Chapter 32: Chapter 32

"So Ms Rivera, tell me more about yourself and your family." Celeste looked at the direction from where the words came from and found it was Benhan Lloyd. He was smiling at her while waiting for her answer. Suddenly the room filled with a chilling aura and Liam's whole body turned cold. He silently glared at his food without eating. Celeste didn’t notice the change in Liam's expression and smiled at Benham softly before answering.

"Well there's nothing special about me to mention. I'm just an ordinary person who moved here 8 months ago for work and I have no one to call a family." Celeste finished with a soft smile. Benham looked at her with a sympathetic smile which Celeste hated. Meanwhile Liam sat there feeling numb. He didn’t know why, when she said she had no one to call a family pained him. It made him feel suffocated.

"You are my family."

Thank you for giving me this beautiful family!"

You made my dream of having a true family come true!"

Her words from a year ago filled with laughter, gratitude and happiness haunted him. He didn’t know why he felt like that but he wanted those feelings to stop bothering him.

"I'm sorry! Uhmm so where are you originally from?" Benham asked, changing the subject, thinking it would make her feel better. How unfortunate!

She didn’t want to remember where she was from.

She wanted to forget it all but it seemed it was impossible.

"Elora." She said without any emotion in her voice while looking down. Liam noticed the change in her voice but didn’t say anything just kept looking at her.

"Mr Rodriguez?" Suddenly Brittney called out.

"Yes?" Liam replied politely. Celeste who had her face down looked up at Britney's flirty smile. She rolled her eyes in her mind.

"I was thinking if you are free tomorrow? I would like to invite you to show around the city. I heard you are new here so it would be fun. What do you think?" Britney finished her sentence while biting her lips softly which made Celeste feel nauseous.

What say!!!

Look at them flirting like newlyweds! Celeste thought with a scoff. She wasn’t jealous!

"That's a wonderful idea and I would love to visit the city-" Liam paused while looking at Celeste who was looking down at her phone pretending like she didn’t hear anything. But inside her heart was beating so fast because of the sudden turn of emotions. She felt really bad thinking he was going out with Britney and soon they would start dating. Celeste shook her head to get rid of those unwanted thoughts.

Britney who was waiting for Liam's answer impatiently noticed Liam looking at Celeste and felt hatred bubbling inside her.

Who was that cheap girl? Why was Liam giving her so much attention and not to her? What's so special about her? She was much more beautiful that that bitch then why wasn’t Liam looking at her? She thought bitterly. The more she thought, the more she hated Celeste and what's wrong with her brother? Why was he giving that puppy dog eyes to that bitch? Why was he looking like a love sick puppy and stealing glances at that bitch?

"But I'm sorry I have to pass this time as I already made plans with my girlfriend tomorrow." Hearing Liam's deep velvety voice both Celeste and Britney looked up at him with shocked eyes.

He has a girlfriend already? Celeste's heart felt pain. She felt her heart breaking into pieces. What did you think? He is back for you and is going to confess his love for you? Celeste mentally mocked herself while looking away.

"Uhmm that's alright." Britney said with a bitter smile.

"Uhmm so the deal is final. I will send my lawyer with the papers. Thank you for your cooperation. We will take our leave now." Liam said politely while looking at Mr Lloyd and his son. They both nodded and got up to give Liam a handshake.

"It's a pleasure to work with you Mr Rodriguez. Hope we will have great collaboration in future." Mr Lloyd said and his son Benham nodded while they both shook hands with Liam.

"Likewise." Liam replied. He then turned around and looked at Celeste who was getting up from her seat while putting her phone in her purse.

"I hope to see you more in future Ms Rivera." Suddenly Benham said while forwarding his hands towards Celeste with a smile. Celeste smiled back and shook her hand with him.

"Hope so and please call me Celeste." She said in her soft voice while putting a strand of hair behind her ear. Benham smiled and took out his personal card before handing it to Celeste.

"This is my card. Reach me anytime you want." Benham said with a smile, while his eyes were filled with admiration which didn’t escape Liam's eyes. He clenched his hands in a fist while his face turned dangerously cold. His breathing became heavy as he tried to control his anger.

"Thank you." Celeste said. Benham and Mr Lloyd both nodded at her with a smile.

"Let's go." Suddenly Liam said rudely while pulling her hands with his. Celeste was about to protest when Liam shut her by sending a deadly glare towards her. Celeste instantly stopped protesting as she knew better than to push his button when he was already in a bad mood.

What has gotten into his pants?! Celeste thought while following him with a scowl on her face till they reached his car which was already waiting for them.

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"Do you want to come over for a coffee?" Celeste asked when they reached in front of her apartment. She knew he wouldn’t be coming but she still asked to be polite.

"Yes." He replied. Proving her absolutely wrong. She instantly turned around and looked at him dumbfounded.

"What? Didn’t you just invite me in?" Liam asked with a raised brow.

"But I did it out of courtesy." She replied absentmindedly with a pout.

"What?" Liam asked while narrowing his eyes.

"You heard me." Celeste replied with a scoff while crossing her arms on her chest. Liam couldn’t help but smile.

"Do you invite everyone for a coffee like this?" He asked with raised brows. Celeste looked at him and then scowled.

"Of course not. But whomever I ask out of courtesy, they always deny politely." She said with a pout. As if she had been tricked.

"Too bad. I'm not like them so I'm coming." Liam said with a devilish smirk while unbuckling his seatbelt. Celeste sighed and prayed to God to keep her heart and mind protected.

But too bad! Her stupid heart already started to beat like crazy the moment he came to the other side of the car and opened the door for her with a dazzling smile which could make anyone's heart swell including hers.

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"You can use the other room and washroom to freshen up." Celeste said while gesturing towards the spare room. Liam who was busy playing with Archie nodded without looking at her as if he didn’t listen to her. Celeste sighed. Looks like her dog has changed his owner himself.

Thank God! Lily was sleeping.

She watched Liam play with Archie for a while before she went to her room to freshen up. When she came out she found Liam and Archie still playing with the ball. She sighed!

"You need to freshen up Liam." She reminded him. This time Liam nodded and got up before making his way towards Celeste's room.

"Hey! That's my bedroom." She yelled behind him but he simply ignored her words leaving her fuming in anger and annoyance.

What did he think of himself?! Why was he being so annoying? Celeste thought mentally with a huff.

After a while Liam came out wearing only his shirt and dress pants while the first few buttons of his shirt undone. He was wiping himself dry using Celeste's towel. Celeste looked at the familiar scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Liam found her staring at him and smirked making Celeste embarrassed. She averted her eyes and ran towards the kitchen saying she needed to prepare for the dinner making Liam chuckle behind. Meanwhile the doorbell rang and Liam went to open the door thinking it was his driver whom he instructed to bring his clothes and stuff but when he opened the door, he found it wasn’t his driver but someone he already hated without officially meeting. He looked at the person standing in front of him coldly while the other person looked at him with a confused expression.

"Who's it?" Celeste, who heard the bell ring, came out of the kitchen and asked.

"Shawn? What are you doing standing there?" Celeste asked, while looking at the confused Shawn standing at the door while holding a few packets in his hands and a cold looking Liam blocking his way. Something wasn’t right...