Chapter 12 I Don't Think I've Ever Kissed You

"Buying and selling are both dirty business," Amelia sneered. "You guys are all big shots, right? Shouldn't you know how to respect other people's jobs? Or are you just all flash and no substance?"

Leila chimed in, "Miss Tudor, you're overreacting. Ace was just kidding around. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

Leila gave a faint smile, trying to look all high and mighty.

Ace crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and looked like he owned the place.

Leila, acting like she was in charge, said softly, "Amelia, just apologize to Ace, and we can move on. Chris is here too; you don't want to upset him, do you?"

But Amelia just stared at her, calm but with a fire in her eyes.

Chris suddenly burst out with a sneer, which made everyone else go quiet.

The atmosphere in the room was extremely weird. And Leila looked pretty embarrassed.

Leila's face fell, and she glanced at Chris, hoping he'd step in.

But Chris just sat there, swirling his drink, like he hadn't sneered at all. He was just watching, not getting involved.

Leila's face darkened. What was Chris playing at? Was he actually into that bitch Amelia? Amelia's sharp gaze was still locked on Leila, making her squirm.

"Are we gonna play or not?" Chris's deep voice cut through the tension.

He looked up, giving Amelia a cold, dismissive glance.

Leila relaxed a bit. At least Chris still seemed to hate Amelia.

"A waitress with an attitude? Get over yourself. Play the piano, or you won't be leaving here. I'll report you and get you fired," Ace scolded, pointing right at Amelia.

Amelia clenched her fists, glanced at Chris, who was just letting them mock her, and her eyes dimmed. She walked over to the piano and sat down.

Sapphire Music Restaurant had a set playlist to match the vibe, so Amelia started playing a piece called "Starry Sky."

With her back to the crowd, the music flowed, pure and sweet, like it was taking everyone under a vast, starry sky, creating a magical, romantic scene.

At first, everyone thought it was a joke. No one had seen Amelia play in years, and they figured she could only manage something basic like "Ode to Joy." They were ready to laugh at her.

But her playing was beautiful, surprising everyone.

Her neck was long and elegant, her dress showing off her graceful back, and her fingers danced over the keys like they were part of the music.

Leila and Ace were the most shocked, staring at Amelia's back viciously.

When the piece ended, the room was oddly silent; no one clapped.

Amelia stood up and bowed, following the rules.

"Get out," Chris suddenly commanded, his voice cutting through the tension.

"Did you hear that? Mr. Spencer told you to get lost. Your playing sucks," Ace barked, his tone grating and obnoxious.

Amelia felt a wave of relief and started to leave.

Leila, secretly pleased, threw a concerned look at Chris. "Chris, Miss Tudor is still an employee here. If she gets kicked out like this, she might get punished. Maybe we should..."

One was making things hard for her, the other pretending to care. What a perfect pair! Amelia thought, but she didn't care.

Just as she reached the door, Chris's cold voice stopped her, "Hold on! Did I say you could leave?"

Amelia froze.

Everyone else looked confused, especially Leila, who was taken aback.

If Chris didn't want Amelia to leave, did that mean he wanted them to go?

Ace looked at Chris, puzzled, but Chris's icy glare shut him up.

Two people stood up first and quickly walked out, followed by the others, not wanting to risk Chris's wrath by lingering.

Leila stayed behind, "Chris, let Miss Tudor go. She's just doing her job out of necessity."

"Get out," Chris ordered, not even glancing at her.

Leila was stunned, her eyes filled with reluctance. "Chris, you can't..."

"How many times do you need me to repeat?" Chris's patience was wearing thin.

Leila's eyes reddened, but she stood up obeidently. As she passed Amelia, her gaze turned sharp.

"Any other orders, Mr. Spencer?" Amelia forced a smile.

Chris looked at her with a cold, unyielding stare, making her heart race and her palms sweat.

Then he looked away, a cold smile on his lips. He sneered, "You just divorced me and you're already out here trying to seduce men? Are you that horny; you can't go a day without a man?"

Amelia's face went pale, but she said nothing.

Today she was a waitress; he was a customer. She couldn't afford to offend him.

Her silence only made him angrier. Chris asked, "Cat got your tongue?"

Amelia kept her head down, staring at her high heels.

These shoes were picked by the stylist at the last minute. They fit, but the heels were thin and high, making it hard for her to stand steadily.

"Speak!" Chris suddenly exploded, taking three steps forward and grabbing her shoulder, pulling her back.

Amelia's whole body lurched forward with the unexpected force, nearly causing her to fall to the ground. She quickly grabbed the piano keys, making a discordant sound, like her chaotic heartbeat.

"What exactly do you want?" She shook him off, gritting her teeth. "Bringing them here to mock me; is that fun for you?"

She had never lost her temper in front of him like this before, feeling cornered. It wasn't very aggressive, even a bit ridiculous, but it was also somewhat refreshing. Suddenly, the inexplicable anger in his heart dissipated.

Chris arched an eyebrow, his gaze inscrutable as he looked into her eyes. "It was dull before, but now it intrigues me."

Suddenly, an impulse stirred within him as he gazed into her clear eyes.

Chris narrowed his eyes, hooking her neck. "I don't think I've ever kissed you before."