Claire
I wake up in Liam's bed and feel fabulous.
The sun is shining through his floor-to-ceiling windows.
There's no need for curtains, blinds, or privacy up here. We're so high in the sky that no one can see in.
He was right in saying last night that I would adore his penthouse. I'm not impressed by money, but it's decorated perfectly.
I know he hired someone to do it, but Liam has good taste. He has a talent for design just like I do. I guess that makes us sort of great together.
Liam impressed me last night. I got to know the man behind the myth. He’s romantic, tender, and endearing. At the same time, he's extremely dominant and I love that quality about him.
I'm not going to get swept away though. I'm still keeping him at a safe distance. I know that things with Liam probably won't last. I'm not that naive and I'm trying to protect my heart at all costs. It's necessary when you're with a guy like him.
But for now, I can bask in the glow of the morning sunlight. I stand up, naked, and walk over to the view. I peer out at the city that seems so small from up here.
"Damn," he says waking up. "Now that's a view I'd like to see every morning. You look fucking awesome."
He's referring to my tanned skin and my heart-shaped ass that I work hard for every day. I have one of the best personal trainers in the city. I work to look like this and it's definitely worth it for moments like these. Liam can't seem to tear his eyes away from me.
"Got any coffee?" I ask.
He points to the little mini fridge in his master bedroom. I open it and see a bottle of cold brew that has my name on it.
I take out the drink and saunter back over to his bed. I get in and cuddle up next to him. His rock hard body doesn't escape me for a second. I already want more of him. He's addictive.
I hand him the bottle so he can have some coffee. We share it.
"So what are you doing today?" I ask.
"I'm afraid I have to be at the office. There's just too much work that has to be handled," he says. "In fact, I should probably get into the shower."
"Yeah, me, too. The work is overwhelming. But at least it's exciting work."
He takes his laptop from the side table and it consumes his attention. It piques my curiosity and I wonder what he's looking at.
I pull my legs up to my chest and sip my cold brew. Being in the penthouse like this with such good coffee is really the perfect way to start the day. Liam certainly lives the life.
"Okay," he says, putting his computer down on the bed. "I have to jump in the shower or I'm gonna be late."
I watch his tanned, toned ass leave and it's like the hottest view ever. Liam looks like a golden god, the perfect specimen of a man.
Once I hear the shower water running, I get a shameful idea. His computer is just sitting there open on the bed. This is my perfect opportunity to implement what Charlotte and I discussed. I could just take a peek and see if his design ideas are on there.
I know I have to hurry because his computer might sleep soon and I don't have the password. If I'm going to do this, I have to act fast.
I make an executive decision in the moment to look. If he comes, in I'll just say I'm checking my email or something.
With trembling fingers, I move the mouse around his computer until I find the folder marked Velvet Luxe.
For a moment I hesitate, but then I push past it and click open the folder.
It's all there. All his company's design ideas and notes, pages and pages of information are set right before me. It's everything I need to know.
I begin opening different documents. I see their plan. The idea is to set the campaign in the city with models frolicking in the snow. His designers note using lots of deep tones of reds, blacks, and purples.
His campaign hasn't deviated very much from the one his assistant presented at the initial meeting with Velvet Luxe.
I look through the various documents and my heart sinks a little as I realize what I've done. I'm realizing it was wrong to do this because my ideas are better than what Dignity Creative has.
I didn't even need to spy. My campaign is set apart from his already. I will shine.
This gives me a new sense of self-confidence but also I fear that Liam will find out what I've done. I've officially spied on him.
No, nothing is set between us. I'm not even sure he cares about me in any real way. But the sheer fact that I did something this shady makes me feel bad about myself. I pride myself on having integrity and this is definitely not something that my moral code allows me to do.
I quickly log out of the folder and get back to the page he was on. Then I leave this computer alone on the bed, making it look untouched.
I'm slightly trembling, so afraid that Liam will find out. I hear the shower water turn off and after a couple minutes he comes out wearing just a towel around his waist.
