Amelia
I was still reeling from the most amazing weekend I just had, back at work with paperwork from yesterday at my desk. I was trying to get a hang of it when my phone buzzed
My phone buzzed and Dawn's face filled the screen.
Perfect. I needed to talk to someone before my brain exploded.
I answered.
"Dawn, I think I'm losing my mind."
"Girl, you were with the man all weekend. Of course you're losing your mind," she said. "Now start talking. Every detail. Start with the beach house and end with the part where he rearranged your organs."
My cheeks burned.
"Dawn!"
"What? I support women. Now spill."
I sighed, twisting a loose curl.
"It was… intense. And sweet. And confusing. And I felt…"
"Safe?" she finished softly.
I swallowed. "Yeah."
There was a pause before she spoke again.
"So, Noah Frost. Billionaire. Gorgeous. Gives you earth-shattering orgasms. The dream guy of half the city. But what about the complication?"
I frowned. "What complication?"
"His ex-fiancée."
My stomach tightened.
"I don't know much," I admitted. "Just what one of his staff told me. There are pictures of them in his office—she's beautiful. Of course she is."
Dawn scoffed.
"And? You're beautiful too."
I laughed bitterly. "Please."
"Amelia, don't do that self-deprecating thing. You and Noah have real chemistry. That man looks at you like you're his oxygen."
If there's anything my friend could do was to butter me up.
I bit my lip, heat pooling at my chest
"I don't want drama or be the rebound"
"You're clearly not the rebound, it's been 2yrs babes, that's a long ass time" Dawn said
I nodded even though she couldn't see it
"Good, now I'm coming over for drinks and food this evening and you better spill every juicy detail" she chuckled
"Do I have a choice" I replied smiling
Before she could respond, Dawn sucked in a sharp breath.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"Oh. My. Actual. God—Amelia go online. Right now."
My heart stuttered.
"What—why?"
"I—I think you need to see it yourself. Type his name."
My hands shook as I opened my browser.
And then I saw it.
A headline screaming across the top of a gossip blog:
Billionaire Noah Frost Spotted on Secret Getaway With Mystery Woman
#WhoIsShe #FrostAffair #MysteryGirl
Pictures.
Pictures of me.
On the balcony.
In his shirt.
Laughing.
His arms around me.
My throat closed.
"Dawn…" My voice cracked.
"Baby, breathe," she whispered. "Just breathe."
"But how—how did they get these photos?" I whispered, panic slamming into my chest like a truck. "The island is private."
"Someone leaked it. Someone sold it. This happens with big names."
My eyes filled.
"Oh God. Dawn, I look—I look like—like some secret side chick."
"You look like someone who had a great weekend with a man she cares about," she said firmly. "But yeah… this is going to be messy."
My phone buzzed nonstop now. Messages. Notifications. Unknown numbers.
My stomach flipped painfully.
"Oh God," I murmured again. "What if this affects his company? Or his—"
"Amelia. Stop," she said sharply. "He's a big boy. He'll handle his world. You handle yours."
But I couldn't breathe.
Not properly. Not fully.
My mind turned to work.
My coworkers.
The whispers.
The judgment.
He is a freaking client, for Christ sakes, what if this affects me.
"Just calm down, babes when I'm done with my work here at legals, I'll come to your office okay?"
"People are going to talk, what about my job, he is a client that I'm clearly messing with" I said with my hands on my forehead.
No," Dawn said firmly. "They'll speculate. Only you know the truth."
But something in me knew this was all gonna go wrong.
I need to wake up from this bad dream.
....
I took my files and tablet to the conference room to pitch to a client, I was nervous, Gigi was beside me oblivious to whatever mental gymnastics was going on in my head, I wanted to cut her off as she kept spiraling about the newest clients and the pitch.
"Okay let's do this" I said pushing the glass door open.
I introduced myself to the clients and investors, just 10mins into the pitch, phones buzzed, and hushed whispers went round the room, they kept staring at their phones and me back and forth and leaning into each other ears whispering.
I just knew the news of my secret relationship was in the open.
"Miss Amelia, how is your professionalism with clients?" an elderly man with sliver hair and beard shot up and asked
"What do you mean?" I said
"You might want to take a look at this" he said gesturing to his phone.
I walked over to him, knowing what he meant, and there I was with Noah on his private beach house.
"I didn't know you are Noah's Prescott girlfriend? I'd have signed up sooner" he laughed and others joined him
"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, that would be all" I walked out with the clients being agitated, but I didn't care, I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this.
Just as things were getting good, now this?
I stepped into my office, wanting to sink into the floor, i sighed and leaned back into my chair and was caught short with my boss barging into my office.
"Monroe my office, now!" He said with so much authority and irritation
I scurried out of my chair and followed him to this office.
The office door had his name tagged and I read it to waste some time and then I knocked and entered.
"Sit down Amelia" he said not looking at me.
I sat down waiting for the worst to happen.
" I'm not going to best around the bush here, but you've violated a few company rules Amelia, but given your track record we can't fire you as well, as you know the relationship between you and our client Noah is all over the blogs" he ranted
I nodded in agreement, I'm not gonna try and defend myself at this point
"For the sake of this company and its reputation, I'll have to suspend you pending investigation"
My heart sank, I couldn't afford to lose this job, what was my excuse? I liked a client? He was pressing on me badly? I don't know.
"I understand sir, I'll gather my things by the end of today" I said
"And look kid, Noah isn't of your world, your relationship can be very tumultuous and hard, take it from me, don't let him be the key to your downfall" he said eyeing me from his glasses.
