“Okay. I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy, and just take it easy” she says finally before finishing off her own drink.
“I will”
“Have you heard anything from the bitch?”
“I had a letter a couple of days ago, and another one yesterday. Same old crap. I threw it” I reply as I shrug on my coat.
“I really think you need to go the police”
“Bec, I will. But not now okay?”
She nods before getting her own coat and we head back to the office. I can hardly concentrate, after Becca reaffirmed my concerns with Liam. I don’t want a relationship. I can’t have one, not now anyway. By the end of the day, I came to the conclusion that Becca is just being a typical romantic. Liam and I are adults and we can fuck around if we want to. We aren’t exclusive. Done. Lock away the key on any possible romantic relations with Liam Hadleigh. We’ll just use each other until we get bored, that’s how these things go.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Thankfully, by Wednesday the Judge called time on the case until forensics pulled through the delay in evidence. There is nothing more excruciatingly boring than listening to the Prosecution drawl on about ‘probable cause’. I was still waiting for the crucial piece of CCTV from the victims’ house, knowing full well what I’d see on it. Grateful for the reprieve in my workload, I’d decided to hunker down with the paperwork for the new business. New department proposals needed my approval, and the legal side of it needed signing off on. I can’t wait until we’re in the building, it will be much easier having every department under one roof, instead of relying on emails back and forth. Wondering if Becca wants to grab a bite to lunch I head out of my office. Popping my head around the door frame, I notice she’s ogling wedding dresses online and I can’t help but smile. She’s currently eyeing a huge ballgown style dress, covered in lace and tulle. Honestly, I never understood her need to be such a girlie girl, our dorm room changed color scheme at least twice a week at University, owing to her mother’s eclectic tastes. A small laugh escapes my lips, announcing my appearance to her.
“Hey, do you need something?” she asks, quickly closing the search browser.
“No, I was just wondering if you wanted to grab some…” I’m interrupted by the lift doors at the far end of the hall pinging open. The air around me suddenly feels heavy, sparks seem to bounce off the walls, ricocheting straight to my core. I feel him before I see him and Liam saunters out of the lift, dressed from top to toe in a slick, jet-black, tight fitted suit. Paired with a crisp grey shirt and black tie. My mouth waters at the sight of him, the material pulled tightly across his chest, his hair resembles shredded chocolate falling across his beautiful face in light strands. When I finally meet his gaze, he breaks out into a show stopping grin, obviously enjoying watching me eat him all up. Snapping out of my Liam-drunk stupor, I clear my throat before glancing at Becca. Big mistake.
Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, she’s glancing between Liam and I with a cocked eyebrow and knowing grin. Damn it.
“Amelia” Liam’s velvety voice carries around the space, loud and clear before falling to my ears like some beautiful sonnet. When the hell has a man’s voice ever sounded so dreamy? Oh god, you’re so pathetic.
“Becca” he nods in her direction.
“This is a pleasant surprise Liam, what are you doing here?” she asks, sounding far too cheery for her own good.
“I wondered if Amelia would like some lunch” he answers her question but looks at me. Holding up a paper bag with the logo of a local sushi place on the front. Well, there goes my idea for taking Becca to lunch.
Narrowing his eyes at me, I realize I haven’t said a single word.
“Sorry, you didn’t have to do that. But yes, please” I smile, clutching my hands together shyly in front of me. I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling shy, this man was between my legs only yesterday morning. Clenching my legs together at the sudden invasion of feelings, as memories of the way he’d used his tongue to manipulate my body into feeling things I’d never felt before but would die happy knowing that I had now. The way his skilled fingers had thrust into me.
“Amelia?” his deep, baritone voice cuts through my sudden rush of memories and I have to lick my dry lips before meeting his baby blues.
“Huh?” Shit. “Sorry. Come on in” I smile before turning toward my office taking my glasses off in the process.
“I brought you something, I didn’t know what you liked” He says to Becca before reaching into the bag and pulling out two containers.
“Oh, that’s so nice of you” she smiles up at him before taking the containers from him. “Oh sushi! Perfect! Thank you! Amelia never feeds me” she pouts, and I gawk at her.
“I do!” I shriek – the nerve!
“You’re welcome” he gives her a slanted smile before following me into the office laughing, but not before I notice Becca’s raised eyebrows following his perfect bum. She finally meets my gaze and covers her mouth with her hand as she giggles. Yesterday’s conversation plays around quickly in my head, is this turning into something else? A warm, tingly feeling fills my stomach instead of the expected panic and unease. Shaking my head, I walk over to my desk, disposing of my glasses before turning to him.
“That was sweet”
“Well, I have to make sure the staff like me”
“Is this your way of making sure I like you too?”
“No Amelia, I can make you more than like me in very different ways” he beamed.
Biting on my bottom lip, I squeeze my eyes together at his words. Is he trying to kill me? Where has this man been? Why hadn’t I met him first, instead of enduring the shitty, half-assed men I had? And why the hell am I thinking these things? It’s just Sex, that is all. Yep. Nothing else. Placing the bag on the coffee table, he empties the rest of the containers along with bottles of water before taking a seat on one of the plush, cream sofas. Crossing his arm over the back, he undoes the button on his suit jacket, so it doesn’t pull across his already, damned tight as sin abdomen.
