Chapter 24

Chapter 24
Amelia held the stack of files close to her body and she was gripping them at their side as she sped down the hallway. Because of all the traffic in the morning Dominic had told her to go get these papers from the records department. She did not want to get back to his office in the afternoon when he would get annoyed. When she turned a corner she saw a brick and took a step back.

Papers flew high into the air then were spread out on the polished floor like fallen leaves, and Amelia screamed, trying to get her balance back to the table before the paper that she had carefully wrapped herself in a second ago was now shredding in pieces, sending another burning voice through the air.

"Blind... or just stupid? " Morgan grunted, crossing her arms to look down at Amelia.

It took her a second to blink again, to not even notice why Morgan suddenly appeared outside, and nearly ran into her. Her heart raced.

“I–I am sorry, ” she whispered, already bending down to pick up the papers on the floor.

Morgan snorted. "Sorry? That won't change your clumsiness. You must be paying attention where you go. Or is it you're way overjoyed chasing things that don't even belong to you?

Amelia, all shaky and tense in her reach, the hands holding the paper close and steady at hand. The eyebrows furrowed in confusion at what Morgan was saying - what was she saying that it was not hers? What was she trying to say?

She raised an eyebrow to meet Morgan's eyebrows piercing. "I don't know what you are talking about. "

Morgan laughed in a morbid, unintentionally funny way and took another step. "Oh, do not play innocent. I see what you are doing. Playing to be sweet and shy but behind it all you are just like everyone else, desperate for what is not yours.

Amelia slowly sucked in, trying to stay calm. She was ill prepared for anything Morgan was playing.

"I just don't have the time for all of this, " she grunted, pulling her hair back with one hand and turning off Amelia's noise.

Morgan was certainly not done yet, though. She also stooped down as well, but only to be sure Amelia could hear what was going to come out of her mouth.

"Dominic," she said quietly, a smile twisting her lips. "You think no one notices the way he looks at you? The way he behaves when he's around you? You're dreaming if you think that means something."

Amelia bristled. A wave of heat ran up her neck.

"Dom is my boss," she asserted, getting a hold on her anger. "Whatever you're attempting to imply, it's not necessary."

Morgan laughed cynically. "Oh, honey. You think it's work? Men like him don't change unless there's a motive. And women like you? You're always the motive."

A lump had formed in Amelia's throat, but she resisted Morgan. She stood upright, the pile of papers clutched to her chest.

"If you've got a problem with me, just let me know directly instead of making indirect insults," she said to him, speaking quietly. "Otherwise, I'd appreciate it if you could just leave me to do my job."

Morgan stood up too, tilting her head. "Oh, I don't have a problem with you," she replied, brushing an imaginary speck off her sleeve. "I just wanted you to get where you are."

Amelia met her eyes. "And where is that, exactly?"

Morgan smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Somewhere far below men like Dominic Anderson. You might do well to remember that."

Amelia's fingers tightened on the files, but she refused to let her anger show. Without a word, she turned on her heel and strode away, refusing to acknowledge the smug look on Morgan's face.

The tension did not leave her body until she was almost in front of Dominic's office. She remained outside the door, taking a deep breath, forcing herself to shake off the encounter. She had work to do. Morgan's words didn't matter.

At least, that's what she told herself.



In the office, Dominic was sitting at his desk, tapping his fingers nervously against the surface as he glanced at the clock. When Amelia came in, his sharp gaze darted to her before he could have spoken, only for his expression to change ever so slightly.

She appeared to be shaken.

"Where were you?" he growled, speaking flatly but aggressively.

Amelia flashed a forced smile onto her face as she laid the files onto his desk. "I met up with… somebody."

Dominic's eyebrow shot up. "Someone?"

She paused, then nodded. "It's nothing. Just an accident."

Dominic didn't believe her. He leaned back in his chair, wrapping his arms around him as he gazed at her. "Was it Morgan?"

Amelia's breath caught a fraction of a second before she convincingly covered it with a laugh. "Why would you think that?"

His jaw tightening. "Because I've seen the way people like her work. She doesn't want what she can't control, and you? You're something she can't get into."

Amelia swallowed hard. She didn't like that he had no trouble getting under her so easily, sensing even the smallest of shifts in her expressions.

"It's okay," she said at last. "It was just words."

Dominic's eyes turned dark. "Words have a way of hurting, Amelia. Don't let her get under your skin."

She nodded, though she wasn't sure it was entirely genuine. "I won't."

There was a moment of silence between them before Dominic let out a sigh. "Alright. Go back to work."

Amelia headed to do so, but as she reached the door, Dominic spoke up again.

"Amelia."

She froze, turning back over her shoulder.

"Next time, if something happens, let me know."

There was something determined in his tone, something that almost resembled concern. Amelia's hand on the doorknob tightened.

"Alright," she breathed before she walked away.

When she turned back, Morgan's words continued to linger at the back of her mind. But somehow, so did Dominic's.