I stood up in defeat, and walked straight back to my office, with knowing eyes all over me, my colleagues too must have seen the news and read gossip blogs too.
And all I could think about was Noah.
…..
I couldn't pick his calls, I was too angry and too hurt, what would I say? Yes I did expect some form of drama being his girlfriend but this might be too much to handle for me.
I ignored his calls and texts and waited till the end of the day
I was suspended indefinitely
Fuck.
Not how I planned my year going, and definitely not on my bingo card.
I slowly began to gather my things, threaten not to cry in this office.
I pressed the telephone and called for Gigi
"Gigi come to my office" I said and replaced the reciever
I was still packing when she came in
"Miss Amelia you sent for me" she said
"Yes, I did, I've been suspended indefinitely" I said trying not to cry or let my voice break.
"Oh my goodness, is it because of–
"That doesn't matter right now, I have assigned you to hr for your new role, when I get back we can continue from where we left off"
"Okay can I help to pack" she ssid stepping closer.
"No im good, just take care of yourself alright" I said assuring her
....
I was home early for the first time in years, and it was a strange feeling
Dawn was swamped with work and promised to see me later in the evening, I needed to talk to someone so I didn't loose my mind.
Reaching for my phone, I disabled my airplane mode option and my phone rang.
My phone rang.
A private number .
Flynn.
I almost threw up.
His name was like poison.
He called again immediately when I didn't pick up.
I let it ring.
Then a text came in:
Private number : We need to talk. It's important.
Private number: Amelia stop ignoring me.
Private number: I saw the news. Call me back.
Private number: NOW.
I gripped my phone so hard my hand ached.
Not today.
Not now.
Not while my life was burning.
I blocked the number.
Then unblocked it.
Then blocked it again.
My mind was shaking. My heart was pounding.
Everything was crashing at once:
Noah.
His ex-fiancée.
The photos.
The blog.
The office whispers.
Flynn circling like a vulture.
My life was spinning out of control.
I sat down at my desk, breathing unevenly.
I needed Noah.
I didn't want to need him.
But I did.
And at that exact moment, my phone vibrated again.
A message from him.
Noah: where are you
My heart fluttered and then back to panic mode, I knew this wouldn't brood well but I told him anyway.
Me: I'm in my apartment
My phone buzzed almost immediately
Noah; stay there, I'm coming over right now.
The knock on my door came five minutes later, sharp and certain, like he already knew the path to me.
I opened it slowly.
And there he was.
Noah Frost.
Towering.
Eyes dark with worry.
Jaw tight like he'd been grinding it for hours.
The first thing he did was pull me into his arms.
My knees nearly buckled.
"Why didn't you answer me?" he murmured against my hair.
Because I was drowning.
Because I didn't want him to see me drowning.
Because the world had suddenly become too big, too loud, too cruel—and he felt like the only quiet place left.
"I didn't know what to say," I whispered back.
He cupped my face so gently my whole body caved.
"Then let me say it with you."
My throat tightened.
I gave a small nod, and he guided me to the couch like I was something fragile.
I hated feeling fragile.
I hated that the world could shake me like this.
But when he sat next to me, when his hand slid into mine, I finally spoke.
"It's everywhere, Noah."
My voice cracked instantly.
"People were already passing the pictures around the office. They were staring at me like I was… like I was sleeping with you for money or influence."
The shame in my voice made me wince.
His eyes darkened, furious and protective all at once.
"What? That's bullshit—"
"HR emailed me," I whispered. "They said the publicity could 'affect the company's reputation.' My supervisor hinted I might get suspended if clients complain."
My hands shook again.
I hid them in my lap.
"I've worked so hard," I said, my voice small. "For everything. I never wanted shortcuts. I never used anyone. I just… I just wanted to be enough on my own."
A tear escaped before I could stop it.
"And now I might lose my job because I let myself feel something for you."
The silence afterward was heavy—devastating.
His fingers slid under my chin, tilting my face toward his.
"You're not losing your job," he said, voice low and steady. "I won't let that happen."
I shook my head. "You can't control everything."
"No," he said. "But I can protect you. And right now? That's all I want."
My resolve crumbled.
Completely.
The dam inside me burst open.
I pressed my palms to my face as sobs shook through me—months of stress, fear, heartbreak, grief, all rising at once.
Noah didn't pull away.
He didn't rush me.
He didn't tell me to stop.
He just held me.
Firmly.
Safely.
Like I was something precious.
"I'm scared, Noah," I whispered into his chest.
"I know," he murmured into my hair. "And I'm right here."
His hand slid to my back, slow circles calming the panic I couldn't breathe through alone.
He rested his forehead against mine.
"Whatever happens," he whispered, "we handle it together."
My voice was barely there.
"Okay."
I leaned in for a kiss, my mouth hit and fast against him, he made feel safe and comfortable, I wanted to go back to the beach house, with his mouth all over me, his hand tracing every outline of my skin like some map.
He responded with a grunt, like he loved it too, his mouth exploring mine, I gave him, whimpering of pleasure, my hands running through his thick hair, and his hands on my waist clinging to me tight and the kiss shifted still tender, slower and certain now.
The world outside—the gossip blog, the whispers, the fear—faded until there was only this.
Only him.
Only us.
He pulled back just a fraction, his lips grazing mine, our breaths tangled.
"You okay?" he murmured.
I nodded, though my heart was racing so fast I could barely speak.
"I am… now."
His forehead touched mine again, our noses brushing.
"Good," he whispered. "Because I've been dying to do that since the moment you opened the door."
A tiny, involuntary smile tugged at my lips.
And he kissed it.
softly, slowly, like he had all the time in the world.