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“Nope, all you. I have footage if you don’t trust that I’m telling the truth.”
“Footage?” Kayla came back with the wine, filling our glasses and pausing the conversation in the process, batting her eyelashes to Liam and I couldn’t hold back the eye-roll.
“That’s the kind of attitude that could get you into a lot of trouble,” Liam said as she left.
“What?”
“The eye-roll,” he replied before shaking his head and getting back on track. “Footage, yes. Surveillance cameras. You can check them if you want. I didn’t force you to do anything. You were leaving because of what happened in that elevator. I told you there’s no need to worry, it’s in the past, Jamie. It was my mistake, and I couldn’t have you paying for the dumb shit that I do. So now you can stay at your dream job and go back to hating me if you want.”
“I told you I don’t hate you.”
“Your tone at the moment implies differently.”
“I’m just… This is a big deal for me, Liam. I can’t afford a thousand-dollar bottle of wine, or places like this. I ride the subway to work and I can barely make my rent payments on time. There’s a lot riding on this job working out for me, and messing it up is just not an option.”
“Then it’s a good thing I prevented you from making a big mistake.” If I were thinking clearly I’d say he was coming off as a controlling jerk, but I knew he was helping me. MG wasn’t half as good as AD. And then there was that beating piece of me that tugged me in his direction at every pump.
Liam’s phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a new message, catching his attention. A big smile spread his lips making him square his shoulders and sit straighter, a relieved exhale coming out of his nose.
“So let’s toast to you keeping the job of your dreams and not making the mistake of quitting. With a smile, Jamie.” I raised my glass to clink with his, trying as hard as I could to smile. “An honest and wider smile, Miss Harden, cause AD just got the job, thanks to you.”
???
“Alison!” I called out from the hallway towards her desk, ushering her into a more private spot. She worked two floors down where the interior design department was, and I was still new enough that I hardly recognized a face here. “I know you’re not that busy, come over here!” Alison laughed silently and followed behind me.
We had gotten really close this past month, but somehow I hadn’t found it in me to share anything about Liam. I didn’t want people to think that I got any type of special treatment because of what happened, not that she would judge, but somehow I found myself doing it for her.
“I was deep in concentration, and you interrupted that. This better be worth it,” she joked, not being able to hold back that naughty grin of hers.
“It’s my birthday tomorrow, I was thinking maybe we could go out or something?”
“Tomorrow? You could have given me a little more notice. I would have thrown you a little party.”
“No, no, no, no. No parties, please. I don’t normally do anything for my birthday, I always feel a little depressed, to be honest, but I kinda need the distraction,” I confessed. But drinks and a girl’s night out sounded like just what I needed to get Liam off my mind, even for just one night.
“Well, there’s this new club in town, I can get us in without a problem. We can go if you’d like. But, you’ll have to tell me all about this guy you need to shake off.”
“There’s no guy.” I replied as convincingly as I could.
“Sure, lie to my face, Miss Harden.” I rolled my eyes at her, sighing in defeat.
“Okay, deal.” I conceded holding my hands up in mock surrender. I could tell her about him and still keep his identity a secret.
“So it’s a date.”
“Sounds perfect. Now I just have to find something appropriate to wear.” I had indulged in some online shopping after receiving my first paycheck from AD. Amazon was a good ally when it came to picking out stuff that would make me blush in a physical shop. Somehow I ended up buying a garter belt and stocking set that came with a lace babydoll and matching thong, all fit for a porn star. I loved it even though I had no practical use for the thing and no one to enjoy it with.
“Don’t worry, we can meet after work today and go shopping for a birthday present and buy you something completely in-appropriate.” We both laughed and for the first time, I found myself looking forward to my little birthday celebration.
It came at the perfect time, too. Being in a constant state of conflict with myself was exhausting and I needed a break. I couldn’t deny how Liam affected me or how badly I wanted him. But he had been perfectly clear about our situation, and it was undoubtedly the best thing to do.
Never, as he had put it, was a long time, and I couldn’t waste my life thinking about my boss in ways that I totally shouldn’t. It wasn’t going to happen and I needed to move on.
“Jamie, can you step into my office for a moment, please?” Liam called as soon as I arrived at my desk.
“Sure,” I replied, a small nervous smile on my face.
I walked into his office, mindlessly leaving the door open, Liam’s eyes swerving from me to the door and back, a dry smile etching the corners of his mouth.
