Chapter 455 Crossed The Line
Oscar pinned Amelia against the wall once they got home, claiming her lips in a deep kiss.
They made love to each other all night, and despite her exhaustion, Amelia woke up early the next morning thanks to her unerring biological clock.
Her eyes fluttered open, and Oscar leaned over her, sweetly planting a kiss on her forehead as she tried to get out of bed.
Oscar swiped the alarm clock off their bedside table and noticed that it was twenty to eight. He pulled Amelia back into his arms and coaxed, “Sleep a little longer. Don’t go to work today. I’ll call in sick for you.”
Amelia burrowed into his embrace and lightly nipped at his jaw. “Oscar, it’s time for me to get up. I’m going to be late if I fall back asleep.”
“You have me. You don’t need to work so hard,” Oscar replied, tightening his arms around her.
Amelia mock-scolded him, “Oscar, I’ve finally regained the overflowing passion for design I haven’t seen since my university days. My body feels like it’s bursting with creativity with all the designs I’d like to explore. You promised you’d support me in my choices. Don’t tell me you’re going back on your words now.”
Oscar merely kissed her forehead once more, mildly exasperated by her determination.
“Do you really like this job?”
“I do,” came Amelia’s earnest reply.
“All right. But you’ve got to let me know if it’s tiring you out. I’ll open a design studio where you can be your own boss. That way, you’ll call the shots and the hours.”
A radiant smile bloomed on Amelia’s face. She pushed herself up on her elbows and kissed Oscar’s cheek. Thankfully, the soreness from last night’s activities had begun to dissipate, and Amelia eventually crawled out of bed with some difficulty. “I’m going to get a quick shower. You should too, or you’ll be late.”
She washed up in under ten minutes and came out of the bathroom. As she did so, she saw Oscar picking out a suit in their wardrobe, his hair freshly wet from a shower.
Amelia could not resist the urge to hug him from behind. She pressed her chest against his broad back and purred like a kitten.
She sighed and lamented, “What should I do, Oscar? I’m jealous of all your admirers too.”
Oscar turned around and shot her a loving gaze. He could not help himself as he lowered his head and captured her mouth in a longing kiss. Things were just getting heated when Amelia hastily pulled herself away.
Wryly, she stated, “We need to go to work, Oscar.”
Oscar nipped her lip softly and replied, “I’m letting you off the hook today.”
Finally, they got dressed and went downstairs hand-in-hand. Molly happened to come out of the kitchen with their breakfast, and she smiled warmly before greeting them, “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton.”
Amelia dashed down the stairs and exclaimed, “Molly, you’re back! I missed you so much when you weren’t around.”
“Mrs. Clinton, I’m sure you miss my cooking more than you miss me,” Molly teased.
“Molly, I’m hurt that you would think that way. I missed you first before yearning for your cooking.”
Molly struggled to bite back her laughter.
She waited patiently as Amelia and Oscar enjoyed the breakfast she had prepared. Amelia seemed to have worked up a large appetite as she devoured two bowls of oatmeal. She panicked when she checked her phone and noticed the time. “Oscar, hurry up. We’re going to be late.”
Calmly, Oscar said, “Not to worry. I’ve called your manager and informed him that you’ll be late because you’re feeling unwell; he has given his approval.”
Well, my body’s still a bit sore from last night. I guess it’s better to report late to work. Still, Amelia grimaced as she imagined how quickly the theories for her tardiness would spread through the rumor mill at work.
She was often amazed at their penchant for creating and spreading gossip around the office.
After they finished breakfast, Oscar drove Amelia to work.
On the way to work, Amelia propped her chin on her elbow and asked Oscar, “Don’t you think you’re abusing your power? You said you wouldn’t interfere with my work, yet you’ve gone behind my back to contact my manager. He walks on pins and needles around me! How should I punish you for that?”
Oscar stretched his right hand out and pinched her cheek playfully. He turned serious and explained, “I was just worried that you would be bullied in your new company; that’s why I contacted your manager and asked him to look out for you. I didn’t mean anything else by it.”
