The Arrangement

7

Liam had been halfway through reviewing a report when Joy's request came through. She wanted to visit his house before moving in.

His fingers tightened ever so slightly around the phone even if he played it cool. His home was not a place any random person wandered into. Very few people ever stepped inside, and even fewer were given the freedom to move about as they pleased.

Joy Roberts certainly hadn't earned that privilege but his situation couldn't permit him to deny her, it was normal if she went over.

For a brief moment, he considered refusing outright. Across the desk, Cameron noticed the hesitation immediately. He looked up from his phone and made a subtle gesture toward Liam telling him to let her.

Liam frowned.

Cameron silently mouthed two words. “For appearances.” The pause lasted only a few seconds, but it was long enough for Joy to notice.

On the other end of the line, she began stumbling over her words, apologising for asking and trying to withdraw the request altogether.

Liam let out a quiet breath. "That's fine."

A moment of silence followed before her surprised voice reached him again.

"It is?"

"Yes."

He leaned back in his chair, his tone as calm as ever.

"I'll send a driver to pick you up."

"That's really not necessary," Joy said quickly. "I can find my way there… "

Before she could finish, Liam ended the call.

He placed the phone on his desk and looked across at Cameron.

"What exactly," he asked coolly, "was that?"

Cameron didn't bother hiding his grin. "You hesitated, so I helped."

"You signalled for me to let her come."

"And you agreed," Cameron replied with a shrug. "Which, by the way, was the right decision."

Liam arched a brow.

"She's moving in tomorrow. Letting her see the house today makes you look considerate." Cameron smirked. "Like a fiancé who's actually making an effort."

Liam gave a quiet scoff. The idea of anyone describing him as considerate was almost laughable.

Without another word, he picked up the report again and forced his attention back to work.

For the next twenty minutes, he tried to focus, but the numbers on the page refused to hold his attention. His pen tapped absently against the desk before he finally set it down with a sigh.

Joy was in his house. Walking through rooms that were usually left undisturbed, except by the staff. Looking at things he preferred to keep private. The thought refused to leave him.

Finally, he placed both hands on the desk and stood.

"I can't do this."

Cameron glanced up from his phone. "Can't do what?"

Liam ignored the question. He picked up his jacket and keys in one smooth motion before heading for the door.

Cameron watched him leave, then shook his head with a sigh. "Of course."

He grabbed his own things and followed.

Nearly an hour later, Liam stepped through the front doors of the mansion. The house was more quiet than usual.

His eyes swept across the spacious living room, but there was no sign of Joy.

"People should stay where they're supposed to be," he muttered under his breath.

Behind him, Cameron rolled his eyes. "Would you relax?"

Liam shot him a look.

"What are you doing here?"

"You stormed out of the office without saying a word," Cameron replied with a grin. "Naturally, I followed."

"You're one of the people who aren't where they're supposed to be."

"I know," Cameron said cheerfully. "I enjoy being a nuisance."

Liam simply shook his head and continued down the hallway..Before he had gone far, Harold emerged from the direction of the pool.

"Mr Owen."

"Where is Joy?" Liam asked instinctively. He paused for the briefest moment before correcting himself.

"My fiancée."

Harold considered the question.

"I'm not entirely sure, sir. I can go and find her if you'd like."

"That won't be necessary."

He already knew where he was going. At least, he told himself he did.

There was a file he'd left in his bedroom earlier, and retrieving it seemed like a perfectly reasonable excuse. He reached his bedroom door and pushed it open.

The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks..Joy stood beside his bed with one of his dress shirts in her hands. Her eyes were closed.

And she was smelling his shirt!

Behind him, Cameron leaned lazily against the doorframe before letting out a low whistle.

“Well,” Cameron said with clear amusement, “this wasn’t the sight I was expecting.”

Joy nearly jumped out of her skin. The shirt slipped from her hands as she spun around to face the doorway, her hands quickly covered her mouth as her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Cameron looked thoroughly entertained. He opened his mouth, no doubt ready with a teasing remark, but Liam spoke before he had the chance.

“What exactly are you doing in my bedroom?”

