amelia: I had to leave for my business meeting. We will talk about everything from last night. I'll be back tonight. Wait for me. - J

I slid it under her door.

It wasn't enough. Wasn't nearly enough.

But it would have to do.

I grabbed my coat and headed outside to where Victoria's car waited.

She was in the back seat, already on her phone, looking annoyed.

I climbed in beside her. "Where are we going?"

"We're going to the Castellano estate, where my father wants to discuss the merger terms with our families. You need to be there, looking engaged and committed, and you must not be distracted by a blind girl."

The car started moving.

I looked back at the estate. At the east wing. The windows overlooked Amelia's room.

She'd be waking up soon. She would find my note and wait for me.

She would wonder what I meant last night.

And I wouldn't be there to explain.

"Stop looking so tragic," Victoria said without looking up from her phone. "This is what we signed up for. Public appearances. Family obligations. Maintaining the facade."

"I know."

"Do you? Because lately, it seems like you've forgotten." She finally looked at me. "I'm not your enemy, Jeremy. I want this arrangement to work as much as you do. But you need to get your priorities straight. Figure out what you want. Figure out if you can have it without destroying everything."

"And what if I can't?"

"Then you make a choice: Her or the Family. Love or duty. Freedom or power." She turned back to her phone. "But you don't get both. No one does."

I stared out the window as we drove away from the estate.

Away from Amelia and from the conversation we needed to have.

Victoria was right. I needed to figure this out. Needed to decide what I wanted. Needed to find a way to have Amelia without compromising my position.

Or I needed to let her go.

The thought made my chest tight.

Let her go? Will I let her go after last night? after I finally admit my feelings?

No.

I couldn't and wouldn't.

I'd find a way. Some way. I needed to secure her presence, ensure her safety, and uphold my status.

There had to be a way.

AMELIA

I woke to silence.

For a moment, I was disoriented. Then the memories began to flood back.

Last night. Jeremy's room. The kiss.

Oh God. The kiss.

My face burnt with the memory. My lips still tingled. I could still feel his hands on me, his mouth on mine, and the weight of him pressing me into the mattress.

And I'd stopped it. Told him we should wait. I expressed my desire for him to be sober.

Had I made the right choice? Or had I ruined everything?

I sat up and ran my hands through my hair.

Jeremy had said he'd remember. He had assured me that he wouldn't regret it.

But what if—

I needed to talk to him. I was eager to find out if the events of last night had brought about any changes. I wanted to know if his words held true.

I got dressed quickly. I swiftly made my way down the hallway to the kitchen. However, the kitchen was empty, so I walked down to Jeremy's room.

I knocked softly. "Jeremy?"

No answer.

I tried the handle. Locked.

He was already gone. Left for work, probably.

Disappointment crashed through me.

I'd thought—I'd hoped—

That he'd want to talk about this as much as I did. That he'd be here when I woke up. That we'd figure this out together.

But he was gone.

Maybe that was my answer. Maybe last night had been nothing but drunk impulse after all. Maybe in the cold light of morning, he'd realized it was a mistake and—

I heard paper crinkling under my foot.

I bent down and felt along the floor. Someone must have slid a folded piece of paper under my door, I discovered.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone, activated the camera, took a picture of the paper, and used my text-recognition app to read it.

Amelia: - 'Had to leave for business. We need to talk. About last night. About everything. I'll be back tonight. Wait for me. - J'

My breath caught.

We need to talk.

Wait for me.

Relief flooded through me so intensely I had to sit down on my bed.

He hadn't left because he regretted it. He'd left because of business.

And he'd be back tonight.

Tonight, we'd talk. Figure out what this meant. Where we went from here.

I lay back on my bed, clutching the note, and tried to calm my racing heart.

Last night, I'd kissed Jeremy Santoro.

And tonight, we'd face what that meant.

Whatever came next, I am not sure

I am ready for that.

But I was willing.

And maybe that was enough.

JEREMY

The Castellano estate meeting dragged on for hours.

Merger terms. Territory agreements. Financial arrangements. Strategic alliances.

These are the tedious yet essential tasks involved in preserving the power of the Family.

And all I could think about was Amelia waking up alone and finding my note.

"Jeremy? Did you hear me?" Victoria's father, Don Castellano, looked at me expectantly.

"I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

Victoria shot me a look. Focus.

I forced myself to pay attention. I made sure to nod at the appropriate moments. To ask intelligent questions.

But inside, I was counting the hours until I could go home.

Until I could see Amelia.

I didn't know what we were doing together. I didn't know how to make this work. Didn't know if we could survive in my world.

But I knew I wanted to try.