"They are all fine. Thanks for asking, Rory. By the way, Sidney is five months pregnant," Lennon said.
"Oh? Congratulations," Rory smiled. She was happy for him.
Lennon is 38 and is a self-made billionaire. His wife is Miss Universe and they already have a three-year-old daughter. Now his family is expanding more.
This is the guy who lives the dream. She envied him a little. Well, a lot if she is being honest.
"Then… I'll leave," Rory said, checking the time. "I have to get back to Ellie."
"Rory," Lennon stopped her. "Will you be there for Derick's wedding?" he fiddled with his cufflinks.
Rory nervously scratched her neck. She has received the invitation. And Derick is her favorite person in the Roberts family. She should be attending his wedding.
But this is his second wedding and it is going to be a small wedding held in the backyard of their family house. She wondered if she should attend the wedding.
She is planning on leaving the country as soon as possible. She didn't know if it would be appropriate to attend the wedding of her ex's cousin. Wouldn't it be awkward if he brings his girlfriend there?
"I…' Rory hesitated.
"You must!" he raised his voice and Rory looked at him awkwardly. She felt like she is put on a spot.
"Sidney would feel alone there. If you're there, she will…" Lennon said softly and looked at her with a pleading expression.
Rory saw the care he has for his wife. And he is right. His family does not like him. Grandpa Roberts had impregnated a woman in another country when he was there on a trip and Lennon was the result of that. Grandma Roberts agreed to adopt him into the family after Lennon's mother passed, but he was never accepted as family by anyone, except Grandpa Roberts.
Neither Liam's father nor his eldest uncle considers Lennon their brother. Their disapproval extends to Lennon's family too. But oddly in all this, they would expect Lennon's presence in their family get-togethers, just to ignore him.
"I'll see if I can…" Rory smiled awkwardly. She didn't understand why Lennon is insisting on her attending the wedding knowing that she is divorced.
Sure, she knows the Roberts family for ages and they still consider her as family, but…
He must love his wife so much, that he forgets about everything else! What a lucky woman!
"What did William say?" Lennon asked.
"He…" she bit her lips. "I am not talking about him," Rory smiled playfully and turned to leave. She didn't want to talk about Liam.
Lennon didn't stop her and started chuckling.
"You two are very entertaining…"
-----
Liam walked out of his room after composing himself. He was surprised to hear the commotion from the reception area.
"Leave! Don't you know have a job to do? Geez! Get a life!..."
Allison was shouting, as usual.
His pace quickened. Rory just left and now Allison is shouting. Something must be going on.
When he reached the reception area, he saw Allison sending off the crowd around her. He couldn't see her face clearly but she is clearly ashamed if she is sending them away with zeal.
But the crowd was not dispersing and was talking amongst each other. Seeing Liam, they started to return to their workspace.
"What happened here, Jake?" he asked his assistant who left the break room. He had asked him to have an eye on her all the time.
"Here," Jake passed his phone after scrolling through it. "See for yourself."
Liam got the phone and went through the security footage. His face went stiff for a moment before he looked around.
"Where is she?" he asked Jake passing his phone back.
"There…" Jake pointed to his right, with his mouth slightly ajar. Allison was walking towards them. By her expression, he could see that there is going to be a lot of complaining.
"Tch!" Liam clicked his tongue. "Where is she?"
"Oh, that other woman? She went to the big boss's office with him," Jake said. He gulped and took a step back not knowing why he is met with the fiery glare of his superior.
Liam walked towards the hallway with his hand inside his trouser pocket. His bony fingers fumbled with the rings inside his pocket.
Rory got out of the room and closed the room softly. Through her peripheral vision, she saw a tall figure with a golden halo on his head walking at her.
It WAS Liam to her dread.
The moment his eyes met with hers, he ran at her shouting at her to stop. She turned and ran away from him, instinctively.
He was mad when she left him and she hit his girlfriend to top it off. She knew he will not hold back his punches against those who hurt his people. He will hit her back.
With every ounce of energy she had, she ran to the elevator.
She was ten meters from the elevator and glanced at the display. The elevator was climbing up. She hoped the elevator stops on this floor just when she reaches there.
In case that didn't happen, she looked around to see if there are other exits. There was a fire exit at the other end of the hallway. But she will have to pass through the reception to get there. And there are a lot of people in the reception.
For now, her only hope is the elevator.
She heard his large thumping footsteps nearing her and she turned to see Liam gaining on her.
"Stop right now, Cherrypie! You're already caught!" Liam shouted in a leisurely manner.
The way he called her 'Cherrypie' was so relaxed and familiar. Rory's heart skipped a beat hearing him say the pet name only he uses. But she didn't want to fall for his gimmicks. She stuck her tongue out.
He increased his speed.
F*ck this!
She sucked in a deep breath to summon the spirit of the roadrunner and dashed to the elevator. She didn't want to be eaten by the coyote chasing her.
"Come on! Come on! Open!" she mumbled staring at the door of the elevator.
"Stop!" Liam shouted and the sound of the heavy thumping of his shoes caused butterflies in her stomach. His voice was so close to her.
*Ding*
The elevator door opened just as Rory was two meters away from the elevator and she sighed in relief. An intern with a stack of printouts stepped out of the elevator.
"Sorry," she said grabbing the elbow of the intern. The guy blinked not understanding what was happening. He saw Liam Roberts running at her. He was confused.
But not for long.
Pushing the intern right at Liam who was just behind her, Rory got inside the elevator.
"Sh*t!" Liam cussed.
Rory hurriedly pressed the 'Door close button' of the elevator with her eyes focusing on Liam. The force she pushed the intern was just right and the intern had grabbed Liam to brace his fall. Liam was struggling to get free.
She smirked.