Nathaniel Ashford was well-known for his ability to stay on top of things, and he exuded confidence even in quiet. This night, however, he became more specific—diffused sparkles of vulnerability showed just beyond his polished exterior. His normally firm fingers shook slightly as he led Amelia to the desk he'd set up on a secluded terrace, framed by candles flickering in the gentle evening breeze.
"Amelia," he muttered, caressing a stray strand of her hair again, his hand lingering as if the moment was likely brief. "I've wanted to do it for a while. "Just the two people, away from everyone else."
She smiled, hoping to relieve the tension she perceived. "No board members, no family? I rarely know what to do with you," she teased softly, but he didn't chuckle. He looked at her with a heavy stare and a faint smile that was nearly painful.
Dinner was set, and he poured them both wine. He raised his glass to her, holding her eyes firmly. "To us," he murmured, his voice husky and unexpectedly heavy.
Amelia clinked her glass against his, yet a strange twinge of worry rushed through her. As the wine settled in her throat, she detected a trace of something else beyond the sweetness—a warning, an experience that something was hidden beneath his polished appearance.
They slipped into a dining pattern, with each alternate laden with unspoken details. It appeared like their regular comfort, the familiar bond, had been replaced by an unseen wall. The candlelight softened Nathaniel's features, but his jaw hardened and his eyes grew distant, obscured by something he hadn't told her.
He stretched across the desk and covered her hand with his own. "You recognize, Amelia," he began, a little trembling in his voice. "I never expected… to feel this way about you." His stare softened, and she caught a glimpse of something raw in his eyes. "Being with you, it's like—" he paused, his voice halting, his hand pulling lower back almost automatically. "I apologize." "I'm not appropriate with this."
"true with what?" She requested gently, her voice barely above a whisper. Part of her wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap, but she realized something was building within him, something he couldn't help but expose.
Before he could react, the patio doors opened, allowing them to see Evelyn standing there, her face fading yet composed.
"Nathaniel," she said calmly, "your uncle Victor... "He has a lower back."
The syllables hung in the air, thick and weighty. The sound of Victor's name seemed to strike a chord within Nathaniel, his entire manner altering as a flicker of alarm crossed his face, too quick to conceal. His hand slid from Amelia's, and for the first time, she noticed it—the shadow over his calm, the shakiness in his self-belief. It was as if Victor's sheer presence had fractured something deep inside him, something he didn't want to hide.
"He's again?" Nathaniel's voice sounded hollow, faraway. He looked at Amelia, his smile taut and constrained. "well, it appears the night just were given interesting."
Amelia watched him, her heart pounding with discomfort, his jaw set and his gaze distant. She knew Nathaniel to be approachable, calm, and resolute. This revealed a side of him that she had never seen before: a moment of fear, possibly weakness.
Evelyn's gaze wandered among them, her mouth set into a firm line as if she were returning a flow of words. She approached Nathaniel, getting in close and speaking quietly and steadily. "You need to keep focused. He's going to rely on you to waver." Her eyes flicked to Amelia, then back to Nathaniel, as if to warn him of something far more deadly than his own family politics.
Nathaniel's jaw clenched and his eyes darkened. "He can't manipulate the whole lot, Evelyn," he continued, his voice barely contained. "no longer anymore."
However, Evelyn's look remained stern and unrelenting. "He doesn't have to manipulate everything. He only wishes for one weak point." With a quick gesture to Amelia, Evelyn left them alone once more, leaving a lingering silence behind her.
Nathaniel breathed, the weight of whatever he had turned into sporting appearing to become heavier. Amelia found her give up his. "Nathaniel… "What's going on?"
He glanced at her, his countenance softening, as if he wanted to tell her something, but couldn't find the words. "It is complicated, Amelia. "This family..." He paused, shaking his head, a nasty smirk wrinkling his lips. "We're not like other families. Victor has his approaches.
