Chapter 15

MEETING LIAM ARTHUR

Diane’s P.O.V.

“You must be referring to my brother, miss. I saw that he was the only one who left the parking area a few seconds after you entered my car. By the way, I am Liam. Liam Arthur Evangelista. Do not be confused—we might have looked like each other, but Leandro and I were not twins. So, may I have this chance to know the name of this pretty girl beside me?”

His description of me made my brain float in the air. He painted a magnificent smile on his lips as he held out his right arm to reach mine for a handshake. There, I noticed a deep and gorgeous dimple on his right cheek.

Liam Arthur. I liked his name. It was so handsome and suited him well.

So, Leandro was his brother? Well, that explains why they look so alike. But what is he doing here in the parking lot of Lucy’s Club? He does not look like someone hanging out here. Is he following his brother?

“D-Diane. Dayanara Clariz Rivera,” I replied while shyly accepting his hand for a firm handshake.

I never thought I would tell him my real name—far from how I hid it from the customers inside the club. I even concealed it from Leandro, and that was the main reason why I got mad at him now.

But why would I tell my name to Liam so soon? Am I already comfortable around him?

After that, he affectionately kissed my hand that really surprised me, making me immediately take it back from him. Perplexed about what I was feeling about him, my two cheeks got hot so suddenly.

My heart was thumping so fast, and something was twirling inside my stomach. I was sure that I was blushing by now. I should have been mad at him. But in contrast to that, what I felt was inexplicable electricity that quickly streamed all over my body. I just experienced it now, and I did not know how to explain this. It was something unfathomable that my brain could not even depict straightly.

“So, why are you avoiding my brother, Diane? I don’t want to tell you this, but I think it was Claire who he has been following around,” he told me. He then started the car’s engine, gesturing that we would be leaving.

Wait, where will he take me? A bolt of panic suddenly hit me, making me wobble my legs with fear.

And why did he even know about Claire? Did Leandro mention me to him? So, is there a possibility that Liam knew that I was only a club dancer? That I was nothing compared to other girls?

Oh, why would I even think about it? So what if I am only a club dancer? At least, I was able to support my family because of my work, and never did I sell my body to the customers.

“Hmm… Claire and I are just the same. I am working as Claire, sir.” I tried to be at ease, but everything still seemed awkward between the two of us.

“Call me, Liam. You may not be interested to know, but I was only a year older than Leand. Anyway, would you mind if I will take you home? But I do not accept no for an answer, so you do not have any other choice but to agree.”

After he said that, he swiftly looked at me. He even winked at me while smiling. As a result, his deep dimple came out even more. I did not know how to feel about it, but my mood suddenly got lifted, my fears were erased, and I just felt dizzy with excitement.

“If I did not have any other choice, so why would you even ask me in the first place?” I smiled and tried to secure myself with a seatbelt, but because the said strap was different from what Lorenz has, Liam assisted me so that I could wear it correctly.

“Let me,” he offered. Our faces came closer with only an inch apart, and because of that, I was able to smell the fresh scent of his breath, making me feel intoxicated. “There, it’s done.” I heard him, and that spanked my mind from thinking differently about Liam. He then fastened his own seatbelt and finally drove the car.

Muddled about how things went, I did not know why I became relieved of being with him. I used to be scared with fear a while ago but now? My happiness was so intense that it began to scare me differently. I ended up being comfortable with him more than anyone unrelated to me. I did not even feel this kind of sensation with any other man the first time we had met. Not even with his brother—Leandro.

“Well, I guessed I was wrong. I supposedly did not ask that question because I will not let you get out of my car that easily. Sorry if I scared you when I locked it. It was already late, so something might happen if I will just let you commute. Hmm, what if you tell me something about my brother so we can talk? You can have my word, Diane. I won’t tell him anything.”

He was still all-out smiling as he promised. He was done paying the parking fee, and now we were on the main road. I got amazed when he demonstrated the top-down feature of his black convertible.

Now, I liked it most when I could feel the fresh air. It seemed to be swaying my hair. It was only a simple night ride with someone I just met tonight, but everything appeared to be extraordinary. At least, I appreciated something before the night ended.

“Hmm… to tell you the truth, I only considered Leandro as a friend. We were friends for two years already, but your brother was so persistent. He does not know how to give up, and he would not want to let go of me. He just kept on courting me even though I already rejected him.”

Pausing for a while, I continued when Liam seemed to be engrossed in listening. “But please, keep your promise. Do not tell him about it, okay? He might say that I was not yet satisfied to tell these things straight to his face, that I was even blabbering it now with his own brother.” I bowed down while scratching my nails—one of my mannerisms when I felt so stressed.

“It’s okay. You are safe with me—oh I mean, your statement is safe with me! Wait, let me know if we should turn left or right, huh? Or else, I will just head straight,” he stated, which caused me to look at the road as well. After I rubbed my fingernails, I realized that I was only looking at him the entire time.

“Oh, my house is still a little bit far. I guessed it would be better not to take me home, sir. Getting inside your car already caused inconvenience to you. Actually, I used to commute late at night, but now, it feels like I only bothered you,” I replied.

“You’re not a nuisance, and it is my pleasure to take you home, Diane. Anyway, as far as I could remember, I told you to just call me Liam, right? If I hear you calling me ‘sir’ one more time, I will kiss you!” He looked like he was threatening me, but he kept on smiling. His smile would even reach his ears, that I could clearly see his white sets of teeth, which caused his stunning dimple on his right cheek to show even deeper.

Oh my God! Why instead of being nervous, I felt an exhilarating feeling at what he said? And it was too late for me to realize that I was already fantasizing about him. Unconsciously, I wanted to feel his lips pressing on mine.

You are acting crazy because of this man! Really, Diane? my alter-ego seemed to be waking me up.

I suddenly regained my sanity back, and all of my wayward trances vanished like tiny bubbles in the air when I heard Liam cussed. At the same time, his sports car unexpectedly stopped in the middle of the road.