The Handsome CEO Is My Husband
Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Liam stared at the phone, the screen already black. He waited for Veronica to call him again even if it was to question him about something she didn’t like or misunderstood.

The first call had been sudden and when he saw the name, he thought it had been Jerome testing out the new phone he gave Veronica. Seeing her face changed his mood and now he wanted to see it again.

"I should go home," said Liam.

He wanted to but couldn’t.

His attention had been on Veronica for the last few days and in his absence, the idiots he had hired didn’t seem to know how to think while he was away from work.

Liam stood up from his chair, deciding to walk around the office to see what needed to be done then he could head home for a moment to see his wife. His wife just came back from almost passing through death’s doors. No one should expect an appointment with him.

As Liam exited his office door, two male employees followed him. They were both nervous as now was not the time to make a mistake when Liam was in a foul mood. Liam had less patience for anyone who didn’t bring him a good plan or the report made no sense.

The office felt colder since Liam’s return.

Liam ignored the nervous looks he received from some employees. If they were doing what they were hired for, they wouldn’t be nervous.

"Mr. Sterling, the plans for the remodelling of the art gallery are finished. As soon as we get your wife’s signature to go through with it, we can start."

"I will be the one signing it. Send me all the construction plans regarding the gallery and make another copy," Liam said as he flipped through the papers. "Look over it and come back to me when you find out what is wrong with this."

Nora looked away from the friend she walked with when she heard Liam’s voice. He was scaring the office again because of his tone. Someone had to step in to save everyone else. "Let’s meet for lunch," she waved goodbye to her friend.

Nora quickly followed Liam, enjoying the way he commanded the office as he walked. There was no mistaking that he was a powerful man who was serious about his work. ’He’s been so down lately,’ she thought.

It wasn’t like Liam to be away from the office for so long but Veronica’s moment for attention left him with no choice but to be away.

"Liam!" Nora called just as he was getting far ahead of her. She smiled when he stopped and looked her way. "I have been meaning to speak to you about the lawsuit. The legal team is quite close to a big win for the company."

"I’d prefer no one gets excited until it is ruled in our favour. You don’t want to put me in a good mood only for me to then hear we’ve lost the suit. Rather than running around speaking idly to each other during work hours, why doesn’t everyone do their part so I don’t lose money?" Liam asked.

What was there to smile about? The legal teams’ work was not done yet.

Nora dismissed his hostility. She knew it wasn’t her that made him this way. "I was just about to head back to my office to see how far along we are but I am positive the judgement will be made tomorrow. Everyone will think twice about using your name to sell their product."

"Good," Liam replied, turning away from Nora to continue his inspection.

Nora continued to follow Liam and reached for his arm to stop him. "How is your wife?"

Liam faced Nora once again, greatly annoyed that she was taking up his time. "Let go of me," he said.

"Oh, silly me," Nora shyly moved her hand back to her side. "I was just worried about Mrs. Sterling and without thinking-"

"Think more," Liam interjected. "I would hate to know someone in my legal team isn’t thinking."

His response made Nora flustered and embarrassed as the men standing behind Liam covered their mouths to hide their laughter. "I am always thinking. For a moment I just did something stupid whilst caring about your wife. How is Mrs. Sterling?"

"I didn’t know I welcomed anyone to question me about my wife right now in the middle of working hours. We are not friends for you to approach me and ask about my wife when you need to be hard at work. I am thankful that you are worried about her but now is not the time. My employees shouldn’t be so bold to approach me about my wife," said Liam.

This was why he had to be around at times. Nora was smart and good at her job but like some of the people around, she had moments of doing stupid things like this.

What gave her the idea to approach him for small talk? When did she start thinking they were close?

"I’m sorry," Nora apologised. He had entertained her small talk before so why was it an issue now?

"Employees are watching," one of the men behind Liam whispered. "It would be bad if you are seen making a-"

"There is nothing wrong here," Liam stopped the advice on how to treat women in his office. His voice wasn’t raised and he was speaking the obvious. "Get back to work Nora."

Liam didn’t mind speaking to employees casually but only during hours when there wasn’t a lot of work to be done and the office was relaxed. Many wished Veronica well as they passed him and there were cards collected to pass on to Veronica but Nora lingered for a conversation.

Liam didn’t go around grabbing the hands of women in the office so he expected the same respect especially since he was the boss.

He thought of how Veronica misunderstood even the smallest things and then the affair she mentioned. Liam couldn’t pinpoint a time he had been so comfortable with another woman.

He had always been careful since the media dug too much into each interaction with a woman he knew whether from his personal life or work and then some went as far as to cut Veronica out of photos she stood in when he spoke to a woman and spun the story.

Beth put an idea in Veronica’s head which was going to stay there for a long time until Veronica fully trusted him.

Liam considered taking out of the city for a vacation. Just the two of them.

"Mr. Sterling," Henry Harper greeted the man of the hour.