Chapter 68 Suprised
AMELIA
I made it back to the estate twenty minutes before Luca returned from his security checks.
Perfect timing.
I slipped into the east wing, changed clothes, and settled in the kitchen with coffee like I'd been there all afternoon.
My heart was still racing from sneaking out. From the coffee with Alex. I agreed to meet him tomorrow for shooting lessons.
I should feel guilty. Should feel like I was betraying Jeremy.
But I felt powerful and independent. Like I'd done something for myself instead of just waiting around for Jeremy to decide what happened next.
Tomorrow I'd learn to shoot. To protect myself. This would enable me to feel less vulnerable.
Tomorrow I'd have something that was mine. Not Jeremy's. Not the Family's. Mine.
The front door opened. Heavy footsteps.
"Amelia," Jeremy's voice called out.
I shouted, "In the kitchen."
He appeared in the doorway. I could hear him moving closer and I could smell his cologne.
"How was your meeting?" I asked.
"Complicated. But fine." His hand touched my shoulder. "How was your day? You stayed in the wing?"
The lie came easily. "Yes. I read and had a nap. Very boring."
"Good. That's—good." He paused. "I brought someone to see you."
"Someone?" My heart jumped. Had he found out about Alex? Had someone seen me—
"Hi, Amelia."
My breath caught.
That voice. Familiar. Kind.
"Elena?"
"Yeah, it's me." I heard her move closer. "Surprise."
I stood up so fast I nearly knocked over my chair. "What are you—how—"
"Jeremy came to the diner. He asked if I was interested in visiting. Said you might want some company." Elena's voice was warm. Happy. "I've missed you, girl. How are you?"
"I'm—I'm good. I'm—" My voice cracked. "Elena."
And then I was hugging her. Actually hugging someone who wasn't Jeremy. Someone who didn't want anything from me. Someone who'd been kind when she had no reason to be.
"Hey, hey. It's okay." Elena hugged me back. "I have been worried about you ever since that night when Jeremy took you away. I didn't know if you were okay."
"I'm okay. I'm—I'm better than okay." I pulled back and wiped at my eyes. "I can't believe you're here."
"Jeremy invited me. Said you needed friends." She paused. "He was right, wasn't he? You do need friends."
"Yeah. I do."
I heard Jeremy move toward the door. "I'll leave you two to catch up. Elena, stay as long as you want. I'll have someone drive you home later."
"Thank you, Mr Santoro."
He left.
And Elena and I sat at the kitchen table like we had in her apartment weeks ago. Like no time had passed at all.
"So," Elena said once we'd settled with fresh coffee. "Tell me everything. What happened after Jeremy took you away? Where have you been? What's going on?"
I told her. I shared with her the majority of the information I had.
I shared details about the safe house in Brooklyn with her. About Antonio taking me to the estate. About the deal Jeremy made to get me away. About moving back to the estate as his personal maid.
I omitted the details regarding Alexei Volkov, including last night and our secret coffee date this afternoon.
Some things were too complicated to explain.
"You're working as his maid," Elena said, sounding sceptical. "That's really all?"
"What else would it be?"
"Come on, Amelia. I saw the way he looked at you that night in my apartment. After Miguel. That wasn't how someone looks at their employee."
My face heated. "It's complicated."
"I bet it is." She paused. "Does he treat you well? Are you happy here?"
"Yes, he treats me well. He treats me exceptionally well. He's—" I stopped. "I'm happy. Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"It's complicated," I said again.
"Everything with you is complicated." But her tone was affectionate. "I'm glad you're safe, at least. And now you have somewhere to stay. Somewhere better than my couch."
"Your couch was perfect. You were perfect. Thank you. Thank you for welcoming me into your home. For being kind when you didn't have to be."
"Of course I was kind. You needed help." She squeezed my hand. "And Amelia? I'm glad that Jeremy came to find me. I've missed you. And I think—I think you need someone who isn't wrapped up in all this mafia stuff. Someone normal."
She was right. I did need that.
But as we talked—about her job, about her new boyfriend (not Miguel, thank God), about stupid customer stories from the diner—I realised something.
