The garden above.

"As broken or as fucked up as I am, you have managed to bring some light into my life and I can't picture the rest of it without you."

"Adam, you have feelings for me?" I ask out loud.

"Isn't that why you've been messing with my head? Deciding to go on a date and a hanging out with Damien all night."

"No, I wasn't." I say softly.

"Don't act all innocent now." He says darkly.

"Damien is your best friend."

"But he's still a guy, I saw him whispering in your ear and you were laughing. Do you want to be with him?"

"Of course not!" I feel like I'm going to cry.

He takes a seat, running his fingers through his hair. "Then do you want to be with me?"

"I-why are you asking me that?"

He looks into my eyes. "I want to be with you."

"Adam, are you sure? Your reaction after New York, it hurt me a lot. I don't want to feel like that ever again."

"I know, I know and it kills me to know that I've caused you so much pain."

"I'm scared." I admit.

"I'm not saying I'm not going to fuck up again but I will try and become a good man for you."

I sigh, taking a seat next to him. "You're already a good man."

"Then I'll become better, everyday. If that's what it takes."

"Okay." I breathe.

"You want this?"

"Yes, Adam. You make happy." I'd be a fool to say no.

He pulls me to his lap and wrap his arms around me. "You make me happy too, baby."

My eyes light up when he calls me that. "Yes. My baby." He kisses my cheeks and adds, "Always."

I smile and hug him tightly. He hugs me back, stroking my hair and my phone starts ringing.

"Who's calling?" Adam growls.

I pull away and check my phone, "It's Damien."

"Don't answer it."

"But I-"

He takes the phone from me and rejects the call while I stare at him in disbelief.

"No more dates, Amelia and no more fucking Damien. I don't like to share." He says possessively.

"I don't either." I tell him back.

"Good." He smiles.

"Can we take things slow? I would like to have a few days to think."

"Sure." He says and leans in to kiss me.

"No." I pull back.

"What?"

"Don't kiss me, please."

"Why?" He asked utterly confused.

"Till I finish thinking."

He leans in and kisses my cheek. "But I want to kiss you now."

"You've kissed me like five times already." I blush.

"And I want to do it again and again and again." He says kissing all over my face.

"Adam."

"Amelia." He says, trailing his kisses to my ear. "Stop." I giggle.

He backs away and looks at me with a devilish smile. "Stop denying me what's mine."

"It's just a few days."

"Fine." He agrees.

"Thank you."

We decide to go back inside and as we're walking back, we see Damien.

"Hey, I kept calling where were you guys?"

"We um.." I don't know what to say so I look at Adam who looks emotionless right now, expecting him to say something but he just keeps his straight face.

"Wait." Damien says looking at Adam's hand on my waist with wide eyes. "Did you...did- duuuuude!" He grins looking at Adam.

"Bloody hell! you fucking did it!" He says tapping Adam's back.

Adam just gives him a look. "Where did you get my wife's number?"

"She gave it to me." Damien smiles evilly.

Adam turns to look at me and I let out a soft nervous laughter.

I see Ned, Adam's assistant approaching. "Sir, Mr Dumont is looking for you. I think he's wants to make a deal." He says.

Adam releases my waist. "I'm sorry I must see this."

"Of course."

He takes my hands and place two soft kisses and then walks away with Ned, leaving me there as I melt internally.

I don't think a man has ever kissed my hands. It's such a warm and loving gesture.

"Look at you." Damien says smiling.

"What?"

He shakes his head. "I am very happy for the both of you and I hope you know you're in the best hands." He says and takes his leave.

I go back inside and walk to my friends.

My heart is still racing. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around what just happened.

"What happened?" Camilla asks.

"Adam...."

Emily's eyes widen. "What?"

"He just confessed." I whisper.

"What?" They all yell in shock.

"Oh my God. That's amazing."

"I know." I breathe.

"What's wrong?" Nicole says.

"Nothing."

"You don't seem very excited." She points.

"I am." I force a smile.

Okay, I am scared out of my mind.

****

"Has Amelia come down yet?" I hear Adam's voice and my eyes widen.

It's been two days since the confession. I have been avoiding Adam completely because I don't know what to say to him.

I just woke up and I'm now down in the pantry which is next to my kitchen.

"I believe she's out for her morning run." Nina tells him and I sigh in relief. She's been helping me these past few days. Every time Adam is coming, she let's me know so that I can hide.

It's ridiculous, I know.

"She runs?" I hear him ask.

"Yeah, all the time."

I don't hear anything else but his footsteps walking away and I sigh again.

Thank God.

