Chapter3/3
"Liam... you're here. It's good you came, it's been too long," Liam's grandfather said, his voice warm with affection.
Liam, with a practiced smile, introduced Eliza. "Grandpa, this is Elie, my secretary...and my girlfriend."
Liam's grandmother's eyes widened. "Girlfriend?" she echoed, a mixture of surprise and curiosity evident in her voice.
"Yes, Mom," Liam confirmed, his tone carefully nonchalant, a slight edge betraying his nerves.
Eliza managed a polite, "Nice to meet you both," her smile feeling strained.
"Dinner's ready! Come, have a seat," Liam's grandfather said, his happiness palpable.
Later, during a lull in the conversation, Eliza whispered to Liam, her voice tight with barely suppressed frustration, "Why didn't you tell me this was a family dinner? I feel completely unprepared!"
Liam chuckled, his voice low. "Relax. It'll be fun. Just play along."
Liam's mother, a woman who clearly missed nothing, turned to Eliza. "So, how long have you two been together, Ms...?"
"Elie, ma'am," Eliza corrected, feeling a blush creep up her neck. She could feel Liam's hand briefly brush hers under the table – a silent reassurance, or perhaps a subtle warning? This is insane, she thought. "We're just…starting out."
"How did you meet?" Liam's mother pressed, her gaze sharp and observant.
Eliza opened her mouth to answer, then hesitated, glancing at Liam. He gave her a barely perceptible nod, a silent cue. Liam, ever the smooth talker, cut in with a teasing grin. "It was love at first sight, of course."
Liam's mother raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Really?" she said, her tone suggesting she didn't quite believe him.
Eliza smiled faintly, a mixture of amusement and growing unease. The pretense was wearing thin, and she could feel the tension building between them, a silent conversation playing out under the watchful eyes of Liam's family.
"How's the company, Liam? It's been ages. I trust everything's running smoothly?" Liam's grandfather asked, his tone laced with pride and a hint of underlying concern.
"Everything's under control, Grandpa," Liam replied, his voice a little too cheerful.
"That's great. I knew I made the right decision," his grandfather said, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "By the way, have you spoken to your brother lately?"
"Not yet, Grandpa," Liam said, his voice subdued. The unspoken tension hung heavy in the air.
Eliza observed the exchange, sensing the underlying sadness. She felt a pang of sympathy for Liam.
Liam's mother, her displeasure barely concealed, interrupted. "Liam, we need to talk later."
Eliza, feeling the need to escape the charged atmosphere, excused herself. "Excuse me, where's the restroom?"
Liam's mother, her anger simmering beneath the surface, instructed a maid to show Eliza the way.
In the restroom, Eliza overheard Liam and his mother's heated conversation.
"Liam, are you out of your mind? Girlfriend? Seriously? What about Mr. Wang's daughter? She's a huge asset to the company! You know she wants to marry you!" his mother hissed.
"I don't like her, Mom!" Liam retorted, his voice strained.
"Is this some kind of game? A way to annoy me? This is so disappointing! And I don't like her," his mother snapped, storming off.
Later, Liam and Eliza left. In the car, Liam was quiet, his usual charm absent.
"Mr.Liam, are you alright?" asked, concerned.
"Of course," he replied, but his voice lacked conviction. "I should be asking you that. I'm sorry about my family. Did they pressure you too much?"
"No, it's fine," Eliza said, but she could see the weight of his anxieties. His apology felt genuine, and it softened her earlier irritation.
As he helped her with her seatbelt, their eyes met. The closeness, the unspoken tension, created a charged atmosphere. It was a fleeting moment, but the feeling was undeniable.
My phone buzzed with a notification, a message popping up on the screen.
"Thank you for today."
"Get some rest."
As I continued walking, I noticed a man standing near the gate of our house, seemingly waiting for someone. Curiosity piqued, I approached him.
"Dwayne? What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice laced with confusion.
"Can we talk, Elie? I've been calling you, but you haven't answered."
"For what?"
"Forgive me, Elie."
"Go home. We have nothing to talk about."
"Elie, wait, please..." he pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.
"It's over, isn't it? We both ended it. Why are you asking for forgiveness? It's done, I've forgotten, I've moved on. You can go home now, Dwayne." My voice was sharp, laced with irritation.
As I turned to leave, he caught my hand, his grip firm, unwilling to let me go. I stopped, unsure of what to feel, overwhelmed by the sight of him again.
A blinding light hit Elie as she walked away from her ex. A man got out of a car. Eliza stopped, surprised to see Liam.
"Mr. Liam...?" she said, her voice laced with surprise and a hint of uncertainty.
"I just wanted some coffee," Liam said, trying to sound casual. There was a palpable tension in the air.
Eliza raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You came back just for coffee? Don't you have coffee at your place, Sir?" There was a hint of annoyance in her voice, but she was trying to keep it down.
"Yeah, I'm your boss. It's only right that you make me coffee, right?" Liam teased, his hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips. His dominance was clear.
Elie's ex suddenly appeared, breaking the tension between them.
"Elie...? Who is he...?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise and a touch of jealousy.
Liam, confident and composed, answered, "I'm her boss... and boyfriend. Who are you?"
Both of them looked at Liam. Elie's ex was clearly dismayed.
"Boyfriend...?" he whispered, his eyes fixed on Eliza, ready to explain.
But Eliza cut him off. "I think you should go home. We can talk later," she said, her tone serious, tinged with weariness and a desire to end the conversation.
Liam noticed the tension. Elie's ex left, his face filled with disappointment and defeat.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong? Why do you look like that?" Liam asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Huh...? Nothing... Don't mind me. Let's go inside, so I can make you coffee, Mr. CEO!" Eliza replied, her voice laced with irritation but forcing a smile.
Eliza made Liam coffee. They talked for a bit.
"Just a minute, Mr. Liam. I need to get something from upstairs. Have some coffee first," she said, forcing a smile.
Liam just nodded. A moment later, Eliza was rushing downstairs when she tripped. She almost fell, but Liam caught her.
"You almost fell... Are you okay? Be careful. Don't run," Liam said, his voice full of concern.
"Yeah..." she whispered, her grip tight on Liam's arm.
"Good thing I was here to catch you..." Liam said, a hint of pride in his voice.
She quickly let go. "You're so arrogant..." she mumbled.
"You're mumbling again," Liam said, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Nothing. I said, go home. It's late," she said, a mix of teasing and tenderness in her voice.
"Is that how you thank me? I saved you," Liam said, a little annoyed.
"Thank you... Go home... I need to sleep. We have work tomorrow, right...?" she teased again.