CLOSE BOND

Liam quickly bit his lower lip as soon as he let those words out, looking everywhere but Daniella’s voice.

“You caused this!” Daniella roared like a furious lion, her body vibrating with uncontrollable fury as she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Liam.

Liam was starting to laugh as he caught the pillow and tossed it back at Daniella almost immediately, saying, “I gave you what you were looking for, sweetheart. It's undeniable that you enjoyed every bit of it”

Daniella swallowed subconsciously while she averted her gaze from Liam's alluring face. She's having trouble controlling her damn features from going redder and redder from his words.

In a swift motion, Liam lunged into the bed with the phone in his hand, lying on top of Daniella and her heart raced when Liam unexpectedly yanked the cover from her body.

With their eyes locked intently, Daniella could feel the heat radiating off his body, warming her skin and sending shivers down her spine.

He approached her and leaned against her closer and closer, “I’m being serious when I said I can't get enough of you, sweetie,” he smiled, shifting her hair to the opposite shoulder before bringing his face to her side neck and playfully nipping at it.

A soft gasp escaped her as she squeezed her eyes shut and felt the intense wetness that stormed between her thighs.

Buzz! Buzz!

The annoying ringing tone of Daniella’s phone cut through the moment. Liam gently pulled back a little and saw that it was Mandy calling again.  

“Mandy, right?” Daniella quizzed and Liam gave a nod in response.

“Don't worry, I got this,”

With that, he slid the phone screen and put the phone to his ear.

“Hi, Mandy,” he spoke first into the phone, and from the other end of the phone, he could tell that Mandy was surprised to hear his voice.

“Uncle Liam,” Mandy’s hesitant voice transmitted into his ear and he grinned.

“Yes, It's me, Mandy. Your friend is still fast asleep and will be doing that a lot today because we both studied together throughout the night. I hope you understand,” Liam lied eloquently and Daniella couldn't stop her eyes from widening in amusement.

Liam saw this and tipped her a broad wink.

“B-But Daniella hardly studies, Uncle Liam or is she preparing for an external examination that I don't know about?”

The inquisitiveness that underlined Mandy’s observation was loud like a gunshot and it elicited a light chuckle from Daniella’s mouth.

“I’ll tell her you called once she's awake. Take care of yourself,” Liam rushed his words and hung up directly.

And as soon as the call was disconnected, both father and daughter erupted into cheerful laughter.

“That was not fair, Dad,” Daniella intoned while she put her hands on Liam's head- she enjoyed the feeling of his soft hair against her hands.

“Everything is fair in love, sweetheart,” Liam responded with a sunny smile that revealed his cute dimples, pushing closer to her and resting his hands on her hips.

Their love and the close bond between them are so visible in their body language.

“Let’s do something fun today, Ella,” He suggested, looking into her eyes while trailing his fingers all over her hips.

“Like what?” Daniella asked.

“Uhm…” Liam tilted his head to the side and did as if he was thinking about something. “Are we still going to church tomorrow?”

“Nothing can stop us from going, Dad,” Daniella affirmed, pleased to know that her father hadn't forgotten about it.

“Then let's go out today, baby. Let's go to a salon to change your hairstyle and maybe from there we can visit some other place. What do you think?”

Daniella’s heart expanded and filled with so much happiness that she couldn't resist the urge to kiss his lips at that moment.

How romantic! She thought.

“Remind me how I got so lucky to have you in my life,” Daniella whispered to his face after she unlocked the brief kiss.

Liam smiled expressively and hadn't thought of his next words just yet when Daniella spoke up again.

“You are simply the best man in the world, Dad. Mom is one fortunate woman to have you as her husband,”

The luminous smile on Liam’s face came to an abrupt halt as if by default and shifted in discomfort.

His eyes landed on the tray he'd come in with and he quickly forced back the smile onto his face, “I brought your breakfast, baby”

He'd hopped off the bed to carry the tray and brought it onto the bed gently.  

Daniella’s eyes watered as she watched her father arrange the food for her with sheer pleasure in his expression.

