Book 1: Chapter 2
I had been so focused on my studies and my reputation in the legal circles I was in that it was a shock to me when Matthew Davenport walked into
my office a month after I became a Junior Partner.
“Look at you, Amelia,” he smiled, sitting in the chair across from me.
“Matthew!” I exclaimed. “Hi! Please don’t think me rude, but I have a new client in a couple of minutes. I don’t want to push you out, because it really is great to see you, but I have to meet with this client.”
“Have you not seen who your client is?” He asked, which was an odd question.
haven’t. All my calendar says is “D–consultation,” I said.
Matthew grinned at me.
“D,” he said. “Davenport. And I did come for a consultation.”
1 frowned at him.
“You? You’re my new client?” I was confused. “Don’t you have your own legal team?”
“I do. I’m here on… more of a personal matter,” he said.
I sighed.
“Matthew, I specialize in business law, not personal law, not family law,” I said. “I’m sorry if you’ve wasted your time.”
“I know what law you practice, Amelia. I’ve been following your career,” he grinned. “You’ve done well for yourself.”
“Thank you,” I said. “But now I’m confused. I have you down for a consultation but you have a legal department already. Why are you coming here for
my services?”
“I haven’t. Not exactly,” he said cryptically. “I was hoping to take you to lunch. That’s why I booked the 11 am slot. Your assistant said you usually take
your lunch around noon. This way I get two hours of your time.”
“You made a consultation appointment, knowing my fees, to have a lunch partner?” I asked.
“I’d like to think of it more as a date, but yes,” Matthew smiled.
I surveyed him as I sat across from him. There was nothing to indicate he was anything but sincere. I glanced at his left hand and saw no ring. What
the heck? Lunch with an old classmate? Why not?
“Alright. But I do have to be back by one. I have a deposition,” I said.
That lunch date turned into an invite for dinner, which turned into a weekend away with Matthew, and by then, we were an official couple.
I brought Matthew home to meet my mother and my siblings. Mom was all over him the minute we walked in. If she’d been 20 years younger, I’m sure she would have tried to steal him from me. My sister also thought he was ‘gorgeous.
My brother wasn’t as impressed, but he was pleasant enough. My brother thought he had to take on the “dad” role and make sure the guys I dated were up to his standards. I never listened to him really. But it was sweet.
Matthew and I dated for a year before he proposed to me, in Paris, under the Eiffel Tower. I know, cliche. But it was sweet and romantic, and of
course, I said yes.
We were married a year later. His parents seemed less than thrilled when they met me. We had gone to their home for dinner, parents and announce our engagement.
So co,
his
Matthew talked me up, though, telling them how I’d worked my way through college and was the youngest Junior Partner ever at Hoffman, Givens
and Pratt.
“But who are her family?” His mother asked, looking at me over her glass of wine. “Are they anyone we know?”
“Mom, don’t be so old fashioned,” Matthew said. “Amelia has worked really hard to get where she is and help her mom support her brother and
sister.”
“Her single mother?” Mrs. Davenport asked, her voice thick with judgment.
“My dad left when I was young,” I explained. “My mom worked hard to make sure we didn’t have to struggle much. I went to college and law school on scholarships.”
“So, on charity,” Mrs. Davenport spat.
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“Mother!” Matthew said. “Scholarships are not charity! Amelia had amazing grades and academic scholarships. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have passed my business law class.
་ ་ ་ མ ་ཚ ་བ ་ན་ ན་
Matthew’s father barely acknowledged my presence and spent the whole evening reading a financial paper. I don’t really think he was reading it because I don’t recall him actually turning any pages.
Dinner was uncomfortable and quiet. Matthew’s father asked exactly two questions. And neither of them was directed at me. Both were business questions for Matthew.
“My parents are stuffed shirts and very old school. If they’d had their way, they’d have me marrying their friend’s daughter, Seline. We grew up together, and our moms would always talk about how one day we’d be married and join our families and blah blah,” he said, as we left his parents‘ house, and I could no longer hide my embarrassment and shame.
His parents had made me feel so small and unaccomplished. But I had worked hard for what I had achieved. If his parents couldn’t see it, that said more about them than me, right?
Matthew tried to make me feel better, but I wanted to be accepted by his parents, too. I didn’t want a problematic relationship with my in–laws. I was close with my mom and hoped to forge a relationship with Matthew’s parents, too. But that
emed less likely with just that first meeting. I knew I would have my work cut out for me trying to ingratiate myself with Matthew’s parents.
