Chapter: 5/5
Her heart hammered against her ribs all afternoon. Liam noticed.
"Are you alright, Ms. Elie?" his brow furrowed with concern.
"Yes… I'm fine," she stammered, clutching her chest. her face felt like it was on fire.
He leaned closer, his gaze intense. Eliza squeezed her eyes shut, breath catching her throat.
"Why are you blushing? Are you sure you're okay?" voice was soft, but the concern was genuine.
She opened her eyes, forcing a laugh that sounded unconvincing. "Huh? Me? Blushing? I… I just don't feel well. That's probably why my face is red."
"Do you want to go home and rest? You can come back tomorrow," he offered, his worry evident.
"I'm fine, Mr. Liam. Is there anything else?" trying to sound professional.
"No, you may go." He paused. "Wait. One more thing. Can you meet me on the rooftop later?"
My confusion was evident. "Rooftop? Why? What's there?"
"Just go. It's an order," a hint of usual authority returning.
Eliza nodded, mind racing.
She's back to her desk, she muttered to herself, "Elie, what is wrong with you? You can't have feelings for him! No…"
Her voice was louder than she realized. The coworkers stared.
"Ms. Elie, are you alright?" one of them asked.
"Sorry," she mumbled, mortified. "Yes, I'm fine." shyly said.
Workday ended. she went to the rooftop, fuming. "This arrogant man," She muttered, "giving me orders after hours!"
The rooftop was dimly lit. A man stood silhouetted against the city lights.
"Mr. Liam?" yelling called out.
He turned, a weary smile on his face. "Good, you're here."
"What's going on?" asking irritation still simmering.
He sighed, his voice low and strained. "I've been under pressure my whole life. I never wanted to lead Hayas Group Corp. I wanted a simple life. But my mother… she only sees me as the heir, not her son. My brother left because of it. He thinks I'm a yes-man to Mom, and he's probably right. He won't even talk to me." with a sadness.
His vulnerability surprised Eliza. She listened, empathy watching over him.
Handed an envelope. "That's why I brought you here. To give you this."
Inside was a significant amount of cash.
"That's full payment for pretending to be my girlfriend," tone serious.
"But it's not even three months yet," she pointed out.
"I want to end it. Job well done, Ms. Elie."smiled, but there was a sadness in his eyes.
A wave of disappointment washed over her. "I only did it to stop my mother from forcing me into an arranged marriage," explaining. "Thank you, Ms. Elie. I'll take you home."
"No," voice barely a whisper. "I… I have somewhere to be." The truth was, She didn't want the charade to end. But she couldn't say that.
She stopped at a convenience store after work, needing a break and something to eat. A tall guy in a black hoodie and mask was reaching for the same drink, She had her hand on.
"Excuse me," voice sharper than intended, "I was here first."
He didn't respond, just held onto the drink. His attire made me a little uneasy, but when he pulled down his mask, revealing a strikingly handsome face, Eliza momentarily forgot her annoyance.
"Ms… sorry, but I'm not giving this up. It's my favorite, and they're all sold out," a teasing smirk playing on his lips. His arrogance was infuriating.
Her initial surprise vanished, replaced by irritation. "Tsk! No manners! Rude!" She snapped, grabbing her drink back. He just smiled and walked away.
"What is it with today?" muttered, sighing as she paid and left.
At home, Eliza's mom greeted her with concern. "You're home already? What happened? You look stressed."
"Just tired, Mom," mumbled, slumping onto a chair.
"Don't overwork yourself," she said, her voice laced with worry. "Your boss is making you work too hard, isn't he?"
"No, Mom," too tired to argue.
Later, Liam received a call from his grandfather. "Come home now," his grandfather said, voice serious and clipped. The call ended abruptly.
Liam was clearly worried. "Grandpa? Is something wrong? Why the sudden call?"
He found his grandfather talking to a man—Brent. The surprise on Liam's face was evident, but it quickly morphed into a relieved smile.
"Brent? When did you get here?" suprised.
"Last week," Brent briefly replied.
"Staying for good?" Liam's voice hopeful.
"Just a vacation," Brent said, his tone flat. Liam's smile faltered slightly.
Their grandfather observed Brent's attire. "Why are you dressed like that? You look like you're hiding something."
Brent chuckled. "Just comfortable clothes, Grandpa. You wouldn't believe my day. This rude woman argued with me over a drink, called me rude! But she was cute," he added with a grin.
