The ride home was quiet. The hum of the tires on the road, the soft click of the turn signal. Everything felt louder than usual. She sat beside him, hands clasped tightly in her lap.
And yet, she was distracted.
She had seen a side of him today that she didn't expect.
How has he been carrying all that burden?
Her eyes flickered to him. She wanted to lean in and comfort him. The tension in the car pressed against her ribs. Like two people pretending they weren't thinking the same thing.
He's your boss; he's fake.
And still, the silence between them felt full. Her phone buzzed in her lap.
Robert. Again.
Liam didn't glance her way, but his grip on the steering wheel seemed to tighten. She hesitated but silenced the call. Not now. She turned slightly toward him as they approached her apartment, searching his face.
"Goodnight, Sophie."
Something cracked in her chest. She stood alone under the glow of her porch light, heart twisting in her chest, unsure who she was upset with.
She had just finished changing into something light when the doorbell rang. Almost 9:45 pm. When she opened the door, Robert stood there, slightly breathless, a small bouquet of white tulips and pink roses in his hands. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his hair a little windswept.
"You didn't answer," he said, a little more sheepish. "I figured I'd take the risk and stop by."
"Come in, I wasn't expecting flowers."
"I wasn't expecting to compete with a dramatic office emergency either,"
She closed the door gently behind him, her cheeks warm. "Yeah, I'm so sorry. It was work-related. It was urgent."
He nodded. "I understand,"
"Thanks,"
He handed her the flowers, brushing her fingers slightly. "I like you, Sophie. And I don't usually say things like that this early on."
Her heart gave a small twist.
He stepped closer. "I feel you're the one for me."
Part of her wanted to say yes, let herself fall into something warm and uncomplicated. This was something she'd been wanting to happen. But the part tied to a certain man who smelled like black coffee and cinnamon was too loud.
"Can I think about it?"
"Take all the time you need."
Later, when he turned to leave, he kissed her cheek.
The day of the event arrived, and she sat in the chair facing the mirror to dress, smoothing the silk of her sapphire-blue gown. It hugged her gently at the waist and shimmered under the lights. Her hair was swept into a soft updo, with a few tendrils curling around her ears.
"Elegant but not seductive," Liam had said. "You're representing me."
And tonight, she didn't want to disappoint him. He was her boss after all.
As she arrived at the lavish estate, guests already mingling under the glittering chandeliers and glass sculptures, and she checked her phone.
Robert: Still on for tonight? Just you and me?
And she had replied: Yes. Just you and me.
Inside the large room, she was greeted by soft classical music, servers with silver trays, and the curious eyes of people who clearly knew she didn't belong. That was until Amber spotted her from across the room.
"You look like you just walk out of Vogue, babe. But I have to ask...how's your boss-boyfriend? Is it serious now?"
Before she could answer, a familiar electric current spread down her spine.
Liam.
As usual, he was dressed in a sleek black suit, no tie, blue shirt open enough to be devastating. His eyes met hers and her insides fluttered.
He started walking toward her, but before he could reach her, a voice cut in beside her.
"Hello, beautiful."
She turned and froze. A man that looked like Liam, but with a cocky glint in his eye and a half-button shirt revealing far too much chest, leaned casually against the wall.
"I'm Jason," he said, offering his hand. "Liam's younger brother."
She shook his hand briefly trying to stay polite.
"She's my woman." Liam said smoothly, appearing beside her with calm authority. "And I'd appreciate it if you keep your thoughts to yourself."
The dinner that evening was stiff, the table was filled with board members, extended relatives, and a few shareholders. Liam sat tall, jaw tight, his arm resting behind Sophie's chair.
His brother sipped his wine and smiled.
And then it happened.
An older woman spoke, raising her glass delicately, regal in a red dress, her eyes landed on Sophie with surprise.
"With everything changing, dear Liam, perhaps it's time we consider letting someone else carry the company forward. You brother's been more than willing. And he has a wife now. Stability.
Liam didn't speak, his hand tensed beside Sophie's.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Sophie said, her voice steady and slicing through the murmurs. All eyes turned to her.
"But Liam has been the one holding everything together. He's managed the company, dealt with pressure most people would crumble under, and caring for your mother. Your mother who's ill and need daily attention."
"And who are you to speak here?" Liam's mother snapped.
"A fully devoted worker that wants the best for the company. And who think your son deserves this."
