Liam's POV
The sun was a pale orange when I left my house, casting a soft, hazy glow over the city. I sat in the back seat of my car, letting my driver navigate through the busy streets. I wasn't in the mood to drive myself today. Too much was swirling around in my mind after spending the previous night restlessly thinking about Destiny.
After leaving her place yesterday, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and woke up late, only realizing it was Sunday after I'd already dragged myself to the gym. My workout was half-hearted, just enough to get the blood flowing, but my thoughts were elsewhere, trapped in the maze of my feelings for Destiny. Melissa, my cook, had prepared my meals, and I spent most of the day locked in my home office, aimlessly working on small tasks to pass the time. But everything felt hollow, even mundane tasks.
Now that Destiny is back in my life, I have to act. I can't just sit back and let her slip through my fingers again. She's the only woman I've ever really thought about, the only one who's ever truly mattered. I need to talk to her, to figure out a way to make her see that we deserve another chance. Maybe I could ask her to lunch tomorrow. If she refuses, well, I'm still her boss—I can make it happen one way or another.
As we approached the towering glass building of my company, my driver slowed to a stop at the entrance. He stepped out and quickly opened my door. I nodded to him as I climbed out, adjusting my suit jacket as I made my way to the elevator. My steps were purposeful, but inside, I felt a nervous energy buzzing under my skin.
When I reached my floor, the first thing I did was glance at Destiny's desk. There she was, seated, her attention focused on a file. 'It must be my schedule,' I thought, noting how intently she seemed to be reading. Alexis must have briefed her before she left yesterday. I'd called Alexis after I hired Destiny and made sure she arranged a desk for her right in front of my office. I needed her close. Close enough to see, to feel her presence, to remind her that she still meant something to me.
Hearing my footsteps, Destiny looked up. Her eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, something flickered between us, familiar, yet distant. I stopped in front of her desk. She stood up, her demeanor professional. I kept my expression blank as I ordered her to come to my office.
Once inside, she handed me my schedule and greeted me formally. Her voice was steady, but I could see the brief look of surprise flash in her eyes when I mentioned her salary. It was higher than expected, no doubt. But she quickly composed herself, returning to her calm exterior. I couldn't help but let my gaze drift over her for a second, taking in the way she looked in her modest dress. She didn't even realize I was checking her out. I kept my face neutral, masking the thoughts running through my mind.
She excused herself to retrieve some boxes, and the moment she stepped out of my office, my heart twisted. 'Why didn't you greet her back?' a voice in my head chastised. But I had a better plan. Something more impactful.
When I heard her footsteps returning, I quickly moved to the door, stopping it just before it closed. She looked up at me, startled. I could see the confusion in her eyes as I leaned in closer. Her scent hit me, that same sweet fragrance she always had. It took me back, stirring memories I hadn't let myself dwell on in years.
"And Miss Walker," I whispered into her ear, my voice low. "I forgot one thing." I paused, savoring the tension between us. "Good morning, princess. And you look cute in that outfit." With that, I stepped back, closing the door behind me, leaving her in stunned silence.
A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips as I returned to my desk. I loved teasing her, seeing the way she reacted to my words. It gave me a small sense of satisfaction, a reminder that I still had some effect on her. A few minutes later, she brought in my coffee, her face composed, but I noticed the slight flush on her cheeks. She said nothing as she placed the cup on my desk and returned to her work.
Hours passed, and Destiny interrupted to remind me of the meeting I had scheduled. The rest of the day unfolded in the usual manner meetings, discussions, the never-ending demands of running a business. When I finally returned to my office after the meeting, it was already two in the afternoon, and Destiny's desk was empty. She must have gone for lunch, I assumed, a small pang of disappointment settling in my chest. I had hoped to talk to her today, but it looked like that would have to wait until tomorrow.
Still, I had things that needed to be done. I needed the redo files on my desk by tomorrow morning, and I wanted to arrange lunch with her, preferably at a good restaurant, somewhere I could talk to her without the confines of the office. I quickly scribbled a note, sticking it to her laptop before heading into another meeting.
As I was discussing the agenda, my phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID, I picked up the call. "Hello, Liam Collins speaking," I answered briskly.
"Hello, Liam," came a familiar voice. I checked the ID and saw it was my mother.
"Mother, is something wrong?" I asked, my tone sharp but not unkind. My mother rarely called me, and when she did, it was usually because she needed something.
"No, no, son," she replied, sounding hesitant. "I was just... I haven't spoken to you in a while, and I was wondering if you could come home early today. I'm at your mansion, and I wanted to talk with you."
I frowned, glancing at the clock. I had a meeting scheduled at three, but I could cut it short. "I'll try to finish the meeting early. I should be home by four," I said, my curiosity piqued. It wasn't like my mother to be so sentimental. What could she possibly want to talk about?
