Chapter 3
1058 Words
Ezra’s loft was bathed in warm light, the kind that made everything feel safe even when the world outside was anything but. Liana curled up on the velvet couch, glass of red wine in her hand, her shoes kicked off, her guard lowered for the first time in days.
Ezra watched her from the open kitchen, a small smile on his face. “Rough day?”
She chuckled dryly, taking a sip. “You have no idea.”
“Roman Wolfe still being Roman Wolfe?”
Liana turned her head to meet his gaze. “More like a worse version of himself." He agreed to work with me, but every moment feels like a power play. It’s exhausting.”
Ezra walked over, handed her a plate of strawberries and cheese. “Then don’t do it. You’ve built a name for yourself. You don’t need him.”
Her silence said more than words. She did need Roman but not for the reasons Ezra thought.
Ezra sat beside her, close but not overbearing. “You’re playing with fire, Liana. And you hate getting burned.”
“I’m not the one who’s going to get burned this time,” she said, but her voice lacked its earlier certainty.
There was a pause. The kind that made her heart race.
“Do you still love him?” Ezra asked quietly.
Liana looked away. “I don’t know what I feel. Hate. Resentment. Regret.”
“And love?”
She hesitated. Then, “Maybe once. But he destroyed that.”
Ezra reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Then let me help you build something new. With someone who would never use you.”
Liana didn’t pull away. She didn’t respond either. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him soft, searching. For a moment, it felt like clarity. Like maybe, she really could start again.
But in the deepest part of her mind, Roman’s face burned like a brand.
###
The next morning, Liana walked into the Wolfe Global boardroom to find Roman already seated, sleeves rolled up, jaw clenched tight. His expression darkened as he looked up and saw her wearing the same black turtleneck and fitted skirt she’d worn the night before.
“You’re late,” he said coldly.
“I wasn’t aware you’d suddenly become fond of punctuality.”
Roman didn’t smile. “Rough night?”
Liana raised a brow. “Quite the opposite.”
His gaze sharpened, jaw twitching. “With Ezra?”
She didn’t answer, just let the silence confirm what he already suspected.
Roman looked away, muttering, “Of course.”
The meeting began, but the tension between them thickened with every breath. Liana proposed a new partnership with a European firm. Roman objected, challenged her authority, and argued about the risks.
“I’m not risking our company just to impress some international investors,” he snapped.
Liana leaned forward. “Our company is crumbling because of your arrogance. If you want to survive this scandal, you’ll do what I say. Or walk away.”
Roman stood, palms on the table. “You think I won’t?”
“Try me.”
The boardroom fell into an icy silence. Then Roman sat back down slowly, eyes locked on hers. “You’ve changed.”
“No,” she said. “I’ve just stopped pretending.”
###
Later that evening, Liana walked into a charity gala hosted by one of her investors. She wore a sleek red gown, hair swept up, lips a deep crimson. All eyes followed her. She didn’t come alone, Ezra walked beside her, hand resting comfortably at the small waist of her back.
Roman saw them from across the room.
He was standing with a group of executives, his date hanging onto his arm, a tall blonde with a laugh that grated Liana’s nerves. But it was Roman’s eyes that gave him away fixed on Liana and Ezra like he wanted to shatter the champagne glass in his hand.
Ezra leaned in, whispering something that made Liana laugh.
Roman excused himself from the group and crossed the room in long, angry strides.
“Liana. Ezra,” he said curtly, his voice tight.
Ezra nodded. “Roman.”
Liana smiled like a queen facing a pawn. “I thought you didn’t do social appearances, Roman.”
“I make exceptions. For things that matter.”
His eyes flicked to Ezra’s hand still on her waist.
Ezra didn’t move it. “Liana and I were just leaving for a quieter place.”
Roman stepped closer. “I need a word with her.”
“Anything you need to say, you can say here,” Ezra said smoothly.
But Roman’s eyes never left Liana’s. “Alone.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
Ezra gave her a look half warning, half concern but let her go.
They stepped into a private hall, the noise of the gala fading behind them. Roman shut the door, turned to her.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Enjoying myself. You should try it sometime.”
“With him?” Roman’s voice was a low growl. “He’s not for you.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
He stepped closer. “You’re still in love with me.”
She laughed, short and sharp. “You really are that arrogant.”
“You think I don’t see it? The way you look at me, the way your voice shakes when you’re angry?” He leaned in, close enough that she could smell his cologne. “You want to hate me. But you don’t.”
“I do,” she breathed.
“Say it again. Look me in the eyes and tell me you still don't feel something.”
She opened her mouth but the words refused to come. Roman saw it.
He reached up, touched her face gently, reverently. “You can’t, can you?”
Liana jerked back like she’d been slapped.
“This was a mistake,” she hissed. “We’re done here.”
She turned to leave, but Roman’s voice stopped her cold.
“I still love you, Liana.”
She froze. The words wrapped around her like chains: dangerous, tempting, real.
And then…
The door burst open.
Ezra stood there, eyes wild, fists clenched.
He had heard everything.
- Writer
