Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
LIAM
I pace the living room of Vitoria's townhouse, my footsteps echoing against the hardwood floor. The orderly rows of law books and classic literature lining the shelves mock my chaotic thoughts. Outside, the city hums with life, oblivious to the storm brewing within me.
"I don't get it, V," I blurt out, running a hand through my hair. "Nova shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly she's indispensable? It's too convenient."
Vitoria sits calmly on the plush sofa, her dark eyes following my agitated movements. She's always been my rock, the eye in the storm of my tumultuous life. "Have you considered that she might just be exceptionally qualified, Liam?"
I shake my head vehemently. "You don't understand. The timing is all wrong. RealityPlus is about to launch, and now this woman appears, asking all the right questions, fitting in perfectly?" My fists clench at my sides. "It's too good to be true."
"Like Hendrix was?" Vitoria's voice is soft, but her words hit me where it hurts.
I stop pacing, my jaw tightening. "Exactly like Hendrix." The betrayal still stings, even after all these years. "I can't go through that again, V. I won't."
Vitoria leans forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Liam, I know you've been hurt before, but you can't let past experiences cloud your judgment. What concrete evidence do you have against Nova?"
I resume my pacing, frustration building in my chest. "Nothing concrete. It's just... a feeling. She's too perfect, too eager to please. It sets off all my alarms."
"And it has nothing to do with the fact that you might be attracted to her?" Vitoria's eyebrow arches knowingly.
I stop dead in my tracks, heat rising to my face. "That's ridiculous. I barely know her."
Vitoria's lips quirk into a small smile. "You didn't deny it, though."
I sink into the armchair across from her, suddenly exhausted. The leather creaks under my weight, and I catch a whiff of the lemon polish Vitoria uses on her furniture. It's grounding, familiar.
"I can't afford distractions right now, V. RealityPlus is everything. If it fails..." I trail off, unable to voice the magnitude of what's at stake.
As if on cue, my phone buzzes. It's Caleb. I answer, putting it on speaker. "What've you got for me?"
Caleb's deep voice fills the room. "I've been digging into Stella Phoenix and that article she wrote. Something's not adding up, Liam."
I lean forward, tension coiling in my gut. "What do you mean?"
"It turns out Stella Phoenix isn't a real person, Liam. It's a pen name, probably used by someone wanting to keep their identity hidden. And her sources? They're shaky at best."
Vitoria shoots me a concerned look. I ignore it, focusing on Caleb's words.
"You think someone fed her the story?" I ask.
"It's possible," Caleb replies. "But here's where it gets interesting. I traced some of the 'anonymous tips' she cited. They lead back to a shell company with ties to your biggest competitor."
My blood runs cold. "TechNova," I growl.
"Bingo," Caleb confirms. "I can't prove it yet, but I'd bet my left arm they're behind this smear campaign."
I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing. "Keep digging, Caleb. I need concrete proof before we can act."
"Will do, boss. And Liam? Watch your back. If they're willing to play this dirty, who knows what else they might try."
The call ends, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Vitoria breaks it first. "Liam, you don't think..."
"That Nova might be involved?" I finish her thought. "I don't know, V. But the timing is suspicious as hell."
"Or it could be a coincidence," Vitoria argues. "You can't let paranoia rule you. Keep your eyes open, sure, but don't push away potential allies because of fear."
I nod, knowing she's right but still unable to shake the nagging doubt in my gut. The ticking of the antique clock on the mantle seems to mock me, reminding me of the precious time I'm wasting on these circular thoughts.
I resume pacing, my thoughts a jumbled mess. "I know, I know. It's just... she keeps surprising me. And not just professionally."
Vitoria's eyebrow arches higher. "Oh?"
I feel heat rising to my face. "It's nothing. Just... she has this way of looking at me. Like she actually sees me, not just the CEO or the genius."
"And that's a bad thing?"
I sit down once again. "It's dangerous. I can’t risk some detail being overlooked because…."
Vitoria sits beside me, her presence a steady anchor. "Liam, it's okay to admit you're attracted to her."