His voice was calm, almost conversational, but the irritation beneath it was impossible to miss.

Joy stood frozen and her mind was completely blank.

Liam walked into the room, his gaze settling briefly on the shirt lying on the floor before returning to her.

“Not only did you enter my room without permission,” he said evenly, “you picked up my shirt and started smelling it.”

The words only made her face burn hotter. Cameron rubbed the back of his neck, glancing between the two of them.

“Well,” he said with an awkward chuckle as he took a step backwards, “I think that's my cue to leave.”

He flashed Liam a grin. “I'll be at the bar.”

Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the hallway. Joy watched him go, silently wishing she could leave with him.

Liam noticed the look she gave Cameron before turning his attention back to her. With a quiet scoff, he stepped further into the room and nudged the door shut behind him. The soft click echoed through the silence.

Joy instinctively took a step back.

Liam walked towards her at an unhurried pace, his expression unreadable. The closer he came, the faster her heart beat. She tightened her grip on the strap of her purse, retreating until the backs of her legs brushed against the edge of the bed. She lost her balance and sat down abruptly.

Liam stopped in front of her and raised an eyebrow.

“Are you alright?”

“I… I'm fine,” she replied, a little too quickly.

“You walked into my room without permission,” he said. “Yet you're acting as though I'm the one in the wrong.”

Joy opened her mouth to defend herself, but the words caught in her throat. For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to talk back, she seemed to think about her actions and her shoulders slumped.

"It wasn't like that," she said quietly. "I was just looking around."

Liam's gaze shifted to the floor.

"Stand up."

She blinked at him in confusion before realising she was sitting on his bed. Her eyes widened, and she scrambled to her feet.

"Sorry."

He nodded towards the shirt lying on the floor.

"Pick it up."

Joy quickly bent down and retrieved it, carefully smoothing out the creases with trembling hands before placing it neatly back where she had found it.

"I'm really sorry," she repeated.

As she turned around, she nearly let out a startled cry. Liam was standing right in front of her.

She stumbled backwards, barely catching herself before she landed on the bed again.

Her heart hammered against her chest as she stared up at him. He was far too close for her.

Liam studied her in silence. Her breathing had become uneven, and she clutched her purse so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

Slowly, he lifted a hand and brushed a finger lightly along her jaw.

Joy froze. A shiver ran through her as his touch lingered. She swallowed hard, unable to look away.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Instead of answering immediately, Liam leaned closer until his lips were beside her ear.

"Since we're going to be living under the same roof," he murmured, "I think it's best we learn to respect each other's boundaries. Don't you agree?"

The warmth of his breath against her ear sent another wave of panic through her.

Unable to bear it any longer, Joy shoved him.

The push barely affected him, though Liam took a small step back anyway. Whatever warmth had been in his expression disappeared, replaced by the familiar coldness she had come to expect.

"Never enter my room without my permission."

His voice was quiet, but she clearly heard the warning behind it

.

Joy lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Without waiting for another word, she turned and walked out of the room.

Joy walked through the hallways in a daze, her footsteps slow as she tried to steady her breathing.

This was ridiculous. She needed to stop reacting to Liam Owen that way.

Their arrangement was nothing more than a business deal. They would live under the same roof for three years, fulfil the terms of their agreement, and then go their separate ways. That was all it was supposed to be.

So why did being around him leave her so flustered? She let out a quiet sigh and rubbed her forehead, hoping the cool touch of her fingers would clear her mind.

By the time she reached the living room, Harold was waiting nearby. He offered her a polite smile, but she could only manage a small nod in return. Cameron was nowhere to be seen.

Through the large windows, she spotted the driver standing beside the black car. Joy stopped for a moment before glancing back at the hallway.

"d**k," she muttered under her breath. He must have called the driver the moment she'd left his room.

The driver noticed her and immediately stepped forward to open the rear door.

"Miss Roberts."

"Thank you," Joy replied softly as she climbed into the back seat. The door closed and she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, taking a slow, steady breath. Then another.

She had to calm down. Because if a few minutes alone with Liam Owen could leave her this shaken,then the next three years were going to feel very, very long.

And tomorrow she would officially move in.