Liam's POVI fell asleep just thinking about how wicked I'd be till I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up I realized my guest room was dark. The room has always been and I'm sure things will turn around for good soon. The creaky bed groaned as I sat and my mind wandered off to last night's discovery.Soon enough, I started to think about scenarios in my head on how to make Nathan pay. But how would I hurt Nathan without hurting Claire or her dead father's legacy?Claire knocked and entered, holding a black suit bag. “Liam, wear this tonight,” she said as her green eyes avoided mine. “You can’t go to the gala in your old clothes. They’ll laugh you out of the room.”Does she think I’m too poor to look decent?My face burned, but I did well to keep it in. “I have clothes,” I say, but she shook her head.“Not for this crowd. You will look like you crawled out of that warehouse you work at,” she replied.Is she embarrassed by me?Back then, she’d smile at my cheap shirts, hold m

Claire's POVI wake up early because of the deal I'm about to sign.Today’s the day I meet the buyer offering $900 million for Harrington Tech. It’s more than the $750 million I wanted, way more than the $600 million Nathan and Mother pushed for.I slip into my best navy dress, smoothing my hair while hoping this deal saves Dad’s legacy.I don't know why, again, Liam’s face flashed in my mind. I could still remember the hurt in his eyes at the gala, the champagne soaking his suit.I bought him that suit to protect him from their laughs, but he thought I was looking down on him. I didn’t mean it that way. I love him, always have, since those coffee shop days when we’d talk for hours. But things changed after we married and my dad died. Mother, Nathan, Christopher, Lila, they hate him, calling him a nobody.I stayed quiet to keep the peace, but it’s pushing him away. I shook my head, grabbed my bag, and headed to the meeting.The café is quiet with the sunlight spilling through big win

Liam's POVI listened to Claire and I told Elijah to call each shareholder in the company as I leaned back in the leather chair at the head of the conference table as I pressed my fingers against my temples.Elijah had done his job. Within twenty minutes of my call, the remaining shareholders were seated and I could see it in their faces which is a mix of curiosity and unease.Claire stood at the far end as she scanned the room.Vivian, the only other Harrington present, sat quietly to my left, her fingers tapping a nervous rhythm on the table. The absence of the rest of her family was deafening and that will always remind her of how far the Harrington empire had fallen.Claire didn’t waste time. “My father,” she began, “kept Mr. Charles in check for years. He knew how to handle him, how to keep his influence from creeping into our operations. But now, with the company shifting from us the Harrington's to Liam’s singular control—” she glanced at me, “we need to be proactive. We need s

Liam's POVI wasn’t happy with what Claire said. She made my heart ache like I was holding in a scream, but I didn’t want to lose it. Not in front of her.So I just walked out. Left her standing there and hit the streets, heading back to the hotel. The city was loud with horns blaring and people shoving past, but it didn’t drown out the mess in my head. I kept my hands stuffed in my pockets, eyes on the pavement, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.Then, boom. I slammed right into someone. “Watch it, man!” I snapped, looking up.When I looked up my stomach dropped.Michael freaking Tanner! Of all people? Today is a very bad day for me.Back in high school, this guy was my personal nightmare. Tall, smug, with that stupid grin like he owned the world. He’d shove me into lockers, trip me in the halls, and laugh with his little posse while I picked my books off the floor. Once, he accidentally dumped his lunch tray on me in the cafeteria and got the whole room laughing. “Oops

Liam's POVI woke up early the next morning, still half in the mindset of working at the warehouse. It had become a habit, almost an addiction. I didn’t even think twice before pulling on some clothes. I ended up in the trousers of my tux and a shirt, though I didn’t bother tucking the shirt in. I looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care.I was about to head out when Elijah walked into the room. He had just returned from jogging, sweat on his forehead, one airpod still in his ear. He stopped when he saw me.“Where do you think you’re going like that?” he asked, pulling out his airpod.“To work,” I replied casually, adjusting my shirt.He looked me up and down and then laughed. “Work? Dressed like that? And what work are you talking about?”“The warehouse,” I said plainly. “I still work there.”Elijah’s laughter got louder. “The warehouse? Liam, come on. You own Harrington Tech now. Do you even hear yourself?”I blinked twice, then I realized I owned Harrington Tech. I spanked my forehead