Chapter 3: Kill me already!
Amelia gazed endlessly into the onyx black deep eyes of the gorgeous man that pressed his lips against hers.
His sandalwood cologne invaded her nostrils, and she didn't want to loosen her grip on his expensive-looking suit.
She pictured the beginning of a love story like she had always seen in movies, where the lady collides with a man and they fall in love afterwards.
She was too shocked and captivated by his great charms to know what to do.
"What the f**k!" James Parker, the man who Amelia had mistakenly kissed, hurriedly pulled himself away from her and fell to the floor on his butts.
Amelia instantly snapped out of her fantasies and went on her knees. She felt a throbbing pain behind her head, and she gradually touched the back of her head.
"I'm so sorry, Mister. I…" She stopped talking when somebody pushed her from behind, making her lose her stability again.
She quickly gained her stability and looked up. She saw Ava shoot her a deadly look, and she knelt in front of James.
"James, are you okay?" She ran her hands over his face, and he moved his face away from her hand angrily.
'So his name is James,' Amelia thought with fear registered on her face.
She always had an impression that all James are cruel because of the bullies in her high school and college. They were both called James.
James sprang to his feet and grabbed his butt-cheeks in pain. "Why didn't you watch where you were going, hun?!" His face reddened in rage. Amelia gulped hard and quickly stood up.
"I'm very sorry, my dress…"
The murmurs from the people watching filled her ears, and she stopped talking. She looked back and saw that everyone at the party stood at the entrance of the corridor staring at them.
'This is not good. What have you done, Amelia?'
Ava approached her and hit her on her shoulder, pushing her backward.
"How could you be so careless?! Why didn't you watch where you were going?!" Ava barked.
Amelia felt sweats ooze out of her tiny pores, and her throat fastened uncomfortably. She always tried to avoid creating a scene with her cousins, but now, her worst nightmare was happening, in her own party!
Amelia's lips parted in an attempt to speak, and Ava didn't hesitate to shut her up with a resounding slap.
"Ahh." Everyone that watched gasped, and Amelia glued her shivering hand to her face.
Her soft skin was heating up under her palm, and she felt stinging pains. It was the same cheek Ava had slapped earlier.
Amelia lowered her head in disgrace and hurt. Her body shivered, and her lips quivered as tears uncontrollably rolled down her eyes.
The news of the disaster Amelia had caused in the corridor got to Freddie and Charles at a fast rate, and they hurried to where everyone was.
"Make way please," Freddie said as he and Charles struggled to walk amidst the people to get to where Amelia stood. He saw Ava and James boiling in anger, and Amelia helplessly stood in front of them like a stray puppy.
"What is going on here?" Freddie asked, while Charles looked at his son.
"What's wrong, James?" His voice was audible and firm.
"Why can't you answer? You know very well what you did. Explain to them?!" James growled at Amelia, and she jumped in fright.
She raised her head and looked at Freddie. She wanted to explain, but she couldn't find her voice. She was too traumatized to speak.
"I'm out of here, Father. I told you I didn't want to attend this party in the very first place," James spat in disgust and stormed to the entrance of the corridor.
Those that stood in his way quickly moved away so that he could pass through. "James, wait!" Ava ran after him.
Freddie heaved a sigh after watching them leave. Everyone kept staring and this made him uncomfortable.
"Let the party continue. I'm sorry about this accident," He announced, and they started mumbling again.
They started leaving the corridor one after the other, and in no time, they were all gone.
Some stood back, and some left the party completely. They were disgusted with what they had seen.
Freddie looked at Charles and saw he had a frown on. Freddie wanted to speak, and Charles shook his head.
"I'd love to call it a day here. My son was disgraced by your daughter. That is enough for the night." Charles turned his back to leave.
Freddie followed after him and overtook him. He stood in front of him and said, "I'm very sorry, Charles. I promise that she will come and apologize to you and your son. She would also be punished for this," Freddie said remorsefully.
Charles uttered no words, but nodded. He walked past Freddie and proceeded out of the mansion.
Freddie looked at Amelia and saw that she was still glued to where she was. Her palm was still on her chin, and she was crying profusely.
Freddie stormed back to where she was and stood in front of her. "I need you to tell me what happened. Now!" He struggled to stay calm but he couldn't.
He had wronged his most significant business partner, there was no reason for him to stay calm.
Amelia flinched again and raised her head to look at Freddie. She looked more terrified. It was her first time seeing Freddie yell at her.
Her face was stained with tears and her makeup was ruined, but this didn't seem to move Freddie. He needed an explanation.
"I… I was running away from…"
She suddenly felt someone watching them, and she looked at the entrance of the corridor. She saw Hudson leaning against the wall, his arms folded around his torso and his eyes fixed on her.
"Running away from who?" Freddie impatiently asked, and she turned her head to look at him.
She wanted to tell him the truth, but she couldn't. Not under Hudson's watch.
"I wanted to use the restroom badly. I didn't want to go up the stairs because of my gown, so I rushed into the corridor. I collided with Mr. James, and tripped. I hung onto him for support and ended up pulling him with me. We both fell to the floor, and his lips mistakenly pressed against mine."
Freddie fastened his eyes and brushed his neatly arranged black hair backward.
"What have you done, Amelia? You have messed with someone you shouldn't." Freddie clenched his jaws as he spoke.
"I am sorry, Uncle. I swear I didn't mean to. It was an accident," She cried. She moved closer to him, and he moved back. He swallowed hard and looked at her.
"You have to apologize to him and his father," He said, and she bounced her head.
"I'll do anything, Uncle. I'm sorry," She mumbled.
"You know I don't get angry with you at all. But this is pretty extreme, Amelia. You don't know who you just messed with. He is a powerful man, and so is his father. I won't be happy until you have apologized, and they have forgiven you sincerely," He said and turned to leave.
Amelia watched him leave, and her eyes fell on Hudson again. He had an evil smirk and also turned to leave.
She fell to the ground weakly and lowered her head. She broke into more profuse tears.
Amelia got to her room after so many minutes of weeping in the corridor. She sat on her bed and looked at the floor with a blank expression.
Her door flung open all of a sudden, and Ava walked in. Amelia looked up and saw her surprise cake in Ava's hand.
"Have you forgotten your cake?" Ava let out a menacing laugh. Amelia heaved a sigh and looked away.
"Go away, Ava. I need to rest," She mumbled, and Ava's eyes broadened in awe.
"Oh wow! Such audacity! You dare talk back to me, hun?" She lifted the cake and threw it on Amelia's head.
Amelia gasped as the chocolate cake and the icing sugar washed down her head. It messed up her hair and blue dress.
Ava grabbed her messy hair and pulled her up from the bed. "The next time you lay your filthy hand on my James again, that day will be the end of your miserable life!"
She pushed her to the bed and kicked her left leg with her strong black heels, about five inches below her knee. Amelia grabbed her leg and screamed in agony.
Blood gushed out of the deep cut on her leg and stained her bedspread. "This would teach you a lesson." Ava strutted out of her room and slammed the door shut.
"I just want to die! Kill me already!" Amelia yelled in tears.