Amelia smiled gratefully and clarified, “I’m not blaming you. I find your chivalry absolutely charming.”
Her praise brought a loving smile to Oscar’s face. He was a sucker for her rather unorthodox displays of affection.
They arrived at Amelia’s office too soon, and she kissed Oscar goodbye before undoing her seatbelt and alighting from his car.
She headed up to the design department, where a grinning Rory sauntered to her and pointed at her desk. Rory teased, “Amelia, I’m about to expire from jealousy. Oscar sent you flowers and gifts to start your day at work. Every woman in the department is dying to know what’s in that exquisite gift box. You should open it and spare us all from the suspense.”
True to Rory’s words, Amelia saw a big bouquet of roses on her desk. She was more befuddled than anything since Oscar did not mention any gifts during their car ride. Just then, she recalled Oscar’s promise of a memorable courtship, and she secretly hoped that the surprise on her desk was one of his many romantic gestures.
Amelia walked to her desk and picked up the bouquet. The lack of a message card briefly raised her suspicion, but she supposed it was plausible for anonymity to be part of Oscar’s surprise.
Under her colleagues’ expectant gaze, Amelia unwrapped the exquisite gift box on her desk. When she saw its contents, Amelia stumbled backward in horror. She flung the box away and out rolled a bloodied ball of hair, a photo with a pin stuck on it, and a note.
Amelia paled further when she recognized the young boy in the photo; she picked it up and pulled out the pin with shaky hands.
Sticking a pin on the photo of her beloved son was a sin Amelia could not forgive.
Amelia would have let the entire matter slide had the subject of this horrid prank been anyone but her precious son. How could they be cruel enough to target an innocent child?
Rory was equally horrified by the items that fell out of the gift box. Warily, she picked up the neatly folded note and opened it. She blanched and muttered, “Amelia, look at this.”
Amelia snatched the note and read it. She began trembling in anger and fear.
Amelia Winters. How are you enjoying your gift? The game has just begun, and I hope you’re excited. You love your son more than anything else in this world, yes? Be careful, then. Watch your son like a hawk lest you find him floating lifelessly one day. Who knows, you might find his beautiful eyes in your next package. You received someone else’s eyes, after all. I’m sure it’s fair for your son to give up his in exchange. I can’t wait to see your devastation when your darling son meets his doom. Oh, I’m positively brimming with anticipation for that day to come. Consider this a friendly reminder to keep an eye on your son. Yours truly, Your Mysterious Sentinel.
Before she realized it, Amelia had crumpled the note in her shaking fists. Rory sensed her fear and hurriedly helped her into a chair before asking for a glass of warm water.
Rory comforted her, “You need to calm down, Amelia. Don’t be scared. Perhaps this is just a harmless prank. We’ll call the police and report this.”
Amelia turned to stare at Rory, frightening the latter with her hollow gaze.
Amelia retracted her gaze and rummaged through her purse for her phone. She immediately called the Clinton residence.
The line connected quickly, and a maid answered the phone.
“Hello, this is Amelia. Where’s Tony?” Amelia cut straight to the point.
The maid replied, “Good day, Ms. Amelia. Mr. Anthony is playing with Mrs. Clinton outside. Would you like me to summon him to the phone?”
“No, it’s all right. I just missed him after spending a day apart. No need to disturb him during his playtime. I’ll come and fetch him tonight.” Amelia heaved a sigh of relief. “I’ve got to get back to work now. Don’t let him know I called.”
“Yes, Ms. Amelia.”
Amelia hung up just as Rory handed her a glass of warm water. Rory advised, “Here, Amelia. Have some water.”
She received the glass before apologizing to Rory, “I’m sorry you had to deal with my overreaction earlier. I hope I didn’t frighten you.”
Rory shook her head and replied, “It’s fine. By the way, I’ve arranged for someone to contact the police. I think it’s best we leave the investigation to the authorities. I hope we weed out and punish this horrid prankster soon.”
Amelia smiled weakly in response.
This prankster has crossed the line by bringing my son into the picture!
