Twenty-Nine: Betrayal's Echo

Liam was poring over blueprints and contracts later that day at their cramped office when the door burst open. Alex stormed in, eyes blazing with an intensity Liam had seldom seen from his mild-mannered business partner.

"Don't even try playing dumb with me, man," Alex growled, slamming his palms on the rickety desk. "What's this I'm hearing about you and Ava freaking Taylor?"

Liam felt his throat constrict as he met Alex's accusing glare. He should've known the rumors would reach Alex sooner or later.

"Look, it's not what you think -"

"Not what I think?" Alex cut him off with a bark of humorless laughter. "What, did you just accidentally trip and fall into dating a billionaire heiress?"

Raking a hand through his disheveled curls, Liam sighed heavily. "Believe me, I know how crazy it sounds. Hell, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it myself!"