Page 30 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

Liam didn’t fall silent. Instead, he frowned, a flash of frustration crossing his face as he sat up straighter. “How can you say I didn’t trust you? Mia, I trusted you with the most sensitive parts of my business—the investigation, the finances, all of it. You’ve been going through Edgewater’s files for weeks. That’s my company, and you’ve had access to everything.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I hadn’t expected him to push back like this, hadn’t considered the idea that he might feel like he had trusted me in his own way. “But I didn’t know it was yours,” I finally said, my voice softer now, the sting of my own words hitting me. “You kept that from me.”

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I get that. I do. But it’s not because I don’t trust you. It’s because this—my wealth, my status—it complicates everything. People look at me differently— treat me differently. I wanted you to see me for who I am, not the title, not the bank account.”

His words hung between us, a mixture of truth and pain that I hadn’t considered. He had trusted me with the core of his business, even if I didn’t know it at the time. Still, it didn’t erase the fact that he’d hidden such a huge part of his life from me. “I understand that,” I said, my voice quiet but steady. “But that doesn’t change how I feel right now. You were playing a part, and I was caught in the middle of it.”

Liam’s jaw tightened, his eyes searching mine. “I wasn’t playing a part with you, Mia. Everything else—Edgewater, the investigation—yeah, I kept that under wraps, but what’s between us? That’s real.”

The intensity in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. He wasn’t backing down, wasn’t letting me walk away from this so easily. “I don’t know what to think right now,” I whispered, feeling the familiar tension in my throat again. “I need time.”

Liam’s expression softened, the frustration giving way to a quiet resignation. “I get that,” he said, his voice lowering. “Take whatever time you need, but don’t doubt that I care about you. My intentions were to protect you, and that won’t change.”

The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, both of us lost in our own thoughts. The flight attendant came to clear away the dishes, and I forced a polite smile, but my mind was far from present.

Everything had changed in an instant. The man I thought I knew wasn’t who I thought he was. He was someone bigger, someone encased in a world I didn’t belong to. And as much as I cared about him, I couldn’t shake the fear that I was in way over my head.

The plane touched down smoothly, the familiar sight of Cedar Cove’s small airstrip bringing a bittersweet sense of relief. Liam and I had barely spoken since our conversation mid-flight, and the tension lingered, heavy and uncomfortable. The truth between us felt too big to unpack right now.

Liam’s truck was waiting for us as we deplaned. The surreal feeling of being back in Cedar Cove hit me as I slid into the passenger seat, leaving behind the luxury of the private plane. It was like stepping out of a fairytale, the kind where the clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella returns to her real life. The brief moment of glamour was gone, and the simplicity of my world was right here, in Liam’s truck, on these quiet roads.

“Do you want to stop by the kennel on the way?” Liam asked, breaking the silence. His voice was soft as if he was unsure of where we stood now.

I glanced at him, my thoughts swirling. Part of me wanted to lean on him, to let him help me through this mess, but another part needed distance. I needed space to sort through everything that had been revealed. “I think I’ll go alone,” I said quietly, looking out the window. “But thank you…”

Liam’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to help, but he didn’t push. “Alright,” he said, his voice strained. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

I nodded and looked away. As we pulled up in front of my cabin, I hesitated before reaching for the door. Liam didn’t say anything more, but time seemed to stand still.

“I’ll see you later,” I muttered, stepping out of the truck. As Liam grabbed my begs, I shut the door behind me; I couldn’t help but feel like I was slipping away from something, though I wasn’t sure what.

At the kennel, I was greeted by a flurry of happy barks as Daisy bounded toward me, tail wagging furiously. The joy in her eyes was enough to soothe some of the tension coiled in my chest. She was safe and healthy; that was all I needed now.

Back home in my cabin, I collapsed onto the couch with Daisy by my side. The comforting weight of her warm body against me was the kind of familiarity I needed after everything that had happened. I turned on the TV, searching for an old movie, something lighthearted and easy, hoping to drown out the noise in my mind.

But even as the movie played, my thoughts kept drifting back to Liam. The man I thought I knew wasn’t who he really was, and now, I wasn’t sure if I could fit into the life he had been hiding from me. A life of wealth and power, responsibilities I couldn’t begin to understand.

I sighed, hugging Daisy a little tighter. Maybe I wasn’t ready to give up on him, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for everything that came with being in Liam’s world, either.

As the movie ended and the cabin fell into silence, I stood up and made my way to the bedroom, Daisy padding quietly behind me. The weight of the day pressed down on my shoulders, andas much as I wanted to shut off my mind, thoughts of Liam still lingered.

I slipped under the covers, the cool sheets brushing against my skin. Daisy curled up on the floor beside me, her presence always a comfort. But tonight, despite her being there, the bed felt emptier than usual—cold and lonely in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I stared up at the ceiling, the memories of the past few days replaying in my mind. The stolen glances, the touches that sent my heart racing, the warmth of Liam’s body next to mine. I had gotten used to those moments more than I cared to admit.

And now, without him here, the emptiness felt even sharper.

I sighed, rolling over and pulling the blanket closer, trying to will the ache away. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I missed him.

The night stretched out before me for the first time in a long time, cold and hollow.

Fifteen

Liam

"Thank God for fucking coffee!"

Grumbling under my breath, I reached for the chipped mug that always sat at the front of the cluttered cupboard. Papers cascaded across my desk like an unruly waterfall, each sheet a reminder of tasks left unfinished.

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