Chapter 26

Chapter 26


Work resumed as usual, and a few weeks went by. Stella handled projects and helped signed contracts, her colleagues were filled with praises for her at her competence.

One afternoon after lunch break, Liam peeked out of the office.

“We’ll be flying to England tomorrow to sign the contract.” 

It was for the project they had been following up on virtually for a while. Kings corporation was interested in buying a century old British hotel and the last meeting had concluded with everyone being satisfied with the terms. All that was left was for them to sign the contract and change ownership

.

“What flight would you like me to book?” Stella asked, turning to her desktop.

“I’ll handle it,” he said simply.

That evening, after she got home, Stella packed a few sets of clothes and essentials. She made sure to include her sleeping pills. It would be embarrassing if her boss had to hold her to sleep again.

Her phone buzzed with a message.

Noah: In a few months, there is a bidding for a government project coming up. Your boss needs to win so he can fully win over the shareholders and also his grandfather’s approval. It is also very important to Kings corporation. As you know, in the past few years under Peter Carson’s leadership has been going downhill.

Stella: I’ll keep an eye on it.

She locked the phone and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

The next day, before lunch, Liam’s driver took them to the airport.  But instead of heading to the general departure terminal, the car entered a smaller gate and drove to a smaller, somewhat hidden building

It was then she realized they would be taking a private jet. 

It was not surprising after all, Kings was a billion-dollar corporation.

Their flight was smooth and short, without all the hassle of going through customs and such.  And by 12:00 AM, they had checked into their rooms.

Stella stepped out of the shower, patting her hair dry with a towel. She padded over to her open box and retrieved her bottle of sleeping pills. Taking three, the recommended dosage was four, but she didn’t want to become too dependent on it. So she reduced the quantity.

She sat on the edge of the bed and unlocked her phone.

Stella: We landed safely.

She sent the message to Aunty Wendy, then slid under the covers and closed her eyes.

She didn’t sleep long before the nightmares woke her up. 

It was the same every night, and she was already used to it. But since that night weeks ago, she had gotten a little hopeful.

Since sleep wouldn’t come, she got up, went to the desk, and opened her laptop. She might as well catch up on work instead.

The contract signing the next day went fairly well. Only that the client proposed some last-minute changes in the terms.

Liam’s lips thinned. It had his Uncle’s influence written all over it. But against all odds, he was able to negotiate an even more favorable outcome for Kings.

That evening, they went out for a celebratory dinner. The restaurant was a charming English place with a pub-like decor. A perfect blend of elegance and casual, old-school and modern. 

The client was already drunk at the end and had to be assisted to his car. 

It was just Liam and Stella left under the soft London streetlights.

“Work is done for today,” Liam said, turning to her with a smile. “Is there anything you would like to do?”

Stella was silent for a moment as she thought about it. “A stroll. The city is beautiful. I’d like to see it since we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“I’ll come with you,” he said. 

At that moment, he driver brought the car to the front of the restaurant. “Go on without us.” 

They walked around street to street in silence, side by side. Around them were cute couples walking hand in hand or arm in arm, deeply in love with so much to say to each other. She and Liam were not like them, between them was the lives of her parents and many others.

Until—

Suddenly there’s a flurry of footsteps behind her. In a matter of seconds and a figure launched forward and snatched her bag off her shoulders.

Before she could react, the thief had already run forward.

“Stay here!” he barked.

Liam immediately ran after the thief and disappeared in the crowd.

“Wait—Liam!” Stella shouted, but he was gone. 

She walked up to a passing police man, who immediately called for backup and went with her in search of Liam.

In a alley a few streets ahead, they heard a scuffle. They walked in just in time to see Liam kick the thief to the ground, but not before he was slashed with a knife.

Blood bloomed across his snow white sleeve, dying it red.

The police man ran forward and handcuffed the thief and police sirens wailed in the distance.

At the hospital, the doctor examined Liam’s arm and cleaned the wound.

“It’s not that deep, but it’ll need stitches,” the doctor said, turning to the side and picking up an needle.

The doctor was fast. 

Liam’s expression didn’t change.

He didn’t flinch.

Stella sat beside him, her hands clenched in her lap.

The doctor wrapped the arm in gauze. “Make sure it stays dry. No water near it for the next few days,” he said standing up. “This is the prescription. You can get the drugs at the pharmachy.”

They walked out of the doctor’s office one after the other.

She didn’t want to owe him. Now he got injured because of her.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly. “There was nothing valuable in the bag.”

“But it’s yours,”  Liam replied, glancing at her. 

She turned to look at him and their gazes held.

Stella’s phone rang at that moment. Aunty Wendy.

“Please excuse me.”

She walked to the corner and picked the call.