Pretending To Love Mr Hill

Chapter 2

Amelia felt the weight of everything as she walked toward the tall office building. The morning sun was too bright for her tired eyes. She had tossed and turned all night thinking about Travis and the crazy proposal.

Her mind would not rest, now her body felt heavy and slow. Every step made her want to turn back and hide in her bed. But she kept going because she knew she had to face this, she hadn't had enough sleep the day before and she really wasn't in the mood for all this, immediately she walks into the office building she can tell people are looking at her different and whispering, she can only Imagine they might have seen the photos of her and Travis.

The stares felt like little needles on her skin. A group of women near the front desk stopped talking when she passed. One of them even pointed with her eyes. Amelia pulled her shoulders in tight. She hated this feeling., It was like everyone knew her secret already even though nothing was real.

She kept her head down and walking faster. Her heart beat hard in her chest. The whispers followed her like shadows, she wondered what they were saying. Did they think she was after his money? Did they think she slept her way to the top? The thoughts made her stomach turn.

She shrinks into her self and walks to his office.

Her feet moved on their own now. She just wanted to get this over with, even the hallway felt longer than usual. The clean floors and glass walls looked too perfect for her messy life. She thought about calling Cecilia but thought otherwise, it was too early to bombard her with her feelings.

She thought about it already and she might not have another option, she needs this internship on her CV , she needs to show clients how capable she is after graduating, and to do all that she needs her reputation in tact, she sighs, she takes the elevator to the top floor and exhales as the elevator door opens.

The elevator ride gave her a short moment of quiet. She stared at her reflection in the shiny metal wall. Her eyes looked puffy and her hair was not as neat as she wanted. She sighed again and tried to fix her shirt. The numbers climbed higher and higher until the door opened with a soft ding. The top floor was always so quiet and fancy. It smelled like expensive coffee and power. Andre was not at his desk this time, she walked straight to the big wooden door wondering where he might have gone.

She walked to the door and knocks, "come in" he says and she quickly shuffles her feet towards the desk, "sit" he commands making her shiver "thank you".

Travis sat behind his huge desk like a king. Papers and a laptop were in front of him but he looked up right away. Amelia felt small in the big room, she moved to the chair and sat down fast her hands shook a little so she put them in her lap, the chair was soft but she could not get comfortable.

He pauses for a brief second before starting "Good morning Amelia , I hope you had a good night rest" She blinks, was he kidding right now, she looked terrible, she had hardly had any shut eye and he was asking this, she pushed down her anger and nods in response before he continues

"I don't want to be too straight forward but .. he clears his throat " what's your answer"

Was she tripping or did he look nervous, she shifts in her seat " I'll do it"

His eyes immediately become large like saucers " really?" he asks

Amelia nods "yes , but I have conditions"

He adjusts forward, " let me here them ".

She hadn't expected him to hear her out, she looked back at him in surprise, she didn't know what to say but then he leaned forward she saw he was listening carefully.

Amelia straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze with a calm expression, she ticked off her conditions on her fingers as she started

"First," she said, "I won’t lose my internship. No matter what happens with this arrangement, my position stays secure until the natural end of my term. That’s non-negotiable."

She continued to the second point. "Second, when this contract is called off and my internship ends, you’ll give me a very detailed recommendation letter one that clearly spells out how good I am, my contributions, and my professionalism. Something substantial that I can actually use when people call to verify my experience."

Amelia paused, then delivered the third condition with particular emphasis. "Third, we don’t have to act in love in private. Touching, kissing, and hugging should be done only in public for appearances only. That’s very important to me. I mean it. In private, we keep things strictly professional. No unnecessary affection." She breaths out

"Those are my conditions, take them or leave them"

She held his eyes waiting for his response but he didn't say anything, as she was already loosing hope of him saying something he nods

" fine, I'll tell Andre to draft that in the contract" she smiles relieved " anything else" he asks her "no" she says

" Alright, you may now leave, I'll take care of the rest"

Amelia almost rolled her eyes, she gets up to leave she's almost at the door when he says her name "Amelia"

She turns immediately "yes sir" he motions with his head towards her hands

"Remember to put on the engagement ring " she fakes a smile not caring if it looks real or fake " ok sir" she turns abruptly and leaves angrily.

She was surprised she had spoken each condition clearly even though her voice wanted to shake. Those rules were carefully thought of

The first one was the most important, she could not lose this chance to build her future, the second condition would help her after everything ended she needed proof that she worked hard here.

The third condition tho was safest for her heart, she really did not want fake love behind closed door that would make everything too confusing.

She was glad he agreed, she felt a small wave of relief wash over her. But his command to leave made her mad again he was always so bossy.

As she walked out the door the ring felt heavy in her pocket she pulled it out in the hallway and stared at the shiny diamond. It was beautiful but it did not feel like hers, she slipped it onto her finger anyway.

The metal was cold. Now she was officially pretending the thought made her want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Amelia took the elevator back down. This time the ride felt too fast. Her mind raced with questions. How long would this last? What if people asked her too many questions? What if she could not act well enough? The whispers in the main lobby were louder now a few people smiled at her like they knew something. She tried to smile back but it felt tight on her face, she hurried to her small desk on the lower floor.

Her computer screen showed new emails. Some were normal work things. She put her head in her hands for a moment the tiredness from last night came back stronger, gosh her neck hurt and her eyes wanted to close but she forced herself to sit up and open a work file. She had to look normal even if nothing felt normal.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Andre came by her desk with some papers to sign. He was polite and quick, he explained that the contract would be ready soon and that Travis wanted her to join a short meeting later. Amelia just nodded because she did not trust her voice. When Andre left she touched the ring again. It sparkled under the office lights part of her still could not believe this was happening.

She thought about calling her sister again she really needed to talk to her, she would be happy she said yes, she wished she could call her right now but she knew she had to wait until after work.