“What’s wrong?”he asked.
“Nothing,” I assured him.
Despite being stepsiblings, Parker and I had always been close.He was also perceptive, sometimes annoyingly so.I crossed my arms over my chest and did my best to project a nonchalance I didn’t quite feel.
He studied me a moment before asking, “Do you know one of those men?Liam maybe?”
How had Parker even come to that conclusion?“Why would you ask that?”
He gave me a pointed look.“Because you looked like a deer in headlights when you walked into the conference room and saw him, not to mention how tense you were when you shook his hand.Neither of which is your normal confident way of handling yourself in a business setting.”
“You’re imagining things,” I said, keeping my tone even.“I’ve never met Liam before today.”
“Okay, I just wanted to make sure,” Parker said, finally letting it go.“It’s a good thing that you don’t have a problem with him, because he’s going to be working closely with us here in the office for the next few months.At least, that’s how long I estimate it’ll take to prepare the new product launch.”
My stomach dipped.“What do you mean?”Investors were behind the scenes and periodically checked in.They didn’t involve themselves in the business in any hands-on way.
“It’s part of the contract terms,” Parker said, grimacing as if the idea didn’t appeal to him either.“They’ll invest three million, but only if Liam oversees the launch and works with us day to day until everything is up and running.We’re having our lawyers look over the contract, but barring any last-minute red flags, Samuel will be signing in the next few days, and Liam will be here in the office starting next week.”
Anger flared through me at the new stipulation.“That’s ridiculous.We know what we’re doing.We don’t need some outsider stepping in to supervise.This is our family’s business, and we’ve managed just fine without anyone’s oversight.It will change the entire dynamic of the office.”
I tried to sound calm but my voice sharpened anyway.I wouldn’t have been happy about this regardless, but the fact that it was Liam made dread twist in my stomach.I couldn’t imagine working closely with him every single day.
“I agree,” Parker said with a sigh as he rubbed a hand along the back of his neck.“But if we want their money, which we do in order to get this portable charger to market, we don’t have a choice.”
We both looked back toward the conference room as my father, Liam, and Simon walked out together.Dad’s enthusiasm filled the hallway, his voice carrying as he shook hands with the two men.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership GalvaTech needs,” Samuel said, obviously excited at the prospect of working with them while Liam—God help me—smiled that same charming, persuasive smile I remembered all too well.
And all I could think was that he was going to be here.Every day.In my office.In meetings.In my space.
The thought made my stomach knot.I’d worked hard to build walls, to keep my life controlled and uncomplicated, and he had slipped past all of that far too easily.Pretending he meant nothing, that I didn’t still feel that pull between us, was going to be its own kind of torture.
By the time Dad turned to me, still beaming, and said something about the exciting months ahead, I had my polite smile firmly back in place.
I didn’t have a choice but to work with him, but I made myself a silent promise.I would never let Liam Powers catch me off guard again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Liam
The moment Morganwalked into that conference room I’d felt like someone had pulled the air right out of my lungs.
She froze when she saw me.Just for a second.But it was long enough to catch the shock of seeing me, then the flash of hurt in her eyes before she shoved it behind that perfectly composed expression.It was more than enough to remind me that ghosting her that night hadn’t been my finest moment, and I’d been kicking myself for that decision ever since.
I attempted to keep my face neutral for the sake of everyone in the room, but the guilt hit me hard.We hadn’t exchanged last names or phone numbers, and I hadn’t expected to ever see her again, let alone at a company Simon and I were investing in that was her family’s business.I couldn’t decide if it was karma or fate that made our paths cross again in the most awkward way possible.
That night with Morgan—despite what she probably thought based on my actions—hadn’t been something I’d brushed off like I had with every other woman since Ivy.Not even close.I left because staying scared the hell out of me.For the first time in years, I’d felt something I didn’t know how to handle.But that reason didn’t make my disappearing act any less insulting and I wasn’t naïve enough to think my explanation for doing so would earn me any grace now.
Especially not in a conference room with her father and stepbrother watching us.
When I shook her hand, she kept her voice polite and distant.She pretended as though we’d never met before and I had followed suit, knowing if I’d pulled her aside in that moment—asked to speak with her or even hinted at recognition—everyone would have wondered why.There would be questions.Assumptions.Potential office gossip.And Morgan didn’t deserve that.Not after the way I’d already mishandled things.
One thing I knew for certain was that I owed her an apology.I needed to fix the damage I’d done, if that was even possible.And I would, as soon as an opportunity presented itself.
So I’d stood there after our introduction, acting like a professional investor meeting a client for the first time, while my mind replayed the look in her eyes over and over.She’d probably spent the last two weeks convincing herself she’d meant nothing to me.That she’d misread everything that had transpired between us that night.That I was just another guy who took what he wanted and walked away.
And fuck, I’d let her think that.Christ, I felt like an asshole.
