The Hidden Heiress

Amelia’s POV NEW YORK CITY | 2:47 A.M. The first thing I learned about being a successful woman was that people expected you to be miserable. Apparently, having a good job, a decent bank account, and a man who looked good enough to make other women stare wasn't supposed to be enough. I was supposed to be building an empire, buying properties, and making sacrifices in the name of success. Which was precisely why I was currently sitting in a VIP booth at one of Manhattan's most exclusive nightclubs, drinking overpriced champagne and watching my best friend dance like she had absolutely no sense of shame. "Amelia!" I turned my head just in time to see Madison waving her hands at me. "Come dance with us!" I laughed, shaking my head. "I'm good!" "Girl, get your ass up!" Beside me, my boyfriend chuckled, slipping an arm around my waist. "Leave her alone, Mads. She's comfortable." Madison narrowed her eyes at him. "You're the reason she's sitting there." "Excuse me?" "Nothing, babe!" She blew me a kiss before grabbing the hand of our other friend, Kiara, and disappearing into the crowd. I rolled my eyes, taking another sip of my drink. "Your friends are annoying." "They're your friends too, Jason." "Unfortunately." I laughed, leaning into him as he kissed the side of my head. The music was loud enough to make conversation difficult, but I didn't mind. It was a Friday night, the beginning of March, and I had absolutely nothing to do tomorrow. Or technically, today. I was off for the weekend, and I intended to enjoy every second of it. Being a real estate broker in New York wasn't exactly a walk in the park. The market was competitive, clients could be demanding, and some people genuinely believed that because I was a woman in my twenties, I couldn't possibly know what I was doing. Fortunately, my bank account had a way of shutting them up. I was good at what I did. Very good, actually. The money was nice, but it wasn't the reason I worked. I liked having something that belonged to me. Something I had earned without my father's help. Although, if I was being honest, I probably could have spent the rest of my life doing absolutely nothing and still lived comfortably. My parents had money. A lot of it. But I wasn't interested in being the daughter who sat around waiting for her allowance. I wanted my own life. And I was doing a pretty good job of building it. "Come here," Jason murmured, pulling me closer. I turned toward him, smiling when he leaned in to kiss me. His hand moved to my thigh, and I didn't think much of it at first. We were together, and I had no problem with affection. Until his hand moved higher. I caught his wrist. "Jason." He smiled against my cheek. "What?" "Behave." "Nobody's watching us." I glanced around the booth. "Are you serious?" He shrugged, leaning in again. "Come on, baby. We've been here all night." "And?" "And I want you." I stared at him for a moment before gently pushing his shoulder. "Not here." His smile disappeared. "You're really going to do this?" "Do what?" "Act like you don't want me." I frowned. "That's not what I said." He leaned back, looking irritated. "Then what's the problem?" "The problem is that we're in public, Jason. I'm not having s*x with you in a nightclub." He scoffed. "Nobody would even notice." "Well, I would." I tried to laugh it off, hoping he would get over it. He didn't. Instead, he reached for me again, and this time I pushed his hand away more firmly. "Jason, stop." He stared at me. For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then he shook his head and stood up. "Whatever." I blinked. "Where are you going?" "Outside." "Okay?" He looked down at me, his jaw tight. "Enjoy yourself, Amelia." Before I could respond, he walked away. I watched him disappear into the crowd, my smile slowly fading. What the hell was that? I exhaled, picking up my glass. I wasn't about to chase him around a nightclub because he couldn't handle being told no. We had been dating for almost a year. He knew I wasn't the type to make a scene, and I certainly wasn't going to start tonight. Still, I couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. Not because I had done anything wrong, but because I hated being put in situations where I had to explain something that should have been obvious. I took another sip of champagne, then set the glass down. Maybe I should have gone dancing. At least Madison and Kiara were having the time of their lives. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. 