18

Amelia’s POV

Kai's presence was like a weight in the room, and just when I thought I might actually give in to whatever crazy pull I was feeling toward him, he snapped me out of it.

"You should go to bed," he said, his voice still hard, but there was a weird softness to it too. "You need to wake up early for tomorrow's job."

And just like that, the fog in my head lifted. I blinked, feeling like an idiot. What the hell was I thinking?

"Yeah, you're right," I mumbled, my face flushing because I had no idea why I was even feeling like that. "I should... go to bed."

Kai turned to leave, but then stopped. "Consider what happened a fluke. All the security's being changed to make sure you're safe. If anything happens again, just hit the alarm. Good night."

I barely had a chance to respond before he was out the door. I watched him leave, my heart still pounding from everything that had happened, but not because of the whole almost-being-killed thing. Honestly, I’ve been through worse. This was... something else. I couldn’t shake the feeling that my heart was racing for a whole other reason.

I tried to sleep, but my mind wouldn't stop. What was that? Why did I almost kiss him? And why did my chest feel like it was about to explode?

Eventually, I drifted off, but the next thing I knew, the knock on my door was making me want to throw something at it. I tried ignoring it, but it just wouldn't stop. Finally, I dragged myself out of bed, barely functioning. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a woman carrying a tray of food.

"Good morning, miss," she said, smiling wide. "How was your night?"

"Morning," I said, my voice still heavy with sleep. "It was... eventful."

She chuckled, her eyes crinkling in the corners. "Well, hopefully this breakfast makes your morning better. Mr. Kai ordered it for you. He said you haven’t had anything to eat since last night."

I blinked, completely caught off guard. Kai? Thinking about me eating? Since when?

"Why would Kai care if I eat or starve?" I blurted, not even realizing I was talking out loud.

The woman laughed like I’d just told her the funniest joke. "Oh, darling, Kai's the most considerate young man I've ever met. He’s helped so many people, saved so much time. You just need to get to know him."

I stared at the food. It looked... normal, I guess. But after what happened last night, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. There was something off about this whole situation, like I wasn’t just some random target. I was the target, it was like someone was after my life, i literally just got here and i don’t remember having any interaction with anyone except kai and Carlos, who exactly will want me dead and for what reason.

"I appreciate it, but I'm actually allergic to fish," I lied, eyeing the salmon on the tray.

Her smile didn’t budge. "Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. We can replace it if you’d like."

"Uh, no, that’s okay. I’m not hungry right now. I’ll grab something from the dining area later." I said it way too quickly, but whatever. It was the best excuse I could come up with.

The woman just nodded, not seeming bothered at all. "Alright, Miss. Kai said he wants you ready by 9:00. Have a great day!"

She left, and I slammed the door shut, my heart racing. I glanced at my phone and nearly had a heart attack when I saw the time. Less than 30 minutes.

Panic set in. I ran around, looking for something to wear. Took a quick shower, grabbed the first outfit that looked decent enough, and pulled on my shoes. No time for makeup, not today.

I grabbed my bag and dashed out the door, but of course, I saw Kai’s car pulling out of the parking lot. I waved, hoping he’d notice. To my surprise, the car slowed down and stopped.

Carlos, of all people, rolled down the window, relief written all over his face. "You're right on time," he said, like I’d just saved his life or something.

I got in the passenger seat, not bothering to say a word. The moment I sat down, Kai gave me this side glance—like the kind that makes you want to check if you’ve got something on your face. I stared back at him, hoping he'd stop silently judging me. But nope, the guy didn’t even blink. He just kept looking, and it was seriously starting to make me squirm.

He was in his usual all-black getup: black suit, black shirt, black tie, and shiny black shoes. Honestly, I’m not a fan of people who dress like they’re in some secret society, but I had to admit he looked annoyingly good. Unfortunately, the whole look also made him more intimidating.

"Yes, I know I look like a hot mess without makeup," I blurted, breaking the awkward silence. "But maybe next time, try giving me a heads-up so I have time to get myself together?"

