You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

Oscar suddenly stood up. Apprehensively, Amelia asked, “Mr. Clinton, are you leaving?”

Oscar walked over. He leaned over Amelia, almost pinning her onto the bed. The tips of their noses brushed against each other.

Enthralled, Amelia had no way of reining in her wildly beating heart. Her eyes darted from side to side, desperately avoiding Oscar’s intent gaze.

“What do you feel like eating? I’ll go and get it,” he said.

That was the last thing Amelia had expected to hear from Oscar at that moment.

“Now that you’re having a baby, you should eat a little more than usual. Tell me what you’re craving; I’ll buy it for you.” Oscar’s cool tone belied his apparent discomfort.

Amelia couldn’t believe her ears. This was Oscar’s first time showing concern for her baby.

“Mr. Clinton, are you actually concerned about me?” Amelia asked in disbelief.

“Enough of that. Tell me, quickly, what you want to eat,” Oscar insisted.

Amelia found the situation hilarious. Oscar seemed a lot more human now in comparison to the guarded, defensive man he usually was.

“Since you’ve offered, I can’t possibly say no. All right then. On account of Mr. Clinton’s generosity, I’d like to order a pasta arrabbiata, stewed beef, and mango sorbet to top it all off… I’m spoilt for choice! How can I decide?” Amelia asked in exaggerated despair.

Seeing that Oscar had let her off the hook for the matter with the photographs, the sudden feeling of liberation dared Amelia to joke with Oscar, something she seldom did.

Oscar only glared at her. “Amelia, don’t go overboard.”

“Don’t be so petty, Mr. Clinton. Can’t you even bear to buy these for me?” Amelia wheedled, pouting.

Oscar realized that he rather liked seeing this feminine side of Amelia.

“Wait and see; I’ll buy it all for you. Anything else?” he queried.

“I want you. Can I have that?” Amelia asked playfully.

Oscar’s face once again assumed a sober look. “You’re only allowed to say such things to me in the future. I forbid you from flirting with any other man like that.”

Flirting?

Amelia thought she had merely been casually teasing Oscar. She was rather distressed that it had been seen as flirtatious. It seemed that everyone perceived things rather differently indeed.

“Since you object, Mr. Clinton, I won’t say things like that anymore,” Amelia said, sulking.

his teeth

wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy tone,

on. I’ll go and buy it for you now,” Oscar replied as

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped

asked, “What

to the hospital. Can I borrow yours to play with?”

then handed his phone to Amelia. “The

Amelia looked at him. She refused to believe

a couple of games inside. You can take a look

for me, then why did you use my birthdate as your password? Don’t you know what kind of hope that raises in me? What if I can’t

the other, Amelia was afraid that they eventually would, and Oscar would take her

to depend on you

was sleeping. In a few, a single blanket covered her bare body; in others, she had fallen asleep fully clothed. The photos of Amelia numbered more than a thousand in sheer variety. It was completely unlike the Oscar she knew to have so many photos

some from behind her as she walked ahead. Amelia could barely even recall when these moments had taken place, let alone presented any opportunities in which

She’d always believed that Oscar liked her solely for her body. If he

had no affection whatsoever for her would not

ten photos of Cassie. Besides a few snapshots of scenery scattered here and there, the rest of Oscar’s photo album was

incredibly perturbed. As she weighed Oscar’s phone in her hand, she mumbled, “Oscar, all the photos you have are of

then, an incoming call jolted Amelia out of her brief

flashed across the screen. Upon seeing it, Amelia’s

the baby’s very healthy.” A note of betrayal crept into her voice. “You promised that you’d come with me, but you’re always so occupied with

fury that it almost drew blood. With what strength she could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s Amelia. Oz, as you call him, has gone out to buy food for me. I’m afraid he

moment. Then she retorted, “Why

buy food for me,”

After your blatant cheating affair at your company, which was even documented in a few photographs, how can you be so shameless as to

she asked, “How did you know

about it? Of course, Oz was the one who told me. Oz said you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s

I don’t think it’s your place to comment on the kind of woman I am. Even if I’m cheating on

I’ll be Oz’s wife soon. No matter

now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of.

this morning? He said that you were filthy and made him sick, and

Yard, if you have nothing

reply,

returned with a few bags full of food, Amelia was facing away from the door with the blanket over her. He

his bags and pulled a

then asked, “Mr. Clinton, have you