Chapter 3
Liam's body stiffened again. He glanced down at my hand, his eyes suddenly turning dangerously intense.
"Isabel, don't touch me there. I might not be able to control myself," he said.
My cheeks burned as I quickly pulled my hand back.
Uh-oh, this sweet puppy was about to turn into a big bad wolf.
*****
Early the next morning, Liam insisted on going to the office.
He said that even if he'd lost his memory, his muscle memory and instincts were still there, and he needed to get back to run things.
I couldn't help but worry. What if he messed up and people realized he couldn't remember anything?
So I jumped in, "I'll go with you. I'm your right-hand assistant, remember? We were always together before."
Liam gave me a doubtful look. "Assistant? I remember my assistant was a guy. What was his name again?"
I froze for a moment, then quickly made up an excuse. "That's just for outsiders. Privately, I'm your exclusive assistant, the one who takes care of your daily needs and... your mood."
I really stressed the word "mood."
Liam's ears turned red again, as if he suddenly got what I meant.
"Alright," he said, giving my head a gentle, doting pat.
When we got to the office, I realized I'd been totally wrong.
Even with his memory wiped, Liam still had that cutthroat edge in the business world.
Sitting in his office, he tore through paperwork with speed and ruthless efficiency, his frosty vibe making all the execs quake in their boots.
To outsiders, he was still that ice-cold boss who could freeze one out without blinking.
But with me, he was a totally different person.
"Isabel, get me some water," he called out, waving me over during a break in the meeting.
I handed him the glass, and without missing a beat, he grabbed my hand and pulled it to his lips, planting a kiss right in front of everyone.
"Thanks, sweetheart," he said.
The whole conference room went dead silent.
The execs looked like their eyes were about to pop out of their heads, their jaws practically hitting the floor in shock.
I could even hear a few girls in the back gasping, barely stifling their squeals.
"Oh my god! Mr. Olsen just called her 'sweetheart'."
"Mr. Olsen actually smiled? And with such a soft, gentle look."
"No way. This is some god-tier romance. I'm totally obsessed with this ship."
I was so embarrassed I wanted to crawl into a hole, but Liam acted like nothing had happened. He turned back to the execs, stone-cold as ever. "Redo the proposal. If I don't see something I like by three this afternoon, pack your things and leave."
The way he switched from sweet to savage in the blink of an eye was honestly legendary.
Back in his office, I closed the door and shot him a glare.
"Liam, what was that all about? Everyone was watching," I snapped.
Liam walked over, scooped me up, and set me down on his desk.
He braced his hands on either side of me, his gaze burning into mine.
"We're engaged. What's wrong with a kiss?" he said, totally unfazed.
His righteous confidence left me completely speechless.
"And you know what? I realized that whenever you get close to me, I..." Liam deliberately trailed off, his eyes flicking downward in a way that made his meaning crystal clear.
I followed his gaze, and my cheeks instantly flushed scarlet.
"Liam, you total creep," I yelped, covering my eyes in embarrassment.
He let out a low laugh, his chest shaking with laughter.
"Isabel, you're the one who said we used to be close," he whispered, his voice deep and seductive as he leaned in. "I'm just trying to get that feeling back."
I was so frustrated I could cry.
Why did I dig this hole for myself?
Working as his "exclusive assistant" at the office was a wild ride, equal parts agony and ecstasy.
Liam took double standards to a whole new level.
If the secretary brought him coffee and it was even a degree off, he'd shoot her a frosty glare and demand a fresh cup.
But when I spilled coffee all over his suit, which probably cost tens of thousands of dollars, his first reaction was to grab my hand, his voice full of concern. "Did it burn you? Does it hurt?"
I stared at the massive stain, feeling super guilty. "Your suit's ruined."
"It's just a suit. Don't worry about it. You're what matters," Liam said, pressing a gentle kiss to my fingertips, his gaze gentle.
Employees passing by covered their mouths, trying not to laugh. I felt like I was about to become the office's public enemy number one.
That afternoon, Liam had a business event to attend.
He hadn't planned on taking me with him, but I was worried someone might notice he'd lost his memory, so I stubbornly tagged along anyway.
At the dinner, a few bigwigs kept pushing drinks on Liam.
Liam shot them down with a cold face, but these guys were big shots too, so the tension in the room was thick.
I was about to step in and take a drink for him, but Liam beat me to it, grabbing my hand before I could.
He gave those bosses a cold once-over, the chill rolling off him so intense it felt like the temperature in the private room dropped a few degrees.
"My fiancée is allergic to alcohol. I'll drink this for her," Liam said, his voice cold and firm.
With that, he picked up the glass and downed it in one go.
Honestly, I wasn't allergic at all. I could drink anyone under the table.
But the way he went all protective mode for me? Total heartthrob material.