Chapter 2

Liam

I saw her car leave yesterday and she didn’t return.

Where did she go? Perhaps she stayed with her boyfriend?

I know that kind of thinking is ridiculous, but I’m plagued by the unbearing thought of Madison being with some other man. For three years I was more than ok. She never left my thoughts completely, but not seeing her everyday helped. Madison is a distraction I don’t need at the moment when I’m trying to figure out how I want the next 5 years of my life to look like.

This is the reason why I accepted Drake on his offer of the cottage. I have more than a few places I own or I can use as I wish, but all of them have the same energy. At this point I needed something completely out of my comfort zone. Remove myself from everything and everybody and unplug, Internet to the minimum. Just me and my thoughts. Drake’s little house seemed perfect, or so I thought until I took those damn binoculars and saw her.

The shock of realizing she is the neighbour came bearing both delight and dismay. Delight because I could watch her in her natural environment, like a predator watching its prey. The prey being none the wiser about the menace lurking in the shadows. Dismay, because I got nothing done. Nowhere near the level of efficiency I’m used and hold myself accountable to. The Universe is trying to communicate something but we are not on the same frequency because I don’t get it.

I need to return the cottage key and decide to do it in person, rather than sending somebody from my staff to do it.

As I ring Holden's doorbell, their housekeeper opens the front door.

“Hi, is Drake here?” I ask knowing too well that he is in the office.

“No, but Mrs. Holden is at home. Would you like to see her?” the housekeeper asks me.

I nod yes and she lets me in.

“Mrs. Halden is on the terrace, please follow me.” She tells me.

“Thank, you.” I respond with a smile.

Following the woman through the house, we exit on the opposite side and I see Piper sitting by the pool, eating her breakfast.

“Liam!” she exclaimed, obviously surprised.

“Hi, sorry to bother you. I brought back the key.” I tell her as we exchange greetings.

“You didn’t have to do it personally,” she tells me as she points to a chair.

“Breakfast?” Piper continues.

“I would be grateful if I could get an espresso,” I answer honestly.

If I will ever go back there I will buy an espresso machine for them. That was the only thing I was desperately missing.

The housekeeper smiles, “Of course, I will bring it immediately”.

“I wanted to thank you for letting me use your house.” I say to Piper.

“Anytime you want!” She responds.

“But I have to say that I’m surprised you liked it.” Piper giggles.

“I know that I’m famous for the meticulousness of my usual accommodation, but the cottage was just the change I needed.”

Sipping the hot black coffee the housekeeper brought, I chatted with Piper for a few minutes. We talk about the house and how the two of them decided to build it.

I mention the house nearby and Piper lightens even more.

“That house is owned by my friend, who by the way, I think you should meet.” She suggests.

“Piper, I’m not interested in dating.” I respond.

“That is ok,” she waves her hand “she works just as much as you do. Meet her, perhaps you will find something in common.”

If Piper only knew…

I’m not sure that is the smart thing to do, staying away is the best approach. But at the same time, seeing Madison after so much time, makes me curious to talk to her.

“Look, we have a barbeque for a few friends this evening, join us if you can.” Piper offers.

“I can’t promise, but I will try.”

I get up to leave and Piper guides me to the front door.

Newfound energy flows through me as I enter my office. Elena, my assistant looks at me in surprise because I’m not supposed to come back until Monday.

“Hi Elena, I just came to do a few things and I will leave. Please don’t connect any calls.”

“Ok Mr. Carver.” She responds.

I go into my office and close the door. Things I came to do, I do on autopilot while having the internal battle with myself over should I go to the barbeque or not.

I don’t know how much time passed when a knock on my door shakes me up.

“Yes?!” I yell with a clear annoyed undertone.

Elena's head pops up through the door. “Miss. Brooks is here to see you.”

“What do you mean here?” I responded distracted.

The door opens fully and Adele pushes her way in my office.

“Liam, you are alive!” she exclaims.

I look at Elena with a palpable, how the hell does she know I’m here, question in my eyes. Elena gets the unspoken question and she shrugs in an honest response. There is pity in her expression as she closes the office door. I know that she is not the spy who informed Adele that I’m here, but somebody did.

“Adele, I have work to do,” I tell her.

My patience with Adele is thin. She makes it her business to always be in my vicinity and that tactic has proven to be good for her because I’ve returned to her several times in the past few years, just because she was there.

“I also have work Liam, but I decided to spend my lunch time checking up on you.”

Nobody asked you to do that.

“How did you know I am in the office?” I ask her directly.

“Lucky guess,” she lies as she comes around my desk and leans on it.

“I missed you.”

I push back my chair and stand up.

“You have to go Adele. The two of us are over.”

Unphased by my words, she lifts off my desk, sunters back to the place she deposited her bag and collects her things.

“I see that you are not in a good mood. You know I can help you with that and you know where to find me if you change your mind.”

She turns and exits my office.

This is what happens when I break my rules about dating, problems. Another distraction I don’t need. After the brief talk with Adele, my decision not to go back to the cottage and not to see Madison is solidified. I can't give her the relationship she needs, so what is the point of even starting anything.

I return to my desk and continue working.