Amelia's eyes widened. She knew this man.
He's the one I bumped into on my first day at work… but how does he know my name?
He stood there, calm as his gaze lingered on her reaction. "How are you coping with him?" he asked, his voice low and loaded with meaning.
Amelia blinked. "Him?" she echoed, confused. "Who are you talki—?"
Before she could finish, a familiar voice called out.
"Amelia!"
She turned immediately. Emily was heading toward her, arms full of magazines. Amelia let out a quiet breath of relief then looked back.
The man had vanished.
The book he'd taken was back on the shelf, positioned so neatly it was as if he had never existed.
Amelia swallowed. I didn't imagine that… He was real.
Emily reached her and frowned. "What's with that face? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Amelia shook her head quickly. "It's nothing. Let's just… finish up."
Emily didn't buy it, but handed her the magazines anyway. "Here. I'm done. Let's go pay before you die of embarrassment."
They left the store with two full bags of questionable educational materials.
In the parking lot, Emily stretched. "Let's get food. I'm starving."
Amelia stared. "Didn't you eat before we left?"
Emily puffed her cheeks and poked them like a sulking child. "But I'm hungry again. You don't love me anymore."
Amelia sighed. "Alright, alright. Let's go eat."
"Yay!" Emily spun in a mini celebration dance.
Amelia shook her head, muttering, "Foodie…"
They headed to a trendy restaurant Emily swore was "end-life delicious." Warm aromas of grilled meat and spices wrapped around them as they sat.
When the waiter arrived, Emily ordered… and ordered… and kept ordering.
Amelia stared at the list. "Emily, are you feeding a football team? Eat slowly or you'll choke."
Emily nodded sincerely then inhaled the food like she was in a competition.
Amelia watched her, speechless. "I said slowly…"
After a meal that looked like a scene from a food documentary, they paid. Emily patted her satisfied stomach while Amelia held the bags of books like they might explode.
Outside, Emily took Amelia's hand gently. Her expression turned serious for a moment. "Hey. If anything happens… anything at all, call me. Even if it's midnight."
Amelia's heart warmed. "I will. Thank you."
"Good." Emily opened the car door, then smirked. "And don't forget, study well. I expect improvement."
Amelia almost choked. "Can you not say it like that?"
Emily laughed, already climbing in. "Bye, baby girl! Don't faint on your first night!"
"Emily!!"
Emily waved dramatically as she drove off, leaving Amelia blushing on the roadside.
Amelia caught a cab back toward the mountains. The closer they got to the secluded villa, the faster her heart raced. When she stepped out, the evening air was cool and still.
Her eyes swept the area.
No large white tiger in sight.
Amelia exhaled in relief. Thank goodness… that beast better be asleep.
She headed inside.
Butler Noah was in the foyer, arranging flowers in a vase. Amelia approached with a polite smile.
"Good evening, Butler Noah."
He turned, smiling warmly. "Welcome back, Miss Ameila."
"You don't have to call me for dinner" she said quickly, hands raised. "I already ate."
He nodded. "Very well."
Amelia hurried upstairs before he could ask anything else.
In her room, she dropped the shopping bags on the bed and let out a long sigh. A hot shower washed away the day, and she returned with damp hair, dressed in a soft nightshirt.
She settled on the bed and cracked open one of the R18 books… only to slam it shut after two sentences, cheeks burning.
"Nope. Absolutely not."
Her mind wandered back to the stranger at the bookstore.
How did he know my name? And what did he mean by "How are you coping with him"? Does he know Aldric?
Uneasy, she shoved the book away and picked up a magazine instead, something less… traumatizing.
She barely flipped two pages when…
A warm breath brushed her ear.
A whisper, low and teasing, came from right behind her.
"What are you reading?"
Amelia screamed. The magazine flew out of her hands and hit the floor with a loud slap.
Her heart pounded as she froze, unable to turn around.