I raise my hand and try to reach for my vanilla protein powder. It's too high so I step on the shelving and I try to grab it but before I know it, I'm falling down on my ass, causing a loud sound. "Ow!" Then I quickly cover my mouth.

It's too late because someone opens the door and of course it's him.

"Adam, hi!" I smile, faking enthusiasm.

"Are you okay?" He asks not returning my smile.

"Uhn, yeah. I'm fine."

He stretches his hand. "Here."

I take and I stand up, dusting my butt.

"What happened?" He asks.

"I was trying to reach that." I point at the protein powder at the top.

He moves, close standing in front of me, his body against mine then he stretches his hand, easily taking it and hands it to me without a word.

"Thanks." I whisper unable to look at him. He is too close. I try to move away but he grips my waist, bringing his mouth down to my ear.

"Next time you ask the staff to lie on your behalf, don't leave your scent lingering in the hallways." He says.

"I-no, that wasn't-"

He ignores me and walks to the kitchen. I follow him behind and go over to the island where I've already kept the other ingredients for my shake.

Adam opens to cabinet and takes out his coffee. "I know you've been avoiding me." He says as he drops it next to the coffeemaker.

"Adam."

"I'm going traveling out of the country for a week so you can have the house all to yourself." He mocks.

"Where are you going?"

"London, Paris, Dubai, Berlin."

"Wow. That's a lot of places." In the past, there were times that I would also go to many places in a couple of days for jobs.

It's very stressful.

"Do you want to come?" He asks.

I shake my head, no. "Is it to promote your plane?"

"Yes."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tonight?" He answers but it feels more like a question.

"So soon?"

"Yes." He replies and after a few seconds, he adds, "Unless, you're done putting me off."

My eyes widen. "Is that why you're leaving?"

"Well, I am not a patient person. This wait is killing me so I rather take my mind off it."

"So you set up a trip to-"

"No, I pushed it back."

"Thanks....I guess."

"I understand your hesitation." He says.

"What do you mean?"

He doesn't say anything because he's brooding, lost in his thoughts.

I walk over to him and hold is arm. "What are you thinking about?"

He stares into my eyes for the first time today. "That you will say no."

"Adam, I'm not going to say no."

He reaches for my hands. "Then travel with me tonight. Please? We can have dinner in Paris."

I pull my hand away and push my hair back. "I can't. I have things to do here."

He loses the warm look on his face, clenching his jaw.

"It's just a week. I'll be here when you get back." I hug him. When he doesn't hug me back, I pull back and give him a short kiss on the lips.

Again, I don't get a reaction from him.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" He asks.

"No, it's supposed to make me feel better." I tell him then in a soft tone, I add, "I want you just as much." Probably more.

"Then why are you doing this?"

"I just..ugh! What if it doesn't work out?"

What if it becomes so bad and I end up losing him? For good.

"And what if it does? Amelia, I thought you wanted this."

I move away from him. "I did. I do! But I'm confused. When did you start feeling this way? Was it before or after New York? Or was is just days ago? I can't stop wondering."

He shakes his head and pours his coffee.

"Are you angry with me?" I ask softly.

"No, I'm not."

I wrap my hands around him again. This time from behind because he has turned his back.

"Please don't be mad at me."

He puts his hands on my mind then turns around and kisses them, looking directly into my eyes. "I'm not."

He lets go of my hands and then smiles. "But just so you know, you're missing out."

Ugh! The arrogance! But I find myself grinning.

"And what am I missing out on?"

"Say yes and find out." He takes a sip of his coffee.

His phone starts ringing so he answers. "Dad."

I look at my wristwatch. I need to get ready.

"I will ask my assistants to search for the report. I'm sure we have it."

"I have to get ready. Bye." I say then quickly head upstairs.

****

"You have no idea how much I needed this." I tell Tyler.

"A night out?"

"Yes."

"So how is going on between you and your hubby?"

"He's out of the country."

"I sincerely hope you know what you're getting into."

Before I can speak, Chloe snaps at him. "Tyler, what's your deal?"

"Excuse me?"

"What? Are you jealous of Adam or something?" She asks him.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Guys." I say slowly.

"We all know you have an unhealthy obsession with Amelia which is why you're probably bummed that she's about to be in a relationship."

Oh my God. Chloe!

"I'm not fucking bummed. I just care about her and don't want to see her hurt. Not all of us live in a pretentious world like you do."

"You don't know shit."

"I actually know so much shit! You know, like how you're planning to break my cousin's heart in what? A couple of days from now."

"Fuck you!"

"Guys, enough. Oh my God! What are you even fighting about?"

"I'm outta here. Amelia, good luck!" He says and storms off.

