66

NORA

When we arrived at the table, the tension was so thick you could almost cut through with a knife.

Emily’s eyes darted between us as I slid into the booth. “Well, that's weird,” she said.

I forced a smile, ignoring the way my pulse still pounded in my ears. I’d been starved of Liam’s touch for so long that I forgot how good it felt. “What’s weird?” I fidgeted, hoping no one noticed.

Emily leaned back in her seat, folding her arms. “You have been gone a while. Together.”  

Liam cleared his throat. She wasn’t feeling well. I checked on her.”  

Mark arched a brow at me, but I avoided his gaze. “Is it true, Nora?”  

“Yeah.” My voice was hoarse, and I hoped no one would notice.  

But Emily wasn’t convinced. She drummed her nails on the table, eyes locked on Liam. “You should’ve let me check on her.”  

Liam exhaled. “I didn’t think you’d care.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed, but she forced a laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”  

Liam leaned back in his seat, jaw tight. “Just that you didn’t seem too concerned when she left.”  

Mark shifted beside me. “Alright, let’s not do this here.”  

Emily scoffed but didn’t push. Instead, she grabbed Liam’s arm, fingers curling possessively around his wrist. “Let’s just go.”  

I stabbed at my food, my appetite long gone. Next to me, Liam’s gaze flicked to mine—just for a second—but it was enough. A silent question. A promise.  

And even though our time together was over, I knew whatever was between us wasn’t.

~

The chill of the office wrapped around me as I stepped inside. I wiped my sweaty palms on my skirt, hoping to Heaven that I looked professional enough.

An artificial intelligence company has pitched an amazing idea to the Investment team. The meeting was slated for tomorrow morning, but someone needed to bring it to Liam’s attention beforehand. For some reason, Anna thought it was a good idea to throw me in there.

In her words, “You don't want to remain an assistant forever, do you? Here's your chance to show him,”

My legs had trembled, not just because someone’s company finding was resting on my ability to make a good point to Liam, but also because I hadn't been in a closed space with him since Saturday.

My body craved his, desperately.

But we hadn't yet had the dreaded talk.

I sighed, shuffling on my feet as I watched Liam converse with one of his managers. He lifted his eyes and when they met mine, my heart almost stilled for a moment.

I let out a small breath.

“Miss Parker?” His voice was silkier than honey. He raised a confused brow but he looked pleased to see me.

“Uhm, Anna sent me, I can wait if you—”

“No,” he leaned back in his seat. “Come,”

I swallowed, willing my legs to step one after the other. Slowly. By the time I arrived at his desk, the manager was getting to his feet and seeing himself out.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Liam told me, a crooked grin on his face.

“Anna said to make the—”

“Stop fidgeting, Nora. Please sit,”

“I'm nervous,”

His eyes softened. “Not around me,”

Liam had walked in wearing a crisp dark suit, but the jacket was off, and he was only in an equally crisp white shirt. He'd rolled the sleeves up to his elbows and I had to force myself not to stare at his impressive forearms.

My throat went dry and I swallowed. I slipped into the seat opposite him, cracking a nervous smile.

When I was all settled in, Liam was eyeing me like Sundae on a hot afternoon. I cleared my throat. “You're gawking,”

“It's hard not to,”

“Isn't this inappropriate?” I asked, taken aback by his honesty.

Something had changed between us after that morning in the bathroom. The way he kissed me…like he was drowning. I was the last gust of air…damn. It did something to me.

I felt a familiar ache of longing pulse between my thighs. But this was a professional meeting. I wasn't here to imagine Liam between my knees.

“Why is it inappropriate?”

“Because we're at work,” I hesitated, thinking of a familiar blonde-haired woman. “And you have a girlfriend,”

“Let me worry about Emily,” he looked so nonchalant. Almost like Emily, it was something he could just shake off within seconds. A part of me was excited by the prospect. But the other half, the one who was all for women, supporting women felt bad.

The quiet that ensued between us was heavily coated with desire. I watched in silence as Liam undid the top button of his shirt. Then the next. Then the next.

What was he doing? Was it a little too hot in here or was it just me?

I trained my eyes on my intertwined fingers, trying not to sustain eye contact. The last thing I needed was Liam’s intense eyes boring into mine while I spoke.

But I could see him leave his seat, could feel the hairs on my skin rise when he walked towards me. I could smell his cologne wrapping around me.

My heart pounded against my rib cage, threatening to rip out of my chest. I sucked in and blew out deep breaths to keep my mind from straying too far. But Liam wasn't helping.

The air between us thickened, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of us seemed willing to acknowledge, yet neither could ignore.

“You look like you're thinking about something,” his voice, low and husky, cut through the silence. His tone was playful but with a hint of something else. Something dangerous.

“Just... thinking about work,” I muttered, though my words felt flimsy against the overwhelming current between us.

Liam took a step closer, and my body tensed, my mind screaming to step back, but I remained rooted to the spot. His presence enveloped me, the space between us too small, too intimate. He was so close, I could feel the warmth of his skin. My breath hitched.

“Is that all you're thinking about?” he asked, his lips curving into a smirk that made my knees weak.

Remember, he’s with Emily. He's with Emily.

I chanted in my head like a prayer, but when Liam’s breath grazed my neck from behind, I caved, biting down on my lower lip before admitting, “No.”