Page 8 of The Grumpy Actor

Liam’s jaw tightens. I don’t remember ever seeing him look so angry. Not once during the time we were dating, not even when he brutally broke my heart.

One thing is very clear now—Liam meant every word when he said he didn’t want to have anything to do with me.

It’s the reason he pretended not to know me yesterday, and the reason he’s so pissed right now.

Just like he confirmed back then, I was nothing but a way to pass the time to him, and right now, I’m not even worthy of being acknowledged.

This sets off a bout of anger within me. I never thought I’d feel so passionately about Liam again.

“I hope you’ll do your best to make sure Sophie doesn’t quit, too,” Julian says playfully.

“I’d like to interview her first,” Liam says flatly.

Interview? Julian said I didn’t need one because they were in desperate need of an assistant.

“Liam, I told you, we don’t have the time—”

“And I refuse to work with her if I don’t interview her.”

Julian sighs. “Alright, let’s get on with it.”

“Alone,” Liam insists. “I want to interview her alone.”

Julian raises a brow. “Why? Are you trying to scare her off?”

“No,” Liam says, strutting toward the sitting room. “Stop stalling, Julian. I’ll call you when we’re done.”

Julian gives me a doubtful look, but I send him a reassuring smile. He eventually steps out of the suite, and I walk toward Liam.

My heart tightens nervously. It’s obvious this isn’t going to be an interview. The talk we’re about to have doesn’t seem like the easy kind, either.

I wish there was a way I could avoid doing this because it’s definitely going to reopen old wounds I used to believe healed long ago.

“What exactly are you doing here, and what do you want, Sophie?”

My heart bounces around my chest excitedly. It’s been so long since I heard him say my name that way. It’s so different from how other people pronounce my name. He drags on the “e” so gently that it almost always tugs at my heart.

Why is he still saying it that way? It’s not like he’s still trying to seduce me like he was back then.

“It’s just like you to assume I have an ulterior motive for being here.”

“I don’t see any other reason why you’d decide to work for me.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize there’d be a problem with a randomcreaturelike me working for a stranger like you,” I retort sharply.

Liam’s gaze hardens as he furrows his brows at me. “So this is what it’s about. You’re mad about yesterday, and you’re trying to find a way to make my life hell.”

“Oh really!” I scoff. “If I want to be mad about something, you assume it’d be so trivial as what you did yesterday. Liam, that’s just the tip of the iceberg on the list of evil things you’ve done to me!”

Liam’s jaw tightens as he drags a hand through his hair. His muscles flex lightly with that small movement, distracting me from the argument we’re having.

Seriously? Why does he have to be shirtlessnowof all times?

“So that’s what’s going on. This is a form of misguided revenge on your part.”

“Trust me, Liam, I couldn’t care less about revenge. I’m here to work! Julian ended up at my mom’s diner, and she overheard him lamenting about what a pain in the neck you are and how no one wants to work with you, and boom, here I am, because I can’t possibly tell my mom or Julian that I don’t want this job because you’re my ex!” I snap, belting it all out as fast as I can. I suck in a breath as my chest heaves. “You really think I’d stoop to your level just to get back at you?”

I hoped after I said my piece, he’d at least show a hint of the pain I once felt at the wordex. However, nothing changes in Liam’s expression. It’s still just as blank and cold as it was when I spilled my coffee on him.

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