Vanessa
"Please, Liam," I pleaded, my voice laced with desperation. "Don't do anything that would get me in trouble. It's my word against Tony's."
He took a deep breath, seemingly forcing himself to calm down. "Relax, Vanessa," he said, his voice softer now, although the fire still flickered in his eyes. "Your name won't come into this. Trust me. Now, answer the question."
I hesitated, then gave in. "There are twelve of us," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Eight women and four guys."
"Thank you," he said curtly,his gaze hardening with a steely resolve, before turning abruptly and walking away, leaving me alone with my half-eaten lunch and a knot of worry twisting in my stomach.
I knew Liam wouldn't let this go, and a part of me feared the consequences of his intervention. But another part, a tiny, traitorous part, felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Liam would be the one to finally tip the scales in my favor.
Liam
