Chapter 7 Get out

"I was wondering if we could catch up on the 10th?" I clicked open my calendar on my computer. "That's a Wednesday." I said more to myself, as I clicked on the day. All my appointments popped up. "Um, Is twelve good? If not, It'll have to be Friday." I said noticing Thursday was fully booked. Biting my lip, I waited whilst Liam checked his calendar. "12 is perfect. At the office?" He asked as I typed it into my calendar so Ellise wouldn't book something else at the same time. "Um, well I was thinking we should go out to lunch. Or else knowing me, I won't eat anything that day.

You can meet me here though" I said. "Okay. I'll see you then." He said hanging up.

Picking up my phone again, I pressed one. "Ellise," I asked as soon as she picked up. "Where's a good place to have lunch?"

I arrived early at work on Wednesday to get loads of work done before lunch. I got a fair bit done surprisingly and Liam was at my office before I knew it. Collecting today's coat, I grabbed my handbag, and we headed out to lunch. As always, I used the mirrored walls of the elevator to add a layer of lipstick. Smiling at my reflection I noticed Liam watching me. "What?" I asked turning around to face him. "Nothing, just most woman do their make-up before leaving the house." I rolled my eyes. "Of course I did my make-up this morning, it just needed adjusting." He smiled at me and I stuck my tongue out. "And you call yourself a business woman." He said mockingly. "Yeah I do. A very important and successful one to." Just then, the doors slid open and we walked across the lobby and out into the chilly autumn day.

The restaurant was not at all crowded and quite quiet. Liam chose a table in the centre of the main dining area and we sat down. We then ordered our drinks and settled into a polite conversation. When the waiter returned to take our orders, Liam ordered for me and after she left, I decided we'd better get started.

"When is your birthday?" I asked thinking we'd start with the basics then learn the little things like pet peeves later. "February the 25th" I nodded. "And you were born in what year?" He smiled at me. "1981. What about you."

"1983, June the 5th. Siblings?"

"One brother. Ben. He's gay, three years younger. You?"

"1983, June the 5th. Siblings?"

"Just my sister, Lucinda, Also three years younger."

"And she's a lawyer?"

"Yup. What's Ben do?"

"Doctor."

"Okay. Pessimistic or optimistic?"

"Optimistic. You?"

I had to think about that because I wasn't the most positive person around but it wasn't like I extremely negative either.

"Relationships and things, Pessimistic. Life and Work, Optimistic."

Looking at Laim, I noticed he was a bit surprised.

"Really. Why are you so negative with relationships?"

The questions were getting harder. I had to think about this one too. "Bad experiences." I said with a shrug. "That and they've never been a priority for me." He nodded at me.

Looking at Laim, I noticed he was a bit surprised.

"Really. Why are you so negative with relationships?"

"So do you want kids or not." he asked after taking a sip of his chilled water.

"Well I'm not entirely sure as I've never really thought about it. I can't even really picture getting married." He didn't pop up with another question so I asked one. "What's your relationship history."

"There's not much there. A couple girls in high school and at college. About four since then." He smiled. "I'm not really the serious relationship type though." I nodded. So he wasn't a player but he was a bachelor.

"I have to ask though, why does the company mean so much to you?"

His question left me quite taken aback. Nobody had ever asked it so bluntly and he sounded like he was genuinely curious.

"Well for starters, I practically grew up there. Whilst Mum and Luc were shopping or baking, I was with dad. I grew up at Williams & Williams. And, well from a young age, I expected myself to eventually run it. When I was eighteen though, dad told me he was going to sell it. And that was when I realized, I didn't expect myself to take it over, I wanted to. Since then, I've worked hard for the place. And I love the dedication in a strange way. I've made sacrifices. But I've achieved a lot and it's part of me." I said finishing with a shrug. The passion for my work was like a candle that just simply lit me up. Unfortunately, some could not see or recognise the flame.

There was a long pause as I realized what I'd just said. I'd never been so open with anyone about what Williams & Williams meant to me. Not even Dad. Yet I'd just told Liam,a contracted boyfriend and a stranger, everything.

I looked up to find him watching me intently. His brown eyes focused on my blue.

"I need to go to the bathroom." I said pushing my chair back roughly and heading to the bathroom past the bar.

Pacing back and forth in front of the mirror I realized Liam scared me. Not scared as in I thought he was evil. Scared as though he could see something others couldn't. His gaze was piercing and intense, as if he knew every aspect of me.

I finally stopped pacing just hoping there was no hidden meaning behind any of this.