Chapter 25
Edmund’s POV
Suchers
I was leaning against the hood of my car, arms crossed, watching the pharmacy entrance for any sign of her, my focus was pinned on the woman inside.
Amelia.
I’d told myself a dozen times to give her space. That after my little stunt at the grocery store, I should let her breathe. But the truth? I couldn’t. Not when every part of me burned with the need to be near her.
The glass door slid open, and there she was. Bag in hand, her hair swaying over her shoulder, her expression tired but still effortlessly beautiful. She was scrolling her phone as she stepped onto the curb, completely unaware of me.
I pushed off the hood. “You know,” I called, just loud enough, “most people don’t keep a billionaire waiting in parking lots.”
Her head snapped up. Her eyes widened, and then narrowed. “Edmund? What are you doing here?” she asked.
I smiled, feigning innocence. “Waiting for you of course.”
“Outside the pharmacy?” she deadpanned, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Wait, you followed me?”
“Yes. Yes I did. Where else would I wait?” I countered, then gestured to her car. “Unless you’d prefer I break in and surprise you from the driver’s seat.”
Her lips twitched, but she rolled her eyes. “You’re insane.”
“Completely,” I admitted, taking the bag from her before she could protest. “Let me carry this.”
“It’s just medication,” she muttered, but I caught the faint pink rising to her cheeks.
I opened the passenger door for her. “Get in.”
Her brow arched. “Excuse me?”
“Dinner. With me.” I leaned on the doorframe, lowering my voice. “No excuses this time, Amelia.”
She folded her arms, clearly trying to decide if she should slam the door in my face. “I told you-”
“You told me some other time,” I cut in, meeting her gaze head–on. “Well, I decided tonight is that time. Unless you want me to climb on top of the car again and make another public announcement.”
Her jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
For a moment, she just stared, lips parted in disbelief. And then, with an exasperated sigh, she slid into the seat. “You’re impossible.”
“Yet here you are,” I murmured, closing the door before circling to the driver’s side.
“But what about my car?” She asked, “I have groceries inside.”
“Your keys,” I said, “I could get Lewis to drive it to your house.”
She stared at me and then sighed. Just this once” she said finally, “don’t having ideas
I grinned, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say Miss Prescott
The drive started with silence, her staring out the window as though the could with herself to be somewhere else. I let it stretch, giving her space, until I finally asked, “Are you always this tense before a meal, or is it just me
She shot me a glare. “Maybe it’s because you practically kidnapped me for this dinner.”
“I prefer to think of it as persistent persuasion,” I quipped.
“That’s one way to put it.”
I smirked, drumming my fingers lightly on the wheel. “Relax, Amelia. It’s just dinner. No hidden contracts, no strings” I glanced at her, softening my tone. “Just me wanting to spend a little time with you.”
Her lips pressed together, but I saw the flicker in her eyes. Not anger this time, just something else.
The restaurant I’d chosen wasn’t one of my usual high–end haunts. No white–gloved waiters or chandeliers Just a quiet ble place tucked on a corner street, with warm lighting, exposed brick, and the smell of fresh bread curling through the air.
Amelia paused as we walked in. “This… isn’t what I expected.”
“Did you think I’d take you to some pretentious rooftop where they serve meals smaller than your palm?” I asked her
She gave me a look. “Well… yes.”
I chuckled. “Not tonight. Tonight, it’s real, authentic food.”
We were seated in a cozy booth, candlelight flickering between us. She studied the menu closely. I, however, studied her.
“You’re staring,” she said without looking up.
“Observing,” I corrected. “I like watching you think. You furrow your brow just slightly when you’re concentrating. It’s… cute and of course, distracting.”
Her head snapped up, and there it was, the flush across her cheeks. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Thank you.”
She shook her head but couldn’t quite hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “You do remember that you are married right?”
I chuckled. “I never said I wasn’t Amelia,” I said, “what are you having?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she responded, “I’m having a hard time deciding.”
I snorted, shaking my head in amusement. “Some things really don’t change do they?”
She ignored my comment, her eyes still fixated on the menu.
Dinner flowed easier than I expected. She told me about her mother, and a few stories from her university days. I listened, genuinely absorbed, occasionally teasing her just to see her blush uncontrollably.
When the server brought dessert, two spoons, though Amelia swore she wasn’t hungry, I leaned back and asked, “Do you ever let yourself relax?”
She frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“You’re always… guarded,” I said carefully. “Like you’re bracing for the next hit. The next disappointment. It makes me wonder what it would take to see you laugh without holding back.”
stilled. For a long moment, she just looked at me, eyes unreadable. Then, softly, she said, “Life hasn’t exactly given me many reasons to let my guard down.”
The honesty in her voice hit me in the chest. I leaned forward, lowering mine. “Then let me be the reason.”
She blinked, stunned. I could tell it was bolder than she expected from me, but I didn’t flinch. I wanted her to know I meant it. “You are not exactly single to be saying such things to me Edmund,” she said, “you have a wife. And I really don’t want to be in the drama.”
I sighed, looking away from her. In as much as I wanted to push it to the back of my mind, she was right.
I had no right to be asking her for her heart when I was still tied to another. and if I truly wanted this beautiful woman before me, then I needed to do something. Fast.
After dinner, I suggested a short drive by the waterfront. She tried to protest, but she didn’t stop me. We parked near the pier, the night air cool, the city lights reflecting across the water.
Amelia stood by the railing, arms folded, hair shifting in the breeze. I joined her, keeping my hands in my pockets.
“You really planned all this, didn’t you?” she said, half amused, half suspicious.
“Of course,” I replied. “You think I leave anything to chance when it comes to you?”
She gave me a side–eye, her lips twitching despite herself. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe.” I leaned closer, my voice dropping. “But I’m ridiculous about the right person.”
Her breath hitched. For a second, I thought she might step back, but she didn’t. She held my gaze, and in that silence, I felt the pull between us like gravity itself.
And then we stood there together in silence just watching the sky… And for a moment, it felt like one of those moments during the contract where some days felt like we were truly in a relationship.
But then, it was time to go, and she returned to her usual guarded self.
When I finally drove her home, the car was quiet again, but it wasn’t the tense silence from before. It was charged, thick with unspoken words.
We pulled into her driveway, and she reached for the handle. “Thank you… for tonight.”
I caught her wrist gently, just for a moment. She froze, eyes darting to mine.
“Amelia,” I said softly, “I’m not going to apologize for wanting you. I won’t pretend it’s just friendship. You know it’s not.”
Her lips parted, but no sound came.
1 released her hand, giving her the choice. “I’ll wait for you, as long as it takes. But don’t doubt where I stand.”
For once, she didn’t throw a sarcastic remark back. She just stared, her heartbeat practically echoing in the quiet car.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do Edmund, but once I step out of this car, it’s back to being professional.”
I watched her stall a bit, just for a moment. And then, with a shaky breath, she whispered, “Goodnight, Edmund.”
She slipped out before I could say more, leaving me gripping the steering wheel, a smile tugging at my lips.
Because for the first time, I saw a part of her that proved to me that maybe, just maybe, I had a chance to get through to her.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
