Page 71 of All the Gossip from Paris
“He doesn’t like me, that much is clear.”
“True. He wants you gone. Which puts me in a bit of a bind as the show is his to manage. And you don’t work for my father.”
For a moment Liam was afraid of what else Sophie might say. That it would solve a lot of her problems if they took a step back from this thing which had been developing between them.
Maybe we should.
He didn’t want to cause Sophie trouble.
A tight knot formed in Liam’s stomach. He’d never forget how it felt to be cast aside. To be told that he was a nice guy. He just wasn’t the one.
Was the universe sending him that same message once again?
“So you don’t want me to help? No lookbook or website?” he asked, just to be sure.
“It’s not what I want, its…” Sophie shook her head. “It’s complicated. But yes, I think its best if you step away. Thank you, though of course.”
What the fuck just happened?
Whatever Patrice had said to Sophie, it had done the job. She’d caved to his demands. And Liam was on the out.
“Did I mention that I’ve had an offer of a photo gig in Brazil? It’s scheduled for the end of January. If I take it, I’ll be leaving France just after your fashion show.”
It came out as cold as it felt in his heart, but self-protection always came at a price. If Sophie wanted him to stay out of things, that was what he would do.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Yet again she’d done exactly what Patrice had demanded. She’d caved. But unlike all those other times, she wasn’t the only person who was getting hurt. Not the only one about to lose.
Why couldn’t I just stand up to him and say no? What is wrong with me.
The man she’d fallen for was leaving. He’d put an end date on their romance. As soon as this runway show was over, Liam would be gone. Sophie rocked back on her heels. She’d always known there would be a time when Liam would look to move on, but hearing him actually say the words bit deep.
Panic rose within her.
Liam moved quickly to Sophie’s side. He slipped an arm about her waist, and brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Hey, are you ok?”
She gave a silent nod, as unshed tears filled her gaze.
“You’re not a very good liar Sophie.”
Blinking back the tears, Sophie forced a smile to her lips. Her trembling bottom lip made holding it impossible. “Just a bit of a shock hearing you make plans to leave. And so soon. That’s all.”
He pulled her fully into his embrace, and kissed her gently. “We agreed not to force this thing between us. Let’s just focus on getting the runway show ready, and making sure your father sees how much work you put into it. I don’t want you feeling like you’re under any pressure from me. You have enough to deal with right now.”
Liam was a nice guy, but for a moment Sophie wished he would tell her how things were going to be, to make demands. She could cope with someone who made the decision for her—this ‘having a say’ stuff was harder than she’d ever imagined.
“Now what else did Patrice say? He came down here for a reason. And I don’t just mean showing me his ‘stomping around in big boots like Gaston’ impression.”
The Beauty and the Beast quip had Sophie snorting. “I can’t believe you just said that about Patrice. I’ve thought it a hundred times, but never dared say it.”
“Every time I see Patrice I want to ask him if he uses antlers in his decorating,” replied Liam.
The difference between the two men was stark. The times when she and Patrice had been going through one of their many rough patches, her ex would tell her to stop being so dramatic. With Liam, he was all about offering her comfort.
From what Patrice had just said, she sensed she was going to need a good deal more of Liam’s comfort.
“There is high drama happening upstairs in the atelier. Some of the team are refusing to work under Patrice. He might be a pig but he’s not stupid. If he has an open revolt on his hands, then Haute Couture Week could become a disaster.”
