Nate had almost lost his shit when he spotted them across the hall in a heated discussion. Only his uncle warning him to be cool, and the number of influential people in attendance, kept him from acting a fool. Nick was usually the one who threw a punch first and then asked questions, but tonight Nate came close to doing the same thing.
“Please, honey. I need to do this.”
Nate cursed under his breath and cupped her face between his hands. “You know I can’t handle it when you look at me like that with those exotic eyes. Alright, we’ll stay.” He kissed her red lips.
He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake in agreeing to stick around. He understood her need to flex her independence, but in this case, he didn’t like it.
“If at any time you want to get out of here, just say the word.”
Her sexy lips tipped up into that sweet smile that always made his heart flip inside his chest.
“I will, and thank you. I know it’s not going to be easy, for either of us, but I appreciate you being here for me.”
“Always, baby. I will always be here for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Liberty walked into LCA tired from a long night of studying, but feeling more encouraged than she’d felt in a long time. Her life was on track. She didn’t love her job, but it was paying the bills, and she had proven to herself that she was marketable. Her plans were to take the bar, and pass it. Then she would look for another job. Until then, she’d buy her time at LCA.
“What’s up, Liberty?” John, a guy from the maintenance crew greeted. He had never come on to her outright, but each time he looked at her it felt as if he was picturing her naked.
“Hi, John,” she said and kept walking.
John’s creepiness made her think about the run-in with Isaac the week before. Liberty thought the last time she saw him in Chicago would be the last time, but no such luck. It felt good standing up to him.
Liberty took the stairs up to the second floor, and when she stepped into her office, she was greeted by the fresh scent of flowers. A smile covered her face. Nate had sent the gorgeous bouquet the day before.
She leaned over them and inhaled. “God, these smell good.”
The arrangement, a gorgeous mixture of white Asiatic lilies, white roses, and white mini carnations, brightened the whole space. Nate had been the only man to ever send her flowers. Once he learned that, he started having them delivered weekly. His thoughtful gestures, everything from letting her use his SUV, to preparing relaxing bubble baths, had her falling deeper and deeper in love with him. It felt so good to have a supportive man in her corner.
She dropped down in her chair and lifted the note that someone had left on her desk.
See me in my office when you get in. Eden
Excitement buzzed inside of Liberty. The award announcement for Unity Tower was expected any day. Maybe Eden had heard something. If awarded, this would be Liberty’s second successful proposal. Being with the company for almost six months, she had submitted two bids for the company, as well as two state proposals. The Unity Tower project had been the largest. In addition to that, she was overseeing two additional jobs that were on target to finish ahead of schedule.
Feeling encouraged, she quickly stored her purse in the bottom draw of the desk and headed to the third floor.
“Hey Liberty,” Eden’s assistant greeted. “You can go on in.”
“Thanks.” She knocked before entering. “Morning, Eden. You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, come in. Have a seat.” She pointed to one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Give me a second to finish this email.”
Eden went back to typing something into her computer. Liberty swept her gaze over the woman. Tall with shocking red hair and pale skin, Eden had been with the company for over thirty years. Working her way up from an administrative assistant position, she knew practically everything about the company and the procedures. She might’ve respected Eden’s success, but there wasn’t much love between them.
The woman didn’t like Liberty. There were never any congratulations on a job well done. There were also times when Eden gave projects, but didn’t give enough information to complete the job successfully. It was good Liberty asked a lot of questions.
“I was informed this morning,” Eden said interrupting Liberty’s thoughts, “that LCA won the bid for the Unity Tower project.” Her words were spoken very business-like with all the enthusiasm of a saltine cracker. Liberty looked past her boss’s sourness and did a happy dance inside. She was two-for-two in awarded proposals for the company, and she could barely contain her excitement.
“That’s great news! Do we have to change anything or was the proposal accepted as is?”
“LCA should receive details in the mail by the end of the week. But something else has been brought to my attention.” Eden finally looked at Liberty. “I hear that you’re involved with one of our business partners.”
Surprised and a bit confused, Liberty tilted her head. “What business partner?”
“Nathaniel Jenkins.”
“Technically he’s not a business partner. The company he works for is possibly collaborating with LCA, but the final documents haven’t been signed,” Liberty said, knowing it was only a matter of time before LCA received the award letter and contract.
Eden studied her, probably wondering if Liberty was trying to imply that Jenkins & Sons might not do business with them.
“Whatever he is, LCA frowns on its employees sleeping with clients, partners, or anyone who can cause problems for the company.”
Alarm bells erupted within Liberty as she gathered her thoughts, wanting to be careful with her response. She was friendly with her co-workers, but not close enough to any of them to share details about her and Nate’s relationship. Then she thought about something Nate had said. Everyone in town knows someone in the Jenkins family.
“What’s this really about, Eden? LCA doesn’t have a no-fraternizing policy regarding employees dating each other. Nor is there anything written that states I can’t have a relationship with anyone remotely affiliated with LCA.”
