Amelia's mind buzzed as she sat at her desk, reviewing the pitch documents once again. It had been days since her late-night session with Liam. Days since she'd heard his quiet, deliberate words that still echoed in her thoughts, stirring something deep inside her.
She had tried to push it away, to concentrate on the work in front of her, but the truth was undeniable—Liam was affecting her in ways she hadn't expected. Not just as her boss, not just as a colleague, but as someone who had started to break through her carefully constructed walls.
But then, there was Julian. Julian Crane, with his easy charm and quiet determination. Unlike Liam, Julian hadn't pushed her boundaries, hadn't made her question herself in the same way. But he was there, persistent, like a shadow just at the edge of her mind. Every word he'd spoken to her had been measured, careful, and in some strange way, it felt safe. More controlled. More predictable than what she had with Liam.
The decision had been made, albeit hesitantly—she was going to speak with Julian.
She stood up, glancing one last time at the documents on her desk, then reached for her phone. A quick search, and Julian's number appeared on the screen. She hesitated for just a moment before sending him a text:
"Can we meet? Need to discuss a few things."
She put the phone down and ran her fingers through her hair, pacing the length of her office. She'd never been one to lean into uncertainty, yet here she was, torn between two men—two very different men—both of whom seemed to have their own version of her future mapped out.
Her phone buzzed almost immediately. A message from Julian:
"Of course. I'm free in an hour. Where should we meet?"
She typed back, "The usual place," and put the phone down, her thoughts swirling.
The café was quiet, the late afternoon light filtering through the large windows and casting long shadows on the floor. Amelia arrived early, sitting by the window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup. She didn't know why she'd felt the need to meet Julian outside the office. Maybe it was the need for some clarity, or maybe it was the increasing pull of the tension that had been building up between them.
When Julian arrived, he smiled as he spotted her. His dark hair was tousled, and his eyes were warm as always. He was impeccably dressed, casual yet refined. It was the kind of look that suggested he had nothing to prove.
"Amelia," he said softly as he sat down across from her. "It's good to see you outside of the office."
She returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I needed a break from all the work. Figured we could talk about the upcoming meeting."
He nodded, sensing there was more to it than just business. "Of course. But I have a feeling there's something else on your mind."
Amelia hesitated. She wasn't sure how to put the thoughts in her head into words. How do you explain that you're caught between two paths, both tempting but both dangerous in their own way?
"I—" she started, then stopped. She didn't know how to express it, so she decided to simply ask. "Julian, what do you see when you think about us?"
His expression softened, and for a moment, she saw the real Julian—the man who had always been a quiet, observant presence in her life.
"What do I see?" he echoed, considering the question carefully. "I see someone who's not afraid to challenge herself, someone who doesn't back down from what she wants. But I also see someone who's afraid. Afraid of getting too close to the wrong person."
Amelia swallowed. Her heart raced. "And who do you think that wrong person is?"
Julian leaned back in his chair, his eyes steady on hers. "I think you already know the answer to that."
She was quiet for a moment, her mind racing. She hadn't expected Julian to be so perceptive. Then again, he always had a way of seeing through the surface, of understanding her without her saying a word.
"I'm not afraid of him," she said, though the words felt hollow.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Because I don't think that's true. I think you're afraid of what you're becoming when you're around him. The person you thought you were—"
"Stop," she cut him off, her voice sharper than she intended. "You don't understand. You haven't seen him the way I have. Liam... he's different."
"I know he's different," Julian said calmly. "But that doesn't mean he's right for you."
Amelia didn't know how to respond to that.
"I'm not saying this to push you away," Julian continued, his voice lowering slightly. "But you deserve someone who isn't playing games. Someone who isn't constantly making you question where you stand."
Amelia could feel the weight of his words settling over her like a heavy cloak. She had always admired Julian's straightforwardness, his ability to cut through the clutter and speak plainly. But it wasn't the simplicity of his message that got to her—it was the fear of what it meant.
Liam had never been straightforward. He was complex. Unpredictable. Dangerous.
But was that what she wanted? Was she really willing to be pulled into the storm of his world?
"Julian, I—" she started, but before she could finish, her phone buzzed on the table, interrupting her thoughts.
She glanced at the screen. It was a message from Liam.
"We need to talk. Now."
Her breath caught in her throat. She could feel the weight of the moment—the inevitable collision of her two worlds.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, her voice strained. "I have to go."
Julian watched her with a flicker of something in his eyes—something unreadable. He didn't try to stop her, but she could see the disappointment in his gaze.
"I understand," he said, standing up. "But I hope you know what you're doing, Amelia."
Liam was waiting for her in his office, his posture rigid as he stared out the window. He didn't even turn around when she entered. The door shut softly behind her, and she took a moment to breathe, trying to steady the nerves that had suddenly erupted in her chest.
"I got your message," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral.
Liam turned around slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly when they met hers. "I know you spoke with him."
She felt a chill run down her spine. "Spoke with who?"
"Julian." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, hoping her deflection would mask the sudden rush of anxiety she felt.
Liam's gaze held her, unwavering. "Don't lie to me, Amelia."
The tension in the room grew thick. The unspoken words between them were becoming impossible to ignore.
"I don't need to be the one you turn to when you need advice," Liam continued, his voice low. "But I do need you to understand something."
"And what's that?"
"That you're mine. Whether you admit it or not, you belong to me."
Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. Every fiber of her being screamed to walk out of the room, to leave this impossible situation behind.
But she didn't move. Instead, she met his gaze head-on, the defiance in her eyes growing stronger.
"You don't own me, Liam," she said, the words a declaration of independence she hadn't fully known she was capable of.
The room was still for a long moment, then Liam's expression shifted slightly, just enough to show the slightest crack in his control.
"Don't test me, Amelia," he warned, his voice barely a whisper.
Her stomach twisted as she realized just how deep she was in.