CHAPTER 10

Leaning through the lavish office windows, sunlight created lengthy shadows that covered Liam's desk. Jessica sat rigidly upright on the edge of the visitor's chair opposite him. A tightness sprang through the air, unrelated to the pile of financial records she held before her.

Liam, looking unusually stressed, was ruffling his hair, tampering with the normal flawless swoop. He said, "These quarterly reports are a nightmare," as he furtively skimmed the pages.

Jessica, couldn't help but point out, “I think handling them in batches would really help."

Liam winced. “Oh brother!”

Then he added, “Don't mind me. My father used to handle all this stuff. Unfortunately, his… absence has left a bit of a void."

Jessica couldn't deny a sliver of sympathy. Despite her initial suspicions about Liam, a glimpse of vulnerability softened his polished exterior. She focused on the reports, trying to ignore the way his blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he concentrated. 

Her gaze suddenly fixed on an inconsistency – a discrepancy between a recent land acquisition and the associated loan amount.

"Mr. Thorne," she began cautiously, "there seems to be a slight discrepancy here." She pointed to the document in question. "The loan amount for one of the Bradndix properties doesn't seem to match the projected purchase price."

Liam leaned closer, brows furrowing as he examined the report. "You're right," he said after a moment. "That's… odd. I'll have to look into this with accounting."

Jessica wasn't convinced. The figures amiss felt deliberate. Was it possible Liam was in some kind of financial trouble? 

She was set to find that out but first, the office work.

The office hours unfolded in a blur of paperwork, hushed conversations, and stolen glances. Liam, while initially guarded, revealed a dry wit that snuck Jessica a few genuine chuckles.

Later, Liam excused himself from the office while Jessica was alone working on some of the day's work, preparing to leave, a gust of wind sent a folder from Liam's pile of documents he seemed to be working on, fluttering to the floor. Bending down to pick it up, she noticed a file labeled 'Project Phoenix' tucked away in the scattered papers.

Curiosity piqued, she opened it. Inside were detailed reports on risky investments, written convert negotiations, and shady offshore accounts – all linked to Thorne Enterprises.

Then something gripped her even more. The name was Albert Lucas. That was the prime suspect in her previous case that almost landed her a dismissal and a dent in her career. 

How was his name here?

Lucas's case slipped off her hand before she could place a pin on him and the agency didn't buy her excuse.

She read further and found out that a business deal had been carried on between Lucas and Liam in a signed agreement.

“What…?” She mouthed quietly to herself while darting around the room for any sign of Liam returning.

Without hesitation, she took out her phone and took clear pictures of the files. 

At least now she has something on him to give to the agency. 

Doubt still crept in her mind as the afternoon would have made her think him innocent. 

Her heart hammered in her chest even further as she continued to stare at the file. 

Was Liam really involved in something illegal? 

Could this be the reason for his father's disappearance? She quickly shut the file, her mind racing.

Jessica froze, torn between her duty as a detective and Liam's attitude that she could have thought a moment ago, felt genuine. 

Liam opened the door and she got jiggled to a rise. "I, uh… was just leaving. I… I finished with the batch we took out but these other reports can wait until tomorrow."

Liam's gaze narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice devoid of its earlier warmth.

Jessica met his gaze, her heart racing almost to a stop. The fight going on in her head whether to confront him or simply keep quiet for now was non-stop.

“… Yes. All good.” She braced herself trying to come up with a quick excuse for her sudden reaction. “I just needed to get food. I'm starving.”

Buying the excuse, he offered “Oh. That's not a problem, I can have someone bring you something from the cafeteria.” 

“... Uh. No.” She cuts him quickly and his eyes squinted observing her more. 

“I just need to use the restroom then I'd go get something —”

Just then, the door opens and Miss Beth walks in on them. The scene she had seen made her want to excuse them. Liam had leaned forward, trying to care for her and Jessica looked all startled like something had sprung up in the little time they spent there.

“Do you need me to come back Mr Thorne?” Miss Beth asked.

He looked at Jessica not knowing whether to let her go out of concern for her or make Miss Beth excuse them.

With Miss Beth there, Jessica seized the opportunity to brace herself. 

"Alright then. Miss Beth, please do that.” Liam responded.

“Check in on me in 10 minutes,” Liam added and Miss Beth left.

“I'm fine, truly.” Jessica maintained, her voice gaining conviction. “I just need to eat like I said.”

Now convinced, he replies “Alright then. Make sure to eat something substantial.” 

Liam watched her leave the office and Miss Beth entered after. The conversation progressed from inside business to more corporate business but Liam wasn't sure why his mind drifted back to Jessica while being with Miss Beth.

“She was fine a moment ago.” He wondered quietly not understanding the sudden spurn.

“Women's problem maybe?” he pondered.

The tension had eased somewhat, replaced by a wary curiosity on both sides. Curiosity of a different nature. Jessica, clutching the secret she'd unearthed, gathered her belongings, her mind a whirlwind of questions, far from what Liam suspected.

As she left the office, she knew one thing for sure – their uneasy alliance had just taken a significant turn, and the line between suspicion and something more intriguing had become dangerously blurred.