Secrets of a Hidden Marriage

Chapter 6: The Office Showdown

The room went dead silent when Liam walked in.

Everybody knew Liam Hart. He was practically a legend in New York City—gorgeous, wealthy, the ultimate bachelor, and head of the hottest tech firm around. His face was all over finance magazines, and he was constantly in the gossip columns. Even Cher, who was in journalism, couldn’t miss that fact.

Liam walked right up to Allie, his voice low and smooth. “Who are these people?”

Allie, thrown off by his unexpected appearance, glanced at him and shrugged, “Nobody important.”

A soft smile touched Liam’s face as he took her hand. “I picked up a few things for you on my trip to Japan. Come, let’s

go see if you like them.”

With that, he turned to leave, holding Allie’s hand. But before they made it to the door, Nick stepped forward, grabbing

Allie’s arm. “Allie, who is this guy to you?”

Allie paused, aware of the tension building in the room. Cher and everyone else were staring. Even Liam was watching, waiting for her response.

Taking a deep breath, Allie answered firmly, “He’s my boyfriend.”

Liam and Nick both froze, though for different reasons.

Nick’s face fell, showing a mix of hurt and shock. “Allie, how could you do this to me?”

Seeing Nick’s heartbroken expression and the disbelief on Cher’s face, Allie felt a strange satisfaction. Liam’s appearance was exactly what she needed to hold her ground and remind herself that she wasn’t some pushover.

She turned back to Liam, sliding her arm through his. “How about dinner tonight? Let’s go to Il Sole—I’ve been craving their spicy shrimp.”

Liam chuckled, tapping her nose with a gentle smile. “Whatever you want, snacks included.”

Nick’s face was turning red with frustration. He called after them, raising his voice, “Liam, do you even know who I am to Allie? I was her first love!”

For Nick, their bond felt unbreakable. They’d known each other forever. But for the first time, he felt real panic as he saw her in Liam’s arms.

Liam turned around slowly, his expression calm and unreadable. “And I’m her first man.”

With that, he wrapped an arm around Allie, pulling her close as they walked out.

Outside, the office was buzzing with whispers. A small crowd of coworkers had been sneaking glances through the glass walls, not missing a second of the drama.

The whole place was abuzz. Rumor had it that the guy with Allie was her ex, but when Liam himself had overheard the chatter as he walked in, he’d headed straight for the meeting room.

Now, all eyes followed as Allie, looking flustered, walked down the hallway with Liam, following him back toward his office. Everyone knew she was likely in for a serious talk—and this time, it probably wouldn’t be easy.