Page 6 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Then why are you avoiding the answer?”

“Could you ask Larry to hack into Callen’s phone and erase the messages I sent him while under the influence.”

“W… what? Why would you message him?”

“I don’t know what came over me,” I spoke low into the phone, giving a quick glance behind me. Both men still had blank expressions on their faces. “It was just a dumb moment of weakness and alcohol.”

“What possessed you to drink and write?” she stated the obvious. “And with Layla! You two together are the worst combination.”

I knew Lena was right. She was the nicest of the three of us. I was the grouchiest and Layla was the meanest. We always thought we balanced each other well.

“Layla thought it was a brilliant idea.” I felt slightly bad throwing blame at Layla. Both of us came up with the idea and were willing and grown participants. “We had a bottle of wine, it might have been two tops, and then she brought Lachlan up. I guess some party he had, and mentioned Callen was there. Alcohol in our bloodstream, we couldn’t resist dialing up the phone.” I didn’t tell her that memories of my mom and Callen flashed in my mind as a result of Layla’s situation. My anxiety was hitting me from all angles. “All that talk about him… one thing led to another.”

“Oh, Livy.” Just that simple exhale and I heard all her worry in it.

“Please do that for me,” I begged her. “I am doing this for you. I can’t even believe I agreed to be a secretary. You should have asked Layla to do this.”

“Yes, I know,” she agreed. “But she has been chasing Lachlan and couldn’t be counted on.”

“She was really upset last night,” I told her. I could relate to her hurt, although she was lucky he at least didn’t leave her at the altar. “But still, you know being a secretary is not my strong suit. She’d be good at it and she needs a distraction from her constant obsession.”

“So do you,” she retorted dry. “You need to kill this adoration you have for Callen.”

“I do not adore him,” I spat back, sounding like a child. I knew she was right, but I wasn’t going to admit that after three years, I was still upset about how things ended with Callen.

“The Caldwells are a big name,” she tried to reason. “If we do this well, we’d get a good reference.”

“You know I’m only doing it because I love you. Please, ask Larry to do the hack for me.” I tried one more time.

She didn’t answer so I insisted. “If he hacks into it, you can read part of the scene. Because I sent it to him… with a little side message.”

“Oh my God, Livy. What did you tell him?”

“I’d rather not think about it. Have Larry hack it and you will know,” I told her. “We can add it to my list of mistakes.”

“Ok,” she finally agreed. “I’ll do it. Don’t blow this secretarial job.”

I sighed in relief although all this talk about Callen made it feel like a bitter win. “I won’t blow it. But promise you’ll try finding the replacement if I don’t like it.” I knew I wouldn't like it. “I don’t want to waste my time working for some rich, conceited asshole. I can’t stand people like that. At the end of the assignment, I’ll have a chewed up lip trying to hold it all in.”

The elevator dinged signaling the target floor. “Ok, text me when you hacked it and deleted it. I’ll call you after I’m done with the pain here. Give my little guy a kiss from me.”

I pressed the hang up button and exited the elevator. There was a receptionist that smiled widely, like she just saw a superstar.

“Hello,” I greeted her with a forced smile. I couldn’t quite pull an enthusiastic smile like hers since I wasn’t that happy to be here.

“Hello, Mr. Caldwell.” The receptionist beamed and I followed her gaze.

Oh, fuuuuuck!

One of the guys behind me was the reason I was here to be a secretary. I reminded myself I spoke in French. They didn’t get a word out of this conversation. I still couldn’t help but blush. That was so dumb of me!

I wondered how mad Lena would be if I just left now. They both watched me intently, one with the twinkle in his eyes and the other one with the chill in his cold eyes, blocking my exit.

The guy that took my breath away spoke up in French, his tone calm and smooth.

“You must be my new secretary. Come on in and this rich asshole can set some ground rules.”

Lena was going to be so damn mad!

---