A Ruthless Bargain

Chapter Twelve: The Morning After

Amelia.

Sunlight seeped into the room forcing brightness to disturb my sleep. My eyes fluttered open but the light almost blinded me forcing me to close them back.

I opened them fully after making sure I turned to the other side. The room was empty and somewhere deep in my heart I felt it.

My head pounded with a severe headache, one I had never had. And suddenly my memory returned in flashes. The boutique, Lucien's kiss, Auntie Rita and......Spencer!

Spencer had joined me when I sat to have a drink, the memories came in flashes and I could not remember our conversations. But what I would not forget was Lucien's arm grabbing mine out of the party and him tying me up.

Images of mine and Spencer's body pressed together surfaced again.

''What the f**k did I do?'' I breathed, sitting up abruptly.

That was not all. My head throbbed harder and I rubbed my palms against it but that didn't make it any better. I recalled Lucien untying me, his fingers sliding into me.....and...

My hands flew to my mouth.

I exhaled slowly, shutting my eyes as if that would close the doors to the memories but No!

I had called him too, texted when he didn't pick up and cried myself to sleep.

We almost broke the contract rule. I laughed at myself, angrily even. I picked up my phone to see if he replied. A part of me already knew the answer but another part hoped for the better.

He didn't reply neither did he call back. I could taste the disappointment at the tip of my tongue. I sniffled, not knowing I was crying until a tear slipped.

I looked at the space beside me, his space. His things were gone, his tie, cufflinks, wristwatch.....they were all there a few hours ago. He had kept them there last night after we returned from the party. Meaning he cleared them himself on purpose.

Why did I care? Why did it bother me? Why was I hurt?

I lay there for a few more minutes, staring at the ceiling, trying to process my feelings. And then realization dawned on me, I had eighty million dollars to pay off and in sum I had only two million. The entire money I had saved up since I started working part-time jobs.

The money I had initially planned to use for an apartment with Iris. And now, my freedom was slipping away.

That thought alone was enough to drown every thought of Lucien and head for a bath. I took my time scrubbing my body, I felt like dirt. Letting Spencer touch me with those hands and even though I knew the water would not wash it away completely, I still did.

Throughout the bath, images of last night would not stop haunting me. Lucien in the dark, his voice, the feel of his hands on my skin and how he just slid into me without warning.

Then without glancing back, he left the room, leaving me in a mess.

I rummaged through the closet finding what to wear. I found another part filled with casual wears, my type of outfits. Not too much.

I hurriedly got dressed and left the room, I was almost late for work again.

Downstairs, Lucien was nowhere in sight. The maids had already prepared breakfast and had them arranged carefully but there was no one in sight. I sat down, silently grateful that I wouldn't have to interact with anyone.

''Miss Amelia,'' Dominic's voice came from the door. ''We leave in twenty.''

And he disappeared.

My mouth watered at the varieties of food before me. There was chicken breast, it looked so soft and tender. Then there was rice, toast and fruits sliced perfectly.

I took my time making sure I ate to my fill. If I was going to pay a debt, I might as well add weight and look better before leaving.

After I was satisfied , I went outside and found Dominic standing beside the car door clearly engaged in a phone call. He opened the door for me and walked to the driver's side.

I slid in, my mouth itching to ask where Lucien was but I decided against it.

''You have better things to focus on Amelia.'' I thought mentally.

The drive felt short or maybe because my mind was too occupied. I sighed, stepped down and thanked him before the car zoomed away.

Walking down the alley, people gave me weird looks. I had to check my reflection using my camera just to make sure there was nothing on my face.

At the bookstore , it was same too. Madam Grace didn't have a smile on her face when I greeted her which was absurd because she was always cheerful.'

''Are you good?'' She asked softly and I nodded.

That was all.

Everyone glanced in my direction as I moved through the shelves to find the only person that would give me an answer to my question. I found her seated in our usual spot, a space close to the window at the far end of the library where two little soft couch plushies sat on the floor.

She had no smile on her face too when her eyes met mine. She gestured at the couch opposite her and I obliged without a word.

''Is everything okay?'' I asked, concern evident in my voice now.

She ignored my question, pouring me tea instead. ''Here.''

I took the cup from her, placing it between my lips. ''Thank you.''

The liquid was about to pass my throat when they all spilled out, smearing our dresses and her face. ''Who is Lucien Alexander Cross to you?''

How did she know about Lucien? Did she figure anything out?

''How did you know?'' my voice a low whisper.

She glared at me, clearly asking why I was answering a question with a question.

''It's all over the news?'' she replied calmly.

All over the news? Wait, was that why everyone was staring at me? And Madam Grace....

''This can't happen.'' I shook my head, speaking more to myself.

She handed me her phone and I scrolled through the article. There was a photo of me and Lucien entering the event yesterday and a video clip of him saying, ''she is my wife''

I watched the clip thrice, replaying that sentence.

''He is rumoured to be a Mafia.'' Iris whispered, concern evident in her tone.

''You're not safe with him. You never told me he was the man you got married to.''

I had the words at the tip of my tongue but I could not say them. I could not explain it to her because everything was so complicated. How do I explain that I was sold to this guy by my own uncle just to get rid of some debt that I had to pay off and it's a contract marriage that would last for eight months.

The headache I was feeling earlier this morning resurface again.

''I don't know if he's a Mafia guy Iris, but I'm sure of one thing, Lucien would never hurt me....not on purpose.'' I said to her, confused myself.

Then she asked me a question I was never ready for, one that I didn't have an answer to.

''Are you happy, Amelia?''