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resetmypatientviolence · 6 years ago

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Conflict of Interest : Cold Blooded, Part 2

Characters: Jaela Abdi-Walker and Kimiko Amaya (TRR MC’s)

Word Count: ~5,500

Rating: PG

Warnings: None

Description: While Kimiko spends a day in luxury (glued to her phone), Liam’s final candidate for the open Royal Council seat has both him and Jaela up in arms, but for two entirely different reasons.

Author Note: Welcome back to Cold Blooded after... forever. This is a crossover TRR AU (that takes place post STB-verse) with @trr-fangirl‘s and I’s MC’s, Jaela and Kimiko. Part One is on our blogs if you need to catch up. Otherwise, thank you for reading and please enjoy! Both of our Masterlists are link in our blogs headers.

“Are you listening?”

Liam watched the incoming text messages flood his phone screen before locking it and turning his attention back to Jaela. “Of course, we were discussing all the candidates for our open Council seat.” He shot her a small smile, waiting for her attention to move elsewhere.

It didn’t.

“I can tell something else is bugging you, you know,” she said with narrowed eyes, coffee in hand. “Is it something at the palace?” She asked but he shook his head. It was Jaela’s idea to get him out of the palace and away from his usual routine. Brunch sounded like a nice idea and both their schedules were clear for the morning. But, these messages had nothing to do with his kingly duties— for once.

“It can wait, I assure you.” Jaela appeared ruffled, displeased with the shift of her shoulders. “Now, to our candidates.” He sat up in his chair and picked up a sheet of paperwork then handed it to her over the croissants and near empty plates, much laughter and talking-- and little work-- done over the first part of brunch.

She set down the coffee and stared down at the paper before taking it from him, frowning, “What’s this? I thought you brought the applications?”

Liam leaned back and grabbed his phone, lips quirked at the new message on there. “I’m not bringing confidential documents out of the palace, Jaela.” Jaela frowned deeper-- as he expected-- and he quickly texted back while Jaela scrutinized the six names on the list. “Besides, it’s brunch. I knew we wouldn’t get that much done, nor would you accept a stain on the applications.”

Jaela smirked at his all too accurate joke and met his eyes just as he sent off a message to…

“Kimiko…” she murmured, tapping the sheet. Liam gulped, adjusting his collar. Her emotions are clear as day, still, to him. He knows that tone. It’s unmistakable.

“Yes?” He said in his best attempt to mask his emotions around that name. He can’t tell her about Kimiko, not yet. If she found out…. “What about her? She’s a diplomat’s daughter, one of Cordonia’s most trusted, actually. One of my final six to fill the open seat.” Why am I worried if Jaela finds out? Wouldn’t she be happy for me? Focus, Liam.

“Just…” Jaela pushed hair over her shoulder, wrinkling her nose. The sun hits her cheeks just right, highlighter sparkling across the planes of them. Liam blinked, rapidly, and glanced away. “She’s the only one here not on mine.” As if Jaela expected this, she pulled out her own list, passing it to him. Indeed… all the same, except her. Liam bit the inside of his cheek to hide the disappointment from her. Why did her opinion matter so much, still?

Jaela placed the list down and picked up her coffee, finishing it off, eyes still on Liam’s list before her. On the name flashing on his phone. “So, who is the diplomat?” She asked, her eyes still on the paper.

“Mr. Takashi Amaya. His wife is an esteemed lawyer in Japan.... My father worked with them occasionally before he stepped down.”

Jaela repressed a snort, but raised her eyebrows high, instead. Her opinion of his father didn’t change, he should have expected that. Probably not the best thing to first mention about her…. “Seems like you know a lot about her…?”

He shrugged, his eyes still glued to his phone. Kimiko. “Hm, I wouldn’t say that. We are talking about her parents who work for our country, are we not?”

Liam did not miss the dramatic roll of her eyes, or the frustration she exuded again. Well, what did she expect him to say? To offer? He had to keep neutral, emotionless in the matters of Kimiko.

Jaela sighed and finished the last bite of her food, meeting his eyes with a sip of her water, her mind filled with a million questions she wanted to say, wanted to ask, but knew it would be futile.

What was the point of asking him any more questions when he was going to dodge them all? There was something up. Liam couldn’t keep his eyes away from that phone, nor did she miss his controlled speech when he spoke about this Kimiko despite the slight flush to his cheek when she said her name. Just because he could smoothly deflect one minor question doesn’t mean he could for all of them. But she had to leave it at that. At least she had one idea of why she was on his list.

There was another reason, too, Jaela just knew. But for now...

“I’ll look into her application tonight but you should do the same for Brianna-- since you didn’t consider her either,” she muttered, standing up and smoothed down her skirt, flicking her gaze to him… Liam looking respectfully away, of course...and to his phone. Jaela ignored the flutter of a long distant pang and picked up the papers. “So, you’ll look into Brianna’s app?”

Liam looked up at her, lips tight, but a smile was there. So he wasn’t too annoyed. Or whatever. He was too easy and too hard to read all at once. “Yes, of course. The same for you to Kimiko’s application.”

