Falling For The Cold CEO

CHAPTER FOUR:JULIAN WHITMORE

Amelia barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, Alexander's words returned.

Whatever Julian tells you tomorrow... don't believe him.

It was almost three in the morning when she finally gave up trying to sleep.

She sat beside the hotel window, staring at Edinburgh's quiet streets.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

Alexander wasn't simply acquiring Whitmore Holdings.

There was history between the two families.

And somehow, she had become part of it.

Amelia sighed and looked at the clock.

"Brilliant."

She had to meet Julian Whitmore in less than five hours.

---

At 7:30 a.m., Amelia walked into the hotel restaurant.

She expected Alexander to already be there.

He wasn't.

She checked her phone.

No messages.

That was unusual.

Alexander was usually the first person to complain if she was even thirty seconds late.

She ordered breakfast and sat alone.

Ten minutes later, a chair moved opposite her.

Amelia looked up.

Her heart nearly stopped.

It wasn't Alexander.

The man sitting across from her looked to be in his late twenties.

He had dark blond hair, grey eyes and a confident smile that made it obvious he was accustomed to getting attention.

"Amelia Hart?"

She immediately became cautious.

"Yes."

"Julian Whitmore."

Of course.

She straightened.

"Mr Whitmore."

"Julian is fine."

"I'd rather call you Mr Whitmore."

He smiled.

"You're exactly how Alexander described you."

Amelia's eyebrows rose.

"Alexander described me?"

Julian leaned back.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Julian smiled again.

"Nothing."

Amelia didn't like him already.

"What do you want?"

"Straight to the point."

"I'm having breakfast."

"So am I."

He picked up her coffee.

Amelia immediately took it from his hand.

"That's mine."

Julian laughed.

"You're protective."

"Of my coffee? Yes."

"Alexander's lucky."

Amelia froze.

"What?"

Julian's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Nothing."

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

She was beginning to understand why Alexander had warned her.

Julian seemed to enjoy making people uncomfortable.

"Why did you want to meet me?"

"Because you're Alexander's assistant."

"Yes."

"And because you're the only person who has worked for him for more than six months without quitting."

Amelia frowned.

"People quit?"

"Constantly."

"Why?"

Julian's smile disappeared.

"Because Alexander Blackwood isn't an easy man to work for."

"I know."

Julian studied her.

"Do you?"

Amelia remained silent.

Julian leaned forward.

"How much do you know about him?"

"He's my boss."

"That's not what I asked."

"Then I don't understand the question."

Julian smiled.

"You will."

Before Amelia could respond, she heard footsteps behind her.

She knew them instantly.

Alexander.

Julian looked past her.

His expression hardened.

Alexander stopped beside the table.

His eyes moved from Julian to Amelia.

Then to Julian's hand resting on the table near hers.

His jaw tightened.

"What are you doing here?"

Julian smiled.

"Good morning to you too, Alex."

"Don't call me that."

"I've been calling you that since we were children."

"We're not children anymore."

"No."

Julian's expression changed.

"Unfortunately."

The air between them became tense.

Amelia looked between them.

Alexander pulled out the chair beside her.

"Move."

Amelia blinked.

"What?"

"You're sitting there."

"Yes, I know."

"Move."

"Where?"

Alexander pointed towards the chair beside him.

"Here."

Amelia stared at him.

Julian's eyebrows rose.

Then he smiled.

Amelia immediately understood what was happening.

Alexander didn't want her sitting beside Julian.

She should have found that ridiculous.

Instead, something warm fluttered inside her chest.

She hated herself for it.

She moved.

Alexander sat beside her.

"Happy?"

Julian looked amused.

"Very."

Alexander ignored him.

He looked at Amelia.

"Did he tell you anything?"

"No."

Julian laughed.

"I barely had time."

Alexander's gaze sharpened.

"Good."

Julian leaned back.

"You're still doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Protecting people from the truth."

Alexander's expression became cold.

"Leave."

