Chapter 13: In The Picture Frame
Liam stared at the picture frame in contemplation when Allison's voice broke the silence. Jake let out a long sigh.
"Why did she come here? To beg for money?" Allison scoffed. Her bruised face twisted with disgust. She didn't believe what she was hearing. Liam must be exaggerating.
"Beg?" Liam looked at her, with a simpering smile.
Jake moved far away to give enough space for Liam to do what he wishes with Allison. He noticed Liam has stopped fiddling with the SAK, and his hold got firm.
If Allison is this dumb to not recognize the emotion on Liam's face, or if she doesn't care that he is mad and still tries to provoke him further, then it is on her.
"Yeah, what else? She knows you're rich and came here for the money. That b*tch must be~ Ahhh! What are you doing, Liam?"
Allison screamed as Liam stood right in front of her, toe to toe, with the sharp tip of the knife just a couple of millimeters from her eye and pinned her to the table.
"How long?" his deep voice rolled like thunder in that room. His voice was smooth and yet it invoked fear in the gut. "How long do you think it will take for me to cut off your tongue? Or to chop off the fingers that pointed at her? Or better yet, pull out your nails one by one as you scream? Want to try, bitch? Huh? Want to test me? Speak one more word about her."
Liam's animalistic stance and the malicious glare made Allison whimper. His brows were furrowed, his pupils were dilated making his irises look brown, and his lips were trembling. Like a tall tower, he loomed over her, making her knees tremble.
But she gathered her courage. "Are you seriously talking to me in this tone, Liam? For her?" she asked. He cannot berate her like this in front of Jake and think there would be no consequence.
"Heh!" Liam snorted. "Like I said," Liam groaned waving the knife close to her cheek. "Not. One. Word." His eyes shimmered with maliciousness and he exuded danger.
Allison knew it. She knew he will hurt her if she says one more word. She bowed her head avoiding his eyes. A layer of perspiration formed on her forehead and her chest went heavy out of fear.
Liam glared at her for a few more seconds and barged out of the room keeping the knife inside his pocket.
Allison panted holding her chest. Slowly, she slid and ended up leaning on the table supporting her hands that were shaking. Her legs started to tremble.
She couldn't believe what just happened. She didn't think Liam would get this scary. She has never seen him this mad at anyone before. It was as if he was possessed by something.
"So…she is not just his baby momma," Jake looked at the photograph on the table.
Inside the bright gold frame, safely was placed a bright picture, that was taken by an amateur photographer probably using a phone.
Rory, wearing a blue dress, was holding a week-old sleeping baby in her arms and smiling sweetly at the camera.
This frame with the picture was a gift from Liam's father and Liam is keeping it for months. From what Jake knows, Liam is not very close to his father, but he treasured this gift.
When Jake asked Liam about the woman with the baby, he told him nothing. Jake assumed that she is Liam's baby momma and he is estranged from her.
But it appears that the truth is far from his belief. Interesting…
He saw the person in the picture in person only today. She looked a lot prettier in person. And he learned that her name is Aurora Roberts.
Roberts… the same surname as Liam..?
He was more intrigued. They might be married still, he thought, for Liam always dodged questions about his relationship status. It was how Allison could make their relationship seem different than the truth.
When they were informed of Aurora's arrival, he saw his boss freezing up for the first time. But Liam was not nervous. He has never seen that expression on Liam before.
So, perhaps it was happiness..?
The important meeting about deciding on a new partner for their business that should have spanned for at least thirty minutes was ended in just five minutes by Liam.
And Jake was shocked to see how distracted Liam was in those five minutes. 'Is she still waiting?' he asked, his eyes wide, like a kid who is waiting to open his Christmas gifts.
When he nodded, Liam left the meeting hall with a skip in his steps fixing his suit and hair. 'I didn't believe she'd wait for an hour,' he mumbled.
It was just five minutes!
Jake wanted to correct Liam, but he liked to keep his boss happy. If his boss is so pathetic that a woman waiting for him for five minutes makes him happy, why destroy that happiness?
And to his shock, Liam asked him to watch over her until she leaves. Their meeting didn't take long, and he was shocked by Liam's anger after she left. But he did what he was told.
He did wonder what kind of person she is to affect Liam's mood this much and about their relationship. He now has a good answer.
She looks much better in person. That fiery hair and her feisty nature… Mwah! Chef's kiss!
Lucky would be the man who could capture the great white whale! Is Liam the man?
Jake rolled his eyes seeing Allison still lingering in the room. He couldn't think about Aurora anymore.
"Get help, Ms. Stewart. Your face is turning purple," he grumbled.
Liam has left and he needs to shut the office door so that no one barges in. Liam is very particular about this.
And the way Allison is staring at the photo frame didn't sit well with Jake. He saw shades of green on Allison's face. He knows all about women and their jealousy. It might just be a little broke frame, but it would cost him a comfortable job.
"Jake," Allison clung to his lapel. "Can you get me some-Ahhh!" She shouted.
"Don't touch me!"
Jake didn't let Allison speak and held her wrists tightly to get her hands off him. She cannot go on touching other people like this. Other men, even Liam, may fall for her diva attitude or her pitiful puppy look, but he never liked Allison.
Will he be forgiven if he clung to the collar of a female employee for whatever reason? So, why should he take it?
"Oww! You didn't have to hurt me like this…" Allison said rubbing her wrists. Her eyes turned red and with her watery eyes that peeked out from her swollen cheeks, she looked like a hurt puppy drenched in rain.
With the top two buttons of her shirt open, she leaned at him. Her elbows were pressed at her sides, making her cleavage more apparent. "It hurts so much, Jake. More than her punch, Liam's…" she sniffed and her hand reached for his chest. "All I wanted was to just…"
"Oh, please!" Jake let out a visible sigh. "I am gay," he fixed his suit and looked unwaveringly at her. "Leave the room, Ms. Stewart."
"What do you being gay got…" Allison was confused. "Wait… don't you have a girlfriend?"
"Oops!" Jake shrugged. "He was more annoyed by it than getting bothered by it. "My bar is so high. You have to at least have natural auburn hair to be in my strike range. The brighter red your hair is… Anyhow, you have no chance," he stared at her, pointing at the door.
Allison stomped her feet and turned to leave. This is the second time in just a day she was mocked for not having naturally red hair. "Frigging narcissist!" she mumbled. "Did he think I was coming on to him? I just wanted him to leave the room for a moment for me to take care of the photo frame! And he is accusing me of coming on to him. He's not even my type!" Allison mumbled and walked out of the room.
Jake made sure the room was clean before he closed the room.
📖🔊THE ARCHDUKE'S SONGBIRD
Please add my new book🥰 . Let me know what u think❤️
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone