I liked that…because he’d said everything he wanted to say with just that look.
I’d just finished lunch when Sofia called me.
“Hey, is this a good time?” she asked, sounding exactly like the bubbly person I remembered.
“Absolutely. How are you?”
“The baby is kicking like he didn’t like my lunch, but I’m good besides that,” she said with a chuckle. “So, I’m calling to formally offer you the job. Damien has a big mouth, so he probably already told you.”
“Yeah…he mentioned it,” I said with a laugh. “And I’m very excited.”
“Great. Can you start on Monday?”
“Definitely.” I’d go down to the restaurant tomorrow and throw my apron in my manager’s face. “I’ll see you then.” Just when I hung up the phone and set it down, it started to ring again.
This time, it was Liam.
He hadn’t called me in a long time. After the emotional conversation in my living room, he finally got the hint and walked away. Knowing I had a guy in my bedroom was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and he let me go.
But now, he was back.
My first instinct was to ignore his call, but since it’d been months since we talked, maybe he actually had something important to say. Maybe I should give him a chance. I swiped on the phone and took the call. But I didn’t say anything…because I didn’t know what to say.
He didn’t say anything either, his presence enough.
I opened my mouth to say something but changed my mind.
He finally spoke. “I’m surprised you answered.”
“Wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt…”
He was quiet again, organizing his thoughts because he’d been expecting my voice mail. “Can we have dinner tonight? I want to talk to you about something.”
Were we doing this again? “Liam…”
“It’s not about us.”
“Then why can’t we just talk about it now.”
“Because it’s not that kind of conversation. Just meet me. Please.”
I felt weird going out to dinner with my ex when I was kinda in a relationship now, but if it was platonic, I didn’t see the harm. “Alright. Just text me the time and place.”
19
Damien
Hades stepped into my office, looking pissed as usual.
“It’s way too early for this.” I relaxed into the chair, too exhausted for our usual back-and-forth venom. I had been up all night fucking, and I never really woke up. I stared at my computer and saw dots…or flashbacks of my night with Annabella.
“Liam is in my office.”
“And?”
“Let’s squash the beef and say hello.”
“I got him back, didn’t I?” I snapped.
“Damien.” His eyebrows narrowed. “Seal the deal. You know how this works.”
It was hard not to hate Liam after what he did to Annabella, but since he was so important to Hades, I had to be objective about the situation…even though I was fucking his ex-wife. “Fine.” I pushed back my chair and walked with Hades down the hallway to his office.
Liam’s massive size was in the chair, and he was texting on his phone.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Hades said as he moved to his chair behind the desk.
“It’s fine,” Liam answered. “But let’s get this rolling because I’ve got a lot of shit to do today.”
I straightened my tie and extended my hand. “Welcome back.”
He eyed me for a second before he took my hand. “Yeah…”
“I’m glad we could move past our spat,” I said diplomatically. “Hades and I both value your business.”
Hades stared at me, and it was the first time he gave me a look of approval.
Liam relaxed further. “And I value your expertise.” He turned back to Hades. “Now, let’s make some money. I’m having dinner with my ex-wife later tonight.” He pulled back his sleeve to eye his watch. “And I can’t be late to that.”
I stilled on the spot, staring at him with wide eyes.
Hades watched my expression without giving anything away.
Liam didn’t catch on to the change in the energy of the room.
Hades cleared his throat. “Then let’s get to work. Damien, I can take it from here.”
I had to blink a few times before I could regain my composure. Wordlessly, I left the room and headed down the hallway.
When I was back in my office, I felt the wave of anger.
Why the fuck was she seeing him?
Why the fuck didn’t she tell me?
My brain boiled with rage, and I felt the betrayal like a knife between the ribs.
But then I remembered she didn’t owe me anything. Just because she was having dinner with him didn’t mean she was going to sleep with him. She’d had plenty of opportunities in the past and she never did, and our arrangement was going so well, I didn’t see why she would need him at all. Whenever we were together, it was obvious she was into me…really into me.
She wasn’t my girlfriend, so I let it go.
20
Annabella
If Damien called and asked if I had plans, I wasn’t sure what I would say. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I didn’t want to tell him the truth either. He didn’t seem like the jealous type, but it might piss him off that I was seeing Liam. Though, he should trust me, because I was committed to him…had been since the moment he’d asked me out. Why would I want to be with Liam again when I already had a man who was a million times better?