Chapter 22
Aria’s POV
Liam's voice crackled through my phone, its usual sharp edge softened, but not absent. “Can you come to my office? We need to discuss a potential contract.”
I hesitated, holding the phone tightly in my hand. After the night at his house, I had been careful about how much time we spent together, but Liam had a way of pushing past boundaries.
This sounded like business though, and I had a feeling it was important.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
When I arrived at his office, Liam was pacing behind his desk, papers scattered across its surface.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, sitting down across from me. He flipped through the papers on his desk before settling on one, holding it up. “We’ve got a potential new client—big one. It could open a lot of doors for us in F1 racing.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What kind of client?”
“A major supplier for nutrition and physical support for drivers,” Liam explained, leaning forward. “They’re attending an upcoming F1 racing conference, and I’m hoping to secure a partnership with them.”
I nodded slowly, understanding the weight of the opportunity. F1 drivers needed top-notch nutritional support to perform at their best, and this partnership could be a game changer for Liam’s business.
But why did he need me?
“I want you to come with me to the conference,” Liam continued, watching my reaction.
I blinked, surprised. “Why me? You’ve got plenty of people who can handle that.”
Liam leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “You’ve got knowledge that none of them have. The work you’ve done with nutrition and the drivers’ support—it’s invaluable. You could be a huge asset in convincing them we know what we’re doing.”
His words caught me off guard. Liam wasn’t exactly known for handing out compliments, and this acknowledgment felt… strange.
Still, I couldn’t deny that it made sense.
“I don’t know,” I hesitated. “It feels… complicated.”
“Look, I get it,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “But this is a big deal. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you’d be helpful.”
I studied his face, trying to gauge if there was anything else behind this request, but all I saw was sincerity mixed with a hint of desperation.
He needed this, and maybe, just maybe, I needed to see where this part of my life was going too.
“Alright,” I finally said. “I’ll go.”
The F1 racing conference was buzzing with energy, the sound of conversations and the hum of engines filling the air. We walked through the grand hall, the walls lined with booths showcasing everything from state-of-the-art racing gear to high-tech health equipment for drivers.
The sheer scale of the event was overwhelming, and I felt a mix of apprehension and curiosity as we made our way inside.
Liam moved through the crowd like he owned the room. "Mr. Galliano, always a pleasure," he said, shaking the older man’s hand with a warm smile. "I hear you’re expanding operations. Let’s talk soon."
He turned to another attendee, offering a quick nod. "Sarah, it’s been too long. How’s the family? Still killing it at Thompson and Gray?"
Every interaction was smooth, effortless. His laughter was perfectly timed, his compliments precise.
"Ah, Henry," Liam greeted another executive, his tone bright. "I’ve been meaning to discuss that new partnership of yours. Maybe we can exchange notes later tonight."
I stood back, watching him weave through the sea of people with ease. No hesitation. No stumbling.
It was as if he’d choreographed every move, every word before stepping into the room.
We finally reached a private room where Liam had arranged a meeting with a potential client. The man was tall, dressed sharply, with an air of authority about him.
As we sat down, I noticed how quickly the conversation turned technical—discussions of performance, nutrition, and how our team could give the drivers an edge.
“You’re absolutely right,” Liam said, nodding at the client’s concerns.
“That’s where Aria comes in. She’s been directly involved in optimizing the drivers’ health and performance. Her expertise is what sets us apart.”
The client turned to me, curiosity in his eyes. “I’d like to hear more about your approach, Ms. Aria.”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before speaking.
“We focus on tailored nutrition plans that address the individual needs of each driver. It’s not just about maintaining physical health, but optimizing mental clarity and stamina as well. For instance, a lot of teams focus heavily on carb-loading, but we’ve found that integrating plant-based proteins has yielded better recovery times.”
The client seemed impressed, nodding thoughtfully. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for. It sounds like you’ve done your research.”
Liam shot me a quick smile, but before the conversation could progress further, the door creaked open, and a man stepped inside unannounced.
I didn’t recognize him, but the moment Liam saw him, the atmosphere shifted.
“Well, if it isn’t Liam,” the man said with a slick grin, his voice dripping with mock familiarity. “I heard you were trying to get your hands on some new clients.”
Liam’s jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the arm of his chair. “This isn’t the time, Greg.”
“Oh, I think it’s exactly the time,” Greg replied, strolling over and leaning casually against the table. His eyes flickered toward the client. “You should know, Liam here has a bit of a reputation. Let’s just say he doesn’t always play fair when it comes to business.”
The client’s eyes narrowed, his gaze darting between Liam and Greg. I could feel the tension rising, the air thick with unspoken history.
“Get out,” Liam said, his voice low and dangerous.
Greg smirked, his expression unfazed. “Just thought I’d drop by and say hello. You never know who’s willing to share a few secrets about how Liam operates.”
The veiled threat was clear, and I could see the client’s interest waver slightly. I stood there, unsure of how to defuse the situation, but before I could say anything, Greg gave a mock salute and sauntered out of the room.
Liam’s mood darkened after that. He continued the conversation with the client, but the easy charm he’d had before was gone, replaced by a cool detachment.
When the meeting finally ended, the client left with a polite handshake, but I could tell that Greg’s appearance had thrown a wrench into Liam’s plans.
The ride back to the hotel was tense. Liam stared out the window, his jaw clenched, lost in thought. I didn’t say anything, sensing that whatever was going on in his head wasn’t something he wanted to share.
Once we were back in his office later that day, Liam’s mood had shifted dramatically.
He barely spoke, his usual intensity replaced by a brooding silence. It was unsettling, and I found myself unsure how to navigate this sudden change in him.
“Liam, are you okay?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
He didn’t look at me, just kept his eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the window. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though his tone suggested otherwise.
I hesitated, not wanting to push him, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the growing tension between us. “What happened back there? With Greg?”
Liam’s eyes flickered to me, his expression hardening. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I frowned, crossing my arms. “It didn’t seem like nothing.”
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “It’s just business, Aria. That’s how things work in this world. People want to tear you down the moment they see you succeeding.”
There was something more behind his words, but I didn’t press further. I could tell he wasn’t ready to talk about it, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear it.
As I left his office that evening, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d made a mistake in agreeing to come to the conference.
Liam’s sudden distance, the appearance of Greg, and the weight of unspoken threats all hung heavy in the air.
Liam had always been complicated, but now it seemed like there were even more layers to unravel—and I wasn’t sure if I was prepared to deal with what I might find underneath.
