LIAM

"Liam?" She asks, appearing as if she'd just seen a ghost.

Was I daydreaming, tranced, or experiencing hallucinations? I was unable to blink or move, and I felt completely numb.

In all her splendor, Cara Rufus is right here in front of me. She is very different now. Her crimson bangs have given way for a burnt orange bob and she is now quite brawny as opposed to her former gangly appearance. Did she exercise? I wonder.

What is her business here in Dublin? Scratch that, what is she doing on my land? What is she doing in Dublin? What's she doing on my property? Wait, could it be that Mum planned all of this? Was she the person mum was referring to? Does this imply that she will work for me? 

"I, Liam Johnson will under no circumstances permit Cara Rufus to step foot on my property, let alone work for me!" I say inwardly as if to convince myself.

She was actually better off in whatever universe she emerged from. From the last time I saw her, she had become far too stunning, all those thighs and hips. "Be reasonable Liam! Don't you still remember how she ditched you after sending you a text and then abruptly vanished from the planet? You ought to be enraged with her instead of ogling her thighs and face." I berate myself 

"Daidi." Pulling on my arm, Laura says bringing me back to the present. 

Just to be certain, I enquire, "Cara Rufus?" 

She forces a smile as she announces, "It's Cara Bloom now." 

Oh my goodness, she's only been on this land for a few minutes and I'm already uneasy. 

"I had no idea the apartment belonged to you, much less that it was located in your building. Your mother... She... I really should...make a call to her." She says with trepidation. 

"Daidi is this our new chef? Mummy sent us a chef." Laura says pulling the hem of my sweatshirt.

"Princess, this isn't our new cook. She's a stranger who accidentally arrived at the wrong house, in actuality." 

Cara's expression altered. I can tell right away that she was hurt by what I said. This is a tiny fraction of what she did to me. It would be an understatement to say that she injured me. 

"My teacher says I shouldn't talk to strangers." Laura says moving back.

"Your teacher is right. Princess can you wait in the car?"

She glances at Laura as if to correct what I just said, then she looks at me with an expression I can't quite put my finger on. As we all squint at one another, someone finally speaks. 

"I need to tend to other clients, Miss Bloom. What's going to happen?" The truck driver says, breaking the stillness. 

Ms Bloom? Is that a sign that she is single? I scan her finger for a wedding band, but there is none to be found. She's not, of course. She must have been working toward her law MBA, which she coveted so much. Where is her mother? Was she ill, and is she feeling better now? 

"Please give me a few minutes. I believe we are in the wrong home." She pulls out her phone to make a call to my mother. 

"You can offload her things."

I can't believe my ears as the word drops from my mouth. Did I just say that out loud? This is not a good thing. Both of them give me strange looks. 

"But you just said I shouldn't offload her belongings and that this is the wrong house. The truck driver says, gazing at me as if I've lost it. 

"Now I'm telling you to offload it. Am I speaking in gibberish. The additional time will be reimbursed by me." 

Why did I change my mind? Once I sort things out with mother and Veronica, I'll have her moving out of this house in no time. Just her sight alone repulses me.

Why did I have a change of heart? She'll be leaving this house quickly after I work out my differences with my mother and my Veronica. I can't stand the sight of her.

You don't really mean that, and I know it. 

“Please disregard anything he says. Don't offload it, please. Just a few moments, please. I'll update you with the following step as soon as she calls.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Bloom, but I'm short on time. especially when calls repeatedly go to voicemail. Are you familiar with this young man?”

Before responding, she gives me a sidelong glance weighing her answers. 

“Yes, I am.”

“Is he able to hurt you or cause you harm?”

"No.. He's not." she says looking straight into my eyes.

"Miss Bloom? you seem unsure." 

"No he is not." She repeats.

"I can't say the same for you." I mumble.

She gives the truck driver a quick glance, as if trying to figure out where he's heading with all the inquiries. 

“After reassuring me that he cannot harm you, Miss Bloom, you force me to drop off your belongings. I won't be involved in this; you two can work it out. I must provide for my kids. In addition, I'll call him out if I read anything negative about you in the media. The legendary Liam Johnson is well-known throughout Ireland. My sincere sympathies. Your wife was a force to be reckoned with.”

She stares at me sympathetically when the truck driver leaves. "Your wife..." "To make sure he takes good care of your belongings, you should accompany him. I'll go get the house key." I advise cutting her off immediately. 

She doesn't have any right to discuss or inquire about my wife. I find the key on the top of the fireplace and take it. 

"Here we go. We'll be gone for a while, my daughter and I. Get yourself settled in. You resume 6 a.m first thing tomorrow."

"But...But Liam, I'm not your employee. 

"This is Mr. Johnson. To sum up, if you are the person to whom my mother made me promise to offer a job and housing, then you work for me."

She says with an emotion-laden voice.

"I can't stay... here.. I can't work for you."

Her car door became her only source of support as a result of my near proximity to her. Putting my mouth near hers, I tuck her bob behind her ear and mimic that I'm about to give her a kiss. I then stretch and pick up the paper from the top of her car as she leans down and closes her eyes. 

“What is in these?” I ask. 

Her eyes flutter open as she becomes aware of what just transpired. She begins to fumble with her blouse while avoiding my face.

She is clearly embarrassed and a slight blush creeps onto her face.

“I haven't gone through them. I should leave right away. My possessions are not going to organize themselves." 

She beelines to her designated apartment.

"You should," I'm smirk enjoying the moment as I watch her stalk off. 

You don't know what you're getting into, Cara Bloom. Now that I am aware of my continued influence over you, it is time for retaliation. I throw Cara a sinister smirk before Laura and I get in the car and head to our usual ice cream shop.