Adam was restless over the next few days. He and Elle hadn"t fought - she didn"t blame him in the least, but he couldn"t shake the sickening feeling that he had let her down. More importantly he hated that even after letting her own that day he could"t rush to her side to make it up to her for the rest of the week.
Once his father caught hold of even the smallest issue he wouldn"t let go of it until it was resolved. It had been the case back when MK had issues finding a model for their event and Adam knew it would be the same now. If he wanted peace he would have to put an end to the issue of Amelia"s contract, which was something he had yet to do. He did, however, have an idea. An idea that would tie everything up with a neat little bow. Yet he was hesitating.
Adam looked up at Amelia, who was once again sitting in his office, engrossed in a book on the other side of the room. Adam had allowed her in search of an answer.
"Hey Amelia," he called out, "can I ask your opinion on something?"
Amelia looked up with shock on her face that slowly faded into joy.
"Of course you can."
"I want to ask a personal favour of someone close to me but I"m worried it will inconvenience them. What do you think?"
"He"s talking about the contract negotiations right?" Amelia wondered. "He means me, right?"
"You should just ask." She said. "If they"re close to you surely they won"t mind your asking, even if they have to refuse you. But there"s nothing anyone wouldn"t do for you, I"m sure."
Adam pondered her words for a moment while Amelia watched excitedly.
He glanced down at his watch. Elle would be getting off work soon.
"You"re right. Thanks." He said as got up and reached for his coat.
Amelia"s face fell. "Are you leaving?"
"I am. If you want to continue wasting your time here that"s fine. I"ll let David know to lock the office once you leave."
Adam left the office leaving Amelia, who felt as though she"d been slapped in the face, red and ashamed behind him.
Elle was just getting out of a meeting when she received Adam"s message.
"I"m downstairs. Come down once you"re finished."
With a smile on her face she rushed back to her office to grab her things before heading downstairs. She spotted Adam"s car easily, parked outside the building.
"I can"t believe you got off work this early." Elle said with a smile.
"Well that"s not entirely true. Technically I"m still working."
"Oh?"
"I came to take you out to dinner." Adam said.
"Sure. Let"s go."
Adam drove off apparently with a place already in mind. Elle didn"t mind. She simply laid back in her seat and enjoyed the fact that she was able to see Adam before sunset for once. Eventually Adam pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant. Elle looked at the familiar name illuminated on the storefront.
"Do you remember this place?" Adam asked with a soft smile.
"Of course I do. This is the restaurant you took me too back when we first met. This is where you asked me to model for you for the first time."
"That"s right. I thought it would be suitable to come back here." He opened the pa.s.senger door and helped her out of the car. Adam gently placed her hand on his arm and led her into the restaurant. A waiter led them both to the back of the room and showed them into a private dining room.
"You even got the same room?" Elle asked as she looked around at the familiar decor.
"It was a coincidence." Adam said, flushing slightly.
"Don"t be embarra.s.sed. It"s cute."
"That"s enough, stop staring." Adam said, blocking her view of his embarra.s.sed expression with a menu. "Here, select what you want."
Elle giggled and took the menu from him. They ordered their food and a few gla.s.ses of wine. It was a perfect night and Elle was enjoying herself immensely but she could tell Adam had something on his mind.
She could see it obviously in the way he kept glancing at her and in the way his fingers nervously thrummed on the table.
"So when are you going to finally tell me what"s on your mind?" She asked him eventually.
Adam gauged her for a moment before setting down his fork. "I don"t want to spoil your night but the truth is that this isn"t a date."
"It isn"t?"
"It"s a work dinner."
Elle blinked in surprise. "Is it?" She asked with a grin slowly spreading across her face. "And what work do you have in mind for us to do."
"I"m not sure why I selected this restaurant. I"m worried you"ll reject my proposal again." Adam admitted.
Elle reached across the table for his hand. "Don"t be worried. It"s just me."
"To be honest it"s not a good proposal. I"ll be asking you for a huge favour. And if you want to say no do so without worrying about me or MK."
"Just tell me what it is."
"You know the contract negotiations MK is currently having with Amelia right?"
"Yes."
"Well my father has gotten wind of it. Now that he"s got his hands on this he won"t let it go until it"s been settled. He"s known Amelia for many years now, and of course he wants her contract to be signed above all else, but I have something else in mind."
Adam proceeded to explain his plans in great detail. They talked for a long while, discussing all the small details of what he had envisioned. The sun had long since set but eventually Elle came around. She couldn"t deny that she was apprehensive but Adam was confident and Elle was biased.
"Fine, I"m in." She said eventually.
"Really?" Adam asked breathlessly.
"Yes, really. I"ll trust in you on this."
Adam grinned. Amelia was right, it was worth it to just ask. In a few months time she would regret ever opening her mouth in the first place.