Chapter 99 Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Amelia placed the small envelope on the dressing table, her nails tapping against the wood as she opened it. Inside, she found a stack of photographs, all slightly blurred, all the same someone’s face caught in motion, hair dark, features indistinct. She lifted one and squinted at it, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
Brunette. That much was clear. The rest was a blur.
She held it closer, turning it this way and that, but no matter what angle she tried, nothing resolved. The edges of the face melted into shadow; the eyes were mere dark smudges. She dropped the photo back on the table with a frustrated sigh.
This wasn’t enough. Not even close.
Her phone buzzed on the side of the mirror. She swiped and saw Richard Hales’ name flashing across the screen. Her lips curled into a sharp smile. Perfect timing.
“Richard,” she said, her voice tight with irritation before he even spoke.
“Good morning, ma’am,” Richard started politely, “I just wanted to let you know ”
“The picture isn’t still clear, Richard!” Amelia cut him off, her tone sharp, almost a growl. “There’s no use! I can’t even see her face properly!”
Richard hesitated, the weight of her frustration evident even over the phone. “I’m sorry, ma’am. That’s all we could get with the limited information we have. After her name, the sources couldn’t gather more. And it was mentioned that Mr. Castellan is extremely protective of the fourth floor. That’s why so many details are hard to uncover. But I promise, in two to three days, I’ll gather more accurate information about this lady.”
Amelia’s grip tightened on the phone. She exhaled slowly, letting a cold smile creep onto her face. “Do your job, Richard. Make sure information is gathered. These blurry pictures mean nothing to me.” She tapped the photos lightly with her fingers, then flicked them into the drawer, as if discarding them would somehow discard the failure of her sources.
Richard cleared his throat. “Of course, ma’am. I’ll make this a priority ”
“Have a good day,” Amelia interrupted, cutting him off before he could continue. She ended the call and placed the phone down.
A silence hung in the room, not soft, not warm sharp, precise, calculated.
She stood in front of the mirror, eyes tracing her reflection. Her dark hair fell perfectly across her shoulders. Her makeup was immaculate, her lips curved into a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes. She poured a glass of white wine and swirled it gently, watching the liquid catch the light.
She raised the cup to her lips and took a slow sip, letting the cool taste fill her senses. Her gaze never left the mirror. She watched herself, really watched, thinking about Ethan Castellan and the new girl who had managed to slip into his life.
A part of her heart if she could call it that thumped, sharp and irritating. That part knew she had to act. She wasn’t about to let some unknown brunette take the place she believed she deserved.
Toxicity. Yes, that’s what it was. Pure, intoxicating, addictive.
Amelia set the wine down and leaned against the table, one hand pressed against the cool wood. She allowed herself a small, satisfied chuckle. Richard would deliver. He would always deliver. It was only a matter of time.
She picked up another photo from the drawer, this one slightly less blurred than the rest, but still too indistinct. She held it closer, letting her eyes wander over the shadowy features. It was enough to stir her imagination. She pictured the girl, walking in Ethan’s world, smiling, unaware of the storm that was coming. Amelia tilted her head, thinking of the power she could wield.
The thought made her pulse quicken.
If this girl thought she could just slide into Ethan’s life unnoticed, she had another thing coming. Amelia could play the game. She knew the moves, the angles, the strategies. She’d been doing it all her life. And now, she had the perfect reason: Ethan Castellan.
The girl would find out soon enough that nothing stayed hidden forever. That no secret could linger long when Amelia was determined to uncover it.
Amelia straightened up, smoothing the front of her fitted blouse. Her reflection stared back at her, confident, unbothered, and dangerous in a way that made her own lips curl. She grabbed the wine again, this time sipping slower, letting the warmth spread through her chest.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced at it but ignored it. It could wait. She didn’t need distractions. Not today. Not when she had work to do. Plans to hatch. Obstacles to eliminate.
Her fingers trailed along the edge of the drawer, lingering on the blurred photos. A smirk formed. Even in their imperfection, they were a start. A clue. She would take what she had, and in time, she’d turn it into exactly what she needed.
Tomorrow, Richard would call. And Amelia would make sure the next set of information brought her closer. She wasn’t patient, but she was persistent. Ruthless, even.
Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye again, and she smiled not warmly, not gently, but with a cold, precise satisfaction. She poured another sip of wine, watching the liquid catch the light, imagining the future she would craft.
The girl wouldn’t know what hit her.
Ethan Castellan would be hers to control, no matter what.
And that thought alone sent a shiver of satisfaction down her spine.
The photos lay in the drawer, blurred, unrecognizable but in Amelia’s mind, they were already clear. The path was visible. Every move calculated. Every obstacle accounted for.
She took one last sip of wine and placed the glass down carefully. She turned away from the mirror, walkin
g slowly toward her bedroom. She allowed herself one final glance over her shoulder, letting her reflection see the quiet fury in her eyes.
The game had begun.
And Amelia Monroe was ready.
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