Chapter 58 The Company
AMELIA
Nina's presence was both a relief and an embarrassment.
It was a relief because she finally had someone to talk to. Someone familiar. Someone who wasn't Jeremy.
An embarrassment because Nina clearly knew something was wrong. Could see the tension. The awkwardness.
It's likely that Jeremy brought me here as a form of punishment. Lesson? Proof of a point?
"I thought you left Crimson for good," Nina said quietly. "When Antonio took you, I figured—I don't know. I figured you'd gotten away. Found something better."
"I did. Sort of." I kept my voice low. "I'm working for the Santoros now. As a personal maid."
"For Jeremy?" Nina's voice held surprise.
"Yes."
There was a moment of silence. "And tonight? This is—what? A night out?" Nina asked.
"Something like that," I answered.
"Doesn't look like you're having much fun."
"I'm not. I mean—" I stopped. Started again. "I wanted to get out of the estate. I asked to come along. But now I'm here and I'm just sitting. While he drinks. And I can't leave or go anywhere or do anything because of the rules."
"What rules?"
"Stay by his side. Don't wander. Don't talk to anyone." I heard Jeremy shift in his chair—listening. "He's making a point, I think. Showing me that getting out isn't the freedom I thought it would be."
"That's harsh," Nina said sympathetically.
"That's Jeremy."
Nina was quiet for a moment. Then: "You know, when you worked here, I always wondered if there was something between you two. The way he looked at you. The way he came back night after night just to sit in the same room you served."
My chest tightened. "There's nothing between us."
"You sure about that?"
"He's my employer. I'm his maid. That's all."
"If you say so," Nina replied, though she didn't sound convinced. "But girl, from where I'm sitting? The way he's watching you right now, even while pretending to ignore you? That's not how someone looks at their maid."
I turned my face toward where Jeremy was sitting. "He's watching me?" I asked.
"Has been since I sat down. Like he's trying to figure something out." Nina leaned closer and dropped her voice. "Want my advice? Stop playing games with each other. Whatever this relationship is—employee and employer, protection and gratitude, whatever you want to call it—it's clearly more than that. And dancing around it is just making you both miserable."
"It's not." I lied.
"It is. Trust me. I've worked here long enough to recognise tension when I see it." Nina stood up, ready to leave. "I'll leave you two to work it out. But Amelia? If you're going to be stubborn, at least be honest about what you're being stubborn about."
She left before I could respond.
The door closed.
The weight of what Nina had said weighed heavily on me.
He's observing you intently right now.
Was he? Still?
I turned toward where I thought he was sitting. "Jeremy?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I apologise for pressuring you to bring me, as well as for blocking the door. I paused for a moment. "Sorry for making this harder than it needs to be."
There was a prolonged silence. Then: "I'm sorry too. I apologise for bringing you here solely to make a point. For being—" He stopped. "For being an arsehole."
Despite everything, I almost smiled. "You were kind of an arsehole."
"I know," he admitted.
"But I was a brat as well," I said.
"Can we go home now?" I asked quietly. "I think I've learnt my lesson about demanding to come along."
"What lesson?"
"That sometimes staying in the cage is better than getting out just to find a smaller one."
He was quiet for a moment. Then: "Come on. Let's get you back to the estate."
His hand found my elbow. Gentle. I no longer felt angry.
We left room three together. We strolled through the bar area together. Climbed into the car where Luca and Nico waited.
The drive back was silent.
But it felt different. Less hostile. More—resigned. Like we'd both fought a battle and neither of us had won.
We'd just tired each other out.
And maybe that was all we could manage right now.
Complicated and stubborn.
The car ride back was quiet.
Jeremy sat beside me in the back seat, close enough that I could feel the heat of him, but he didn't speak. Didn't move much. Just existed in the space next to me.
I thought he was brooding. Processing. Maybe regretting bringing me to Crimson.
I didn't realise he was drunk.
Not until the car pulled through the estate gates and stopped at the east wing entrance.
"We're here, boss," Luca said from the front seat.
I heard Jeremy's door open. Heard him try to climb out—
I also heard him stagger out.
"Whoa—boss!" Nico's voice, sharp with concern. "I got you."
"I'm fine," Jeremy slurred. Actually slurred. "I stood up too fast."
My stomach dropped.
He was drunk. Really drunk.
How had I not noticed? How long had he been drinking at Crimson? I'd lost count after the fourth or fifth glass, but...
"Come on, let's get you inside." Nico's voice was patient and professional.
I climbed out of my side of the car and heard them helping Jeremy toward the entrance. His footsteps were uneven. Staggering.
"I can walk," Jeremy insisted. "Don't need—don't need help."
"Sure, boss. Just letting you lean on me a bit." Luca is on his other side now. "Amelia, are you good?"
"I'm fine. Is he—"
"He'll be fine. Just had more whisky than usual." Luca's voice held something knowing. "Not the first time. It won't be the last."
They guided him inside. I followed, my cane tapping against familiar floors.
They led him down the hallway. Past the kitchen. To Jeremy's room.
"Alright, boss. Let's get you to bed." Nico's voice.
I heard them manoeuvre Jeremy toward the bed. The creak of the mattress as he sat down heavily.
"Too hot," Jeremy muttered. "Why's it so hot?"
"It's not hot, boss. You're just drunk."
I heard fabric rustling. The sound of a shirt being pulled off. He was removing a belt buckle. The material slid down his legs.
He was undressing.
"Boss, you should probably keep—"
"No. Too hot. Need—need it off."
More rustling. Then the sound of something hitting the floor. Pants, probably.
"Alright, he's down to his boxers. "That's the most dressed he will be tonight," Luca said, sounding resigned. "Let's get him lying down before he falls over."
The mattress creaked again. Jeremy's breathing is heavy and uneven.
"Is he going to be okay?" I asked from the doorway.
"Yeah. He just needs to sleep it off." Nico moved toward me. "Come on, we'll get you to your room."
"I can find it myself."
"You sure?"
"I've lived here for days. I can manage twelve steps down the hall."
"Alright. But call if you need anything." Luca's footsteps passed me. "We'll be in the security room. Good night, Amelia."
"Night," I said back.
Then they left. I heard their footsteps retreat down the hallway. And the door closes in the distance.