Chapter Seven:Behind Closed Smiles
1034 Words
Liam watched Damien’s car disappear beyond the mansion gates before quietly slipping the grocery list into his pocket.
He walked toward the kitchen.
“The vegetables are running low,” he said, handing the list to one of the senior cooks. “Ask one of the house staff to buy everything before noon.”
“Yes, Liam.”
He nodded and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the foyer—
A sharp, irritated voice echoed from upstairs.
“No, Damien!”
Liam instinctively stopped.
Eva descended the grand staircase with her phone pressed against her ear, her designer heels clicking loudly against the marble steps.
Her expression was far from pleasant.
“Don’t try to twist this around.”
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
A brief silence followed.
Liam didn’t need to guess who was on the other end of the call.
It was Damien.
Eva rolled her eyes dramatically before speaking again.
“Oh… so now you’re saying I misunderstood?”
Another pause.
Her tone suddenly changed.
The anger melted away.
Instead, it became sweet…
Almost childish.
“Fine.”
“I’ll forgive you this time.”
“But if I catch you looking at her like that again…”
She giggled softly.
“We’re going to have a huge fight.”
Liam watched quietly from a distance.
That wasn’t forgiveness…
That was control.
Eva twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
"Actually..."
"I've been thinking about that necklace."
"The one we saw last week."
"I couldn't stop thinking about it."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"If you buy it for me..."
"I'll believe you're really sorry."
Liam looked away.
His jaw tightened.
So that’s what this was really about.
Liam had served powerful families for years.
He knew the difference...
Between someone who loved a person...
And someone who loved what that person could provide.
He had seen countless relationships built on wealth.
None of them had lasted.
A few seconds later, Eva laughed happily.
“Really?”
“You’re the best!”
“See you at the office.”
She ended the call with a satisfied grin.
“Perfect…”
She whispered to herself.
“Got exactly what I wanted.”
The moment she lifted her head…
She noticed Liam standing nearby.
The smile instantly disappeared.
Her expression hardened.
“What are you looking at?”
She folded her arms.
“Go back to serving your precious Ma’am.”
“Or do beautiful women fascinate you because you’ve never seen one before?”
Liam remained completely calm.
He simply lowered his head slightly.
“I hope you have a pleasant day, Ma’am.”
Without another word, he walked past her.
Eva frowned.
For some reason…
His silence irritated her more than any argument could have.
⸻
Cross Corporation
The sleek black sedan stopped in front of the towering glass building.
The driver hurried to open the door.
“Have a good day, Ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Isla stepped out.
The moment she entered the lobby…
The atmosphere changed.
“Good morning, Ma’am.”
“Good morning.”
“Morning, Ma’am.”
Every employee greeted her respectfully.
Normally...
Isla would smile warmly and greet every single person back.
Today...
She simply nodded once and continued walking.
No smile.
No conversation.
Nothing.
As she walked toward the elevator...
Two employees lowered their voices.
"Is it true?"
"Mr. Cross really got married yesterday?"
"I saw the photos."
"What about Mrs. Cross?"
"I heard she still came to work today."
A heavy silence followed.
Neither of them noticed...
Isla had just walked past.
The elevator doors slid open.
Without looking back...
She stepped inside.
The lobby slowly fell silent.
One employee sighed.
"I've never seen Ma'am like this before."
Another quietly replied,
"Can you blame her?"
"The whole company knows about Mr. Cross's marriage now."
"Poor Mrs. Cross..."
"No..."
A senior employee corrected softly.
"Poor Isla."
Inside her office…
Isla placed her bag on the desk.
She hadn’t even taken off her coat when someone knocked frantically.
“Come in.”
Her personal assistant rushed inside.
Relief was written all over his face.
To be honest…
He hadn’t expected her to come to work today.
Neither had anyone else.
“Good morning, Ma’am.”
Without wasting time, Isla opened a folder.
“Take these files.”
“Prepare everything for the board meeting.”
“I don’t want any delays.”
The assistant blinked.
Her voice sounded…
Different.
Colder.
Professional.
There wasn’t even a trace of yesterday’s broken woman.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
He accepted the documents and hurried out.
The moment the door closed...
He whispered to himself,
"She isn't okay."
"She's just refusing to fall apart where everyone can see."
Almost ten minutes later…
The elevator doors opened once again.
Damien stepped inside the building.
Every employee greeted him.
“Good morning, Sir.”
But unlike before…
Their smiles were uncertain.
Some looked away.
Others exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Damien noticed every single one of them.
Of course he knew why.
The news of his marriage had spread through the company overnight.
He walked straight toward the executive floor without saying a word.
Inside his office…
He loosened his tie slightly before pressing the intercom.
“Ask everyone to gather in the conference room.”
“We’ll begin in fifteen minutes.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He was about to end the call…
When a familiar thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Isla always arrived before every board meeting.
Today...
Would she still come?
He froze.
His fingers remained suspended above the intercom button.
Why…
Why had that been his first thought?
A knock interrupted him.
“Sir?”
The assistant stood at the door.
“Is there anything else?”
Damien quickly straightened himself.
“No.”
“That’s all.”
As the assistant left, Damien leaned back in his chair.
His eyes drifted toward the city skyline outside the glass wall.
He closed them for a brief second.
He stared at his own reflection in the glass wall.
For years...
He had never questioned a single decision he made.
Today...
For the first time...
His own thoughts were beginning to disobey him.
- Writer
