That trip was great for his grandma. She went back home to Seattle happy and full of energy. However, that trip was bad news for Devlin. He heard his grandma suggesting for the first time that Amelia’s granddaughter would be a good match for him. He thought that was only a funny idea that came to his grandma’s head. Days passed, and she kept telling him of her wish for him to marry her friend’s granddaughter. Devlin did not say anything. He just passed it off as his grandma’s obsession to return back the favor that her friend did to her years ago.
“Grandma, you know very well that I am too busy with my company. And besides, aren't I too young to marry at this time?” He asked his grandma casually. He still thought his grandma would get over her fascination over Amber, that’s the name of her granddaughter’s friend.
“Busy? Young?” Olivia snorted. She knows that his grandson is not taking her words seriously.
“Young man, do you think I am kidding with you? Amelia and I made a pact that we would have our kids marry each other if we have a boy or a girl respectively. Unfortunately, we both have sons. So, meeting Amber made my hopes high again.” Olivia said with a serious tone. She really hopes her grandson will listen to her.
“Devlin, it is my ultimate wish that you would marry Amelia’s granddaughter.” Devlin held his words. He does not want to say anything that he would regret later. His grandmother does not know what really is going on with his life. He has his construction business to manage. And he is trying to get back to his ex-girlfriend, Raven Crawford. The latter is much more complicated to accomplish.
“But grandma, what does the woman think of your idea? Isn’t it unfair for both of us?” He tried to reason out. He saw his grandma starting to breathe heavily and looking pale. He tried to hold back his words.
“I am sorry, grandma. I will see what I can do. Maybe we should know each other first. Who knows if that woman has a boyfriend or a fiancé?” He asked calmly. He does not want to trigger any more health issues for his grandma.
“That woman has a name. She is Amber.” She said with an annoyed voice. Devlin looked at his grandma for a while with a blank expression.
“Alright, grandma. Amber and I should know each other first before we think of marriage. Don’t you think so?” He appealed hoping that he could put some sense into her but her defiant look disappointed him.
“I have spoken to her. She is single. I am sure you will like each other.” Devlin tried very hard to hide his frustration. How can his grandma think about all of these crazy ideas?
“Let’s see, grandma. For now, don’t think of anything else. I want you to focus on yourself so you will get better. I promise you we will go on a trip to any place you want. I am not going to leave your side, grandma.” He said emotionally. When he found out that his grandma is sick again, he decided to stay with her so he could keep an eye on her. His estranged parents also took time to be with her.
Devlin had to deal with the same feelings all over again when they first found out about his grandmother’s cancer.
Back to the present, they are all gathered together to pay their last respect for his grandmother. They offered silent prayers. Then, it all ended so fast. Her grandmother was laid to rest next to her husband. Everyone left except Devlin and his family.
“Son, we are leaving. Do you want to come with us?” Asked Devlin’s dad. He shook his head. He wants to stay a bit longer.
“See you later then.” It was his mom who hugged him before they left with his older brother.
Devlin stayed for a couple of minutes before he decided to leave. He was walking silently when suddenly, he bumped into someone.
“Please watch out where you are going.” Devlin said with annoyance. The woman stumbled to the ground. He helped her up.
“ I… I am sorry. I didn’t mean to get in your way. I just wanted to talk to you.” She said nervously. She is not looking at his face.
“And who might you be?” He asked while trying to think if he knew this woman from somewhere. She looks familiar but for sure he never went out with her on a date. He looked closely at the woman’s face. She is devoid of any makeup. She has thick eyebrows with long, curved eyelashes. Her deep-set gray eyes are very attractive. Her straight nose is a perfect match to her fuller lips. She could have been a great beauty if she added more makeup.
“I..I am Amber Adams. I am the grand…” She didn’t get to finish what she had to say since Devlin pulled her with him.
“Let’s talk in the car.” He ordered seriously. He immediately opened the car door. Good thing he decided to drive today instead of tagging along his driver.
“What are you doing here?!” He gripped her wrist tightly once he got inside the car..
