Chapter 19
For two days, Amelia enjoyed an unexpectedly peaceful reprieve Neither the Edwards family nor Zachary came knocking to cause trouble.
But the calm didn’t last long. On Monday, Amelia embarked on fier next mission–starting her role at Kingsley Group.
Aaron, the ever–efficient assistant, looked positively floored when he heard it was what Landon wanted. “Mrs. Kingsley, are you sure? Did Mr. Kingsley really say that?”
“Yes,” Amelia replied with a confident nod.
Sensing his skepticism, she followed Landon’s earlier instructions and offered a concrete example, “Take the project at Rosemill, for instance. Their engineering payments are still overdue, aren’t they?”
Aaron’s jaw practically hit the floor. “Mrs. Kingsley, how do you even know about that?”
The project at Rosemill had been Landon’s pet project before his accident. Unfortunately, after he fell into a coma, the client shamelessly defaulted on the payment. They had been dragging their feet ever since, leveraging Landon’s incapacitation as
an excuse.
While the amount–60 million dollars–wasn’t particularly substantial for a corporation of Kingsley Group’s scale, the principle of the matter was infuriating. The unpaid balance was more than just money. It was a blatant challenge to the company’s reputation and authority…
The situation had become a thorn in Aaron’s side, and the entire executive team had racked their brains trying to resolve it, only to come up empty–handed.
If Amelia could somehow solve this conundrum, it would be nothing short of a godsend.
“Mrs. Kingsley, what’s your plan?” Aaron asked, his tone tinged with both hope and disbelief.
“Landon told me Adam had a weakness,” Amelia said with a sly twinkle in her eye. “His granddaughter, who just started kindergarten, isn’t his granddaughter. She’s his daughter.”
“Holy crap.” Aaron’s jaw practically hit the floor as he clapped a hand over his mouth. The shocking revelation was all the proof he needed that Amelia wasn’t acting on her own.
With this bombshell, any lingering doubts about her legitimacy as Landon’s proxy vanished. Only Landon, with his razor- sharp instincts, could have unearthed such a juicy scandal.
“Mrs. Kingsley, you’re a blessing to Kingsley Group,” Aaron exclaimed before hurrying off to find Gloria.
Meanwhile, Amelia fidgeted nervously, pacing the room. Gloria had always been singularly focused on one thing–getting Amelia to have a baby. She wasn’t sure if Gloria would even agree to this new arrangement.
Relax. Aaron will convince her,‘ Landon’s deep, lazy voice echoed in her mind as he basked in the sunlight as if carefree. Startled, Amelia froze mid–step, then staggered back in shock, clutching her chest. “Y–you can hear my thoughts too now?” ‘No,‘ Landon chuckled inwardly. ‘I guessed. You’ve been pacing the room for the fifth time now. Seventeen steps per lap. Classic sign of anxiety.‘
Amelia blinked in disbelief, her mind racing. “This man doesn’t miss a beat. Even when he’s in a coma, his ability to read people is terrifying.
‘If he’s this sharp now, what kind of unstoppable force would he be when awake? No wonder he’s at the top of the world at such a young age. If I were half as brilliant, I wouldn’t have to worry about surviving.
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Landon’s mental voice broke through her thoughts. ‘I have a few more things for you to handle. Open your phone and take
notes.
“Got it, Amelia said quickly, pulling up the notes app and typing diligently, word for word, as Landon dictated.
When Landon finished giving instructions, Aaron returned with a spring in his step, his face glowing with excitement. “Mrs. Amelia Kingsley, Mrs. Gloria Kingsley has approved your entry into the company.”
“Great, let’s go,” Amelia replied, casting a glance at Landon.
The idea of taking him along crossed her mind. Having him there would be ideal–she could ask him questions on the spot if any issues arose.
She voiced her thoughts aloud. “Aaron, can I take him to the office with me?”
Aaron looked positively horrified. “Absolutely not. Mrs. Kingsley you have no idea how dangerous Mr. Kingsley’s situation is right now. He absolutely cannot leave the house.”
“Oh, fine then.” Amelia gave up reluctantly.
‘Go on. I’ve got faith in you,‘ Landon murmured in her mind, his voice tinged with weariness.
He found it oddly amusing–her playful allure never seemed to drain him, no matter how much she teased or tempted him. Yet the mere mention of work had him utterly spent. It was as though her charm recharged him, while the weight of corporate affairs was draining him of every ounce of energy.
*****
In her last life, Amelia hadn’t even graduated from college when Walter and Melissa had already set her up with Zachary for a blind date.
By the time she graduated, they’d pressured her to get married first before thinking about her own career, pushing her into a union with promises she could join Edwards Group after settling down.
She had naively married Zachary, swept up in the illusion of his tender love and care, blissfully unaware of the looming conspiracy.
But now, standing in front of the imposing Kingsley Group headquarters, she felt an unfamiliar fire within her–a newfound ambition that surged through her veins.
“Mrs. Kingsley, are you ready?” Aaron asked beside her.
“Ready,” Amelia declared, straightening her back and channeling her inner CEO’s wife energy. With her chin held high, she stepped boldly into Kingsley Group.
The receptionists at the front desk exchanged puzzled glances, one stepping forward to intercept her. But before the receptionist could say a word, Aaron raised his voice and announced, “Attention, everyone. Mr. Kingsley’s wife, Mrs. Kingsley, has arrived.”
