FREED (The Mind Of Her Billionaire, #3) (2 page)

‘By seeing him?’

He smiled gently. ‘I’ve dedicated my life to people classed as criminal insane. I saw hope in Justin, when I saw the change in the part of the brain that deals with emotion in him, I was delighted... When you go into a dark room, what’s the first thing you do?’

‘Switch on the light.’

‘And the darkness disappears!’ he said with a smile. ‘We put people behind bars so that they can’t hurt us, but without fully understanding the why, they did what they did, prisons will just continue to get fuller and fuller. You are the key to that change, let that change start with you. Don’t turn away from him and throw away the key. One day you might have to deal with it all over again.’

Amelia listened to him carefully. There were two sides wrestling inside her. There was no doubt that she still felt something for Justin, but there was the part that remembered all the pain.

‘Pain consumes you,’ he said as if reading her mind. ‘It stops you from moving forward. You came here to move on with your life, and this is one of the ways.’

She was silent.

‘I’m not saying marry him, or be with him. I’m just saying, be that light to him.’

She nodded.

‘It will heal you too, trust me I know.’

This wasn’t the session she was expecting. She wanted Doctor Gallagher to tell her she’d be okay, and that the child she was carrying would be okay too.

‘Is there a possibility my child will be like Justin?’ she asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

‘Yes, there is a possibility, but we can cross that bridge when we get there. The key isn’t to ignore it, but to face it and deal with it.’

She nodded, not the answer she wanted to hear, but like he said. She would deal with it when the time came.

‘Is there anything you’d like to say, tell me?’ He sat back.

‘Honestly, you’ve left me with a lot to think about. I guess my only fear is my child turning out like him.’

‘Remember there was love in him, so try and hold onto that. In life we tend to hold onto the bad rather than the good. There’s a fifty fifty chance either way, why not hope for the best.’

‘Yes, I guess you’re right. Thank you.’

Amelia only shared a few more minor concerns and then soon the session was over. She walked out into the waiting car and joined Mandy.

‘So what did you get Gary?’ she asked.

Mandy picked up the pretty white bag from Harvey Nichols. The items were hidden between soft paper.

‘Oh, he’ll love this!’ Amelia opened the box that contained Tateossian diamond dust cufflinks. ‘This is so him!’ She squealed.

‘I got this as well.’ Mandy held opened a box.

‘Yes, he’ll definitely love that!’ Amelia admired the Uniform Wares, stainless steel watch. ‘Oh he’ll love that.’ She giggled, she couldn’t wait to present the items to her friend. ‘Make sure that this all goes under entertainment, so the accountant can keep track of the spending,’ she said.

‘Yes, Miss Woods.’

‘So, it’s back home then, is it?’

‘Yes, I had a call from Suzanne, she’ll be at the house within the hour.’

‘Great.’ Amelia sat back and tried to take everything in.

She thought about what Doctor Gallagher had said, and wondered if it would be so bad to go and see Justin. It wasn’t like he could hurt her. The trial was coming up soon and she also worried about that. Justin had been given special privileges, that didn’t make her feel too comfortable.

As the car moved, Amelia’s eyes shut for a moment. She was exhausted by it all. The nap would do her some good, she hoped.

‘A
h, Amelia!’ Suzanne took both her hands, pulled her forward and kissed both cheeks. ‘Look at you!’ She looked at the bump. ‘You’ve certainly put on a little bit of weight the last time I saw you.’

Amelia smiled curtly. ‘I’d appreciate it if you keep this to yourself,’ she said.

‘Don’t worry about me. It must be hard for you with Justin in prison. I don’t believe they’re accusing him of murder, and kidnap! I mean, look at you, you’re okay and the last time I saw you, you were fine.’ She started to fiddle with the dresses.

Amelia had asked Mandy to show her into the master bedroom.

‘Yes, the media and the lies.’ Amelia played along.

‘How is he doing? I got a call from your assistant, it doesn’t seem as though I can speak with him.’

‘You wouldn’t need to, it’s me you’re dealing with now.’

‘Yes, yes of course.’ She smiled. ‘I do hope this whole trial gets sorted out. I can’t believe such a thing is happening.’

