Married To The Bully Basketball Player

Four

Amelia’s POV

This house was really huge, and for some reason, I felt like she might not get the job.

I mean, why would anyone want me, a small interior decorator to come to design a house this huge?

The house was looking good, with some antic furniture around, but it needed an upgrade and a woman’s touch, and I knew I could do so much better for the place.

Ms. Delia knocked on the door of the office and then she opened it. She walked in while I stood outside waiting. A few minutes later, she appeared at the door and told me to come in.

“Mr. Whitlock, here's the interior decorator. She will be furnishing and designing the house. She's done so well with other jobs, Ms. Saline vouched for her.” She said.

The man I was supposed to meet had his head bent over some paper on his large desk, and then he raised his head to look at me.

Fuck! That was my first thought. Now it made all the right sense. This man was my nemesis, the man I had gotten closer to Saline for, the man I was looking to destroy for everything he had done to me. I still didn't know how I would achieve my revenge, but I knew I would eventually.

And now, he was right in front of me, staring at me with his eyes squinted. I wondered if it was possible that he knew who I was, but I doubt that. I wasn't looking exactly the way I did in the past, but I didn't care anyway.

Whether he was able to recognize me or not, this was a golden opportunity that had presented itself, and I was going to use it as best as I could.

It was as if this was fate’s way of telling me she had my back.

I walked closer to his desk and Ms. Delia asked me to sit while she took the other chair in front of the desk.

“Huh, my name is Amelia,” I said, and Luke frowned.

“I believe you have a last name.” he said, and I broke down in nerves.

All he had to do was speak, and I was on fire. I didn't think he would incite this kind of feeling in me again, the feeling I had mistaken for fear gripping me when I was a teen back in high school.

I was an adult now, and I knew it wasn't fear.

It was desire, a burning frustrating desire that I hated. I didn't think it was possible to still feel like this, or even feel anything for a man who had bullied me for years and hurt me this much, but my treacherous body wouldn't cooperate.

Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting to see him here. Maybe it was because I hadn't even finalized my plan on how I wanted to ruin him.

Either way, something was wrong with me for feeling this way with someone I was looking to get my revenge on, someone who had done nothing but hurt me in the past.

Recently, I had heard from someone that he was coming back to town, but I hadn't thought much of it. He was a professional basketball player now, so his schedule was not a public knowledge.

I guess they were right seeing as he was right in front of me.

I must have taken a long time, because he barked his question again, making Ms. Delia jumped. I could see he hadn't changed much.

“Jesus, Luke. You're being an ass,” his personal assistant said. "Don't scare the poor woman. "Her last name is Russell.” She turned to me and asked. "Am I right?”

With a nod, I said mentally. “Damn!”

His eyes filled with recognition and then he smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting a bit. He had recognized me, and he was going to be an ass about it.

“Oh, I see.” He said, looking at him with a daring expression.

I swallowed hard, but I told myself he couldn't bully me anymore. I'm now an adult and there was nothing he could do about it.

He looked at Ms. Delia. "Delia, I need you to get the file I left upstairs in my room this morning. I'll be needing it for that meeting with Zach and the investors.” He said.

“Okay, boss.” Ms. Delia said and stood up. "Be nice!” she said before walking out.

I wondered what kind of relationship he had with the older woman. Knowing that they were probably just a few years apart didn't matter, age was just a number anyway, but the look he gave her before she walked out was that of fondness.

He was fond of the woman, like he would be fond of an elder sister or something.

When the woman was gone, he stood up from behind his desk. "Well, well, well. If it isn't my Butterfly.” He said, coming around the desk to me.

His butterfly? Was he serious right now?

He turned my chair so that I was now facing him, and he caged me in. "I knew something was familiar the moment I saw you.”

I was breaking inside, scared even, but I knew I had to put up a brave face so I squared my jaw, and put on a brave expression.

Luke was handsome when he was eighteen, now at twenty nine, he was gorgeous. Seeing him this close was too much for my poor heart that was beating so fast I could swear it would rip out.

“I would like it if you move backward Mr. Whitlock. I'm here for business and not to talk about old history. It might be true we knew each other in high school, but for the sake of the job, it would be better we pretend we didn't.” I said.

For a moment, he didn't do anything, then he threw his head back and laughed like something funny had happen. Maybe I was the funny one, thinking I could stand up to him, much less get my revenge.

Such a joke.

“That’s so funny, Butterfly.” He said. "You want a job here, don't you?” he asked and I nodded. He grinned as if something good was happening to him. "Well, then. If you want this, then I want something from you as well. If you can't give that to me, then we have no deal.”

I was going to tell him no before hearing what he had to say, but he interrupted me.

“Don't think I didn't research your firm when Delia mentioned it to me. I had wondered why Saline recommended it to Delia, and I sure didn't know you own the firm, but I sure know you might not exist anymore if you don't find a contract to do a job soon. I'm sure you know what I can pay you will help your firm, so think before you answer.”

I swallowed hard the lump in my throat. "What do you want from me.” I asked, wondering what it could be. God, I didn't want this man wanting anything from me at all. If anything, I was the one that wanted something from him. I was the one that wanted him to feel the pain he inflicted on me back in high school, the humiliation, and the shame.

Luke grinned again. "I like the way you asked the question. What do I want from you? Hmm, lets see…” he walked back his chair and sat down, then he was all serious again.

“I want you to marry me, Butterfly.”

Well, he just about knock my breath out of me. It was either I was hearing things, or he was trying to tease me.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked.

“I want you to marry me, Butterfly.” He repeated, and I dropped my mouth open.