Toxic Truth

4

ZELLA

"Liam?"

Liam stands up from his chair and rounds the table until he is standing in front of it.

"Ms. Walter." He acknowledges.

He's calling me Ms. Walter, not Zella like the other night.

"So you're Liam Gregor?" I ask dumbly. I should've at least searched up the boss of the company I'm planning on working with and spare myself this embarrassment.

"Yes," he responds amusedly.

"I'm sorry I just got confused when I saw you here," I chuckle nervously.

He nods and takes a step forward. His muscles moving under the suit with his steps. "Last week when we met, I had no idea who you were and that my company was going to upload your picture on the website. I'm sorry if it caused you any discomfort after figuring out."

"It's no problem, I didn't know about you either," I wave him off.

"So about last week," he starts. "We didn't know each other back then and now that we are supposed to be working together, we should stay professional and maintain distance between us. It would be wise if we don't talk about the night and forget about it."

Right. Professional. We needed to stay professional.

"Of course, I agree with you Mr. Gregor," I flash him my professional smile.

"Glad we agree on this Ms. Walter. Please take a seat," he moves aside and motions for me to sit on one of the couches in his huge office, before doing the same, sitting on the couch opposite from me.

Shortly after, Sage and Mr. Wilson join us and we begin the meeting.

~~~~

The meeting went on for over an hour. We mainly discussed about how the collaboration will work. Sage will be the one designing and providing me with clothes, hence, why she is here with us.

In return I have to allow them to upload my pictures on their website for promotion. The contract is for six months for now, and I can pull out anytime I want if I feel any discomfort.

"Do you have any other concerns you would like to discuss with us?" Sage asks me.

Sage is gorgeous woman with blonde hair, which stops at her shoulders. She's wearing a black silk blouse with black skirt, looking elegant.

Her work is truly amazing, I knew she was great when I wore her dress, but coming here when she showed me her collection and work, I was mesmerised.

"No, that would be all. Thank you," I reply and she nods, looking over at Matteo and then her boss.

The boss in question was mostly silent the whole meeting. One thing I've learned about Liam now is that he's not much of a talker. During the whole meeting he only talked to me when necessary or asked a question, which was very less. He sat silently with a brooding expression. Asshole. Or maybe that's just his face.

So I made it my mission to ignore him too. Well maybe I am being petty but I really don't care. Though it would be easier to ignore him if he wasn't so insanely gorgeous and hot, looking like he belongs in a magazine cover.

"Well that would be all then. It is a pleasure to be working with you Ms. Walter," Mr Wilson, whose name is Matteo, stands up and holds out his hand so I do the same.

"Likewise," I shake his hand and then Sage's. Lastly, I turn to look at Liam as he stands up from his seat.

I don't know if I should shake his hand too, and I don't want to. Like I said, I'm petty. So I spoke first.

"Thank you for having me over, it's great to work with you. I'll be leaving now."

He stares at me for a second too long. His grey eyes moving over my face before he nods and steps back, putting his hands in his pocket.

Okay then.

Sage motions for me to walk first and then follows me, leading me towards the elevator.

~~~~

Liam

This was a bad fucking idea. Zella being here, in my office is a bad fucking idea.

However, my designer and my company director who also happens to be my best friend, don't think so.

I shouldn't have let them get close to me and become my friends. They both managed to convince me that we should collaborate with Zella, because when they asked me why I'm against it I couldn't come up with an answer. I couldn't exactly tell them I slept with her right before the picture was uploaded.

Now I'm standing beside Matteo, watching Zella leave with Sage.

Matteo lets out a low whistle. "What's up with you guys?"

"What do you mean?" I give him a side eye as I sit on the couch again.

"Come on, really? You barely talked the entire meeting and then you both proceeded to ignore each other as if you guys weren't there. The tension could be cut with a knife. What's going on?"

So he had noticed the lack of conversation between us. Which means she was ignoring me and it wasn't just my imagination.

"It's nothing," I dismiss him but his scrutinising gaze doesn't leave me.

"Don't tell me you slept with her?" his grin widens when he sees my expression and he throws his head back laughing. "Oh you did! So this is why you were so reluctant to work with her."

"I didn't know who she was when I slept with her," I mutter.

"It's fine, you guys are doing a fine job ignoring each other and I don't blame you, look at her she's so hot."

He smirks when he sees my clenched jaw. The idea of him finding Zella attractive puts a sour taste in my mouth.

I just hope I don't interact with her much, because the next time I see her, I'm not sure if i'll be able to do a good job at avoiding her.

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