Adrian's POV
The paper shredder hummed as I placed the documents inside. Satisfaction curled through me as I watched the documents turn to strips.
A soft knock made me look up.
"Mr. Cane, Miss White is—"
She pushed past him, eyes blazing with anger.
"Miss White."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked.
I gestured at Trey to leave. He nodded politely and closed the door behind him.
I turned to Amelia. "Nothing that isn't stated in the contract, Miss White."
She hit the table, nostrils flaring. "Nowhere in the contract is it stated that I'm to be treated like a slave, Mr. Cane."
I stood up and walked towards her. She held my gaze without flinching.
I liked that.
I stopped, barely an inch away from her. Her chest heaved as she stared at me.
I leaned down, closing the distance between us. Her green eyes widened slightly at the close proximity.
My gaze moved drifter to the small mole near her lips. She smelled like jasmine and caramel.
She inched back. "W-what do you think you're doing?"
My lips twitched at her flustered face, but I didn't move an inch.
"And do I?" I asked.
There was something in her eyes, a faded glint. It was gone before I could make sense of it.
"What?"
I tilted my head. "Do I treat you like a slave?"
She held my chest, pushing me back. I froze, my skin tingling at her touch.
Goosebumps spread through my arm; her skin felt hot on mine.
I clasped my hand over hers. She gasped in surprise.
"Mr. Cane," she called.
It was strange, not flinching at another human's touch. Her hand was soft…and warm.
She pushed back, trying to remove her hand from mine.
"A minute, please."
Before she could pull away again, I wrapped my arms around her. She froze in my arms, heart thundering loud enough for me to hear…and feel.
I'd forgotten how good felt to have another person's skin against mine.
To have her skin on mine.
She broke free, pulling away from the hug. My head whipped to the side as her hand made contact with my face.
I clicked my jaw, feeling the sting.
"You. Have. No. Right. To. Touch. Me," she seethed.
I paused.
It was the first time I'd seen that fire rage in her eyes. I recognized it almost immediately.
The Amelia I knew. The broken little girl who had everything taken away from her.
She was right there. She was always there.
I bit back a smile. I'd been going about this the wrong way.
"You're right," I said.
She paused. "What?"
I had a way of reaching that little girl.
I took a step back. "I shouldn't have held onto you like that."
Her brows shot up in suspicion.
I held her gaze. "My apologies, Miss White. It'd never happen again."
"I-I…" Her gaze darted around the room.
"Miss White?"
She keeled over, hand on her chest.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I-I just—"
I caught her before she could hit the ground. She clutched onto me like a lifeline, breathing hard.
"It's okay." I patted her gently. "You're okay."
She went limp in my arms.
"Miss White?"
No response.
"Amelia?"
I placed a finger under her nose.
She was breathing. Good.
The door sprang open and Trey walked in. He paused when he saw Amelia unconscious in my arms.
"Boss?"
He rushed over quickly. I held out a hand.
"Don't."
He stopped.
I carried Amelia gently in my arms, careful not to wake her up. I laid her gently on the sofa in the middle of the room.
"What happened, Boss?" Trey asked.
I sat beside her, gently placing her head on my lap as I studied her face. I pulled back strands of hair to see her more clearly.
How often did she have panic attacks?
From the looks of it, they were pretty severe.
"Why didn't you include her panic attacks in your research?" I asked.
She looked peaceful, sleeping as if she didn't have a care in the world.
"I-I didn't realize—"
"Leave."
I caressed her cheek gently.
I thought the Amelia I loved was gone completely. I could hardly recognize the person in front of me.
But I realized then, she was just buried—not gone.
I trailed a finger down her cheek.
"I've missed you, Amelia."
She groaned, her eyes opening just a crack.
"Adrian?"
I smiled. "I'm here."
She frowned. Drops of sweat pooled on her temple.
"I'm sorry."
Her brows furrowed deeper as she twitched in her sleep. I eased a finger on her temple, smoothing her brows.
"They're coming," she whispered.
She grabbed my shirt and pulled. "Run, Adrian."
"Amelia," I called softly.
"Run!" she yelled.
The word echoed in my head.
She remembered.
I held her up, pulling her into a hug. "I'm okay. I'm fine."
She sighed in relief, clutching my shirt.
"You're fine," she whispered. "You're okay."
Her pocket lit up when her phone buzzed. I glanced at her.
She was asleep.
I eased her back to the sofa gently and reached for her phone. I stared at the caller ID.
Brian.
I shut off the screen and tossed the phone on the sofa. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured a glass.
I watched the oblivious woman sleeping on the couch and smiled.
There was a way to get her back. But first I had to destroy the person she'd become.
Only then could she return to my Amelia.