Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Amelia

I love him. I really freaking love him. And while it snuck up on me, I’ve never been happier.

“That’s it. That shot is perfect. Who knew I’d be saying that about a football series? But God, this is all stunning photography. I can’t wait for the world to see it.”

Adrian smiles proudly, making me turn to compliment him directly. “I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done to help me these last couple of weeks.”

“You make it easy.” He laughs before his face drops. “I mean, this job is not at all easy. But I find it easy working with you. Sorry, for you.”

“With me,” I confirm. “You’re going to have to own this role when you take over while I’m on leave.”

“What?”

“I’ve spoken to Tom and Jim, and I mentioned that you could cover my workload. It would be short-term at this stage but the business is growing, so who knows what the future will bring.”

“Wait. They actually said yes? They’re promoting me rather than finding someone on their own?”

“Yep. Apparently, they trust me. A woman. Who would have thought it?”

Adrian laughs. “You know it’s only Jake that thinks that way, right? We all respect you.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. I wouldn’t have stayed if I hadn’t felt welcome. Although I have been told that I’m stubborn as hell, so who knows, maybe I would have stayed to spite you all.”

Adrian's smile widens. “Something tells me that’s exactly what you would do. You're a strong woman. We’ve all seen your strength and I admire the hell out of you. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You don’t need to suck up anymore though. You’ve earned it. The job is already yours.”

“You know Jake’s going to be pissed off that he’s not getting this role.”

“Yep. I sure do. But do you want to know how much I care?” I curl my fingers into a zero and purse my lips. I know he’s going to have something to say about it, but I also know this team has my back. They won’t cooperate if he’s at the helm.

“And that’s why you’re the boss.” Adrian grins but it’s somewhat nervously.

“I wouldn’t worry about him coming after you. He thought this position belonged to a man. And now it does. How can he argue with that?”

“This position will always be yours. I’m just filling in.”

“Nope, what did I say before? You need to own it. You’re going to be amazing.”

Adrian’s all smiles as he heads back to his office, and when I’m alone an hour later, Luke pops in to say hi.

“What are you doing back? Didn’t you go home?”

“I did, but… ah… how are the stress levels?”

“They’re good, why? Did you come back to lower them? To run around in secret?”

He laughs but there’s an edge to it that’s not usually there.

“What’s going on?”

He walks inside and closes the door behind him before standing tall. And when I note that he didn’t lock it this time, I almost thank him until he speaks. “There’s something I have to tell you but I want you to know—”

My phone rings, cutting Luke off, but I don’t pick it up, my eyes firmly locked on his. “You were saying?”

The call stops, but within seconds my office phone rings and I get a text, making me finally sneak a glance.

Hayley: Call me back ASAP!!!!

My brows furrow as I check the number on my work phone, vaguely recognizing it. I have no idea if it’s Hayley, but I take a chance knowing she’s got the number.

“Sorry, Luke, Hayley says it’s urgent and this might be her.”

“Amelia, wait—”

I press the answer button before he speaks and grimace in apology. He visibly deflates but nods before dropping into the chair opposite me and running a hand through his hair.

“Hello?” I ask, hearing a rushed sigh before Hayley responds.

“Thank God. Preston’s been trying to call you.”

Ugh . I’ve been ignoring his calls. “I have nothing to say to him.”

“You should call him back.”

“What? Why?”

“He said something about a fire from when you were kids and said it was urgent and that he promised not to hurt you.”

“He called you?”

“Yeah, your mom gave him my number.”

Jesus . That’s a lot of effort to speak to me. “Okay, I’ll call him back after I’ve had a chat with Luke—”

“Please call him now. You know I’d never take his side over yours, and I know you’re supposed to be keeping your stress levels low, but he was worried. And he mentioned his news would affect Luke too. He said he could help.”

“Okay.” A panic works its way into my chest but I try to shut it down. Panic leads to stress, stress leads to… nope. I can’t think about that. “I’ll call him now.”

Luke is going to hate this.

I hang up from Hayley and turn to find Luke staring at me in question.

“We—” he begins as I say, “I—”

“Sorry.” Luke smiles. “You go first.”

“Thanks. I have to call Preston. He’s been trying to call me and Hayley said—”

“Don’t. He probably just found out about the baby and—”

“It’s about the fire.”

“What? Why?” I’d laugh at the fact we had the exact same response if I wasn’t so worried.

“I don’t know. That’s why I have to call him.”

“Okay, do you want me to leave?” His eyes flash to the door but thankfully he doesn’t move, because…

“God, no. I want you to stay so you can take the phone away from me if it sounds like I need it.”

“You want me to help you?” His lips pull into a smirk as he raises one eyebrow. Gloating.