"Gosh! What is wrong with that guy? He is fucking crazy."

"No, maybe he's going through something."

"What? Puberty?" Chloe rolls her eyes.

I sigh. "You know how Tyler is."

"Yeah, whatever."

"So are you flying back to London immediately after graduation?"

"Yes but I'll come back soon, obviously. You guys are my best friends."

"Can I ask you something and you won't get upset?" I ask her. Chloe can be a bit scary sometimes. I mean, she scares me a lot.

"Sure."

"Do you love Jacob?"

"No."

"Seriously?" I ask.

"Yes, Amelia. I love him as a friend but I don't have romantic feelings for him."

"But he loves you."

"Tyler loves you." She points.

"No, he doesn't." Gosh!

"Look, Jacob thinks he loves me but he doesn't. Do you know how many times I've caught him texting or dm-ing hot girls on Instagram. If I tell him I love him right now and he supposedly loves me back then what? Do you think he will be able to commit to me and only for the rest of his life right now? You guys seem to forget it's Jacob. Jacob."

"I know but I thought he would change for you." I state but then it starts sinking in.

"He's twenty-two, Amelia. I'm even older than he is. He's still got a lot to live for and honestly, so do I." She says simply.

"Yeah, I guess I never thought of it that way."

"Yes, all of you are thinking oh it's Chloe's fault and she's the bad guy and whatever."

I shrug innocently.

She stands up and pulls me up with her. "Let's go fuck it up on the dance floor."

"Okay."

"Louis down to my drawers. LV all on my shoes." She starts rapping and it's kind of funny because of her accent.

About fifteen songs later and Chloe and I dancing, some guy comes up to us.

"Hey, gorgeous." He says to me.

"Uh, hi."

"Love the way you dance." He says.

"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to take a few steps back." Wesley appears in front of me.

"What's up, old man?" The guy says.

"Back away."

"I'm just having fun with the pretty lady, aren't we honey?"

"Mrs Black is off limits."

"Mrs?"

I show him my ring.

"Woah." He says and reaches forward to touch but Wesley catches his arm and twists. "Like I said, off limits." He says and starts dragging the guy out.

Chloe and I stare at each other in shock.

"Adam." I whisper. Wesley doesn't do anything without orders.

"Well, fuck."

****

It's been four days since Adam has gone. The day after he left he called me in the morning. It was the morning after I went to the nightclub.

I asked him whether he would stay for a few more days if I told him to and he said yes.

"Really?" I ask him in shock.

"Well, you have all the control now but if you say yes, we'll be doing things my way."

"Your way?"

"Yes."

"Wesley was very mean last night."

"Good. I asked him to."

"You're a very jealous." I point.

"Yes, I am. Better keep that in mind." He says in a low threatening and sexy voice.

"I can be crazy jealous too, you know. Like raging bitch crazy."

"Yes, you've proven that quite a few times." He says sarcastically and I can hear the amusement in his voice.

"I'm serious."

"Okay."

"I have to go, my friends are here."

"Okay." He repeats.

"Bye."

"Bye, Amelia."

Since then he calls everyday just to check up on me. He just asks how I'm doing or how my day was and then goes back to his work.

He hasn't called today and I feel like I'm dying. I've gotten used to his phone calls and now it feels weird that we haven't talked.

I miss his voice. I miss him. A lot and I didn't think I would because this was my choice and all.

I'm actually really scared to go into this relationship with Adam. I can't believe I'm saying but I don't trust him. I mean, I trust him, trust him but I don't trust him with my heart.

I feel like he would hurt me and I really really don't want to get hurt. I'm still not entirely sure how he feels about me and I don't know what to expect from him and in a relationship. My main concern comes from knowing how strong my feelings are towards him and I feel like when you feel that strongly towards someone, they could hurt you.

But it's Adam. He has like the best heart even though he tries to hide. I know that because I believe he's opened it to me and that's why I fell in love.

Too think that this is all I wanted and thought of for the past few months and now that it's suddenly here, I'm having all these second thoughts.

Should I make a list of pros and cons?

Pros

-He's handsome

-He is very handsome

-He's hot and sexy as hell

-He's good to me

-He has an amazing body

Okay, this list could go on forever. The only con is that he might hurt me and that comes from my fear.

But I feel like this is a good thing. I mean, when it's good it's never that easy, right?

Also, my fear is based on something that might not even happen so I take out my phone.

And I type him a text.

Hey, when are you coming back? I miss you

Ah! I can't do it. I'm so nervous. Oh my God.

I take deep breaths, close my eyes and press send.

Let's fucking do this.

****

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