Mr. Billionaire **ReVamped**

Chapter Fifteen

Common Grounds smells as good as I remember; all freshly brewed coffee and cookies from right out of the oven. The atmosphere is quiet today and the café has only three other people within its walls save for Liam, Kate, Simon and I. Normally, I enjoy the quiet, I take refuge in the silence. Now, though, the quiet seems as if it's mocking me. All I really want to do is throw my head back and scream.

Yes, I did want to get back at Simon and Kate. Yes, I did want them to know I was "dating" Liam Hawke. Yes, I had wanted to see the surprised looks on their faces when they saw me doing well. However, I had never expected to see them so soon. The last time I had laid eyes on them was that night at Scarlet Kiss, the night Liam and I met. Even then, I barely looked at them before I turned tail and ran, unable to face them, unable to force the truth.

Now, I have no choice. Simon and Kate are sitting opposite Liam and I. This booth feels too crowded and it feels as if Liam and I are pressed too close together. It makes it hard to concentrate. I hate feeling like some hormonal teenage girl, but what was a woman supposed to feel when a guy who looked like Liam Hawke had kissed her mere moments ago? I was completely aware he did it because Simon and Kate were coming and he wanted to make a show of things, but that did nothing to stop this jittery, nervous feeling building in my stomach.

Lucas, the guy who served us before, comes walking over. I study him, trying to be inconspicuous about it. He's got a slow walk, almost dragging his feet, his eyes are bored and his expression is blank. He stands in front of our table, pulls out a pad and a pen, sighs and looks at us, silently prompting us to tell him what we wanted.

We each go around and place our respective orders, and Liam orders an extra platter of donuts for all of us to enjoy. When Lucas turns to walk away, I study him harder. He reminds me of someone...someone I know...I just can't put my finger on who...

I force myself to look away when I hear Simon clearing his throat. I look in their direction but I can't find it within me to look them in their eyes.

"So," Simon said, starting conversation for the first time. "I didn't expect to see you at the company, Vonnie. What were you doing there? And with our boss?"

The nickname he and Kate used to call me causes me to flinch but neither Simon nor Kate seem to notice. Liam does, though, and I feel him grab for my hand underneath the table, taking it in his warmth and squeezing it comfortingly. It does help. It doesn't ease all of my worries but it does numb them.

I take a breath to steady myself. "I was there to meet Liam so that we could have lunch together." I look up for the first time and meet his eyes, flinching internally. "I didn't expect to run into either of you. I mean, I wasn't even sure if you worked there...it's been so long." I offer a smile that I hope is convincing.

Simon opens his mouth like he's going to say something but Kate cuts him off. She reaches across the table and take my free hand, looking at me with eyes that drip with false sincerity.

"Vonnie, I'm so glad to see you. After the...after everything that happened..." She lowers her gaze, biting her lip, looking so remorseful that, if I didn't know her, I would fall for her trick. "You wouldn't talk to either of us and when we tried to reach you through the others, they said cruel things." She covers her mouth with her free hand, still gripping my arm with the other, and she lets out what's supposed to be a muffled sob.

My only thoughts are that she's laying it on pretty thick. She's a good actress, though, I'll give her that. Those tears in her eyes look real and her hand on my arm even feels like it's shaking, like it's been so hard for her to not see me, to not apologize. Her eyes tell a different story, though. I don't know how I never saw it before. Past the artificial sadness and relief she's placed there, I see nothing but a brimming hatred.