Chapter 31

Somebody is working hard against me. And I don't know why. Why is kind of obvious because Liam is a catch. Not that I caught him, far from it. But in any case, our relationship is bothering somebody, the invisible adversary. How to fight that. Meeting notification pops out and I connect to my usual daily meeting with Dylan.

“Hi,” I greet him as our connection is up and running.

“Hi, you,” he responds and gives me his usual little smile.

“How is everything?” I ask him like we didn't speak to each other for a long time.

“The same as yesterday... You look distracted.” Nothing escapes his sharp eye.

“Something weird is happening. Duncan Carver, Liam’s brother, was in the office this morning and had a fight with Liam. Which is none of my business, but it turns out the fight was about me.”

“Never a dull day with you, Jesus.”

“I never saw the man in my life and he just offered to fund our project instead of Liam in exchange for me leaving him.”

“Madison, could it be that the past came up?”

When I found out who my mother was, it ended my writing career. From that moment I worked from the shadows because I don’t want to be judged for that. If he found out - why would he offer to fund me instead? If he just wants to break us up, he could have just told Liam what he knows.

“You are the one who has to tell Liam.” Dylan tells me.

“Do I? He will not want to have anything to do with me after he finds out who I am.”

“You don’t know that,” Dylan sighs. “It will be worse if he finds out on his own.”

“I won't take his money.”

“I already know that. What do you suggest we do?” he asks.

“We will sign up all other investors. I already redesigned the business plan. Will organize a meeting with all of them and present it. If they sign up, great. If not, we will do it on our own.”

This fantasy about a relationship with Liam only complicates my life and my business. Why of all the men on this Earth I had to fall for this one.

***

“Too important to eat?” Liam asks, standing in the half open door.

“Just lost track of time. As usual.”

“Come on. I'm hungry.”

I follow him back to his office where the conference desk is set up for two. He pulls one of the chairs helping me to sit then joins me occupying the other place.

“What are we having?” I ask.

He lifts a silver dome covering the meal in front of me, uncovering a generous serving of sushi. I grin from ear to ear. “Good, I wasn't sure.” he gives me a satisfied look seeing my happy face.

“I like sushi. I'm not brave enough to try more exotic options. I stick to tuna, salmon, and veggies.”

“Salmon in sushi is the result of Western influence introduced in the late 80s.”

“Really?” I ask digging into my plate.

“Yes. Although Japanese people had salmon on their menus, they only ate it cooked.”

I grab my Solomon filled roll, look at it confused before dipping it in soy sauce and popping it into my mouth. Liam waits for me to chew it before he continues.

“It was full of parasites.”

I stop eating and look for a napkin to save myself. Or is it too late and I'm filled with parasites. He casually grabs his chopsticks and takes a piece of sushi from his plate.

“It's safe now.” He finally tells me looking all smug because of his little joke. All I want to do is strangle him.

“Do not joke with hungry women's food!” I'm mockingly threatened. “Why is it safe now?” I was now genuinely concerned about my future relationship with this kind of sushi. He proceeds to explain as I enjoy the moment, fascinated by him.

“Why do you know all that? I ask him between two bites.

“I just remember things.”

There is no boasting or self-praise in that sentence. Just a plain fact for him. A miracle for others. Others like me for instance, who always need to put in the effort to learn something new. There is such a beautiful mind behind this beautiful exterior. At this moment I have no doubt in him building his empire through that mind. “I want to tell you something.” I rest my eating utensils on the table next to the plate. He continues eating.

“I'm listening.”

“I left your company because my first book was a success. And I landed a deal with the publisher for two more.”

He nods also forgoing his meal, concentrating fully on me.

“I quit my job here to concentrate on speed writing those books. Even moved to New York to work closely with my agent and my publisher.” My throat suddenly feels very dry so I reach for the water bottle neatly positioned next to my plate and take a sip. “To cut the long story short. That is only partially true.”

He leans back in his chair, dipping his head slightly to one side looking intently but not saying anything. “The full truth is my father passed away and I found out something about my mother.”

“Your mother?” he asks, confusion showing on his face.

“My mother was a criminal.”

His eyebrows shoot up. And I didn't even get to the worst part. “Weren't it just you and your dad?” He asks.

“Yes. She left us when I was three or four years old. And she died a year later. All I knew was that she was gone. My father kept the full truth from me all this time. She died in a robbery.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“She tricked people for money. A con artist…”

“This is not your fault Madison, but I'm glad you decided to share this with me. Why do you look so guilty?”

“I didn't know any of this until I got a video message from my father after his death. I don't even know where she is buried.” I admit.

“It's okay Madison. We do not control our parents' past.”

I look down at my hands. He holds them. “This could hurt you. Damage your reputation if you take me out to public and somebody discovers.”

“If it comes up, we will deal with it.”

“Duncan, he said I was a questionable person. I thought he was speaking about this. I thought he found out.”

Liam cynically smirks, “Believe me this morning was not about this.”

“Then what?”

“Forget it, Madison. Just let it go.” He demands authoritatively.

“I won't accept your funding.” I tell him.

Irritated, he puts down the chopsticks he just picked up. Frustration seeps from Liam as he fidgets in his seat, rubbing his forehead for the nth time. So that it started to show read marks.

“Come to me,” he invites me to sit in his lap. When I do as he asked, he gently caresses my cheek.

“The reason Duncan and I fought had nothing to do with what you just told me. This investment is creating a rift between us. If you don't want it, I won't force you.”

I try to stand up but he keeps us this way. “Please let me go. I'm not done yet.”

“No,” he cuts me off.

“There is more,” I say.

“Whatever it is. I don't want to hear it. Madison. You are your own person. Don't let this thing from your past control you.”

In essence he is right. The thing that that woman did is her choice, her life. I was four at the time. She left me and dad and never looked back. I'm her victim as much as all the rest.