"I'm not—" I start to protest, but the words die in my throat. Who am I kidding? "Shit."
Vitoria laughs softly. "It's not the end of the world, you know."
I bury my face in my hands. "It might as well be. God, V, what am I going to do?"
"For starters, you could try trusting her. At least professionally."
I look up, meeting Vitoria's gaze. "And if I'm wrong? If she is too good to be true?"
Vitoria shrugs. "Then you deal with it. But don't push away a potential ally because you're scared."
I nod, my mind still whirling. Nova's face flashes before me—her bright smile, the intensity in her eyes when she's focused on a problem. My heart does a traitorous little flip.
I take a long sip of wine, letting the rich flavor roll over my tongue as I consider Vitoria's words. "I’ll try," I concede. "But I can't shake this feeling that there's more to her than meets the eye."
Vitoria leans back, studying me intently. "You know, Liam, sometimes I think you enjoy the chase more than the catch. Always looking for the hidden agenda, the secret motive."
"That's not fair," I protest. "I have good reasons to be cautious."
"I know," Vitoria says softly. "But at some point, you have to let people in. You can't keep everyone at arm's length forever."
Her words hit closer to home than I'd like to admit. Images of past betrayals flash through my mind—Hendrix selling our ideas, Sarah leaking company secrets. Each memory is a fresh wound, a reminder of why I've built these walls around myself.
"I don't know if I can," I whisper, hating the vulnerability in my voice.
Vitoria reaches out, squeezing my hand. "You can. And you will. Because the alternative is a life of loneliness and paranoia. Is that really what you want?"
I shake my head, unable to voice the fear that's been gnawing at me. What if I'm wrong about Nova? What if I'm pushing away someone who could be not just an asset to the company, but to my life?
"Tell me something," Vitoria says, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. "When you're with Nova, how do you feel?"
I open my mouth to deflect, but the earnestness in Vitoria's eyes stops me. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to be honest. "Challenged," I admit. "Excited. Like I'm finally meeting my match intellectually. And... seen. Like she can see past all the walls I've built."
Vitoria's smile is gentle, understanding. "And that scares you."
It's not a question, but I nod anyway. "Terrifies me," I whisper.
"Good," Vitoria says, surprising me. "That means it's worth exploring. The things that scare us the most are often the things that can change our lives for the better."
I stand up, my resolve hardening with each step as I pace the room. I've made my decision.
"I can't let my attention drift, V," I say, my voice firm despite the slight tremor in my hands. "RealityPlus is too important. My reputation is on the line. QuantumLeap’s reputation is on the line."
Vitoria stands, her dark eyes searching mine. "I understand, Liam. But don't completely shut her out. Nova might surprise you."
I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. "I can't take the risk. Not now. Not with everything at stake."
Vitoria crosses the room, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Just promise me you'll keep an open mind. Being guarded is one thing, but don't let your past experiences blind you to potential opportunities." I give her one last conceding nod, and we agree to put the conversation to rest.
Settling in for the evening, the tension in my shoulders begins to ease. Vitoria's presence has always been a balm for my restless mind. But even as we talk and laugh over takeout, I can't shake the image of Nova from my thoughts. Her enigmatic smile, the challenge in her eyes—it's like a puzzle I can't quite solve. And despite my best efforts to remain detached, I find myself looking forward to unraveling the mystery that is Nova Addison. God help me.
As the night wears on, I make a mental note to increase security at QuantumLeap. If TechNova is indeed behind the smear campaign, we can't be too careful. I'll need to brief Caleb and his team first thing in the morning.
For now, I let myself relax in the comfort of Vitoria's company, pushing thoughts of corporate espionage and mysterious new employees to the back of my mind. Tomorrow will bring its own challenges. Tonight, I'll allow myself this moment of peace.
As I drift off to sleep on Vitoria's guest bed, Nova's face is the last thing I see before succumbing to dreams filled with lines of code, piercing brown eyes, and the faint scent of lavender that always seems to linger around her.