Chapter 3 My Boyfriend's Boss

"How did Liam take it?" Stacey Stewart, my best friend sits beside me on the edge of the bed, watching my face carefully.

I look down at my hands. "Not well."

I tell her what happened after Brett left, the questions Liam asked, the answer I couldn't give him, and the way he walked away when my silence said more than I wanted it to.

Stacey lets out a quiet breath. "So he thinks you still have feelings for Brett?"

"I don't know," I swallow. "Maybe, he does."

"You need to talk to him."

"And I will." I glance at my phone, 8:20 am.

My interview is at ten, for months I worked toward the opportunity at Opulent Wealth Group, one of the country's leading marketing and media companies and a subsidiary of De- holdings. The internship wasn't something I wanted to lose. It was the first real step toward the career I'd been building for myself.

"I'll go to my interview first," I say "Then I'll see Liam."

Stacey nods. "Good. Don't let last night ruin everything you've worked hard for." I get ready quickly, gathering my documents leaving for Opulent Group.

By 9:45, I arrived at Opulent Wealth Group. The moment I stepped into the lobby, something feels different. Employees move quickly between offices, carrying files and speaking in hushed voices. The receptionist looks distracted as I approach.

"Good morning. I'm here for the graduate internship interview." She checks her computer before looking back at me. "I'm sorry but the interviews have been postponed."

I blink. "Postponed?"

"Yes. There was an announcement this morning from De - holdings,"

My grip tightened around my folder. "Why?"

"The group has a new owner, and management is currently reorganizing several departments. All scheduled interviews have been put on hold."

"A new owner," She nods, " we haven't been given a new date yet, the emails were sent early this morning at 6.00am."

Disappointment settles heavily on my chest, I forgot to check my email before coming. I'd spent months preparing for this, if my interview was postponed. I have no reason to wait, I could see Liam now.

Maybe this time, I'd say everything I couldn't say last night, I turn towards the exit.

The moment I stepped outside,I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone and check the time. 10:45 a.m.

Liam should still be working. I entered a taxi to De - holdings, the company where Liam works, it was 60 minutes drive away from Opulent Wealth Group, the subsidiary company under De - holdings.

The tall glass building stands across the street reflecting the morning sunlight. I step out of the cab, cross the road and make my way toward the entrance.

A few minutes later, I spot Liam leaning against his car, talking to another driver. He's still dressed in his work clothes, his sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows. The moment he sees me, his conversation ends.

"Lily?"

I smile. "Hi"

He looks surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"My interview was postponed," I frown.

His expression softens. "Why?"

"Apparently De - holdings has a new owner, so everything is being reorganized."

He gives a small nod. "Yeah, I heard about the changes this morning. The new CEO is already making a lot of changes around here."

"Do you know who it is?" I asked.

"Not yet. I haven't met him." He pauses. "But people are already talking, some say he's extremely wealthy. Apparently, he studied in Switzerland before taking over the company."

I nod slowly, "Sounds like someone important."

Liam gives a small shrug and glances towards the building. "Maybe. But whoever he is, I'm focused on my own work." He looks back at me.

"I want to move up here on my own merit. The salary is high, but I don't want to spend my life being known as someone's driver. I want to build something for myself."

I smile, that determination was one of the things I admire about him. I step closer and take his hand, his fingers closed around mine.

"Liam, about last night..." He looks away briefly.

"You don't have to explain."

"I must," I take another step closer. "I couldn't answer you because I was shocked. Not because I wanted Brett back." His eyes return to mine.

"I love you," I say quietly. "Brett coming back doesn't change that."

He remained silent. "I choose you Liam Declan."

For a moment, he simply looks at me. Then, his hands lift to my cheek, his thumb brushing gently across my skin.

"You really mean that?”

Instead of answering, I lean closer. His lip meet mine in a slow, gentle kiss. It starts softly, almost cautiously, as though we were both making sure the other is still there. Then his hand settles around my waist, pulling me closer, and I wrap my arms around him, I close my eyes.

In these few seconds, there is no Brett, no unanswered questions. Just Liam and I, holding onto the life we've built together.

When we finally pull apart, our foreheads rest against each other.

Liam smiles, I smile back. There was something unfair about the way he smiled, it softened his whole face making his blue eyes lighter and revealing the faint dimple near his cheek. I simply admired him, reminded of exactly why I'd fallen for him in the first place.

Nothing about yesterday had disappeared, but standing here with Liam. It was crystal clear of the man I choose and will love.

Then, we heard a voice, Lukas’ (Liam's friend) approaches with two other workmate dressed in thier driver uniforms.

“Liam, what are you doing there?” He asks. “The welcome reception for the new boss started an hour ago.”

Liam glance at his wristwatch, “shoot..I forgot,”

“Let's go.” Luka said as we went to the hall. The room is enormous, reporters liner up with cameras, senior executives and professionals carefully seated. Liam leads me to the front row, where I sat beside him. A senior executive climbs the stage and gives an announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today for the welcome reception of our new CEO, he studied industrial design and after years of international experience in Switzerland, he now returns to lead one of the country's most influential corporate groups."

The screen behind him changes. A name appears in large elegant letters. "BRETT HECHANOVA."

My breath catches, my eyes remain fixed on the screen displaying Hechanova, Brett's surname. No, It couldn't be.

My heart pounds faster as the executive continues with the introduction.

"Please, welcome our new CEO, Mr. Brett Hechanova"

The audience erupts into applause, the screen switches, and there he is. Brett. He walks towards the stage with the same effortless confidence he did yesterday. Only now, there are hundreds of people watching.

Three years ago, Brett was an ambitious, confident industrial design intern, wealthy enough to live comfortably. But nowhere near this powerful.

Now he stands as the CEO of De-H holdings.

My ex. My Boyfriend's Boss.