Part 29 Asha
I sat behind my desk, my chair turned toward the window. My thoughts wandered, drifting away from the work displayed on my laptop screen. I was just going through the motions today, physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely. The usual rhythm of the office carried on, but it barely registered with me.
This morning, my mother greeted me with icy silence. She sat at the kitchen island, sipping her coffee, deeply engaged in conversation with Kayden and Chloe, as if I wasn't even in the room. Her deliberate avoidance stung, but I could only sigh. I grabbed my coffee and sat at the far end of the table, determined not to let the tension ruin my morning.
Before I left for work, I said to her, "Forgive me, Ma. I shouldn't have been so hard on you yesterday." She still wouldn't meet my eyes. It broke my heart that she had taken Aiden's side instead of mine, but I reminded myself she was still my mother. Even though I had vowed never to be that inconsiderate with my own kids, I wouldn't want them to shut me out completely when we had a disagreement. "But I'm not changing my mind. I'm going through with the divorce."
As for Aiden, I texted him I didn't want him to come to the house today. I didn't care how he felt about it. If he somehow had the guts to show up, I wasn't sure I could stop myself from chasing him out with a goddamn kitchen knife.
Groaning, I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back in my chair. No matter how long I stared at the screen, nothing seemed to break through the fog clouding my mind.
There was a knock on my door, and a moment later, Dennis's head poked through the gap. "Do you still need me?" he asked. I glanced at the clock on my laptop; it was already five p.m. "I want to leave on time today. I have a date." He grinned cheekily. "With Samuel."
"Okay," I replied, my tone dull, which was odd for me, considering how excited I usually got whenever Dennis resumed his on-and-off relationship with Samuel again. "See you tomorrow."
Dennis paused for a moment, then stepped further into the room, studying my face. "Are you alright?"
I shook my head slowly. "Not really. But I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Aiden problem again?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
I sighed dejectedly. "What else would it be?"
"You sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"Not today, Dennis. You go ahead and have fun with Samuel. Send my regards to him, okay?"
Dennis hesitated for a moment before he offered, "Want to come with us?"
I chuckled softly. "Nah, I'm good. Not really in the mood to be stuck in the middle of you lovebirds."
"Why don't you go out and have fun yourself?" he suggested.
"With whom?" I grunted when I saw the predictable look on his face. "Don't tell me you're going to say ' with Liam ' again."
His hands flew up in exasperation. "Why not? You and Aiden are separated now, and you've filed for divorce. It's time to move on. Open a new chapter in your life."
"I can't. Because..." I trailed off, searching for an excuse. But then it hit me—he was right. Really, why not? I glanced at the small box on my desk, filled with the chocolate chip cookies he had made for me today, one of the many treats he never failed to send my way. He truly meant what he said; he never gave up on his quest to charm me.
Every day, I found him waiting in the lobby, just outside the elevator, so that we could ride up together. When he couldn't make it, he would text me to let me know. Without fail, even when I sometimes didn't reply to him, he reached out at least once a day, wishing me a good day, asking if I had already eaten lunch, or just sending silly texts and pictures. His thoughtfulness warmed me, and I realized it might finally be time to take a chance.
"Yeah... maybe I'll ask him to dinner."
Dennis looked so surprised, he practically jumped forward, both his fists under his chin. "Really? You really going to ask him out?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Just for a casual dinner and a few drinks, Dennis. It's not like I'm asking him to marry me."
"Maybe someday?" he said, smiling widely, looking suspiciously hopeful.
I rolled my eyes. He's being ridiculous. "Do you know if he's in his office?" I asked, ignoring his question.
Dennis shook his head. "No, I don't. I only saw him when he gave me the cookies this morning. They're very delicious, by the way."
"I should probably text him first," I said, reaching for my phone on the table.
"Uh, no. I think you should just go to his office and surprise him."
I raised my eyebrows at him. "You think so?"
He nodded eagerly, practically bouncing on his feet. "He's going to be so happy! I want to see it. Can I come with you to his office?"
I didn't even know what to say to Liam. I had never asked a guy out in my life. What if he already had plans? He was a busy man, so he probably had more interesting things to do than accompany me to dinner. I didn't know how I would react if he refused, and I definitely didn't want Dennis to see it. "No," I scowled at him.
"Oh, come on, Asha! Please?" he begged, hopping up and down like a child. I ignored him as I shut down my laptop, deciding I was going to leave it in the office tonight instead of bringing it home like I always did.
"No," I said firmly, grabbing my bag and rising from my seat. I reached for my coat as I headed toward the door, with Dennis trailing behind me. "Night, Dennis."
I didn't hear Dennis say anything to protest after that, but I vaguely heard him grumbling loudly as I closed the office door behind me.
