Chapter 15
489 Words
A Kiss That Changed Everything
The silence in the penthouse was almost unbearable.
Ami stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the glittering city below. It had been three days since Evans had pulled her away from the warehouse and taken a bullet meant for her. Though the doctors had discharged him, he still refused to rest.
She sighed.
"That stubborn man..."
Just then, the study door opened.
Evans walked out in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His shoulder was still bandaged beneath the fabric, but he acted as if nothing had happened.
"You should be in bed," Ami scolded.
"And miss seeing your worried face?" he replied with a faint smile.
"I'm not worried."
"No?"
She crossed her arms. "Not even a little."
Evans stepped closer.
"So, the woman who cried beside my hospital bed wasn't worried?"
Ami froze.
"You were awake?"
"I woke up long enough to hear every word."
Her cheeks burned.
"I... I was emotional."
"You held my hand."
"I didn't mean to."
"You told me not to leave you."
She looked away, embarrassed.
"I don't remember saying that."
"You also said..." He lowered his voice. "...that you couldn't imagine losing me."
Her heartbeat thundered.
"I—"
Before she could explain, Evans gently lifted her chin.
Their eyes met.
For the first time, there was no coldness in his expression. Only warmth.
"Ami," he whispered, "why are you still pretending?"
"Pretending what?"
"That you don't care about me."
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
He leaned closer.
"If I had died that night..."
"Don't!" she interrupted, tears instantly filling her eyes. "Don't ever say that again."
Evans smiled softly.
"There's my answer."
Without thinking, Ami threw her arms around him.
"You scared me," she whispered against his chest. "I hated seeing you hurt."
His arms slowly wrapped around her.
"I'd do it again."
"No."
"I would."
She pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
The world around them disappeared.
Then, almost instinctively, Evans brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
His fingers lingered against her cheek.
"Ami..."
"Hm?"
"I've wanted to do this since the day you walked into my office."
Her breath caught.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He leaned in.
Their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss.
Ami's eyes widened before she melted into it, her heart racing faster than ever.
It wasn't a kiss born from a contract.
It wasn't out of obligation.
It was real.
When they finally pulled apart, neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the slightly open penthouse door.
A woman dressed in an elegant red gown clenched her fists, fury burning in her eyes.
"So..." she whispered bitterly.
"You've already replaced me, Evans."
She turned and walked away, a dangerous smile spreading across her lips.
"If I can't have you..."
"...then neither will she."
- Writer
