Liam
It has been nothing short of torturous, my week that is. Casmir and I have been going back and forth at court, and Amelie had suddenly decided that she wanted to visit her parents. Although I forbade her from leaving without my knowledge, there was no guarantee she would listen to me.
Although things were currently moving in my favor in court, there was no telling what feats Casmir might try to pull next.
Aside from Anna, my lawyers and myself, nobody else was aware of the fact that I had seen my father's will beforehand. Specifically, a month before it was read out to the family. Within the timeframe of one month, I had been able to pin down Amelie's location, and had also signed the movement of Woods headquarters three days prior to the will reading.
I had the documents, and the proof of everything, victory was almost mine. But at the same time I was terrified. I trusted everybody I worked with, and was certain none of them would sell me out no matter what. However, Casmir was not to be underestimated. He had managed to put up quite a good fight in court, strong enough to prolong this case to almost two weeks now.
He had new information to provide on every hearing, and a part of me feared that he might soon find out that I had stolen and read the will before the appointed date.
"Is there something troubling you sir?" Anna asked as we walked out of the courtroom. A horde was outside, and the media were on their best attitude, trying to get the slightest bit of information out of anybody. Casmir seemed to be freehanded with all the interviewers, but I refused to utter a word to anybody.
I knew better than to say a word to the press. They were the worst liars on earth, and would do anything to get a good story, even if it meant twisting your words and giving you a bad image.
I was the kind of man who cherished my reputation more than wealth.
"I've told you before haven't I, don't address me so formally when it's just the two of us." I reminded Anna as I entered into the passenger seat of the car. Anna took the wheels, and after the crowd of paparazzos were cleared away, she drove out of the court premises.
A year after things ended between me and Amelie, I met Anna at a local bar in Italy. Although our parents had known each other for a long while now, we rarely knew a thing about the other.
At that time she had just graduated from business school, and I was still suffering a little from my divorce. She had flown back to the country with dreams of assisting her father in the family business, and at that time was single. She had visited the local bar to get acquainted with her new environment, and at the same time I had come to drown myself in alcohol.
Recognising each other wasn't difficult, and bonding wasn't that hard too. I guess that at that point in time I was in need of somebody to lean on, and Anna still had her teenage dreams clouding up her eyes. As long as the guy was handsome, rich and could give her good sex, she was down for it.
We hooked up on our first meeting, and it soon became a regular routine. The sex helped me clear my mind, and somehow distracted me from the problems I was supposed to be dealing with. While Anna was in love with me, or maybe with how good I was in bed.
Six months later we were married, and after four months got separated. Although she wasn't feeble and submissive like Amelie, I just couldn't put up with her. The sex got boring eventually, and once again I returned to drinking.
Anna on the other hand couldn't handle my incessant complaints and my addiction to drinking. So after four months, she filed for a divorce and we were free from each other. She learnt the difference between infatuation and love, and I learnt that drinking and sleeping around wouldn't help me one bit. In a way, we both taught each other valuable life lessons.
After I was done with rehab, I hired her to be my personal assistant. And contrary to my expectations, she accepted, and has been loyal ever since. There was no intimacy between us, and it was clear Anna was done with every ounce of romantic feelings she ever had for me.
"I don't want to act so casual around another man's husband." She returned coldly.
"Have you made the preparations I requested for?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Casmir's spies have been taken care of. Andrew will forfeit the case tomorrow, and all this drama will end."
"That's good." I commented. At first, I hadn't expected Casmir's lawyer to put up such a convincing act for so long. But Andrew was so good at his job that I feared he might have switched sides without us knowing. Although consequences were attached to betraying Liam Hardwood, I still wanted to avoid getting embarrassed publicly by a side switching bastard.
All this madness would end tomorrow, and I can finally focus on getting Amelie under me once again. Ever since the last drama between us, she has been cold, a trait I never imagined she would possess. She genuinely wanted nothing to do with me, and now intended to visit her parents, probably to stay with them permanently.
I couldn't risk her leaving, knowing her parents, they'd probably convince her to never get married to me again. And Amelie being so simple minded, and an easily influenced lady, would probably listen to them.
The fact that the spies Anna hired hadn't called us yet meant that she was still in town. Amelie might be timid and all, but she was smart, and oddly good at reading her environment. It wouldn't take long before she discovers that she's being spied on, and if that happens, my chances of getting back with her would dwindle even more.
The car halted in front of my mansion, and I got down almost immediately. I hurried into the house, and was a bit relieved to find her seated in the house. But I wasn't okay with the fact that she had been alone with another man in the house.
"Who's he?" I asked. "And what's he doing in my house?"
Amelie rose from the sofa seductively, and after planting a kiss on the strangers lips, finally answered me.
"Liam, meet my new boyfriend."