ADAM
In the morning, we discussed everything regarding today’s joint appearance. We decided not to talk about the pregnancy for now.
- I’ll go home with the driver, and from there we’ll go together. - Amanda kisses me and gets out of the car.
- Until the evening. - despite the fact that she always has security around her, I still wait until the woman enters the building and only then I leave.
Marina is, as always, at her place, but lately, I don’t recognize her. The girl doesn’t react to me at all, and in the five years she has worked here, that has never happened before.
- Are you alright? - at the sound of my voice, the secretary startles and quickly gets up.
- Mr. Adam, I'm sorry, I didn’t see you arrive. - she lowers her gaze apologetically. Looking at her, I understand that something has happened.
- Do you have any problems? - she raises her gaze and shakes her head in denial.
- If something happened, I can help. - she continues to be silent, so I go into the office and completely immerse myself in work. Finally, after a long time, my life has taken on a more or less stable state, and thoughts about something terrible do not distract me.
- If only today’s evening goes smoothly. - I understand that anything can happen. Especially since the situation with Karina is unresolved, or rather with her father, who still hesitates to make contact. Serious problems are unlikely to arise since, first and foremost, his business would be harmed. But still, I need to be cautious.
Until the evening, I don’t get distracted from work; Marina brings me coffee several times, and that’s where our communication ends.
I arrive home, change, and wait for Ami. She told me not to come in so as not to distract her, so I pour myself some whiskey and wait for the woman on the sofa. For the last six months, I hadn’t even dreamed that Amanda and I would live together, she would carry our child, and the past would finally be left behind. All secrets can be forgotten, and we can move on, but...
- I have to tell her. - I take a sip of whiskey. For some reason, the realization that Amanda will hear Corniyev's secrets solely from me sends a chill down my spine. Lately, I've been trying not to think about it, but nothing will change. I gave my word to Corniyev, so I must tell her everything. Certainly not now, but soon.
All my worries fade away when Kitten appears on the stairs in a long crimson dress that accentuates her figure and reveals her cleavage to the point where the pressure in my pants immediately rises.
- Ready? - the woman adjusts her hair and playfully smiles at me.
I approach her, take her hand, and place it below my waist.
- And what do you think? - Ami's green eyes immediately light up when she feels my arousal. The woman slowly runs her hand up and moves closer.
- We're going to be late. - she breathes almost into my lips, then, as if nothing happened, walks towards the car.
- Damn... - I try to pull myself together to ease the tension, as I don’t want to appear like this in tomorrow's tabloids. Although of course, this would definitely divert attention from discussing the wedding situation and Amanda.
- Backup plan. - I chuckle to myself as I get into the car next to Ami.
- Are you nervous? - I probably know her too well, as I can already tell the answer to my question from the way her eyes dart around.
- Relatively. - Amanda exhales. - I just want this to be over with.
I take her hand and make slow circular motions with my thumb on her palm.
- I'm here, Ami. - she turns her head to me. - Everything will be alright. - a faint smile appears on her face, just as we arrive.
I get out first and extend my hand to Amanda. Journalists swarm us almost immediately with cameras.
- Mr. Kelly, how do you comment on the cancellation of the wedding? - well, I was ready for this.
- We realized in time that we were on different paths. - I smile, but this answer doesn’t satisfy the reporters.
- Is it true that you left your fiancée because of Ms. Vitvitska?
- My relationship with Amanda has a long history, so I’m glad it finally reached a logical conclusion. - I feel the woman next to me squeezing my palm and leaning into me with her body.
- Ms. Vitvitska, do you think these feelings are real or just for the sake of preserving the business? - Amanda tightens her smile.
- Our feelings began long before the business, so I have no doubt about their sincerity. - we try to move on, but then a question comes that I didn’t expect.
- Ms. Amanda, how do you feel living with what you've learned about the past of your biological father and his possible involvement in the death of your parents? - Ami abruptly stops and searches for the reporter who asked this question with her eyes.
But the crowd is so large that it’s unlikely we will manage to do this. So I have to slightly tug Kitten towards me to bring her out of her daze and quickly get her away from the cameras. I immediately take her to a secluded part of the hall.
- Kitten, are you okay? - I see how pale her face has gone, and it makes me feel unwell too. I should have told her everything myself, but who knew that some rumors would reach the journalists. Amanda stands silently, carefully studying my face, her eyes narrowing as if she sees there is something I am withholding.
- What do you know about this? - oh damn, this really isn’t the right time. And of course, it's not my secret, but just the fact that I am hiding something from her again may have given us away.
- Ami, it's a long story. - the woman pulls her hand away and steps back a bit. No, no, no...
- How do you know? - her tone is cold, which hurts me.
- Corniyev came to me in the hospital after the accident and told me everything. I promised him that you would learn the truth no sooner than he died. - this certainly doesn’t justify the fact that after the funeral, I continued to remain silent.
Amanda exhales heavily, lifts her eyes to me as if searching for a lie. But then she takes my hand, which eases the pressure in my chest.
- Kelly, we will continue this conversation as soon as we get home, and you will tell me everything. - I nod.
We take our places just before the auction starts. We are under too much attention, but no one dares to ask anything. The only looks I notice from time to time are Karina and her dad. Kirk also sits next to them, but aside from greeting me, he doesn’t show himself in any other way.