DEAL OFF!!!
961 Words
(Season 1)
CHAPTER 16
The door opened with a soft _click_.
Kalen walked in.
His eyes narrowed instantly.
Liora was leaning over his desk. Fingers grazing his papers. Busted.
“What did I say?”
His voice was low. Dangerous.
Liora jolted upright like she’d been caught stealing.
_Oh boy. He looks really angry._
“I was just... admiring your... pen collection?” she lied, way too fast.
Kalen raised one eyebrow. Completely unimpressed.
She was horrible at lying. Like, _Ryan-level_ bad.
“You didn’t touch anything?”
Hands in his pockets. Suit jacket fitted just right.
He looked unfairly hot when he was mad.
Liora took a slow step back. Her heart was doing gymnastics.
“Nope. I’ve been good. Sitting here. Doing nothing. At. All.”
The corner of Kalen’s mouth twitched. Almost a smile.
“I never knew you lied this much. But I must say... you’re terrible at it.”
He took one step forward.
Then another.
Liora’s breath caught. _Is he going to kill me?_
His proximity was suffocating. Warm. Smelled like cedar and something expensive.
She was trying so hard to look casual but her cheeks were betraying her.
“So... what’s the big deal about this project?” she blurted, desperate to change the subject.
Awkward laugh. “Haha. Just curious.”
Kalen’s gaze lingered on her face. Studying.
“I hate when people don’t obey a simple instruction,” he said quietly. “And the project? Not your concern.”
“I’m stuck here with you because for some reason you want me here,” Liora shot back, crossing her arms. “The least you can do is make it interesting.”
His expression didn’t change. But his voice dropped. Rough. Low.
“You want interesting?”
He leaned in slightly. “Be careful what you wish for.”
Liora’s breath hitched.
Was that a warning? Or a dare?
Before she could answer, his phone buzzed.
_Thank God._
Kalen stepped back, answering without looking away from her.
“What?” Bored. Flat.
“Kalen, what’s going on?”
_Zach._
“What do you mean?”
Zach sighed on the other end. “Is Liora okay?”
Kalen’s eyes flicked to her. “Fine.”
Liora rolled her eyes and mouthed _“grumpy”_.
Seriously, why was he always like this? What happened to make him this cold?
“I just wanted to be sure,” Zach said.
Kalen’s lips twitched. Barely. Then he hung up.
“Zach wants an update on you,” he said.
Liora’s face lit up. “You talked to him? How are they? What are they doing with the business—”
“Not your business.”
Ice. Back instantly.
Liora frowned. _What is wrong with this guy?_
_Buzz._
His phone again.
“What now?” he snapped, answering.
“Hey Kalen! It’s me! How’s Liora doing?”
_Ryan. Too cheerful._
Kalen’s jaw ticked. “I know it’s you. One more call and I’m coming over there—”
“Come on bro,” _Kai_ cut in, on 3-way now. “We can’t be sure how bad of a babysitter you are unless we check.”
Kalen ended the call. Didn’t blink.
But inside he was boiling.
His gaze slid back to Liora. Intense. Heavy.
She took a small step back. What did they say to him?
_Buzz._
He checked the screen. Caius.
He turned away, voice sharp.
“What is it?”
“Boss, there’s a... situation with the Jones business.”
Kalen’s eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
“I found something. And Miss Sophie just called off the Jones representative.”
Kalen knew exactly what game she was playing.
“I’ll handle the representatives. Get Sophie in here. Now.”
_Click._
Liora swallowed. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Two minutes later, the door opened.
Sophie. Fake smile. Too much perfume.
“Kalen, what’s going on?” she asked, all innocence.
Kalen didn’t even look up from his laptop.
“The Jones meeting. There’s been a complication. The representative backed out.”
Sophie gasped. Oscar-worthy. Of course, this was what she wanted
“What? Can I fill in? I’m already here—”
“There won’t be a need for that, Miss Jones.”
Her smile faltered. “Why not?. I mean I know practically every single detail about the project”
Kalen finally looked at her. Cold. Final.
“Because I’m terminating our partnership. I hate when someone tries to act too smart with me, Sophie. Your parents will get a call soon.”
The color drained from Sophie’s face.
Liora’s eyes went wide.
_Oh._
_He just ended her._
Sophie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Kalen gestured to the door. “You can see yourself out.”
The room was silent after she left.
Kalen turned back to Liora.
She was still staring, shocked.
“You... you just canceled a deal?” she whispered.
“They betrayed my trust,” he said simply, like it was nothing.
Then he walked to his desk, picked up the folder _she_ brought, and held it out to her.
“You did good bringing this.”
A pause.
“Don’t make me regret saying that.”
Liora took it, fingers brushing his.
Electric.
“So... am I still stuck here?”
Kalen sighed, rubbing his temple.
“Yes. Until your overprotective babysitters come back.”
“And until then?”
His eyes met hers. Dark. Unreadable.
“Until then, try not to touch my things. Or lie badly. Or make me cancel more deals because you’re here.”
Liora grinned despite herself.
“No promises.”
Kalen didn’t answer.
But he didn’t tell her to leave either.
TBC
- Writer
