Pretending To Love Mr Hill

Chapter 8

She stepped out of the office building and let the evening air hit her face, relief settling into her shoulders like a weight finally set down. At least she was out of the building for today.

She spotted the car right away, sleek and black, parked in its usual spot, she walked over and slid into the back seat, and the moment the door closed behind her, she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, she was glad that Travis wasn't in the car with them.

Andre noticed, of course he noticed, he always noticed everything, his eyes went to the rearview mirror, and he adjusted it slightly.

"Are you good?" he asked.

She blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah, I'm good."

He studied her for a while before turning his attention back to the road. "Does he disturb you that much?"

"No," she said quickly, "That's not what I'm—"

"You don't need to argue," Andre cut in "I understand how you feel. This is a little too much."

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "I know I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but... yeah."

Andre let out a soft chuckle, "don't be so up tight I won't tell on you" he pauses and she makes to pick her phone when she hears him laughing, she doesn't know why but she there's something transferrable about it because the laugh slipped out of her before she could stop it, after the stop she visibly relaxes easing into the seat a little.

He started the car, and they fell into a comfortable silence after that, the city sliding past the windows, streetlights blinking on one by one as the sky dimmed, she rested her head against the seat and let her mind go quiet.

When Andre pulled up in front of her apartment building, she thanked him and stepped out, waiting until his car pulled away before she turned to get inside.

Inside, she kicked off her shoes the moment the door shut behind her, sending them clattering somewhere near the entryway, and dropped onto the couch with a groan, sinking into the cushions like she hadn't sat down properly in years, she dug through her bag until her fingers found her phone, and without thinking twice, she dialed Cecelia.

Cecelia picked up on the second ring. "Hey sister?" She squealed so loud she had to take the phone away from her ear.

"Hi sis" she replies unenthusiastically, Cecelia didn't seem to care or probably she didn't notice, either way she continued

"How are you?"

"I'm fine," Amelia said, and even to her own ears it sounded a little too automatic. "How are you doing?"

"Don't worry about me," Cecelia said, waving her off even though she couldn't see her. "What's the update ? What's been going on with your boss"

She could sense the teasing in her sisters voice and rolled her eyes "there's nothing going on Ceci"

Her sister scoffed "oh please, what's the latest gist"

She knew her sister, she wouldn't give up unless she talked, she either she spilled everything or she would somehow turn whatever topic they were speaking about around till it came back to Travis so she sighed and gave in.

She told her everything, she told her about the conference, and about those girls who were gossiping about her, about how she felt like kicking their butts, she also told her about the text and how she didn't know what to reply, her sister made a fuss about it, telling her to simply say you're welcome .

All of it spilled out of her in a way she hadn't let herself do all day. Cecelia listened, mostly quiet, except for the occasional gasp in the right places, until she couldn't help herself anymore and burst out laughing.

"Why are you laughing," Amelia said, half annoyed, half amused despite herself.

"I don't know," Cecelia said between laughs. "It's not even that funny, it's just, I feel like I'm hearing the plot of a movie. I've never had a scene like this happen to me in my entire life."

"You should be more sympathetic," Amelia said, though there was no real bite in it. "I'm actually tired, Cece. I just want all of this to be over."

"You're just getting started," Cecelia said, and Amelia could hear the smile in her voice even as she softened. "But you'll be fine."

Amelia sighed, letting her head fall back against the couch cushion. There was a pause on the line, and she could feel the shift before Cecelia even said it.

"Have you told Dad?"

Amelia's stomach dropped a little. "No."

"You know you have to tell him before the news goes out," Cecelia said, and now there was no laughter left in her voice at all. "You know how he's going to get if he sees it somewhere else first."

"Yes, I know," Amelia said, pressing her fingers against her temple. "I'll find a way to tell him, I just, I don't know how yet."

"Do you want to see his face when you do?"

"Probably not," Amelia admitted. "I'll just find a way to explain it to him later."

"You can do it," Cecelia said simply, and somehow that was enough to make Amelia's chest loosen a little.

"How's life over there?" Amelia asked, needing to change the subject, needing something else to think about besides her father's face when he found out.

"I'm good," Cecelia said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, don't worry," Cecelia said. "I'll come down for Christmas and we'll get some time to catch up properly. Maybe I'll finally get to meet this boss of yours."

Amelia huffed a small laugh. "Alright."

They said their goodbyes, and Amelia ended the call, setting the phone down on the couch cushion beside her, she sat there for a moment staring at nothing, before pushing herself up and heading toward the kitchen to figure out what she was going to have for dinner