When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 141

Amelia

The next night, I felt oddly refreshed as I stepped into the VIP section of Blue Note Bar.

Olivia waved enthusiastically from our corner booth, her red hair catching the dim blue lights. Sophie sat beside her, nursing what looked like a virgin mojito, while a woman with sleek dark hair and sharp features completed their circle. I recognized her immediately as Rachel, the brilliant neurosurgeon I'd met at a medical conference in Boston three years ago.

"Finally!" Olivia exclaimed as I slid into the booth.

I fixed my white dress, glad I had a moment to change. "Sorry I’m late. Had to convince someone to watch my kids."

"Always the dedicated mother," Rachel said with a warm smile. She looked different from when I'd last seen her—more polished, less stressed, her surgical precision now extending to her appearance.

Olivia raised her glass. "Hey, everyone! Let’s toast! We’re all here tonight to welcome Rachel back to New York and to us!"

We clinked glasses—mojitos for Olivia and Rachel, sparkling water for me, and what looked like a fancy fruit punch for Sophie.

"Sophie, no alcohol for you," I reminded my cousin gently.

Sophie rolled her eyes dramatically. "I'm twenty, not twelve, Amelia."

"Your dad will kill me. He told you to stay away from alcohol," I countered with a raised eyebrow.

Sophie turned to Rachel, clearly wanting to change the subject. "So, tell me about your most dangerous brain surgery. Did you ever, like, slip and almost kill someone?"

"Sophie!" I gasped.

Rachel laughed, a rich, throaty sound. "Neurosurgery isn't quite as dramatic as they make it look on TV. Though there was this one time with a construction worker who had a metal rod—"

"Wait," Sophie interrupted, leaning forward with wide eyes. "You're actually going to tell me? I thought you'd say something boring and professional!"

"You asked," Rachel shrugged, taking a sip of her drink. "And I've never been good at boring and professional outside the OR."

Olivia smiled nostalgically. "Remember when we first met at that medical conference in Boston three years ago? Rachel's presentation on traumatic brain injuries basically had the entire auditorium speechless."

Sophie's jaw dropped. "You met at a medical conference? I thought it was at some fancy party or something."

"Not everyone meets at society galas, Sophie," I teased.

Rachel chuckled. "I'm just a regular surgeon who happens to cut into people's brains for a living," she said, gesturing around the fancy jazz bar. "I don’t come here much—especially since my brother owns the place. You know him, always the same — acting all bossy and in charge..."

"Your brother is James?" The three of us exclaimed simultaneously.

"James Hayes?" I added, picturing the stoic, perpetually unimpressed face of Ethan's friend.

Rachel nodded, her expression souring slightly. "The very same. I got so angry with him that I left home and moved to Boston. If it weren’t for you guys in New York, I wouldn’t be here at all."

"But he's so..." Sophie's voice trailed off, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Intimidating? Brooding? A complete control freak with a face that looks like he's permanently judging everyone?" Rachel supplied helpfully.

"I was going to say intriguing," Sophie mumbled.

Olivia patted Sophie's hand sympathetically. "He does have that whole mysterious, intense vibe going on."

"Trust me, it gets old fast when he's criticizing your life choices," Rachel said with a grimace. "Especially when I chose medicine instead of joining the family business."

I felt my phone vibrate and discreetly checked it under the table.

It was a photo from Ethan, which showed Lucas concentrating hard on a colorful alphabet book while Ella was curled up on the couch beside them, fast asleep. My heart squeezed at the sight.

I quickly typed back: [Don't be too strict with him. He's only four.]

Ethan's response came immediately: [He should have started learning last year. I did.]

I shook my head, smiling despite myself: [Not everyone is a child prodigy, Mr. Black.]

[How is your Yoga class?] he texted.

I just needed some space, and I didn’t want him, since he’s still healing, to worry, so I lied and said I was going to yoga.

I hesitated before typing: [Just enjoying it.]

The three dots appeared and disappeared several times before his message came through: [Seriously? Since when did you become interested in yoga? And at night?]

I felt my cheeks heat up. Ethan knew me too well.

"Earth to Amelia," Olivia waved her hand in front of my face. "Who's got you smiling at your phone like that? Let me guess—tall, dark, and broody?"

I locked my screen quickly. "It's nothing. What were we talking about?"

"Sophie was just telling us about her latest hacking adventure," Rachel said with a mischievous grin.

"It wasn't hacking!" Sophie protested. "I was just... exploring digital security vulnerabilities."

"So, hacking," I confirmed with a sigh.

Rachel leaned forward, suddenly interested. "Wait, you know how to hack into systems? Like, could you break into hospital encryption? Sometimes the access restrictions during emergencies are a real pain in the ass."

"Rachel!" I exclaimed, scandalized.

"What? I'm just asking for educational purposes," she defended herself with an innocent smile that didn't fool any of us.

Sophie smirked. "I could probably get into Blue Note's systems."

Rachel raised her glass again. "To my return to New York, and to us four incredible women finding each other. I propose we form an alliance—the Manhattan Fab Four!"

"I love it!" Olivia enthusiastically clinked glasses with her.

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me as I joined the toast. "To the Manhattan Fab Four."

"And to new beginnings," Sophie added, raising her mocktail.

"Bottoms up, ladies!" Rachel declared. "All in one go!"

We'd barely finished our drinks when a tall figure approached our table. Even in the dim lighting, James's imposing presence was unmistakable. His cold eyes swept over our group before landing on his sister.

"Try not to overdo it, Rachel," he said, his voice low and detached. "And since you're back in New York, perhaps you could visit our parents sometime."

Rachel's smile faltered slightly. "Hello to you too, James."

James nodded curtly to the rest of us before signaling to the manager. "Their tab is on the house," he instructed before walking away without another word.

"Charming as ever," Sophie muttered.

Rachel sighed, tilting her head back in exasperation. "Please don't tell me you're attracted to my brother. He's worse than those brooding chief surgeons in medical dramas."

"He has a certain... presence," Sophie whispered, leaning closer to Rachel. "And those eyes—they see right through you."

"That's not insight, that's judgment," Rachel scoffed. "Don't be fooled by the pretty packaging. He's a control freak through and through."

I laughed, grateful for this moment of normalcy with my friends—both old and new.