“Well aren’t we just glowing today,” she beams at me. I stop in front of her desk leaning against the shiny white top. We’ve become really close in the past weeks. She’s a dynamo at her job and a great person to have in my corner.
“Is that Isabella I hear out here?” Rich rounds the corner waving a magazine at me. He leans over the desk next to me looking at Lillian. “Just when I thought we were all good friends here I have to find out about Isabella and the boss from a gossip rag.” He glares at me humorously, jamming a picture of Liam and me gracing the front cover of Bared Weekly.
Heat rushes to my face as I snatch the magazine from his hand. The picture is of Liam and I in the water with my legs wrapped around his waist and my tongue shoved down his throat. The headline reads Millionaire Bachelor Maddox’s Next Acquisition. I turn away rummaging through the pages till I get to the article of us and skim it quickly. Apparently I came between him and Arianna, who quotes in the magazine that I stole Liam from her and that her relationship with him will remain solid when he realizes how much slut that I am. She actually called me a slut. My heart races just thinking of how many people will read this lie. My name is in bold prints under a picture of Liam carrying me on his back off the beach. There are several other pictures taken during what we thought was a quiet day out. The privacy and tranquility I felt yesterday now violated by some camera man intruding on my treasured moments.
I considered a lot of things when I moved here with Liam but this is something I overlooked. I know he was in the public eye often but I was so wrapped up in our melodrama to consider how his celebrity would affect me. Now I’m the slut and Arianna is the victim. I even played the role on the beach by thrusting my hand down Liam’s shorts which of course they caught with their super zoom camera and published for all to see.
Rich pats me on the shoulder in consolation. “Everyone knows those rags lie. Don’t worry you won’t be the villain for long.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder guiding me to my office, “Besides you with your hand down the boss’s shorts…seriously hot. Every man in this building is jealous.” I smile over my shoulder at him knowing he’s sincerely trying to cheer me up.
“Thanks Rich and I’m sorry you found out this way,” I say shoving the magazine against his chest, needing separation from that trash. “I’m not used to having friends I can confide in so I keep my personal life in a separate compartment.”
“I know Isabella. You were bottled up so tight when you got here I thought you would explode if we pushed you the wrong way. You’re a really wonderful woman but I don’t think you see yourself the way we do. You’re dating one of the most eligible bachelors around so you’re going to have to open up and talk to someone. Lillian and I are here for you. Whatever you say to us stays between us.” He say hugging me at my office door then tossing the magazine in the hallway trash as he makes his way back to his office.
I seriously love Palm Beach and all the new people in my life.
My phone rings as I place my bag on the desk. Liam.
“He was just trying to cheer me up.” I say before he screams into the phone.
“Every time I look at this fucking screen Harris is all over you,” now that’s a huge exaggeration he spends maybe an hour or two a day with me. The rest of the day we are too busy managing the needs of each department. He’s a great partner but Liam see’s our quickly formed friendship as a threat. The best way to deal with Liam when he’s like this is to not feed his aggravation with an argument.
“Did you see the article about us in Bared?” I ask averting the Rich topic.
“Yeah Gabby showed it to me. We look pretty good together don’t we?” I can hear his smile over the line.
“Liam, Arianna called me a slut and there’s a picture of me molesting you for the world to see.” I say exasperated by his nonchalant attitude.
“Babe, don’t take these things too seriously otherwise you’ll never sleep at night. This is your life now. Soon enough they’ll realize you aren’t going anywhere and follow you around trying to catch the next story. Let them say what they want as long as we know the truth.”
I take a deep breath letting it out slowly knowing he’s right about this. I don’t need the public to affirm my feelings for Liam.
“And that picture of you molesting me…umm. I can still feel your hand stroking me. I might have that one framed.” He chuckles into the line.
“You’re sexually depraved Liam.” I laugh at his insatiable sexual appetite.
His laughter rumbles through the line as I hang up.
