CHAPTER 26—XAVIER POV

Her eyes roll in annoyance at whoever knocked the door. She huffs irritably, buttoning up her top and takes long strokes to the office door.

"Didn't I say I don't want to be disturb—" Her words stopped, and she gasped softly when she saw who was at the door.

"Amelia, I am so sorry. I tried really hard—" Her assistant runs to the door and begins apologizing.

She holds her hand up, stopping her from talking. "It's fine, Jodie. I'll deal with it."

She nods, peering over Amelia's shoulder she sees me. She waves sheepishly to me in which I just respond my nodding.

"What are you doing here?" Amelia asked whoever was at the door. I can't see, the door has blocked my view.

I could see her though. Her face was all of a sudden hard and uninviting. You wouldn't be able to tell that she was just kissing me a moment ago.

"Can't I come visit my daughter?" he asked, voice soft.

Why is Amelia's father here?

She furrows her eyebrows at him.

His shoulder brushes against hers as he walks into the office. His eyes widen a little when he real I'm here as well.

"Oh, perfect. My son-in-law is here too,” he said.

Son-in-law?

I was about to correct him when— "What do you want?" Amelia cut off whatever he was about to say.

"I just want to talk to you." He looks at her with sadness in his eyes.

"Liar. You need something?" Her voice is so cold, it's like she's a different person now.

"Well," he began, "I-I'm in a bit of a predicament, and I need money to get out of it." He said it so shamelessly.

I involuntarily rolled my eyes. I knew what it was like to have family come to me just for money.

"I fucking knew it," she mumbled under her breath. She seemed almost disappointed that he didn't want to just talk to her.

"It’s just a little bit," he began.

"I'm not giving you anything," she said fiercely.

"Come on…" he almost whined like a child. "My daughter is a billionaire, and so is her husband. You can spare fourteen thousand dollars for your dad."

"Xavier and I got divorced," she said.

"What?" He looked genuinely surprised. He turned to me, and I nodded my head to confirm.

"Yeah, you actually have to be in your daughter's life to know that," she said sarcastically.

"When was this?" he asked.

"That's none of your concern. Besides, money is not the reason—I could write you a check of fourteen billion if I wanted to," she said proudly.

"I know things aren't the best between us," he said.

"Not the best?" She was angry. "You left me after mom died, and then the next time I saw you was when my best friend had to hunt you down for my wedding," she yelled. That was why he seemed so familiar: he was at the wedding. She carried on, "You could’ve made things right at the wedding, but you didn't, so I have no reason to help you."

"Amelia!" He raised his voice, but she seemed unfazed. "I am your father. I need you to respect me."

She glares at him before walking to her desk, she pulls open a drawer and takes out what looks like her check book.

Taking a pen, she scribbled something down and walked back to her dad.

"Here." She threw the paper into his hands. "That's one hundred thousand dollars. I'm paying you to get the hell out of my life. I had to tolerate you at my wedding, but I'm never doing it again." I thought his he would be a little upset at least but his eyes are glittering with excitement as he eyes the check. "If I ever see you again, you'll have to pay me every penny back."

He nods, not taking his eyes off the check and leaves her office.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I knew she was holding back tears.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." She laughed nervously.

"It's fine. I know what that's like," I empathized with her.

She walked up to me, swinging her arm around my neck. "Where were we?"

She placed soft kisses on my neck, and as much as I wanted to give in, I knew that I shouldn't. She just basically told her dad to leave her life.

"Amelia." I take a step back "We shouldn't be doing this right now."

"And why not?"

"Are you sure you aren't doing this to feel better after what just happened?" I raise an eyebrow.

She's about to respond but slumps her shoulders. "You're right." She sighs.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked cautiously. We weren't exactly friends, but I wanted to help if I can.

"He's my dad." Her voice cracked. "I thought he'd at least apologize. I mean, I haven't seen him in 4 years."

"Family can be shit." I laughed humourlessly. I had the most experience in crazy family members.

There was an awkward silence after I said that but then she does something I never expected.

She hugs me.

Her arms around my neck, head rested on my shoulder and body pressed against mine.

I wrap my arms around her, breathing in her sweet scent.

This is what I wanted.