Page 39 of Love to Loathe Him

Oh, for god’s sake.

I try to steer Lizzie in the opposite direction, but it’s too late. I can feel McLaren’s eyes boring into me.

He takes a slow, deliberate pull from his beer, his throat bobbing as he swallows. And then, with a look that makes my skin prickle and my nipples tighten against the fabric of my dress, he crooks a finger, beckoning me over with an unmistakable air of entitled command, like he’s the fucking king of the world and I’m his loyal subject.

“Shit,” I hiss under my breath. “McLaren’s summoning me.”

“Take me with you.” Lizzie latches on to my arm. “I’ll be on my best behavior; I swear to god.”

“Not a chance, mate.” I grimace as Lizzie pouts. “Trust me, whatever he wants, it’s strictly business.”

Thank goodness Robbie is headed back our way.

“Robbie,” I trill. “Be a love and keep Lizzie company for a bit, would you? Boss man beckons.”

He grins. “Sure thing.”

I shoot him a grateful look before squaring my shoulders and striding toward McLaren.

“Gemma,” he greets curtly.

“Liam, hi. Having a good time?”

“It has its moments.” His eyes flicker over the rowdy crowd before settling back on me. “And you? You don’t seem to be fully embracing the party spirit.”

I aim for a casual shrug, but it feels stiff. “I’m having a splendid time, thanks.”

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Splendid? Come now, Gemma. You’re allowed to let loose a little outside the office. I won’t hold it against you.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” I retort, unsettled by this newfound playfulness.

He jerks his chin toward the private bar area. “Join me in the Executive Lounge for a drink.”

I glance back at Lizzie and Robbie, silently begging the latter to somehow keep the former in check if I leave them unsupervised.

When I turn back, Liam’s gaze is fixed on me, his patience visibly waning.

“Unless you’d prefer not to?” His tone makes it clear that it’s less a question and more a thinly veiled demand wrapped in a flimsy veneer of choice.

The Executive Lounge is the pretentiously named private bar reserved strictly for the executive team and their hand-picked guests. I’ve only been summoned a handful of times before, always for work stuff. Never alone with Liam.

“Of course I’ll join you,” I say, bracing myself for another thrilling lecture on the many ways I’m screwing up the recruitment campaign. “Is there a work matter you wanted to discuss?”

Liam regards me for a long moment, his expression giving nothing away. It’s like trying to read a brick wall. A very attractive, very imposing brick wall.

“Can’t I simply enjoy a drink with my brilliant head of HR?”

I blink. “With all due respect, I don’t know whether you’re being serious or sarcastic right now.”

“I assure you, I’m serious. I’d very much like for you to join me for a drink.”

“Okay.” I pause, glancing at Lizzie, who’s subtly excavating her thong from the depths of her ass crack, and sigh. “Sure.”

He pivots on his heel and stalks toward the private bar, not even bothering to check if I’m following.

I hover awkwardly for a moment, giving Janet from Legal a weird smile-and-nod, then doing the same for that hot guy from IT whose name I can never remember. After what feels like an eternity, I finally move, trailing after Liam. Not like I have much of a choice.

As I head in, the bartender slips out of the bar, giving me a quick nod. I swallow hard. Did Liam ask him to leave?