The Billionaire and Secret Vow

After a few moments, Dominic ended the call with a neutral expression, but Amelia could still see the tension in his jaw. 

"Is there a problem?" she asked softly, though she had already guessed the answer from Dominic's expression. 

Dominic turned to her, holding her gaze for a moment before sighing in exhaustion. "Rebecca. She said the public's reaction to the data she released is starting to spiral out of control." 

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "How bad is it?" 

Dominic stepped closer and sat on the sofa across from her. "Most people are questioning the credibility of the data. Some believe it, but others dismiss it as a fabricated conspiracy fueled by personal interests and corporate rivalry. Meanwhile, those affected are already working to cover it up. If this continues, the public's trust in us will vanish." 

Amelia bit her lower lip. "That means they still have enough power to silence the truth," she said, a hint of worry in her voice. 

"Exactly." Dominic ran a hand over his face. "And I'm sure Alexander won't sit still after seeing this chaos. He'll do whatever it takes to save himself." 

Hearing that name again sent a chill down Amelia's spine. Alexander was the puppet master behind the scenes, pulling countless strings in the world they were now fighting against. 

"So, what's your plan?" she finally asked. 

Dominic remained silent for a moment before replying, "For now, I want us to stay under the radar. Rebecca will handle the media, while we ensure the company operates as usual." 

Amelia was slightly taken aback by his suggestion. "You want to act like nothing is happening?" 

Dominic's gaze was sharp. "No. I want them to believe we've given up while we quietly plan our next move." 

Amelia studied him longer. Dominic was always calculated, always one step ahead of his opponents. It was something she had secretly admired about him. 

She shifted her focus to the cup of tea in her hand, now turning cold. "Alright," she said at last. "I'll focus on my company for now. After disappearing for so long, I'm sure Caroline has a lot of questions for me." 

Dominic responded with a small smile. "Be careful, Amelia. Our world may seem normal for now, but their shadows are still watching." 

Amelia looked up at him again. There was something in his eyes—something she hadn't seen before. Was it concern? Or something deeper? 

Before she could figure it out, Dominic was already on his feet, grabbing his coat and heading for the door. 

"Get some rest. I'll call you tomorrow." 

Amelia could only watch his retreating figure, the warmth of his presence lingering even after he was gone. 

Once Dominic left, her apartment felt emptier than before. The glow from the table lamp cast long shadows on the walls, and the tea in her cup had gone completely cold. She sighed, placed the cup on the table, and leaned back into the sofa. 

Outside, the city lights flickered like distant stars. Skyscrapers towered over the streets, creating a familiar metropolitan view. But after everything that had happened, it all felt different. Not because the city had changed—but because she had. 

Her eyes drifted to the large window, catching her own faint reflection. But the woman staring back wasn't just a CEO returning from a mysterious disappearance. 

Amelia rubbed her face and glanced at the desk in the corner. A pile of documents still needed her attention, unread emails waited in her inbox, and of course—Caroline, who was surely preparing a barrage of questions for her tomorrow. 

But there was something else she couldn't ignore—the strange feeling that surfaced whenever she was around Dominic. 

The sound of his footsteps, the way he looked at her with those unreadable eyes, his calculated yet protective nature. 

When she was with him, she felt safe. But at the same time, it was like walking a fine line between reality and something that shouldn't happen. 

A notification sound broke the silence. Amelia glanced at her phone. 

Caroline: Are you back at your apartment? We have a lot to talk about tomorrow. Stop avoiding me. 

A small smile crossed her lips. Caroline always knew when to call her out. 

Amelia: I don't even have plans to avoid you. 

After hitting send, she leaned back again, letting her thoughts wander. 

Tomorrow, she would return to the office, back to the life she once knew. 

But could things really go back to the way they were? 

Amelia gazed at the night sky once more.

The morning atmosphere in the city was as busy as ever. The towering buildings reflected the sunlight, making them appear even more luxurious, the streets were filled with vehicles racing against time, and the sound of executives' footsteps echoed in the lobbies of major corporations. 

At Clark Event, the morning started with the usual hustle and bustle. Employees were busy preparing for upcoming projects, phones rang constantly, and meetings were being held in various rooms. Meanwhile, Caroline stood with her arms crossed in front of the CEO's office. Her expression was a mix of frustration, curiosity, and slight relief. 

