Liam
It’s been almost a week, and no matter how much I try, I can’t shake Amber from my mind. I keep replaying that moment at the gala—the look in her eyes, that hint of something deeper beneath her polished smile.
I’ve tried convincing myself that I imagined it, but it doesn’t add up. Amber may be married, but I know her well enough to sense when something’s off.
Since I didn’t get a chance to grab her number before her husband swooped in, and she doesn’t have any form of social media presence, it seems like every attempt to reach her is a dead end. So I’ve thrown myself into work, spending more time than usual on-site as I oversee renovations at one of the hotels we recently acquired.
I’m in the middle of reviewing some blueprints with the project manager when I hear it—a laugh, soft and familiar, one I could recognize anywhere. I turn toward the sound, and there she is, sitting in the hotel’s restaurant with three other women. They’re leaning in, chatting intently, as Amber jots down notes on an iPad.
I can’t believe she’s here. It’s as if I had conjured her out of my imagination. A smile curl up my lips as I take her in. Her dark wavy hair is draped over her shoulders.
“Do those ladies come here often?” I ask the hotel manager beside me, nodding subtly toward their table.
“Yes, they have a standing reservation every week for their charity organization meetings,” he replies.
Unable to hold back, I excuse myself from the team and head over to their table. “Hello, ladies,” I say, and as Amber looks up, her eyes light up with surprise.
“Liam!” she says, smiling wide. “What are you doing here?” She hits her forehead with the ridge of her palm, and quickly adds, “I’m sorry, what a silly question, I’m sure you’re here to have a lunch or something.”
I give a small shake of my head. “No, I’m here because this is one of the hotels I just acquired and I’m overseeing the renovation.”
“Oh…”
“Amber, aren’t you going to introduce us to friend?” one of the ladies ask, clearing her throat.
“Oh, where are my manners,” she introduces me to her friends—Cheryl, Anna, and Laura.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” I say, offering a polite nod. “Let me treat you to some top-shelf champagne, on the house.” The women light up at the offer, thanking me with gracious smiles.
“Would it be alright if I stole Amber for just a moment?” I ask, glancing at her friends.
“Of course,” they all say with wide smiles.
As we step away from her table, Amber glances back at her friends, then looks up at me, her expression a little wary. "Twice in one week, Liam," she says with a soft laugh. "What are the odds?"
"Maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking about you," I reply, a bit more honestly than I’d planned. The words slip out before I can catch myself, and immediately, a strange look flashes across her face. I see it—fear, a flicker of panic. I quickly add, “Just as a friend, of course.”
She visibly relaxes, her posture softening. “I’m glad to see you too, Liam,” she says, her voice warmer but still reserved.
I study her face, noting the subtle tightness around her eyes. “How have you been? Really?”
“I’m good,” she says with a quick nod, but something about the way she says it doesn’t sit right.
“Are you sure?” I press gently, hoping she’ll open up, but her gaze shifts, a subtle defense going up.
“I really should get back to the meeting,” she murmurs, glancing back at her friends. The champagne has arrived and they’re chatting and laughing, but I notice her posture tense as she glances over her shoulder.
“Then maybe after your meeting? We could catch up over drinks,” I suggest, not ready to let her walk away just yet.
Amber hesitates, looking at me with an apologetic smile. “I can’t, Liam.”
“Alright, then,” I say, holding her gaze. “Can I at least have your number? We could reconnect another time, catch up when you’re free.”
She pauses, surprising me with her response. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she says quietly.
A pang of disappointment runs through me, but I force a light smile. “Why not?”
Her lips part, and she almost says something, but then catches herself. “Because my husband…,” she starts, her voice faltering. She sighs and glances away, then meets my eyes. “Just… promise you’ll ask if it’s a good time before you call me, alright?”
I nod, my heart sinking as I see a shadow pass over her face when she mentions him. There’s something she’s holding back, but I decide not to push. “I can promise that,, I’m only going to reach out as a friend Amber, I respect that you’re married,” I say, my voice steady as I hand her my phone.
“Thank, Liam.”
“So I noticed you aren’t on any social media platform, all your accounts are deactivated,” I say as she types in her number.
“Yeah, I…I…didn’t see the need, so I deactivated them.”
“Really? But you were the one who always preached to me about how a social media presence is a must in the 21st century,” I say surprised by her response.
“Hmm, that was before it became so toxic and full of bullying,” she says with a nervous smile as she hands me back my phone.
“It was nice seeing you again, Liam. I need to head back to my meeting.” She offers a soft smile, one that doesn’t quite reach her eyes, before heading back to her friends.
“Talk to you some other time.”
I watch her walk away, a mix of worry and longing stirring within me. What’s going on with you Amber?
