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Liam Pov
Eve's voice slid into my mind right on the dot.
"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. It's six o'clock. You've got thirty minutes before Mom swoops in to collect her favorite child—aka you."
I cracked an eye open and groaned, stretching. "Appreciate the wake-up call."
"I live to serve," she said, then added slyly, "Well, more like I live to make sure you don't screw up your own plans, but let's not split hairs."
I got up, heading straight for the shower. The hot water hit like a reset button, washing away the travel fatigue and the heaviness from the nap.
By the time I stepped out, my head was clearer, and the evening felt more… charged.
I stood in front of the mirror and went for a clean, sharp look—something between casual confidence and understated sophistication.
A crisp white dress shirt, the kind that fit perfectly across my shoulders, paired with a deep charcoal dinner jacket that hugged my frame without feeling stiff. The fabric caught the light subtly, like it had a secret of its own. Dark tailored trousers and polished black leather shoes finished the look. I left the top two buttons of my shirt undone—just enough to breathe, but still refined.
Hair styled effortlessly back, light cologne that carried a faint note of sandalwood and citrus. The kind of scent you didn't notice until you were close enough for it to matter.
"Not bad," Eve said, her tone approving but with that inevitable edge of playfulness. "You look like you're about to close a multimillion-dollar deal… or steal someone's heart over dessert. Possibly both."
I smirked at my reflection. "That's the idea."
By 6:20, I was standing at the entrance of the building, hands in my pockets, posture relaxed but alert. The cool California evening air carried the faint scent of palm leaves and distant ocean. The sky had shifted into that dusky, golden-hour glow that made everything seem just a little more cinematic.
I waited casually leaned against the doorway and Penny came into view before she even noticed me—arms loaded with groceries, two wine bottles poking out from the top of the bag like little flags announcing "Saturday night plans."
She had that look people get when they're just trying to make it from point A to point B without spilling their life all over the sidewalk—eyes down, lips pursed, focus narrowed to not tripping or smashing into a lamp post.
"Hey, Penny." I called out and her head snapped up, and just like that, fatigue evaporated and a smile lit her face, warm and sudden, like I'd just flipped a switch.
She picked up her pace a little. "Hey yourself," she said, eyes running over my outfit before she let out a low whistle. "Well, well… who's the lucky lady?"
There was a flash of something in her expression—quick, instinctive, maybe even a flicker of jealousy. I just chuckled, shaking my head. "Lucky one's my mom."
Her face shifted immediately, realization kicking in. The hint of jealousy vanished, replaced by a sheepish smile. "Oh—sorry. I didn't mean to…"
I waved it off before she could even finish. "It's fine. Just fun banter between friends."
That word—friends—lit a little spark in her. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. "Friends, huh? Funny, because I don't have your number, Mr. Friend."
I grinned. "Guess we should fix that."
Phones came out and numbers were exchanged. Penny grinned like she'd just scored a small but satisfying victory. "Look at that, I got the golden boy's number," she said, clearly pleased with herself.
Before I could reply, a sleek black Mercedes slowed to a stop by the curb—Mom's arrival, right on schedule.
Penny glanced at it, then back at me, and gave a quick little wave. "I'll let you go. Wouldn't want to make you awkward in front of your mom."
"Appreciate that," I said with a smirk.
She slipped inside the building, still smiling, and I turned toward the car, just as Mom stepped out, looking exactly as glamorous as ever in a deep emerald dress and a matching scarf draped loosely over her shoulders.
Evelin—always the picture of composure—broke into a rare, warm smile when her eyes found me.
"Liam, darling," she said, and before I could even respond, she pulled me into a firm, motherly hug.
She smelled faintly of jasmine and the kind of expensive perfume that probably had a French name I couldn't pronounce.
"Good to see you too, Mom," I murmured against her shoulder, returning the hug.
She leaned back, giving me an approving once-over from head to toe. "You look handsome. Very much my son."
I chuckled. "Glad to know I passed inspection."
Her smile lingered as she looped her arm through mine. "Shall we? I have a reservation at one of the best places in the city."
And with that, we slid into the car, Penny already fading into the background of the evening as my mother's world took center stage.
Mom and I slid into the deep leather seats of the restaurant, the dim lighting making the silverware gleam like it had its own spotlight.
The waiter handed us menus, but Mom kept her eyes on me like the menu was just a prop.
"So," she began, settling her elbows on the table, "you said on the phone about a job at the DA's office in Manhattan?"
"Yeah," I said, trying not to sound like a kid on Christmas morning, but failing miserably.
"Passed the bar, got the offer, and honestly? I can't wait to start. It's going to be intense—long hours, high stakes—but… I'll be right in the middle of the kind of cases that matter. It's going to be a lot of learning, probably some crashing and burning, but that's the good part. The kind that makes you better."
She gave me that slow, approving nod, the one that felt like an Olympic gold medal in 'Parental Validation.' "That's my Liam. Always chasing something worthwhile. You've never been afraid to push yourself."
Eve's voice chimed dryly in my head. "Translation: You've always been her overachiever trophy son. Congratulations, you're officially the family's limited edition collectible."
I ignored her, hiding a small grin. "Thanks, Mom. I'm just… ready for it. I want to see how far I can go."
She sipped her wine before her expression shifted slightly—lighter, more curious. "And what about Emma?"
I raised a brow. "What about Emma?"
"Well," she said with a smirk, "are you two…?"
I shook my head, chuckling. "It's complicated, but not in a romantic way. No relationship. We're just… friends with a lot of history."
She leaned back, clearly filing away whatever that meant, then pivoted seamlessly. "Alright, then. What about Penny?"
I blinked. "Penny?"
"Yes. You were speaking to her when I arrived at your building."
I set down my menu and gave her a mock-suspicious look. "You have eyesight like a sniper."
She smiled, completely unbothered. "It's a gift."
"She's just a new friend," I said casually. "And how do you even know her name?"
Her smirk widened. "it's my building. I know my tenants."
I tilted my head, unconvinced. "You own a lot of buildings and you have property managers. Are you going to come clean, or should I start cross-examining?"
Amusement flickered across her face before she gave in. "Alright. I don't personally oversee all my buildings… but that one is different. You live there. I can't have some lunatic living under the same roof as my favorite son."
Eve snorted in my head. "Translation: The rest of your brothers can fend for themselves, but you're her prized racehorse."
I grinned, shaking my head. "You're something else, you know that?"
The waiter arrived, and Mom ordered a delicate lobster tail with a truffle risotto. I went for a seared steak with garlic mash.
"And wine?" the waiter asked.
"Just for me," Mom said quickly, looking at me pointedly. "He's driving me home tonight."
I raised a brow. "I could just take a cab."
"You're driving me home," she said firmly. "And tomorrow, I'm driving you to the airport."
"Mom, you really don't have to—"
She cut me off with that smile that was somehow sweet and a little dangerous. "Dear, I'm not asking."
Eve's voice was warm this time. "Honestly? Let her win this one. She doesn't get many victories in her mind unless it involves you."
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Read 10 advanced chapters at;
patreon.com/Dreamwalker1