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“I make it my business to know everything. You should remember that.” His voice was deep, dark, and dangerous. Every note was as unsettling as the last, paired with words that seemed awfully like threats. The leisurely pace at which he buttered a piece of bread unmatching his tone. I stared at the gesture, unable to meet his eyes.
“It’s truly the best thing to do.”
“Why, Miss Harden? I thought we were getting along just fine. No animosity, no dangerous lines being crossed.”
“It’s just better this way, okay?”
“Tell me why.”
I stayed silent, watching his hard features as he waited for my answer.
“You left my office saying you’d think about it. The forty-five minutes it took you to get home were all but enough to make that decision? You didn’t mull over it too long, that makes me think that your decision was made, meaning you lied to me. Do you hate me that much that you can’t fathom the thought of working with me?” I was frozen to my spot, not a blink or batter.
How could he not realize it was the exact opposite? That I couldn’t focus with him around. That for the first time in my life, I wanted to get stuck in a damn elevator. With him.
My words were stuck in my throat, trying to find an answer that would both satisfy him while not telling him the truth. My eyes fell to my hands that laid on my lap, gripping the silky napkin, not being able to hold his smoldering gaze.
“I don’t hate you,” I finally replied in almost a whisper.
“It doesn’t matter,” he grunted, "You're not going.”
“Yes, I am. It’s done. If you’re the kind of man that keeps your promises, you can certainly understand that I am, too. There’s nothing you can do to make me stay.”
“Oh, but there is, Miss Harden. Don’t doubt me. You’re not going anywhere.” Was that another threat, because it damn well sounded like one. No, wait, it was a statement, no ifs there.
“What did you do?”
“Righted a wrong. As I said, MG is not a good fit for you.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“I don’t know how else you want me to put this. But I’ll be as clear as I can. You. Are not. Leaving. AD.” He punctuated each word with a pause, forcing a smile at the end as the period.
“Liam…” I said, a weak threat underlining my tone. I didn’t want to make a scene in the restaurant.
“I called Miles and told him he couldn’t have you. That you’re mine.” His eyes bore into mine, the second meaning behind those words sinking into every inch of my skin, setting it ablaze. He let them sit out in the open, just long enough for me to feel their sweetness before correcting himself. “You work for me, Miss Harden. End of discussion.”
“You did what?”
“MG Enterprise is not a good fit for you,” Liam said, ignoring my question altogether. “You’ll be underpaid and overworked. Besides, Miles is a misogynistic pig who doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself.” Liam’s hands balled into tight fists while his jaw clamped in rhythmic pulses as he mulled over his last statement. “No way he’s putting his filthy hands on you.”
“Is it common practice? The hands…” I was poking the bear, I knew it, but the anger rising in me needed an outlet.
“That was different.”
“You don’t own me, you know?”
“Kinda do.” His nose scrunched in mockery as he spoke. “For five years, at least. That’s what your contract states.”
“I didn’t sign any contract.”
“Last night you did.”
“You wouldn’t…” I replied in disbelief.
“No, but you sure did. You were adamant about making the point that you wouldn’t leave, so you made me print it, and you signed it. Imagine my surprise when I heard differently this morning.”
“You trapped me into signing the contract?”
