Chapter Fifteen

Vanessa

That afternoon, the weight of the day settled on my shoulders like a leaden cloak. My stomach growled impatiently, demanding a break from the endless cycle of taking orders and with a longing for a quiet space, I set off to explore the less-trodden corners of the hotel grounds. The manicured gardens, usually a source of calm, held little appeal today.

I spotted a secluded bench tucked beneath a sprawling oak, its branches casting dappled shade on the ground. Perfect. With a sigh of relief, I settled down, unwrapping my sandwich and taking a large, grateful bite.

The rustle of leaves nearby made me look up. There, a short distance away, stood Liam. His shoulders slumped, his brow furrowed in worry, he looked every bit the picture of a man burdened. Instinct urged me to turn away, but before I could act, his gaze met mine. He hesitated for a moment, then a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes.

"Vanessa?" he called out, taking a hesitant step towards me.

My escape route vanished. With a resigned sigh, I straightened and met him halfway.

"Hi, Liam," I greeted him, the words tasting like ashes in my mouth. "I didn't expect to see you here."

He offered a wan smile. "Neither did I. Actually," he hesitated, rubbing a hand across his forehead, "I saw you heading this way and… I followed."

Offering him my half-eaten sandwich. "Are you hungry?"

He shook his head politely. "No thanks, Vanessa. I already ate." A ghost of a smile played on his lips, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes.

His rejection of the sandwich was a relief; for some reason, my appetite was insatiable today.

"So, how are you doing today?" he asked.

"Everyone keeps asking me that question today. I'm tired of saying I'm fine," I replied, feeling a bit exasperated.

Liam cracked a smile. "Well, you gave us quite a scare yesterday. You can't blame us for being curious about how you're holding up. And also I realized that I don't have your number or Instagram."

I averted my gaze, not wanting to lose myself in his piercing blue eyes. I gave him the name of my Instagram handle.

"So," I continued, attempting to change the subject, "what's got you looking so… distraught?"

He took a deep breath, his facade crumbling. "Distraught? No, I'm fine," he said unconvincingly.

I raised an eyebrow, challenging his lie. "You're not convincing at all, Liam. Like you would make a terrible actor. Tell me what's on your mind. I'm not an important person; no one would take what I say seriously, so your secret is safe with me."

He looked at me as I took a bite of my sandwich. "Even you don't believe that. You know you are quite important to me."

His words sent shivers down my spine. I fought the urge to blush and tried to focus on the conversation. "Just tell me what's troubling you."

There was a beat of silence, then a reluctant sigh escaped his lips. "There's a board meeting tomorrow afternoon. And let's just say, my position as CEO of Carson Enterprises might be on the line."

A gasp escaped me. "Oh my god," I breathed, a mixture of shock and concern swirling in my gut. "That's terrible! Why?"

"I poked the hornet's nest, and now I'm about to get stung. I had big plans for these hotels, but now none of them might see the light of day," he said in a defeated tone.

"You know," I said, taking a bite of my sandwich, "my dad, before he passed, always refused to take his winery public. Kept it a family business. No shareholders, no board meetings to worry about."

Liam looked surprised. "Wow! Your family owns a winery?"

"Yes, in Napa. My mother and my older brother run it now" I responded.

"Then what are you doing in Los Angeles, working as a waitress in my hotel?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Like I told you the night we met," I started, but he interrupted, "You mean the night you want me to forget ever happened?"

Ignoring his comment, I continued, "I told you I wanted to be an actress, and that is why I am in Los Angeles. My mother begrudgingly supported me financially for the first few months, but she stopped, hoping I would return home and give up on my dreams. But I am still here, doing everything I can, including being a waitress in your hotel."

There was a newfound respect in his gaze, a spark of something else I couldn't quite decipher.

"Have you considered… your mother?" I ventured, offering a different kind of support. "She seems like a charming woman. Maybe having her at the board meeting…"

He scoffed. "My mother? She wouldn't know a balance sheet from a cheese platter."

"Maybe not," I persisted, "but she has presence, charisma. All through your father's funeral everyone was literally in her hands. It couldn't hurt to have someone like that on your side. You never know, she could sway the shareholders."

My phone buzzed, the harsh ring shattering the unexpected connection.

"Damn," I muttered. "Lunch break's over."

He stood up, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Yeah, me too."

We stood there for a moment, a silent understanding passing between us. "Well," I said finally, "I should get back. See you around, Liam."

He nodded, a flicker of something hopeful dancing in his blue eyes. "See you around, Vanessa."

********************

Liam

As Martin chauffeured me back home from the hotel, my mind was a whirlpool of thoughts about Vanessa's suggestion to involve my mother in tomorrow's board meeting. Since Coyote hadn't managed to dig up any dirt on Elliott Mason, involving my mother seemed like my last, desperate hope to retain my CEO position at Carson Enterprises.

Martin pulled up in front of the mansion, and I stepped out, my resolve hardening with each step toward the sitting room. I needed to talk to my mother, but instead, I found Anna furiously scribbling on scattered clip notes in front of a piano.

"Are you working yourself to the bone, or channeling your inner Vincent van Gogh?" I teased, a sliver of amusement breaking through the tension.

"Both. I'm writing a song right now, so please don't disturb me," Anna responded without looking up, her focus absolute.

Surprised, I couldn't help but say, "Whoa! I didn't know you were writing music again. Okay, just tell me where Mom is right now, and I'll be out of your hair."

"She's in the kitchen, giving the chefs instructions on the charity gala she's planning to host," Anna replied, not missing a beat.

"Really? Isn't it too soon to host a gala?" I asked, shaking my head at our mother's newfound energy, just a couple of days after burying my dad.

"I thought so too, but Mom wants to raise money for sick children in Africa. She said she planned it before dad's death," Anna said, still engrossed in her writing.

"You know you can do your writing in the study, right? There's a piano there," I suggested, trying to make sense of her chaotic workspace.

"I know. I just want to do it here to piss you off. Did I succeed?" she said, a sly smile playing on her lips.

I couldn't help but smile back. Anna loved to tease me about my OCD, knowing it drove me crazy to see clutter. Leaving her to her writing, I made my way to the large kitchen where my mother held court. She was back to her normal vibrant self. The chefs and kitchen staff were all nodding and agreeing with her, their deference clear.

As soon as my mother noticed me, she turned to the staff and said, "We'll continue from where we stopped tomorrow morning." The staff quickly dispersed, leaving us alone in the vast kitchen.

"Good evening, Mother," I said walking closer to her, her name carrying a weight of respect and a hint of need.

Her head turned, her eyes lighting up with a familiar warmth. "Liam, darling! You are back. And how was your day?"

"Mom, it wasn't great. I need your help at tomorrow's board meeting," I said, cutting straight to the point.

Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, met mine. "Let me guess," she said, her voice laced with knowing amusement, "Rupert is making a play for your position at Carson Enterprises?"

The surprise on my face must have been evident. "How did you know?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I have my ears to the ground, son. Ever since your father got sick, I've made it my business to know what's happening. And yes, I will help you however I can tomorrow. Just tell me what you need," she said, her voice steady and reassuring.