Chapter 30 How to Get the CEO to Notice Me
“Liam,” Emma called out.
“What is it?”
Seeing her hesitate, he shifted his gaze from the flowers to her.
Just as their gazes met, his phone rang.
An unknown number.
Emma watched his profile as his previously relaxed brow gradually furrowed.
“Answer it for me. My hands are dirty,” he said.
She nodded and carefully sat up, moving closer to him.
Squeezed together on the single sofa, they resembled an established couple.
She picked up the phone, swiped to answer it, and held it gently before him.
But he didn’t even glance at it, focusing solely on trimming the flower stems.
“Liam,” a woman’s voice said through the line, sounding familiar.
Emma looked at him, but he showed no reaction.
Suddenly, it clicked. He meant for her to answer it.
“Hello.” Emma lowered her voice.
He smiled.
“Hello, this is Lily. I’d like to speak with Liam.”
“It’s already 11 p.m. Is there something urgent you need from my husband? He just went to take a shower. If it’s not urgent, I’ll have him call you back later,” Emma said calmly.
“Sorry to bother you. I’ll contact him tomorrow.” Lily’s flustered tone was clear.
“Alright, then. Goodbye.” Emma chuckled. Before Lily hung up, she called out in a coy voice, “Honey, are you done yet? I’ve been waiting forever…”
“Beep…”
Liam lifted the corner of his mouth and turned to look at her.
“How was that? Pretty convincing, huh?” She beamed at him, proudly showing off her performance.
But the moment the words left her lips, he slipped off his gloves, slowly turned around, and pinned her against the sofa.
“Liam…” She pushed against his shoulders in fright. The heat radiating from his palms sent an inexplicable wave of warmth through her body.
His phone fell to the floor beside them as their rapid breaths mingled together.
He carefully removed his glasses and placed them on the nearby table.
He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against hers.
“Honey,” he murmured hoarsely.
“Weren’t we just acting, Liam?” she whispered.
She pushed against his chest with her elbows, but failed. Their bodies pressed tightly together.
“We’re married now, Emma,” he reminded her in a hoarse voice.
“But you promised to give me time…” she said, her face flushing.
“Kissing is okay. Do I also need to wait for that? Hm?” he said softly, the hunger in his voice impossible to miss.
“I thought…” She shyly pursed her lips.
“Do I look like a beast?”
“Yes…”
“…” He released her chin.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he reached out and ran his fingers lightly through her soft hair.
Fashion Week had come to an end.
Anna and Ethan headed to their reserved restaurant first, while Liam and Ryan waited for Emma in another car.
Backstage at the venue, Emma was chatting with Claire.
Then she called Liam as she hurried out.
The moment the call connected, Lily intercepted it.
Liam had put the call on speakerphone for convenience while discussing something with Ryan.
“Emma.” Lily’s voice remained as gentle as ever.
“Lily.”
“How old are you this year, Emma?”
“What is this?”
“Liam got married. Did you know?” Lily asked calmly.
“I know.” Emma chuckled, understanding her intention.
“Emma, you’re only twenty-two. How could you do something like this?” Lily sounded surprised.
“What did I do?” Emma asked, looking innocent.
“Keep your distance from Liam. If his wife finds out, your reputation will be ruined,” Lily warned.
“But it was all Mr. Hayes’ doing. I’m just a lowly employee…” Emma pouted.
In the car, Liam and Ryan couldn’t help but laugh, losing all focus on business as they listened to the women’s conversation.
“Can’t you just keep your distance?” Lily suggested.
“But I like him…” Emma said, sounding even more wronged.
Lily was at a loss for words.
“You also like him, don’t you?” Emma asked pointedly.
Lily blushed, unable to admit it.
“Basically every woman in our company likes Mr. Hayes. We even have a group chat. Want to join? We can teach you ‘How to Get a CEO to Notice Me.’” Emma continued.
“Emma.” Lily quickly interrupted. “Aren’t you afraid his wife will find out?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter.” Emma pursed her lips, sounding helpless. “Anyway, the Hayeses both like me. I’m actually pretty annoyed by him, but he keeps chasing after me. What should I do?”
“Does his wife also like you?” Lily asked. Then she stormed off in anger.
Emma stood frozen for a moment before realizing that she was on a call with Liam.
She gasped and said to the phone, “Did you all hear that?”
“Hurry back to class, Emma! I want to learn ‘How to Get CEO to Notice Me.’”
Laughter echoed from the car.
Emma quickly hung up.
…
Inside the car, Ryan sat in the front passenger seat.
“Is she giving you a hard time?” Liam asked with a smile.
Emma shot him a glance. “It’s all because of you.”
“Is being handsome really a crime?” he murmured, leaning back confidently in his seat.
“You’d better stay home. Stop causing me trouble,” Emma said.
“Why? Handsome guy shouldn’t stay home.” He chuckled.
“Ha…” The others laughed.
The plane landed after 10 p.m.
After Liam and Ryan finished making work arrangements, they left separately. Only Liam and Emma remained at the airport exit.
It was then that he noticed a familiar man standing before Emma.
Instead of approaching to interrupt, he sat quietly in the car to wait.
“That night—was it Ryan or Liam?” Ben asked accusingly.
“In what capacity are you asking me this, Ben?” Emma draped her thick coat over the luggage.
“I refuse to break up.” His tone was firm.
“It’s not up to you, Ben,” she replied calmly.
“How would you come back to me? Tell me, please. I was really drunk that night.”
She took a step back.
“If I wanted to be with you, I could lie in bed and call you ‘husband’ like Chloe does. But I’m Emma, not her.” She paused, her eyes reddening. “I did want to marry you once. But we truly aren’t right for each other.”
“And you and Liam are?” he pressed. “You two are together?”
Emma said nothing, turning toward the car parked nearby.