“Please… you are hurting me.” She tried to pull her hand away from his tight grip.
“I came here because I wanted to attend your grandma’s funeral. I am deeply sorry for your loss. And…” Amber could not say any further. She wanted to just back down and go home.
“And what?” Devlin asked impatiently. He never expected for this woman to appear in his life. He heard so much about her that he started to detest her name.
“To honor the wish of our grandmothers.” She blurted out while closing her eyes.
“What wish? I thought you would not go for that.” Amber is playing with her fingers. She is starting to get tense.
“My– my grandmother told me about it. She told me it was my decision at the end. However…” Amber hesitated. She is too nervous to talk further. Devlin’s look is like throwing daggers at her.
“Keep going. You are trying my patience.” He said with frustration after her silence for more than a minute. He never got the chance to think about that promise he made to his grandma. He was grieving and still is.
“I wouldn’t have agreed to their wishes but your grandma called me a week before she died. She made me promise to marry you.” Amber said truthfully. She could not refuse a dying person’s wish. Besides, Grandma Olivia is not just any person. She only saw her once but her own grandmother spoke highly of her.
“So you came here for that.” Amber could only nod without looking at Devlin. She is too afraid to see his reaction. She could hear him taking several deep breaths before he spoke again.
“Very well. Since you are already here, you should come with me until we finally decide what to do with our grandmothers’ agreement. Where is your grandmother, by the way?” He simply asked. Her grandmother received them warmly last time when they visited her in the farm.
“She is on the farm. She wanted to come here but she got sick. I did not want to leave her but she told me to come here instead of her to see Grandma Olivia laid to rest.” Amber said with a shaky voice. Devlin started the engine. He just told her that she should come with him.
“By the way, I don’t have to come with you. I have a place to stay. I am sorry for bothering you. We can talk later on when you are ready.” She said trying to stay calm. She never planned to stay in Devlin’s place. She did come for two things. She wanted to hear his opinion regarding the marriage. They can forget about it or they can go with it. She can’t imagine marrying someone who is basically a stranger.
“I am responsible for you now. What would your grandmother think of me? Don’t worry, I have a good place where you can stay while you are here in the city. Take as much time as you want to explore the city. Until then, we will talk when we are both ready to face the issue.” Devlin said matter-of-factly. Amber looked at him straight in the eyes for the first time. He has mesmerizing green eyes. She stared at those eyes for a while until she realized what she just did.
“Are you fine?” Devlin asked her, looking curiously at her.
“Yes, I.. I am fine. I just remembered something. I left my stuff at the apartment where I am staying.” She answered nervously. She is glad he never thought that she was simply admiring his beautiful eyes. The first time she saw him earlier, she could not believe how handsome he was. He is like one of those GQ male models. His perfectly chiseled jawline makes him look so manly. His thin lips are just so enticing. She wondered where all her thoughts came from. It does not mean that they were promised to marry each other, she can just openly admire his looks. She does not know anything about him. Who knows if he has a girlfriend?
“Then, we can get your stuff. We can pass by now. Just tell me the address.” He said right away. Amber is starting to panic. Things are moving too fast. They just met and this guy already decided what to do with her. Did he even ask her what she wants to do?
“Just wait. I did not come to stay in whatever place you want to bring me. I just want us to talk and then be done with it. That’s all. I am pretty sure you have a girlfriend who is waiting for you.” She said seriously while looking at Colton who was only smirking at her.
“What made you think I have a girlfriend, huh?” He said out of nowhere, making Amber more uncomfortable.
“I am sorry. I was just guessing. I shouldn’t have approached you. That was the wrong timing at the wrong place. I just took that spur of the moment decision since I may not be able to get hold of you again.” She said sincerely. She thought he was a very busy person. Besides, it took a lot of courage on her part to go to him.
“That is not the answer to my question.” Devlin said while looking at her face carefully. She is not that bad.
“I am sorry I said that. I’ve read news about you so I assumed you have a girlfriend.” She said shyly. She just wanted to get out of the car and run as far away from him. But she could not just disregard the promise she made to Devlin’s grandmother. Her conscience keeps nagging her. So, she decided to meet Devlin and they can decide together. However, talking to him right now deems futile.
