Chapter 8
To Emma’s disappointment, their date once again didn’t end in anything spectacular. They walked along the shore, and held hands. They kissed a few times in the sand, but at the end of the night, Liam still dropped her off at her home and drove away. As he left her, it felt like she was incomplete. She wanted to chase after him and ask him to stay, but she just stood in front of her building, watching his car disappear into the night. She felt confused. Did he like her? Or was he just playing some sick, manipulative game with her?
◆◆◆
The following Monday, Emma arrived at work, and found Mayflower Industries in a hectic flurry of activity. With her morning coffee in her hands, she found businessmen as they barked at their phones, their faces beet red. The receptionist typed away as fast as she could on her computer. The large TV screens in the lobby flashed with an angry red bulletin.
Mayflower stock down 6% losses estimated at $405 million.
Emma’s eyes grew wide at the announcement and she quickly walked over to the screen, to read the rest of the text.
After the explosion of one of Mayflower’s leading vessels, a part of Port Formosa has been destroyed. No one was hurt in the accident. The investigation is still underway to try and determine the cause of the explosion.
Emma reread the sparse text a few more times before she dashed to the elevator. She grew impatient as it took its time to arrive. Unlike most mornings, there was no one to accompany her on her ride up. As soon as the doors opened at the top floor, she stepped out, her heels clicked loudly against the marble floors.
She didn’t even bother to knock on Liam’s door as she waltzed in. Liam was on the phone, his face taut and his lips pressed into a thin, hard line. Emma dropped their coffees on the desk with a small thud. Liam looked up, but his bleak expression did not soften at the sight of his personal assistant.
“I know,” Liam spoke through the phone with a tense voice. “I’ll have my crew investigate it as soon as possible. It was probably a fluke.” There was a pause as a jumble of irate words came through the phone. Liam flinched, and pulled it away from his ear for a moment. “No, it wasn’t a terrorist attack. Why would anyone target my company for an attack?”
Emma tapped her foot against the carpet as she waited. Her fingers tightened around her coffee cup before she eventually walked over to the window.
“Listen. I don’t want rumors of terrorism getting out into the press. You keep this quiet, you hear me?” Liam's voice grew louder as he stood up from behind his desk, his phone so tight in his hand that his knuckles turned white.
Behind him, Emma listened to his every word as she peered at the streets below. Cars passed by. People walked in and out of the coffee shop. Others paid parking meters. Police officers patrolled the sidewalks. None of them were aware of the chaos that unfurled inside Mayflower headquarters.
Finally, Liam slammed the phone down before he sunk into his chair, and ran his fingers through his hair. He let out a loud, drawn-out sigh before he turned, to look at Emma. “What am I supposed to do?” Liam asked in desperation. “We’ve never received a financial blow this grave before.”
“I think your main problem is the media. As soon as investors get word of something like this, they’re going to sell their stock before it loses any more value.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Liam tapped his fingers against his desk. “But the news stations won’t listen to me. They seem all too convinced it was a terrorist attack…”
“Leave that to me. I made quite a few connections in college. I might be able to pull a few strings.” She grinned, as she stepped forward. She bent over slowly and grabbed the phone off Liam’s desk. Her grin deepened as she felt his eyes on her cleavage. She wiggled her hips ever so slightly before she straightened herself out. “Give me an hour.” Without another word, she started to dial a phone number, and pressed Liam’s phone against her ear, she knew that he counted on her.
◆◆◆
“I can’t believe you pulled this off!” Liam said as he stood in front of the flat-screen TV where a major news station covered the scene of the explosion.
We’re here at Porto Formosa. We have learned that the investigation is still underway, but the Fire Department suspects that the explosion was caused by a buildup of gas in the vessel’s haul. It seems one of the crew members forgot to turn off the stove while another of his co-workers lit a match to smoke a cigarette. It’s amazing that no one was harmed in the incident! Mayflower Industries has also agreed to pay for any and all damages and promises to take measures to prevent any such carelessness in the future.
“How did you manage to get the news station to give up the terrorist story?”
“Like I said, I have a few connections under my belt. My old roommate is the editor that approves all the coverage before it goes on air.” Emma grinned at her success.
Suddenly, Liam’s phone started to buzz. Emma jumped, when she felt the vibration. Liam crossed the room and took it from her, their fingers brushed together. He stopped, as his dark eyes blazed with a fierce passion before he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her hard. His lips felt like they burned against hers as he held her tight. Emma felt like he would never let her go, but as his phone buzzed once again, he eased his grip.
He looked down at his screen and his whole face lit up. “It looks like stock prices have stabilized… I don’t know if you’re the cause, but I’m seriously impressed. You know, you’re a real asset to this company, Emma. I might just have to give you a raise.” He winked at her and suddenly, he kissed her again, as he pushed her onto the couch, his hand ran up her thigh. Just as things were about to get heated, however, he pulled away, and left Emma as she panted on the couch. “How about we go on a real date tonight?”
“What was our beachside date then?”
“That was nothing, baby. Tonight, I’ll blow you away.”