Chapter 14 - Rumour has it.

Shopping, Amelia loved shopping. She loved the perfumed, air conditioned mall. She basked in the attention of the sales staff and pawed over different fabrics and textures. She loved trying on new dresses and hats, get a free make-over and then head to the spa for a manicure. She could also devote an entire day to shopping and feel fulfilled. The garments she brought home would often never be worn or maybe worn once, but she bought them either way. They made her happy and in a way, shopping was very therapeutic for her. She was a shop-a-holic. It was her compulsion and Xavier gave her enough money to fuel that compulsion. She also loved ordering stuff online but it could never compare to her going to her favourite stores in the mall and buying stuffs.

Amelia ran her hand along the dress rack, feeling the different textures and designs. She watched them move back and forth, independent of each other but bound to the same shiny rod of chrome. Sometimes it was to irk the staff, browsing an isle over for something that she wasn't able to explain to them. They would patiently wait while they tried to decipher what she liked, what her style was and what would impress her.
Most times they were wrong, Amelia could be very spontaneous when she wanted to.

On those occasions she would swipe the clothes over and over. But after a while she paused, her poised hand dropping to her side with her thumb hooked into a pocket. Her eye was fixed on a gorgeous hot pink dress with a halter neck and frills.

It was fascinating, she had never been that interested in wearing such a bold pink colour before, in fact she rarely wore pink. She fingered the top, smooth, silky, like velvet. It had a sort of vintage look to it and it added more to the uniqueness of the dress.

She turned to the sales staff eagerly pointing at the dress when her phone rang.

She fumbled with her bag for a minute before pulling it out. She smiled when she noticed it was Xavier. Was he back home from work so early? Amelia asked herself as she frowned.

"I have great news!!! Can't wait to tell you what my agent thinks about my plans!"

She gushed into the phone before Xavier could even utter an hello.

"Where are you?"

Xavier asked calmly and Amelia frowned a little, he ignored her statement.

"I'm at the mall. I told you I would go to the mall after stopping by with the board of directors."

"Can you come home right now? Please?"

He begged and Amelia was even more confused. She signalled to the staff to help her with the dress and walked into a dressing room for more privacy.

"What happened? Is it Daphne? What did she do this time?"

Amelia groaned as her mind started running through the thought of what Daphne might have done.

"Nothing. I just need you home right now. It's an emergency."

"Okay, calm down. I will be there in a few minutes."

The next few minutes were spent with Amelia rushing out of the store after bagging her purchases. She couldn't imagine what was going on. Her parents had left their house after staying for just one night, they claimed they had a red carpet show in LA and Amelia and Xavier weren't complaining. It was already weird enough for all of them.

Amelia had taken her mother's advice and found a new place for Daphne with the help of a new realtor. She already told Xavier and they had planned that after dinner they would tell Daphne to leave. Everything about the house was set, it was a beautiful and comfortable three bedroom place in a peaceful kid friendly environment in the outskirt of San Mateo and it was far away from Amelia and Xavier and that made her happy.

Although it had been more expensive than most because it was already refurbished and it was an highly sought after place, Amelia didn't hesitate to spend her money on it, she knew Xavier would repay every penny.





"What's going on?"

Amelia asked as she walked into the foyer and found Xavier pacing around their living room. He was still in his work clothes. His suit was lying on the couch and his sleeves were rolled up to his ankles. He looked at Amelia wearily as she walked in, his blue eyes were narrow and bloodshot.

Amelia looked around and saw Daphne emerging from the hallway in nothing but a flimsy lingerie. Amelia almost groaned. Her blond hair was disheveled and it looked like she had been crying.

Amelia dropped her bags on the floor, she had managed to buy quite a lot of things from the mall.

"Why are you home so early?"

She asked Xavier as she laid her hand on his arm and he flinched a bit at her touch.

"What's going on Xavier?"

She asked again as she stared straight into his eyes, her violet eyes matching his blue eyes with the same intensity.

Xavier breathed deeply as he gave Amelia hi phone.

"Have you see this?"

"No? What is it?"

Amelia asked as she looked up and took Xavier's phone from him.

It was an article on Celebrity Inside Out. The channel was a gossip channel and it was known for fake news and bashing celebrities and famous people all in the name of gossip or exposing truths, but it was very popular regardless.

It had an article on Xavier and Daphne. According to the blog, they claimed that Xavier and Daphne were caught cheating and were expecting a child. The blog painted Daphne as a homewrecker and pointed out the fact that Xavier was married. It also even managed to make Xavier look bad.

"Ugh! I hate this blog! I swear they're always out searching for clout. How did this get leaked?"

Amelia asked as she handed Xavier back his phone.

"How long has it been leaked?"

Ah asked Xavier and he shrugged.

