Begin Again novel Chapter 204

It's been fifteen minutes since Liam summoned Mrs Stone to his study, and she was yet to grace him with her presence. He sighed and drummed his fingers on the cold glass surface, his irritation levels rising exponentially the longer he waited for her.

He checked the time on his phone again.

Five minutes, Liam promised himself. If the housekeeper didn't show up in five minutes, he would go out there and drag her by her hair if he had to.

His patience, though, ran out not even a minute later, and he scooted out of his chair.

"Dave!" He called out as he lingered in the doorway and scanned the empty hallway

His butler appeared beside him like an apparition, almost frightening him to death with his quiet voice and unobtrusive movements. "Yes, Mr Anderson?"

"Goodness, Dave!" Liam grumbled. "You've got to make some sound, you know. You can't just sneak up on people like that!"

The older man laughed. "I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Where is Mrs Stone?" He asked as he walked back into the study and took a seat behind his desk.

Dave frowned and tilted his head. "I thought she's with you. I told her a while ago you want to see her."

"As you can see, I'm still waiting for her," Liam snapped, his anger threatening to boil over before the showdown had even begun.

"Don't worry, Sir, I'll bring her in." Dave bowed slightly before vanishing out of sight.

He was back five minutes later, with the defiant housekeeper. He pushed her inside and closed the door behind him, leaving Liam alone with the wayward woman.

"Mrs Stone, how long have you worked for me?" He stretched out his legs on the table and laced his hands behind his head.

"A little over eight years, Sir."

"In that eight years, did I ever ill-treat you in any way?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, Sir. You've been nothing but kind to me."

"Now—" Liam yawned as he stood up and stretched his arms above his head to ease his stiff back, startling the housekeeper with his sudden movements. She took several steps back from him, only to trap herself against the door.

He frowned at her as he continued in his deliberately quiet voice. "—So why do you insist on testing my kindness every chance you get when I've treated you with nothing but respect over the years?"

"I don't understand what you mean, Mr Anderson," she stammered, her eyes resting briefly on everything in the room but him.

"You've broken our NDA more times than I can count—"

"I didn't, Sir," she cut in quickly, earning herself a mildly irritated look from him.

"I'm still talking," Liam growled.

"I'm sorry, Mr Anderson," she lowered her gaze and stuffed her hands in her apron.

"As I was saying," he continued. "I know you broke our NDA numerous times, but out of respect for my past with your daughter, I chose to let your indiscretions go in the hope that you'll self-correct. But it's clear you can't."

"I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't mean to overshare with Laura," she cried softly and stared at the plain black shoes on her feet. "It will never happen again.

"You did more than just overshare," Liam snapped. "I'm curious, how much did they offer you?"

Mrs Stone went ashen at his question, and her shoulders sagged.