ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 9

Amelia

I was quiet the whole ride home. Although the noise in my head rang louder than anything that could be heard from the outside.

While Gabriel was maneuvering through the city streets and alleys, I asked myself, what is it that is awakening in me? A feeling that I can no longer deny is starting to flare up in my entire body.

Do I like the tension and sparks between me and Sebastian and the illusion that he is always within reach but still miles away?

I was left with no answer when Gabriel's voice interrupted me in my inner monologues.

But the truth is that Sebastian's appearance attracted me. His chiseled jawline, body as if sculpted by the hands of God himself, but most of all, the look in his eyes. Dark but enlightening at the same time. The one who makes you obey but who also worships you in every way possible.

Sebastian is a man who makes you love the way you hate him.
The truth is somewhere in between. Or maybe it's more towards one endthan other.

"Amy?"

Shit, I even started calling him by his first name.

"Amelia Sammers, please land from planet Venus right into my precious Toyota where your hot ass is seated."

"Sorry, I wandered off a bit. I'm summarizing the impressions from tonight's charity dinner. And. . . I'm too tired honesly."

"Take tomorrow off. Everything we have can be done by one of the younger lawyers'."

I smiled warmly at him, studying his face. He was always there for me. Even when I was going through the most difficult period, for which I have the feeling that was just put on pause and waiting for an opportune moment when it will start its invasion of my life again.

"Thank you Gab, but there's no need. I'll be as good as new in the morning."

He knew when not to ask unnecessary questions and to give me space. So he just nodded his head and squeezed my palm as a sign of support.

I leaned my head against the window glass and fixed my gaze like a telescope on the night sky. The moon was full, yellow, and seemed to follow us all the way with its watchful eye. The stars swarmed on the endless dark canvas and twinkled with their glittering rays like tinsel.

That image soon faded, blinded by the bright city lights, and from the entire stage full of stars and the moon, only a cloud of city pollution remained in the until recently wonderful sky.

"We're here. If you need anything, give me a call pumpkin, okay?"

"Thanks Gab, don't worry about me. I think you have other things to deal with. Remember, Brooke?"

"I'm working on it."

He winked at me as I leaned over the door before closing it.

"Goodnight."

I said goodbye to him and just as I was about to go up, he called after me.

"Pumpkin, I almost forgot."

He opened the passenger side window all the way and gave me a red rose.

"I noticed that you were sad when you saw that someone crushed your rose. This one is not as beautiful and a bright color as yours, but it was the only one I managed to get out of the bouquet in the lobby. I guess no one will mind."

He said with a laugh.

I stretched out my hand and took a rose that really couldn't compare to the beauty of its predecessor, but the message it carried made it even more beautiful. Friends are here to turn the desert of your life into a real hopeful oasis.

"What would I do without you?"

"The night is too short to elaborate on my answer. Now go and get some sleep."

He said and sailed off into the night.

I unlocked the door, took off my shoes, which had already become too tight for my feet, and turned on the light.

With a big bang, my purse fell to the floor and I screamed, crossing both arms over my chest in surprise and fear.

"What are you doing here?"

He was sitting comfortably in the chair with one arm leaning on the table. The smoke from his cigar danced around his lips and continued its dance moves squirming through his fingers.

"How did you get in?"

He was still silent, looking at me questioningly, condemningly, anything but mercy.

"I don't think we agreed on this William. You promised to give me time."

"You know I don't like when you call me like that."

He spoke nonchalantly but with an evident dose of irritation.

"After all, you know me well enough to know that patience is not my thing."

He stood up, moving the chair that creaked on my wooden floor and put out the cigarette in the vase that was in the middle of the table. His steps were heavy and measured.

He came to me and the stench of cigarettes, alcohol and his strong perfume almost knocked me off my feet, but I didn't move an inch.

He turned a circle around me and said over his shoulder.

"You can't pretend I don't exist. Because I'm everywhere. Now and always."

Anger started to boil inside me and besides this red dress I was wearing, I think my face also turned fiery red from the apocalyptic storm that was raging inside of me.

"You promised to let me go."

"And you promised that you would go to lunch with me once a month. That was a condition. And yet you broke it."

I turned to him and crossed my arms
as a sign of anger.

"And you promised not to mess with any of the people close to me. That was a condition too. And yet you broke it."

"I can't believe you're still so mad about Erika."

He said as if he didn't understand the weight of my words. Or his.

"She was my friend. My friend for God's sake! Of all the women you had to choose her."

He approached me with a quick step and grabbed me around the neck.

My heart was beating wildly in my chest. His nerve under his eye began to play under his skin, showing me that he had reached the limit of his patience and self-control.

"Listen to me, Amelia. I don't want to tolerate any more of your outbursts. I apologized to you, and you know that's not something I do. Every last Sunday of the month, you will come to the same place and at the same time. No negotiation. Or we'll talk in a different way."

He let go of my neck, taking his determined gaze away from my eyes and looking at his palms.

He sighed deeply, calming himself down and headed for the door. Just as he got hold of the doorknob, he spoke without turning to me.

"You know that you are the most important to me."

With trembling hands, I took off my make-up and changed. I crawled under the covers, my body numb as his grip still hovered on my neck.

Gabriel, I'll take your advice. I will stay home tomorrow. Goodnight.

I sent a message to Gabriel.

That night I slept with the lights on.