He doesn’t reply as I zip up the duffle and put it over my shoulder. When I turn around, he’s watching me, and there’s an expression on his face I can’t decipher.
He glances out of the window, looking at Melvin on the street. I strain to do the same and smile. Melvin is out of his car, leaning against it, chatting it up with some of the kids in the neighborhood. I hope he has an eye on his side mirrors because they’ll be gone before he can blink.
“You could do a lot with your life, Amelia,” Lucas says, looking back at me. “You could do anything you want. Be anything you want. I hope you realize that.” He sounds impossibly sad.
I can’t speak. I knew it was coming, but the reality of our goodbye is so much worse than I had pictured.
“Your sister is in a good place now. Whatever happens between us, I won’t go back on what I’ve offered. I’ll have my accountant send the funds you need to an account in your name. It’s yours to do with as you see fit, and the money you earned working for me is yours to spend however you wish.”
My stomach flips.
“Your talents have been entirely wasted until now. But I hope there is never a doubt in your mind that the time we spent together was wonderful.” His voice softens, and he hits me with that little smile I love so much. “And that’s why you’re fired, effective immediately.”
I feel the tears well up in my eyes. It’s impossible to prevent them. I stand there, numbly, with my bag over my shoulder.
He’s fired me. Dismissed me like used goods.
Then Lucas steps forward as the bag drops to the floor, and I stare up at him as he places his hands on my shoulders.
I’m not sure I can bear his reassurances now. I just want him to leave.
“You’re no longer my escort, Amelia,” he says, his voice a whisper. “For a long time now, I’ve seen you as much more than that.”
My heart swells as I meet his gaze, a tear falling down my cheek, which he brushes away with his thumb.
“If you want me, really wantme,not my money, not the job, then I’m here. I don’t know what the future might hold for us, but all I know for certain is that things can’t continue as they are. I care about you too much.”
He sighs, curling my hair behind my ear, running his eye over it with an expression that looks a lot like awe.
“I’m more grateful than I can say for all you have done for me the last few weeks,” he says gently. “But it wasn’t real. Iwantit to be real. If that’s something you want, too, then I’ll be waiting.”
He steps back, and I miss the warmth of his hands immediately.
“I’ll give you some time to think about it and get Annabelle settled. No matter what happens between us, I will never turn my back on her. Not ever. But if you want what I want, arealrelationship for us to make a go of things, then come by my apartment tomorrow night. If you don’t show, then I’ll have my answer.”
He kisses me gently, his fingers tightening around my shoulders, and when he pulls back, my whole body is trembling like a leaf.
“I care about you, Amelia. But you have to come to me on your own terms.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “You’re so much more than an EA to me, and if you give me the chance, I’ll prove it to you.”
Chapter 48
Lucas
It’s eleven PM the following night, and I’ve barely slept over the last twenty-four hours. I’ve been pacing around my apartment, waiting for the bell to ring and slowly losing hope.
I’ve misjudged this to such a terrible degree that it’s almost comical.
I gave Amelia everything she needed and then expected to be enough to win her back.
Just me.
A man who fucked her without even attempting to get to know her, who pays for sex from escorts instead of having real relationships.
Why would she ever choose that?
Not to mention that I’m fifteen years older than her, she could have anyone. One of those tanned, beautiful men in the Maldives would almost certainly be more her type.
I don’t even know if Iamher type. All I’m certain of is that she was with me for the money. She used her body to give me whatever I wanted, and now, without obligation or expectation, I’ve let her go. As if she would ever willingly come back.