“Do you want to eat?” his gruff voice breaks through my lingering stare, but his face shows how much he is relishing in me ogling him. Am I that obvious?
“Food, not me” he chuckles.
“Fuck off” I whisper before coming to sit opposite him.
“I’d fuck you, but I distinctly remember you opposing any office fondling”
I swing my gaze to him, mouth gawking at his implication
“I still do!”
Liam gives me that damned boyish smirk of his before winking at me. My ovaries are going to combust if he carries on. Leaning forward he grabs one container before handing me the other.
“Please tell me you like sushi?” he questions, before handing me some plastic cutlery.
“I do, thank you”
“What’s your favorite food?”
Taking his seat again opposite me, he makes himself comfortable and I notice how at ease I suddenly feel. I glance around trying to focus on something else other than Liam. I land on my handbag by my desk, remembering the threatening note that’s stashed away in there. The one where she demands money and threatens violence. She’s never threatened me to that extent before and it make me slightly panicky that she’s escalating rather than giving up. I glance back at Liam who’s chewing silently around a piece of sushi, as his eyes meet mine. All thoughts of threats, my mother and likewise vanish as I cross my legs over each other and open my food.
“My favorite? I don’t really know. I like all sorts, it also depends on what mood I’m in. Yours?”
“What mood you’re in? I love a good steak, any meat, if not Pizza, anything really” he laughs.
I laugh around my food, being sure to keep my mouth closed. Finishing off the California roll I eye him up.
“You’re definitely a cave man”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re a cave man”
“What does that mean?” he quest
ions with a furrowed brow, making his forehead contour in wrinkles. I wonder what he’ll look like when he’s older. Will he ever look like his father?
“You like things a certain way. Your way. And you just admitted that your favorite food had to have something with meat. You’re very demanding. Those traits make you a cave man”
“How am I demanding?”
“Really? The business? In the bedroom you…” I stop myself after I realize what I just said. Damn it mouth!
Liam chuckles, licking around his teeth with a very noticeable twinkle in his eye.
“I’m glad I amuse you” I announce sarcastically before spearing another piece of fish and shoving into my mouth. Good. At least with your mouth full you can’t speak profanities around the one man you’ve liked since god knows when.
“Anyway, why did you bring me lunch?” I ask, wanting to get away from the pregnant sexual tension in my office. I never, ever thought I’d feel this in here. It’s all work, cases, arguments you name it. Never sex. I might even be considering breaking my own rules of office fornication for this man.
“I wanted to see you. Is that okay?” he takes a gulp of his water, keeping his eyes on me.
“Sure” I offer him a simple smile. I can’t recall ever having anyone bring me food just because they wanted to see me. It’s sweet of him, and my stomach warms again at the gesture, but my mind is screaming at me. This isn’t normal fuck buddy etiquette, Becca reminded me of that yesterday. So why the hell can’t I stop thinking about him?
“So, tell me how this place was born. I know you didn’t have it easy” Liam’s smooth voice washes over me, but my mind battles at his words.
Liam clears his throat before continuing.
“On Saturday, you told me some things. I’m not judging” he holds his hands out, palms up. “But I guess, I don’t understand that if you came from nothing, how the hell did you end up here?” he huffs in laughter, using him arms to portray the area around him. My office. Mine. The uneasiness of his question floats away as I realize he’s being sincere. I hate that my mother instilled that fear in me, the one where you think everything, and everyone is out to get you.
“Do you not believe what I told you?” I accuse, even though I know I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Yes Amelia. Of course, I do. Like I said I’m impressed. I just want to know what your success story is. You can leave the sass out of it” I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back any sass he thinks I might give him before I answer him.
“I made a smart investment” I shrug as I try to avoid the question as best as I can.
“In what?”
“Myself” I huff out a laugh, and he laughs with me.
“Don’t want to tell me?”
Finishing my food, I take a swig of my own water before meeting his baby blues. They seem lighter in this room, in comparison to my bedroom they were almost as black as you would find the depths of the sea.
“I’m not proud of it”
“We all have regrets” he mumbles, and I want to ask him what his are. Mine aren’t regrets as such, just rather times I’d rather forget. My rebellious teenage faze involved a lot more than a random, meaningless tattoo. It’s how I ended up where I am today. And for that I should be thankful.
I wonder again if he could be genuine. What if I start taking this for what it truly is? Becca’s admonishments about being more trustworthy filter through my mind, at the same time her concern for this turning into more than what it is breaks my train of thought. I take a second to breathe, to really look at the sexy man in front of me, and I feel lighter. I feel happy. Before I can overthink it anymore, I tell him.
“I danced” I avert my gaze to the window, not wanting to see his reaction.
“Danced?” his voice is low, low enough for me to turn my attention back to him.