“That might be so, but it’s still not a good look. Either you stop seeing Mr. Jenkins, or we’re going to have to terminate your employment immediately.”
“You can’t do that!” Liberty snapped.
“I can. You’re still on probation. We can let you go for any reason.”
Liberty released a humorless laugh wanting to snatch the woman up by her hair and shake her. “Unbelievable. I have one week left on my probation, and you’re trying to pull this nonsense now?”
Anger seized Liberty. It took all she had not to slam her fist against the desk and threaten to sue. Unfortunately, Eden was right. They could let her go for any reason at this point.
“What’s it going to be?” The woman glanced at her watch looking bored as she tapped her pen against the desk impatiently. “Mr. Jenkins or your job?”
An angry retort dangled on Liberty’s tongue, but her mouth remained shut. She had left Nate once. There was nothing or no one who could make her leave him again.
Liberty stood. “I guess you should get my termination papers together.”
“Fine.” She grabbed a file folder from one of the drawers in her desk. Pulling out a form, Liberty noticed it had already been filled out.
This is bullshit.
Then something dawned on her. “Who told you that I was involved with Mr. Jenkins?”
“Ted,” she said of her supervisor. “He said Lyndon Crawford, LCA’s owner, contacted him saying it wasn’t good business that you were sleeping with a business partner.”
“The owner?” Liberty asked, still trying to process the information. “What makes Crawford think I’m sleeping with Mr. Jenkins?”
“Listen, Liberty. I don’t know the details. I told you all that I know and frankly I thought you were smarter. With your skills and education, you could’ve gone far in this company. Instead, you’re throwing this oppo
rtunity away for some guy. Do you know how hard it is to find a job?”
If Liberty wasn’t so pissed, she might’ve laughed. She knew better than anyone how hard it was to find a job at her level. But she also knew that what she and Nate had was a second chance at an amazing life together.
LCA’s decision to suddenly get rid of her was starting to make sense. Isaac’s reach was long and wide. Liberty had found that out the hard way. Had he somehow gotten to the owner of LCA? It was too much of a coincidence for her relationship with Nate to come to the company’s attention, especially now. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much Liberty could do since she was on probation.
After exit forms were signed, Liberty couldn’t get to her office fast enough. When she woke up that morning, this was not how she saw her day going. Losing this job was another setback, but if Isaac was behind her termination, so be it. She wouldn’t let him control her life. For the first time since divorcing him, this obstacle didn’t feel like the end of the world. She wasn’t afraid of the unknown. Another job would come along. In the meantime, she’d spend her days studying, and in February she would take the bar.
“Are you ready to leave, Ms. Stewart?”
She glanced over her shoulder at the doorway to find a security guard.
Unbelievable. I’m being escorted out.
“Yes,” she answered.
Liberty grabbed her purse and flowers. With her shoulders back and her head held high, she left the office with the security guard following close behind.
This will all work out.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nate parked his BMW in front of Liberty’s apartment complex and cut the engine. With the light snow covering the roads, soon it would be time to put up his car. But first they needed to get Liberty a new vehicle so he could get his SUV from her.
Nate’s gaze took in her block. It wasn’t necessarily a bad neighborhood, but he didn’t think it was safe enough for a single woman. Since his home was larger, they spent most of their time there. Getting her to stay the night at his place more often was getting easier, but he could tell she treasured her independence. Maybe it was selfish of him to like going home and finding her there, but it was true. Not only was she perfect for him, she fit perfectly in his space. In addition to a key, he had given her a drawer and space in the closet, which she finally started using. Since making their relationship official, he’d seen her every day.
Except today.
Nate climbed out of the car, grabbing the dinner he had prepared, and the bottle of non-alcoholic wine he had picked up on the way. Liberty had called him earlier at work to cancel their plans. That was a first. Something was wrong. She claimed she was fine and planned to relax for the evening. Nate wasn’t buying it. He heard the weariness in her voice, and it concerned him. Besides, he’d had big plans for her tonight, and he wasn’t about to let her ruin them.
He buzzed her apartment, no longer second-guessing his decision to show up unannounced. He had let her walk away from him once without asking enough questions, but that would never happen again. He couldn’t lose her a second time.
“Who’s there?”
“Hey, baby, it’s me.”
She buzzed him in. The hallway was empty, but the smell of fried chicken permeated the air. Nate could hear sounds of a television coming from one of the apartments, and music from another. When he reached Liberty’s unit, she was at the door waiting for him.
It didn’t matter when, where, or the time of day, the sight of her always revved up his pulse. Seeing her now, he was met with an overwhelming feeling of rightness. She was the woman for him. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
“Hi,” she said shyly, her smile not quite reaching her beautiful brown eyes.
“Hi, yourself.” Nate studied her carefully as she opened the door wider to let him in. “There was no way I could go a day without seeing you.”
