Chapter Eleven: Behind Closed Doors
1231 Words
The penthouse was unnaturally quiet.
Nathan still held the phone in his hand.
The call had lasted less than ten seconds.
Yet those ten seconds changed everything.
“You broke the first rule.”
“Never fall in love.”
The voice had been distorted, impossible to identify.
But one thing was certain.
The caller knew about the contract.
Not the rumors.
Not the version the public believed.
The real contract.
Only a handful of people had that information.
Nathan.
Amelia.
Oliver.
Nathan’s lawyer.
And two executives from Hart Entertainment.
No one else.
Or so they thought.
Oliver was the first to speak.
“I’m calling cybersecurity.”
Nathan nodded.
“And legal.”
“They’ll trace the number.”
Oliver hesitated.
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
“People who make calls like this usually know how to cover their tracks.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t care.”
“I want every security camera reviewed.”
“Every employee with access to the contract questioned.”
Oliver didn’t argue.
He simply picked up his phone and began making calls.
Amelia stood near the balcony, staring out over the city.
The lights that had looked beautiful only an hour ago now seemed cold.
“You think someone inside the company leaked it?”
Nathan walked over to stand beside her.
“I don’t know.”
“But I intend to find out.”
She wrapped her arms around herself.
“I never imagined saying yes to a fake relationship would end like this.”
He looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head immediately.
“Stop apologizing.”
“You’ve apologized enough.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
He gave her a sad smile.
“I brought you into this world.”
“I should’ve protected you better.”
She met his eyes.
“And you have.”
Those three words settled between them.
Nathan looked away first.
Because if he kept looking at her…
He wasn’t sure he’d remember that everything between them had started with a contract.
The next morning, Hart Entertainment was in chaos.
Employees whispered in the hallways.
Publicists rushed from office to office.
Security guards stood at every entrance.
Nathan rarely visited the corporate headquarters.
When he did…
The building became unusually quiet.
Everyone noticed when the CEO’s biggest client walked through the lobby.
Oliver met him near the elevators.
“We’ve checked the phone.”
“And?”
“It was routed through five different countries.”
Nathan sighed.
“So nothing.”
“Nothing useful.”
The elevator doors opened.
“There’s another problem.”
Nathan stopped walking.
“What now?”
Oliver lowered his voice.
“The board wants to see you.”
The conference room overlooked the city skyline.
Seven executives sat around the polished table.
Most greeted Nathan warmly.
One did not.
Victor Lang.
Chief Financial Officer.
A man who cared about numbers more than people.
Victor folded his hands.
“The fake relationship was supposed to improve public confidence.”
“It has.”
Nathan remained standing.
“So what’s the issue?”
Victor slid several printed articles across the table.
“The issue is that you’ve become emotionally involved.”
Nathan didn’t answer.
“The press conference.”
“The interviews.”
“The way you look at Miss Brooks.”
Victor adjusted his glasses.
“It wasn’t in the agreement.”
Nathan finally spoke.
“My personal life isn’t a financial report.”
“It becomes one when millions of dollars are involved.”
The room fell silent.
Nathan’s expression hardened.
“If you called this meeting to discuss Amelia…”
“We’re done.”
He turned to leave.
Victor’s voice stopped him.
“If you continue putting her before your career…”
“You’ll lose both.”
Nathan walked out without another word.
Across town, Amelia was trying to pretend everything was normal.
“Good morning, class.”
“Good morning, Miss Brooks!”
For the next hour, life felt almost ordinary.
The children read stories aloud.
They laughed over silly spelling mistakes.
One little girl proudly presented a drawing she’d made.
It showed Nathan and Amelia standing beneath a rainbow.
Miss Brooks ♥ Mr. Perfect
Amelia couldn’t help smiling.
“That’s beautiful, Lily.”
The little girl beamed.
“My mommy says you’re going to marry him.”
The classroom erupted into giggles.
Amelia laughed with them.
“We’ll see.”
But inside…
Her heart gave an unfamiliar flutter.
When school ended, Nathan was waiting outside.
Not in a luxury sports car.
Not surrounded by photographers.
He leaned casually against an old black pickup truck.
Amelia stared.
“…Whose truck is that?”
He smiled.
“My grandfather’s.”
“I borrow it when I don’t want attention.”
She laughed.
“You?”
“In this?”
“It hurts my celebrity image, doesn’t it?”
“It definitely confuses it.”
He opened the passenger door with an exaggerated bow.
“Miss Brooks.”
“Your carriage awaits.”
She climbed in, shaking her head.
“You are unbelievable.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Instead of driving toward the city…
Nathan headed into the countryside.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Forty minutes later, the truck stopped beside a peaceful lake.
No cameras.
No reporters.
Only trees dancing in the wind.
Amelia stepped out slowly.
“It’s beautiful.”
“My grandfather used to bring me here.”
“When everything became too loud.”
She looked at him.
“You come here often?”
“Not anymore.”
“Why?”
“I forgot I was allowed to.”
They sat on the old wooden dock.
For several minutes…
Neither of them spoke.
Finally Nathan broke the silence.
“When I was twenty-three…”
“I thought becoming famous would solve every problem.”
“Did it?”
He laughed softly.
“It just gave me different ones.”
She watched the sunlight ripple across the water.
“I used to think celebrities had perfect lives.”
“And now?”
“I think people only see the edited version.”
Nathan looked at her with quiet admiration.
“You’re smarter than most interviewers.”
“I also don’t ask about your favorite color.”
He chuckled.
“Thank you.”
As the sun began to set, Amelia rested her hands on the edge of the dock.
“This is the happiest you’ve looked since I met you.”
Nathan didn’t deny it.
“That’s because this is the first place in weeks where no one expects anything from me.”
She turned toward him.
“I don’t expect anything either.”
He held her gaze.
“I know.”
For a brief, dangerous moment…
Neither of them looked away.
The distance between them felt impossibly small.
Nathan’s eyes drifted to her lips.
Amelia noticed.
So did he.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Then—
A twig snapped behind them.
Both turned sharply.
Someone was standing among the trees.
Watching.
The figure disappeared before Nathan could react.
He sprang to his feet.
“Stay here.”
“Nathan—”
But he was already running toward the woods.
By the time he reached the tree line…
There was no one there.
Only a camera lying on the ground.
Still recording.
- Writer
