Chapter 43 Forty - three

Chapter 43 Forty - three
LORENZO

"My goodness, I should have known, I should have known, I should have known," Alec repeats like an idiot as he strides into my office.

My eyes travel to him sharply, but I ignore him when he closes the door behind him and approaches my corner.

I already know what he's talking about when he keeps spewing 'I should have known' like an idiot child who couldn't solve a piece of a puzzle in time.

Finding Liora in front of my office after I unjustly fired Anita yesterday must surely come as a surprise to him, if not a complete shock.

While I want to grin in his face about it, I refrain, simply not in the mood for any form of amusement.

Alec halts in front of my desk, staring down at me with utter bewilderment. "When you told me you already had a replacement ready after Anita left, I should have connected the dots then because you've never been the one in charge of recruiting and employing new people. The CHRO is. Little wonder you were so relaxed about Anita leaving. Hell, you were the one who even ordered her to be fired," he releases a sharp sigh, shaking his head pathetically as he finally settles into the vacant plush chair in front of me. "I can't believe this. You've totally made an idiot of me, boss, congratulations."

I suppress the urge to chuckle as I finally spare him a glance, my fingers pausing on my keyboard.

Alec is quiet, appearing lost in thought, disbelief still written all over his face. It's been a while since I've seen him like this. Seen him so startled and dumbstruck. He's usually someone who is always three steps ahead, but I bet he never saw this coming.

Leaving him to his thoughts, a curve lifts my lips and I smirk smugly before my gaze flickers to the office outside mine. The glass door makes it easy for me to see what's happening on the other side.

Liora appears to be taking lessons from Alec's assistant, Clara Cross. The two are engaged in conversation, and Liora seems intent on paying attention to the instructions Clara is giving her.

While her gaze remains focused on Clara, mine lingers on her for a moment. My eyes slowly take in her appearance, from the way she styled her hair into a messy bun to how she's dressed in formal wear. I'm impressed that on her first day of work, she looks so good.

My eyes dip from her face to her shoulders, spotting the necklace I gifted her this morning, still secured around her pretty neck.

I briefly reminisce about her reaction when I was with her this morning. She had tensed when I touched her and had hardly believed it when I gifted her the jewelry.

When I got it from the store yesterday after Carmen's special recommendation, I wasn't sure Liora would love it, but seeing the smile on her face after I gave it to her is everything fulfilling to a man like me.

I don't think I've ever made her happy the way I did this morning. And something about her excited reaction has me already thinking of more special things I could do for her or get for her just to keep seeing that smile on her face.

Since we got married, I can count the few times I've seen Liora smile. She has the most beautiful smile I've ever seen, but she hardly ever smiles. I suspect her reason has everything to do with her reluctance to be around me.

Pain tugs at my heartstrings, and my smile subtly wears off when I recall that she still hates me. I don't think that's something that will ever change, but according to Carmen, I just have to keep trying until she lets me into her heart.

I'm not ready to let her go. No, scratch that, I'm never letting her go. She's mine, whether it's her deliberate choice or not. She can't leave me either.

So the best thing to do is try to make this marriage enjoyable for the two of us. I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

I think I'm already on the path there.

'Path, my ass. You literally forced her to have an ankle monitor on this morning,' a tiny voice reprimands me in my head.

I grunt inwardly, recalling that I truly did that. That alone gives away the fact that our marriage lacks mutual trust, which is the foundation of every real relationship. But Liora... I can't trust her, not yet. I mean, I did trust her once and she fucked me up. I can't let that mistake happen twice.

She's always on the verge of escaping at the slightest chance she gets, so while the preventive measures I took might look extreme, I just don't want to risk losing my wife. Hope that helps.

"Ugh, I need a drink!" Alec's grunt breaks me out of my thoughts.

Blinking once to clear my daze, I drag my eyes back to him as he stands and stalks over to the mini wine cellar in my office. He returns with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, placing them on the table.

As he pours himself a drink, he flashes a glance behind him once more to confirm he's not mistaken and that Liora is truly here.

"You could have just told me you were planning on bringing in your wife as Anita's replacement when I asked yesterday," he says begrudgingly as he pours whiskey into my glass, a scowl carved onto his face.

"And where is the fun in that, Alec?" I return tauntingly, chugging half the contents of the glass. "I thought you were due for a surprise."

Alec scoffs, places the wine bottle down before settling into his chair. "You're unbelievable, boss." He drinks from his glass while I force down the urge to stare back at Liora.

I'm starting to wonder if she's going to become a new distraction, given she's right outside my office and, most of the time, I enjoy watching her. I'm hoping she doesn't, though. This company would crash if my attention faltered for at least two minutes.

Just kidding, but you get my point.

Alec's face squeezes from the effect of the whiskey. He sighs exasperatedly, shaking his head before his gaze finds mine again.

I can smell the numerous, confused questions oozing off him, but he's hesitant to ask.

Leaning back in my chair, I give him permission to shoot.

"Does she know you fired Anita because of her?" His first inquiry. Nice.

The lie I fed Liora about Anita's sudden departure comes back swiftly and stabs at my chest. And I know that if I don't tell Alec the truth right now, he might blurt something out to her later since he's apparently so obsessed with my old secretary.

Liora can't know I had an innocent lady fired because I wanted her to take her spot. She would hate me more than she already does.

Panic courses through me, and I glare at Alec. "She doesn't. And you are not to mention anything to her," I warn.

He chuckles in disbelief. "She doesn't? What on earth did you possibly tell her then to convince her to work for you? We both know she's not your biggest fan."

He's right. But I've always had my way around difficult situations and difficult people. Liora is no exception.

I clear my throat, holding back a grin as I remember her sheer concern and pity when I fed her the bull about Anita's family member being sick. "Told her Anita requested to leave to take care of her family member, who is sick," I snort.

Alec throws his head back in laughter. I can barely contain the amusement flooding through me. I know I'm full of shit, but I'm impressed Liora believed my lies. Not that I like lying to her, though.

"No, you didn't," Alec says. "I can't believe this, boss."

I warn him again sternly, "You're not to say anything to her about this. I mean it."

He makes a zip motion across his mouth. "I won't."

"Good."

"Is she even experienced?" he asks but then realizes I've already answered that question before. "Oh, she's not... I should probably go fill her in on what she should do."

"No need," I sneer, hating the idea of the two of them being together. "Clara is already taking care of it. As you can see," I add with sarcasm.

He nods curtly. "No problem, boss."

Changing the topic, I probe him. "And where the hell have you been? I didn't see you in the office when I came in earlier."

He sits up, his expression turning serious as he places his whiskey glass on the desk. "I was with Cole Williams, the CEO of Mendes' Entertainment. He finally agreed to your offer to purchase his company, boss. The motherfucker is deep in debt; he had no choice after my persuasion."

"Fine then. Proceed with the payment," I assert, and Alec nods curtly.

He hesitates again, as if withholding information.

I frown, noticing his reluctance to say what's on his mind. "What is it?"

He looks at me, disappointment etched across his face. "Davis Fletcher called last night."

My heart skips a beat, but I swallow hard. "What did he want?"

"Fifty thousand dollars. Said he needs it for something important and, quoting him, you must give it to him since you have his daughter."

My head spins with disbelief, "What?"

No, that piece of shit couldn't have said that.