Matthew and I had both determined that we would cover our wedding costs together. That way, my mom didn’t have to feel like she couldn’t provide a wedding for her daughter, and Matthew agreed that his parents would hold that over my mother’s head, and therefore mine.
I was buried in wedding planning when I first met Seline, Matthew’s family friend. She seemed alright. Our wedding was six months away, and Seline suddenly reappeared. According to Matthew, she had been studying abroad. We were at Matthew’s parents‘ house for dinner when she just walked in.
tinews parents
“Seline!” Matthew said as she came into the parlour where we were having drinks. Shocked, Matthew stood up and went over to her, giving her a hug and an air kiss on her cheek.
“Hi Matty,” she smiled. “It’s been a while.”
“It has,” he agreed, retaking his seat beside me. “I thought you were in England.”
“I was,” she said, accepting a drink from my smiling soon–to–be mother–in–law. “But I thought I might try for an opportunity here, in the States.”
She didn’t take her eyes off Matthew the entire time she spoke. She didn’t even glance over at me.
“Seline, this is my fiancée, Amelia,” he introduced me.
“Pleasure,” she said dismissively and barely glancing over at me.
“Nice to meet you, too,” I said, extending my hand. She looked at it as though I had placed it into a mud puddle first. I retracted my handshake.
“Fiancée, hmm?” Seline said. “Remember when we were kids and our moms would talk about us getting married and joining our two families?
Matthew took a sip of his drink and didn’t reply.
“Seline is a top–notch jewelry designer in London,” Mrs. Davenport said. “She’s won several awards for her designs and has pieces in all the big retailers. Some of her pieces are so exclusive, you have to set up an appointment just to see them.”
“What is it you do, Amber?” Seline said to me.
“It’s Amelia,” I said. “I’m a Junior Partner at Hoffman, Givens and Pratt.”
“Well, that’s nothing to squawk at. How did you get such a position at your age? You’re still pretty young, right? I’m guessing you’re about mine and Matthew’s age. And you’re pretty.”
A deaf person would have heard what she was implying. I choked on my wine.
“Seline!” Matthew said, a warning tone beneath h his words.
“What? I’m just stating the obvious. Your fiancée is pretty,” Seline said, feigning innocence. “And made Junior Partner so young.”
“I don’t like what you’re implying, Matthew growled.
“Implying? I’m not implying anything. I’m sure Amy is good at her job.”
“Amelia,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Amy, Amelia. It’s not that different,” Seline said in an offhanded way. I could feel my blood boiling.
“Now now, Amelia,” Mrs. Davenport said in a sweet tone that put my teeth on edge. “Seline didn’t mean anything by it. She’s never been very good with names.”
O
Even I could hear the ‘of people who don’t matter‘ that was left unspoken. I sighed internally. She’s just trying to rile me up, I thought to myself. It’s a test. Don’t rise to the bait.
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Book 1: Chapter 2
“So,” Seline said, sitting back on the sofa she’d claimed. “Where did you two all meet, anyway?”
“We met in college, Seline, Matthew said. “We had a few classes together and Amelia was my tutor in my law class. If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have passed that class at all.”
“Brains and beauty,” she said cooly. “I guess we do know how you made Junior Partner so quickly.”
I felt Matthew’s hand tighten around mine. I looked at him, and he winked at me as if to say that he knew it was his mother testing us, me more than him, and not to rise to the bait.
“Shall we move to the dining room?” Mrs. Davenport said. “Seline, of course you’re joining us for dinner.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Dinners at the Davenports are part of my core memories,” she smiled at Mrs Davenport.
In the dining room, Seline made a show of sitting on Matthew’s other side as he guided me to a seat. He pulled out my chair, and Seline cleared her
throat as I sat.
“Be a gentleman, Matthew,” Mrs. Davenport said. “Pull out the chair for Seline, too.”
Matthew glanced at me and gave me a secret eye roll. But he moved over to Seline’s chair and pulled it out for her.
She touched his arm as she sat.
“Thank you, Matthew. Always the gentleman, aren’t you?” she smiled. “Just like when we were kids, and you would always make sure my chair was pulled out.”
Just breathe, Amelia, I thought to myself.
Somehow, we made it through that dinner without one of us losing it.
“I’m so sorry, Amelia, Matthew said as we drove home from his parents‘. “I had no idea Seline was back in the country, let alone that my mother invited her for dinner.”
