The waiter had just set down our plates, and I found myself staring at the meal in front of me instead of at the man across the table. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or just Edmund’s uncanny ability to make me feel cornered even in public spaces.
He picked up his glass and swirled the wine, watching me carefully. “You don’t look convinced.”
I raised my eyes slowly. “Because I’m not. You didn’t tell me we were stopping here.”
A smile tugged at his lips, he had a maddening confidence. “Would you have come if I had told you?”
“No.” I stabbed at a piece of chicken, avoiding his gaze. “We said we’d go to your office. That’s it.”
“Then consider this a strategic detour,” he said smoothly. “You have to eat, Amelia. And frankly, I was tired of looking at budget sheets.”
I rolled my eyes. “You dragged me along.”
“You make it sound like I kidnapped you,” he chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “All I did was give you a lift. And now here we are,sharing a meal. That doesn’t sound terrible, does it?”
I opened my mouth to protest but caught the faint mischief in his expression. It disarmed me more than I cared to admit. With a sigh, I picked up my fork. “You are quite annoying, you know that right?”
“And
yet, here you are,” he murmured, watching me as I took a bite.
For a while, we ate in silence. The restaurant’s warm lighting, the soft chatter from other customers around us, and the clinking of glasses. I hated how comfortable it was, sitting across from him like this. Like we weren’t supposed to be enemies, or at least, not supposed to be anything beyond professional.
“You know,” he said finally, setting down his fork, “I wasn’t joking earlier. You handled the budgeting discussions better than James and I combined. You actually thought of things neither of us would have caught.”
I shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. “It’s what I do.”
He leaned forward slightly. “You make it sound like nothing, but it isn’t. You’re good, Amelia. Better than anyone else I’ve worked with.”
I dropped my gaze to my plate, heat creeping into my cheeks. Compliments from Edmund always felt… different. Like they carried a weight I wasn’t ready to bear.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked softly.
“Because it’s true.” His voice was steady, calm. “And because I want you to know I see you. Not just as a doctor, not just as someone on my team, but as someone extraordinary.”
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Chapter 33
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I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. His eyes held mine, unwavering. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
I forced a small laugh, trying to cut through the tension. “You flatter everyone you work with, don’t you?”
He didn’t smile this time. “No. Just you.”
The words sat heavy between us, making my chest tighten. I quickly pushed food around my plate, pretending to be too busy to respond.
Edmund checked his watch after a while and sighed. “We should get going. I promised to stop by my office, there’s something I need to grab before the night ends.”
Relieved by the shift, I nodded and set my fork down. “Finally.”
He smirked as we stood, leading me out. The ride back was quiet, a silence that felt loaded, every unspoken word filling the air. I stared out the window, but I could feel his gaze flicker to me from time to time. When we finally pulled into the company lot, I braced myself.
We walked inside, and I expected him to take me to his office. Instead, he turned right, toward the suite beside it. I frowned as he pushed open the door.
“Why are we going here?” I asked, suspicious.
“You’ll see.”
The door creaked open, and my steps faltered the moment I entered. The office was spotless, newly set up. A desk with polished wood, neatly arranged files, a vase with fresh flowers. But what made my breath catch was the large portrait on the wall. My portrait.
I stopped dead in my tracks. “What’s this?” I whispered, my heart thudding hard. “What’s my picture doing here?”
Edmund leaned casually against the doorframe, a small smile playing at his lips. “I figured you’d need an office, since we’re working together. A place that feels like yours. You know, when we have to work at a stretch, you need your own office.”
My eyes darted from the portrait to him, disbelief flooding me. “What?” My voice cracked. “And you had to put it beside yours?”
His smile faltered. “What?”
I shook my head, stepping back slightly, my mind racing. This wasn’t just about work. It never was with Edmund. And that realization both terrified me and set something alight deep in my chest.
“What do you mean by that, Amelia?” he asked, his brows furrowing.
“Why didn’t you give me an office across the hall, or maybe on the ground floor?” I huffed, crossing my arms. “Why did it have to be right beside yours?”
“Because it’s for easy accessibility?” he replied, one brow arched in that way that always made him look like he
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Chapter 33
was teasing me.
I stared at him skeptically. He caught the look and rolled his eyes.
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“Look, I really care about you, Amelia,” he started, his voice dropping a little. “Hell, anyone that sees me around you can see that. But you also know I don’t play when it comes to business. So just… relax, okay?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
He groaned, stepped closer, and gently guided me farther into the room. “Stop overthinking, Dr. Prescott. Please, just take a minute and look at your office.”
I hesitated, then sighed. Maybe I really was overthinking too much. Maybe I did need to loosen up, if only a little.
So I did. I let myself actually look around, taking in the space. It wasn’t overly extravagant, but it was comfortable, and it felt… mine. The desk was sturdy and clean, the shelves practical but elegant, and the seating area had just enough warmth to make it inviting.
“You like it?” he asked, smiling at me, that proud glint in his eyes impossible to miss. “I chose all the furniture myself.”
That was when it hit me, the furniture was in my favorite color. My eyes widened. He remembered.
I turned to him slowly, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself. “I love everything,” I admitted softly. “Thank you.”
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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.