The room went silent.
Liam turned to look at her, and it scared her. He stood slowly from his seat, and gently pulled her up beside him.
And before she could think, before she could breathe, he kissed her. His hand cradled her cheek; the other anchored at her waist, his lips moved against her with a burning intensity that refused to feel like performance.
He should have warned me first.
But then, she felt it. The way he held her, and the way he kissed her like he was starving for the taste of her.
When he finally pulled back, the room erupted in polite applause. A few board members nodded in approval.
For what?
And then, he looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Sophie."
The moment the laughter died down and champagne began to click again, she slipped out of the room, her heels clicking too loudly. The air was too thick to breathe, and her skin burned because it remembered every second of that kiss.
That damn kiss.
His voice, low, calm as ever:
I love you, Sophie.
Her chest tightened all over again. She ordered a ride. Hands trembling in her lap, staring out the window as the lights of Liam's world faded behind her.
Where's Robert?
By the time she got home, her hair was unraveling from the updo, and her heart was a mess. She kicked off her heels and walked straight to the kitchen for a glass of water, but stopped mid-step.
She didn't want water. She wanted answers.
She slammed the glass on the counter and paced.
I love you?
No one had told her that. Not any man.
Of course her parents loved her, but this? This had gone too far. She felt her chest rise and fall, her vision blurring.
"I'm done!" she said to the empty apartment, voice trembling but loud. She wiped her eyes and pulled out her laptop, clicked into her work email and drafted a resignation letter.
The sun rose, across her apartment windows. She sat in front of the mirror, still in her robe, hair messily tied up, the light of her laptop glowing on her face. Her resignation letter stared back at her from the screen.
She had rewritten it many times. Once with a goodbye, once with pure rage, and once imagining what Liam's face would look like when he read it.
In the end, she kept it professional.
No more glances that said too much and kisses that meant nothing. She poured coffee and her phone buzzed.
She blinked. Then opened the message.
Robert: Morning! I'm at your parents helping your dad with work. Wanna come by later?
"I'm okay," she whispered to herself. "I'm finally okay."
She shut her eyes for a second.
He said he loved me.
She pushed the thought away. No more. It was time to choose peace. And maybe...Robert.
Westridge Tech stood tall like it did every other Monday. Bright, confident, and indifferent.
But something felt wrong.
Liam stepped out of the elevator, coffee on hand, tie slightly loosened. On most Mondays, by the time he reached the hall, he'd instinctively glance toward the second pod of desks in Marketing.
Toward her desk.
It had became an habit because she was always there. Eyes squinting at the screen, lips slightly parted when she was focused. But today...
No mug with the cat that said "Get away, Satan."
He stood there longer than he meant to. Amber passed and gave him a quick nod. "Morning, sir. You good?"
"Yeah."
Back in his office, he dropped his coffee on the desk and sat slowly. His eyes drifted toward the glass wall again.
Then his phone buzzed.
New Email
From: Sophie Blake
Subject: Formal Notice of Resignation
His chest tightened.
"Please consider this my formal resignation..."
The words stabbed into him, clean and cruel. He stared at the screen. His heart kicked. He pushed back his chair, stood up, and paced. Pulse thudding so hard it echoed through his ears.
The second she stepped into her parent's house, she regretted it. Balloons, table loaded with dishes, and drinks. Foldable chairs packed with every human being who had nagged her about her being single.
Robert stood near the grill, speaking with her father and smiled when he saw her. For a second, she felt a rush of calm.
"Ah, there you are, Sophie!"
Ella's husband walked toward her, arms spread like they were friends.
"Hi,"
"Still single?" he blurted. "Or is the tech boss still letting you tag along in his limo?"
Sophie's hands curled to her sides.
"Darling," Ella hissed, "shut up."
"No, I didn't mean to offend her. You girls are always picky until all the good men vanish, and then it's back to air-heads, right?"
She glanced at Robert, who gave a neutral half-shrug. No defense. No nothing.
Liam would've ripped him apart in three minutes. But she was done thinking about Liam. Her voice spoke up before her mind caught up.
"Actually, I'm with Robert now."
The air froze. Chopsticks paused mid-air. Conversation died halfway through a laugh.
Robert smiled. "What?"
Her mom's smile faded.
"Robert?"
Jules blinked, whispering to someone on her group chat.