Chapter 46
Amelia’s expression stayed completely flat. This info would be easy to dig up within Wessex Industries–didn’t prove jack shit.
“You know Amelia?” Lester suddenly asked.
“Nope,” Amelia answered coolly.
“Then I’m lost,” Lester scratched his head.
Amelia smiled, turned to face him fully. “Makes perfect sense. Maybe she loved that tanzanite once, then sold it off. After bouncing around a few hands, it ended up here.”
“Nah, that’s not it,” Lester said seriously. “Word is, she was obsessed with that tone. Apparently someone else wanted it too, and she had to pay through the nose to get it. No way she’d just dump it,”
Amelia stared at Lester for way too long. Long enough to make him squirm.
Finally, she smiled. “Well, she did dump it eventually, didn’t she?”
The tanzanite being at a charity auction meant everyone–Amelia and any subsequent owners–had decided to cash out.
Lester was stumped. Her logic was bulletproof. He had nothing.
“Excuse me,” Amelia said, nodding before heading downstairs.
She’d barely made it a few steps when Vivian appeared, blocking her path.
Amelia’s head started pounding. She tried to sidestep, but Vivian walked straight at her, clearly planning this ambush.
“Elena!”
Vivian spoke first.
Amelia stopped and looked calmly at Vivian, wondering what fresh hell this was.
“You need to back the fuck off,” Vivian’s eyes were pure venom. “You’re just Louie’s arm candy. Show Nathan some goddamn respect. This shit you’re pulling will destroy you and Louie!”
Amelia ignored Vivian’s threats, instead checking out her black dress.
The dress definitely had bridal vibes–layers of intricate lace wrapped around her perfectly.
The internet rumors were spot–on.
Nathan was usually Mr. Low Profile, but tonight he’d gone full spectacle with Vivian dressed like this.
What was his angle?
Had he not noticed, or was he totally cool with it?
Or was he so desperate to go public with Vivian that he couldn’t even wait out their cooling–off period?
At that thought, Amelia’s expression darkened as she turned away.
“Vivian, save your breath.”
“Whether you want that tanzanite is your business. Whether I bid is mine. May the best woman win.”
She spoke quietly.
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Vivian laughed like a hyena: “Best woman win? Elena, that’s fucking hilarious,
“We both got in here riding dick, so it’s about whose dick is bigger. Nathan hears Louie, which means I beat you.”
Amelia was done with Vivian’s bullshit and started walking.
“Elena, this is your last fucking chance!” Vivian’s voice followed her. “You’re gonna lose, and lose hard! I’ll be here when you come crawling back!”
Amelia hesitated for a split second, then kept walking.
Not wanting to run into more people in the stairwell, Amelia headed to the third floor’s rooftop garden.
The garden was packed with business moguls, art collectors, celebrities, and her power players. They clutched champagne flutes with bubbles dancing in the liquid, and with every nod and clink, new deals got made.
The rooftop garden had elegant lighting and romantic vibes, with piano music floating on the breeze.
Pure wealth and decadence on display.
Amelia found a corner, grabbed some champagne, took a sip, then stood in the wind.
Conversations drifted around her.
“That third item tonight is interesting–diary from some sick kid. Might be worth collecting.”
“Totally. Lots of these kids‘ artwork shows real talent, but their situations prevent them from developing it.“.
“Hope this auction actually helps them.”
“Cavendish Group’s charity events are legit. They pump millions into charity every year, so the money actually goes where it should.”
“Good to know. What’s everyone eyeing for the second half?”
“Screw the items–I want to see who wins between 888 and 823!”
“Same! This is better than Vegas!”
“Should we bet on the winner?”
Everyone wanted in on the action, turning quiet conversations into excited chatter.
They were all ready to gamble.
Amelia, the center of this circus, leaned against the railing while chaos swirled around her.
Suddenly, a shadow killed the light.
Amelia slowly turned to find Nathan scowling at her.
Behind him was endless betting noise, and his eyes were black as midnight.
Then Nathan spoke: “Why are you doing this?”
They both knew he meant the tanzanite bidding war.
Amelia didn’t answer. Instead, she met his dark stare and fired back: “What about you? Why are you doing this? For Vivian?”
Nathan went silent, jaw clenched tight.
Before she’d asked that question, he’d never really examined his motives.
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Chapter 46
Like most of his life, he often just felt he should do something and did it.”
That was usually enough.
But when this masked woman asked if it was for Vivian, something in his ches lisagreed.
Truth was, he just didn’t want that tanzanite going to someone else.
That’s all.
Why he felt that way–no clue.
The woman in front of him looked so breakable. The wind was brutal up here and seeing her fragile silhouette, he found himself saying: “Is it always
like this?”
Seeing her confused look, he clarified: “Ignoring your health, making you work when you’re clearly not well.”
Amelia’s eyebrow arched slightly. She didn’t get what Nathan was driving at.
After thinking, she asked: “Are you… feeling sorry for me, Mr. Harrison?”
Not “concerned“–“feeling sorry.”
Nathan’s mouth went into lockdo
Amelia looked down and suddenly laughed, though her nose burned with unshed tears.
She’d spent years by his side day and night, only to get “she’s dying, cut her some slack.” But now, standing here as Louie’s woman in his eyes, he was offering sympathy.
Fucking ridiculous.
“Since you think I’m Louie’s girl, what exactly are you doing right now?” Amelia kept her head down, voice light. “Why are you saying this shit to me?”
Nathan studied the woman before him. Her head stayed slightly bowed, that crescent–white half–mask hiding everything.
He couldn’t read her.
Hell, he couldn’t read himself either.
So he stayed silent.
Emotions churned inside her as Amelia finally looked up at the frowning, speechless man.
“Mr. Harrison, don’t waste sympathy on people who aren’t yours. Because that’s cheating on her.” Amelia paused, then smiled. “It would hurt her.”
Out of nowhere, eyes flashed in Nathan’s mind.
Sad eyes.
Amelia crying.
“Mr. Harrison, some people are disposable.”
“But some people, once they decide to leave, never look back.”
The masked woman’s voice was soft. Standing there with red lips moving, she looked stunning and mesmerizing.
She was smiling, but somehow, he felt like she was… crying.
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