AMELIE

𝐓 𝐖 𝐎

T w o

April 6th

Today, I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and selected a white mid-thigh, cooperate dress covered by a brown leathered trench coat. I had applied dark red lipstick to compliment the color of my nail polish and my heels, which clicked on the tiled floor.

I knew I was turning heads.

I didn't mind as I headed to the receptionist, telling her I had an appointment with Adams. I showed her his card, and she quickly called his assistant, Huston Blackwell.

I'd studied him too. While being Anthony Adams's assistant, you could call the two of them best friends. Huston was always around Anthony, a leech I knew I would have to pluck out of my way.

Minutes later, I was riding up the elevator to his office building.

I brought out my phone and took a mirror selfie at the elevator to post on my Instagram feed when I got to the firm later.

The elevator doors slid apart, and I slipped my phone back into my purse, stepping out to find Huston waiting there. There was a scowl on his face, his eyes scanning me from head to toe as if trying to see where I kept a bomb or a weapon I wanted to use in killing Anthony.

Even if my mission had been to kill Anthony Adams, he wouldn't have been able to detect anything.

I allowed a smile to slip onto my lips as I stretched my hand out to him in a handshake.

"Hi, I'm Amelie Lively from Vel—"

"He told me."

He didn't accept the handshake, and I dropped my hand back to my side.

I feigned surprise. "Oh. I um—you are?"

He stood taller. "Huston Blackwell."

"Nice to—"

"Listen, Amelie. Mr. Adams might have promised to offer you help in whatever case you're working on, but this company can not afford to invest in a failed project. I've asked about you how you go about seeking assistance with no major gain to be given to the investors you hope to lure into your little case."

He thought he had stunned me into silence...he thought I'd been intimidated by him. Because yes, my facial expression showed that.

"Velfort is a famous firm," he continued. "I've worked with a few attorneys from there but never once heard your name."

"With all due respect, Mr. Blackwell, You can't tell me you know the names of every working attorney at Velfort."

"I know the ones who are important enough to be known, so clearly, you're not."

I sighed, dropping my formalities. "Have we ever met? You speak like you have a personal score to pick with me."

His face hardened. "Adams might be easy to fall for a pretty face, but I know a bad investment when I see one, and I own—"

"Huston."

The man before me straightened immediately, the scowl slipping off his face before turning to where the voice came from.

It was Anthony.

He stood in front of a door. He stood tall, hands slipped into the pocket of his slacks, his face not giving anything away. I didn't know if he had heard all of that or if he didn't.

Anthony was wearing a grey suit, one that stuck to his body like it was sewn on him. His hair was sleeked back, drawing my attention to his sharp jawline and stern grey eyes.