Professional Restraint

5 Unexpected Detours

Liam

Traveling from my condo building's elevator through the lobby to the grand front door, I feel like I'm on autopilot. Declan called to say that he'd be here soon, so I'm on my way out to meet him. Condo living downtown has its advantages for work, but I prefer my place on the outskirts of the city.

Right on time, a familiar navy town car pulls into the loading zone.

"Dressed to impress, I see," Declan says with a crooked grin as I get in.

"Would you prefer I looked homeless?" I ask, raising a brow.

"Christ, you're wound tight tonight," Declan groans. He adjusts his own suit cuffs while he frowns at me.

"I'm fine," I grumble, dismissing his complaint.

But the truth is, I'm not fine. I'm tense and irritable.

I spent the entire day going over boxes of incomplete and incoherent documents, playing back and forth with our legal department, and I'm just tired of it. I know the Renford's acquisition is a rare opportunity, which is why I spent many a late night on it. Sophia's firm could make it a reality for us, but I'm used to being in control and being ahead of the game. Here, though, I feel like we are two steps behind and I fucking hate it.

"Clearly," Declan drawls. "Try not to scare them off, even you have to admit they are hands down the best firm."

I sigh but say nothing else. It's nothing against HCR Solutions, they are good and in the long run will make my life a lot easier... It's the short-term situation that's got me irritable.

"Seriously, man, relax. We'll be there nearly an hour early. We can have a couple drinks and go over everything," Declan reasons. "I don't know why you're so tense. You already have everything worked out, don't you?" He gestures to the file sitting on the seat beside me like it's the holy grail.

"You know I hate playing catch up," I grumble.

"I am well aware of your... quirks," Declan replies with amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

Joys of being friends and business partners for so long, good and bad, we know it all.

"Quirks, eh?" I challenge with a raised brow.

He just laughs in response. "What? You're very..." he trails off, trying to come up with a diplomatic response. "Particular."

"I like my life a certain way with particular... interests," I reply with a shrug. Some would say I'm controlling and they aren't wrong, though I prefer to think of it as detail-oriented and organized correctly.

I have always focused on the details in all aspects of my life and through hard work; I reap the benefits. It takes a certain level of self-control, ambition, and stamina to have accomplished what I have in so few years.

That focus, however, spills into other aspects of my life with mixed results. I am by no means hard core, but I have definite... appetites.

"Speaking of... interests," Declan starts as he locks his blue eyes on mine.

I groan in response, not wanting to go over what he thinks I have for Ella. "Dec—"

"Hey, I wasn't going there!" he exclaims, throwing up his hands in surrender. "Live in denial all you want, but I wanted to clear the air one last time about me pursuing Sophia."

The broad grin on his face already tells me how into her he is. Declan isn't a womanizer per se, but he does tend to go for the easy flings that practically fall into his lap. The fact that he is still thinking about her at this point and cares enough to ask for my input tells me he's in for more.