‘Yeah, me neither,’ Amelia said sarcastically, but Suzanne failed to notice.

‘I’ve brought a few dresses through, your assistant told me about sizes, but I don’t know if any of these will fit.’

‘If they don’t you could always find more, I mean that’s your job, isn’t it.’

‘Oh yes, it isn’t a problem at all.’

They started the dress fitting. The first four dresses weren’t to her liking. This time it was nice because she could reject it or accept it. The dresses were either too tight around the waist or just not what she wanted.

‘I might have to go out searching again.’

‘How about that one?’ Amelia pointed to a cream dress. ‘That looks nice.’

Suzanne picked it out from the collection and Amelia went ahead to put it on. It fitted perfectly. It clung to the growing bump without restricting it. It flattered all her curves without being tight. It had bat wings and was knee length. Suzanne paired the dress with a cream and gold pair of heels.

‘You look stunning!’ Suzanne squealed.

‘Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to do this.’

‘Oh, it’s my job. I love it.’

There was a light knock on the door while Amelia tried to get herself out of the clothes.

‘Miss Woods, Tate is here to see you.’

‘Now? He didn’t say he was coming.’

Then again, she didn’t expect him to make an appointment. He was her friend after all.

‘No, urm, I don’t have him in your calendar.’

‘Its fine, take him into my office and offer him something to drink.’

‘Yes Miss Woods.’ Mandy was about to close the door.

‘Oh and Mandy, how long before my call to Justin?

‘Forty minutes.’

‘Great, thanks.’

‘Well, well, you are busy,’ said Suzanne as she put away the clothes Amelia didn’t want.

‘I have taken over his business.’

‘I know, the share price to some of his business’s took a nose dive after that announcement.’

Amelia looked at her a moment and tried to work out her game. 

‘That was only temporary. Shares have gone up after they used my marketing idea. Justin knew what he was doing when he put me in charge. I had been working for him for years. I’m highly qualified for the job.’

‘No doubt.’ She smiled.

Amelia could sense the cattiness beneath the tone, but decided not to react. 

‘Thank you for coming,’ said Amelia. ‘Mandy will show you out.’ She headed for the door and opened it for the woman to depart.

‘It was nice to see you again,’ said Suzanne.

‘Yes, likewise.’

****

‘T
ate,’ she said as she closed the door to her office. ‘You didn’t tell me you were coming.’

‘Surprise!’ He stood up. ‘I come bearing gifts.’ He held up the box of blueberry muffins.

‘Oh Tate, you didn’t have to.’

‘I don’t get to see you much at the office anymore.’

‘That’s because I’m your boss.’ She giggled. ‘There’s just so much to do at the moment.’

‘Come, sit down.’ He pulled out the chair from behind the huge oak desk.

Amelia sat down gratefully.

‘Here.’ He opened the box and offered her a muffin. ‘Go on, I know you want one.’

‘Okay.’ She giggled and took the muffin.

‘Here, give me your feet.’ He sat down and pushed the chair closer to her.

‘Huh?’

‘Your feet, give me your feet.’

‘Tate!’

‘Feet!’

Amelia pulled off the black heels and placed them on his lap. Expertly, he began to massage them. Amelia felt her shoulders relax as the sensation traveled from her feet through her body. Her taste-buds swelled as she munched on the muffin.

‘How does that feel?’ he asked.

‘Soooo good!’

He giggled.

‘Seriously though, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?’

‘I finished early, and I did okay that with my manager.’

Amelia laughed lightly.

‘I remembered that you were having the scan today, and I didn’t want you to go alone.’

‘Oh, Tate.’ She took back her feet. ‘Please don’t do this.’

‘I’m not doing anything, I promise. I’m just being a friend.’

She watched him, she wasn’t so sure about that. The relationship between them was always a little awkward.

‘Tate, I don’t want you to waste your life waiting for me. I just can’t –’

‘I’m not waiting. I’m just here for you. Please, just let me be your friend.’

She wasn’t so sure.

‘I promise that’s all it is. I’ve even joined a dating site, to meet someone.’

‘You haven’t!’

‘I have.’

‘Oh wow! That’s great!’ She felt relieved, the pressure off her a little.

He smiled faintly knowing very well that, that wasn’t true. He just hoped that one day, she’d love him the way she loved Justin.