********
The next day Lillian and I walk to a nearby deli for lunch. We enjoy the balmy weather as we walk along the water of West Palm Beach. A shiver runs up my spine as we near the building. The kind you don’t get from the ice cold smoothie I’m drinking. It’s a prickly feeling that spreads all over my skin as every nerve ending in my body jumps to full alert. My eyes dart across the courtyard in front of Maddox Enterprise not really sure what I’m looking for.
Countless people are scattered across the large grassy area. Some on their lunch and some just enjoying the park-like comfort of the courtyard. I stumble at the door, my eyes locking on a man in a bright polo and khaki shorts. My heart jolts into an accelerated pace and every limb in my body turns to mush. Lillian clutches my arm to steady me.
“Are you okay?” she asks holding my arms to steady me. I nod at her turning towards the glass door for one more glimpse of the man. He’s still there but faced away talking on a phone.
It can’t be. It just can’t be, I say to myself. There’s no way this would happen to me now that I’m finally happy. I motion to Lillian that I’ll be in the restroom and wave her off when she offers to join me.
I rush into a stall as my chest begins to feel like it closing in. My hands are sweaty as I pull out my phone and dial the number already programmed into my phone. He answers on the second ring-my angel.
“Isabella” he answers frantically. “Are you okay?”
“No” I squeak into the phone as my vision begins to blur. “Can’t breathe…again…please”
“I’m here Isabella. This will pass. Take a deep breath for me like we did before. I won’t leave you alone, you’re safe. I know you’re scared but we’ll get through it together.” His smooth voice is like a lullaby soothing my panic stricken mind.
I can do this, I did it last time. He instructs me to breathe at his count and the awful feeling begins to lessen. I listen to him count for longer than necessary loving the soothing quality of his voice.
“I’m sorry Cayden,” I apologize hating that I interrupted his day with my issues.
“Why are you sorry? I told you that I was here for you whenever you needed me and I meant that.” He answers, bothered by my apology.
“I know but you have real patients to take care of, I shouldn’t be imposing on your day with my problems.” I whine.
“I need to see you. Are you free tomorrow for lunch?”
“I’ll make myself available.” His invitation is a relief. I know I’ll need to keep him in my life if my past has come back to haunt me.
I hang up with Cayden and examine myself in the mirror. Amazing how a few moments ago I felt like I was going to die but outwardly I look fine. The attack affects me much like my life. Outwardly a disguise as a beautiful woman but inside I’m a jumble of painful emotions so intense that I feel like I’ll wither up and die.
I rush out the bathroom to the elevator in hopes to reach my office before Lillian worries. The door slides open and Liam slams right into me in his rush off the elevator. He grabs me by my arms as I stumble backwards.
“What’s wrong,” he inquires his eye brimming with concern.
“Nothing,” I answer brushing past him into the elevator. He follows me into the empty car slipping his key in the slot. His eyes glare into mines demanding an answer.
“Ella you’ve been in that restroom for 15 minutes. Your pale and you’re hiding something from m
e.”
“Why are you always watching me on that fucking camera,” I snap. “Don’t you have a business to run? Stalking me is getting really old Liam.” I scream at him not even sure where all this anger came from. He visibly flinches at my words, staring down at me like I just grew two horns. He closes the distance between us. His lips are a hairs breathe away from mine.
“You are my business,” he says under his breath. “I’ll stalk you, I’ll chase you, and I’ll hunt you across the world if I have to. You’re mine and I will protect you to my last breath. If I have to spend the day watching you on a screen to ensure that safety then that’s what I’ll do.”
The elevator door dings open and Liam drags me past reception. The girls at reception wave at me, having already become accustomed to our crazy relationship dynamic. He locks the door after we enter his office. He removes his jacket while walking to his desk to sit in his big intimidating chair. He motions for me to sit across from him and I immediately do as he says. Liam in business mode commands the room and makes me a little nervous.
