Page 9 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Go check in with Janet,” he ordered me. His calm voice was agitating the shit out of me. “Janet, our office admin, has my list I want you to handle.”

I had to stop myself from saluting him. Instead, I just nodded and couldn’t clear out of that office and that situation fast enough.

As ordered, I went in search of Janet and got my list of items I had to take care of. She was actually very nice and helped me navigate tasks I wasn’t familiar with.

They weren't really bad tasks, but I couldn’t stand the monotony of it. My brain was practically burning. I always knew I wasn't a nine to five type of working girl. I couldn’t keep the focus and the thought of it filled me with dread. Just thinking about working a job like this on the permanent basis sucked the life right out of me. I couldn’t picture myself doing it.

But I was proud of myself. I kept it professional for the rest of the day, staying out of Alexander Caldwell’s sight, avoiding him like a plague. Maxim on the other hand was easy to talk to and charming.

During my lunch break, I quickly touched base with Lena to assure her all went well. I also wanted to check on Larry’s hacking job. I didn’t want to have problems with Callen and his new love. If I never saw them again, I'd be perfectly happy. Thankfully, Larry knew what he was doing and wiped my messages off Callen’s phone.

Thinking about Callen made me feel vulnerable and I hated it. I went over that day at the church so many times in my head, like a bad movie on a replay. It took more than a year before I could clearly think back and realize there were so many warning signs leading up to our wedding day that I missed. Maybe I deserved what I got.

I avoided all the people that were invited to our wedding. I hated seeing pity in their eyes. If only he had told me before the day of our wedding, maybe it would not have been such a bitter pill to swallow.

Chapter Four

Liberty

By the time five o’clock came around, I was chewing up my lip, trying not to blow up at Alexander Caldwell. The guy was a block of ice, a machine ordering me around. I wasn’t used to being ordered around. I basically grew up in my mom’s company and knew what had to be done without being told. When I moved to London, I got a job with Callen’s publishing company and I knew more about the business than he did. So it was me running it and giving out orders. Being on the receiving end of it, and by a man with such bad manners, made me feel murderous. I avoided him desperately all day, but couldn’t ignore when he called me into his office.

Miss Smith, take notes. Miss Smith, type up notes. Miss Smith, send this email.

If I heard him say Miss Smith one more time, I’d scream. I rushed out the door before even checking with him on whether he needed me or not. He might be hot, but he was a brute. Maxim left shortly after lunch with an amused smile. I suspected he could tell I disliked his brother. Those two were opposites. Maxim threw around a joke or two teasing me, and when he needed something he asked for it, rather than ordered.

I rushed home to change into something more comfortable, my signature jeans and a pink blouse with matching color chucks. I was going to meet Lena, Larry, and Brandon, their four-year-old son and my godson, for dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant to celebrate landing a large client. I debated whether to tell Lena what happened and decided against it. There was no sense in worrying her since I fixed it, at least I hoped I did.

It was a little past seven in the evening when I walked into Patara Thai Restaurant. I spotted them right away, and with a wide smile, I started walking across the restaurant to meet them. Brandon squealed and got out of his chair and ran over to me.

“Liberty,” he shouted, completely ignoring everyone and everything as he threw himself into my arms.

“Hey buddy,” I caught him into a hug and crouched down. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more.” He smiled widely. “Can I go home with you after dinner?”

I chuckled. He loved coming over to my place and having sleepovers.

“I would love that,” I told him, while ruffling his blonde hair. “But I have to work tomorrow. Let’s save it for this weekend.”

He quickly nodded when another voice interrupted.

“Miss Smith.” My head shot up to meet the owner of that voice. Alexander’s voice and gaze washed over me like an ice bucket.

“Hello, Liberty,” Maxim greeted me while standing with his brother and another older gentleman, his eyes gleaming with amusement. My eyes traveled from Maxim, to his brother who pierced me with his cold stare, to another set of warm eyes with crinkles surrounding them. You could definitely tell three of them were related.

“Hello,” I replied, and instantly felt Brandon pulling on my hand.

“Livy, who’s that?” Brandon was a curious little thing.

I stood up, and took his little hand into mine. Before I had a chance to answer, the elderly gentleman answered.

“I’m Charles Caldwell,” he introduced himself. “Alexander and Maxim’s grandfather.”

The older man turned his eyes from Brandon to me, reaching out his hand to shake mine; he observed me as if waiting for my manners to kick in.

“Hello,” I finally answered, putting my hand into his. “Liberty Smith, and this is my godson and nephew, Brandon. Nice to meet you. ”

From all the restaurants in this town, these rich billionaires had to find themselves in our favorite place.

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