After Liam and I parted ways, I slid into the back seat of the car and finally called my mom. I should’ve called her sooner. She’d probably been worried sick.She picked up on the second ring.“Amber! Finally. I’ve been trying to reach you all day. Why haven’t you been answering your phone or replying to my texts?”I sighed, already feeling a little guilty. “I’m sorry, Mom. Things have just been... a lot. But I’m okay now. Really.”Her voice softened immediately. “Are you sure, sweetheart? I saw the video you posted… It’s been everywhere. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, you already told me about it, but seeing it—”She paused, and I heard her swallow. “Are you really okay?”“I’m getting there,” I said honestly. “I’m so glad you finally decided to let the world see Dan for who he really is.” “Liam’s PR team helped with all of it. It’s been overwhelming, but... something good came out of it.”“Yeah, they are tearing him apart.” “Yeah.” I smiled, glancing out the window as the car crui
AmberAs I walked away from the restaurant, a wide smile stretched across my face, one I hadn’t worn in so long, it almost felt foreign. I was finally free. Free from Dan. Free from the lies, the bruises, the manipulation. That monster no longer had a hold on me.One of Liam’s men walked ahead and opened the back door of the car waiting by the curb. I slid in, my dress smoothing beneath me, and the door closed with a soft thud. As the car pulled away and we breezed through the light traffic, I stared out the window, watching the city blur past. People bustled about their lives, horns honked in the distance, but all I could feel was a strange, beautiful stillness inside me. It was like I could finally breathe again.It almost felt like I was meeting a new version of myself. A few months ago, I was still trapped, stuck in a marriage that sucked the light out of me. I had been shrinking more and more under Dan’s thumb, his rage, and his control. I used to think that was just how life ha
Liam stared at me, clearly amused by the sound of my sudden laughter. “What’s so funny?” he asked.Without a word, I handed him my phone.He took it, brows pulling together as he read through Dan’s desperate texts. His expression darkened quickly. “That bastard,” he muttered. “Now he wants to sign the divorce papers?”I scoffed, letting out another dry, humorless laugh. “I never thought I’d see the day Dan would beg me for anything. Ever.”Liam handed the phone back, and I took it with a slow breath. “I’m replying,” I said, thumbs already moving.“You sure you want to talk to him?” Liam asked, watching me closely.“Yeah,” I said looking up. “I’m telling him to send the divorce papers before we talk.”Almost immediately after I hit send, Dan’s reply came through. I stared at it for a moment, then held it out for Liam to read.“I have signed the divorce papers. I want to give them to you in person. Please, Amber. Let us meet and sort this out.”I could hardly suppress another laugh. “It’
The next morning, I woke to the sharp trill of my phone ringing somewhere close. My eyes fluttered open, groggy and heavy, and I reached for it blindly on the nightstand, swiping to end the call without even glancing at the screen. I didn’t care who it was. I knew the call most certainly had something to do with Dan, and I didn’t want to ruin my mood, not yet. I was too warm, too safe, nestled in bed with Liam pressed against me. His chest was solid against my back, his arm draped over my waist, his breath soft in the crook of my neck as he spooned me. I couldn’t even remember getting here. Last night, we’d eaten dinner on the couch, and I must’ve fallen asleep curled up next to him. He’d carried me to bed, I guessed, and I hadn’t stirred.I liked this, just the two of us, tangled together, the world locked out. His warmth, his steady breathing, it felt like a shield, and I wasn’t ready to let it go. The phone started ringing again, buzzing insistently against the wood, and Liam shi
The next day, I sat in a sleek conference room with Liam by my side, facing the PR team from his company. My hands were clasped together on the table, my fingers twisting anxiously as I listened to them go over the best course of action."We need to take control of the narrative," one of the PR representatives, a sharp-dressed woman named Claire, said. She folded her hands in front of her and gave me a calm but firm look. "Right now, the public is divided, but Dan has the upper hand. He got ahead of the story and made you look like the bad guy. We need to change that."I swallowed hard. "How?"Claire exchanged glances with one of her colleagues a guy named, Tom, before pulling out her tablet. "We’ve drafted a post for your social media. All you need to do is approve it and post it."She slid the tablet in my direction and I picked it up with shaky fingers and read it silently first, my eyes scanning the words they’d crafted:“I’ve stayed silent long enough. Everything Dan has said abo
After I dropped the bombshell about Dan hitting Amber, Dad was the first to pull himself together. He looked at me, shaking his head, and said he had no idea that guy used to lay a hand on her. “That’s bad. It’s a good thing Amber left,” he added. “No woman should have to endure a beating in a marriage.” I could tell he meant it. His voice had that steady, no-nonsense tone he gets when he’s pissed.Mom, though, she was still in shock. Her eyes were wide, and she spoke up before Dad could say anything else. “I had no idea,” she said, her voice soft, almost trembling. “Thank God Amber left. Poor Amber. I wonder why she pretended to be happy while he was hitting her.” Then she paused, and I could see her thoughts shifting. She turned to me, her expression tightening. “Even though what Dan did was awful, Liam, you don’t need to insert yourself into this situation. You can help Amber without dating her. This whole thing is messy and you shouldn’t let yourself get dragged into it.”I couldn