“Are you sick Ella? Pregnant maybe?” he asks leaning towards me.
“What! No it’s nothing like that,” Pregnant? That’s what he thought this is about. Hell no! To bring a kid into my crazy existence would be a disaster. “I just had another attack, it’s not a big deal and I’m okay now.” Telling him the truth and dealing with his concern was a lot better than his pregnancy suspicions. He jumps up from his chair pulling me out my chair and wrapping his arm around me.
“Why didn’t you call me. I feel like I’m never there when you need me. I’m sorry you had to go through that alone baby. I should’ve come down sooner.” He holds my head between his hands, kissing me repeatedly. The regret etched in his face convinces me to not tell him Cayden helped me again. If he knew I called another man for help there’s no telling how he would react.
“I’ll call Lillian and let her know I’m taking you home”
“What? No Liam I’m not going home. It’s the middle of the day, I have things to do and you have meetings. I’m perfectly fine so I’m going back to work.” I attempt to put my foot down at his coddling.
“You have two options” he says holding up two fingers, glaring down at me. “Either I bring you home and take care of you or you go back into my suite and let me run you a bath so you can take a nap while I take my meetings. I need you close by so I can take care of you but there’s no sense of us both missing the workday.” A determined glint sparkles in his eye and I know this is not a winning battle.
He walks through the door leading to his personal suite without waiting for an answer, he knows I’ll do as he says. I hear water running as I grab the phone and let Rich and Lillian know I’m not feeling well. They quickly dismiss my apologies’ assuring me they have everything under control and I should let Liam take care of me.
I enter Liam’s ensuite admiring him in his suit. His sleeves are rolled up while he pours scented oils in the tub for me.
“You have scented oil here? Did you bring women here?” Disgust quickly churning in my stomach.
“No Ella I had these put in here after we came back. Every aspect of my life is open to you now. This suite is as much yours as it is mine.” he says removing my clothes and folding them. He helps me into the tub then kisses me on the lip. Quickly backing away as I try to deepen the kiss. He smiles at my childish pout.
“You need to rest and I have meetings soon. I’m not going to let you tempt me into that tub.” He says walking towards the door.
“Come on,” I scream after him but he ignores me, shutting the door behind him. He said he wanted me to relax and nothing relaxes me better than a big hard dose of Liam. I close my eyes focusing on my love for Liam and Cayden’s soothing voice as I seep into a relaxed state.
Liam nudges me awake a while later, holding out a towel for me. He tends to me like a child, rubbing lotion into my skin and dressing me in one of his button up shirts. He tucks me in, placing a kiss on my forehead before heading back to his office. I linger between sleep and consciousness surprised by how tired I am after that short episode I suffered through.
Liam finishes early and takes me home. He makes me dinner and rubs me down with oils until I fall asleep. Despite my whining for him to make love to me and his rock hard erection that poked me several times during his massage, he refuses to have sex with me. I love him for wanting to take care of me and show me his love through non sexual channels but I crave him. The hunger for him so fierce I wake up in the middle of the night and ride him so hard we’re both screaming our release within five minutes. I collapse on top of him, falling into an exhausted sleep still connected to him in the most intimate way.
********
The next day Lillian and Rich pamper me, taking turns checking in on me. They even try to lighten my workload by taking the burden themselves. I have to yell at them to seriously get them to leave me alone and quit the babying. I have a strong feeling Liam put them up to this annoying attempt to get me to relax, if he had his way I would have spent the day at home. His over protectiveness is so aggravating I flip the finger at the surveillance camera on my way out to lunch knowing there was a high probability he would get the message.
I meet Cayden at a small bistro in the area. I talked Liam into letting me drive in to work today knowing I would need transportation for my lunch with Cayden. Telling Liam I wanted to drive just in case I wanted to go home early was low. I prayed on his concern for me and felt sick with myself for lying to him.