He set the bags down and shook out of his wool coat, draping it on the back of one of the dining room chairs. He extended his hand to her and she came to him willingly. He held her tight, kissing the side of her head as he inhaled her familiar scent of lavender.
Not able to wait another minute to taste her, he lowered his mouth and covered hers. Sweetness. Her lips were soft and inviting. What started as a gentle greeting quickly turned into something more heated. He wanted nothing more than to carry her to the bedroom, but that nagging feeling he’d had earlier was back. Something was wrong. She kissed him as if it were going to be the last time, and that scared Nate to death.
“I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” she said when they came up for air. “But I’m really glad you’re here.”
“There’s no other place I’d rather be. Besides, I couldn’t let you back out of the special evening I had planned.”
Nate placed a kiss on her forehead and then moved to the table where he’d set the bags.
“Something smells delicious,” Liberty said as he pulled out several containers and set them on the table. “Wait. You cooked for me? You didn’t tell me you were cooking tonight.”
“It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, honey. You mentioned us having dinner, but I didn’t know you were going to cook.”
“Does it matter?” He grabbed plates and wine glasses from one of the upper cabinets, and then pulled opened the utensils’ drawer.
“Yes, it matters. Had I known, I wouldn’t have canceled. You shouldn’t have gone through so much trouble.”
He frowned at her. “Why not?”
“Because.” Liberty ran her hand through her disheveled hair nervously. She had let it grow out and now it was past her shoulders.
“Come here.” He looped an arm around her waist, pulling her against the side of his body. “Tell me what’s going on.”
She rested her head against his chest and sighed, her arms tightening around his waist. His worry radar kicked into high gear.
“It’s nothing we really have to discuss right now.” She pulled out of his hold and placed cloth napkins on the table. If he wasn’t so concerned, he’d smiled at the gesture. Occasionally, she did or said things that reminded him of the posh lifestyle she’d lived after graduating. His mother only put out cloth napkins during special occasions whereas Liberty used them whenever they ate at her place.
“I’m worried about you.” Nate pulled out a chair for her and then sat in the one on the other side of the two-seater table.
Liberty reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “You worry too much.”
Nate lifted her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. “It’s my job to worry about you.”
Sadness filled her eyes and it was like taking a knife to the chest. He wanted to press her to talk to him, but one of the things he had learned from his father was that women talked when they wanted to.
Instead of pressing for information, he’d wait it out. He had no intention of leaving until she told him what was going on.
Glad the food was still warm, Nate loaded their plates with vegan Bolognese, grilled potato salad and kale greens. Normally he was a meat and potatoes guy, but lately he’d been conforming more to her way of eating, at least when she was around.
Small talk about the meal, the coming snow storm, and how they both looked forward to the Cincinnati Bengals game on Sunday, dominated their conversation while eating. Liberty wasn’t as tense as she’d been when he first arrived, but the slump of her shoulders and the lack of spark in her eyes had him on alert. Something had happened today, but he couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just tell him.
After clearing the table and washing the dishes, Nate carried their wine glasses to the living room. Once they were settled, he said, “Talk to me.” The apartment was so small, the living room couldn’t accommodate an actual sofa and they were sitting on a love seat. “Remember when we agreed that we would tell each other everything? Whatever it is, baby, we’ll get through it. But if I don’t know what’s hap
pened, I can’t help.”
After a long hesitation, she said, “LCA and Jenkins & Sons won the bid for the Unity Tower project.”
Nate gasped in surprise. “That’s great…isn’t it?” Confused at why she wasn’t doing a happy dance on top of the table, he didn’t say anything else hoping she’d continued. This opportunity was huge for her and she had wanted this even more than he and Nick.
“It’s wonderful news, but…”
“But?”
“But,” she whispered and then stood, effectively putting space between them when she walked to the other side of the room. Her arms were wrapped around her waist as if protecting herself from something. The tension bouncing off of her was palpable.
Nate stood, but kept his distance. “But what, Liberty? What happened?”
She finally met his gaze. “I um, they…” She shook her head and released a frustrated breath. “I’m no longer on the project.”
Nate tilted his head in surprise. “Why not? It’s because of you LCA was awarded the project.”
“No, it’s because of both of us. I couldn’t have done that proposal by myself.”
She had done most of the work, but he didn’t bother arguing with her. There was something else going on here. Something she was holding back.
“What reason did they give for pulling you off the project? With all that you’ve accomplished for them in this short amount of time, you’re an asset. Heck, you guys were just awarded the Unity Tower job. That project is huge. Why the hell would they pull you off of it?”
“Eden said the company frowns on their employees dating LCA’s business partners and if I wanted to keep my job I had to…”
Nate stopped pacing and turned to her. The full weight of what she was saying knocked him upside the head. “You had to what?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“I have to stop seeing you.”
Another ultimatum. It was like being back in college again when she had told him that she had gotten married. Her ex had offered her a life that Nate couldn’t give her. Like now. Her job had given her a chance to regain her independence. A chance to rebuild her self-esteem. What did he have to give her?
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