There was darkness in his eyes, the intensity of something he had kept hidden from her. She wanted to press him further, to find out what had left him so worn out, but she knew better. Nathaniel might best proportion what he was prepared to show.
"is this approximately the merger?" She inquired, her tone just above a whisper.
He nodded, his gaze fixed on her, a desperate expression crossing his face. "It's more than that," he said quietly, tightening his grip around hers. "A long-standing obligation remains unpaid. And now that Victor is back, he's going to accumulate."
The words sent a shiver through her. She should see the anguish inside him, the conflict pulling him in different directions. He became a guy tied by his family and loyalty, but there was something else—something dark and twisted—that kept him back.
Before she could ask him, the sound of footfall approached and echoed across the patio. Nathaniel's expression grew chilly as he watched Victor approaching them with a sense of victory, his dark eyes glinting in the candlelight.
"Nathaniel." His voice became clear, even silky, but there was another side to it, a dispersed warning that left no room for dissent. "I didn't expect to find you right here. And with Amelia, not much less." His gaze swept over her, a hungry smile spreading across his lips. "What a lovable wonder."
Amelia felt a shudder pass through her as Victor's stare lingered on her, as if he were assessing her like a trophy. Nathaniel's gaze showed a spark of irritation, and his fingers tightened protectively around hers.
"Uncle," Nathaniel replied, his voice cool and measured. "We weren't watching for you tonight."
Victor's smile widened, his gaze shifted between them, and the leisure in his eyes intensified. "Oh, I'm positive you weren't." He moved closer, his gaze fixed on Amelia, his words low. "but I wouldn't omit this for the world."
Amelia felt her heart increase, her senses screaming at her that there was more to Victor's backstory than he was revealing. She looked at Nathaniel, her heart sinking as she noted the tension in his jaw and the strain in his gaze.
Victor became to her, his demeanor softening, but she could sense the calculation behind it, the coldness lurking just behind the surface. "Amelia, my expensive," he whispered, his voice as smooth as silk. "I trust you're properly?"
She managed a nod, trying herself to maintain her composure, but she could detect the frost in his gaze, as if he was toying with her, testing her will.
"Sure, Uncle Victor," she responded, her voice steady, despite her heart hammering in her chest. "It's… correct to look you."
Victor's smile had a note of derision as he took her hand, his hands chilly and firm. "I'm positive it's far," he muttered, his gaze never leaving hers. "i've a sense we'll be seeing lots more of each different soon."
He launched her hand, his smile broadening as he turned to face Nathaniel. "I hope you're prepared, nephew." "Matters are about to become interesting."
With that, he turned and stormed away, leaving everyone in stunned stillness, the worry lingering in the air long after he was gone.
Amelia examined Nathaniel, her heart pounding as she noticed the haunting look in his eyes. She wanted to reach out and soothe him, but she understood that whatever he became confronted with, he had to face alone.
"Nathaniel," she spoke gently, just above a whisper. "What's occurring?"
He looked at her with a conflicted expression, as if he wanted to tell her everything but couldn't. "Amelia… There are some things I can't explain, particularly those that go back generations. Victor is not solely interested in business. He's here for vengeance."
The words caused her to sit back, and she or he felt her heart race as she looked into his eyes, the intensity of his pain and worry all too clear. She knew something was coming, and it would be far more dangerous than anything they had encountered previously.
"Amelia," he murmured, his voice low and insistent. "Promise me..." Promise me you'll be careful.
She nodded, her heart hammering as she looked into his eyes, the significance of his words soaking in. She knew whatever came next would be a test of everything she valued—loyalty, love, and electricity.
"I promise," she said quietly, her voice full of resolution.
They stood there in silence, the weight of their unspoken concerns hanging over them. And as they looked out over the city, the darkness extending out ahead of them, they both realized that this was only the beginning—that the shadows that had torm
ented them for see you later were finally closing in, and there was no turning back.