71

NORA

“Is something bothering you?” The click-clack of my pen against the desk was clearly getting on Anna’s nerves. But she was polite enough to keep her annoyance in check, at least until she couldn’t take any more of it.

Sheepish, I stopped the tapping, straightening my seat. “No, I'm fine,” I lied, brushing a few strands of my hair behind my ear. Anna eyed me from behind her glasses, but she didn’t say a word.

We had so much work to cover, and we needed to get it done as quickly as possible. Liam had agreed to fund the Ai company, and we needed to sort out all the finances before our next meeting.

The last meeting was a week ago. Representatives from both companies shook hands and everyone was happy. Even Liam. He’d been smiling more often, he looked happier and less burdened. And I knew exactly why.

Since our return from Carl’s home and our conversation in the car, something had shifted between us. It was almost like we finally had a shot at being together. Sure, we still had a lot to overcome AKA Gemma’s craziness and Liam’s impassiveness, but we were getting there. Baby steps.

I’d texted Mark that we needed to see, but he’d been so occupied we hadn't officially split up. Not like we were officially together anyway.

“Okay, there’s definitely something on your mind. Care to spill?” Anna’s unimpressed voice cut through the haze in my head.

Scratch that, everyone except Anna was happy. For some reason, she’s been more prickly towards me and less accommodating than she used to be.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…personal stuff,”

“Well, it needs to stop affecting your work. You’re slacking,”

My brows furrowed. I glanced around the expanse of her office, wondering where I might’ve possibly slacked off. “I'm sorry, Anna. Did I do something wrong?”

“What?” she asked.

“No offense, but it’s just that you're coming on a bit strong, and it’s making me uncomfortable,”

Anna’s frown melted into a much softer but indecipherable look. She sighed, abandoning her pen to lean back in her seat. “I'm sorry." It’s just that I'm worried about you.”

It was my turn to frown. “Why would you?”

“You’re dating the boss’s brother. "Do you know how that looks to the outside world?”

I shrugged a shoulder, “I don’t,”

“It looks like you're shagging someone to climb up the ladder,” she deadpanned, looking more serious than I’d ever seen her. It was difficult to tell what she was thinking considering she was impossible to read, but a part of me wanted to burst out laughing.

Mark and never even kissed me before. If at all I was shagging anyone, it was the boss himself—

Wait a minute. My pulse jumped, horror injecting itself into my body. I had slept with Liam over and over again. Was this job his way of making it up to me? Was I here simply because I was once Liam's bedbuddy?

I shook my head. No. It couldn’t be. Anna had hired me and Liam simply didn’t let me go. Even though he’d let all the others go, he didn’t do the same for me.

Fuck. This only meant one thing: Anna was right. I was here because I had shagged someone.

“You see it too, don’t you?” She asked, possibly believing that my horror was because I was with the boss’s brother.

Anna and I weren’t close enough for me to spill my deepest secrets to her. And I definitely wasn't about to tell her that I was in a fake relationship with Mark to get Laim’s attention. Definitely not. I would sound like an unhinged ex-lover.

I nodded instead, “I see it,”

“So what are you going to do about it?” She questioned, brow raised, arms folded.

“I’ll figure it out.”

I had dreams and aspirations to fulfill. The last thing I needed was for people to think I got where I was because of Liam.

“And do that fast. Women like us, there’s no place for us on a man like Mark’s arm. We’ll be labeled sluts and freeloaders.”

~

Anna’s words rang in my head all day, nagging at me like a petulant child. She’d been referring to Mark, but it was Liam I had in mind. Did I really not have a chance with Liam? Was whatever was between us really not bound to work out? Would I be called a slut when our relationship was finally revealed to the world?

I shuffled on my feet, kneading my upper arm in contemplation. The noise of Liam’s heavy door shutting behind me broke me out of my haze. I whipped around, eyes locking with Liam’s. He’d just rounded up a meeting with a potential client and had made his way straight here. To me.

Earlier, he’d sent me a text that simply said my office at 2. Like an obedient assistant, I found my way in here as soon as the clock struck two, but I had a feeling he wasn’t asking me here as his assistant.

He was dressed in a dark suit, ocean-blue eyes watching my every movement as he undid the buttons. My breath hitched in my throat, eyes trailing his every move in anticipation of his next.

I swallowed audibly when he closed the space between us. As usual, the air conditioning was on full blast, but perspiration beaded on my forehead and palms from our proximity.

“I didn’t think I’d find you here,” he whispered, breath warm against my skin. He lifted a hand, and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. My skin pricked from where his fingers brushed against it.

“You asked me here,” I whispered back, mesmerized by this beautiful man I knew belonged to me.

Liam and I had slept together among other things, but this felt like the first time we had an actual emotional connection. I wanted nothing more than to soak up this moment forever. I leaned into his touch, trying to keep my eyes open so I didn’t miss the excitement on his face. So I didn’t miss the look shining in his eyes. Admiration? Contentment? Love…?

Whatever it was, I didn’t know yet. But I knew I wanted Liam. “Kiss me,” I pleaded, placing both plans on his broad chest. I saw the surprise in his eyes before he raised a questioning brow.

“Are you serious?”

I nodded. “I want you just as much as you want me, Liam,”

Once he was clear he had my consent, Liam leaned in to press a kiss to my lips, but before we could make contact, the noise of the door opening split us apart.