Just as the elevator doors slid open, the person she had been waiting for finally appeared. Amelia stepped out gracefully, dressed in a navy business suit that fit her frame perfectly. Her hair was neatly styled, and although her face remained composed, faint traces of exhaustion lingered beneath her eyes. 

Caroline immediately approached her. "Finally, you show up," she said, her tone reflecting the frustration she had been holding in for days. 

Amelia merely offered a small smile. "I am the CEO here, after all. Of course, I would return." 

Caroline scoffed. "Oh, really? After disappearing for days without a single word? Do you have any idea how close this company was to falling apart without you? And now you just waltz in here acting as if nothing happened?" 

Amelia let out a slow breath. "I know… I'm sorry. But there were a lot of things I had to take care of outside, Caroline." 

"Take care of? With Dominic King?" Caroline raised an eyebrow. 

Amelia sighed briefly, then smiled slightly. "I knew you were going to ask that." 

"Of course, I would!" Caroline's expression sharpened. "You vanished without a trace, and now you're back like nothing ever happened? Amelia, this is not the way a responsible CEO should act!" 

Amelia glanced around, noticing that a few employees were starting to eavesdrop on their conversation. She straightened her blazer before looking at Caroline seriously. "Let's talk inside." 

As she stepped into her office, she immediately noticed a steaming cup of coffee and a neatly wrapped croissant from her favorite café sitting on her desk. 

No note. No message from anyone. But Amelia already knew. 

Who else would do something like this without her realizing? 

Caroline, who followed behind, noticed it immediately. "Hmm … a secret admirer?" 

Amelia scoffed. "More like someone with too much free time." 

Her phone vibrated in her bag. 

Dominic King: Don't skip breakfast, Amelia. You need the energy.

Amelia bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. 

Caroline, catching the shift in her expression, immediately closed the door and turned around with her hands on her hips. 

"Now, explain. Where have you been all this time? And what exactly is going on?" 

Amelia walked over to her desk, placed her bag down, and gazed out the large window overlooking the city skyline. 

"Caroline, there are things I can't tell you right now," she said calmly. "But I can assure you, I'm fine, just as you see me now." 

Caroline frowned at Amelia's ambiguous response. "That's not the answer I was looking for." 

A tense silence filled the lavish office, as if both were lost in their own thoughts. 

Then, Caroline suddenly clicked her tongue. "Wait… don't tell me this has something to do with the news about Dominic King." 

Amelia remained silent, offering no response. But Caroline caught the answer in the way her friend avoided eye contact. 

"Oh, God, Amelia." Caroline shook her head. 

Amelia hesitated for a moment. Caroline's gaze was sharp, probing, demanding a real answer. 

"You disappeared out of nowhere, then suddenly reappear without any explanation. The news about Victor, the data leak, all the chaos that followed… And then suddenly, Dominic is back at his company, acting as if nothing ever happened." 

Amelia tapped her fingers against the desk, deep in thought, before finally responding, "It's complicated." 

Caroline sighed. "Of course, it's complicated. You and Dominic King—two people whose lives are filled with endless mysteries. But Amelia, I'm your friend, aren't I? If there's something you need to talk about, you know I'll always listen, right? Don't ever hesitate to come to me." 

Amelia looked at Caroline with warmth. She was the one person in this company Amelia truly trusted. 

"I was with Dominic. But this isn't just about us. It's much bigger than you think." 

Caroline studied her in silence for a few seconds before clicking her tongue. "So, you really can't tell me everything?" 

Amelia gave a small, knowing smile. "Not because I don't want to, but some things are better kept secret for now. But I need you to trust me." 

Caroline took a long, deep breath. She wanted to be angry, to push for more answers, but in the end, all she could do was nod. 

Amelia offered a reassuring smile and exhaled. "I'm here now, Caroline. And I'll make sure everything goes back to the way it was." 

Caroline groaned and finally nodded. "Fine. But don't you dare disappear like that again. I nearly lost my mind handling everything alone!" 

Amelia chuckled. "I promise." 

Caroline seemed satisfied with that, but then her eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh, one more thing. What's going on between you and Dominic? Have you two gotten closer after all of this?" 

Amelia's smile lingered as she turned her gaze toward the window. "I don't know … maybe." 

Caroline eyed her suspiciously, then burst into laughter. "Oh, I'm not letting this go! You're going to spill everything later." 

Amelia just smiled while her thoughts drifted back to the man who had stood outside her apartment last night.