Chapter4
1364 Words
Liam paced around the room like a trapped animal.
His footsteps echoed loudly against the cold floor. Back and forth. Back and forth. It felt like he was trying to outrun his own thoughts, but they kept chasing him.
He loosened the necklace around his neck, pulling it away like it was choking him. His chest felt tight. His jaw was clenched so hard it hurt.
He made several angry smirks, soliloquizing.
Johnson stood by the wall, watching him. His head was already spinning from all the pacing. His legs ached from standing for so long. He shifted his weight slightly, but did not dare move.
Suddenly, Liam stopped.
He turned sharply to Johnson, his eyes blazing.
“This is why I hate women!” he snapped.
Johnson straightened instantly, like he had been shocked awake.
“Yes… yes of course, sir,” he replied quickly, nodding like he had been paying full attention.
Liam scoffed.
“I’m sure this was all planned,” he said bitterly. “That Caro… Carie… whatever her name is. She planned everything to trap me.”
He shook his head, looking completely convinced of his own thoughts.
Johnson frowned slightly, confused.
“But sir,” he said carefully, “how could a girl from such a humble background pull off something like this?”
Liam let out a cold smirk.
“I’ve seen worse,” he replied. “And you know that. These desperate poor gold diggers will do anything to climb up. Anything.”
His voice grew harder.
“And now look at this,” he continued. “The whole internet is on fire. My name is everywhere. This mess has to be cleaned immediately.”
Johnson swallowed.
“So… what do we do about Miss Carie and Mi Amore Chocolate?” he asked.
Liam’s lips curled into a cruel smile.
“I already canceled the order.”
Johnson’s eyes widened in shock.
“Sir!”
“I can’t work with schemers,” Liam said harshly. “They always bring trouble into business.”
He turned fully to Johnson now, his eyes dark.
“Someone who could drug you just to manipulate their way into your life,” he said slowly, “is like a snake. They enter quietly. Then they eat you up slowly.”
Johnson nodded, even though doubt flickered in his eyes.
“But sir,” he said softly, “are you completely sure she planned this?”
Liam laughed bitterly.
“Who else could it be?” he snapped. “She was in my room. I don’t know how she did it, but she was there when I got drugged. Such perfect timing just couldn’t be a coincidence.”
His fists clenched.
“And then she seduced me when I wasn’t myself,” he continued angrily. “I woke up the next morning and reporters were already tipped off. Tell me, Johnson, who else could have done that?”
Johnson nodded slowly.
“Yes… that makes sense,” he murmured.
Liam turned sharply again.
“I want you to contact every chocolate shop,” he ordered. “Every single one. Find me something better than Mi Amore.”
Johnson bowed his head.
“Yes, sir.”
He rushed out of the room.
---
Hours later, Johnson returned with several boxes.
Different brands. Different samples.
Liam sat down and began testing them one by one.
He tasted.
He chewed.
He frowned.
Again and again.
His patience snapped.
He slammed his hand on the desk.
“What is this nonsense?” he yelled. “Where did you find these low-quality products?”
He swept the samples off the desk angrily. Boxes fell to the floor.
“They don’t even come close to standard!”
Johnson bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said nervously. “We searched deeply. But most of the best brands have already been acquired by our competitors.”
Liam inhaled deeply. Slowly.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
“So,” he said quietly, “you’re telling me our best option is still that girl… Carie?”
Johnson nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
There was a pause.
Then Johnson leaned closer, his voice lowering.
“Since the internet is already talking about this,” he said carefully, “we could use the situation to our advantage. We could slowly acquire Mi Amore.”
Liam’s eyes lifted.
“You mean…?” he asked.
Johnson smiled, already understanding the question. He nodded confidently.
Liam smiled too.
But it wasn’t a warm smile.
---
Carie lay in her room, her face buried in her pillow.
The pillow was soaked with tears.
Her body shook as she cried. Her chest hurt. Her head hurt. Everything hurt.
Kylie sat beside her, rubbing her back gently.
“It’s not over yet,” Kylie said, forcing strength into her voice. “So what if we lost the order? We’ll get back on our feet.”
Carie suddenly sat up.
Tears streamed down her face.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” she cried. “I wasn’t myself.”
Her voice broke.
“You know me, Kylie,” she continued. “I’m not a gold digger. I would never give my body just to win a deal.”
Kylie pulled her into a tight hug.
“I know,” she whispered. “Even if the whole world doubts you, I won’t.”
Carie’s crying grew louder.
“I don’t understand what happened,” she sobbed.
Kylie pulled back slightly and looked at her carefully.
“Did you drink anything?” she asked. “Alcohol maybe? Or… were you drugged?”
“No!” Carie buried her face into her Hands. She cried.
But then, suddenly she sprang up.
Carie froze.
Her eyes widened.
“The wine,” she whispered softly.
She looked at Kylie sharply. “It’s the wine,” she repeatedly
Kylie sat up instantly.
“I was hungry,” Carie said slowly. “I took some food and wine.”
Her voice trembled.
“I started feeling strange as soon as I took the wine,” she looked into empty space, retracing her thoughts back to every moment.
“Could it have been…?” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Yes,” Kylie said firmly. “That must be it.”
She paused. Her shoulder dropped.
“But who would want to drug you?” she asked. “And why?”
Carie went silent.
“I don’t think it was meant for me,” she said slowly.
Kylie’s face stiffened.
Suddenly, Carie stood up.
“I need to tell him,” she said urgently. “I can’t let him believe this was my plan.”
She rushed toward the door.
Kylie grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Don’t, it would only mess things up more.”
Carie looked confused. “He needs to know. I’m not that kind of person.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Kylie said firmly. “Even if you explain, it doesn’t guarantee anything will change or that he’ll give the order back.”
Carie’s shoulders dropped.
Kylie’s face twisted in anger.
“How dare he treat you like that,” she snapped. “He didn’t even try to hear your side.”
Her fists clenched.
“If I ever see a man like that cross my path,” she continued, “I’ll teach him a serious lesson.”
Just then—
The doorbell rang.
Kylie turned toward the door.
“Don’t worry, Carie,” she said loudly as she walked away. “That Liam Salvador or whatever is not worth your tears. He’s not even worth being called a man.”
She opened the door.
And froze.
Standing right there was Liam Salvador.
With Johnson beside him.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips trembled.
“You…” she whispered.
Liam’s face was dark.
Cold.
He looked straight at her.
“Well,” he said calmly,
“if Liam Salvador came in person to apologize… would that make him a man?”
Kylie couldn’t speak.
She stood frozen.
Speechless.
And behind her—
Carie stood silently, her heart pounding. Thousands of thoughts running through her mind at the same time.
- Writer
