Chapter 59 Fifty Nine
OWEN WINTERS
The business with the Russians was going quite well, and that was soothing at least, although the major problem hadn't been solved — the personal problem. I sat on my chair swivelling it in an arc pattern, my hands on my chin. The documents piled up in front of me wasn't my concern, and that was something I would do later or tell my assistant, whatever her name was to do it.
My coffee must've gone cold, because the absence of steam was present, only a melted ice and a caramel colour lay motionless in the coffee mug. I hadn't spoken to father since the incident with his legitimate son. I did my own background check and terrifyingly enough, those allegations were true. Father —Mr Winters did have another life apart from the known family, and yes, his fucking son was the product of it all. But to crown it all, the dick head was to be the real heir to the house of the Winters. Something I worked for all my life.
“Pathetic,” I scoffed, my fingers playing with my hair. The meeting had already been concluded and I just needed to get home to warmth, love and sex and more love.
I stood to my feet, not glancing at the piles of documents, my hands in my pocket and my mind far away from the office. I walked to the door, my breathing calmer than usual, that man wasn't going to take my life's work away with a sweep of his thumb. I placed my leg out the office, but then as though in sync, my phone rang.
Oh shit! I forgot about my phone. I walked back to my desk and answered the call on the third ring. “Who's this? Amy?”
“Amy? Now I wonder who that is,” the person over the phone said. The voice sounded familiar, it felt like something I hated… something that made me want to commit…. Ash Winters.
Ash Winters, the true son and blood of the Winters, who had been in hiding, but after so many years, came out to the world to take over his father's business. My face turned into a frown once I figured who it was. “How did you get my…”
“Number! I knew you'd ask that. Took it from father, he mentioned something about bonding,” he said, his voice cheerful. my irritation grew, but I spoke nothing and allowed him to babble on.
“But I guess we can't do that. Bonding is for long lost brothers, but guess what we are?”
“Rivals,” I answered, already bored. “Mr Ash Winters, why did you call?” I asked yawning to show that I didn't really care about him. “I'll be hosting a party, and it'll do me a lot of happiness if you come,” he proposed but I was quick to give an answer. “No,” I answered.
“But at least let me see you…”
“No.” I was adamant, I knew that I'd have to see him one way or the other, and my days of avoiding the truth were short, but enjoying his absence for the meantime felt like the best idea. I stared out the huge window down at the ignorant people walking along the road, people who didn't know that a danger was coming. They were dressed in black coats and carried an umbrella although the weather looked nicer than the last time.
“If that's what you want, but I'll love to pay a visit,” he said, this time, his tone sounded sinister and my suspicion grew. Ash Winters was plotting something. “You don't know where I live,” I retorted, moving back to the door. “Oh dear, is that really what you think? Well, think again, Mr Owen Winters.”
Beep.
The call ended, but a new feeling stayed, and it hung to my throat tightly clutching at it. “Diana.” I whispered and someone came out of the shadows. I didn't use her much, but that goddamned man was testing my patience.
“Yes, little lord.” She still called me that. “What do you make out of this call?”
“I didn't listen…” I scoffed. “Hush, you're not dumb, of course you listened. Now tell me what you make out of this fucked up call,” I instructed and luckily enough, she answered.
“He's plotting something. And I suggest you get home now, Amelia might be in danger.” What were the possibilities that he'd found my place and was directly attacking Amy?
Suddenly, my eyes widened, my pumpkin was in danger.
“Fuck!” I cursed and ran out of the office, using the staircase, because that seemed faster.
That bastard was after someone far more dangerous. The daughter of the house of Xavier.
AMELIA XAVIER
Owen texted that he'd be back earlier than expected because work wasn't much, but I suspected he was lying. He certainly had a lot of files on his desk, but was too lazy to review any of them.
What can I say?
I was glad he considered coming home quickly especially with my condition. I stared down at the little bump on my tummy, and a smile pressed on my lips. “I'm happy I kept this,” I whispered.
I checked the time on the wall clock.
6:00pm.
Suddenly, there was a clicking sound from the door. I stood to meet Owen, but I waited and listened. The clock ticked every second, the breeze was rather soft as it brushed past my ear leaving a feeling. A feeling I didn't care to explain. I walked to the door and held the knob.
“I should get my gun,” I muttered to myself and grabbed it, hiding it under my leg belt. I turned the knob, and sneaked out of the room, making sure I had hiding spots.
Moving to the sitting room, I jumped out and held my gun, but no one stood there. Only the sound of the clock, breeze, my breathing and my fucking heart beat.
“You're a pretty good shooter, I can imagine,” a deep voice that was nothing like Owen spoke, he sounded British, but dangerous.
No, fuck it. The man was plain dangerous.
I turned slowly, tucking my gun back to my belt. “Who the fuck are you?” I asked not expecting an answer but he gave me one. “A friend of your boyfriend.”
