Chapter 27 Will He be Angry?
“I thought you wouldn’t be coming this time. Why not tell me in advance?” Lily asked, turning sideways to face Liam.
“I should come. These youngsters lack experience. I was worried they’d cause trouble.” Liam scanned the group, then fixed his gaze on Emma, who was staring at Lily.
Emma averted her eyes, lowering her head.
“Let’s eat!” Lily raised her glass of red wine and said, “I’m Lily Foster, a classmate and good friend of Liam.”
“Lily, what a lovely name!” Ethan was the first to raise his glass, followed by Anna and Ryan.
Liam slowly poured the wine from Emma’s glass into his own. Then he rinsed her glass with water and finally refilled it.
Startled by his gesture, Emma’s lips trembled as she forced a smile.
“Lily is a renowned designer in our fashion industry. There’s so much to learn from her! It’s an honour to meet you!” Ryan spoke up, buying time for Liam’s deliberate actions.
Only when Liam raised his half-full glass of red wine did Emma nervously lift her water-filled glass.
“It’s an honour to meet you, Lily,” Emma said.
“You truly care for your employees, Liam.” Lily smiled, glancing at him before fixing her gaze on Emma.
Then she took a meaningful sip of wine.
The others followed suit, sipping their drinks before beginning to eat.
“Emma doesn’t hold her liquor well. She might get into the wrong car if she’s drunk.” Liam’s lips curved slightly as he watched Emma’s flushed face.
“Our design department only has a few designers. Ethan is well-rounded, so I’m not worried about him. But Emma is different. Her family has repeatedly instructed us to take good care of her.” He added, resting his hand on the back of her chair. “Right, Emma?”
“Yes, my family is quite strict, so it’s probably best that I don’t drink,” Emma nodded.
Lily studied Liam’s expression and seemed to grasp his meaning. “It’s fine. We’re just having a simple meal—drinking isn’t mandatory. Everyone, relax.”
“Lily’s right,” Emma said, taking a sip of water.
“Liam, you and Emma are…” Lily ventured cautiously.
“Mr. Hayes’ mother and mine are close friends,” Emma explained hurriedly.
Liam remained silent, taking a sip of red wine. Then, he picked up his fork and began eating the Brussels sprout salad.
“No wonder Mr. Hayes was especially considerate toward Emma!” Ethan glanced up at them.
Anna and Ryan nodded and continued eating.
⸻
After dinner, Lily insisted on adding the group’s WhatsApp, including Emma’s.
Anna arranged a car for the return trip. Everyone except Liam and Lily headed straight back to the hotel.
After getting out of the car, Anna and Ethan went upstairs first.
“Lily is Mr. Hayes’s ex-girlfriend. Didn’t you worry about them, Emma?” Ryan frowned, looking anxious. “He seemed unhappy.”
“Will he be angry?” Emma asked cautiously.
“Of course he will. He doesn’t have any feelings left for Lily.”
“He doesn’t have feelings for me either…”
“If he doesn’t, why would he go to such lengths to keep you by his side?”
“Such lengths?” She was puzzled.
Ryan sighed and said, “Think about it yourself. I’m going upstairs first. Good night.”
Emma stood alone at the hotel entrance.
Snowflakes were falling slowly.
She gazed down the path leading to the hotel as a sudden wave of sadness washed over her.
She didn’t know how long she stood there before a familiar figure appeared.
Emma stayed frozen in place as he approached.
Snowflakes clung to his eyebrows, and a light dusting settled on his shoulders. Bathed in the warm yellow glow, he seemed outlined in gold, his rimless glasses catching the light.
“Waiting for me?” Liam asked, noticing the glistening tears at the corners of her eyes.
“No, just watching the snow.” She snapped back to reality and brushed the snowflakes off his shoulders.
“You were crying?” He tilted his head to look at her.
“Yeah, the wind–”
Yes, or maybe not.
“Hmm.” He smiled. “Let’s go. Back home.”
⸻
“Come here.” After changing his shoes, Liam walked to the desk and set down the food he had been holding in his coat.
Emma followed and only then noticed that he had been hiding something.
“Wow! It smells amazing!”
“Enjoy it, my lady.” He opened the box, pulled a chair up for her, and handed her the knife and fork.
“Is this for me?” She stared at the bowl of bouillabaisse.
Recognizing the familiar taste, she knew it was from the restaurant they used to frequent.
“No,” he said indifferently.
His bark is worse than his bite.
“Where’s Lily?” she asked cautiously.
A soft sigh escaped him that could have been tiredness… or annoyance.
She instantly regretted asking.
“Emma.” His tone was icy.
“Mm.” She felt flustered.
“Recognize your current status.”
She could sense that he was holding back, and this calm tone terrified her more than a direct scolding would have.
How can I soothe him?
“You eat first,” he said and walked into the bathroom.
She caught a glimpse of his perfect physique reflected in the bathroom mirror. Blushing, she quickly turned away.
⸻
By the time Liam emerged from the shower, it was already eleven.
With a towel draped over his shoulder, he lazily sank onto the sofa, slipped on his headphones, and began reviewing the documents Ryan had just delivered.
Three buttons on his expensive silk loungewear remained undone, hinting at smooth skin beneath. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing defined veins on his forearms.
Emma wanted to say something to him, but he was too absorbed in work, or maybe he was just ignoring her.
She had no choice but to go to bed.
Then she posted in the sisters’ group chat: \[Boss is mad. What should I do?\]
Claire: \[Just throw yourself at him.\]
Emma: \[I’m on my period. And I don’t want to move too fast.\]
Claire: \[Kiss him.\]
Emma: \[But I have no feeling for him sometimes.\]
Claire: \[If there’s no feeling, then do it until there is.\]