“So, where is your address? We can pick your stuff from your apartment.” Amber still tried to reason out but to no avail. Devlin is determined to bring her to his place. She sighed with regret.
When they arrived at Amber’s place, she immediately gathered all her things. She doesn’t have much to take anyway except her clothes and some important papers. When she came back to the car, Devlin was looking at her weirdly. He took her luggage and deposited it at the back of the car.
“Is this all that you have? Just one piece of small luggage?” Amber simply nodded her head. She was wondering about his reaction.
“Yes, I don’t have to bring that much clothing. I only planned to stay here for less than a week. I just wanted to attend the funeral and talk to you.” She wanted to say something more but Devlin cut her off.
“We can talk about it later. I am not really in my right mind this time. I hope you understand. I have a condo unit that no one is using. You can stay there for now. And please don’t start arguing. I am responsible for you right now.” That’s all and they closed the subject. Devlin was quiet the whole time they were driving to their destination.
They stopped at a fifteen storey condominium building. She had no idea that Devlin owned the entire building. They parked at the basement parking lot. He immediately guided her to a private elevator that would take them directly to his condo unit.
“This is your place for now. If you need anything like grocery stuff and other things, you can contact this person.” He simply handed her a business card.
“Feel at home. I will be contacting you in a few days.” Devlin said casually like he was addressing a business meeting. He immediately left her after that.
Amber sighed deeply. What has she gotten herself into? She could have just ditched her conscience and went on living her normal life. But she is not that kind of person…Now, she feels like she is in big trouble.
On her first night in the condo, Amber felt uneasy. She could not go to sleep. She called her grandmother earlier to check on her. “Marmee, how are you?” She said happily. Marmee is her endearment for her grandmother. “Amber, I am so glad you finally called. I was so worried about you. How was everything?” Her grandmother was referring to the funeral she attended early in the day. “It was fine, marmee. It went on smoothly. How are you doing, marmee? Are you feeling much better now?” She asked with a concerned voice. She really wanted to check on her grandmother. Before she left, her grandmother complained of headache and dizziness. However, it was her who suggested for Amber to go to Seattle to attend the funeral of her friend. She still remembers their conversations. “But marmee, I just can’t leave you like this. You are not feeling well.” Amber protested. Her grandmother simply waved her hand at her. “If I weren’t sick, I could have gone with you. Don’t worry about me. I hav
Amber did not expect the place they went to. It was not a regular expensive restaurant. It was a fine dining restaurant on a yacht. She saw some diners who were dressed elegantly. She thought when Devlin mentioned dinner, it was just a regular dinner at an expensive restaurant. Not this kind of set-up. This is more like a dream dinner date for her. “Are you meeting someone else here?’ she asked curiously. She had never been to a place like this before, and even going to an expensive restaurant was a rarity for her. “No, I am not meeting no one except you.” A waiter came to them and guided them to a sliding door where their VIP section is located. It is interesting how she can see the other diners from their stained glass wall. “This is very nice. I’ve never been to a place like this. Isn’t this too much for a dinner meeting? I thought we would go to a regular restaurant.” She said candidly while looking around the spacious VIP room that Devlin reserved for them. “I am glad you like
Amber could not believe that she had to stay for a few more days. She was firm in her decision earlier to leave his condo. But just like that…Devlin convinced her to stay. If her marmee did not agree, she would have been getting ready to pack now. She could not sleep immediately. She keeps thinking of what happened during dinner. Devlin was the complete opposite from her first encounter with him. He was acting as the best gentleman. She can’t deny that she was really impressed the moment she saw him walking inside the condo with his black suit. Then, he brought her to a place beyond what she could imagine for a casual dinner. And their conversations were very light and relaxing. The most surprising part was he wanted to be friends with her. She doesn't know why he decided to do that although she likes the idea. She must admit that she sees him more than just a friend. A lot of women admire him for his looks. She is no different from those women except she promised his grandmother
