Chapter 30

Over the next few days, Stella began to notice something a little different about Liam. He seemed to be appearing more often in her presence, even when he didn’t need to be. She tried not to think much of it, but he would also randomly bring little gifts like flowers and pastries. Every day, she had a different flower in her vase and a different sweet snack for lunch.

“Thank you,” she would awkwardly say each time, unsure how to react. He would only shrug

They finally had their long-overdue dinner at a small family-owned Italian restaurant. It wasn’t super luxurious, but the food was delicious, full of flavour, and the warmth of home.

Stella breathed a subtle sigh of relief when they walked out of the restaurant. She had finally gotten out of the hole he dug for her.

“Let me give you a ride,” he offered as they stood at the curb waiting for the driver to come around.

“Em.. we live in opposite directions.”

“It’s fine I—”

“I prefer to take the bus,” Stella said quickly, her tone firm.

Liam watched her walk away with a sigh. His phone buzzed as a message came in. It was the Roommates group chat.

Claude: Come over for drinks. We’re at the new bar uptown.

Liam glanced at the message, then slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked toward his car.

“You can leave now,” he said to the driver before driving off into the night.

“So how’s it going with your crush?” Milo asked, moving to sit beside Liam with his drink in his hand.

Liam stayed silent.

“Can’t you see his face. He’s obviously love-lorn.” Claude chimed in, sitting on his other side and leaning in.

Liam pushed him away and got up. “I’m going home.”

“But you just got here,” Claude whined.

“And he’s already tired of you guys,” Luke said dryly.

“Liam is not like you,” Milo scoffed. “He loves us.”

He turned to Liam and held on to his arm. “Right?”

“You’re drunk,” Liam muttered, brushing his hand off.

Milo’s eyes widened. “I get it. Are you in a bad mood because of her? Have you thought maybe she isn’t interested?”

Liam froze at that.

“How would I be able to tell?” he asked quietly.

“You could just ask her,” Luke suggested.

“No. No.” Milo shook his head. “You can’t just ask her. It’ll make things awkward if she isn’t interested. How would you be able to continue working together?”

Liam nodded slowly, and so did Luke.

“So what’s a better way?” Luke asked.

“Check if she’s jealous.”

“Huh?”

“If you like someone, you won’t want other people flirting with them. Like how you didn’t let me drink the coffee Stella made.”

Liam didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t get the thought out of his head.

If she showed jealousy, that meant there was a chance between them.

A few days later, they had dinner with a client.

“I hope our corporation won’t have any other issues, Mr Stone,” Liam said coolly, leaning back in his seat.

Mr. Stone let out a nervous laugh. “Of course. Of course. I’ve already dealt with the people involved,” Mr. Stone said nervously with a flattering smile on his face. “It won’t happen again.”

“That would be for the best,” Liam replied.

“Mr. Carson,” Mr. Stone said, pulling out a wine bottle from a wooden box. “This is a prized wine from my collection. Please, allow me to pour you a glass.”

Stella stood up to take the bottle, but Liam signalled for her to sit. Mr. Stone stood instead and approached wanting to pour it, but Liam took it for him, pouring his own glass, then also poured Stella a glass.

He lifted the glass, watching the liquid swirl and catch the light, before taking a sip. “Good wine.”

At that moment, the door to the private dining room opened, and a beautiful young woman in her twenties entered. Her brown hair floated over her shoulders, pairing perfectly with her striking skin-tight dress.

“Dad,” he greeted as she strutted forward, her heels clicking on the marbled floor. “Lucy, come greet Mr. Carson.”

“This is my daughter,” Stone said proudly. “She just graduated, and I’ve been letting her attend meetings so she can learn more and help handle the family business, too. Please help me take care of her when you can.”

“Mr. Carson,” Lucy leaned down to shake his hand, flashing him a view of her roost clevage. He wanted to ignore her, but remembering Milo’s words from a few days ago, he shook back.

Mr. Stone moved so Lucy could sit next to Liam and cultivate their feelings. Lucy chatted about random things, her trips to Paris, her hobbies, and extracurriculars in school. She wasn’t talking with just her mouth, but also with her hands, flirtatious and charming.

Liam wasn’t really listening to what the woman was saying. His gaze kept drifting to Stella.

She had the same polite smile on her face, not paying attention to him or Lucy.

She didn’t care.

Liam started downing more and more glasses of alcohol, and Mr. Stone kept ordering more bottles.

The dinner ended with Mr. Stone thinking his daughter had won Liam’s heart, and he urged her to go with him.

Stella led him to the car, and Lucy followed after. When she wanted to enter the car, too, Liam turned.

“Stay away,”

The driver shut the door before Lucy could say a word.

Stella raised a brow but didn’t say a word.

Inside the car, she leaned over to help him fasten his seatbelt.

“Do you like me?” he mumbled suddenly. “Even a little?”

Stella paused. “No.”

“You have to like me, and control me so I don’t stay out late. Don't let me get involved with other women.”

“Why would I do that?” Stella asked softly.

“Because that’s what girlfriends do?”

“But I’m not your girlfriend.”

“What if…”

He fell asleep after that, sleepily mumbling her name.

She stared at him for a long moment. Why was she speaking with a drunk person? She silently fastened his seatbelt and sat back.

By a stroke of luck, John and some other men were waiting downstairs in his apartment and took him up.

“Let the driver send you back,” John told her. “It’s hard to get a taxi around here.”

Stella returned to the car and spent the whole ride telling herself not to get tempted