The walk to Liam's office took ten steps. I counted, just to distract myself. My nerves were on edge, each step making me second-guess this whole thing, but I forced myself to keep. There was no point in turning back now.
The bright InfiniTech logo glared at me from the door, daring me to step inside. I hesitated for a moment but pushed forward, gripping the handle of my Hermès mini-Kelly bag a little tighter as I reached for the door handle.
Inside the lobby was a reception desk; behind it, a girl with sleek black pixie hair glanced up at me. Her brow arched slightly, and there was no hint of a smile. I had never seen her around before, even though our offices were just across from each other. I only remembered there had been a young man sitting at her desk.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her tone flat.
"Yes," I walked closer. "I'm here to see Liam Banks."
"Do you have an appointment?" Her eyes went from my eyes down to my clothes, scrutinizing me bluntly. Now, I was the one who raised my brows at her.
"No, but–"
"Liam doesn't see anyone without appointments," she cut in, her tone cold and dismissive.
Was this girl for real? I stared at her for a moment longer before deciding to ignore her attitude. I had no time for this nonsense. This little girl was trying to intimidate me, but it wasn't working. "Could you just let him know? Please. My name is Asha. I work at Fortis Steelworks, just across the hall."
She shook her head and leaned back, pointing to a stack of empty notes on her desk. "You can put your name and number there, as well as your purpose for the meeting. He'll get back to you when he has the time."
I blinked at her, incredulous. Didn't she notice Liam coming in and out of my office? I had assumed everyone on this floor was aware of our friendship, given how often we interacted. It never occurred to me I would face this much resistance just to see him. Her dismissive attitude felt unwarranted and oddly confrontational.
"Oh, well," I said, pretending to be disappointed as I reached inside my bag. "I guess I'll just call him then." I casually opened my phone and scrolled through my contacts, stopping at Liam's name.
Her expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face. The deathly glare she shot my way made it clear she didn't like that I had Liam's number. Abruptly, she stood up and snapped, "Like I said, Liam doesn't take meetings without an appointment. Do you know how many people try to get in here to see him? The media are constantly hounding our office, not to mention those women who can't seem to take a hint." She narrowed her accusing eyes at me as she said the last part.
"Right," I said, brushing her off. I turned my back to the girl and lifted my phone to my ear after dialing Liam's number.
But before the phone even rang, I heard a familiar voice. "Asha?"
I swiveled around to find Keith walking into the office, his smile wide but mixed with surprise at the sight of me. "Keith, hi." I beamed at him, relief washing over me as my patience wore thin with this girl's attitude.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, walking over to me.
"I'm here to see Liam," I replied, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. Because the moment the first word left my mouth, I was hit with a little wave of nerves, reminding me of my original purpose for being there. I still had no idea how to ask him out. God, I was probably too old for this.
Keith was stunned for a moment, processing my words. "Seriously? Oh, my God," he breathed. "He's going to be so pleased to see you."
I couldn't help but chuckle a little, seeing him so stunned. I guess he had every right to be surprised—after all, I had kept my distance from Liam for so long. Keith's wide-eyed reaction said that this was probably the last thing he expected.
"Is he busy?" I asked, pointing at the girl, who was still glaring at me like she wanted to murder me. "This lovely girl said Liam doesn't see anyone without appointments. Sorry for dropping by unannounced."
Keith shot the girl a frown before turning back to me. "I'm pretty sure he'll want to see you." He motioned toward the door separating the lobby from the main office. "Come on, I'll take you to him."
I glanced at the girl one last time and smiled, her glare still firmly in place, before following Keith inside.
As we stepped further into the office, I noticed it had a casual, open layout—nothing like a traditional corporate setup. It was clearly designed for a young, energetic crowd. Instead of rows of assigned desks, there were scattered workstations with cozy armchairs, bean bags, and standing desks where people could move freely. Some sat on couches with their laptops, while others gathered in clusters at long communal tables, their discussions lively and animated. People moved between work and relaxation areas seamlessly, some taking a break in a corner filled with hammocks and soft cushions. Others stood around a coffee bar, chatting while grabbing snacks.
"I love your office," I said. My voice was full of awe as I took in the space. The vibrant, relaxed energy in the room was inspiring. "Looks like it'd be fun working here."
Keith laughed lightly, as he took a step to stand next to me. "That's the goal. We wanted it to feel like a second home, so they're relaxed enough to forget we've been burying them with work." He chuckled again and pointed toward a group huddled around a ping-pong table, with their laptops on top of it. "Even meetings can get a little unconventional around here."
The open layout featured several meeting spaces with glass walls, seamlessly integrating them into the rest of the office. In one of those rooms, I spotted Liam sitting at the head of a table, engaged in conversation with several people sitting around him. As if he sensed my presence there, he turned his head to me. The moment our eyes met, I felt a spark of electricity flicker between us.