2:56 a.m. My eyes widened. "Jesus." I had completely lost track of time. I opened my messages and sent a quick text to the girls. Me: I'm heading home. Love you both. Don't let Madison get arrested. A few seconds later, Kiara responded. Kiara: YOU'RE LEAVING??? Me: Yes, babe. I'm tired. Kiara: Is Jason coming? I glanced toward the entrance. Me: No idea. I locked my phone and slipped it into my purse. Honestly, I wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now. I grabbed my coat from the back of the booth and made my way toward the exit. The cold air hit me the moment I stepped outside. New York in March was a special kind of disrespectful. I pulled my coat tighter around myself, waiting for the valet to bring my car around. My phone vibrated. Jason: You could've at least told me you were leaving. I stared at the message. Then I typed. Me: You walked away. His response came almost immediately. Jason: Whatever, Amelia. I rolled my eyes. Men. I slipped my phone into my purse just as the valet pulled up. "Good evening, ma'am." "Thank you." I handed him the ticket, climbed into my car, and started the engine. The drive home was surprisingly peaceful. The streets were mostly empty, and the city looked different at this hour. The buildings were still illuminated, but the usual chaos had settled into something quieter. I loved New York. Even when it was freezing. Even when people were annoying. Even when I occasionally questioned why I paid so much money to live in a city where parking was practically a luxury. I turned onto our street a little after three, pulling into the driveway of my parents' house. The porch light was still on. I smiled. My mother always left it on whenever I went out. I grabbed my purse and coat before quietly making my way inside. The house was silent. I slipped off my heels near the staircase and carried them in one hand as I headed upstairs. My bedroom was exactly how I had left it. The soft lighting, the neatly arranged pillows, and the faint scent of vanilla from the candle I had forgotten to blow out earlier. I dropped my purse onto the dresser and went straight to the bathroom. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I changed into a pair of oversized pajamas. My phone vibrated again. Jason. I stared at his name for a moment before answering. "Hello?" "You're home?" He asked. My reply came after several seconds. "Yes." "Okay." I frowned. "Okay?" He sighed. "Are you still mad at me?" I leaned against the bathroom counter. "Mad about what?" "Earlier." I stared at my reflection. "Jason, I wasn't mad. I just didn't want to do that in public." "Whatever. I said I was sorry." I blinked. "When exactly did you?" He went quiet. Then he chuckled. "You're really going to do this right now?" I sighed. "Goodnight, Jason." "Amelia—" I ended the call. For a few seconds, I simply stood there, staring at my phone. Then I placed it on the counter and turned off the bathroom light. I wasn't going to let a stupid argument ruin my weekend. I climbed into bed, pulled the duvet over myself, and settled against the pillows. My phone vibrated one last time. Jason: Goodnight, baby. Love you. I stared at the message before smiling faintly. Me: Goodnight. Love you too. I turned my phone onto silent and closed my eyes. Within minutes, I was asleep. Later That Morning | 9:38 A.M. "Amelia!" I groaned, pulling the duvet over my head. "Amelia, wake up!" "Mom, please." The door opened. I peeked out from beneath the covers. My mother stood in the doorway, dressed in a cream-colored blouse and fitted trousers, looking far too cheerful for someone who had interrupted my sleep. "Good morning, sweetheart." I squinted at her. "What time is it?" "Almost ten." I groaned. "Why are you awake?" She laughed. "Because some of us have responsibilities." I rolled onto my back. "I have responsibilities too." "Yes, and apparently they're sleeping until noon." I threw a pillow at her. She caught it easily. "Come downstairs when you're ready. Your father wants to see you." I frowned. "Why?" "He didn't say." I sighed. "Okay." She smiled before closing the door behind her. I stared at the ceiling for a moment. My father wanted to see me. That could mean absolutely anything. I reached for my phone, checked my notifications, and immediately regretted it. Madison had sent seventeen messages. Seventeen. I opened the conversation. Madison: GIRL. Madison: YOU LEFT ME. Madison: I AM NEVER FORGIVING YOU. Madison: KIARA IS SLEEPING ON MY COUCH. Madison: YOUR BOYFRIEND IS AN ASSHOLE. I laughed. Me: Good morning to you too. Her response came immediately. Madison: DON'T GOOD MORNING ME. I shook my head, tossing my phone aside. I could deal with her later. Right now, I needed coffee. And possibly a new boyfriend. I smiled at the thought before getting out of bed. The weekend had officially begun. And I intended to enjoy it.