George smiled, seeming to understand. “Yeah, I think no matter what, we will always share a special connection.”
The final accounting week ended on Halloween. The company threw its annual rooftop party, and Lizzie learned—too late—that costumes were expected. She improvised: black fitted trousers, black cotton blouse, black pumps. After work, Carlota—full pirate regalia—wrapped red caution tape around Lizzie’s torso like a harness, tight around the waist so that it cinched her curves.
“¡Estás tremenda!” Carlota declared, stepping back to admire her handiwork. (You look tremendous!)
“Thanks. Not bad for last-minute.”
Lizzie had never been on the rooftop of Pemberley Pharmaceuticals before. She wasn’t prepared for the scale of it: passed hors d’oeuvres, two bars, a DJ spinning Latin house, string lights dripping over the railing, and a Miami skyline that could hush even its harshest critics.
“All this for Halloween?” she asked, incredulous.
“The boss is uptight, but he takes care of his people,” Carlota said. “Work hard, play hard.”
Lizzie filed that away—a surprise from Will.
She scanned the crowd and saw several of the people she’d been working with over the last few weeks: Ignacio as a construction worker, Jim as Buddy Holly, Carolina in her usual pencil skirt and blouse but with cat ears, and Charlesin chainmail and plastic sword. Will wore dark slacks, a white tee stretched across his chest, and a black leather jacket, curls slicked back. Greaser. Effortlessly, infuriatingly hot. She felt Will’s eyes on her from the moment she’d arrived. Maybe he thought the invite shouldn’t have extended to her? Lizzie dipped into the crowd before he could say anything, just in case.
After a while, Lizzie wondered if she should start plotting her exit. She had danced with Carlota first — a quick, silly twirl to the Latin house beat that left them both laughing. Ignacio had dragged her into a group photo, caution tape harness gleaming under the lights. She’d even let Jim convince her to try a Halloween-themed shot (something neon and terrible).
For a few minutes, she’d felt like she was among friends, almost forgetting that this was a work function. But then she’d catch Will watching her again.
Not staring — just… watching. Like he was trying to memorize every move. Like he was recording her actions; commuting them to memory.
Each time their eyes met, he looked ready to cross the roof. Each time, he didn’t.
She told herself it was the costume, the lights, the shots. Maybe he didn’t approve of the level of fraternization she was engaging in with his team.
She told herself she didn’t care and tried to keep herself from scanning for him. She finally managed to put him out of her mind when he materialized at her side.
“Red tape?” His gaze traveled over the harness and lingered.
“Scariest thing in corporate America,” she teased.
Will swallowed hard and took a long pull from his drink. “Lizzie, I’ve been trying to talk to you for a while. I kept hoping these feelings would fade so I’d never have to say this. They haven’t.” He met her eyes and put his drink down like it weighed a thousand pounds. “Go out with me.”
Lizzie blinked. “Like… a date?”
He looked almost pained. “Yes. I ardently admire and love you. Your mind, your fire, your impossible ideas. I want you—not as a consultant.”
The world tilted. Lizzie was completely aww-struck. She managed to say, “I’m sorry. No.”
Will nodded once, already bracing. “I know you work for me. Once the contract ends—”
“It’s not just that.” Her voice was steadier than she felt. “You’ve been rude from day one. You called me a ‘chubby amateur.’ And then you’ve been dismissive of my work. I find you savings that you ignore because of some relationship with Reed Medical or even Alisa Reed.”
Her voice cracked on “chubby” — not from hurt, but from anger. She worried suddenly that her emotions might betray her. She steeled herself.
Will looked completely caught off guard. “You know about Alisa and me?”
Lizzie nodded, “Carolina made it very clear.”
He ran a hand through his hair, flustered. “But… there is no Alisa and me. That’s the thing! It’s just business, and as you’ve uncovered, not even good business!”
“And George?—you fired him for nothing. Because he challenged you? That arrogance he told me about? I’ve felt it too. You haven’t shown me any type of appreciation or even acknowledged much of my work. It’s fine, I don’t need your constant reinforcement or anything, but nothing in your behavior towards me has softened my perception of you. I don’t know what I’ve done to make you think I’d ever go out with you, but it wasn’t intentional.” Lizzie knew from experience that the best way to turn someone down was directly, with no space for interpretation or hope. Still, seeing Will’s shocked face, she wondered if she’d said too much.
Will’s face went white. “That’s what you think of me? If I could just…”
Charles bounded over. “Raffle time! DJ’s holding the music!”
