Chapter 12. The Price of Regret

2024

Amelia’s POV

I had always prided myself on being composed, on never letting the chaos of the outside world seep into the tight control I kept over my life. But that control started slipping weeks ago, and it had everything to do with a certain person that I thought I’d never see again.

Leaning back in my chair, I rubbed my temples. My office—usually my sanctuary of order—looked like a battlefield, the mess of papers and reports a glaring reminder of the disaster unfolding around me. The interview questions had been leaked. I had no idea how or why, but now they were out there, and the fallout was imminent.

And the worst part? I didn’t like that this issue was connected to the one person that I didn’t want it to be linked to.

My gaze fell on the report handed to me barely an hour ago. My eyes lingered on a name highlighted in bold: Amelia Bennett.

It didn’t make sense. Amelia wasn’t reckless. She wasn’t careless. Hell, she was on