Those rippling abs and that chiseled face get me every time.
"Do you want to take a shower?" he asks.
I fumble over my words. "Yes, um, yes. I should probably do that. Thanks."
I walk over towards him naked and he strokes my body with his large hands. He cups my breasts and kisses me tenderly.
I'd like to say the sensation is enough for me to forget about what I've just done, but it isn't. I feel a tremendous amount of guilt.
I walk into his oversized master bath and step into the shower. I make the water hot, hotter than it should be. Maybe the pain of the heat will dissolve the pain of the remorse I feel inside.
I stand under the shower head for a long time, just letting the water wash over me. I do feel good about the fact that I know I don't need his firm's ideas to win. I know that I'm creative enough to stand on my own. But I shouldn't have needed to spy to validate those feelings.
I just betrayed someone and it doesn't feel good. This was a bad plan to begin with. I only feel this way because I now realize I can win without the help of anybody else.
What if Liam's ideas had been better than mine? What would I have done then? Would I have changed my own design?
All these questions weigh heavily on my mind as I realize I've stepped into uncharted territory. I don't like the feeling of being sinister and underhanded.
I finally step out of the shower and he's there in the master bedroom waiting for me. He looks so hot in his suit.
"Can I give you a ride to work?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say, but what I did has dampened my mood. "That would be great."
I slip on my dress from last night but I don’t bother retrieving my panties. I put my heels on and undo the messy bun that's containing my many curls. I shake my hair out and then take Liam's proffered hand.
We make our way down to the limousine. He’s always riding in style and it's a feeling I'll likely never get used to.
He turns to me. "Do you want to get some breakfast?"
I check my phone to see what time it is and then agree. He's being such a gentleman today. It does nothing to squash the sense of treachery I feel in deceiving him.
He instructs the driver to take us to a little-known spot.
"This is my favorite place to eat in the morning," he says.
We walk inside and it's entirely enchanting. The place reminds me of a Hobbit house but with little private wooden booths and plenty of art. It feels inspiring and I can see why Liam would like to dine here.
I order a matcha latte and he gets breakfast.
"You're not gonna order anything to eat?" he asks, frowning.
"I'm not much of a breakfast person. Basically, all I need before noon is coffee, coffee, and more coffee."
He chuckles. "Every moment I'm starting to learn more about you."
"Yeah, me, too," I say, trying to hide the self-reproach from my voice.
I love spending time with Liam but it's very hard when I feel such this discomposure at having spied on him.
He eats, and I watch him while I drink my coffee. He's so handsome and yet unrefined by rugged features. His strong stature makes me feel safe, as though I could melt into him and there'd be enough of him to contain all of me and my complicated nature.
I can see why virtually every girl on the planet would want to be his, if only for a little while. And secretly, deep within at a place I dare not visit often, I think of how it would feel to be his.
What would it feel like if this thing with Liam were real? A part of me hopes it is and another part is equally terrified at the prospect of having such an intense man in my life all the time.
I succumb to a sense of confusion as I realize that my feelings for him are running deeper than expected. This, combined with my treachery, is enough to make me feel very hot, and not in a good way.
I feel claustrophobic. I have to get out. I need air. My emotions are tearing me in half. I feel like I have to get away from him as fast as possible so that I can clear my head.
"Liam, I have to run. I just realized what time it is and I think I have a meeting," I say, gathering my things.
He looks at me warily like he knows something is off. "Claire, let me give you a ride. The limo is right outside."
"No, no. It's fine. We're going in different directions and I wouldn't want to hold you up. Really, I'll just grab a cab."
I stand and kiss his cheek before dashing out the door. The weight of what I've done is heavy upon my shoulders.
I wish I'd never thought of spying on Liam. The mortification and dishonor of what I've done is just too much to bear. It wasn't worth it.
I hail a cab and I feel his eyes on me from behind the window.
The idea that he watches me so closely and is so possessive turns me on, and that makes the reality of my betrayal all the worse. If Liam ever finds out what I did, I could lose him forever.