“Yes, Luke. I need it.”

“You know I’ll always say yes. I’ve been here doing anything I can since the beginning.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Call him. I’ll be here.”

He sits back in his chair and lifts his ankle to his knee to get comfortable before crossing his arms over his chest. I’d take it as pissed-off body language if I didn’t know him as well as I do, and the reality is, it’s more of a shield.

Preston answers before I’ve registered the phone ringing, and the urgency in his voice has my pulse racing. “Amelia, thank God. You’re a difficult person to get ahold of. Thank you for calling me back.”

“What’s going on, Preston? Why did you have Hayley call me?”

“Because you wouldn’t answer me and I needed to speak to you.”

Déjavu hits me along with a wave of nausea. This reminds me of the beginning of my talk with my dad, and I can’t handle that much emotional stress right now.

“Get to the point, Preston. Please.”

“Okay. Sorry.”

Luke’s eyes flash to mine and he sits up, getting ready to take the phone away, but I shake my head. Preston hasn’t done anything wrong; I just want him to tell me what’s going on.

“My agent got a call from some guy named Jake who wanted to meet me. He said his company was interested in doing a short series about the band. I was dubious at first but agreed to a meeting.”

Jesus . What the hell could Jake want? If they were doing a show, surely they’d talk to me about it. A thought hits me and I gasp. “You never announced that we were divorced.”

“What?” His voice waivers as though my question threw him off his thoughts process.

“You never announced it.”

“Yes, I did.” He scoffs. “But believe it or not, no one cared so it didn’t make the headlines.”

“Okay.”

“That’s not the issue, Amelia.”

“Then what is?”

“I met with him yesterday.”

My eyes widen. “You met with him?”

“Yes, and he’s going to release news of the mansion fire and pin it on Luke. He’s been talking to a lot of people and claims to know things. Only he doesn’t know everything. He was hoping I’d throw you under the bus because he assumed we ended badly.”

We did end badly, but that’s not important.

“What does he know and what did you tell him?”

“Jesus, Ames. I told him nothing. If anything I threw myself under the bus. I said everyone was there, including me, and that it was a house party that got out of control. There was no one to blame. But he knows Luke was arrested as a kid, so I don’t know if he’s going to try and spin it somehow.”

Tension rises in my chest and Luke must read it in my expression because he stands up this time, walking over to grab my hand. “Fucking Jake,” I say, locking eyes with Luke, so he knows it’s not Preston I’m worried about.

“If he comes to you,” Preston continues, “you need to plead ignorance. I wouldn’t put it past him to pretend he knows more than he does. He was hinting at that with me.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. So why would you help Luke?”

“I was kind of hoping it might make up for me being an asshole.”

“Wow, okay. I’m… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you forgive me. I was a dick and I didn’t appreciate what I had. But maybe that was for the best. There was always something between you and Luke. I knew it. Hell, everyone knew it. I think you were the only two who never saw it. And maybe this is how it was always meant to be.”

I pull the phone away from my ear to check that it’s really Preston on the call before responding. “Thank you, Preston. I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome. Take care.” I move to hang up but he calls out, “Congratulations, by the way. You’re going to be an amazing mom. And I know that for sure because you always took care of me.”

“Bye, Preston.”

I blink a few times before turning back to Luke, a mixture of shock and anger coursing through me. “Is this going to be our life? People always trying to get in the way? Always creating problems?”

“Not if we don’t let them.”

“Jake’s trying to cause issues with you and the fire. He told Preston he’s going to leak the story to the media, but my guess is—”

Someone knocks and the door opens without me inviting them to come in.

“Amelia.” Tom enters the room with purpose before coming to a halt when he finds Luke “And Luke. Hi.”

“Hello, Tom. Nice to see you again.” Luke smiles.

“You too. I’ve been hearing your name a lot lately.” Tom’s lips purse but to his credit, Luke’s smile remains.

“All good things I’m sure,” he responds, forcing me to bite back a grin. Only Luke .

“Of course. Do you mind if I have a word with Amelia?”

“Nope. Go for it.” He stays standing by my side, and I swear it makes me love him a little more, but I know what’s coming.

“Alone,” Tom adds, exactly as I expected. “It’s a private matter.”

Luke doesn’t answer. Instead he turns my way, his gaze full of concern. “Want me to stay?”

Always . “No, I’m okay.”

He gives me a pointed look, not believing me, but I reassure him with a smile. I am okay. Or at least, I can handle this. Thanks to Preston, I know exactly what’s going on. Jake was never going to leak the fire to the media. He pitched the idea for the show. And Tom’s here to tell me all about it.