Chapter 80 Cover Up
AMELIA - 30 Minutes Later
He dropped me off two blocks from the estate. Just like always.
"Amelia," he started as I climbed out.
"Don't." I grabbed my cane. "Just—don't contact me again. Delete my number, and forget this ever happened."
"I really am sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Goodbye, Alex."
I closed the door. Walked away before he could say anything else.
My hands were shaking. My body was still responding to the touch I didn't want. Nipples still sensitive. Still tingling.
I hated it. Hated that my body had reacted. Hated that I'd melted, even for a few seconds, into someone else's touch.
Jeremy's touch—that was what my body was used to. What it expected. What it craved.
But Alex's touch had triggered the same physical response because my body was primed. Sensitive.
And I'd almost—
No. I hadn't done almost anything. I'd stopped it. I'd kicked him. I'd warned him.
I'd handled it.
I walked toward the estate, my mind racing.
I'd learnt to shoot. I'd accomplished what I wanted. I had the skill now. The knowledge.
I didn't need Alex anymore. Didn't need these secret meetings. Didn't need the lies.
I'd used him. For his teaching. For his patience. For access to the shooting range and equipment.
And now that I had what I needed—I was done with him.
Time to discard him. Cut ties. Move on.
Except I still needed a gun. My own gun.
How can someone get a gun? Legally? I'd need permits. Background checks. Things that took time and questions.
Or illegally? That was dangerous. Required connections which I didn't have.
Unless—
Unless I asked Jeremy. Told him I wanted to learn to shoot. I asked him to teach me to get my own weapon for protection.
But then he'd wonder why I suddenly wanted this. He'd ask questions. He'd figure out I'd been lying.
I needed to think. Needed to plan. Needed to figure out how to get what I wanted without revealing what I'd been doing.
I made it back to the estate. Through the gates. Into the east wing.
"Amelia?" Luca's voice. "You're back. Boss is looking for you. Said he needs to talk to you about something."
My stomach dropped. "About what?"
"Didn't say. Just asked me to send you to his office when you got back."
"Okay. Thanks."
I made my way to Jeremy's office. Knocked.
"Come in."
I opened the door. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. Come here."
I moved toward his voice. He caught my hand. Pulled me onto his lap.
"Where were you?" His voice was casual. But underneath—something else. Tension? Suspicion?
"Out. With Elena. We had lunch." The lie came easily. Too easily.
"Elena, huh?" His hand rested on my waist. "Luca said you left around ten-thirty. That's a long lunch."
"We went shopping after. She helped me pick out some clothes. Things I can feel the textures on. It was—nice."
Please believe me. Please don't ask more questions. Please—
"That's good. I'm glad you're spending time with her." He pulled me closer. "You smell different."
My heart hammered. "Different how?"
"I don't know. Not like you usually do. Like—" He stopped. "Never mind. Probably just being out."
"Probably."
He was quiet for a moment. Then: "Amelia? You'd tell me if something was wrong, right? If something happened?"
"Of course."
"Good." He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "Because you're mine. And if anyone hurt you, if anyone touched you, if anyone—" His arm tightened around me. "I'd destroy them. You know that, right?"
"I know."
Alex's hands on my breasts. His voice in my ear. The way I'd melted before stopping it.
Jeremy would kill him. Literally. If he knew.
"I love you," Jeremy said quietly.
"I love you too."
More lies. More secrets. More guilt.
But I'd gotten what I wanted. I could shoot now. Could protect myself. And I was done with Alex.
Done with the lies. Done with the risk.
After today—after what Alex had tried—I was finished.
I just needed to figure out how to get a gun without Jeremy finding out I already knew how to use one.
One more secret. One more lie.
Then I'd be honest. I'd tell him everything eventually.
I remained on Jeremy's lap, his arm around my waist, trying to keep my breathing steady.
My nipples were still sensitive. Still tingling from Alex's unwanted touch. Still betraying me with their hardness.
Jeremy would notice. Would ask questions. Would know something was wrong.
Unless I gave him a reason for their sensitivity that had nothing to do with Alex.
Before I could second-guess myself, I took Jeremy's hand. Guided it up to my breast.
"Amelia?" His voice was surprised. Confused. "What are you—"
"Touch me." I pressed his palm against me. "Please."
His hand stilled. "Here? In my office? Amelia, someone could—"
"Then lock the door."
"What's gotten into you?" But I could hear the shift in his voice. Surprise turning to interest. "You've never done this... not in my office before."
"I need you." It wasn't entirely a lie. I did need him. I need his hands to erase Alex's. "Please, Jeremy. Lock the door."
Silence. Then movement. He lifted me off his lap. Stood up.
I heard him cross to the door. The click of the lock. His footsteps are returning.
"Come here." His voice was lower now. Rougher. "There's a private area. Behind the bookshelf. Soundproofed. For sensitive conversations."
He guided me behind something—the bookshelf, I assumed. Into a smaller space. I heard a door close. More soundproofing.
"Sit." He positioned me on what felt like a couch. Leather. Soft. "Now tell me what this is about."
"I just—" I reached for him. Found his shirt. Pulled him closer. "I want you to—" My face heated. "I want you to suck them. My breasts. Please."
"Amelia."
"Please." My voice came out needy. Desperate. "I need—I need your mouth on me."
He was quiet for a moment. Then: "Okay. Okay. Come here."
He helped me adjust. He positioned himself beside me. His hands were gentle as he lifted my dress. Unhooked my bra.
Then his mouth was there. Warm and familiar.
I gasped and arched into him.
"Sensitive today," he murmured against my skin. "Why?"
"I don't—I just am. Please don't stop."
He didn't stop. Took my nipple between his lips. Sucked gently at first. Then harder.
The sensation was—overwhelming. After Alex's rough grabbing, Jeremy's mouth felt like salvation. Like claiming. Like erasing.
"Yes," I breathed. "Just like that."
His hand found my other breast. Cupped it. Thumb stroking over the nipple.
I tangled my fingers in his hair. Held him close. Let the pleasure wash over me.
ALEXEI
I drove back to the city, my hands shaking on the steering wheel.
What the fuck had I just done?
I'd touched her. Without permission. While she was vulnerable. Changing clothes.
I'd crossed a line. A major line.
And she'd kicked me. Hard. Exactly like I deserved.
I'd wanted her. God, I'd wanted her. For weeks. Every time we met. Every time we talked. Every shooting lesson.
I'd told myself it was part of the plan. Part of using her to get to Jeremy Santoro.
But somewhere along the way, it had become real. My interest in her had become genuine.
And today—seeing her nipples hard through her dress, knowing she was sensitive there, imagining touching her—
I'd lost control. Done something unforgivable.
And now she was done with me. Would never see me again. Would tell Jeremy if I tried to contact her.
I pulled over. Punched the steering wheel.
Viktor was going to kill me. The plan had been to keep her close. To use her. To manipulate her into trusting me so we could use her against the Santoros.
And I'd ruined it. Because I couldn't keep my hands to myself. Because I'd wanted her too much.
My phone buzzed. Viktor.
Status update. Where are we with the Santoro girl?
I stared at the message.
What was I supposed to say? That I'd assaulted her and she'd kicked me out? That the plan was over because I couldn't control myself?
I typed: Complications. Will explain in person.
His response: Be in my office in one hour. This better be good news.
It wasn't good news. It was a disaster.
And I had no idea how to fix it.