I'd forgotten about Alex. About tomorrow. I had forgotten about the shooting lesson I had agreed to.
For the past hour, I'd just been—happy. Talking to a friend and being normal.
No complicated games of revenge.
Just Elena. Just friendship. Just simple.
Maybe that's what Jeremy had meant when he said he wanted to give me something normal.
Maybe this, Elena's friendship, her kindness, and her normalcy were what I actually needed.
Not secret meetings with Alex Volkov.
There are no revenge plots to make Jeremy jealous.
Just this. Connection. Friendship. Humanity.
JEREMY
I watched from the doorway as Amelia and Elena laughed together in the kitchen.
Amelia looked—lighter. Happier. She appeared more relaxed than I had seen her in weeks.
This was right. This was what she needed.
It was not me, with all my complications, dangers, and impossible situations, that she needed.
Just a friend. Someone normal and kind.
She needed someone who could provide her with the things I couldn't.
Luca appeared beside me. "That's the diner waitress, Elena Rodriguez."
"I know."
"You brought her here? "To see Amelia?" He asked confused.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Amelia needs friends. She requires a sense of normalcy in her life." Needs—" I stopped. "Because I can't give her everything. But maybe Elena can give her something I can't."
Luca was quiet for a moment. "You really do love her."
"Yeah. "I didn't bother denying it anymore. "I do."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know." I watched Amelia smile at something Elena said. "But I know I can't keep her locked away. Can't make her dependent only on me. Can't—can't own her the way my father thinks I should own things."
"So you're giving her freedom?"
"I'm giving her choices. Friends. A life that's more than just—me."
"That's dangerous. She could choose to leave."
"I know."
"She could choose someone else."
I thought of Alexei Volkov. Of the video. Of the way she'd laughed with him.
"I know."
"And you're okay with that?"
"No. But I'm doing it anyway." I turned away from the doorway. "Because loving someone means wanting them to be happy. Even if their happiness doesn't include you."
I didn't believe that. Not really. Not when it came to Amelia.
But I wanted to believe it. I wanted to be the kind of man who could let her go if that's what she needed.
Even if the thought of losing her made it difficult to breathe.
AMELIA
Elena stayed until almost seven. We discussed everything and made plans for her to visit again next week. Exchanged phone numbers.
When Jeremy's driver took her home, I stood in the entrance hall feeling peaceful.
I had a friend. A real friend. There was someone beyond this world who truly cared about me as a person.
Jeremy appeared beside me. "You're smiling."
"Elena makes me smile. Thank you. For bringing her here."
"You're welcome." His hand found mine. "I want you to have friends, Amelia. I want you to have a life that's more than just—" He gestured vaguely. " This."
"This isn't so bad."
"Still. You deserve normalcy. You deserve people who aren't complicated."
Like him. He meant people who weren't like him.
"Jeremy"
"Have dinner with me?" he asked. "Not as employer and employee. Just—as us."
"Okay."
He led me to his private dining room. I had never been in such a small dining room before. It was a more intimate space than the breakfast table.
We ate. We talked about nothing important.
And I realised—this was what I wanted. This ease. This connection. This is us.
Just Jeremy. And me. Together.
Figuring it out.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text.
I'd check it later. Right now, I am here. With Jeremy. I was exactly where I wanted to be.
The text could wait.
The text was from Alex:
Looking forward to tomorrow. Noon at the coffee shop on Fifth and Madison. Don't forget.
I stared at the phone screen I couldn't see, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.
I should cancel. Should tell him I changed my mind. Should stay here with Jeremy and figure out what we were instead of sneaking around with a Volkov.
But—
Part of me still wanted to go. I still yearn for that sense of independence. That power. I craved a sense of control and independence.
Part of me still wanted revenge for Victoria. For the complications. For everything that was messy and unclear.
I didn't respond to the text.
I'll decide tomorrow.
Right now, I was going to enjoy this moment with Jeremy.
I hope it was enough to make me forget about the dangerous choice waiting for me tomorrow.