Page 80 of A Taste of Trouble

Seeing the package waiting for her made the decision easy.

She walked the few steps to her door, willing to put money on who she thought left the package. She dug her keys out of her purse and opened the door, heading straight to her dining room table.

As she pulled at one end of the ribbon the knot released, making it easier for her to attack the brown paper. Dark wood peeked out from behind the wrapping, an over-sized frame with cream-colored matting stared back at her, a sepia-toned picture capturing her attention.

The camera had zeroed in on a woman's face. Creamy, flawless cheeks led to moist, plump lips. Straight teeth held tight her bottom lip in a seductive manner, as if trying to contain a moment of bliss. They were her lips. The other night, while Liv pleasured herself, Jake captured the moment and left this for her as a gift.

She grabbed the picture and walked with it to her bedroom. Without even changing her clothes or washing off the makeup from her tear-stained face, Liv cuddled with the frame. She traced the line of her lips with her finger, imagining it was Jake's finger caressing her.

He had lied. He had spent so much energy trying to convince her that he was nothing like the man she spent her whole life trying to avoid. With one simple decision, Jake tore her world apart. Just like her father. And she had walked away. Just like her father.

She thought back to Jake's comment about becoming Vice President and everything came into focus. She was nothing but a means to an end. He hadn't cared about her, he just felt guilty. He'd gotten what he wanted, and she had fallen for every one of his lines. All she had to do now was mend her broken heart. Easier said than done.

Then there was Nancy. That was the more important situation.

She pushed the frame off the bed and it hit the ground. The crack of the glass was the last thing she heard before she drifted off to sleep.

…

It took everything Jake had not to chase after her. Liv had made it pretty clear that she was done. His efforts had been for nothing. But then again, what did he expect? He was a liar. And she had every right to blow him off.

People walked in and out of the hotel around him, oblivious to the fact that his heart had just been broken. He watched happy couples arm in arm laughing and smiling and he envied them. He'd really thought that Liv was the real thing. He'd really thought that despite his lie, they would persevere. But he needed answers. And whether he liked it or not, Shelton was going to tell him everything.

When Jake re-entered the ballroom, the party was still going strong. Music played in the background, but the steady buzz of chatter seemed to dissipate the farther he walked into the room. His boss stood in the middle of a group—of course, the center of attention. He was always the center of attention.

He sidled up behind Shelton. “I need to speak with you. Right now.”

The rest of the group focused their attention on him while his boss's head lowered a few inches. Only a few. Not enough to admit that there was something going on between them.

“If you'll excuse us. I won't be a minute.” Shelton grabbed his shoulder and led him to the corner of the large event space. “Just what do you think you're doing? This is a work function, and I would appreciate if you would keep your childish tone to yourself.”

“It seems you're the one who doesn't know what they're doing. You're the one who started the scene.”

Shelton leaned closer. “You've done what I asked you to do. Your job is done.”

“Is that all you care about?” Jake pointed. Liv hadn't confirmed his suspicion, but Shelton was going to. Right now. “Tell me the truth. She's…your daughter.” He managed to get the two words out between heavy breaths.

“Yes. She's my daughter.”

He'd never been in a fight, but he imagined this is what it felt like to get punched in the gut. This man that he'd admired for so many years ignited a rage so strong, he was willing to give it all up. “You're the one who left her. You left, and she never heard from you again.”

“I—”

Jake stilled Shelton's words with a raised hand. He didn't even want an explanation. “Do you have any idea how closed off she is? Because of you.” He jabbed his finger sharply in Shelton's chest. “How could you not tell me she was your daughter?”

“Why do you care so much? Did you…?”

Jake felt the guilt slip over his face like a mask. “You manipulated me into doing your dirty work.” Shelton took a step forward, but Jake's words stopped him in his tracks. “You left her mother and her to struggle on their own. You're a selfish bastard.”

He'd just spent the last three weeks trying to convince Liv that he wasn't her father. The person she despised most in the world. And what did he do? He delivered the man right to her without even knowing it.

He had been so blind. He had looked up to his boss. Or at least, he used to. Now, all he saw was a washed-up old man trying to live the life of a twenty-year-old.

“She rejected you.” Jake shook his head in disbelief, remembering his boss's justification for Jake's tactics. “At least now you know where you stand,” Jake continued. “She ran at the sight of you.”

“That she did.” Robert shoved his hands in the pockets of his suit. “The promotion is yours. You did as I asked.”

His promotion. The thing he wanted most in the world. Until he met Liv. He did everything he could to ensure he would get both, have his cake and eat it, too. But his plan backfired. “I don't want it.” He didn't even have to think twice at his decision. “I quit.”

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