“You know she did that on purpose, right? You realize she doesn’t like me and she wants to break us up,” I said.
“Don’t be jealous,” Matthew said, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. “Seline and I grew up together. It’s not strange that if she’s back in the country, my parents would invite her over for dinner, and it wouldn’t make sense to invite her alone. Mom only invited her because we’d be there, and we’re all the same age. Don’t overthink it. Seline and I are childhood friends, and that’s it.”
Matthew may believe that, but it was painfully obvious that his mother didn’t.
Seline showed up multiple times when we were at Matthew’s parents‘ place. His mother always made a point of mentioning Seline whenever we visited. Despite his protestations, Mrs. Davenport never stopped talking about Seline.
I knew more about Seline than I did about my mother–in–law–to–be.
And every time we left, though I felt increasingly unsettled about each interaction, Matthew stated there was nothing between him and Seline.
“But don’t you see your mother trying to push her between us? That she’s hoping you’ll choose her over me?” I asked.
“She might be trying, but I’m not listening,” he smiled at me. “I proposed to you, Amelia. I want to marry you. My mom could bring Seline into our bedroom stark naked and I still would only have eyes for you.”
How I wished I could believe that.
Despite her attempted sabotage of our relationship, the wedding went on. Mrs. Davenport played her role of proud mother of the groom well. She was engaging and pleasant on our wedding day, and friendly to me if she had to be in my presence around the other guests. But in private, she was cold, calculating, and constantly comparing me to Seline.
Seline’s dress would have looked nicer. Seline would have chosen different flowers and colour themes. Seline wouldn’t have chosen this food or that food. It’s all I heard the entire time the wedding was being planned and every time she had a chance to make a dig at me at the wedding.
Matthew stayed by my side throughout the whole reception, and squeezed my hand encouragingly as we met with colleagues of his father’s, friends of Matthew’s family, and Matthew’s personal friends. In comparison, my side was so much smaller. A handful of relatives, my mom, and siblings. We didn’t even bother sending my father an invitation, and I was walked down the aisle by my brother.
I was, of course, unsurprised that Seline was invited to the wedding. Her parents were invited, and of course, they’d invite the whole family. Matthew did say they had been friends throughout childhood, so I shouldn’t have been surprised to see her in the receiving line. But that didn’t mean I had to like it. I reminded myself to stay pleasant. To let everything go and just be welcoming.
“Congratulations, Matthew,” she said as she came up to us. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close to her. “I hope you’ll be very happy with Aurora.”
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Book 1: Chapter 2
I frowned.
“Amelia and I will be very happy, Matthew said, dismissively. “Thank you.”
Seline then turned to me and plastered on the widest, fakest smile I had ever seen.
“Bold choice of colours,” Seline said to me. “Not many people can get away with teal and purple. But then, most people wouldn’t try.”
“Seline,” Matthew said, his tone full of warning.
“What?” she asked innocently. “I said it was a bold choice that most people wouldn’t think of.”
“Keep your comments to yourself,” Matthew said through his teeth.
“You’re overthinking, Matthew. I’m sure Amanda and I will be the best of friends,” she smiled, pulling me into a hug.
“Don’t think you can compete, street rat,” she whispered to me. “I’ve known Matthew a long time, and he deserves way better than you.”
I had nothing to say to that. I just stared at her smirking face as she pulled away from me.
“No thank you?” she asked me as I tried to proces’s what had just happened. “I wish you and your groom well, and you don’t even say thank you?”
“Sorry,” I said, as though I’d been momentarily distracted. “Uh, thank you for your words.”
Matthew frowned as he looked between us.
I waved it off as nothing of consequence and returned to greeting our guests and enjoying the night.
After the wedding and the reception, Matthew and I left on our honeymoon. A month travelling through Europe, staying on the Amalfi Coast, touring Italy, France, England and Switzerland, and then returning to our own home.
We got back into the swing of things, with me back at the law firm where I was quickly gaining a reputation that was pushing me closer to a full partnership and Matthew taking over many of the duties his father was responsible for at the Davenport Group. His father was planning on an early
retirement now that Matthew was settled, married and ready to take over.
Matthew’s mother’s attitude did not change one iota. In fact, she seemed to ramp up her game of getting Seline between Matthew and me.
She appeared everywhere. If Matthew’s mother wanted something from Matthew, she sent Seline to our house to retrieve it. And Seline made a point of making every visit to our home as uncomfortable for me as possible. She would look around at the decor and comment off–hand about colours, style,
or function. It didn’t matter if Matthew had chosen the item she commented about; she made sure to make every encounter uncomfortable.
