Chapter 72

AT LIAM’S OFFICE

Diane’s P.O.V.

But, why all of a sudden? He could always ask for a soft copy via email. Why would he even ask me to go to his office? Hmm, right! Because the investors’ meeting was always held here every third week of the month. Oh, it makes sense why Lorenz was here too!

Anyway, if it wasn’t for the investors’ meeting… maybe, Liam just missed me right away, and he just wanted to see me again! Or, he might have another surprise for me? Oh my God, I am so excited!

I radiantly smiled and was slightly shaken by what I thought. The butterflies in my stomach began to fly too. This would be my first time to reach the twenty-second floor and I might be going to present in front of the investors. When the elevator door opened, I couldn’t get more exhilarated. I was looking forward again to see him that I even bounced at my every step.

Liam’s secretary, Trixie, saw me and ushered me in front of Liam’s office. She was pretty, and like Karen, she also had some gold highlights in her hair. I was amazed because only these two opposite offices were here on the whole twenty-second-floor level.

Perhaps, the other office was the old office of Liam’s father, who I had never met because he already resided in America alongside Liam’s mother. I wondered how huge their offices were, but now, I would be able to see it myself.

When I opened the wooden door, I could say that Liam’s office was truly gigantic and everything was well organized. Almost every corner was surrounded by various books. His glass cabinets had expensive figurine collections too. There were also some paintings hanging on the wall, just above the windows with a scenic view.

Aside from the laptop on his desk and some other documents, Liam also owned a separate desktop computer with two different monitors on the left. One monitor was a CCTV screen. There were also black couches and glass tables placed on the right side of his office.

The back of Liam’s swivel chair was facing me while he was sitting on it. I didn’t wait for him to face me. I almost sprinted near his table and cheerfully greeted him, “Hi, Sir Liam. Good morning! I have here the March Financial Report that you asked.”

Yes, it’s Sir Liam. He is my boss that I should respect here, but outside? I am definitely the boss!

But shock immediately enveloped my whole body when he turned the swivel chair around to face me. Because of what he did, my smiles suddenly vanished away from my lips. I also swallowed a few times because my throat suddenly felt dry, with intense nervousness in my chest. My heart was hammering so fast, causing panic.

Seeing him was gut-wrenching that I almost dropped the documents I was holding. I just stiffened from my stance because of the inexplicable fear, despite the fact that I wanted to run away from him. Terror was paralyzing my whole body, preventing me from taking a single step backwards. The earlier butterflies were suddenly replaced by dread, now fretting inside my stomach.

“Hi, Diane! Did you miss me? I so miss you already,” he emphasized before he eloquently smiled at me. He rose to his feet, looking like the devil who was about to raise hell here.

I could see how his menacing dark-gray eyes scraped my entire body from head to toe. I was glad that I was wearing a three-fourths conservative blouse paired with blue faded jeans—far from the short skirt I used to wear before while dancing on the pole.

Anxiety clawed up my throat, making it hard for me to speak. With shallow breathing, I just gulped again. I also felt like my tongue had suddenly receded, and every word that I was brave to say had escaped me. My boyfriend wasn’t here, so I had to protect myself.

But what is he doing here at Liam’s office?

Just when I thought he had already moved on and quietly went to the States without fussing about my relationship with his brother, I was wrong. Finally having the strength to move, my right feet started to step back while my two eyes were still stuck at Leandro.

I also held on tightly to my financial documents as if I could use these as a weapon against the man who was in front of me. Of all people, I wouldn’t expect him to be here.

He was wearing a blue tuxedo paired with black leather shoes, and unlike the last time I saw him, his face was clean-shaven. He no longer had some dark eye bags, his hair was well-groomed while tousled at the left side, and he no longer had a mustache and beard. Actually, he already looked like Liam again… but he would never be my boyfriend.

“Hey! Is that the right way to welcome a long-lost friend? By stepping back?” There was a meaning behind his smile as he slowly approached me. “Am I not deserving to receive a welcome hug from my lovely Diane?” And he even had the guts to spread his arms widely.

“W-When did you c-come back?” I stuttered while asking him as if something had jammed in my throat. I just ignored what he said, but I wanted to vomit the moment I heard his term of endearment.

Your lovely Diane, huh? I had never been yours, Leandro! I wanted to shout.

“At least, you are concerned about when did I return. It was enough for me to hear from you, Diane. Well, I am just concerned about you, and that’s the main reason why I came back,” he said evocatively. He paused for a while before he continued.

“So, to answer you, my flight was just yesterday, and my body clock hasn’t yet adjusted after my twenty-four-hour flight. You see, I still have jet lag, but it was nothing because I was damn too excited to see you. Anyway, congratulations! You are now a CPA, and that’s nice. You became a board passer and not a cheap club dancer anymore!” Leandro brusquely mocked me as his eyes narrowed, but his gaze never left my whole body from head to toe.

Sneering, I felt how my face suddenly heat up when he said that. He even emphasized the words club dancer. But it was true anyway—I was indeed a dancer then, and I was never ashamed of it.

“Oops, I’m sorry!” Leandro smirked. He pretended like he was only having a casual conversation with me while he was clearly ridiculing me.

“Anyway, I’m amazed! Who would have ever thought that Liam really succeeded in taking you away from that club? Something you never let me do before. Tsk, I’m severely hurt!” Leandro held his forehead as if he had a sudden headache.

Being an employee here in EGC, I knew I had nothing to brag about with him right now, but still, I lifted my chin. I would never let him deride over the past happenings and used them to manipulate me.

“You don’t have to say sorry, Leandro. In the first place, I was really a dancer then, and I am not denying that fact. Being a dancer before had helped me a lot without depending on anyone. Now, if you will excuse me, I think I have to go. For all I know, my boyfriend Liam was the main reason why I came here, and not you.”

Left with no other choice, I turned my back on him. I was about to make my way to the exit when Leandro quickly blocked my way. Because of that, I backed away from him again. This time, I was stepping back towards the direction of Liam’s desk.

“Nah-ah-ah! Not that soon, Diane.” Leandro shook his head as he chuckled with arms crossed on his chest. “Why are you looking for Liam in my very own office? You know what? You’re quite funny! He is your boyfriend, but you don’t even know that the opposite one was really his office.” He signaled his hand, pointing in the direction of the other office I saw earlier.