The Arrangement

8: When it hits me. . .

My phone was ringing. Buzzing and vibrating, in front of me. On my pillow. My hands were itching to check who it was. To answer. But I had a feeling it was Adrian, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with him. I couldn't believe it was me, staying in bed all day and sulking while everyone else was working. I'd already missed an event I was supposed to make an appearance at. And I hadn't done a few things at the office.

At just nineteen years old, I'd become the head of Public Relations in my family company. . .not because it was the family company, but because I deserved the position. I'd dedicated my life to my job and did it very well. I'd managed to make sure any negative articles weren't published, no office drama was badly publicized. I was in charge of keeping the Weston name clean and good. And I saw this 'marriage' as part of that job. . .making sure that whatever problem there was, was sorted before someone found out and let it slip.

Now I was in too deep. I was thinking about him all the time. When I ate, I wondered what he was eating. When I drove I remembered the way he did it. . .as if he was one with the car. When I slept I wondered if he was also sleeping alone and the painful thought of being replaced brought tears to my eyes. When I showered, I thought about him in the shower with me. . . different fantasies of how we could use my shower filling my head. When I dressed I thought about him taking those clothes right off me. I wanted him. Badly. But I wouldn't let myself fall into whatever trap he'd set.

I realised that I needed to stop the nonsense and get up and out of bed. I needed to work and forget about him. I was ready for anything. . .just not what happened next.

"Miss?" said one of the helpers as she knocked on my door. "A minute please, Anna." I was fastening the straps of my sandals and putting the finishing touches on my look.

"Yes?" I asked as I opened the door. "Someone's here to see you, Miss."
"Male or female?"
"He said not to tell you that." I suppressed a laugh. I don't even think she realised that she'd told me everything I needed to know. "Okay, thank you, Anna. Tell hi- the stranger that I'll be down in a minute."

It was him. He was here to see me! I wasn't ready or prepared! I needed to leave without being noticed. I snuck out of my room with my bag, phone and car keys in hand.

I used the door in my father's office and ran around the house to the front where my car had been parked. Unfortunately for me, just as I started the car he came out of the house. I froze for a moment, wondering if he knew it was my car. He stared at the car, with tinted windows, for a while before walking back inside. Probably to look for me. I let out a sigh of relief and drove away faster than I'd meant to. When I was on the road into the city, I didn't slow down. The fact that I was driving was far away from my mind. I was thinking about a lot of different things and my foot seemed to take my anger out on the accelerator. I took a glance at my speed-metre and smiled when I saw the needle pointing at 240. I felt dangerous. Carefree. It was electrifying. Knowing the danger that lied in my reckless driving made me feel powerful. Was I one of those adrenaline junkies? Maybe. I stepped on the paddle harder, pushing the car to its limits. I heard a buzzing sound again. My phone was quiet. And so was my car. I looked in the rear view mirror. A charcoal grey BMW i8 was following me at the same speed I was driving. My phone rang. I had to focus on the road, but I wanted to answer. The car had hands free. But somehow I ignored that and took it to answer it myself. "What do you want Adrian? Stop following me."
"Do you know how fast you're driving!" He was angry. I laughed into the phone, suddenly feeling confident. "You're driving just as fast."
"Stop. Now." He growled into my ear. "So you finally decided to show the real you? Giving me commands like I'm some child." He was quiet for a second, then said, "Okay. I'll tell you the truth. The whole truth. Just slow down and pull over so we can talk."
I hung up and turned to put my phone in its holder. And then. . .

A bend came ahead in the road. . .one I knew very well, but at the speed I was driving, couldn't handle. I panicked. . .closed my eyes. . .and then suddenly. . .CRASH.

The last thing I heard was a loud knocking on my window. He was trying to help me. He was. "Adrian?"
"Amelia! Amelia open the doors!" The doors. I have to unlock. . .the doors. "Amelia!" He can't see the inside. I'm fading. . .I can't breathe. . ."Adrian," I'm trying to scream. . .he can't hear me. He's on the phone. My vision is blurry. My arm hurts like hell. "Adrian," I say again. "Help. . .me,"
"Amelia! Don't close your eyes!" I look up at him. He's so gorgeous. I smile. "I'm not. . .gonna die. I'm fine." I want to show him that I'm okay. My arm isn't though! But he's too busy panicking. Adrian. . .my Adrian. My eyes feel heavy. "Adrian." I say slowly. I can't see. "Adri-"

Adrian's POV

An angel. Nothing less, nothing more. Perfection, peace and serenity. She was everything I wanted in a woman. Strong, beautiful, hardworking, smart. . . everything. Now she was no longer. . .no longer the perfect angel I'd met her as. She held a deep, dark secret. . .one she didn't even know of.

As she layed on my bed, silent, her chest moving slightly with each breath, I wondered if she remembered the tragic events of the previous day. She'd been sleeping for 24 hours straight. At this time yesterday, she'd made the biggest mistake of her life. One that could make or break her, depending on who she really was. This would have a negative impact on her, her peace of mind, her outlook on life, and her general idea of herself.

Her eyes slowly opened. She looked confused for a second. I didn't say anything in case she didn't even remember the accident. "Is my car okay?" She attempted to smile at me, as she rose, but winced at the pain in her arm. "Slowly."
"I'm fine. But my brand new car isn't."
"It's in a workshop. It wasn't too bad."
"What did I hit?" I froze for a second.
"A tree." It was the truth. . .just not the full truth. "Are you okay?"
"Perfect."
"I don't remember much. What happened?"
"I'm also a little fuzzy on details." She seemed to question my answers a little, before giving up. "Does my family know about this."
"Shit. I've been so busy worrying about. . ."
"About?"
"About. . .you, obviously," I added. She gave me another worried look. I had a feeling she knew. "Do you remember anything from yesterday?"
"I remember driving. I was going really fast. I'm normally such a careful driver, I don't know what came over me." She didn't even remember how angry she was at me. . . atleast. "I didn't hurt anyone did I?" I should've answered faster. Then maybe she would've believed my shaky, "No."
"You must be hungry. I'll go make you something to eat." I left as quickly as possible. Before she could ask more questions.