“What?” A ripple of shock spread through the lobby like wildfire.
Staff members whispered amongst themselves inwardly, ‘Mr. Kingsley is married? Since when? Why haven’t we heard a single thing about this?‘
Amelia, unfazed by their gawking, offered a regal nod. “Hello, everyone.”
Before anyone could scrutinize her too closely, she strode purposefully toward the private elevator reserved for the CEO. The doors closed behind her, and she was whisked up to the CEO’s office on the executive floor.
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News of Landon’s marriage and the unexpected arrival of his wife–spread through Kingsley Group like a storm, leaving everyone in a flurry of speculation.
In the CEO’s office, the chair that rightfully belonged to Landon was currently occupied by a middle–aged man with a bloated face and an air of entitlement–Henry Kingsley.
When his phone rang with the startling news of a supposed “Mrs. Kingsley” descending upon the company, Henry barked into the receiver. “Ridiculous. Landon doesn’t even have a wife.”
Moments later, the office doors swung open. Amelia, led by Aaron, stepped in. “Good afternoon, Henry.” She greeted him with poise.
Henry straightened in his chair, his gaze fixed on the young woman who had just marched into his office. “What did you say? Say that again.”
Amelia had been raised with the etiquette and composure befitting a lady of high society. She had never once been daunted by her surroundings, and today was no exception. Calmly, she crossed the room and seated herself on the plush sofa, exuding the grace and confidence of her title.
Aaron followed suit, speaking up, “Mr. Kingsley, this is our CEO’s wife, Mrs. Kingsley-”
“Utter nonsense,” Henry cut in sharply, his booming voice filled with disdain. “Landon doesn’t have a wife. Hell, he doesn’t even have a girlfriend. And you think you can pull a fast one on me by dragging some random woman here? Keep dreaming.”
Spittle flew as he spoke, splattering Aaron, who recoiled in disgust and hastily dabbed at his face with a tissue.
Amelia’s brows furrowed in annoyance. ‘Unbelievable. This man is supposed to be a Kingsley and yet carries himself with all the grace of a barnyard animal.
“Get out of here, now,” Henry roared, his finger stabbing the air toward Amelia like an accusation.
Amelia remained unruffled, her voice calm yet firm. “Henry, my identity isn’t yours to question.”
Henry’s nostrils flared, his disbelief palpable. Before he could launch into another tirade, Aaron stepped in. “Mr. Kingsley, I assure you, this is indeed the CEO’s wife. If you don’t believe me, perhaps you’d like to confirm with Mrs. Gloria Kingsley.”
Aaron didn’t wait for a response, quickly dialing Gloria’s number and handing the phone to Henry.
Grabbing the phone roughly and suspiciously, Henry barked into the receiver. “Gloria, did you send this random woman here?”
The blatant disrespect in his tone made Aaron sweat. He glanced at Amelia nervously, fearing the pampered young lady might be offended. Wiping his forehead, he leaned closer and whispered, “Mrs. Kingsley, please don’t take it to heart. Mr. Henry Kingsley has always been like this…”
Amelia merely smiled, her expression serene, “It’s fine.”
In her last life, she had endured far worse.
Walter’s venomous insults still echoed in her memory, “You little wretch, just as cursed as your short–lived mother. That’s why no one’s ever taught you any manners. Born to disgrace, better off dead.”
And Zachary’s cruel jabs cut even deeper. “That scar of yours is hideous, like a wriggling maggot. Just looking at it makes me
sick.”
This time around, she was impervious.
Whatever Gloria said to Henry on the other end of the line clearly didn’t sit well with him. When he finally hung up, his face
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Chapter 19
was as dark as a thundercloud. “So, you’re really Landon’s wife.
“Married him knowing full well he’s a vegetable, huh? Must be after his money. Come on, name your price.”
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“Henry, you’ve misunderstood. I’m after the man, not the money Amelia rose gracefully, brushing an imaginary wrinkle from her tailored slacks. “Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, kindly step aside. I have work to do.”
Henry glared at her with such hatred that he seemed ready to explode. Amelia met his gaze head–on, her eyes unflinching, her poise unshaken. For a moment, the tension was so thick it felt like the air might snap..
At last, Henry backed down, albeit with a sneer. Rising from Landon’s chair furiously, he muttered with bitter sarcasm, “You’re young, but your ambition’s sky–high. Watch yourself. You’re bound to fall.”
“Thanks for your concern,” Amelia replied coolly, walking around to the desk. She pulled out a packet of alcohol wipes and meticulously cleaned the chair before sitting down. Her blatant disdain was impossible to miss.
“What the hell do you mean by that?” Henry’s face turned an apoplectic shade of red as his fury boiled over.
“Landon told me this chair was reserved for him and me. Next time, please remember not to sit in it. Overusing alcohol to disinfect it will damage the leather.” Amelia settled into the chair with an air of effortless authority, herpetite frame almost swallowed by the massive desk.
Yet, her commanding presence filled the room, leaving no doubt as to who was in charge. Despite her youth, Amelia radiated a confidence that belied her fresh–out–of–university status.
Aaron watched in awe, his initial skepticism dissolving. ‘She’s a natural. Kingsley Group might actually stand a chance
Henry, however, was livid. Grabbing the ashtray from the coffee table, he hurled it at her with all his might. “You insolent little brat. How dare you look down on me?”
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