You More Than Anything In The World

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 in

her belly and opened her eyes wide, beseeching Oscar in a cutesy tone, “Mr. Clinton, I’m

go and buy it for you now,” Oscar replied as he headed towards

Clinton,” Amelia’s cry stopped

around, he asked, “What

to the hospital. Can I borrow

his phone to Amelia.

looked at him. She refused to believe that that was his

cleared his throat awkwardly, then said, “There are a couple of games inside. You can take a look if you’re bored. I’ll be off, then.” He turned quickly on his

She muttered to herself, “Oscar, if you truly didn’t care 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 bear to let you go

didn’t want to get a divorce. On the other, Amelia was afraid that they eventually would, and Oscar would take

think I’ve really fallen for you. If I could, I would want to depend on you for the rest of my life. I want a real relationship with you,

it contained many photos of her, most of them taken when she was sleeping. In a few, a single

even recall when these

solely for her body. If he had absolutely no other feelings

anything she had that a man who had no affection whatsoever for her would not possess so many photos of her. It was like a

a few snapshots of scenery scattered here and there, the rest of Oscar’s photo album was practically a

of me. Doesn’t that mean that you don’t hate me

then, an incoming call jolted Amelia out of her

Upon seeing it,

up. Cassie’s excited chatter floated across the line. “Oz, I went for a check-up with your secretary today. The doctor said that 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 work! I said that I’d be a model wife so I won’t blame you

With what strength she could muster, Amelia said evenly, “Sorry, Ms. Yard, it’s Amelia. Oz,

she retorted, “Why are you

to buy food for

cheating affair at your company, which was even documented in a few

she asked, “How did you know about

was the one who told me. Oz said you are, by far, the most filthy and disgusting woman he’s met. It’s not

I

wife soon. No matter what, you’re the one who’ll eventually be the

“So what? At least I’m still Oscar’s wife now. You’re the mistress he’s ashamed of. When word gets out, I don’t think the Yards will be too

yourself either, Amelia. Do you know what Oscar told me this morning? He said that you were filthy and made him sick, and

have nothing else to say to me, I’ll

a reply, Amelia immediately

of food, Amelia was facing away from the door with the

bags, Oscar approached Amelia only to be greeted by her tear-stained face. Taken aback, Oscar hurriedly set down his bags and

up, brushing aside Oscar’s gesture of intimacy. She then asked, “Mr.