Chapter 30
Edmund’s POV
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The conference room was far too quiet. The kind of quiet that only made my nerves feel rawer. Every tick of the clock on the wall echoed against my skull, louder, sharper, each one slicing through my patience.
It was two o’clock. This meeting was supposed to have started at noon.
Across from me, James, the administrator, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He glanced at the empty chair beside him, then at me. “Sir, are you sure we shouldn’t start without her? Dr. Prescott can be brought up to speed once she arrives.”
I drummed my fingers against the oak table, staring at the vacant chair as if it had the answers I needed. The fact that it didn’t, made me grit my teeth.
“Once it’s two–thirty, we’ll start,” I told him, my voice flat.
He hesitated, then gave a stiff nod. “Of course.”
The silence returned, heavier now. My team, well, what little of it existed so far, sat waiting. Assistants shuffled papers, another tried to set up the projector. And still, Amelia wasn’t here.
I checked my watch again. Two twenty–seven.
Damn it.
I gave James the signal. “Start.”
He cleared his throat and launched into the presentation. Numbers, figures, logistics. The usual. He was thorough, I’d give him that, but he wasn’t a doctor. He could list costs of tents, travel expenses, promotional campaigns, and staffing requirements, but when it came to the medical side of things, equipment, supplies, procedures, he faltered.
And that was why I needed her.
Whether she knew it or not, Amelia was the backbone of this outreach. She was the only one I trusted to make this more than just a business project. She was the reason this would actually save lives, not just polish up the Mathis name.
As James stammered through a section about pharmaceuticals, the door burst open.
The sound startled everyone. Heads turned, papers rustled. And there she was.
Amelia.
Her hair was slightly disheveled, cheeks flushed, breathless as if she’d sprinted across the city to get here. Her eyes flicked around the room, wide with embarrassment. “I–I’m so sorry I’m late,” she rushed out. “There was a patient emergency, and-”
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Chapter 30
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Her gaze landed on me. For a second, everything around us blurred. Her eyes were a storm of apology and defiance, the kind that made me both furious and helpless at the same time.
“Dr. Prescott,” I said, keeping my voice calm, clipped. “Nice of you to join us.”
“I know,” she murmured, sliding into the empty chair across from me. She set her bag down, straightened her papers, and gave James an encouraging nod. “Please, continue.”
But James was already looking at me, waiting for my cue. I gave the faintest nod. He cleared his throat again and resumed his awkward list of supply chains.
I leaned back in my chair, watching Amelia. She scribbled notes with frantic precision, clearly trying to make up for lost time. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows knitted in concentration.
And all I could think was, why did she have to make this so damn difficult?
When the presentation ended, James glanced at me nervously. “That’s… everything from my end, sir. Of course, Dr. Prescott’s expertise would fill in the medical side of things.”
“Right,” I said, shifting my gaze to her. “Doctor?”
She looked up, startled, as if she hadn’t expected me to call her out so soon. Then her spine straightened, and the transformation was instantaneous. Gone was the flustered woman who’d rushed in here moments ago. In her place sat Dr. Amelia Prescott, the professional. The woman who knew exactly what she was doing.
“Thank you, James,” she began. Her voice was steady now, confident. “From the medical perspective, there are several things we need to prioritize: vaccination units, mobile x–ray, and portable ultrasound machines. We’ll also require licensed volunteers for specialized procedures. And depending on the regions we’re focusing on, we’ll need to account for possible outbreaks of certain diseases. That means prepping isolation tents, as well as fast–track diagnostic kits.”
As she spoke, I found myself forgetting the earlier irritation. She was magnetic. And very intelligent. The way she commanded the room, the way her hands moved as she explained, the quiet authority in her tone, it reminded me of why I’d fought so hard to get her on this project.
Everyone else heard logistics. I saw passion.
“Budget?” James asked, scribbling notes.
Amelia hesitated. Her eyes flicked to me.
I leaned forward, clasping my hands on the table. “Whatever she needs, she gets.
She blinked, as though caught off guard by how easily I’d said it. “Edmund-”
“It’s non–negotiable,” I said firmly. “We’re not cutting corners on lives.”
The silence that followed was heavy. James looked between us, sensing the undercurrent. Amelia opened her mouth, then closed it again, settling back in her seat.
“Fine,” she said softly.
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Chapter 30
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The rest of the meeting went on smoothly, or as smoothly as it could, given the tension simmering between us. She spoke, I listened. She disagreed, I pushed back. Every exchange was laced with something more than just professional friction.
When James finally wrapped up, the team dispersed quickly, almost too quickly, as if eager to escape the charged air lingering in the room.
It was just the two of us now.
Amelia began gathering her things, keeping her eyes firmly on her papers. “I’ll put together a detailed medical supplies list by tomorrow.”
“You should’ve been here on time,” I said quietly.
She froze, her hands stilling. Slowly, she lifted her head. “I told you, there was a patient emergency.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I said. “But this-” I gestured at the empty chairs around us, the files scattered across the table. “This matters too.”
Her jaw tightened. “I’m here now.”
“That’s not the point.” I stood, walking toward her. “You think I don’t notice? That you’re avoiding me? You’re late to the first meeting that decides the future of this project, Amfine Dr. Prescott,” I said, “you can be as professional as you want. But I won’t be.”
She groaned.” stop blurring the lines, edmund. Mixing your personal feelings with your work.”
Her words hit me like a slap, but I didn’t flinch. Instead, I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “I can’t separate them. Not when it comes to you.”
Her eyes widened, and for a second, I thought she might cave. That she might let me in. But then she shook her head, forcing a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes.
She shoved her papers into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and walked past me. “Then that’s your problem, Edmund. Not mine,” she said, “Good day sir. See you tomorrow.”
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone in the conference room.
I stared at the empty chair where she’d sat, my chest tight with frustration and something deeper, something I couldn’t name.
Because no matter how hard she tried to push me away, I knew one thing for certain-
She cared.
And I wasn’t about to let her run forever.
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.