“Yep”
“What does that mean?” he quizzes, his facial features still soft and in no way judgmental. Taking a lung full of air, I continue.
“I used to work at one of the clubs in SoHo” I keep my focus on his face, watching for a change in his expression.
“What?” And the lightbulb moment hits. Realization dawns on his face, that when I said Danced, I meant Danced. As in, Naked. On a Pole. For Money.
“Please don’t judge me” I say quickly as his beautiful face gives nothing away. Just as quickly Liam’s expression changes and instead of sympathy I notice a glint of something wicked in his eye.
“What?”
“So, you can pole dance?” a half smug smirk spreads across his gorgeous lips.
“Really?” I admonish with wide eyes, my own mouth tugging into a surprised smile. Liam raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.
“You’re unbelievable” I scoff.
“I’m kidding! Well, maybe only a little” he offers me a failing, apologetic smile and I can’t help but laugh at him.
“For the record, that’s all I ever done. Danced. I needed the cash and high enders tip well. I saved as much as I could before Becca found out where I was working. Her parents where kind enough to invest in me and I’ve already paid them back ten-fold”
I recall when Becca found out what I was doing, she was both mortified and a little intrigued. Thankfully she hadn’t told her parents exactly what I was doing but had somehow convinced them to invest in me.
“That was nice of them” he gives me a closed mouth smile before continuing “You should be proud of yourself. You don’t do it anymore though, right?” he offers me a genuine smile this time.
“No, I don’t” I assure him. I couldn’t get away from the punters quick enough back then. I was earning a few thousand pounds a night, and I saved it all religiously. I hated the idea of stripping, but I loved how the pole turned my body into a work of art and the way I could force my body into shapes and twirls around it. I was lucky enough to work with a bunch of other girls in the same position as me, and we all viewed it as an art or a dance rather than stripping.
“Just for me”
“No!” I choke on a laugh as his face turns playful.
“Oh, come on! You can’t put an image like that in my head and expect me not to want a personal show!”
I lick around my teeth before coming to the idea that I could get to know him like this. I’ve never danced for any of my boyfriends before, maybe that’s because they never knew I could. Wait. Boyfriend? Ah Fuck.
Fun, this is just fun. I do miss the pole, the way it toned my body was insane, you’ll never get a workout like it.
“Fine, I have a proposition” I smile playfully, as butterflies swarm into my belly. I’m slightly nervous but excited to be playing around with him. This I like, no commitments, no expectations, just good old-fashioned fun.
“Tell me” he replies, his voice way too smooth and far too eager.
“Calm down Cave Man”
Liam smirks before clearing his throat and sitting back against his chair, schooling his features to look as serious as possible.
“I’ll consider dancing for you. If you answer my questions”
Far too quickly a smile spreads across his face, revealing that dimple and some laughter lines.
“Ask away”
“Twenty- Questions?”
“Deal”
“When’s your Birthday?”
“February twenty-first, yours?”
“May seventeenth, how old are you?”
“28”
“I’m 27. When did you go to South Africa?”
Liam raises an eyebrow to my question. “How did you…”
“I saw the article on your desk at the new building”
“You were in my office?”
“I wanted to see what it looked like, the magazine was open on your desk”
Liam thinks about this for a second before answering me. I hope I didn’t piss him off by doing that. I wasn’t snooping, it was open, anyone could have seen it.
“Last summer. I was there for a
month helping out”
“That was very generous of you”
He nods, and I sense he isn’t going to offer any more information on the subject.
“Why did you start working with your father?” He contemplates this for a second, before meeting my dark eyes.
“I wanted his empire”
“What?”
Leaning forward on his knees, propping his elbows on top he answers me.
“Seen as we’re being honest here. My father isn’t the man you think he is”
“Liam…” I start to question before he cuts me off.
“The board and I fired him because he’s useless. He inherited the company and if it hadn’t been for the other board members it would have crashed and burned a long time ago. That’s why I have numerous other businesses that have nothing to do with him. As insurance if you will, in the event that he would fail”
I’m so confused. I thought David was lovely? I know better than anyone that people can have multiple sides to them, and Liam has yet to explain to me why he fired his father.
“Can you explain?” I ask quietly, keeping my expression soft as to not cause offence. After all he just done the same for me. Tilting his chin up he holds me gaze as he tells me.
“When he signed the paperwork to hand Hadleigh over to me, he didn’t realize he signed over his power to me and by doing that I was able to fire him. It was quicker than waiting for him to resign. We don’t have a relationship, the only reason we even acknowledge each other is for my mother’s sake. Remember how I told you that I know panic attacks?”
I nod in response, not wanting to question, but quietly willing him to continue.
“Well, my sister was kidnapped and raped for twenty-four hours. The people behind it wanted revenge on my father for some legal mishap that cost them. In blood, jail time and money. It was an act of revenge. They demanded ransom money”
“Oh god” I can’t help the look of horror that’s splashed on my face. That poor, poor woman.
“He refused to pay it”
“What?!” my eyes almost pop out of their sockets.
Powerless (Power Series Book 1) Page 17