Page 11 of Baby For My Ex's Brother

Nadia believes in me more than I believe in myself. The thought stabs through me, sharp and unexpected. I've always been the one who fades into the background, the supportive friend, never the star of my own life. And now, I'm supposed to rise up, face the world, and chase after dreams that seem as distant as the stars?

The room feels too small suddenly, the walls closing in. Everyone else is moving forward, living out their dreams, while I feel anchored in place, weighed down by my own doubts and fears.

Can I really do this for a year?

Can I stand working for Liam after what he said, what he did?

But then, there's that flicker—a kiss from two years ago that I haven't been able to shake, a moment of passion that promised so much more. What if...

No.

I push the thought away. That's not the reason I'm staying. I'm staying because I have to. Because I need the money to get a new apartment and get out from under Chris’s thumb.

With a heavy heart, I curl up on the futon, pulling my knees close. Nadia has faith in me. Maybe one day, I'll find enough faith in myself to believe that I can truly pursue those dreams, no matter how far away they seem.

For now, though, I just need to make it through tomorrow.

Chapter five

Liam

I slam the folderdown on my desk with more force than necessary. The sound echoes through the silence of my office at Aegis Legal Group, and I don't need to look up to know Shiloh's there, just outside the door, probably with another perfectly organized itinerary in her hands.

"Come in," I bark without lifting my gaze from the mess of papers scattered across my desk.

The door creaks open and Shiloh steps in, all efficiency and poise. She's been with me for two weeks now, soaking up the chaos of my schedule like a sponge. She straightens her glasses and places a neat stack of documents in front of me.

"Your calls are lined up for the afternoon," she says, her voice steady as she ticks off each appointment with her pen. "And I've sorted your emails—urgent responses are flagged."

"Good," I mutter, still not looking at her. I can't let myself. It's bad enough that I catch whiffs of her floral perfume, the kind that's subtle but somehow fills the room, reminding me of...

I shut down the thought before it takes hold.

"Did you follow up with Harrison about the merger details?" I demand, finally meeting her gaze. There's a hint of something there, a quick flash of uncertainty that she masks almost immediately.

"Doing it next," she replies, the words quick, but her tone doesn't waver.

"Shiloh." I sigh, leaning back in my chair and pinching the bridge of my nose. "You get flustered too easily. This isn't a game. You need to prioritize."

She frowns, a slight crease forming between her brows, and I have to look away again.

Damn it, why does she have to be so… compelling?

"I'm on top of it, Liam," she asserts. I notice her hands clenching at her sides, a telltale sign she's holding back her frustration. "I'll handle Harrison before the day is out."

"See that you do." My voice comes out harsher than I intend, but it's better this way. Better to keep her at arm's length, to remind myself she's my assistant, nothing more.

"Anything else?" She asks, her eyes scanning my face for something I can't let her find.

"No. That's all."

"Okay." She nods and turns to leave, her shoulders set and her steps deliberate.

"Shiloh." The name escapes my lips before I can stop it, and she pauses, glancing back at me. I should say something else, apologize maybe, but the words stick in my throat.

Instead, I just nod, dismissing her.

She leaves, closing the door softly behind her, and I'm left with the echo of my own stubbornness. I tell myself I'm pushing her for her own good, to make her better at her job. But deep down, part of me knows the truth—I'm trying to resist the pull she has on me, the unwanted desire that's threading its way under my skin.

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