I just about lost my mind when I came home from work one evening after a tense meeting with some shareholders from the company I was representing, to find Seline cozied up on my sofa.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her as I put my briefcase down and hung up my coat. I tried to make it sound as though I were pleasantly surprised, but even Seline knew I was not happy to see her.
“Oh, Rachel gave me a key. She asked me to pick something up for her, and so I came to look for it. I couldn’t find it, so I figured I’d wait for Matthew to get home and see if he could help me locate it,” She said.
“What in the world could she need from our house that you had the audacity to come and let yourself in knowing neither of us would be home?”
“You don’t need to worry about it. It’s just something the Davenports asked me to retrieve,” she said, not moving from her seat on my sofa.
“Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to let yourself into someone else’s home when you haven’t been invited?”
“Amelia, darling, Matthew and I are practically brother and sister. You wouldn’t be upset if your sister in law let herself into your house, would you? It’s not like you have a lot of things people would want to steal anyway,” she said, looking distastefully at her surroundings.
“Yes, I would be upset if Matthew had a sister and she just came into our house while neither of us was here. This is out of line, Seline. Even you must
realize that,” I said, fuming.
“Please, Amelia. You have nothing to worry about. Once Matthew gets home and is able to find what I was looking for, I’ll be out of your hair,” Seline
said with false sweetness.
I went into the kitchen without another word to Seline. I had hoped she would stay in the living room, sitting on my sofa like a diva. But no. She
decided she would follow me into the kitchen.
“Can I help you with something else, Seline?” I asked as I put water in the kettle and began to boil it. I always ended my work day with tea once I got home. And I didn’t trust Seline any further than I could throw her, so there was no way I was going upstairs to change and leave her alone for another
minute.
“No, I just thought we could talk. You know, girl to girl,” she smiled. The smile not only didn’t reach her eyes, but also looked more menacing than friendly.
“I’m not sure that there’s much we have to say to one another,” I said, pouring hot water into my mug.
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Book 1: Chapter 2
“Now, now, Amelia,” she started.
“So now you remember my name?” I said, leaning against the counter away from Seline, who was standing at the kitchen island.
“Don’t be so sensitive. I’m not good with names at the best of times,” she waved me off. “Aren’t you going to offer me a cup of tea?”
“No,” I said simply. “I hadn’t planned on it. You let yourself into our home uninvited and you still expect me to be a hostess? Sorry, Seline, but I don’t cater to people who don’t know their boundaries.”
Just then, I heard the front door open and Matthew’s joyful, but tired–sounding, voice filtered through to the kitchen.
“Amelia? Honey?”
Seline grabbed my mug from my hand and threw it to the ground, breaking it and splashing herself with hot water.
“Amelia!” she shrieked. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude! But you didn’t have to throw your tea at me!”
I stood against the counter, still stunned by what had just happened, my hands still wrapped around the now non–existent mug.
Matthew came running into the kitchen.
“Seline! Amelia! What happened?”
“Matthew!” Seline sobbed. “Your mom asked me to come get something, but I couldn’t find it. She gave me a key, and told me you wouldn’t mind. But Amelia apparently did, because she threw her hot tea at me!”
- up.
I looked at her and then at Matthew. I could not believe the audacity of this woman.
“Amelia?” Matthew looked at me. “Why would you throw hot tea on Seline?”
“Seriously Matthew?” I looked at him. “You honestly believe that I would make myself a cup of tea and then throw it on Seline’s feet?”
“I don’t know, but she’s the one with hot water on her skin and burns, and you’re just standing there!”
Matthew grabbed Seline, picked her up and left the kitchen.
“I’m taking her to get her burns checked. We’ll talk when I get home,” Matthew frowned at me. I glared back at him.
The two of them left, leaving me to clean up Seline’s attempt at sabotage. I sighed as I wiped up the tea and cleaned the broken mug.
Since Matthew would be gone for a while, I just heated some leftovers from the night before and went upstairs to change after I’d eaten and cleaned
I got everything ready for the morning, went into our bedroom, and slept.
I heard Matthew come home sometime in the late hours and felt the bed shift as he lay down. I kept my back to him and my eyes closed, hoping he’d think I was asleep.
“Amelia?” He said quietly. I didn’t move. I kept my breathing even. He sighed and turned over. Whatever he had to say, he could wait until morning.