‘What good deeds have I done in my past life to deserve such an extraordinary father as a reward?’ she mentally asked herself.

Seeing that Liam would be looking up at her face any moment, she quickly blinked furiously until the liquid went back to where it came from.

“Baked Chicken and salad!” Daniella cried out in exhilaration, excitement flashing in her eyes. “Oh my, I love you so much, Dad. You're the best among the bests,” She blew him a kiss when Liam stole a glance at her.

She'd purposely put on such a euphoria mode in order not to allow Liam to notice her watery eyes and which she successfully did because Liam only grinned wider and continued setting the food while he kept explaining how he'd prepared the meal.

Daniella wasn't paying attention to all that he was saying as her mind was already preoccupied with the thought of how in the hell she could possibly get herself to fall in love with another man except her father.

******************

Jessica Nelson sauntered into the magnificent facility, finding her way to the elevator without asking for directions since she'd come there once before.

She looked so happy and reciprocated every single gesture the people passing by sent in her way.

She was dressed in a simple and modest manner.

A blue two-piece blazer suit and pantsuit and black heels that concurrently matched her sleek hair that was tied into a ponytail, calling attention to her beautiful young face.

No one would come across her and ever believe that she's the mother of a grown-up lady.

Soon, Jessica got to the elevator and pressed the numbers to her destination and in a matter of seconds, the elevator chimes and opens widely.

She got down from it at the same time a young man in a gray suit and black business shoes approached her.

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Nelson. Everything is set now and the other party is already waiting for you,” the young man came to stand beside her and explained proficiently as they both strolled down the hallway, their shoes clanking against the floor.

Jessica touched her chest and exhaled secretly. “I hope I haven't kept anyone waiting, the investor especially?” she asked tentatively, stealing a glance at the man’s side face.

“Of course not, Mrs. Nelson. I'll have you know that the investor just arrived some moments ago,”

Hearing this, Jessica heaved a small sigh of relief but she still couldn't get her heart under control as she was pretty tense about the whole thing.

This deal is one of the substantial contracts she has been pursuing for a long time and now the agreement has been finalized. All that is left to do is to sign- both her signature and the investor’s signature then the deal is all hers.

Butterflies swarm up massively in her tummy while a huge smile took upon her face as she thought about it.

After a long walk and a few intersections around the bend, both Jessica and the man arrived at their destination and Jessica couldn't help but breathe out loudly when the man knocked softly on the door and bent the doorknob.

He stepped out of the way for Jessica to come in and she did with a little bow.

There were two men seated there in the expansive conference hall. The first man was sitting in the opposite direction at the long table while the second man’s back was backing the door, giving Jessica no access to see his face.

The first man rose to his feet with a bright smile on his lips, “About time, Mrs. Nelson. Please join us and meet the investor,”

The man was saying while pointing to the seat next to the second man for Jessica to sit on when the man slowly tilted her head in the direction of Jessica and like that, the smile on Jessica’s face cleared immediately.

“Jessica,” the man called out softly, pushing to standing with a look that spoke more of remorsefulness.

Jessica huffed, her eyes blinking rapidly and then she turned her attention back to the first man who was the one that invited her to this treaty.

“Mr. Wilfred, is t-this the man s-same man who'd taken interest in working with me?”

 She asked unsure, wanting more than anything for Mr. Wilfred to assure her that ‘No, this man standing tall before her can never be the investor and that the real investor is just on his way here,’

 Instead of hearing that, Mr. Wilfred adjusted his brown suit and nodded his head firmly then introduced, “This is Mr. Antonio Flores, a multi-billionaire who is quite prominent for his electronic products around the_”

Mr. Wilfred hadn't finished talking when Jessica spun around, marched to the door, and went out of the hall furiously.

“Jessica, please wait,”

She heard Antonio’s gentle voice behind her followed by his wide hand taking hold of her hand and driven by impulse, she turned around and sent a hard slap across his face.

“Get your hand off me, you bastard!” she bellowed.