He looked shocked, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. I gave him a small wave. He slowly stood from his seat, as if he was processing the fact that I had crossed the threshold into his world, finally breaking the distance I had kept for so long.
"Looks like I don't even need to tell him," Keith remarked, following my gaze.
"He's in a meeting," I said quickly, trying not to make a big deal of it. "It's probably best if I just wait. I don't want to bother him."
But just as words left my mouth, Liam was already making his way around the table, heading straight for the door. Keith chuckled. "The meeting has officially adjourned."
Liam opened the door and stepped outside, taking slow, deliberate steps as if he was still trying to wrap his head around the scene. There were quite a few people surrounding us, but it was like I was the only one he saw. "Hi," he said softly when he reached me, giving me a dimpled smile. "You're here. Finally, in my space."
Oh, dear. The way he was so happy to see me almost brought me to my knees.
I smiled brightly, warmth blooming in my chest at his reaction. "Hi," I whispered, feeling my cheeks flush under his intense gaze. "I'm here to see you."
"Okay," he murmured, his eyes scanning my face, as if waiting for me to say more.
"Nice office," I said, pulling my gaze away to look around. His staff nearby gawked at us, some with mouths slightly ajar, as if it was a rare sight for their boss to have a woman visit him at the office. Then I realized Keith was no longer beside me—he had wandered over to the coffee bar, standing with Theo. Theo, wide-eyed, had his hands over his mouth, looking as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing either.
"Thank you," he replied, still looking at me with the same intensity.
I swallowed, finding his gaze becoming almost too heady. My cheeks started tingling with heat. "Is there somewhere we can talk? Maybe without an audience?"
"Yes, of course," Liam said, snapping himself back to the moment. He glanced around, scanning the meeting rooms, all of which were occupied. "Looks like the meeting rooms are full, and they're the only private spaces on this floor." Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and started leading me somewhere. "But I know the perfect place."
As we walked away, I heard Theo call out in the background, "You better keep the door open, young man!"
Without missing a beat, Liam replied, "No promises, Grandpa."
I let him lead me through the narrow hallway, passing rooms where I suspected the game room was. I stopped, making him pause as well. He followed my gaze. "Those video games they're playing? They created them," he explained. "They're probably testing them right now."
"Oh," I mumbled, still watching with fascination.
"Come on," he said, tugging my hand and continuing down the hall. Judging by the size of his
office, I had a feeling it was much bigger than mine.
When we finally reached our destination at the end of the hallway, I was presented with three identical doors standing side by side.
"Is this...?" I pointed to the doors, remembering what Dennis had said about the three of them having bedrooms.
"I don't have a private office. None of us do. But I do have a private room." Liam walked to a panel beside the doors and pressed a few numbers. Then he swung open the door, revealing a modest room with a double bed under the window, a big screen on a small cabinet beside stacks of paperbacks, a two-seater sofa, and a work desk against the wall. The décor was simple and masculine, yet cozy, clearly a space where Liam spent a lot of his time.
"You don't live here, do you?" I asked, still standing in the doorway, unsure if I should step inside.
He chuckled softly. "Considering how much more time I spend here than at home, yeah, you could say I live here." Noticing I hadn't moved, still fidgeting at the door, he studied me for a moment. "I can keep the door open like Theo suggested, if that makes you more comfortable," he said, his tone softening.
I looked up at him and smiled, deciding it would've been fine either way. I realized I trusted Liam implicitly. Probably more than I trusted myself. Because today, he wasn't wearing his usual sweatshirt. Instead, he had on a navy button-up shirt and a pair of black jeans. And he looked scrumptious.
"No, it's okay."
After closing the door, he gestured for me to sit on the sofa while he pulled over his desk chair to sit across from me. "I still can't believe you're here," he said, his expression full of disbelief. It was funny for him to say that, considering that I had just come literally ten steps away from his office. What brings you here?"
"Well... I was wondering if..." I cleared my throat, looking down, unable to meet his gaze. Here we go . "If you'd like to have dinner tonight."
Liam was silent for a few seconds before letting out a soft gasp, his eyes widening in almost comical surprise. I worried that I hadn't been clear enough.
"With me," I added quickly. "Someplace casual, but with good food. And—"
"Yes!" he interjected, grinning widely and nearly leaping out of his seat. "Of course, Asha!"
"You're sure?" I asked again, wanting to be certain. "I know I came by so suddenly, and you must be busy, but—"
"No, no, not busy." He shook his head. "I'd drop everything for dinner with you."
"Ah, Liam," I sighed, my heart melting.
"Should we go now?" He stood up abruptly, looking so excited. "Let me grab my coat and talk to Keith. He needs to take over my next meeting. Just give me five minutes, okay?"
I grinned, appreciating his enthusiasm over something as simple as going out with me. "Okay."