Pretending To Love Mr Hill

Chapter 14

Travis’s voice was quiet, and it sliced straight through her pretend sleep.

Amelia’s entire body went hot, she squeezed her eyes shut tighter, refusing to open them even as seconds stretched into a full minute, she could practically feel him smirking beside her. Mortification burned through her chest and climbed up her neck until her ears felt like they were on fire.

He had caught her staring, of course he had.

She kept her eyes closed the entire rest of the drive, her heart beating so fast. When the car finally slowed and stopped in front of her building she still didn’t move, she waited, praying he would tap her shoulder or say her name but he didn't

The silence went on a while but she could feel his eyes on her. Awareness prickle across every inch of her skin. Her dress suddenly felt too exposed, the cool leather of the seat making it more obvious. Heat pooled low in her belly.

She needed to get out of this car before her body betrayed her any further, Amelia forced her eyes open and did her best impression of someone just waking up. She stretched her arms above her head, she tried her best to let out a soft yawn and blink sleepily at him.

Travis watched the entire performance with clear amusement dancing in his eyes, he obviously knew she was pretending but she didn’t care, she reached for her bag and turned to open the door when his voice stopped her.

“Amelia.”

The way he said her name made her pause, she settled back against the seat and looked at him. In the dim light his swollen lip was still visible, she couldn't read his expression.

“Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me.”

Amelia felt a small, unexpected smile tug at her mouth. “It was my pleasure. Good night.”

“Good night,” he answered.

She stepped out of the car, closed the door carefully, and walked straight toward the entrance of her building without looking back, she noticed he didn’t drive off until she was inside

Inside her apartment she kicked off her shoes by the door, the relief of bare feet against cool floorboards traveling up her legs, she was still happy she couldn't help but smile, she walked to her room, dropped her bag on the chair, and headed straight for the bathroom.

She was tempted to collapse onto the bed without washing, but her hygiene was one of the few things she never joked with . She brushed her teeth slowly, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her cherry lip gloss was long gone her eyes looked a little too bright.

The shower was warm she stood under the water longer than necessary, letting it slide over the bare skin of her back where the dress had left her exposed all evening. When she finally stepped out, she dried off, slipped into soft clothe she could sleep with,and carefully packed her hair into a bonnet.

Only when she climbed into bed did she reach for her phone there were two texts from Cecilia, both checking in. Below them was a message from the unknown number she now knew belonged to Travis.

Thank you for making today worth it.

Amelia stared at the words, what was with this man and thanking her all the time? A quiet chuckle slipped out of her before she could stop it. She opened Cecilia’s chat and pressed the call icon.

The line barely rang once.

“Amelia!” Cecilia’s shouted through the speaker, dramatically

“I’m sorry I’m only calling now,” Amelia said, already smiling. “I’ve been busy.”

Cecilia gasped as if she had been personally betrayed. “Barely a week as the billionaire’s fiancée and you’re already too busy for your own sister?*

Amelia laughed, “Oh, stop it.”

“So how was it?” Cecilia asked.

Amelia blinked, momentarily lost. “How was what?”

“I thought you went to talk to Dad?”

The question instantly ruined her mood she had completely forgotten. The entire night with Travis had pushed the earlier conversation so far back in her mind that it felt like it belonged to a different day.

“Uh… yes. I did.”

“And…?” Cecilia dragged the word out, clearly bracing herself.

Amelia sighed, rolling onto her side and pulling a pillow against her chest. “He told me to cut off the engagement.”

She could practically hear her sister’s eyes roll. “He hasn’t changed a bit. So self-centered.”

Amelia didn’t know what to say to that, the exhaustion of the day was catching up with her. All she wanted was to stay curled under the covers and replay the better part of the day

“What did you say?” Cecilia’s voice pulled her back.

“I told him I would.”

There was a sharp pause. “What? Amelia, that wouldn’t be possible.”

“I know,” Amelia said quietly. “I’ll try avoiding him as much as I can for now.”

Cecilia hummed, the sound thoughtful and slightly disapproving. “Don’t you think you should tell Travis?”

Amelia frowned at the ceiling. “Why? All of this is still fake, remember?"

“Hmm. Right.” Cecilia didn’t sound convinced.

“Anyway, let’s talk later. I have some work to finish.”

“Alright.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

The call ended and the room became silent, Amelia stared at the dark ceiling, the phone still warm in her hand. She didn’t want to think about the promise she had made. She already had enough pressing down on her adding Cecilia’s suggestion that she should tell him only made the knot in her chest tighter.

She couldn’t tell him at least not yet.

Maybe not ever, Amelia shifted higher on the bed, hugging the pillow closer, her thumb hovered over Travis’s message, she typed, deleted, then typed again before finally settling for a you’re welcome text.

She hesitated, then added a single white heart at the end, the moment she hit send, a small, embarrassed smile tugged at her lips. She locked the phone and set it face down on the nightstand.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath she replayed all that happened in her head until she fell asleep.