The morning air was still warm with the scent of fresh daisies
Grace barely slept, her mind replaying every word Liam had whispered the day before. She didn't know what they were yet , partners, allies or something more but she knew how she felt when he looked at her. Like she wasn't just a symbol or a challenge
Like she was his
By 9 a.m, she was standing at the elevator in the Vale Systems tower, coffee in hand and pulse ticking just a little too fast. She hadn't told him she was coming. Part of her liked the idea of surprising him, and part of her needed to see if what they'd shared yesterday still lingered today.
The elevator doors opened to Liam's private floor.
His assistant gave her a polite smile. "He's in his office. No one else is scheduled right now.."
The door was already cracked open.
Grace stepped forward. Her smile was ready.
Then she froze.
Liam was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, head tilted slightly back in laughter. And beside him perched on the edge of his desk, her hand playfully hitting his arm was a girl.
Blonde , gorgeous , familiar and also quite young
The girl leaned into him, smiling like she belonged in his space. Like she had belonged for a long time
Grace stomach twisted
'So this is what honesty looks like'
Her grip on the coffee cup tightened ,her first instinct was to turn and leave. Her second was to walk in and act like it didn't bother her.
But both felt like defeat
She cleared her throat.
They both looked up.
"Grace !" Liam's expression shifted from amusement to something softer, warmer but there was a flicker of confusion behind it. "I didn't know you were coming."
The girl smiled, standing. "You must be the Grace."
That didn't help
Grace's voice was cool as glass. "And you are?"
The girl grinned, walking forward with the same confidence Liam carried. "His better half. At least, according to his childhood diaries."
Liam groaned. "Don't…"
The girl extended her hand"I'm Mia , his sister."
Silence stretched.
Grace blinked. "Mia"
"Yep , just back home from Eldor University for a few weeks, he didn't tell you?"
"No," Grace said slowly, cheeks burning. "He didn't tell me you were coming"
Liam stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck "I didn't know you were stopping by , I would've warned you before you walked into... that."
Mia laughed "Did she think we were .. ,oh my God. Liam , really"
Grace looked between them, mortified.
"I should go," she said quickly, spinning on her heel.
Liam caught her wrist gently. "Grace Wait."
She turned just enough to see him. "I feel ridiculous."
"You're not," he said softly. "I should've told you about Mia's return . I didn't think it mattered until…"
"Until I walked in and looked like some jealous idiot"
His eyes searched hers. "Were you jealous?"
Her breath hitched
He stepped closer. "Because I was. When I saw you with Marcus from the sustainability board last week? Smiling at him like that?"
Grace blinked. "That was a business lunch."
"And I'm not allowed to be jealous of business?" he asked, mouth lifting slightly.
"I didn't say that," she said, voice low.
He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, so gentle it made her breath catch. "Then don't feel ridiculous. You're not. You're here. And I'm glad you are."
A beat passed between them, the tension melting into something unspoken but understood.
From the office behind them, Mia cleared her throat loudly. "You two gonna make out, or should I grab coffee and come back?"
Grace laughed despite herself.
Liam leaned in, brushing a kiss to her temple. "Later. Privately."
She nodded, finally letting the tension in her shoulders ease.