But Amara’s mind was elsewhere.
Why are they both here? she wondered, her unease growing.
Her pulse quickened, a low thrum of anxiety settling in her chest. She glanced back toward Rowan’s table, but this time he wasn’t looking at her. His attention had shifted to Harvey, and though she couldn’t hear their conversation..
Alessandro was sitting right across from her, and she couldn’t let him see how rattled she was.
She tried to play it cool, taking a sip of water and forcing herself to engage in light conversation.
Alessandro was talking… about the resort, the beautiful view, and their plans for the evening… but she could barely register his words.
Her replies were short, her gaze occasionally darting toward the corner where Rowan and Harvey had been sitting, though she had stopped looking directly at them.
Rowan’s presence was like a storm cloud looming overhead, impossible to ignore. Yet she pushed the unease down, trying to finish her meal without drawing suspicion from Alessandro.
Once dinner was over, Alessandro stood with a pleased smile, extending a hand to help her from her chair. “Let me drive you home, Amara,” he said, the offer sounding generous, but Amara sensed the underlying control in his words.
He wasn’t offering her a ride out of kindness; he wanted to make sure she stayed within his reach.
Amara simply nodded, giving him a tight smile as she accepted. She didn’t trust herself to say much more..
She wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of there, to crawl into her bed and shut the world out.
As they made their way out of the resort and into the cool night air, Alessandro placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward his car. She glared at him, and put some distance between them.
Alessandro being Alessandro.. He didn’t mind..
The car’s leather interior welcomed her with a sterile luxury, the faint scent of cologne filling the space.
Once they were on the road, Amara gazed ahead, the lights from the city blurring as they sped down the highway.
The rhythmic hum of the engine should have calmed her, but her mind was elsewhere. She needed to be alone..
Then, a flicker of movement in the side mirror caught her eye.
She glanced at it, at first thinking it was just another car following them, but the longer she stared, the more a familiar feeling crept over her.
The car behind them…
It was tinted, sleek, and hauntingly familiar.
Her pulse quickened.
She recognized it.
It was Rowan’s car.
He was following her.
A surge of anger and confusion washed over her.
‘Why the hell is he following me now?
She wondered, her mind racing.
Was this some kind of sick game?
Did he intend to follow her home?
The idea sent a shiver down her spine, a strange mix of fear, anger and anticipation flooding her veins. Rowan was unpredictable… dangerous even.. but there was an undeniable pull that she couldn’t shake. She clenched her fists in her lap, trying to focus, trying to think clearly.
Beside her, Alessandro was oblivious, his eyes fixed on the road, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the armrest between them.
His posture was relaxed, his demeanor calm. He had no idea what was brewing behind them.
Amara stole another glance at the side mirror, her heart beating faster with each passing second. Rowan’s car stayed at a steady distance, not too close to be obvious but not far enough to go unnoticed.
He was following her, but why?
Did he want to confront her again?
Or was he waiting for something.. an opportunity, perhaps, to make his next move?
She couldn’t take it anymore. The tension was too thick, the questions too many.
Minutes passed like hours, the silence between her and Alessandro growing thicker, more unbearable. She stared out the window, watching the world blur past her as they approached her home.
Every now and then, she caught glimpses of Rowan’s car in the distance. He was keeping his distance, but not far enough. Always watching.
Finally, Alessandro pulled the car to a stop in front of Moretti Mansion.
The soft purr of the engine cut off, leaving an oppressive quiet in its wake. Amara quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, eager to escape out of the car, but Alessandro’s voice stopped her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for something she couldn’t give him.
Warmth… reassurance… none of it was there.
Amara nodded, but her gaze flickered past him to where Rowan had parked his car a little further down the street. He had stopped, just barely in view, as if reminding her that he wasn’t going anywhere.
At least he still had some sense of discretion, she thought bitterly, shaking her head in frustration. Alessandro caught the movement, confused.
“What is it?” he asked, following her gaze. His brow furrowed, and Amara quickly waved him off before he could look too closely.
“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice tight. “Just thinking about tomorrow.”
Alessandro didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. “Tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow?”
“I’m going to meet Rosie,” Amara replied quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from the burning tension in her chest. “During the day.”
Alessandro’s face brightened slightly, but there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. “I can join you.”
“No,” she said, too quickly, the word coming out sharper than she intended. She softened her tone, forcing a smile. “It’s a girls’ day tomorrow. You can’t join.”
Alessandro’s lips tightened, displeasure flickering in his eyes. “But it’s your birthday.”
‘Since when did you start caring about my birthday?’
Amara wanted to say, but she bit her tongue, holding back the venom. She didn’t have the energy for a fight tonight, not with everything else hanging over her.
“The birthday party will be at night, Alessandro,” she explained patiently, though her mind was far from patient. “I’ll see you then.”
He stared at her for a long moment suspiciously..
“Fine,” he finally said, his voice flat. He wasn’t happy about it, but he didn’t argue..
Amara offered him a tight smile, already halfway out the door. “Goodnight, Alessandro.”
Without waiting for his response, she stepped out of the car, the cool night air hitting her like a slap to the face. She closed the door behind her and started walking toward gates of her home..
She took her phone and dialed Rowan’s number..