Their grandfather's expression hardened. "Who is this woman with no filter? That's what she said to you?"
"It's nothing, Grandpa. It's my fault. I took her drink."Brent defended
Their grandfather left them alone. Brent turned to Liam. "Brother, how are you? Still mad?" Liam's tone was sharp. "Let's forget about it. Are you still our mom's yes-man?"Liam's silence spoke volumes. He needed his brother, and he knew it.
"I'm going to rest," Brent said, a hint of something unsaid in his voice. He left, leaving Liam to his thoughts.
Eliza approached the elevator, intending to go to Liam's office, She saw him talking to another man. She politely in greeting, but as she lifted her head, her breath hitched. The man standing beside Liam was familiar. Uncomfortably familiar.
"You...?" blurted out, voice sharper than intended. "What are you doing here? Are you following me?" Accusation hung heavy in the air.
The man simply smirked, a playful glint in his eyes that did little to ease my unease.
"Ms. Elie, do you know my brother?" Liam asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Your… brother?" echoed, still reeling from the unexpected encounter.
The man chuckled, a warm, engaging sound that belied the unsettling feeling he gave to Eliza. "So, Elie is your name, Grumpy?" He winked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Do you know each other, Liam?" he asked, turning to Liam.
Liam's response was clipped, professional. "Yes, brother. She's my secretary."
The man—Brent, I now knew—threw his hands up in mock surprise. "Woah… you just can't make this stuff up! We're destined to be together, Ms. Grumpy. What do you think?" His playful tone grated on Eliza nerves.
Managed a strained smile, more of a grimace, really. "Mr. Liam, I apologize for the interruption. I'll… I'll just go." politely smile, with annoyance palpable, and quickly stepped into the elevator, leaving them both behind. The lingering feeling of unease, however, remained.
"She works here? And she's your secretary? That's...an interesting coincidence," his tone a little too cheerful, smile a touch too wide. A flicker of something—suspicion?—crossed his features.
"Liam, could I perhaps borrow your secretary for a few minutes? I have a few questions." The request, while seemingly innocuous, held an underlying edge, a hint of something more than simple curiosity.
"Sure... brother," Liam answered, his voice laced with a hint of jealousy that he couldn't quite hide. He leaned back slightly, trying to appear relaxed, but the tightness in his shoulders and the way he avoided eye contact revealed his discomfort. It was clear he didn't like the idea of her spending time with someone else, even if it was just for a moment.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting her hair, The phone buzzed with a text message.
"Elie, where are you?"
"Come to my office now."
She sighed, feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity, before making her way to Liam's office.
"Mr. Liam, do you need anything?" trying to keep my tone neutral.
"Yes, I need you to accompany my brother on a tour of the company,"unreadable expression.
"Me?" surprised. "Why me, Mr. Liam?" forced a smile, but it felt strained.
"Do I have anyone else to call here?" tone almost philosophical, as if the answer was obvious.
"Fine," muttered, irritation creeping into voice. "I'm going."
"Let's go, Ms. Grumpy! Where should we start?" Brent chimed in, smile playful, a hint of mischief in eyes.
Reluctantly, She led Brent through the office, feeling the weight of her boss's orders. He peppered her with questions about the company, but she found herself tuning him out, lost in thoughts.
"Ms. Grumpy, I've been talking to you, but you're not listening," a teasing lilt in voice.
"Oh, you're talking? I thought I was alone," shot back, a smirk playing on my lips.
His eyes narrowed slightly, annoyance flickering across his face, but he quickly dropped the subject. "Anyway, just take me to the rooftop," he ordered, tone shifting to one of authority.
Eliza rolled her eyes but led the way, the tension between us palpable. As they walked, She couldn't shake the feeling that this tour was more than just a simple request; it felt like a test, and She was determined to pass it, even if it meant putting up with Brent's teasing along the way.
"Rooftop??? What's so special about the rooftop that you two brothers want to go there?" voice tinged with frustration and confusion.
"Nothing, just come with me," tone casual, but there was an undercurrent of something more.
"You're really brothers!" muttered under her breath, incredulous at the thought.
"What was that? You said something, Ms. Grumpy?" a playful glint in his eyes.
"Nothing, Mr. Brent. I said let's go. I'll take you to the rooftop," teeased, trying to mask irritation.