"Thank you, Liam. I'll be waiting," she said before hanging up.
I needed to get Destiny to move the meeting up. But of course, I realized too late that I didn't have her number. Damn. I quickly made a call to the finance department myself, informing them to be in the meeting room in ten minutes. Before I left, I wrote a note to Destiny, asking her to complete the files and giving her my number to call me when she returned from lunch.
Halfway through the meeting, my phone rang again, this time from an unknown number. I answered on the first ring. "Who is this?"
"It's Destiny," she replied, her voice professional, though I could detect a hint of nervousness. She informed me that she had almost finished her work, impressing me with her efficiency. After giving her the instructions for tomorrow, I hung up and saved her number, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The meeting ended earlier than expected, and I called my driver to pick me up.
By four o'clock, I was back home. As I walked into the living room, I saw my mother and Melissa sitting together, having tea. "Mother," I greeted her, keeping my tone neutral.
She turned, her face lighting up as she stood and wrapped her arms around me. The gesture caught me off guard, and for a moment, I stood there, arms by my sides, unsure of how to react. It had been years since I'd seen her act so affectionate, and I wasn't sure what had prompted it.
Melissa gave me a small smile before quietly retreating to the kitchen, leaving us alone. I awkwardly patted my mother's back, feeling her tremble slightly as she pulled away, wiping at her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, son," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry for not being there when you needed us. You've grown up so much."
I stared at her, unsure of how to respond. What could I say? She and my father had been absent for most of my life, too focused on their businesses and social obligations to care much about me. Now, after all this time, she wanted to apologize?
"I..." she began again, her eyes pleading. "At least give us a chance to make it up to you. Please, Liam."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I can't take your apology, mother. Not when you've missed so much. When I needed you, you weren't there." My words were cold, but they were the truth. Her face crumpled with hurt, and for a moment, I almost regretted my harshness. Almost.
"But at least," I continued, my voice softening, "you've realized it now. We can try, if you're willing to give me your time." She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes as she hugged me again. This time, I hugged her back.
We spent the rest of the afternoon together, walking around my mansion as I gave her a tour. It felt strange, showing her the life I had built without her, but it also felt good. This was my space, my dream home. We talked about the house, about little things, and for the first time in years, I felt a flicker of warmth between us.
As we reached the backyard, she asked, out of the blue, "So, son, do you Nola Scott stood in the rink, savoring the quiet moment before the kids would pour in. The sound of her skates cutting the ice echoed around her, an old and familiar comfort. The stillness of the arena wrapped around her like an old friend, reminding her of better times. She had been away from this, her sanctuary, for too long, and now, the steps she took back toward the ice felt almost sacred. After weeks of trying to pick herself up, she was finally starting to feel whole again. Her technique was coming back, sharper than ever. Each jump was higher, her spins faster. The satisfaction of seeing progress had rekindled something inside her. It was subtle, but she felt it—that spark she thought had burned out was returning.
But that didn't mean she was allowing herself to feel too proud. Being proud was dangerous pride had led to her fall before, both literally and figuratively. She couldn't afford to let herself become too confident. "Just take it one day at a time," she whispered to herself, more out of habit than necessity. The truth was, though, that this slow return to form thrilled her, but she dared not think about it too much. She didn't want to jinx it.
After one last glance around the rink, Nola slowly removed her skates, sliding the covers over the blades before tucking them into her bag. The rink would be opening to the public soon, and her solo practice had come to an end. She stretched her legs, feeling the delicious ache of muscles well-used. For the first time in a long while, that ache didn't feel like a burden. It felt like progress.
As she packed up, Claire, the rink manager, approached her with that warm, maternal smile that Nola had grown to appreciate over the years. "Nola! How was your practice, honey?"
"Great, Claire," Nola said, with genuine gratitude coloring her voice. "Thank you again for letting me use the rink this week. I hope I'm not asking for too much."
Claire shook her head with a smile. "Nonsense, darling. My ice is your ice."
Nola couldn't help but smile back. It was comforting to know that people like Claire had her back, especially after the rocky year she'd had. "Thank you," Nola said again, her words carrying more weight than just polite appreciation.
As they stood together, Claire's expression shifted slightly, taking on a more thoughtful edge. "Before you go, I had a question I wanted to ask you." Her tone was casual, but the sudden change caught Nola's attention. "Now, this is absolutely no pressure, I promise my ice will still be your ice even if you decline my offer," Claire assured her.
Nola adjusted the strap of her backpack, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Claire hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. "My husband and I are hosting a small, two-day clinic for kids ages five to twelve who want to learn how to ice skate. We were wondering if you'd be one of the instructors?"
The offer hit Nola out of nowhere. Instructing kids was something she had considered but had never really pursued. She wasn't sure if she had the patience for it, and truthfully, she had always thought of herself as more of a performer than a teacher.
Still, the idea intrigued her.
