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“Bring me a clean shirt.” I heard the most alluring, hoarse voice grunting, pulling me away from my phone.
Liam stormed past, loosening his tie as he walked, shooting straight to his office with Michelle hot on his trail. His eyes set deadpan on mine before returning to the path ahead. His glower slashed right through me, searing any optimistic thought I could have about his arrival. No acknowledgment. No nod. Just a piercing, reproving look.
Michelle hustled to get the shirt, following him into his office, shutting the door behind her. Was he going to change in front of her?
I wasn’t expecting the flood of envy that hit me like a freight train. I nervously chuckled to myself while my eyes were glued to that damn door.
Jealousy, anger, and revolt filled my lungs, every deep breath burning deep inside my chest. I hated this. It was irrational and senseless. Not to mention completely masochistic. That look alone told me exactly where I stood. The real Liam was the one I met on the street and in that conference room. The one that called me Sweetcheeks and Smallville, as opposed to the one that called me a good fucking girl.
‘Liam’s fan numero uno.’ Alison’s words came rushing back. Were they a thing? I tightly shut my eyes, cursing the uneasiness away. That thought shouldn’t bother me as much as it did.
I definitely have to go.
Forever passed before Michelle left his office, directing a small see-you-tomorrow nod my way. Everyone had left already, and I was still stuck to my chair, rereading the email with my finger hovering over the send button.
My decision was made. I shot up from my seat, fueled by the insane rush of unwanted feelings, stopping right outside the door that had been taunting me for the last couple of days.
With a sharp inhale, I raised my hand to knock, but froze just before my knuckles hit the wood. He was so pissed, this was probably not the best time.
I’ll just send him an email.
“Can I help you?” His low-tuned voice stopped me in my tracks just as I had turned to leave.
I squeezed my eyes shut, cussing his impeccable timing and taking a second too long to face him. I inhaled and exhaled heavily, gathering enough courage to slowly turn back around.
Liam had kept his tie off, the two top buttons of his shirt remaining open. My eyes glided down his torso, taking in the perfect fit of the white button-down against his toned body. He was rolling his sleeves as he crossed the threshold, hypnotizing me with the pornographic nudity of those forearms. I couldn’t help but follow the blue line of the bulging vein running up his sleeve.
God! Even his arms were sinful. He looked absolutely divine. No wonder that blonde bimbo was drooling over him. I was, too.
“Miss Harden?” I thought I had seen a knowing grin on his face as my eyes roamed back up to settle on his.
“Oh… Hum. Do you have a minute, Mr. Dornier?” I finally blurted, my cheeks tinting red.
“Sure, please come in.” Liam held the door completely open for me to pass, shutting it behind me even though there was no one left on the entire floor. It was like a trap I was oh-so-eager to be caught in. “I apologize for my absence. I had forgotten you were starting this week.” I let that statement sink in, my eyes deeply buried in his, instinctively narrowing into thin slits. I knew it was a lie. He knew I caught it, too.
The man had given me a damn state-of-the-art brand new phone that I was sure had cost more than what I paid for rent. But if he was that desperate to show me he hadn’t given me a second thought, I’d let him have it. I had come to put an end to this, after all. No need to dabble in the details.
“And by the way, it's Liam. Mr. Dornier around here is my father, not me,” he coldly continued, breaking our stare as he pulled out his chair and sat down, motioning for me to do the same. I remained standing in front of his desk instead. I needed the metaphorical advantage on him at the moment.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Jamie, no Sir. Just Liam.” His voice had dropped an octave, and I couldn’t help but shiver at the gravelly sound. But the words he used it for were far from pleasant. “You’re not any different from anyone else in this company, so please call me Liam.” There was no doubt the devil was out today. I just didn’t have the same coffee stain to go with it.
“Sure, Liam.” I accentuated his name with a tinge of the venom I felt creeping up my throat. His words stung more than I expected they ever could. “I wasn’t expecting any kind of special treatment if that’s what you’re implying. What happened in that elevator was a huge mistake. But that’s beside the point. I’m sure you’ll be thrilled to hear that I’ll be out of your way by the end of the week. I just came to tell you I’ll be taking a job at another company starting next Monday. I’ll thank your father for the opportunity, but I’m better off somewhere else, and you won’t have to put up with me. It’s a win for everyone.”
There. It’s done.
I almost made it to the door, but Liam grabbed my wrist, stopping my march.
“Jamie. That’s not what I meant.” He stood in front of me, blocking the way to the door. “You don’t have to leave.”
“I do. I just came here to tell you that you can start looking for a replacement. I don’t understand why you dislike me so much, but I wouldn’t like to have someone I can’t stand imposed on me, either.” I was shaking from his closeness, just like I was in that damn elevator.
“No, I mean I don’t want you to go.” He closed the gap further and I stopped breathing altogether. His fingers swiped against my forehead before he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
So fucking cliché but damn does it work.
I couldn’t do this push and pull. I couldn’t want something and fight against it. Could I?
