CHAPTER 23: “Fragments”

Adrian’s POV

The doctor adjusted his glasses as he examined Amber once more. A small flashlight moved across her eyes before he finally stepped back.

“Her vitals are stable.”

I sighed out in relief as I strode towards her side.

“But…”

I stopped in my tracks and turned towards him

“The headache she experienced wasn’t unusual.”

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

He closed his notebook.“When patients with selective retrograde amnesia encounter something emotionally familiar, their brains sometimes try to reconnect those memories.”

“So, are you saying she remembered something?”

“Perhaps, it could’ve been a memory or it could’ve been a feeling.”

I rubbed my temple in frustration “And if it happens again?”

He looked directly at me.“I know you want her memories back as soon as possible, Mr. Volkov, but recovering too much too quickly can overwhelm the brain.”

“So what do I do?”

“Nothing, don’t force it.” He smiled faintly.

After the doctor left, I remained standing outside Amber’s room for several minutes. Maybe trying to make her remember was selfish. Maybe I wanted the old Amber back because I couldn’t imagine living without her but if remembering me meant watching her collapse over and over again then perhaps forgetting me was the kinder choice.

I shut my eyes in defeat.

A soft voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Sir?”

I looked up and Amber was awake. She looked much better than she had earlier.

“You okay?”

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

She studied me for a moment. “You looked sad.”

I bent my head as if that would help me understand what she said. “Did I?”

She nodded slowly, “I had this weird dream. In it, you were really sad and it looked like I was the reason you were sad.”

Before I could say anything, she laughed awkwardly.

“Forget it, It was probably just a dream.” She said as she scratched the back of her neck.

“I mean, why would my boss be sad over me?”

“Hmm.”

She tilted her head, “You really are boring.” She said as she walked past me to stand by the window.

I watched her for a second longer before quietly leaving the room.

****

The study had become my hiding place.

Stacks of unfinished documents sat untouched on my desk.

For the first time in years, work wasn’t enough to distract me. The doctor’s words echoed inside my head, help her create new memories. How was I supposed to make someone fall in love with me ?

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in.”

Amber peeked inside, “There you are.”

I raised an eyebrow.“Were you looking for me?”

She nodded.“I’ve been looking everywhere.”

“What for?”

She walked in with her hands behind her back, “You’ve been sulking all day.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“You are.”

“I’m not, I’m just trying to work.”

“No, you’re sulking while pretending to work.”

“What do you want?” I said as I surrendered to defeat.

“You are always serious and never smiling.”

“I disagree.”

“You don’t speak to me or try to engage in conversations and you are making here look like hell even when I know it’s paradise.”

“You’re impossible, what do you want me to say?”

“You don’t need to have anything to say before you converse with someone staying with you in the same house.” She said as she looked around the study.

“So, tell me what do people like you do for fun?”

“I work.”

She groaned dramatically, “See? Boring and I refuse to believe that’s your entire personality.”

I folded my arms. Ok, so what do you suggest we do?”

“Now you are talking.” She looked around before

spotting the chessboard resting on the shelf.

Her eyes brightened like a kid who was just given a piece of candy.

“Chess.”

“You play chess? How didn’t I know that?”

“I do.”

“Oh, that’s great.”

She grinned as she hopped back to the sitting room, “Prepare to lose.”

Twenty minutes later…

She stared at the chessboard in complete disbelief.

“No.”

I leaned back, “It’s over, I won fair and square.”

She looked at the board in disbelief while checking to see if there was a mistake.

“There has to be another move.”

“Well, too bad there isn’t.”

She looked up at me.“You cheated.”

“You know that I didn’t.”

“You definitely did and wipe off that smirk on your face.”

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning, “You lost, just accept defeat and be a good sportsman.”

She folded her arms.“You’re not a gentleman.”

“And why is that?”

“A real gentleman lets the lady win.”

“Forgive me my lady, I didn’t know we had such rules.

“Well, now you know.” She said as she stood up dramatically.

“I’m leaving.”

“You can’t leave because you lost.”

“Watch me.”

She took one step and foot caught the edge of the rug.

“Amber…”

She stumbled forward and before either of us could react she landed against me. One hand braced against my chest and the other rested on my shoulder. Our faces were only inches apart, neither of us moved, I could feel her breathing.

She looked up and those eyes, the same eyes I’d fallen in love with. I told myself to move and I tried to let go but instead my hand found her waist.

Slowly, I leaned in and our lips met. It was a soft and careful kiss but somehow it depicted just how much I had yearned for her in the last few days.

Jerking back to reality, I tried pulling away but then she kissed me back. My heart stopped, she moved closer while her fingers curled around my shirt.

And then, it started looking like everything was back in place but I guess I rejoiced too soon as she pulled away sooner than I wanted.

“I’m sorry.” I said as I stepped back, I shouldn’t have…”

Without saying another word, she turned and ran upstairs and then I heard the bedroom door slam shut.

Amber’s POV

I leaned against the bedroom door, my hand pressed against my racing heart.

What was wrong with me? I asked myself as I touched my lips, they still felt warm. I should’ve been angry, right? I mean, he’s my boss and he kissed me without warning.

A normal person would push him away and yell for an explanation but instead I wanted to know why it had felt so familiar.

It didn’t feel like it was our first kiss and somehow It felt like something I’d been missing and wanted to do.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I palm slapped my face. His face, his voice and the way he’d looked at me, none of it felt new.

“Ugh…”

I buried my face in the pillow. “This is so confusing.”

I didn’t know how much time had passed as I stayed in bed thinking about the kiss all through the day until I heard a knock on my door.

“Amber?”

I stayed silent.

“I know you’re awake. Look, I’m sorry. I got carried away and I know it’s not an excuse but I’m sorry.”

I stared at the door.

“I won’t do it again. But, I also don’t want you locking yourself in here. I don’t mind if you never speak to me.”

I could notice the shift in his voice, they somehow softened like when you were talking to a loved one.

“…just come downstairs and eat something.”

I opened the door slowly and met Adrian standing there, looking exhausted.

For a long moment neither of us spoke as we just continued staring at each other.

Then my stomach growled loud, cutting us away from our staring contest.

He looked away, trying to hide his smile.

“Come on.”He turned, “I made dinner.” He said as he led me towards the dining.

The dining room smelled amazing. I sat quietly while Adrian walked into the kitchen to dish out the food.

When he returned, he didn’t simply place the food on the table. He pulled out my chair first then he served my plate before his own. He quietly pushed the glass of water closer to me. It was such a small gesture yet something about it made it sweet and also familiar.

I tried picking up my fork to eat then my fingers froze. Images flashed across my mind and it was Adrian serving breakfast and me stealing food from his plate.

His hand wiping sauce from the corner of my lips, his voice saying…“Eat first before arguing.”

And another flash.

His jacket around my shoulders.

Another flash of the both of us playing the piano together and yet another flash of everything, the one night stand, the interview, the charity gala. And then the contract, the kiss, the kidnapping, the chapel, the wedding.

Everything, every memory crashed into me at once. My breathing became uneven as tears blurred my vision before I even realized I was crying.

“Amber?”

I looked up, Adrian was already beside me. I could see his face filled with panic.

“What happened? Are you hurting?”

He reached for me and without wasting a second I threw my arms around him as my body trembled against his.

The words escaped from my mouth before I could stop them.

“I’m sorry…”

My voice broke and the dam was finally loose.

“I’m so sorry, Adrian.”