Chapter 12
Amelie checked her phone, scrolling through the list of part-time jobs she had applied for the night before. None were ideal, but she needed to start somewhere before securing a better opportunity. As she browsed through her emails, a sudden knock on the door pulled her attention away.
“Miss Amelie, if you’re awake, the doctor would like to see you,” Butler Albus’s voice came from outside.
Setting her phone down, Amelie stood up and opened the door. She greeted Albus with a polite “Good morning” before her gaze shifted to the woman standing just behind him. The woman, dressed professionally, met Amelie’s eyes with a warm smile.
“Hello, Miss Amelie. I’m Dr. Skye Moore,” she introduced herself, extending her hand.
Amelie shook hands with her before quickly pulling away.
“Albus, you can leave us now,” Skye said, her tone gentle yet firm. Albus nodded respectfully and walked away, leaving the two women alone. “Amelie, why don’t you lie down on the bed?” Skye suggested as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.
“Shouldn’t I be coming to the hospital for this?” Amelie asked, hesitating slightly.
“I’m just here for a basic examination—checking your vitals and collecting a blood sample. Once we have the results, I’ll call you in for a proper check-up. Besides, you’re only two weeks pregnant, so it’s too early for an ultrasound.” Skye pulled a chair close to the bed and took a seat.
Amelie nodded and laid down as instructed. Skye worked methodically, checking her pulse, oxygen level, and body temperature before wrapping the blood pressure cuff around Amelie’s arm.
“Your blood pressure is low,” Skye noted. “Have you been feeling dizzy p>
“Sometimes,” Amelie admitted.
Skye hummed thoughtfully but didn’t prescribe any medication just yet. Instead, she advised, “Try incorporating more nutrient-dense foods and avoid excessive carbs for now. We’ll monitor it closely p>
Before Amelie could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them.
“Can I come in?” Gabriel’s deep voice fell in their ears.
Skye glanced toward the door. “Yes, you can,” she answered as she prepared a syringe.
The door opened, and Gabriel stepped inside. His gaze landed on Amelie, taking in her slightly pale complexion and the unease in her expression. He followed her gaze to the needle in Skye’s hand, and a knowing look crossed his face.
“You’re afraid of needles,” he stated rather than asking and stepping closer.
Amelie swallowed, unwilling to admit it outright, but her tense posture spoke for itself.
Gabriel moved to her side, his presence grounding. His deep voice softened just slightly as he commanded, “Look at me, Amelie p>
Her eyes snapped up to his, drawn in by the authority in his voice. For a moment, she forgot about the needle, lost in the depths of his intense violet gaze.
Skye seized the moment, swiftly piercing her skin. Amelie flinched slightly but didn’t look away from Gabriel.
A small, satisfied smile tugged at Skye’s lips as she quickly filled three vials with Amelie’s blood, labeling each one carefully.
After securing the samples in her bag, she disposed of the syringe in the medical bin and gently placed a small bandage over the puncture site.
“All done,” Skye announced with a reassuring smile as she helped Amelie sit up.
“Let’s talk outside,” Skye told Gabriel before stepping out of Amelie’s room. Gabriel followed her silently, shutting the door behind her.
As they reached the staircase, Skye turned to him with a questioning look. “Where did you find her? She’s not from San Ravendale. What exactly are you thinking, Prince p>
Gabriel’s gaze remained unreadable. “Nothing. You should leave p>
Skye scoffed, crossing her arms. “Seriously, Gabriel? You’re still the same—always keeping secrets as if the world would fall apart if you opened up. Don’t tell me you actually like Amelie. She is pregnant with someone’s child p>
Gabriel arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “And what if I do p>
Skye’s confidence wavered for a moment before she straightened. “That would hurt me,” she admitted. “I’ve been trying to win you over for a long time p>
Gabriel chuckled in an unimpressed tone. “And you failed miserably,” he said without hesitation. “Find someone better for yourself p>
Skye clenched her jaw, but before she could say another word, Gabriel turned away. “Call me when you get the reports,” he added.
Without another glance, he walked off, leaving Skye standing there in silence.
Gabriel walked back into Amelie’s room, only to find her engaged in a phone call about a job. Without hesitation, he strode forward and snatched the phone from her hand, ending the call with a single press.
“You aren’t doing any café girl job,” he stated firmly.
Amelie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But I can’t just keep eating your food for free,” she argued. After a brief pause, she sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be blunt.” She reached out and took her phone back from him.
Gabriel watched her for a moment before replying, “You can work for me. I’ll pay you handsomely p>
Before she could protest, he gently pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her. “You told me to do whatever I desire,” he reminded her. Withdrawing his hand, he added, “I looked into your background. You were a secretary at your former job. You can be the same for me p>
Amelie frowned slightly. “But what do you even do, aside from staying at this giant mansion all day?” she muttered, clearly skeptical.
Gabriel couldn’t suppress the amused smile tugging at his lips. “I own an investment bank,” he revealed smoothly. “I have several businesses to run. Do you really think I rely on free money from the palace?” A chuckle escaped his mouth. His gaze lingered on her, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. “You fascinate me, Amelie p>
She bit her bottom lip and felt a sudden heat on her cheeks. ‘There is nothing fascinating about me. Though he is helping me to find out his own answers, it makes me skeptical if I should trust him, who is notoriously famous for his dark acts p>
“How much will you pay me?” Amelie asked.
“You can tell me how much you want,” Gabriel said.
Amelie stopped blinking. ‘Isn’t he the one who’s hiring me p>
Before she could respond, they heard Albus’ voice from the outside.
“My Lord, Alex Morgan is here p>