Julian laughed.

"We have a meeting."

"Then wait for the meeting."

Julian looked at Amelia.

"Do you know what happened between us?"

"No."

"Of course you don't."

Alexander's voice became dangerous.

"Julian."

"Fine."

Julian stood.

He straightened his jacket.

"I'll see you both at ten."

He walked away.

Amelia watched him leave.

Then she turned towards Alexander.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"Don't."

Alexander looked at her.

"Don't what?"

"Don't give me that answer."

His eyes narrowed.

Amelia crossed her arms.

"You warned me not to believe him, but you haven't told me why."

"Because it doesn't concern you."

"Then why am I here?"

"Because you're my assistant."

"That's not enough."

"It is."

"No, it isn't."

Alexander stared at her.

Amelia refused to look away.

She was nervous.

Very nervous.

But she was tired of being treated as though she were incapable of understanding anything.

Finally, Alexander spoke.

"Julian and I grew up together."

Amelia waited.

"That's it?"

"No."

"Then what happened?"

Alexander looked away.

"Our families were close."

His voice was quieter now.

"Until they weren't."

Amelia's expression softened.

"Why?"

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"My father and Julian's father were business partners."

She waited.

"Something went wrong."

"What?"

"Money."

Amelia frowned.

"Did someone steal from the company?"

Alexander looked at her.

"That's what Julian believes."

"Did you?"

"No."

His answer came immediately.

"Then who did?"

Alexander's expression became unreadable.

"That's what we're here to find out."

Amelia's heart sank.

She suddenly understood.

This wasn't a normal acquisition.

Alexander wasn't interested in Whitmore Holdings because of profit.

He wanted answers.

"Your father's involved?"

Alexander looked down.

"My father is dead."

Amelia immediately regretted asking.

"I'm sorry."

His eyes lifted.

"Don't."

She stopped.

"I don't want sympathy."

"Okay."

Alexander stood.

"Let's go."

---

The meeting took place inside Whitmore Holdings' headquarters.

The building was older than Blackwood Enterprises, but equally impressive.

A receptionist led them upstairs.

Amelia walked beside Alexander, carrying the documents.

She noticed how employees watched him.

Not with fear.

With hostility.

Alexander noticed too.

He said nothing.

They entered a large conference room.

Julian was already there.

Beside him sat an older woman.

She had silver hair, sharp eyes and an expression Amelia couldn't read.

Julian stood.

"Alex."

Alexander ignored the greeting.

The woman looked at Amelia.

"And who is she?"

"My assistant."

"Your assistant?"

"Yes."

The woman's eyes narrowed.

"Why is she here?"

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Because I brought her."

The woman stared at him.

Then she looked at Amelia.

"What's your name?"

"Amelia Hart."

"How long have you worked for him?"

"Eight months."

The woman seemed surprised.

"Eight months?"

"Yes."

"Then you must be unusually patient."

Julian laughed.

Alexander didn't.

Amelia gave a small smile.

"Some days are harder than others."

Julian laughed again.

Alexander looked at Amelia.

She immediately stopped smiling.

The older woman introduced herself as Evelyn Whitmore, Julian's mother.

The meeting began.

For almost an hour, they discussed contracts, property, finances and the proposed acquisition.

Amelia took notes.

Everything appeared professional.

Until Evelyn pushed a folder across the table.

Alexander opened it.

His expression changed.

Amelia noticed immediately.

"What is it?" she whispered.

Alexander didn't answer.

Julian leaned forward.

"Recognise it?"

Alexander's eyes moved over the documents.

"Where did you get this?"

"It belonged to my father."

Alexander's jaw tightened.

Julian pointed towards one page.

"Your father's signature."

Amelia looked at the document.

She couldn't understand everything on it, but she recognised the name.

Richard Blackwood.

Alexander's father.

"Your father signed an agreement transferring a significant amount of money from Whitmore Holdings," Julian said.

Alexander's voice was low.

