Liam’s POV That weekend, I stuck to my promise and took Joe and William Christmas shopping. This time of year, the stores were incredibly busy, so I held hands with both Joe and William as we perused the store, looking for the kids’ perfect gifts for Aria. As we walked along a shopping plaza, we
Liam’s POV Aria loved Christmas. She didn’t always show it, sometimes complaining about the crowds and the traffic and the hassle of fixing all the broken lights on the string. But after the work is done, when the lights are twinkling and the cookies are baked, when the gifts are wrapped under the
Aria’s POV Under the mistletoe, Liam moved in and I didn’t move away. Slowly, gently, his lips pressed against my own. I closed my eyes at once, enjoying the warm softness of him. The kiss itself was soft and sweet, not demanding or insisting, more a quiet gift of consent and compromise. I sighe
Liam’s POV The next few days felt like a dream. With the break off of work, Aria and I got to stay home full-time with the kids. In the morning, we woke up around the same time and spent mornings together, sipping coffee in the kitchen. When the kids got up, we worked together to make pancakes and
Aria’s POV As soon as the executive stepped away from the podium, and the meeting officially ended, Liam walked away from the line executives and straight to me. “We need to talk,” he said. “Come with me to my office.” As I agreed, I saw no reason to argue, so I followed him back to his office
Liam’s POV I only had a few affairs to get in order before I left. As William was going to stay with Aria, I didn’t need to worry about finding schools overseas or uprooting his life at all. Aria and the kids would stay here in the house, so I didn’t have to worry about hiring anyone to watch it.
Liam’s POV The first thing I did when I walked into my office the next morning, after throwing my briefcase to the side, was pick up the phone and make a call. One of the executive’s assistants seemed confused by my sudden call. “I’m sorry, Liam, but appointments for the day haven’t started yet.
I hadn’t sold it yet. I wasn’t even trying, despite what I had told Liam, who sold the house next door in less than a week. It felt something like an insurance policy, having that house in my back pocket, just in case things went bad with Liam. I wanted to trust in him fully, but when I’d done tha
Liam’s POV I didn’t care how much work was left that day, when five o’clock rolled around, I packed up my briefcase and headed for the door. My assistant, at her desk, gave me a curious look, but didn’t utter a word. “Don’t stay too late,” I told her. Work was very important, but so was life
Aria’s POV When I walked to Joanna’s office, her assistant sat behind the reception desk, glaring at me. I could only imagine the lies Joanna had told this assistant about me, to get her to hate me this much without even knowing me. Regardless, I held my head up high. If I had to walk through th
Liam’s POV “I’ve been expecting your call,” my father – Markus – said on the other end of the phone. “You are a stubborn one to have kept me waiting for so long.” “I foolishly thought that you decided to mind your own business,” I replied. “You haven’t tried anything like this in a while.” In
Liam’s POV In a flash, I grabbed Joanna’s wrist and pulled her hand away from my chest. “Don’t presume to touch me.” Joanna’s flirty smile slipped right off of her face. “I don’t care how long we’ve known each other, Joanna. Aria is the one that I love. You will not change that. And if I conti
Aria’s POV Finally Liam stilled. Slowly, he turned around to look at me, then studied my face as if he was trying to determine if I was being serious or not. Once he realized I was, his face twisted into disbelief. “Don’t be ridiculous, Aria.” “That’s what the rumors are all saying.” “You kn
Aria’s POV My co-workers could have been sharing more gossip, but it seemed more likely, judging by the words they said behind my back, that Joanna had been talking about me with everyone. For that to be true, she wasn’t just on some professional vendetta against me based on my work and work eth
Aria’s POV “This is a closet,” I said, looking at the cramped space. I wasn’t sure how they even managed to fit this desk in here. Did they have to disassemble it in the hallway and then reassemble it here? “I’m sure I could find you a smaller, even more cramped space if you would prefer it?” Jo
“Oh,” the man said. Understanding crossed his face, but so too did annoyance. “Surely you were told you were being demoted. You didn’t think you’d keep your office, did you?” “I didn’t know what to think,” I admitted. “No one really gave me any information.” “Well, this room is mine now,” the ma
Aria’s POV After the meeting, I stumbled back to my office in something of a blur. I couldn’t believe what had happened, or what this meant for me and for the drivers. How could this happen? How could everything go so wrong, so quickly? What in the world was I supposed to do now? Sitting beh