For a second, I thought I saw his lips twitch, like he was holding back a laugh. He stared at my face, as if he was trying to figure out where the “mess” was. Finally, he said, in that deep, indifferent voice of his, "I never said anything. Besides, I don’t see a difference. You look the same with or without makeup."

My jaw dropped. Was that supposed to be a compliment? Because it definitely didn’t feel like one. Either he was calling me naturally beautiful, or—more likely—he was saying I always look like a mess whether i have makeup or not, and i can’t help but think it might be the later.

“You are…” I started, but Kai cut me off before I could finish.

“Amelia, please.” His voice was sharp, and his face screamed enough already. "Let’s ride quietly," he added, sounding almost like he was begging.

Fine. Message received. I zipped my lips and stared out the window, not even bothering to ask where we were going.

The car ride was silent and tense. When we finally arrived, I couldn’t help but gape at the place. It was this massive mansion hidden in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by high walls and enough security cameras to make a prison jealous. It looked like something straight out of a spy movie.

I followed Kai inside, staying quiet since he clearly wasn’t in the mood for small talk. The place was crawling with men who all looked like they’d kill you for breathing wrong. But one guy stood out: Don Alessandro.

As I sat next to Kai in the meeting room, I made brief eye contact with Alessandro, and let me tell you, that guy didn’t need words to let me know he couldn’t stand me. Not that I cared.

Kai, on the other hand, was his usual unreadable self, though I did catch a weird vibe when he glanced at Alessandro. Their little stare-off was definitely not warm and fuzzy.

"We’ll start now. Everyone, take your seats," Kai said, his tone cool and commanding.

I kept my mouth shut the entire meeting. No way was I going to risk him snapping at me again.

Kai’s POV

The meeting wrapped up after what felt like an eternity, and I was the first to leave, Amelia trailing behind me in silence. She knew better than to start another argument—or maybe she was just exhausted. We were almost at the parking lot when I saw him. Don Alessandro. Walking toward us like he owned the damn place, his stride full of fake confidence.

Amelia slowed down, probably sensing the tension. She might not know the full story, but even she could tell this wasn’t a friendly encounter. I stopped, turning to face him. He came closer, that signature phony smile plastered on his face.

"Kai," he started, his voice smooth, like he wasn’t the devil himself. "How have you been?"

I let out a dry scoff, hands slipping into my pockets. What kind of question was that? "As you can see, I’m fine… unfortunately." I didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm.

His fake smile grew wider, almost as if he enjoyed the jab. "I’m glad you’re fine," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I moved it off casually but firmly, making it clear that wasn’t going to fly.

"I just wanted to invite you to dinner," he continued. "It’s been a while since we had a meal together as a family."

Family. I almost laughed at the word. "Family?" I echoed, amusement lacing my tone. "Sometimes, I forget we’re even related." My voice was sharp, but I was tired of the charade. "I’ll pass."

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me in my tracks. "Kai," he said, softer this time, trying to play the concerned father. "I’m not asking as Don Alessandro. I’m asking as your father. Your sister suggested it. She’s filing for a divorce and wants your advice before making a final decision."

That caught me off guard, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I kept walking, not giving him the satisfaction of a response. Amelia and I got back to the car, and Carlos drove off.

The rest of the day was a blur of back-to-back meetings. By evening, Carlos pulled up at another destination, and I stepped out of the car.

"Stay in the car," I told Amelia. She didn’t argue, just sat there with her arms crossed, looking annoyed as hell. I have no idea why she’s been acting up, but i don’t think i care to know.

I turned to Carlos. "Stay alert and call me if anything happens."

"Yes, boss," Carlos replied.

I started walking toward the mansion ahead. It was supposed to be a quick stop—a family dinner I didn’t even want to attend—but halfway there, I stopped. Something didn’t sit right. Leaving Amelia alone, even for a few minutes, felt reckless. The attack last night wasn’t random, and whether she realized it or not, she was the target. Carlos wasn’t exactly the most reliable backup, either.

I turned back, heading straight for the car. Amelia was watching me, her brows furrowed in confusion as I opened her door.

"Come with me," I said, my tone firm but not harsh.