CHAPTER 2
1562 Words
Amelia’s POV
The sound of the coffee grinder mixed with the low chatter of customers, created a comforting rhythm for me. I worked the register at Rosie’s Coffee Shop, the only place that felt like a refuge since I got the news of my mother’s death. She had been the one person I could truly confide in, and her absence turned my quiet, lonely world into an unbearable silence.
Rosie’s coffee Shop was my safe space. Most of the customers were regulars, familiar faces in a familiar setting. One of them, Julian, stood by the counter, waiting for his order. He’d been coming here for a few weeks now, always with the same quiet smile and a simple order—black coffee, no sugar. He was easygoing, the kind of person who made small talk feel natural. Today, he offered a soft “Good morning,” as he stepped up to the counter.
“Morning,” I replied, with a small smile as I handed him his coffee. “The usual.”
He accepted the cup with a slight grin. “You know me too well,” he said, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he dropped some change into the tip jar. “Good luck with the rush,” he added before turning to leave.
As he walked away, he turned back and smiled again. Julian was one of the few people who made this place feel less lonely. I had noticed the subtle looks and the lingering stares but I tried so hard not to read anything to it. Just as I settled back into my routine, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
It was my father. His voice trembled as he spoke, urging me to come home immediately. “It’s important, Amelia. We need to talk.”
……………………………
I stood in the dimly lit parlor of my home, the heavy silence filling the room. My father sat across from me, his face marked with lines of worry, an expression I had grown far too familiar with over the past year, while my brother leaned against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. The absence of my mother, her warmth and her guidance made the room feel even emptier.
My father's hand shook as he gripped his coffee mug, My brother dabbed at his eyes. I couldn't believe what they just asked of me.
“We have no other option, Amelia,” my father said, his voice strained and weak. The weight of his mistakes was evident in his gaze, his hands trembling as he gripped the armrest of his chair.
“No other option but to sell me off?” I replied, my throat tight with disbelief.
“He is willing to wipe out our debt. You know what that means, the business... the house... it's all on the line,” my brother said, his tone firm but heavy. The once well-respected businessman was now a shadow of himself. His reckless decisions had thrown our family into ruin.
“And also... to keep me out of jail” my father continued, unable to look at me.
My stomach twisted. I’d known things were bad–my father's wrong investments had crumbled over the past year, taking our family's fortune with them–but I hadn't realized things were this bad. Now I was the last bargaining chip they had left.
“You're our last hope,” my brother said, his voice cracking with pity, as he finally looked me in the eyes. “Without this arrangement, we’ll lose everything, we’ll lose our father”
“And what about what I want?” I asked, though it felt useless to ask.
My brother stepped closer, his hands clenched at his sides “I know this isn’t fair, Amelia. But sometimes… we don't get to choose our path.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “But... to Damian Sinclair? A man we hardly know?”
My father straightened up, his voice growing firmer, his eyes trying to mask his guilt. “The Sinclairs are our only chance. Damian has offered to help us in exchange for your hand in marriage. It’s a business deal, yes, but it will save us.”
My stomach twisted into knots. I never imagined my future would be something to trade away. Marrying into the Sinclair family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful names in the country, was supposed to be a dream. But under these circumstances, it felt like a nightmare.
“I don’t even know him,” I whispered, barely able to process what was being asked of me.
My brother’s hand found my shoulder, his grip steady but filled with guilt. “We don’t have a choice, Amelia. Damian has made it clear—if you don’t agree, he’ll walk away from the deal. And without his help...we’ll lose everything.”
“Fine,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll do it.”
……………………………
I walked briskly toward The Corner Brew, our usual coffee spot, where Sarah was waiting at our regular booth at the back. When I arrived, she waved me over, a look of concern softening her usual bright smile.
“Hey, there you are,” she said, sliding a cup across the table. “I went ahead and ordered your favorite. You look... tired.”
I forced a smile and sank into the booth. “Tired is a kind way of putting it.”
She watched me carefully, not saying anything, and that was exactly why I’d texted her tonight. Sarah knew when to talk and when to listen, and right now, I needed someone who wouldn’t tell me that everything would work out or that I’d eventually be “grateful” for this arrangement.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she finally asked, her voice gentle.
A lump rose in my throat as I remembered the afternoon with my family. I sighed, wrapping my hands around the warmth of the coffee mug. “They told me this afternoon. Damian Sinclair. I’m supposed to marry Damian Sinclair.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she was silent. “Wait, the Damian Sinclair? The billionaire?”
I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Amelia, that’s... That’s huge. I mean, he’s... I’m sorry. That’s not what you want.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, my voice low. “It’s what they need. The debts, the business, everything. It’s falling apart.”
Sarah reached across the table, her hand covering mine. “I don’t care how much money he has, or who he is. You shouldn’t have to do this, Amelia.”
I forced another smile, one that I hoped looked more convincing. “Well, it’s happening. So I need to be okay with it.”
She shook her head, “No. Not tonight. You don’t have to be ‘okay’ with anything tonight.” She drained the last of her coffee, her expression suddenly brightening with an idea. “Let’s go somewhere. Anywhere but here. Just for tonight, let’s pretend none of this is happening.”
A part of me wanted to protest. I was the responsible one, the practical one. I didn’t go out, didn’t take risks. But right now, all I wanted was to escape, to feel like my life was still my own, even if it was only for a few hours.
“Alright,” I said, surprising myself with how eager I sounded. “Where should we go?”
Sarah grinned, “Leave it to me.”
After a series of spontaneous stops—a bookstore, a small vintage shop, and even a bakery where we sampled pastries we couldn’t pronounce—we found ourselves in front of a bustling club. The sound of music echoed through the walls, and the line outside stretched halfway down the block. Before I could process it, Sarah had looped her arm through mine, leading me toward the entrance.
“Sarah, are you sure—” I faltered. I had never been to a club before.
“Yes! You’ve had a rough day, and I refuse to let you go home without some fun. Plus,” she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, “we both need this.”
She managed to charm our way past the line, and before I knew it, we were inside, surrounded by scattered lights and music that vibrated into my bones. The air was filled with different scents of perfume and excitement. I’d never been anywhere like this, and the thrill was undeniable.
Sarah dragged me towards the bar, ordering drinks with a confidence I couldn’t help but envy. I took my glass cautiously, unsure if I even wanted it. But as Sarah laughed and clinked her glass against mine, I took a hesitant sip, then another, then another. The fiery burn of the shots worked it's way through me, melting away the anxiety inside.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt good. We danced at the middle of the floor, laughing and drinking as the night went on. Just for tonight, I didn’t have to be the girl whose life was mapped out for her.
And then, through the blur of the dim lights and echoes of the loud music, I saw him.
- Writer
