Contract Marriage with my ex

Chapter 2-Familiar Client

/Gray’s POV/

"Gray,” I tossed and squirmed in my bed as her subtle, warm laughter boomed in my head. “Grey.” Her melodious voice called me again as her features got brighter.

A pair of protruding bottle-green eyes glistened to the reflective light of the moonlight penetrating the open window.

“I think it might rain tonight,” She said with a contagious smile that spread from the corners of her lips up to her chin and then to her ear as she turned in my direction, tucking away the locks of her lush, shimmering waist-length leather black hair to the back of her ear.

“Grey.” She called once again. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

I like the way my nickname rolled off her tongue like it was made for her, and as she stood at the window in a soft white linen dress that danced to the soft tune of the heavy wind invading the room from the opened balcony door of my old apartment,

My heart melts like butter on a hot pan.

“C’mere Addy, you’ll catch a cold; it’s slightly breezy tonight,” I reminded, holding out my arms to welcome her into the warmth I desperately wanted to offer her as she stood in front of the opened arched balcony, looking like a beautiful image out of a fantasy book since she shines even brighter than the oval moon adorning the sky behind her.

“I can't, Gray; I’m not even real.” I gasped from my sleep as her words sent me flying right into reality.

I panted softly as I opened my eyes to the dark ceiling of my room. It was raining again.

I always have these dreams when it rains. I forced my back up against the headboard, staring blankly at the lightening streaks that rumbled and flashed through the full-height windows that spread from end to end on the other side of my bed.

I guess I forgot to put down the curtains again as I was too tired after getting back from work.

Not sure I'd be able to go back to sleep again.

I should work. I thought to myself as I flipped my covers and rose from bed before walking into the bathroom on the opposite side of my bed.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I braced the hot, incessant droplets of the shower.

I was washing away the sweat and the sticky feeling I had after waking up while wondering why I find it hard to go back to sleep any time I dreamed of Addy.

It’s been five years and I still can’t seem to get her out of my mind.

At a leisurely pace, I strolled my way to the kitchen, where I made myself a hot cup of coffee.

My apartment was huge and lifeless but it was the peace and quiet I needed.

Walking over to my home office I settled at my desk, trying to review the information on my new client.

I needed to view the client’s profile and choose which bodyguard is best suited for them since I’m the CEO and that kind of falls under my jurisdiction since we were short of manpower.

Different clients have different needs, so I always match them with bodyguards that will suit that need.

One thing though, how exactly am I supposed to react when the new client apparently look so much like my ex-girlfriend.

My mug of coffee landed on the dark marble floor with a loud shattering sound coupled with a soft splattering sound of the liquid in it, the moment I laid eyes on the profile.

“That can’t be right,” I thought with a frown as scrolled the screen quickly. “Hold on a minute. Her name is Amelia Verde but my ex’s name was Addison Laurent.

Was the face a coincidence? I sighed softly as a wave of disappointment washed over me. I can’t believe I’m disappointed that it wasn’t her. She’s been gone for five years.

I felt my teeth clench tight as image of the only thing she left me as she disappeared; surfaced in my mind. It makes me angrier the more I think of it. ‘Don’t look for me; I’m going away.’ f**k! I cussed under my breath as the memory played like some sort of video roll. That paper left on my bedside table after she slept over at my house.

“The f**k…I’m still pissed about it no matter how much I think about it,” I groaned, staring at the picture of the client again. f**k, they look so much alike.

Amelia vanished from my life the second day we talked about moving in together; I mean, if she hates the idea so damn much, she could have just freaking told me, but she just bolted, and just like that, it was like she never existed in the first place; no one knows who she was or where she’s gone.

It was like I was dating a freaking ghost for three good years or something.

I’m supposed to be meeting with this client tomorrow, and I’m not sure I can handle her without thinking of Addy.

I mean, they basically have the same freaking face; is this even normal? Can someone look so much like this? This one does look a little bit more mature, but the current Addy will probably look the same as well.

