"Then do I scare you, Ms Rose?" a very familiar voice whispered in her ear.

She knew who it belonged to but was too scared to turn her head and confirm her suspicion. Everyone on the table looked pale and nervous.

'Damn it.' Eva cursed inwardly.

The manager came running to the table and greeted Liam,"Mr Richardson, I'll show you your table."

"No. It's alright. I would like to sit here." said Liam.

'There is no chair here! Go away!' Eva was screaming in her head.

Manager told the waiter to arrange a chair for Liam and the next thing Eva knew was that Liam was sitting beside her. All the blood drained from her body. She wanted to run and hide somewhere, the idea was appealing but running away  that too with him sitting right next to him was like opening hell's door with your own two hands.

"So Miss Rose,"said Liam relaxing into his seat,"you were saying something."

She gulped on her nervousness.
'Yes, we were having fun at your expense. Oh dear earth! please open up and swallow me.' Eva looked down at her damp palms on her lap. Too scared to look his way.

" Mr Richardson, we- we were just," Amelia tried to come up with an excuse but visibly failing to do so.

" It's alright." Liam laughed it off. "Why are you are looking like you saw a ghost?"

Eva looked at him from the corner of her eye wondering if he was really laughing. Just one word from him and everyone now was looking so relaxed.

"You all come here often?" he asked.

"We used to but recently we aren't getting much time." said Natasha and Eva   could hear the complaint in her voice. But she wasn't wrong because Liam was making everyone work really hard.

"We have a few projects whose deadline is approaching. So I hope you guys won't mind pushing a bit harder and I promise once we complete the assignments you all will be rewarded." he said flashing his million dollars smile. A smile which Eva was sure could fool an enemy into a friend and it worked on her colleagues too as everyone agreed to Liam easily.

'Guys, don't let your guard down. He is Liam Richardson. You lower your guard down for a second and he won't hesitate you to attack on your weak spot. Don't go all happy and hero worshipping!'  She had wanted to shout to her friends but everyone looked so happy as if they were sitting with the president of a country.

Waiter came to take the orders and Liam announced,"Order whatever you want. It's all on me today."

"No, Mr Richardson. It's my treat today." interrupted Mark and it was then that Liam noticed him and asked,"You are... Mark. Right?"

"Sir, he's leading the advertisement campaign of the company." Natasha supplied.

"Oh. It's Alex who deals with all that stuff. So it's him who hired you."

" I hope I could bring success to your business." Mark said giving a polite smile.

"If Alex has hired you then I am sure you will do great. As for the treat it's all on me today."

"How can that be, Mr Richardson."

Eva was sitting in between the two men who were smiling at each other so politely, men who were so eager to give the treat but she could feel the tension between them and since she was sitting in between it was affecting her all the more. She was getting annoyed now with every passing second.

The waiter arrived with their orders and they all digged in.
"Mr Richardson, would you mind if I ask you something?" asked Natasha.

Eva looked at her friend alarmed at what she might ask now.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" asked Natasha and Eva stopped chewing on the omelette and looked at her friend across the table.
'You sure have some guts to ask that question to your boss.'

But what was worrying her even more was what Liam's answer would be.

"Yes, I do have a girlfriend."

She was now having a bad feeling about this.

"Really? I thought you were single. So do we know her?"

'Don't you dare take my name.' Eva looked at Liam from corner of her eye.

"She is very shy and a cute little thing. She is intelligent and beautiful."

'He can't be talking about me. Right? I'll take intelligent and beautiful as compliment but I'm most definitely not small.'

"She loves to write and once you annoy her you will earn yourself the role of antagonist in her story. An antagonist whom she will kill mercilessly in the end of her story."

Eva could feel the colour crawling up her skin. Then the embarrassment got replaced by anger.
'How dare he call me little thing! I am not short it's just that he is too tall.'

"She sounds interesting."said Natasha.

"Trust me, she is."

"What about you Mark?" asked Natasha shifting her attention to Mark.
"Do you have someone you like?"

'Damn! Has this girl decided to know everyone's relationship status today? What does she want to do with them?' Eva wondered.

"I have someone I like but I haven't proposed her yet."

"Do we know her?" asked Natasha curiously.

"Try all you want I am not going to utter even a single word." Mark said with a smile.

"If you will tell me then I'll cheer for you." said Natasha and everyone laughed.

"Miss Rose," Liam caught Eva's attention. "Alex needs the latest acquisition files regarding the London property. He messaged me that you have it."

Eva frowned as she couldn't remember dealing with any such file but before she could speak her doubts Liam was already getting up and she unwillingly followed the suit still searching her memory for any such file.

"Hey everyone, we need to leave now. I hope you won't mind."

"It's alright, Mr Richardson." assured Bob.

"Can Eva stay here?" Mark interrupted.

"I'd have to deny you your request. I can't give her to you because she is coming with me." said Liam and everyone went quiet while Eva looked up at him frowning at his words.
"To search for the file of course because it is needed urgently." Liam added quickly.

"Oh. It's alright."said Natasha.

Liam propelled Eva towards the door and once they were out she asked," Are you sure he said I have the file. Because I don't remember working on any such file."

"Ok then. You are coming with me." expecting her to follow Liam started moving towards his car.

"But the office building is towards that side." said Eva pointing to the opposite direction.

" I know but you are coming with me. So get in quickly."

She got into the car. Sitting on the passenger seat she crossed her arms in front of her chest and pursing her lips said to Liam,"You knew very well that I don't have any such acquisition file. But you still dragged me out and now I am hungry."

Liam chuckled,"Alright. To make it up to you I'll take you to a nice place."

"Where?"

"You will know once we reach there."

Soon they were in front of a cafe which was far from the office. It had nature's touch to it and looked calm and beautiful. He pulled a seat  for her and soon their order arrived.

" There is something that I want to tell you." said Liam.

"What is it?" Eva asked munching on her sandwich.

"You have to come with me for a party tonight. My grandmother has invited us both."

"But we met her yesterday."

"Today is different. It's a charity event so you are coming with me."

" I'm partying since the moment I met you." she said shaking head.

"One more thing." he said sipping on his coffee.

"What?"

"You have to come with me to London."

Eva stopped chewing on her Sandwich and looked at him.
"But isn't that Alex's job? To follow you are around the world?"

"He is taking care of the office branch here and you will be accompanying me for the negotiations as my assistant."

"But I am Alex's assistant."

"Ms Rose, If I say you are my assistant then you are mine." he said with a stern face.

She repeated his words 'you are mine' in her head and felt a tug at her heartstrings but she quickly ignored this strange feeling and asked,"But why do you want me to come with you?"

"Do you always have to question each and everything?" he asked looking annoyed.

"Ok. I'll accompany you."

"Pack the luggage for at least a week."

"Ok."

After finishing their lunch they got into the car and Liam started driving.
"I will drop you at the boutique and Ester will help you to get ready for the event."

"Ok."

"I'll pick you up at 6:00 p.m."

"OK."

"When you agree to each and everything so easily I feel like a lucky man." he chuckled and Eva blushed.

It would be good to stay away from him for at least a few hours because all her hours were spent either working for him or when he was not around his images would fill her mind and she needed to stop it, she decided.