Chapter 5: You Look at Me Like That, I Can't Handle It

Allie stayed in Liam Hart’s office, not wanting to leave.

She knew as soon as she stepped out, she would be the center of everyone’s gossip, and the thought of it made her want to hide inside, away from all the prying eyes.

Liam, the man buried in his work, was the youngest CEO of the Hart Group. A global empire built by his grandfather, with investments spanning industries from tech to real estate. The Hart Group was untouchable, a name revered in the business world.

Allie came from a family of influence as well—her father was the chairman of Crescent Media, one of the leading media conglomerates in the country. But even with her family’s power, the Hart Group outshone the Crescent name in every way, and the political ties that the Hart family had only added to their power.

Her father had mentioned Liam a few times before, calling him a once-in-a-lifetime business genius. But what really intrigued Allie was Liam's mysterious background. Everyone knew that his father had passed away years ago, and his mother remarried, leaving Liam with a complicated family history.

Some rumors said that Liam was the son of his father's longtime partner; others said he was adopted. Regardless of the whispers, Liam had taken the reins of the empire when he was only 25, and within two years, he had proved to the world that he was the genius they all claimed him to be.

Allie didn't fully understand how someone so young had been able to command such power, but she had witnessed Liam’s brilliance firsthand. At 28, his empire had grown stronger, and no one dared question his authority.

"Allie, if you keep staring at me like that, I won’t be able to focus," Liam’s low voice cut through her thoughts, drawing her attention back to him.

Allie froze, realizing she had been lost in thought, gazing at him for who knows how long.

Blushing, she jumped up from the sofa. “I’ll... I’ll go back to my desk.”

As soon as she walked out of his office, her colleagues crowded around her, eager to know what had happened. "Allie, are you okay? Did Liam give you special instructions?"

She shook her head, trying to brush off their curiosity. "I’m fine, really. No need to worry."

Jess, a fellow intern, chimed in with a teasing smile: “Even if you were personally mentored by Liam, that would be a luxury. Out of all the interns, you’re the one who gets to spend the most time in his office. Some of us haven't even seen the inside of it!”

The comments made Allie feel slightly uncomfortable, but she didn't show it. "I’m not special, just doing my job."

Jess, adding, "Don’t be humble, Allie. You're practically the president’s favorite! I heard the Brooks family has been trying to make alliances with the Hart Group, and you’re the perfect bridge. You're already one of the most talked-about people in the office, and you’re so beautiful... I bet you’ll end up being the future Mrs. Hart.”

Allie’s face turned bright red at the insinuation, and she quickly brushed it off. "That’s ridiculous. I’ve never thought about that."

The teasing only continued, and as the attention shifted away from her, Allie was able to breathe a sigh of relief. For now, she just wanted to focus on getting through the day without any more gossip.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

The rest of the day went smoothly.

Nick Sullivan and Cher Lin never appeared again.

Allie Brooks successfully completed her internship at Hart Group and was ready to start school.

The day before school started, her stepmother, Lisa Ruyan, called and told her to come home for dinner that evening.

Lisa Ruyan was once a popular star in the entertainment industry and is now Allie Brooks' stepmother.

Allie's mother passed away when she was twelve. She hadn’t expected that just six months later, her father would

marry Lisa Ruyan.

In Allie's memory, her father had always been a refined and affectionate man who treated her mother with the utmost care, especially during her illness.

While Allie didn’t object to her father moving on, she found it hard to accept that Lisa brought a daughter, Vivian Brooks, only two years younger than Allie, who was also her father's biological daughter.

What did this mean? It meant that her father had been involved with Lisa for many years. Allie later learned that her father's relationship with Lisa had been an open secret within certain circles.

Liam Hart came home from work early that day. When he arrived, Allie was packing her bags.

Allie said to Liam, “I’m going home for dinner tonight. I’ll bring my luggage with me since I’m going back to school tomorrow, so I won’t be coming back.”

Liam asked, “Do you want me to go with you?”

Allie quickly replied, “No, I’ll just go on my own. My dad… he doesn’t know I’m married.”

Liam said, “So as a boyfriend?”

“Even worse, they don’t know that I broke up with Nick.”

Liam stayed silent for a moment before asking, “So when do you plan to tell them?”

Allie thought for a moment. “Tonight. I’ll make it clear that I’m no longer involved with Nick.”

Seeing Allie’s determination, Liam gave her a small smile and handed her a key. “This is a reward for you.”

Allie looked at the key, surprised. “What is this?”

“The key to Fountain Villa. It’s close to your school. Once school starts, you’ll be moving in there.”

Fountain Villa was one of Liam’s properties. Allie had been there once; it was a luxurious estate, known for its privacy and home to many celebrities.

Allie said, “I planned to live on campus.”

Liam replied, “What am I supposed to do if you’re living on campus?”

Allie was taken aback. “Are you planning to live there too?”

Liam said, “Allie, you’re a married woman now. Your husband is physically and mentally healthy, full of vitality, and I have no plans to separate anytime soon.”

Allie’s cheeks turned red. She and Liam had been living together for three months now, and she considered it one of the boldest choices she’d ever made. Liam was often away on business, but whenever he was home, there was almost always something happening between them, something that felt so natural Allie couldn’t resist.

Seeing her blush, Liam leaned in and kissed her. Allie, still inexperienced, found herself quickly losing her breath. She couldn’t keep up with Liam’s intensity and was always the first to surrender.

As Liam casually unbuttoned her shirt, she suddenly snapped out of her daze, placing a hand over his to stop him.

“Not now—I need to get home soon.”

She knew that once they started, it wouldn’t end for at least an hour, and she’d barely have the strength to walk.

Unamused, Liam playfully bit her neck, leaving a mark in the process.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and buried his head in her neck, speaking in a low, husky voice. “I’ll take a quick shower and then drive you home.”