32 Invisible Eyes and Possessive Whispers
Hazel’s POV
I tugged self-consciously at the hem of my orange dress as I stood in the elevator of Liam’s luxury apartment building. Chloe had insisted this form-fitting number would drive him crazy, calling it my “seduction strategy.” The soft fabric clung to my curves, stopping just above my knees – professional enough for a business meeting but with enough flair to make a statement.
–
“You’ve got this,” I whispered to myself as the elevator doors opened directly into the penthouse foyer.
The sound of male laughter drifted from somewhere inside. I followed it, my heels clicking against the marble floor, until I reached a massive terrace overlooking the city skyline. The sunset painted everything in gold, casting a warm glow over the gathered
group.
Liam stood with his back to me, deep in conversation with Damian Knight and another man I recognized as Owen from the legal department. Evelyn Reed noticed me first, her eyes lighting up as she waved me over.
“Hazel! You’re just in time.”
All three men turned, and I felt a flush creep up my neck as their eyes swept over me. Damian let out a low whistle.
“Damn, Hazel. If I’d known the dress code was ‘stunning, I would have worn my better
suit.”
Owen laughed. “Leave some charm for the rest of us, Knight.”
Liam said nothing, but his violet-blue gaze darkened as it traveled from my face down to my legs, lingering there before snapping back up. The intensity in his eyes made my stomach flip.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Evelyn.” I smiled, trying to project confidence despite the butterflies Liam’s stare had unleashed.
Liam finally spoke, his voice low. “You found the place alright?”
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“Your detailed instructions were very helpful,” I replied, referring to the lengthy text he’d sent that afternoon.
“Come join us.” He gestured to the empty space beside him. “We’re just waiting on
Allen.”
As I moved to stand next to Liam, I caught a whiff of his cologne – something woodsy and expensive that made my pulse quicken. He leaned down, his breath tickling my
ear.
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“Orange suits you,” he murmured, his voice pitched so only I could hear. “But you might need a burqa next time you’re around these vultures.”
I bit back a smile. “Worried about competition, Mr. Sterling?”
His hand came to rest lightly at the small of my back. “Just being practical. I can’t have my team drooling when they should be working.”
Damian approached with a glass of something amber for me. “I hope whiskey’s okay.
Liam has expensive taste.”
“Thank you.” I accepted the glass, my fingers brushing his.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Liam’s jaw tighten slightly.
“So, Hazel,” Owen began, “how are you finding your new role? Evelyn has impossibly high standards.”
“She’s exceeding expectations,” Evelyn answered before I could, her tone warm with approval. “I’ve rarely seen someone master the Sterling Group dynamics so quickly.”
Liam’s hand slid imperceptibly lower on my back. “Ms. Vance is full of surprises,” he said, his tone casual but his touch possessive.
He bent down again, ostensibly to point out something in the city view, but whispered, “You should cover those legs. They’re distracting me.”
A shiver ran down my spine despite the warm evening air.
The conversation flowed easily for several minutes until the elevator dinged,
announcing a new arrival. Albert Allen strode onto the terrace, his silver hair gleaming and his smile wide.
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“Sorry I’m late, folks. Traffic was brutal,” he announced, shaking hands with Liam and Damian. When he turned to me, his eyebrows shot up in recognition.
“Well, I’ll be damned! Hazel Vance!”
I smiled, genuinely pleased to see him. “Hello, Mr. Allen.”
“You two know each other?” Liam asked, surprise evident in his voice.
Albert clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Know her? This brilliant young woman saved my company three years ago! Spotted a pattern in our accounting that led us to uncover a massive internal fraud scheme.”
I felt my cheeks warm. “I was just doing my job.”
“Don’t be modest,” Albert insisted, turning to the others. “She was temping in our accounting department for all of two weeks when she noticed discrepancies no one else had caught in years. The accountant responsible had stolen nearly half a million dollars.”
Liam’s gaze settled on me with new interest. “You never mentioned you worked in
accounting.”
“It was just a temporary position,” I explained. “I was filling in while someone was on maternity leave.”
“Humble as ever,” Albert chuckled. “I tried to hire her permanently, but she had other plans.”
Evelyn smiled knowingly. “Our gain, your loss, Albert.”
“Shall we get down to business?” Liam suggested, gesturing toward the outdoor seating area where documents were already spread across a large table.
For the next hour, we reviewed the strategy for investigating the Sterling Group. Albert outlined his approach with methodical precision.
“My team will move in this weekend,” he explained. “We’ll copy all documentation from the finance, legal, and operations departments without disrupting normal business.”
“And you’re sure your people can be discreet?” Damian asked.
Albert nodded confidently. “Absolutely. In fact, I’m implementing a strategy I learned
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32 Invisible Eyes and Possessive Whispers
from Hazel here.”
All eyes turned to me.
“What strategy is that?” Liam asked, his eyebrow arched.
I cleared my throat. “I suggested using the invisible employees.”
“Invisible employees?” Owen looked confused.
“The cleaning staff, maintenance workers, security guards,” I clarified. “People who move through a company largely unnoticed but have access to almost everything.”
Albert nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! We’ve hired two janitors and a freelance IT specialist who will pose as system maintenance. No one looks twice at the person emptying trash cans or fixing the printer.”
“Smart,” Damian said, looking impressed.
Liam’s eyes never left my face. “Very clever, Ms. Vance.”
The meeting continued as Albert detailed the rest of his plan – how they would track document chains, follow money trails, and identify potential weak points in the organization where fraud might be occurring.
When we finally wrapped up, Albert stood and shook my hand warmly. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Hazel. Liam is lucky to have you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Allen.”
As everyone began gathering their things, Liam addressed the group. “Hazel and I will start analyzing the bank statements tonight. The rest of you can head home.”
Evelyn touched my arm gently. “Don’t let him keep you too late. He forgets normal people need sleep.”
“I’ll remind him,” I promised with a smile.
One by one, they filed out – Evelyn first, followed by Owen, then Albert. Damian lingered, giving me a knowing look before clapping Liam on the shoulder.
“Don’t work her too hard, boss,” he said with a barely concealed smirk.
Liam’s expression remained neutral. “Goodnight, Knight.”
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When the elevator doors closed behind Damian, a heavy silence descended. I was suddenly very aware that we were alone in Liam’s personal space, with the city lights twinkling below us and the night stretching ahead.
Liam’s intense gaze met mine. “Bank statements, Ms. Vance?”
I straightened my shoulders, summoning the confidence Chloe had helped me build. “Lead the way, Mr. Sterling.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he gestured toward the glass doors leading into his apartment. My heart pounded as I stepped past him, feeling his eyes on me with every move.
Whatever happened next, there would be no hiding behind my fears tonight.
