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“Jamie, I don’t dislike you. I don't even know you. Yes, what happened in that elevator was a big mistake. I’m sorry for what I did. I think we can be perfectly civil despite that. If you can see past that lapse of judgment, so can I. I can promise I’ll never do it again.”
“I don’t know.” I wanted to say yes, but my brain was screaming otherwise.
“I thought you couldn’t be trusted until I found out what you told my father. I know you covered for me, and you didn't have to do that.” He smiled, and for the first time it reached his eyes. “It didn’t work, though. He saw right through you, but it’s the intention that counts.” He chuckled, filling the room with that amazing sound and rendering me defenseless.
“He thought you had threatened me into it.”
“Sounds like me,” he teased. “Stay. I’m sure we’ll find a way to work together and forget all about the day we met.” At first my eyes were locked on his face as I pondered, slowly diverting to the floor as I shook my head in denial.
I’d get hurt. The fact he wanted to forget about that day was already tearing me up inside.
Liam cupped my cheek, stopping the negative movement and focusing my attention back on his face.
“Can you at least think about it?”
Chapter 7
Jamie
I left the office with the promise that I would think about staying at AD.
I lied.
To say I was a confused mess was an understatement. Everything in me was screaming for me to leave. Every gut feeling, every logical thought, every past experience. Everything but that little piece of me that beat an inch off-center in my chest, and that piece alone was holding back my decision.
The way he said he didn’t want me to leave replayed in my mind over and over, and I found myself doubting again.
This job was already slipping through my fingers even though I only started a couple of days ago. I should be focused on it. Doing my best to succeed and meet the expectations Mr. Dornier had for me. Instead, all I could think about was Liam, and most recently, Liam and Michelle in a closed-door office.
It was only a matter of time before I was invited to leave. It was best if I pulled the trigger first while I had a cushion to fall on.
As soon as I got home, I poured a glass of the only bottle of wine I owned. I’m not a drinker, but today I was looking for courage that didn’t seem to surface. Maybe I’d find it at the bottom of this glass of red. If only my reflection on the rich liquid could tell me what to do, maybe she’s braver and more determined.
I stared at the handwritten note Liam had left me, my chest tightening each time I read those simple words. How was I seeing more in that phrase than it truly said? I twisted and turned the damn thing, my resolve breaking further each time my eyes met those simple words.
Still, a decision needed to be made and I was on the fence, tipping to each side as I thought either with my head or my heart. But there was too much on the line, and the risk of losing it all was too great.
It only took a couple of sips to make me feel looser. Perks of hardly ever tasting the stuff. Looseness came hard and quick, haunted by another vision of Miss Blonde-McFake-Boobs locked up with Liam behind that damn door. Images of what they’d been doing inside crept under my skin, lodging an uneasy feeling straight in my gut. Again.
The notion that I was feeling jealous of a complete stranger clarified my doubts. This was not what I had come here for.
I scouted the email I’d written once more, downing the whole contents of the glass before finally hitting send. There was no turning back now.
As if on cue, my phone started ringing with an incoming call. No caller ID had me furrowing my brow.
“Hello?” I answered hesitantly. There was no sound on the other side of the line. I allowed a few seconds of silence, before repeating, “Hello?”
“Hi, Jamie.” I had never spoken to him on the phone, yet all it took was a distant ‘hi’ for my gut to flutter.
“Hum, yes?”
“It’s Liam. Liam Dornier,” he clarified, as if I didn’t know that already.
“Oh, hi.” I played coy, “Is everything okay?” Why on earth would Liam be calling me at this time of the night?
“Hum, yes. Everything is fine.” He sounded tense, something lurking behind his voice that I hadn’t heard yet – uncertainty. “I got your number from AD’s personnel files. I hope you don’t mind.” A moment of silence passed before he spoke again. “I know it’s late, but I got a call from Verten’s project supervisor. They’ll be in New York tomorrow and want to meet at the construction site. It’s the last meeting before they make their decision to trust us with the project or not. Would you be up for an update and brainstorming session tonight? We should at least include some of your energy-efficient ideas in the pitch.”
“Well, hum… I’m not sure I should.” I had just accepted a job at another company. Should I really be burying my nose deeper into this project?