"We already asked my nephew to be the other instructor, but we'd really love to have both a male and female instructor. John and I thought you'd be perfect. But if you're too busy, competition season is looming, I completely understand," Claire added, her tone respectful and reassuring.
Nola tilted her head slightly, that last part of the offer catching her attention. "Your nephew...Miles?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.
A smile crept onto Claire's face, her eyes lighting up with recognition. "Yes! You remember him, don't you?"
Remember him? How could Nola forget him? He wasn't exactly the type to fade from memory easily. "I do. He's going to be the other instructor?"
Claire nodded. "Luckily, we caught him at a good time. He won't have another game for a few days, so he's going to help us out."
Miles Dempsey. The name sent a ripple of unease through Nola, mingled with a strange curiosity she wasn't quite ready to admit to herself. Their last encounter at the party had been...different. Not unpleasant, just different. Less tension, more mutual understanding. And now, they would be co-instructors. Together.
Nola weighed her options for a moment before speaking, her decision made. "I'd love to, Claire. Count me in."
Claire's face lit up with joy. She pulled Nola into a tight hug, her arms warm and familiar. "Thank you so much, Nola!"
"Of course," Nola said, laughing lightly as she returned the hug. "I've always wanted to instruct a class, and it'd look great on my resume for the Honors program."
They both pulled away from the hug, Claire beaming at her. "The classes are on Wednesday and Thursday, from nine to noon. I know that's the day after tomorrow, but does it work with your schedule?"
Nola nodded, already mentally clearing her calendar. "It's winter break, so I'm free almost all the time. I'll be here."
"Perfect! Thank you again, honey. I'll see you on Wednesday then. Oh, and tell your momma and daddy I said hi. It's been too long."
Nola smiled. "I will. See you then!"
As Nola left the rink, the cool winter air hit her, sending a shiver down her spine. She climbed into her car and glanced at her phone, pulling up Instagram out of habit. She'd been trying to stay off social media lately, but now and then, she allowed herself a quick scroll to check in on friends. As she browsed, a notification caught her eye.
milesdempsey started following you.
Her heart did a small flip. She hadn't expected that. After following him on a whim the week before, she had assumed he either hadn't noticed or didn't care. Why had she even followed him? She couldn't quite pinpoint the reason. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was because their last conversation had felt different from the rest—less antagonistic, more...civil.
But now, seeing his name in her notifications brought a strange sensation to her chest. What did this mean? Did it mean anything? Probably not. He likely followed her without a second thought, just like she had done with him.
Shaking her head to dispel her racing thoughts, she started the car and headed home, mentally preparing for what was sure to be an interesting couple of days.
Wednesday came quickly, and Nola found herself pulling into the parking lot of Blazing Ice at 8:30 AM, iced coffee in hand. The place was almost empty, save for a few cars including a familiar white BMW she knew belonged to Miles. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the day ahead. Co-instructing with Miles was going to be...something.
After a few moments, the rink door swung open, revealing Miles, wearing a smirk that Nola could only describe as infuriatingly smug. "Nice to see you again, Scott. Thought I wouldn't."
Nola rolled her eyes as she walked past him. "Good morning to you too, Miles," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She wasn't about to let him get under her skin today. At least, she was going to try not to.
Inside, Claire was already bustling around, ensuring everything was ready for the kids' arrival. "Nola! Perfect timing. I'm handling the paperwork, but could you and Miles set everything up? He knows what to do."
Nola nodded, setting her bag down and mentally preparing for what she was sure would be a day full of chaos. She glanced over at Miles, who was already waiting by the storage room.
"You followed me on Instagram," he said, breaking the silence as they began pulling out skates for the kids.
Nola stopped in her tracks, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Really? Are you trying to bother me again?"
He chuckled, that same smirk playing on his lips. "What? I'm just stating a fact."
Rolling her eyes, she continued her task, determined to ignore him. But something about his teasing wasn't as grating as it used to be. It felt...lighter, somehow. Less like they were adversaries and more like they were...acquaintances? Friends? She wasn't sure.
As the morning wore on, the kids began to trickle in, and soon, the rink was buzzing with excitement. Nola found herself genuinely enjoying the experience, helping kids find their balance on the ice, offering encouragement, and sharing in their little victories. Miles was surprisingly good with the kids, his easygoing nature putting them at ease.
By the time noon rolled around, Nola was exhausted but happy. As she helped a little girl named Eva off the ice, she glanced over at Miles, who was crouching down to talk to a young boy who had taken a tumble. He caught her eye and gave her a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of their teamwork.
Maybe this clinic wasn't going to be so bad after all.
As the last of the kids left, Claire approached Nola with a wide smile. "You were amazing today, Nola. Thank you so much."
Nola smiled, feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest. "It was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
As she gathered her things and headed out to her car, her thoughts drifted back to the day erupted. a girlfriend?"