Page 6 of The CEO I Hate (The Lockhart Brothers #1)
“The opposite, actually,” Liam’s tone was clipped…but honest. “Can I sit?”
I gestured to the couch, and he sat on the opposite end. Maximum distance for maximum awkwardness. “I’m sure you heard about the situation with End in Fire .”
I tried not to give away my surprise. Liam rarely spoke to me about work.
I’d sometimes get news secondhand through Jake, but usually, I heard gossip through the trade sheets and social media, like everyone else.
And those were all abuzz with the news of the showrunner storming out, leaving season two of the massive hit show in upheaval.
“Do you want to come interview for the job?”
My jaw almost disconnected from my skull. “Huh?”
“I’ve got a new showrunner in place,” he said, like we were discussing the weather. “But we need to pad out the writers’ room. We’re looking for someone to fill the head writer position. Someone with?—”
“Hold on.” I held up a hand, waiting as my brain rebooted. “Did I hear you right? You just asked if I wanted to interview to be a staff writer on End in Fire ?”
He rolled his eyes. “What about this is complicated?”
“Nothing’s complicated, it just makes absolutely no sense.” I’d been obsessed with the show for months. Of course I wanted to work in that writers’ room! I’d be an idiot to turn down an opportunity to interview for it. I just had no idea why Liam was offering me the chance in the first place .
“It makes perfect sense. We need a writer. You’re a writer. Hence, you should interview.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to look past his striking gaze to find the truth behind his words. This was not typical Liam behavior. Unless… of course ! Jake must have put him up to it.
I snorted softly. Typical Jake, seizing every opportunity to swoop in and help me, whether I wanted him to or not.
Under any other circumstances, him finagling an interview for me might have stung my pride, but this opportunity was too good for me to have any scruples.
And the fact that this must have totally annoyed Liam was the cherry on top.
A wry smile curled across my face. “Oh, this flat, stereotypical writer would be happy to interview for the position. I can’t wait to tell your showrunner all my ideas for how to make the characters more two-dimensional.”
“Would you let that go already?” he grumbled.
I touched my hand to my chest. “I wouldn’t want to be accused of not being able to take constructive criticism.”
Liam growled under his breath. “Do you want the interview or not?”
“I said yes, didn’t I?”
“Well, it sounds like you’d rather be doing anything else.”
“Like what?” I asked. “What could I possibly want more than this?”
He eyeballed me hard, and I tried not to let my eyes drop to those scowling lips.
“Sorry to interrupt this riveting discussion,” Sophie said, dancing out in another new costume, this one a dazzling emerald green with bits of sheer mesh covering all her unspeakable parts. She wore a pointy silver crown in her hair.
“But I have routines to practice and things to shake.” She eyed Liam like he was a turd some dog left on the side of the road. “If you’re hanging around, be prepared to pay for the show.”
Liam didn’t move at first, just stared at me.
Sophie ignored him as she cranked up another Cher song, then she started stripping off parts of her costume, purposely throwing each article of fabric directly into Liam, leaving him to sputter and bat them away like a disgruntled cat.
He stood just as the crown nailed him in the gut.
“Message received,” he snapped at her.
She turned and twerked in his direction.
“Tomorrow. VeriTV Studios. Eleven o’clock,” he growled at me before darting for the door.
“Thanks for coming!” Sophie called after him.
She did a dramatic spin as the door closed, flopping down on the couch next to me, swaths of tattooed skin on display.
“You know, it’s a shame I can’t use the two of you as a new floor show at the club.
With all that sexual tension, we’d sell the place out in no time. Standing room only.”
I barked a laugh. “Not a chance. Liam doesn’t see me as anything other than Jake’s little sister.
Trust me.” Though I’d had a fairly shallow crush on him for years, entirely based on how hot he was, I knew better than to think he’d cross that line.
He’d proven that two years ago. “That New Year’s rejection is firmly cemented in my mind. ”
“You can’t base everything off that one experience,” Sophie said.
“What else am I supposed to base it off of? The man can hardly stand me.”
“Look,” Sophie continued. “All I’m saying is I literally had my boobs in his face—and we both know they’re great boobs—but Liam barely glanced away from you long enough to check out the show.
I know how to clock desire in a man, and Liam definitely feels it for you whether he’s willing to admit it or not. ”
Yeah , I thought wryly. Maybe the desire to strangle me. I ignored the little flutter in my chest at the thought of him actually wanting me. Whatever this was between us, there was no chance in hell Liam would ever go for it.