Chapter 25 Chapter 25
Amelia
“You can’t keep doing this, sir,” Kelvin’s voice reached me before I even saw them. A second later, my office door pushed open and Declan walked in like the place belonged to him.
“I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen,” Kelvin said, clearly frustrated.
“It’s fine, Kelvin. I will handle it,” I replied, lifting my hand to signal that he could leave. As Kelvin turned to go, he paused and looked straight at Declan. “Next time, I won’t be polite or professional,” he warned before stepping out and closing the door behind him.
Declan didn’t seem bothered at all. He casually walked further into the office and dropped into the chair across from my desk, crossing his arms like he was the one in charge.
I took a slow breath, trying to keep my temper under control. “You need to understand something,” I said firmly. “This is my office. You can’t just walk in and out whenever you feel like it.”
He leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face. “I will walk in here whenever I want,” he replied without hesitation. “What you should be worried about is why my salary for this week hasn’t hit my account. It’s been two days already.”
His words made my jaw tighten, but I kept my expression calm, even as irritation burned inside me.
Declan had made it his personal rule that I must pay him ten thousand dollars every single week. It didn’t matter how many times I explained that my company was struggling or that cash flow was tight. He didn’t care about my problems, my stress, or the sleepless nights. All he cared about was his money.
“I already told you this is a difficult period for my company,” I said, rubbing my temples in exhaustion. “I don’t have that kind of money right now. This whole situation is your brother’s fault.”
I was tired, completely drained from the way the two brothers were squeezing me from both sides, each of them attacking me financially and leaving me with nothing to hold on to.
Declan shrugged like none of it mattered. “I don’t care who caused it,” he said coldly. “You got yourself into this mess in the first place. And one thing you should know about my brother, he doesn’t forgive, and he always gets what he wants.”
He leaned forward, a smug smile spreading across his face. “So I suggest you give him exactly what he’s asking for, or he will destroy you. And we don’t want that, do we?” he added casually. “I need you alive and standing so you can keep funding my lifestyle.”
Something inside me snapped. For a brief second, I wanted to grab the nearest heavy object and drive it straight into his chest. He was cruel, heartless, and undeserving of peace. But instead of letting that rage show, I forced a smile onto my face.
“I will send you some money by the weekend,” I said calmly. “But it won’t be ten thousand dollars. Things are really tight right now.”
Declan stood up slowly from the chair, his expression unreadable. Without asking for permission, he reached for my bag that was resting beside my desk. My heart skipped as he opened it and pulled out the cash inside, counting it quickly.
“This should cover my cab fare to and from here,” he said casually. “It’s not enough, but I will manage.”
He dropped the bag back on my desk and looked at me sharply. “Make sure you send the full amount by the weekend,” he warned. “Don’t try to test me.”
With that, he turned around and walked out of my office, leaving the door swinging slightly behind him.
I leaned back in my chair and threw my head against the backrest, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. It felt like I had lost every ounce of control over my own life. The past three weeks had been absolute chaos. Since Maxwell’s accident, everything had started to unravel. Board members kept resigning one after another, and nearly all of our investors had pulled out. The company, was sinking faster than I could keep up with, and there was no one willing to help me.
I had tried going to the hospital to see Maxwell, but time and time again, I was turned away. Last weekend, he was finally discharged, and his PA promised he would let me know when I could see him. But it had been almost a week, and still, no call.
My kids were still with my parents. I hadn’t gone to see them because I felt too ashamed. Every day, the company was spiraling further, and I couldn’t bear to face my parents while everything they worked for was crumbling around me.
My phone rang, and I grabbed it, hoping it was Maxwell’s PA.
“Am I speaking with Amelia Davis?” a voice asked.
“Yes, this is she,” I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Mr. Sinclair would like to meet you this evening. Will you be available?”
Finally he was ready to see me. “I will be available. Is it at his company?” I asked.
“I will send the address,” he said, then hung up. I prayed silently that everything would go well.
I couldn’t stop checking my phone. A few hours later, a message came through, the address of a restaurant, and I was to meet him there by seven.
I left the office early and made sure to arrive at the restaurant right at seven. The place was quiet, almost empty, with only a few diners scattered across the tables. A waiter approached me as I paused near the entrance.
“Are you here to see Mr. Sinclair?” she asked politely.
“Yes,” I replied, and she nodded, leading me through the restaurant to a more secluded area. There, at a corner table, Maxwell was already seated. He didn’t glance up as I approached, his attention was entirely on his phone.
I walked over and took the chair across from him, placing my bag gently on the floor. I cleared my throat softly, hoping to draw his attention without making a scene.
Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. He didn’t even pause, his fingers tapping rapidly across the screen. My patience began to fray.
“Mr. Sinclair,” I said, a little more firmly this time, “you have been on your phone since I got here.”
Still, he didn’t look up. Not even once, I shifted in my seat, forcing myself to stay composed, but inside, frustration bubbled. How could he act so indifferent after keeping me waiting all this time?
“Order something if you are hungry,” he said without looking up from his phone. “I’m quite busy right now. I’ll attend to you when I’m done.”
Thirty minutes passed with him buried in his phone. My patience was wearing thin, but I had no choice. I needed this meeting, so I sat quietly, watching him, trying not to fidget.
Finally, he looked up. The cuts on his face were still healing, faint scars tracing his skin, but even with them, he looked impossibly handsome.
“You didn’t order anything,” he said, his tone unreadable. “You will need food for what’s coming your way. You better eat.”
My stomach twisted. What exactly was he planning?
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing calm into my voice. “I had something before leaving the office.”
He nodded once, then pushed an envelope across the table toward me. “That’s the new contract. I asked my lawyer to redraft it. My terms and conditions are all in there,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.
I opened the envelope and unfolded the papers inside. As I read, my eyes widened, disbelief and shock bubbling up inside me. I lifted my head and met his gaze. He had a smirk on his face, watching me carefully, as if he had been waiting for this reaction.
“Why…why does the contract say I can only opt out of the marriage after I give you a child?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my attempt to stay composed.
Author's note: Declan you knew Maxwell, yet you are still stressing my love and the Audacity yyy. Ok Maxwell, I see what you are doing there 🙄