They continued walking, the atmosphere between them shifting as they navigated the office. I could feel the weight of his presence beside eliza, a mix of annoyance and curiosity swirling in her mind.
When they finally reached the rooftop, the fresh breeze greeted them, a welcome change from the stuffy office. "The breeze is so nice here, isn't it? You know, when we were kids, Liam and I used to play here a lot. This was our escape place," brent nostalgic smile spreading across his face.
Eliza listened quietly, taking in the view as he reminisced. The city sprawled out beneath them, and for a moment, she could almost forget the tension between the two of them.
"I'm sorry for my behavior at the convenience store the other day," laughter bubbling up in voice. "I was just trying to get your attention."
Eliza, raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at lips. "Well, you certainly succeeded. Just not in the way you probably intended."
Brent chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Fair enough. I guess I owe you a better introduction next time."
As they stood there, the wind tousling our hair, She felt the walls She had built around herself begin to crack, if only just a little.
"Let's be friends?" Brent offered, extending hand. His smile was genuine, making the gesture feel less like a casual proposition and more like a sincere invitation.
She shook his hand, a warmth spreading through her. "Friends," the word feeling right.
Then, a jolt of panic. "Wait, what's that? The door… it's locked!" exclaimed, tugging at the handle. The heavy metal door wouldn't budge. Eliza smile vanished.
Brent's easygoing demeanor shifted. "Looks like we're stuck. Call Liam, tell him we're locked on the roof."
Eliza stomach dropped. "Wait, I think I left my phone at my desk!" voice was shaky.
Brent's calm was impressive. "What now? Hold on…" pulled out his phone. "Hello, Liam? It's Brent. We're locked on the rooftop. Do you have a key? Or can you tell security?"
There was a pause, then Liam's voice, tight with worry, "What...? Locked on the roof? Okay, I'll tell security. How's Elie?"
The conversation with Brent was abruptly cut short by a terrifying sound—the ominous creak of heavy boxes shifting above Eliza.
"Hello? Hello? Brent? What was that sound??? What's happening there?? Answer me... " Liam's voice, frantic and worried, then the call abruptly ended.
Eliza breath hitched in her throat; She knew, instinctively, that she was about to be hit. Then, a sudden, powerful tug, and Brent's body was between her and the falling debris. The impact was deafening, sending up a cloud of dust. When the dust cleared, She saw Liam standing in the doorway, his eyes narrowed, his face pale with a mixture of relief and something else… something dark and possessive. He saw Brent's arm still around her, a protective gesture that seemed to freeze Liam in place.
Brent's arm remained around her, a protective shield against the chaos. He looked down at her, his expression a mixture of relief and fierce protectiveness. The near-miss had shaken him too; his breathing was slightly ragged. "Are you alright, Elie?" askinga little rough, his gaze searching . Tears welled up in her eyes; She hadn't realized how terrified it is.
"Yes," whispered, Eliza voice trembling,
"Thank you." The simple words felt inadequate to express the depth of her gratitude.
Liam's arrival was a whirlwind of motion. He scooped her into his arms, his touch frantic, his face etched with a fear that went beyond mere concern.
"Are you alright??? Did you get hurt??? Let me see???" he demanded, his voice a breathless rush of words. His eyes darted over Eliza's body, searching for any trace of injury.
Brent's calm ."She's fine," was a stark contrast to Liam's overwhelming emotion. A silent tension filled the air between them, a palpable energy that crackled with unspoken rivalry.
"Yes, I'm fine, Mr. Liam," trying to calm the escalating tension. offered a grateful smile to Brent, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, "Are you okay too?" The unspoken question hung in the air: "what was this about, this intense reaction from Liam?"
Liam looked at Brent. "Yeah. Don't mind me. I'm fine," Brent replied, smile a little tight, a little strained.
He brushed a hand over his arm, a subtle gesture that betrayed a lingering unease. Liam's gaze lingered on Brent for a moment longer than necessary, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken tension between them. He spoke, his voice still edged with concern,
"Good thing no one got hurt. I was worried." The words were simple, but the unspoken question hung heavy in the air: worried about who, exactly?
Liam's hug, intense and possessive, sent her heart racing. Despite my reluctance to jump to conclusions, the lingering warmth and raw emotion in his eyes hinted at something more than concern—a possibility both thrilling and terrifying. The uncertainty itself felt like confirmation.