AMANDA
I wake up in Adam's arms and can’t believe this is reality. Yesterday, we talked for a long time about everything that was troubling us. Without focusing on the truth, for which the time has not yet come.
- Good morning, - I kiss my husband on the nose, and he pulls me into his embrace.
- Tell me it’s not a dream. - Instead of answering, I bite his lower lip, immediately feeling the reaction in my stomach to my actions. Adam turns me onto him and kisses me with such greed, as if I’m about to take away his favorite dessert. His hand glides down my back and squeezes my butt, followed by a second hand doing the same. In a moment, Adam impales me on himself, and I can’t hold back a scream.
- Adam... - the sound is more like a sob. He lifts me up by my thighs, almost completely pulling out of me, and then roughly fills me to the brim, sealing my mouth like a pacifier. I try to take control, but it’s not going well because Adam is picking up speed, and the feeling of impending release cuts off my brain.
- Don’t stop. - I almost scream. Adam lets out something like a growl, quickening the pace, and when he roughly claims my mouth, the orgasm rushes through me with such force that my consciousness turns off for a moment, and I collapse onto him. It takes me about five minutes to realize that we have released together, and his result flows down my leg.
- Now the morning is good. - He kisses me on the forehead and continues to stroke my back while I come back to my senses.
And no matter how much we want to stay together for the whole day, it’s not realistic right now. So, we take a shower, have breakfast, and head off for our errands.
- I’ll pick you up in the evening, alright? - Having a driver and security, I still want Adam to be by my side every minute.
- Alright. - I kiss him and step out near my new office. Behind me, as always, are two bodyguards who don’t stray a step away.
Victoria is already waiting for me in the office.
- Good day, Ms. Amanda. - I notice she is holding a newspaper and looks quite worried.
- Good day, did something happen? – I sit at the table and look at what the woman is reading.
- Yes. The news spread too quickly. - She hands me the newspaper, where our photo is on the front page. I skim through the text and realize that this is not good. In short, it talks about my inheritance, about me being the daughter of Korniyev, but the main part of the text is devoted to our relationship with Adam and how I ruined a future family. And while the first part concerns me little, the latter is a blow to the reputation of both firms.
- What the hell is this? - A wave of rage passes through my brain faster than I can regain my composure, so my voice sounds too loud.
- Journalists leaked the events of last night. - I am genuinely surprised at how Victoria manages to stay so unemotional.
- Only Karina could have done this. - well, no one else needs it.
- Not a fact. You shouldn’t trust any of the partners completely. - The woman writes something on her phone and then raises her eyes to me.
- Tomorrow evening, a charity auction will take place; I’ve added you to the guest list. - I don’t quite understand what this is about now. - There will be dozens of reporters. You need to come with Mr. Kelly. - It seems to me this will only complicate the situation, but I quietly listen to Victoria further.
- The next day, some well-known publications will write about your relationship in the context of “love that has overcome time and distance." A beautiful story—that’s what will change public sentiment, and everyone will perceive you as being high on emotions. - I wasn't prepared for this. This woman clearly knows her job well. Now I understand why Korniyev entrusted her with the main tasks.
- What if the journalists refuse to write like that? - It seems to me that it would be more advantageous for them to fuel the scandal than to whitewash Adam and me.
- There is no choice. Most of them are somehow still dependent on "A.Y.K." and Mr. Korniyev's death doesn’t change that. - Only now do I grasp the power that this man left me. He worked for years to gain authority, opportunities, and methods of control. And I just receive it on a silver platter. But whether I am ready for it—I don’t know. Perhaps, I have the resource to develop my own firm, but managing so many things seems utterly unrealistic.
- Ms. Amanda, will you inform Mr. Adam, or should I do it?
- I’ll tell him myself, thank you. - Victoria leaves the office, and I take my phone and dial Kelly to tell him everything. But the news reached him earlier, so I’m left to tell him about Victoria’s idea. To my surprise, he immediately agrees, so we say goodbye, and I sit down to deal with the documents.
Work has consumed me so much that I didn’t even notice when the sun set. I stand up to stretch my back because it hurts from sitting too long.
There’s a knock at the door, and with my permission, Korniyev’s secretary enters.
- There’s a woman here for you. She says it’s urgent. - Could it be Karina come to clarify our relationship? I don’t want to see her at all, but hiding isn’t an option either. Moreover, I’m on my territory now, and at any moment, I could ask security to remove her.
- Let her in. - I turn back to my place at the table and watch the door intently. The seconds feel painfully long, during which anxiety grows inside me. But when the door opens, anxiety gives way to surprise.
- Hi, Amanda. We need to talk. - She stands in the doorway, and due to the shock, I can't even utter a word. What else does she want?
She doesn’t need my invitation; she walks in and sits across from me, crossing her legs.
- What do we have to talk about? - I pull myself together because this won’t do.
- About the future, Amanda. More specifically, about what could happen if this is not stopped. - I look at her, searching for some sort of trick.
- Marina, we’ve never been friends, so why do you care about my future? - The woman rolls her eyes and exhales.
- Don’t think this is due to a strong love for you. - For a moment, she ponders, as if choosing her words. - It’s for revenge. I don’t like being used.
I want to see some sort of trickiness or meanness in the woman’s eyes, but instead, all I see is sadness mixed with despair.
- Well, then I’m listening. - I ask the secretary to make us two coffees, and Marina continues.