When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 159

Amelia

The next morning, the shrill ring of my phone jolted me awake. I groaned, my head pounding and spinning from last night's drunkenness with each ring, as I blindly reached for my phone on the nightstand. The brightness of the screen made me wince as I squinted at the caller ID: Daniel.

"Hello?" My voice was rough with sleep.

"Amelia, I'm sorry to wake you, but Sophie won't stop crying," Daniel's voice was tinged with concern and a hint of helplessness that only big brothers get when dealing with emotional sisters.

I sat up immediately, the movement sending a sharp pain through my temples. "What happened? Is she hurt?"

"No, not physically. Her dance academy called. They need her back for competition training. She has to leave this afternoon."

I remembered Sophie mentioning that her dance troupe had something important coming up, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"Shit," I muttered, pushing my hair out of my face. "This is so last minute—why can't they plan better? I'll be right over."

I hung up and swung my legs off the bed, instantly regretting it. My head was pounding—thanks to drinking with Ethan after last night’s chat with Olivia and the girls. I silently cursed him for letting me drink so much. Not that he could have stopped me, but blaming him felt easier than facing my own bad judgment.

Standing up was a whole new challenge. The room tilted slightly, and I steadied myself against the nightstand. 'God, I'm too old for hangovers.' I grabbed my jeans and a clean blouse from the closet, my movements deliberately slow to avoid aggravating my headache further.

As I emerged from the bedroom, I found Ethan sitting on the couch in the living room area of our suite, looking unfairly fresh and handsome in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks. He looked up from his tablet, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked, his tone casual but eyes sharp.

"Sophie's upset," I replied curtly, searching for my purse. "Daniel called. She has to go back to Boston today for some dance competition training."

"And you need to rush over there looking like death warmed over?" His lips quirked into that infuriating half-smile.

I glared at him. "Not all of us wake up looking like we stepped out of a magazine cover, Ethan. And yes, I do need to go."

I then headed for the door, Ethan's voice stopping me just as I reached for the handle.

"Amelia?"

I turned back. "What?"

"You look beautiful even with a hangover." His smile was genuine this time.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face as I left.

---

When I arrived at Daniel's hotel suite, he opened the door with relief washing over his features. "Thank God you're here," he whispered, stepping aside to let me in.

"Where is she?" I asked, following him into the spacious living area.

"In her room." He ran a hand through his hair. "The academy called at 6 AM. Said they need her back for intensive training before the regional competition next week. She has to leave on the 2 PM flight."

"That's so sudden," I frowned. "Why didn't they give more notice?"

"Apparently their lead dancer got injured, and Sophie's the alternate. I tried telling her it's a good opportunity, but..." He trailed off, gesturing helplessly toward the closed bedroom door.

I squeezed his arm reassuringly. "I'll talk to her."

I knocked gently on Sophie's door before pushing it open. The room was dimly lit, with clothes strewn across the bed and an open suitcase on the floor. Sophie sat cross-legged on the window seat, her eyes red and puffy as she stared out at the Manhattan skyline.

"Hey," I said softly, closing the door behind me.

She turned to look at me, her bottom lip trembling. "I don't want to go."

I sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I know, sweetie."

"But I have to," she sniffled. "This competition could determine whether I get the principal position next season."

"That's amazing, Sophie. It means they see your potential."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I know. It's just... I just got here, and now I have to leave. Leave New York... leave James. I didn't even have time to pack properly before I was rushed off to the airport."

'Ah. There it is.' "Is that what this is really about? James?"

She nodded miserably. "I really like him, Amelia. Not just because he's hot or because he owns a cool bar. He's... different. When he looks at me, I feel like he actually sees me, not just another pretty dancer."

I studied her face, seeing the genuine emotion there. This wasn't just a passing infatuation or a challenge to conquer. Sophie actually had feelings for James.

"Have you told him how you feel?" I asked gently.

"I've been flirting with him non-stop," she said, a small smile breaking through her tears. "But he just... he keeps his distance. I don't know if he's not interested or if he's just being careful because of our age difference."

I took her hand in mine. "Sometimes, the hardest thing is to risk being vulnerable, but that’s how love grows."

"Sophie, if he truly cares about you, distance won't matter. If it's meant to be, you'll find your way back to each other."

She looked at me with hope in her eyes. "You really think so?"

"I do," I nodded. "But you need to be honest with him. Tell him how you feel before you leave."

Sophie straightened her shoulders, a determined look replacing her despair. She grabbed her phone from the windowsill and started typing rapidly.

"What are you doing?" I asked, peering over her shoulder.

"Taking your advice," she replied, her fingers flying across the screen. "Being direct."

I watched as she typed: [James, do you like me? Do you want to be with me?]

"That's... very direct," I said, raising my eyebrows.

Sophie hit send before I could suggest a more subtle approach. "Life's too short for games, right?" she said, looking at me with a mix of defiance and vulnerability.

I couldn't argue with that. "Yeah."

She clenched her phone tightly. "If he doesn't reply before I leave for the airport, then I'm done with him."