Chapter 11
SHANELLE
Yes, I would like to say that after two days of being “sick” and not showing up to work, everything would have calmed down and returned to normal. Unfortunately, I don’t have as much luck as I would like. As soon as I open the office door with a bright smile, I freeze in place upon seeing a man in a black suit with his back to me, shaking hands with my boss. A rush of emotions courses through my body at the sight of Liam Thomas.
-Well, look who’s back! -my boss exclaims joyfully as he approaches me. Liam turns slowly, as if in slow motion, and his cold blue gaze pierces through me-: Mr. Thomas, I want to introduce you to the young lady in charge of remodeling your attic. Unfortunately, she couldn’t attend the opening because she has been ill.
Liam raises an eyebrow, as if he doesn’t believe my illness. The man has a fascinating poker face. He approaches me, and my polite self can’t help but extend my hand to shake his, but I turn to stone when he takes my hand to his warm, soft lips, kissing the back of it. When he releases it, I can still feel the ghostly sensation of his lips lingering there.
-Nice to meet you, Miss Shanelle…
-Miss. -I can’t help but correct him.
-Miss -he repeats-; I want to congratulate you on the good taste and work you did with my attic.
-Thank you.
-Mr. Thomas had to cancel the opening at the last minute due to an emergency. -My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Would he cancel everything?
-Are you feeling better now? -his deep voice makes me look him in the eye.
-Yes. -I automatically nod.
-I’m glad.
-Well, I have a lot of work to do. -I say.
-Of course, we don’t want to interrupt your work. We will stay in touch for future projects. -My boss intervenes, breaking the tension between Liam and me.
I bid them goodbye and head towards my desk, feeling Liam’s gaze burning into my neck. I can’t help but feel nervous about his presence; his aura of mystery and elegance unsettles me. What is he doing here? Why did he kiss my hand in such an intimate way in front of everyone? And above all, how am I going to keep working with him after this encounter?
The presence of Liam Thomas is like a whirlwind of emotions in my life.
Shortly after someone has left, Rocco knocks on my office door, and I brace myself for whatever it is he’s about to tell me.
-Shane, sweetheart. Why didn’t you mention to me that one of your clients is Mr. Thomas’s mother? -my boss asks, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. I look at him with a stone-faced expression. Why the hell did Thomas have to mention his mother!
-I didn’t know. -I feign surprise and lie.
-I checked your electronic schedule, and the lady’s name is there.
-What? Why did you do that? -I sit up straight in my chair, feeling a bit annoyed that he did that.
-I’m not trying to invade your privacy, sweetheart. But Mrs. Rosa Thomas came looking for you yesterday because you weren’t answering your phone.
-And was I supposed to know she was his mother? -I blatantly lie, but stick to the truth-: Do you know how many Thomases exist in the world? I also didn’t know who the man was who hired my services to remodel his apartment. So I apologize for not knowing.
-You’re right, sweetheart. I never told you who it was since it was a requirement set by Mr. Thomas.
-I don’t get it; if he wanted to remain anonymous, why show up here today?
-He’s a bit of a mysterious and enigmatic man. He’s a billionaire CEO who recently moved to the city. I don’t understand the rich and their eccentricities and mysteries.
-I see… -but in reality, I don’t see or understand anything. To begin with, why demand anonymity and then show up at the office? What I also can’t understand is why such a rich man, as my boss mentions, has any interest in me. It’s not like I’m ugly or anything like that, nor do I have low self-esteem; I just don’t see why he would seek me out-was he here for me? “See, I don’t have low self-esteem; I even think he was here for me.”
-Well, I’ll leave you to continue working.
(####)
Lunchtime arrives too quickly, and I must say that I haven’t felt settled at all. On one side, I have Mrs. Rosa, who keeps calling me, and I’m avoiding her since she is Liam’s mother. I have a dilemma with myself; I slept with my own boss without knowing it was him; it was a total disaster. Although if we look at it from another perspective, technically, Liam Thomas was not my boss; he is the man who decorated the attic without me knowing it was him. I slept with him one night, and it was wonderful. I have to let it go, I have to get him out of my system. Rocco also didn’t tell me that Mr. Thomas would be here in the office this morning, something that only confuses my brain even more.
I get up from my desk, grab my bag, and leave the office, passing by reception, where I greet Viki.
-Hi, Viki, how have you been?
-I’m good. How are you feeling? -It seems like the whole office found out you were sick that day.
-I’m fine -I reply with a smile- Do you happen to know why Mr. Thomas was here?
-He came to finish canceling some pending payments.
I frown.
-He could have made a transfer; he didn’t need to come -he was lying, but why?
-Yes, but he didn’t -she shrugs.
I say goodbye to her and leave because I know she doesn’t know anything else. I haven’t even gotten close to my car when a voice startles me.
-Shane -not miss or ma’am, but Shane. With familiarity and, above all, authority. I get nervous and don’t want to turn to see him because I know very well that it’s him- look at me, Shane.
-No.
-Now.
My heart races, and I feel a knot in my throat upon hearing his voice so close to me. I finally muster the courage to turn around and find those penetrating blue eyes that take my breath away. Liam Thomas is standing in front of me, with an intense gaze that seems to pierce my soul.
-I’m sorry if I surprised you by appearing at the office today -he says calmly, but his expression is inscrutable.
I swallow hard and try to contain the emotions swirling inside me. I feel trapped between the embarrassment of what happened between us and the irrepressible attraction I feel towards him.
-You don’t have to apologize -I manage to articulate, even though my voice sounds weak and trembling.
He steps a little closer, enough for me to feel his breath brushing against my skin. My heart pounds wildly, and my hands tremble slightly. I can’t help but wonder what he wants from me, why he is acting in such a disconcerting way.
-Shane, I need to talk to you -his voice is soft but firm, and I know there’s no way to evade this conversation.