Maybe they’ll look less alike in reality; maybe it’s just the picture. Yeah that must be it…I should go through her profile a little bit more.

The more I scroll through her profile, the more familiar she gets. Is it really possible for someone who looks so much like you to be born on the same day? This makes no sense, I thought.

I wanted to at least find some differences.

Unlike Addy, Amelia Verde is the heiress or referred to as the heiress of Jade Co. A tech company owned by the multi-billionaire Julius who recently collapsed; he also happened to be her grandfather.

Amelia’s parent’s died 5 years ago from a car crash, but why the f**k is it around the time Addy disappeared? No, they can’t be the same; I’m probably just trying to connect links that aren’t there because they look so much alike. Yeah. I made up my mind.

Or at least I thought I did until I was sitting right in front of her. I ended up waiting around until the sun’s come up, totally unable to sleep.

Despite knowing my meeting with Amelia Verde wasn’t until 9 am, I went straight to our rendezvous meeting point a little past 8 since I couldn’t wait to meet her any much longer; surprisingly, she came 20 minutes early herself, leaving me totally frozen in my seat.

It can’t be; I’m definitely mistaken.

I thought to myself right before the woman standing at the door of the partitioned Chinese restaurant slightly wet hair, revealing those stunning bottle-green eyes that always stood out in a crowd.

I clenched my teeth as I watched her slowly stalk up to the chair in front of me.

“You’re early” She pointed out.

My insides twisted into knots as her soft voice danced their way into my ears. Standing before me with her stunning, stunning black hair is Addy; she raised her eyes to meet mine.

I almost wanted to scoff out loud because I couldn’t mistake her for anyone else; she really is Addy, my Addy.

I’m trying my best to wrap my head around what’s going on but no matter how much I tried to think of a possible explanation for the scene before me, they just don’t fit like pieces of a mismatched puzzle.

“Hello, I’m Amelia Verde of Jade Co.” She gestured her hand forward and I glanced up abruptly to look her in the eyes. Even though she introduced herself as somebody else, I can’t f*****g mistake her for another person.

She was my girlfriend who disappeared five years ago.

“That’s quite a fierce gaze you have there.” She said playfully before she withdrew her hand and settled in the seat opposite me.

I’m not even sure what to say; questions gushed into my mind like clashing waves of an ocean, wrestling and tearing me apart from the inside.

“I don’t think this will work.” I shoot to my feet, unable to contain whatever emotions I was feeling. I tried to keep them contained but they wouldn’t stop spiraling out of control.

"Gray.” Then her call came, halting me in my tracks while I’m known with that nickname and literally everyone I’m close to calls me that…no one calls me like she does, the way the name rolls off her tongue like it was made just for her lips. I’m going insane, really.

“I know you have questions... let’s talk-

“Are you f*****g kidding me right now?” I asked as my eyes widened fiercely. “Let’s talk?” I almost can’t believe my ears.

It’s already crazy enough meeting my ex-girlfriend whom I thought I’d never see again in Chinatown but that same person has a whole different name and identity? That’s just crazier.

“I can explain; just give me a few minutes... a couple of minutes will do-

“f**k this!” I spat, turning and walking out without looking back but right when I was about to exit the restaurant, I bumped into a kid who fell back heavily due to the force. "Crap,” I thought, stopping immediately to check if she was okay.

“Hey, you good? Who the hell let their kids loose in this area?” I asked as I helped her up wondering who let her go in such busy street, I chose this place for our meeting because it’s secluded and busy in case the client was targeted or something.

It seems like she’s got a bad bruise, I thought after seeing the bleeding knee of the girl I bumped into.

“Chloe” Amelia's voice came from behind me.

Amelia looked shocked to see the kid. Does she know her or something? I wondered but unfortunately, she doesn’t just know her.

"Mommy.” She was her freaking mother. Wait? She's married?

“Mommy!?” My face contorted into one nasty frown as the word slipped out of my mouth in a look of absolute shock, which was immediately dissolved when I saw the horrified look on Amelia’s face.

---------