The sun had not yet arisen when Amberleigh was jarred from a pleasant dream. In it, a naked Leo was feeding her grapes, before he began to dance for her. A nice, private show in which Amber got to lay back and enjoy the tables being turned in her dream. Well at least until an incessant buzzing sound grated in her ears over and over. The delicious dream slipped from her grasp as she was pulled back to lucid consciousness. Not that waking up next to Leo was a nightmare or anything.She turned on the bedside light as Leo’s watch danced along the other bedside table. Over and over. It wouldn’t stop. Had bounced itself off its charging dock and now crept closer to tumbling off the stand altogether. With watery eyes, Amber noticed it was 5:41 a: m, someone had better be dying!The watch stopped moving. But the respite was brief. It began to go off again almost immediately. She had worn the chef out so thoroughly, Leo slept on like the dead. She almost took pity on him, as she had been so ro
Leo recovered his shit rather quickly. He pulled his head from his hands and turned to look at Amberleigh. He wore the same look as he did the night in the penthouse after they’d found Grayson overdosed on alcohol and benzos, taking control of the situation and adulting hard.“Okay, we need to get packing. I’ll make the travel arrangements,” he put his hand against her tear- stained cheeks, “It’ll be alright Love. We’ll go back to Omega City. Get in touch with Grayson. Hell, he’ll probably contact me before we even step off the plane.”She only cried harder. He pulled her into his chest to try and sooth her. He couldn’t possibly know her breakdown was also out of guilt and regret. She couldn’t lose Leo. She couldn’t lose Grayson. Amber wouldn’t survive losing both of the men she loved. And Leo would hate her.“I don’t want you to leave me Leo,” she sobbed, “please don’t hate me.”“I could never hate you, Love. And I’m not going anywhere. I promised you we’re in this th
Leo didn’t have much to say to Amberleigh as they packed up their hotel suite. He did make a vain attempt to call Courtney to demand some answers. But just like with her husband, her phone went to voicemail. Well after three rings, making it totally fucking obvious she’d declined Leo’s call. Naturally, that didn’t help his state of mind any. Leo cursed the bitch heiress out as he finished his angry packing.Despite how upset the chef was with Amber, he still made sure to make her some tea before they left for the airport. He also encouraged her to put at least something light into her stomach. But Amber knew food wouldn’t sit well in her churning belly. And she knew it wasn’t just morning sickness this morning either. She was heartsick more than anything else. Amber began to feel like a playlist stuck on repeat as she kept apologizing to Leo. And crying. And thanking him for bringing her to Paris and all the things he had done for her. Leo asked her to please stop all of the above
By the look on Leo’s face, the chef was also thinking things were shady as hell. He thanked Viola quickly and promised he’d be in touch soon. He ended their call with “I love you Mama V.” Amber rubbed Leo’s arm as the frown lines were taking over his pretty face again.“There are so many things wrong here,” he stammered.“I was thinking the same thing. It’s like Courtney is covering for something. Why would they cut their honeymoon short for business obligations only to turn around and leave again the next day? It doesn’t make sense.”“And if G-Man’s watch was broken or something, he would get a replacement immediately. Going without one is not like him at all.”“Unless he doesn’t want to be found Leo. Is it possible he knew you installed that locator app on his phone?”“I don’t know. But regardless, I refuse to believe he would leave the city permanently without telling me or his parents. He wouldn’t do that Amber. Hell, you saw how much of a workaholic he was. He wouldn’t just walk
Amberleigh refused to let her nerves get the best of her on the ride to the penthouse. Leo didn’t say much at all. Luckily, their car had been prompt and traffic wasn’t too bad to make it to uptown Omega City. Preeminence Tower was just as tall and imposing as Amber remembered it, that shiny, spiral high rise which rose towards the clouds from where the God of this city lived at the top. But now she knew better of course. Grayson Godwin was just an imperfect man with problems and faults, even if he was as beautiful as a God and just as wealthy. But neither of those things made him invincible, immortal, or immune. And now his very life, or what was left of it, was most probably at stake. Amber shuddered at the thought as Leo and the driver messed with their luggage. The chef hadn’t wanted her to lift a finger to help and she was in no mood to argue. She did feel like shit anyway. The doorman brought them a luggage rack to cart all the shit up to the penthouse, though Leo ins
When Amberleigh’s world came back into color and focus, Leo was the first thing she saw. The chef was kneeling beside her on the marble floor with a concerned look on his face. She looked around the room with a groan trying to remember what the fuck had just happened. Her eyes landed on Courtney who gave her a dark look while the heiress clutched a crystal vase to her chest. Fuck. It hadn’t just been a nightmare after all.“Easy does it Love, you feinted,” said Leo, “I’ll call Dr. Gainey to come and check you over.”“You nearly broke this crystal vase which has been in my family for three generations! It’s a Baccarat,” snapped Courtney, “and we can’t risk having anyone else in the penthouse right now Leonardo. You heard what that man on the video said about anyone going to the Marshals. The less people who know about this situation, the better.”Leo turned toward Courtney with a look on his face that Amber never wanted to be on the receiving end of.“Are you fucking kidding me right
Moral support and company weren’t all Amberleigh had to offer Leo while he sorted through the billionaire’s accounts and other financial records. At eight a.m., under the guise of needing to pee, Amber left Leo to actually try and whip him up something to put in his stomach. She had enough cooking lessons under her belt to make a couple editable omelets at least.She wound up overthinking it and throwing out her first batch altogether. It wasn’t like Leo would really critique or really taste her creation at a troubled time like this. Right now, food was merely fuel to keep him upright and grinding away at that computer. She carried the tray of omelets into the office, his contained peppers, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and spicy sausage, hers the same fixings save for the Swiss cheese of course as it was one of the few cheeses she disliked.Leo looked up and gave her a grateful smile when she presented him with the tray. He also gave her a kiss on the cheek.“Thanks Love. You didn’t have t
Sweet talking the bank managers -to make hefty withdraws without prior notice from three of his own savings accounts around Omega City- wasn’t the only contribution Leo planned to make towards Grayson’s ransom. Or so Amberleigh came to learn over the course of the day. Before they had even left Grayson’s room that morning, the chef had tried to convince her to stay at the penthouse and get some rest. Between the banks, shit ton of different pawn shops he planned to hit around the city, and meeting with four different potential buyers, it would keep Leo occupied for hours. But Amber was having none of it.“I’ve had more sleep than you Leo. Besides, I don’t like the idea of you meeting with all these strangers to sell them the weapons alone. It isn’t safe.”He answered her with a smile and a kiss first, “I’m flattered that you’re worried about me Love. And the thought of you all protective like is sexy as hell. But I can take care of myself. And I’m taking certain precautions.”He walk