Cayden rises from the table and hugs me with surprising familiarity. Everyone I’ve met since getting here have encroached the protective bubble I’ve work for years building, each relationship growing at a super-speed. I feel like I’ve known them all for a lifetime. Fate played a role in gifting me this new life and I wasn’t one to defy fate. After the shit hand it dealt me early in life, fate owed me something better for my future.
Cayden hold’s my hand across the table analyzing my state of mind with his sharp psychologist eyes. We order quickly needing the privacy to talk.
“What happened yesterday?” he asks. I knew I would have to talk about it but I’m a little afraid talking will initiate another attack.
“I thought I saw someone from my past.” Surprised that I opened up despite my fears.
“Is this the same trigger as the last time?”
“Trigger?”
“The same cause for your attack before.” He never breaks eye contact with me, his eyes so mesmerizing I can’t even blink I’m so lost in them.
“I think so. Last time I didn’t actually see anyone, it was just the fear of it that brought on the attack.” I take a deep breath relieved to be letting my fears off my chest.
“Do you want to talk about why this person frightens you?” he doesn’t try to force me into talking. His eyes are soft and warm trying to help me to face my issues.
“No. I’m sorry Cayden but I’m not ready for that.” I say finally breaking from my trance, taking a bite out of my panini.
“Don’t be sorry Isabella. You never need to apologize for your emotions. I want to help you however possible. If you need to talk I’m here or if you’re having another attack I’ll be there for you. I don’t want to see you so distraught anymore so whenever you’re ready you let me know.”
The rest of our lunch goes by quickly once the pressure of talking about my panic attack is off the table. Turns out he’s not just a run of the mill psychologist he’s actually a big deal. He has his own television show. It’s a younger flashier version of Dr. Phil. I explain to him the circumstances of my move down here. He doesn’t bat an eyelash when I explain the Liam and Lucas situation he just listens. I like talking to someone who doesn’t judge me for my past mistakes. I hug him outside of the Bistro. Thanking him again for his help yesterday before I go back to my car.
I don’t hear from Liam until I’m ready to leave my office that evening. He text me to let me know there’s an emergency and
he’ll be home late. It’s the first time since we’ve been here that he hasn’t been able to get out of working late.
When I get home I strip down to my shirt and panties and fix dinner. Liam calls to tell me not to wait up so I eat my dinner in the den watching Cayden’s show On Demand. I lay out on the couch watching each available episode. His angelic ways float through the screen relaxing me as I listen to him heal the world one person at a time.
I’m jarred awake by Liam carrying me into our room. He places me in the bed then drops his towel and wraps his freshly showered body around mine. Tonight I fall asleep in his arms content with just being held.
Chapter 16
Liam
I wake to Isabella leaning over me. Her breast peaks out the opening in her shirt. They bounce over my face as she attacks the ringing alarm on my side of the bed. Once she gets it to shut up she attempts to roll back over to her side of the bed but I hold her over me by her arms. She smiles down at me feeling me rise to full attention under the covers. She slowly drifts down, her disheveled hair disappearing underneath the covers.
Her tongue flicks over me repeatedly with firm but gentle strokes. She’s teasing me knowing I’m aching for her to wrap that wicked mouth around me. She purposely avoids touching me with her hands only granting me the pleasures her mouth could give me. Soft sweeps of her tongue along my balls compel me to grip the sheets from the intense pleasure threatening to bring me over the edge. She teases them endlessly until she finally sucks them into her mouth.
Beams of intense pleasure shot up the base of my cock. I’m so hard now I’m throbbing with the need to explode. She runs her tongue back up my cock and I know she has no intention of ending this torture by wrapping her warm mouth around me. I flip the covers off sliding off the bed and drag her by her armpit until her head is hanging off the edge. I stand over her with my cock in perfect position with her mouth. She smile mischievously up at me, flicking her tongue out over my tightly wound sac. She only teases me this way when she wants me to lose control and be rough with her.
Beautifully Broken (Beautifully Series, Book 1) Page 15