"About four hours ago. And it's getting a lot of engagement already."

Amelia rolled her eyes. Of course it would, the media loved dragging people's name in the mud. And Xavier was their new scapegoat. They even had the nerve to mention Nana in their useless blog.

Amelia could care less about Daphne being dragged, she could have been the one who leaked it anyways.

"Why is our PR management team not on this yet? They should take it down immediately."

Amelia said as she picked up her phone.

"Have you called PR?"

She asked Xavier and he nodded.

"They're on it."

"Good. So what's the problem?"

Xavier sighed.

"The problem is, I want to know who leaked it..."

Amelia shrugged.

"It could be anybody really. It could be her."

She said as she pointed at Daphne who was sulking at the corner.

Daphne narrowed her eyes at Amelia.

"Why would I leak a news that paints me as a gold digger and a homewrecker?"

"Oh I don't know. Because that's what you are?"

Amelia asked as she turned to Xavier. She couldn't fathom why he looked so bothered about the whole thing. If she had found out about it earlier their PR management would have made sure the defaming article was deleted.

She knew he was probably worried about the effect it would have on his reputation and the company's name too. Carlton Inc had always been known for it's impeccable records and Xavier Black was the perfect beloved CEO that every girl swooned over and everyone loved.

"Amelia, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to reply me honestly. "

Amelia furrowed her eyebrows as she nodded eagerly.

"Daphne can you give us a bit of privacy please?"

He asked and Daphne slinked away.

"I can bet you a thousand dollars that she leaked the news. You should sue her. That's a breach of the confidentiality agreement she signed."

Amelia stated as Xavier led her to the couch.

"It can't be her. It makes no sense why she would leak an article that would paint her bad."

Amelia shrugged.

"Well? Who else knew? Did she tell any of her actor friends?"

Xavier shook his head.

"No, she took the confidentiality agreement very serious."

"Well, I don't know. My leg hurts. I've been wearing this damned heels for so long."

Amelia groaned as she started taking off her heels.

She glanced at Xavier and saw that he was looking at her weirdly.

"Why are you so bothered? Our PR team would handle it."

"Daphne thinks you did it."

Xavier deadpanned and Amelia paused.

"She do?"

Xavier nodded.

Amelia started laughing.

"Are you serious?"

"Oh that's real funny. "

"Amelia..."

"What? What Xavier?"

Amelia snapped. Xavier was clearly worked up about something yet he couldn't tell her what it was and it was annoying the hell out of her.

"Did you do it?"

There was a long pause as they both stared at each other. Xavier was calm and Amelia was confused. How could Xavier think that she did it? She asked herself as she searched his eyes and saw that he was somehow thoroughly convinced that Amelia did it.

"Why would you even ask me something like that?"

He shrugged.

"Daphne said she heard you talking to someone that sounded like a reporter and she heard something about a mail you sent to the blog."

Amelia narrowed her eyes at Xavier.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand a thing!"

"I'm talking about this Amelia."

Xavier said as he pulled Amelia's laptop from behind him. She had not even noticed that her laptop was in the living room until that moment. Xavier opened the laptop and the screen brightened to show her mail box.

"This is the mail you sent to Jared Kushner. A lead reporter of Celebrity Inside Out claiming you would like to meet him and you have some information for him about Daphne Steele and Xavier Black."

Amelia squinted her eyes at the screen.

What the fuck? She never sent any email to anyone.

"And she heard you were talking to a certain reporter on the phone this morning..."

"Xavier, you cannot tell me that you really believe this bullshit. Clearly, someone else sent that mail."

Xavier shrugged.

"Who else knows your password except me?"

"And where were you this morning?"

Xavier asked and Amelia frowned.

"You know where I was, I was at a meeting with my agents for my art foundation, then I went to see the realtor like I told you..."

"Why am I even explaining myself to you! This is stupid!"

"Stupid? What's stupid is you pulling such a stunt like this just because you're mad."

He snapped and Amelia went quiet.

He really thought she did it...

Amelia didn't think she had ever felt such betrayal looking into Xavier's eyes and seeing the amount of distrust in his eyes.

"I didn't do it Xavier. This has Daphne all over it!"

Amelia screamed and Xavier flinched.

"Amelia please... Don't even blame this on her, I can see the mail and it's right in front of me."

"That could have been anybody! Someone  could have hacked into my laptop! There are so many other things that could have happened! But please don't tell me you really believe I did this!"

Xavier buried his head in his hands

"I really don't know what to believe Amelia..."

Xavier said quietly and Amelia stood up from the sofa.

"I guess that settles it then."

She whispered as she walked away.

Her mind was made up already.



Hello! Thank you for reading. This Chapter hasn't been properly edited so I apologise in advance.