Chapter 83
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083
ADRIAN sat behind his polished mahogany desk, his eyes skimming through the papers in front of him for what seemed like the tenth time that morning. The numbers looked blurred, words danced out of place, and nothing seemed to make sense. He set the file aside withra frustrated sigh, only to pull another one closer, but ended up fumbling it too.
Across the office, Peter had been quietly watching the chaos unfold. He had spent the better part of the morning stepping in, correcting errors, reminding Adrian of forgotten notes, re-filing what Adrian had tossed aside absentmindedly. Still, it was clear something wasn’t right.
Finally, Peter stepped closer.
“Sir, is… is everything alright? You seem a little off today. If there is anything I can do p>
Adrian didn’t even lift his eyes from the mess of documents.
“I’m fine, Peter.” His tone was clipped and dismissive.
Peter hesitated, unconvinced, but nodded anyway.
“Very well. Just a reminder, sir, we have that board meeting today at two o’clock p>
“Cancel it,” Adrian cut in sharply, tossing the pen he held onto the desk.
Peter blinked, stunned p>
“Cancel? Sir, it is a full board session. You are expected to
“Then represent me,” Adrian interrupted again, leaning back in his chair, exuding a kind of exhausted defiance.
Peter’s mouth fell open slightly.
“Me? Sir, I- I can’t possibly-
Adrian’s eyes flicked up, cold and final.
“You can. And you will. Now leave p>
There was no room for argument in his voice. Peter swallowed the protest on his lips, bowed slightly, and retreated quietly from the office.
The door clicked shut. Silence filled the room, save for the faint ticking of the clock.
Adrian dragged a hand across his face, exhaling heavily. His phone buzzed faintly where it lay on the desk. He reached for it, and the screen lit up.
The wallpaper stared back at him. Amelia- smiling, carefree, radiant- her laughter captured in the still image. For a long moment, he simply gazed at it, his chest tightening. He sighed, as if the weight of everything he had been carrying pressed harder against him.
He opened his contacts list, scrolling slowly, deliberately, until his thumb hovered over a particular name. His heart thudded heavily in his chest. For a moment he hesitated, his finger lingering as though the world would shift with a single tap.
Finally, with a sharp breath, he tapped the name. He lifted the phone to his ear, waiting, tense, every second dragging like an eternity.
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The dining room carried the faint aroma of roasted chicken and herbs, though the plates of food sat largely untouched. Amelia rested back in her chair, one hand supporting the weight of her swollen belly, the other drumming lightly on the table as her eyes followed the swift movements of Ryan’s fingers over the glass screen of her tablet.
He was seated opposite her, posture upright, his suit jacket folded neatly over the back of his chair. His rolled-up sleeves revealed lean forearms, veins running like fine blue rivers as he typed with steady precision. His brown eyes were sharp and focused, brown with a glint of quiet confidence. Every so often, he adjusted his glasses with the tip of his finger before scrolling further, scanning through the tide of emails.
“Madam, the supplier from Milan is requesting a review of the bulk order. Should I approve the adjustment or redirect it to Vera?” Ryan asked, his voice calm, professional.
“Send it to Vera. She knows the terms better,” Amelia replied, shifting to ease the pressure in her back.
“Done.” Ryan’s fingers tapped briskly across the screen. “Also, Ames Roses confirmed the shipment delay, but I have sent them your standing instruction. They should adjust their schedule to meet next week’s deadline p>
Remind them again tomorrow morning p>
“Yes, madam p>
Her phone buzzed suddenly on the table. Amelia glanced at the screen, and her heart tightened. Without hesitation, she pressed decline, turning back toward Ryan as if nothing had happened.
“You were saying?” she asked, her voice even.
Ryan’s
eyes flicked briefly to the phone but dropped back to the tablet instantly, unreadable.
“I was about to update you on Satin and Sage. Rex is expecting feedback on the influencer collaboration p>
“Right. Draft a polite but firm email. Tell him I want numbers before I commit p>
“Understood.” Ryan’s voice remained steady as his hands moved swiftly, crafting the reply.
The phone buzzed again. Same contact. Amelia’s eyes darkened slightly, her jaw tightening. She hit decline again.
It rang again. Declined.
Ryan noticed, his gaze briefly breaking its disciplined focus. He adjusted his glasses but said nothing, his professionalism a mask over his curiosity.
Minutes passed in business rhythm until Ryan finally set the tablet down and rose to his feet, straightening his shirt cuffs.
“I will be heading over to the resort now, madam. There is a proposal being presented tonight, and I will need to represent your interests p>
Amelia looked up, her expression unreadable.
“Alright. Keep me updated p>
He gave a courteous nod, collected his jacket, and left the dining room with the same calm precision with which
he worked.
Amelia’s eyes followed him until he disappeared through the archway. The quiet that followed felt louder than
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before. She leaned back, exhaled slowly, and let her gaze fall on her still-buzzing phone. This time, she didn’t move to touch it. She simply watched it flash, her face unreadable.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.