Owen?
Owen would never send anyone home knowing what we were hiding. The face looked familiar; blue eyes, dark hair and a jawline as perfect as the Winters.
“Winter,” I muttered, my brain suddenly aware of who stood before me. “Ash Winters,” I said, taking a step or two back. “I guess I'm quite famous amongst the lady's too.” I rolled my eyes. I needed to act tough in front of him because no one had seen him fight and they… I didn't know how dangerous he was.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, irritation visible on my face. “Just came to pay my brother a little visit and saw he had a sweet woman by his side-” before I even blinked, Ash Winters stood before me, our noses touching. The rate at which my heart beat was indecipherable, my eyes widened, locked to his blue eyes.
Amy move.
I told myself, but my feet were glued to the ground. He kissed my lips softly and his fingers slid under my dress. I shivered, fear took over me, but not for long. “I wish I had a woman by my side, someone like you.”
Kick.
I kicked his rear and moved far away from him to the rear end of the room. I touched my leg belt for my gun, but felt only the leather pressed against my skin.
“Looking for this little lady?” I looked up and cursed, I wished to slap that smirk off his face. “You know, I've never fought a woman…”
“You talk too much!” I charged at him and elbowed him right on his throat which could've left an impact, but that man was made of steel. I steadied my feet ready for a fight. “Amy was it?” He asked and threw the gun to the side.
“I like them feisty!” Ash Winters swiftly aimed at me, he threw a punch, and I dodged, but he gave no time to recharge, he threw another and it landed on my nose. Blood trickled down my nose to my lips. My heart raced faster than usual, and I was getting tired, but giving up was never an option. Running towards him, I did a fake punch and when he tried to dodge, I smacked him down and rolled towards my gun.
“Damn! You're good,” he said, and I humoured, “I know.” I pulled the trigger, pointing the gun at his vital point. Not the chest, but the neck.
“Sweetheart, you shouldn't play with sharp objects-” he walked towards me, his hands up in defeat. “I'm not your sweetheart!” I raged, but he kept talking. “It's not a toy, you might get hurt!”
Before my adrenaline or intrusive thoughts could get a hold of his plans, Ash Winters hit me in the stomach and snatched the gunfrom my hands. I tumbled to the ground and held my stomach.
Pain surged through my body, I gritted my teeth, tears formed at the corner of my eyes, and that's when he noticed it. “You're pregnant. You have a baby,” he muttered bluntly, but I said nothing as the tears fell from my eyes.
“Go to hell you…” I let my voice trail as soon as I sighted Owen. He kicked the door open, and iron fisted Ash. “You fucker!” He cursed, and pinned him to the wall. “You came late. The show's over,” he said laughing evilly.
“How do you want to die, Ash?” Owen asked, his tone angry, so angry that his eyes lost colour. “Die? I prefer to die in a woman's hand. My arms wrapped around a woman with my dick pointing to the sky… in the gardens too.” He snorted, his eyes glancing at me. “You're a fool!” Owen raged in french and punched him.
Owen couldn't kill him, not that he didn't want to, but that man, Ash Winters was the legitimate son of the Winters, and if anything were to happen, he'd lose whatever thing he worked for all these years. He let him be, and Ash fell to the floor and rubbed his neck. “I'd love to invite you to my party, but now I want the woman there too,” he said and stood ironing his suit with his hands.
“And if we don't come?”
“Oh, your little secret would be the talk of Paris, brother,” he answered, and Owen glanced at me. I rubbed my stomach, the pain had subsided, but I still needed a check up from the doctor. “You're no lion, Ash Winters, you can't beat me.”
Ash laughed, this time in a more friendlier tone, his face seemed relaxed, but I knew he was thinking. “We Winters prefer to call ourselves wolves, don't forget that, and beat you… I'm not going to do that, I'm not that fucked up as you are-” he looked at me and smiled.
“We'll meet at the party, little woman,” he said and turned to walk out. “You better get a check up, that's a Winter baby you carry there, after all.”
He left, but didn't take his gun. I bit my lips and quivered. If one decided to make a situation with words, then we were fucked up for good. I shut my eyes, and when I opened them, Owen was at my side. He helped me up to the couch. “Are you okay, pumpkin?”
“How did he know where we lived?” I asked not replying his question. Father was going to kill Owen and then he'd be disappointed in me. “I don't know, pumpkin, but it'll be…”
“It's not fine! If father finds out, he won't care if you're his ally, he'd kill you, and I've disappointed him. I'm a failure…” I winced, my hands rubbing my stomach. “I'll call the doctor,” he whispered and made the call.
“It'll be fine. Ash won't do anything, pumpkin, he's not stupid,” he said and kissed my hair.
“I'm scared. Kiss me.” His lips tilted up a little. “With pleasure, beautiful.”