To Love and To Lust

Chapter 5

Amelia

An inch away from our lips connecting, Martin turns his face away, causing my cheeks to heat embarrassedly. He rejected me. I somewhat expected it, but that doesn't take away from the pang of hurt I feel.

Abruptly, I pull myself away from Martin, ready to storm off without even informing Lily, but I am held back by him holding onto my hand.

"Let me go!" I shout over the music. Thank God the music is loud, or he would have heard the slight tremor in my voice. I've rejected guys and have been rejected many times, but Martin's rejection unexpectedly hit me harder than any other.

"Amelia," Martin says. I can't hear him, but I can see the way his beautiful lips mouth my name. The same lips I thought I would have tasted only seconds ago.

"Please," I say, pulling my hand and tilting my head to the side, pleading for him to free me so that I can wallow in private.

Reluctantly, he releases my hand and I go over to Lily, explaining that I'm suddenly not feeling well and that she should enjoy herself for the rest of the night. She probably will end up taking that guy home or vice versa. Good for her. At least one of us will get some action.

As I turn to leave, I stop in my tracks, wondering why I let his rejection determine what I should do next. With that thought in mind, I go back to where Lily is, and start dancing again. I take in her surprised expression that I decided not to leave.

"I decided to stay," I tell her simply, then continue dancing, uncaring of the eyes still watching me.

The universe seems to be on my side because as soon as I think being watched, I feel someone come up behind me. Lacking regard for the pair of eyes burning holes in my back, I let the stranger put his hands around my waist from behind as I grind onto him.

Getting lost in the dance, I forget about Martin and everything going on at home with my father and his new wife. We dance to our hearts' content.

About half an hour later, Lily tells me she's leaving with her man for the night.

"Since your friend's leaving, let me take you home," a rough voice whispers in my ear. I finally turn to see my dance partner and am in utter shock because of the handsome man touching me.

Beautiful, lustful blue eyes stare back at me, along with a smile that could melt any woman’s panties off.

He looks to be around my age and has womanizer written all over him. Yeah, no, thanks. I might be alcohol-hazed but I’m not stupid.

"Not tonight," I tell him, cringing at the thought of him taking my virginity or what my words might imply, so to be clear, I add, “Or any other night.”

"Too bad, beautiful," he says, then kisses my lips, and I allow him, before he walks away, leaving me alone.

A sudden consciousness has me looking for Martin again, but unfortunately he is nowhere to be found. Time for me to leave anyway.

Sending a message to the car company, I receive a reply right away saying that one of their drivers is only five minutes away. Efficient as usual.

By the time I use the restroom and leave MH, I spot the car waiting right outside the entrance. The driver opens my door when I approach.

Entering, I breathe a dreadful sigh, not looking forward to what might be waiting for me at home.

Right before the car takes off, a glance at the door reveals the familiar figure of Martin staring right at me. At least, I think that's what he's doing because the glass is tinted darkly, allowing me to see outside, but unable for people to see inside. But the way he zooms in with narrowed eyes tells me differently.

When the car arrives home, I get the driver to park down the road and quietly sneak onto the property. I gently open the door and sneak off to my bedroom.

Alcohol and sweat wafts from my body and I’m in need of a shower, but at the moment, I'm so tired that I just strip my clothes off, leaving only my underwear on and immediately get into bed.

As I drift into a state of slumber, I remember a distinct feature about Martin's eyes; one brown and one blue. It's not unusual for me, because I know people with heterochromia, and it only adds to Martin's handsomeness. That and the well-built, hard body I felt when I touched his chest, indicating he’s as fit as a fiddle.

The memory ignites my desire for him. I want him on top of me, inside me, and I know he wants that too. Even if he tried to ignore it.

His heart beating heavily under my palm told me as much. I smile at the thought, not fully knowing when sleep consumes me.

The next morning, I wake at the sound of my alarm with a raging headache and have to immediately squint at the sunlight streaming through my windows, adding to my agony. Damn it! I know I shouldn't have gone out last night.

This headache topped with the rejection I received last night will make me think twice another time Lily wants to have fun. She's the only one who got a happy ending after all.

I drag my body to the shower hoping the cold water will pull me out of the obscurity I'm in, as I can still feel the alcohol buzzing through my veins. I pop an Advil from the bottle in the bathroom cabinet and swallow it down with tap water.

I'm hoping that I don't have to deal with my father and his wife this morning because it would only worsen this goddamn headache.

It seems my prayers are answered because when I get ready and go downstairs, I notice that they had already left.

Since I don't have the strength to cook breakfast, I decide that the café across the street will have to do. I scoff at the change that my father bringing home a wife already ensues.

Normally, when I wake up in the morning, breakfast is already on the table or almost done. I feel slightly guilty for thinking like a spoiled brat, but at the same time, it's what I'm used to.

In a way, I don't blame him for not cooking breakfast, because I haven't exactly accepted his wife with open arms. Then again, he blindsided me. A sigh makes it way from my lips. I don’t know how to feel.

My hand find its way to my jaw while I sit on one of the stools lined around the kitchen island as I wait for my car. As soon as I’m notified that its here, I lock up the house, enter my ride and lean back comfortably.

On my way to the office, I wonder if Claire is going to be there, or if Dad is going to announce to the company that he is now married. Another thing I consider is the possibility that she will be the one running things from now on. Or at least or a part of the team running them.

When the vehicle slows at Brown and Company, and with the thought that if I'm uncomfortable, I'll just find a job elsewhere since I have the qualifications, I hold my head high and enter the building.

Weird. The building is almost empty. The only person in sight is the receptionist that works in place of Lily sometimes and by the look of things, she’s also absent. I’m sure she would have told me if some thing important was happening.

Oh well, better to go upstairs and find out.

As I ride the elevator to the top floor where my father and I work, I can't help but have this dreaded feeling like something bad is about to happen.

I shrug, trying to push away the feeling, scolding myself for always thinking the worst, but the feeling sticks.

The elevator dings. I exit it and approach my desk, placing my bag in the safe hidden underneath. I knock before entering my father's office, but I come up empty.

'The conference room,' a thought comes to me immediately.

Approaching the hallway that houses the conference rooms, I hear someone talking, followed by people laughing. So that's where everyone is.

Slowly and quietly, I push open the door of the conference room, so not as to alarm anyone.

All the top lawyers, executives and partners are seated at the large table with Claire at the head and my father standing behind her with a firmly supporting hand placed on her shoulder. Employees are standing around the room, all facing them.

It seems I am just in time to hear his next words.

"Everyone, please welcome the newest member of our team and our new senior partner, Claire Brown."

I exit the room immediately and slam the conference room door in my wake, not at all caring how it makes me look. For all I know, everyone present, including my step-mother, could kiss my a*s!