“Devlin? What are you doing here?” Asked the tall, beautiful lady who passed by them. Amber was a few meters away from them. She distanced herself further so she would give them some privacy. She must be his friend. “Raven! Nice to see you. I am doing well. What about you? I didn’t see you during the funeral.” Devlin casually asked his ex-girlfriend. She is so beautiful wearing her white bandage dress that perfectly shows off her body. Amber noticed how he looked at her. She could see great admiration from his face for the woman. She felt a slight pain in her chest from what she had just witnessed. “I was actually there. Didn’t Dalton tell you? I came late but I also left quickly. There was an emergency.” Raven said regretfully. She did not say what the emergency was. “So, who are you with?” She asked and suddenly looked at Amber. Devlin urged Amber to come to him by extending his hand. “This is Amber Adams, she is a very special friend.” Devlin said while beaming. Amber looked a
Devlin woke up nursing a hangover. He had too many drinks last night. He was at the bar past 5 pm. He did not exactly remember how he got home. He just remembers Jackson calling him on the phone, mentioning Amber. Thinking of her right now, he felt a bit bad that he left her all by herself. He did not come back for her. He went to the kitchen and made his own cup of coffee. He is in his bachelor’s pad right now. He must have been dead drunk last night for not remembering anything. There is only Jackson whom he thought would surely bring him home. Only Jackson knows, his trusted right hand about his houses. This was the closest place that Jackson could take him. He has three houses. He got the bachelor’s pad, the condo unit where Amber is staying and he has a huge mansion. He only has the maids there. That would be his house for his family in the future. Suddenly, he thought about Raven and what she told him yesterday. He felt so defeated yesterday hearing what Raven said to him,
They ended up watching an action comedy movie together. That was the only movie that would meet their movie preferences. Devlin likes action films while Amber is into rom-com movies. So, they decided to meet halfway. “Thank you for today. It was really nice. I hope you had fun.” Devlin said while she was at the door to the condo unit. She only smiled at him. “No, thanks to you. I had a great time.” “Hmmm… do you want a cup of coffee?” She said after a few moments. “Sure, that would be great!” Devlin replied without hesitation. He followed Amber inside while she put her purse on the center table in the living room. She went to the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. Devlin followed her to the kitchen as well. “How do you like your coffee? Do you want it with milk?” Amber asked while she was preparing. “Black coffee is good.” He was looking at what Amber was doing which made her slightly nervous. She does not want to screw up things in front of him. Good thing that Devlin st
“Smile…we’ve just started.” Devlin told her and to her surprise, held her hand tightly. Together, they went to their assigned table. Immediately, the cameras were flashing at them until they reached their table. Amber tried to whisper to Devlin to loosen her grip on her hand but he just held it more tightly.. She could not do anything to avoid the attention. Instead, she put her head down at least to hide herself from those cameras. The attention she got tonight is making her anxious. She does not understand everything that Devlin did. “What was that? Why did you tell them that I am your date? I don’t understand what you are doing.” Came her questions in a low voice. What Devlin did just made her the center of attention from those reporters. “Just relax. Stay with me all the time and you will be just fine. They will not bother you.” Devlin is known to date a lot of women but he never answered any questions from the reporters regarding those women he dated. It is actually those women
It’s a sunny Saturday morning. For the first time, Amber decided to go out of the condo to do some jogging. She does not need to inform Jackson of her whereabouts anyway. Devlin already told her that she can get out whenever she wants to. She feels great to smell the fresh morning dew. She is now at a park, just jogging around. She checks her wristwatch and it is forty minutes past 5 am. She has been jogging for almost half an hour now. She decided to take a break at the nearest bench she could find. The place is almost empty at this time. She has the luxury to enjoy the view of the park all by herself. Her mind wanders as to what happened last night. She thought of Devlin and Raven. Based on what she understood from last night’s conversations from the guests, she assumed that Raven is in a relationship with someone else. She realized the reason why Devlin has that sad look on his face every time he looks at Raven. Amber has never been in a relationship but she is not that naive