"My father didn't steal anything."

Julian's expression hardened.

"That's exactly what he told everyone."

Alexander stood.

The room became silent.

"Sit down."

Julian's voice was surprisingly calm.

Alexander didn't move.

Amelia had never seen him this angry.

Not even at work.

"Alex," Julian said, "you wanted the truth."

Alexander stared at him.

"Then tell me."

Julian leaned back.

"Your father didn't act alone."

Alexander's expression changed.

Amelia's fingers tightened around her pen.

"Who was with him?" Alexander asked.

Julian looked at Amelia.

Then back at Alexander.

"You really haven't told her anything, have you?"

Alexander stepped forward.

"Answer me."

Julian's eyes hardened.

"My father kept another copy of the records."

"Where?"

"He gave them to someone before he died."

"Who?"

Julian looked directly at Amelia.

She frowned.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Julian didn't answer.

Alexander stepped between them.

"Stop looking at her."

Julian's eyebrows rose.

"Why?"

"Because this has nothing to do with her."

Julian smiled slowly.

"Are you sure about that?"

Alexander's eyes darkened.

"Julian."

Julian stood.

"You brought her into this."

"I brought my assistant."

"No."

Julian shook his head.

"You brought the woman you trust most."

Silence.

Amelia's heart stopped.

She looked at Alexander.

Alexander looked furious.

"Watch your mouth."

Julian gave a humourless smile.

"Interesting."

Amelia didn't understand.

"What's interesting?"

Neither man answered.

Then Julian reached into his folder.

He pulled out a photograph.

He placed it on the table.

Amelia looked down.

It was old.

A photograph of three men standing outside a building.

One was Alexander's father.

One was Julian's father.

And the third—

Amelia's eyes widened.

She recognised him.

She had seen his photograph many times.

It was Alexander.

But he was much younger.

Maybe seventeen.

Beside him stood another teenage boy.

Julian.

And between them was a girl.

Amelia stared at the girl.

She looked familiar.

Very familiar.

"Who is she?" Amelia asked.

Alexander suddenly reached for the photograph.

He turned it face down.

"Nobody."

Amelia looked at him.

"She doesn't look like nobody."

Alexander's expression became cold.

"Enough."

But Julian was watching Amelia carefully.

Then he said,

"Her name was Sophie."

Alexander's face went completely still.

Amelia's stomach tightened.

"Who was Sophie?"

Alexander looked at Julian.

There was something in his eyes that Amelia had never seen before.

Fear.

Julian smiled without humour.

"Ask your boss."

Alexander grabbed the photograph.

"Meeting's over."

"Alex—"

"I said it's over."

He turned and walked out.

Amelia hurried after him.

"Alexander!"

He didn't stop.

She caught up with him in the corridor.

"Who is Sophie?"

"Go back to the hotel."

"Alexander."

"Now."

"No."

He stopped.

Amelia almost collided with him.

He turned around.

His expression was terrifying.

"Don't push me."

She stared at him.

"Then stop treating me like a child."

His jaw tightened.

"You don't know what you're asking."

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

"Why?"

Alexander looked away.

Amelia's voice softened.

"Who was she?"

For several seconds, he didn't answer.

Then he said quietly,

"Someone I failed."

Amelia's heart sank.

"What happened to her?"

Alexander looked at her.

His eyes were cold again.

But this time, Amelia could see the pain underneath.

"She's dead."

Amelia froze.

Alexander walked away.

She remained in the corridor, unable to move.

Suddenly, the mysterious letter, the hatred between Alexander and Julian, the old photograph and Alexander's strange behaviour all felt connected.

But there was something else.

Something Alexander hadn't told her.

Amelia looked towards the direction he'd disappeared.

She didn't know who Sophie had been.

She didn't know what Alexander had done.

And she didn't know why Julian seemed determined to pull her into their past.

But one thing was becoming painfully clear.

The closer Amelia got to Alexander Blackwood...

The more dangerous his secrets became.