Chapter 6 A Moment Of Rage

Liam Pov:

While doing my job at the office I had a long and uninterrupted work session, but the knock on the door interrupted me.

"Enter," I said, when my manager Ray with respect and professionalism entered.

"What can I help you with, Ray?" I asked in a voice so deep it was authoritative.

"Boss, only remember now is the time you have the meeting with the board members," so Ray said to me.

"Oh, yes. That came to my mind with a slip. Well, we get there," I told him, nodding toward the door.

Ray followed my lead into the boardroom, which was already occupied by all the members of the board. They all rose and chorused greetings as soon as they saw me. I returned the greeting with a nod and sat down at the head of the table, which marked the beginning of the meeting.

The room went silent, all eyes on me as they awaited the direction and insight that I had been known to provide. I cleared my throat and began the meeting, my words commanding attention and respect from the gathered group.

"Fellow board members," I began, my voice measured and authoritative. "I'm pleased to report that we are on schedule to deliver the new project, as expected. However, there are a few details that need to be ironed out before we can officially move forward."

In my speech, I noticed how the board members shifted on their chairs as their faces expressed anticipation mingled with anxiety. They would love to hear more of it, but at the same time they are afraid of some obstacles that could occur.

"The budget proposal that's on the table at this moment doesn't factor in all of the added needs for such an effort," I explained, knowing full well that this news wasn't exactly what everyone had hoped for. "We will have to add another 10% to the estimated cost to make sure the project is accomplished successfully."

With each word spoken, I could feel the tension in the room mounting. Some board members exchanged skeptical glances with each other, while others said nothing, just sat, and absorbed. One member, a man named Xavier, cleared his throat and leaned forward in his seat.

"If I may say so, Mr. Harrington," Mr Xavier said, and there was an element of confrontation in his tone now. "We were led to believe the budget proposal was on the conservative side. And now, already, we're going to go over that first estimate. How are we to know there aren't surprises like this later on that we're going to get shocked with?"

I nodded to that, understanding the board member's concern. "That's a valid question, Mr Xavier. However, the extra resources we need at this stage are primarily due to the broadening of the scope for addressing extra customer demands."

The discussion went on for about three to four hours with each member contributing their complaints and suggestions to come to a solution. Until finally, after much deliberation, there was a unanimous consent of the board members and the meeting was wrapped up. As all the members exited the conference room, I couldn't help but have a mixed feeling of the matter having been resolved though at additional costs that were going to be incurred.

Now it was time to focus on the next steps in the project, knowing there was still a lot of work to be done.

I had already left the boardroom, making my way to my office, when I heard voices from around. I ordered Ray to check what was happening.

"Okay, boss" he nodded and left.

I retired to my office to begin the next step of the project when someone barged. Anger turned me and my surprise; it was Evelyn.

"How did she know? Was she the lady making noise out there" I thought staring at her.

"Liam, I brought you lunch," Evelyn said, not looking at me as she nervously set a plate of food on my desk. I feel anger and confusion course through my body as I look back at her suspiciously and with a mix of contempt and hatred.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly and calmly, my hand gesturing towards the food. "I know you didn't come here just to give me this."

Evelyn said nothing for a moment, the silence thickening in the air between us.

My gaze was fixed intently on Evelyn, and her uncomfortable fidgeting in the face of the increasing tension that was growing in the room, with each passing second, seemed to grow more unbearable until she finally mustered up the courage to say, "I know your secret."

Shock went through me, and my mind reeled trying to make out what she meant.

"What secret?" I returned in a low, dangerous tone. "What are you talking about?"

Evelyn's eyes shifted from mine for one brief second before reaching again into my gaze, with this time her face fixed resolute with fear trembling inside them.

"I'm talking about your ex-girlfriend," she went on to say.

The moment she mentioned my ex-girlfriend, I knew instantly she had breached the locked room. In a burst of anger, I approached her, fingers wrapped tightly in her neck.

"How dare you!" I growled, seething with fury. "Despite letting you go with a warning when I found you in front of the locked door the other day, you went back and opened it. How in the world did you get the key?"

Her eyes had gone wide with terror as she struggled against my grasp, gasping for air. "Liam, please," she choked out, her voice weak and desperate. "I didn't mean to. I didn't know it was a secret."

I tightened my grip, my knuckles turning white as I hissed, "Lies. You knew exactly what you were doing. You wanted to find out my secret and Inform your parents. Remember you are arranged here because of the deal between your parents and I"

Evelyn's face contorted in pain and fear.

"Liam..." Evelyn's voice shuddered as tears bedewed her visage, she stumbled through her words as if the wind of emotions was sucking them

away.

Although my attention was occupied with him, I was nonetheless reminded all the time of the deception that Eleanor had done to Liam.

Angrily, I pushed Evelyn to the floor, I stood on top of her, stiff like a board, while I stared at her with fury.

"Leave!" I growled, the door was in the direction of his finger. Evelyn quickly rushed out of his office, her eyes were wide open, and she was afraid.

My fists clenched as I stared at the closed door, my chest heaving with each labored breath. I whirled and slammed my fist into the wall, sending vibrations through the room as I was seething in rage.

"How dare she?" I fumed, my mind replaying images of Eleanor and her betrayal.