‘So any dates lined up?’

‘Nope, not yet.’

‘I’m surprised, you’re such a catch.’

He laughed.

‘It’s true.’

‘Just not for you,’ he said.

She giggled shaking her head. It was never going to be straightforward between them.

‘So, are you alright with me tagging along to the scan?’

‘Do I have a choice? You’ve more or less invited yourself.’

‘I guess I have. So is that a yes?’ He teased.

‘I don’t see why not, but right now, I’ve got to get some work done.’

‘Work, work and no play –’

‘Miss Woods, Mister Hughes is on the line for you.’ Mandy poked her head round the door.

‘Thank you.’ She smiled. ‘I’m going to have to take this, Mandy will keep you entertained.’

Tate nodded disappointed, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He was grateful that Justin was behind bars, but it also bugged him that Justin still had control over her even behind bars.

Amelia waited until the door shut behind him before picking up the phone. It beeped constantly, the red light flicking, demanding her attention. She took a deep breath, and then picked it up.

‘Justin.’ She shut her eyes as she said his name.

‘Honey, how are you?’ His voice was calm and collected.

‘Tired, but I’m coping.’ There was a part of her that wanted him to rescue her from all this, but there was also the part that couldn’t forget what he’d done.

She held onto the growing bump and bit back her lower lip. The sound of his voice through the phone sent a tingle down her spine, something she wished wouldn’t happen. But the fact was, she couldn’t just switch off her feelings for him. Years ago, she would’ve been the woman judging another woman for falling in love with a murderer, but here she was, doing something she thought she’d never do.

‘You really gave me a big task,’ she said.

‘To which you are coping fine.’

‘I am, but- ’

‘I know you, I’ve watched you over the years. You are a fighter, a strong woman.’

His words confused her. How could he be so certain and yet at other times be so cruel? She thought about the words Doctor Gallagher had used, and she tried to put them into practice.

‘So tell me, business first, what’s going on.’

They did this on a regular basis. Amelia would go into detail of what was happening. She had a handle on everything, thanks to her competent personal assistant. He listened intently as she gave him details of what was going on. She passed an idea through him, before presenting it to the board the following day. He liked it and told her to go ahead. It felt nice listening to him approve of her, she’d almost forgotten about how he’d wanted her to change her body for him.

‘Now, to more important things,’ he said softly.

‘Yes.’ She knew exactly where this was going.

‘I need to see you,’ he said.

She shut her eyes. She knew this deep within her, but she was terrified.

‘I don’t know. I’m not ready.’

‘Please, you are the only one who keeps me going. I...I feel different when you’re with me.’

‘I know,’ she said softly. ‘But it’s been four months now, and I’m not the same anymore.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m huge,’ she said. ‘I’m the total opposite of what you created.’

He sighed.

‘I know that isn’t what you want to hear.’

‘I’m disappointed,’ he said.

‘I thought you would be.’ She understood completely, but it didn’t make it any easier.

‘I still want to see you. We can talk about it, talk about what I feel.’

‘What do you feel?’ she asked.

‘Empty, I feel empty. When I saw you, when you stepped into the office, I felt, calm and yet there was a side to me that wanted to change you.’

‘To keep me safe?’

‘Yes.’

She smiled at the thought. It was the most bizarre thing she’d ever heard, but it was true.

‘Please,’ he begged.

Amelia thought about the doctors words. Would she be able to stand the possible abuse?  There was also the pregnancy. It wouldn’t be possible to hide that.

‘I need you,’ he said softly.

‘Yes, yes okay.’

‘Yes?’ His voice was a pitch higher.

‘Yes, yes I’ll see you.’

‘I’m so happy! Thank you.’

‘Be prepared,’ she warned.

‘I will be. I’ve been working a lot with Doctor Gallagher. I may not be able to feel things, but I can try and learn. I can mimic behaviour.’

‘Is that even real? I mean pretending to care.’

‘It’s all I’ve got. But when I’m with you, there is that sense, that moment when I feel something.’

She nodded.

‘So, can you come tomorrow?’

She shut her eyes trying to remember what was in the diary for the following day.

‘Give me two seconds,’ she said.

‘Yes, of course.’