Page 28 of A Simple Reminder

“Right now?”

“Yeah, why not?” His grin is playful, “I know a place nearby.”

I glance at him, weighing the spontaneity of the moment. There’s something intriguing—something undeniablyLiam—about the idea. “What would you get?” I ask, genuinely curious.

His smile softens. “The word'Nassib'.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s Arabic forDestiny,” he replies, the weight of the word lingering between us.

Destiny. That’s what Liam feels like.Mydestiny.

“Okay,” I say, my heart skipping a beat. “Let’s do it.”

THIRTEEN

LIAM

PRESENT

It’s been a week since Sophie had her tour of the hotel, and she’s been working tirelessly ever since. I’m not surprised, though, she’s always been ambitious and hardworking. Watching her work is something else entirely. There’s an intensity to her focus, the way she chews on the end of a pencil when she’s deep in thought, her eyes squinted in concentration. It’s a little quirk. When she gets excited about an idea she wants to share, her words tumble out in a rush. It’s almost like she’s painting a picture with every word, and I can’t help but be captivated. Every single idea of hers is impressive; the way she understands the project is exactly what we need. Which is why I’m starting to regret that interview I had last week.

It’s not that Ineedanother designer—Sophie is fantastic. But there’s so much work to be done, it’s too much for a lone designer and I don’t want her to overwork herself. I don’t want her to burn out just when she’s about to hit the market as the best and most wanted designer in New York.

I sit at my desk, eyes drawn to the grandfather clock in the corner. The loud ticks echo my thoughts, heightening my anticipation for what’s to come.I don’t think she’ll be happy.

“Knock, knock. It’s me, your favorite person,” a recognizable voice calls, breaking through my thoughts. A wide smile spreads across my face as I look up.

“Addie!” I exclaim, standing and crossing the room to her. I scoop her up into a spin, her light and infectious laughter ringing out.

“Oh my God, I’m dizzy now.” She giggles as I set her down gently.

The sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor announces Lilly's rushed arrival. She’s slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed. “I ran after her from the lobby,” she says, panting, “but she beat me. Sorry, sir. I’ll escort this strange woman out.” Adeline’s eyes flash with amusement, a knowing smile on her lips. “Like I told you, I don’t need an appointment withMr. Ayoub,” she says my name with a light tease in her tone, though her expression remains composed. However, I know Addie, so I quickly step in, recognizing the tension. “No one will be escorting anyone out. This is my good friend Adeline Karam.”

“How about you get us some coffee, Lilly? Please,” I suggest, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.

Lilly’s lips curl into a practiced smile as she glances back at me. “Of course, sir. An Americano, as usual, coming right up.” Her voice is smooth, almost honeyed, as if she’s savoring each word. She makes a point of lingering a moment longer than necessary. Adeline arches an eyebrow before she adds, “A dirty chai for me, and throw in a croissant, please.” Her tone is clipped as she watches Lilly with a look I can’t read.

Lilly pauses, glancing back with a forced smile, clearly not in the mood to bring Adeline a coffee. “Will do. Anything else?”

“Add a coffee for Sophie, too. She’ll join us soon,” Adeline says, glancing at me with a hint of curiosity.

Lilly’s smile tightens. “And what kind of coffee does Miss Anderson want?”

We simultaneously recite Sophie's oddly specific coffee order: “A latte with coconut milk, an extra espresso shot, one pump of sugar-free vanilla syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.” Adeline gives me a quizzical look, probably curious about how I’ve memorized Sophie’s coffee order. But she doesn’t voice her curiosity; she smiles almost knowingly before turning her attention back to Lilly.

Lilly nods, jotting down the orders with an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll make sure to get it just right,” she says, her tone laced with thinly veiled disdain. Without waiting for a response, she spins on her heel and strides toward the door. She’s a bit dramatic, sure—but she’s good at her job, so I can’t exactly complain.

As the door swings shut behind her, I catch Adeline rolling her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Interesting choice of staff,” she murmurs, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Then, leaning in closer, her eyes narrowing slightly, she adds, “You know she’s into you, right?”

The remark catches me off guard, and my brow furrows. “What? No, I don’t think?—”

Adeline cuts me off, her expression full of certainty. “Liam, come on. It’s obvious. The glances, the extra attention, the extra swaying of the hips. She’s not exactly subtle about it.”

I frown, her words replaying in my head.The swaying of the hips?I’d noticed it before but brushed it off as just her natural way of walking. Now, with Adeline pointing it out, I can’t help but question if I’d missed something obvious—or if I’m just that oblivious.

I shake my head, trying to dismiss the thought. “No, that’s not—it’s nothing. She’s just being friendly,” I say, though it sounds more like I’m trying to convince myself than Adeline.

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