“I’ll give it a through second look tonight, Liam,” she agreed, smiling as well. “I’ll see you at the meeting later and...” Jaela bit her tongue, resisting making a joke about whoever he was texting. Something told her it wouldn’t go over well. So, she gave his shoulder a squeeze instead and headed towards to front her car, she had a lot to go over before the meeting, Kimiko’s name burning on the page.

She had a feeling, that’s all. She couldn't tell if it was good or bad, either. Jaela hated those limbos-- the between. Lord knows her and Liam experienced enough of that, already.

“Oh, my gosh! This would look gorgeous on you, Kimiko!” The older woman, Avery, enthused from across the large, empty boutique. She rushed over to her younger sister and held up a bright pink floral dress. “Look!”

Her dark brown eyes flicked up from her phone-- I can’t wait to see you again-- for a split second before pulling out the lollipop in her mouth. “Oh, hell no,” she snapped then placed the candy back into her mouth and continued to tap the screen rapidly, heartbeat faster than her fingers. You have no idea how much I miss-- Ew no, don’t be clingy-- :) -- no, you’re not a child-- I can’t wait to see you too, Liam-- better. Good. Perfect.

“Oh, come on! It’s so pretty and I bet your little friend would love to see you in anything else than but black!” Avery whispered mischievously.

Kimiko ignored her sister’s comment but she couldn’t hide the heat that rose in her body as she thought about.... She cleared her throat and turned to her sister, a faint blush still on her cheeks. “I don’t want to wear a pink fucking dress, Avery!”

Avery rolled her eyes and tossed the dress into the nearby tailor’s face then shooed him away. “You’re so damn annoying! You need some color in your life… God, you’re so basic--”

“Will you shut the hell up already?!” Kimiko shouted, her eyes shooting daggers at her sister.

Avery threw her hands up into the air as she stalked off to the leather couch. “Fine! Don’t ask for my help if you’re just going to yell at me. You’re notorious for doing that shit.” She plopped onto the chair and kicked off her heels. But not even a moment later, a smirk appearing on Avery’s face. “Now, tell me about this girl you met at the club the other night.”

Of course. Avery would do anything to get her fill of gossip. It was her guilty pleasure, besides being an instigator. Kimiko raised an eyebrow and slid her phone into her back pocket, giving her sister the undivided attention she wanted from the start. Liam can surely wait. And I thought I was the clingy one…

“Oh… Her,” Kimiko mumbled, a flash of annoyance spreading across her features. Her face always told on her… no matter what emotion she was feeling. Everyone in the room knew.

Avery snickered-- her tone mocking, “Aw, what did the big bad duchess do to you? It’s not often that little Kimi gets upset over some chick.”

“Well, that chick is the reason why my top smelled like whiskey!” She blurted while eyeing the jewelry section a little ways away from her. Her sister laughed again and Kimiko narrowed her eyes. “The hell is so funny?”

Avery flipped her hair, “You’re seriously still pissed about that... when that same woman holds your career in the palm of her hands? Tch, someone needs to get their priorities straight.” The smile on Avery’s lips spread wider when Kimiko didn’t respond. “Tell me I’m wrong. I dare you.”

Kimiko’s nostrils flared. “What are you trying to say?”

The older sibling shrugged, nonchalantly. Kimiko hated when she did that. Avery knew exactly where she was going with her little speech— she just wanted to be difficult. “I don’t know, Kimiko.”

“Whatever, Avery. I don’t have time for your stupid mind games. Besides, I’m pretty sure Daddy will raise hell if I’m not on that council. I’m not worried about her,” Kimiko said with a mischievous smile on her face as she finally made her way to the jewelry section.

Avery frowned and pursed her lips to keep from scoffing, “Using Father’s power, huh?”

“Well, you certainly don’t give a shit about him and your guess as to where our brother is as good as mine. So, why not use my daddy?” She asked, her black stiletto nails ran over the enclosed case of expensive necklaces and bracelets, eyes glittering as she studied each of them. A small, almost unnoticeable smile appeared on her lips when her sister didn’t come back with a witty retort.

Avery ignored her sister’s dirty comment as she walked over to her. She leaned onto the case, her eyes burning with something more than just anger… Her eyes burned with resentment. And Kimiko knew all the reasons why.. Even if she continued to block them out. “He’s a shit person and you know it.”

Kimiko opened her mouth to reply, she still felt the need to protect him.. To protect her father. After everything he’s done for her in order for her to get this far in the political world… She felt obligated to. But the persistent vibration in her back pocket told her otherwise, she’d have to save that argument for another day. He wanted her attention. Her hand flew to her back pocket just as Avery looked over at her.

Avery looked at the phone in her hand and shook her head, “Can’t even hold a conversation.” She muttered before she called over an employee to open the enclosed case.

Despite the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes, Kimiko unlocked her phone and began to type right away, ignoring the world the best way she knew how to.

Jaela thumbed through the small stack of applications on her desk, skipping over some to get to what she was looking for. She stopped when she found her name and pulled it out. Leaning back in her chair, her eyes flew across the words, though she took moments to carefully scrutinize her qualifications and the apparent reasons Liam felt that she was right for the job. Reasons he wouldn’t elaborate on.

Jaela scribbled down notes as she read, biting the tip of her tongue. “Why does he want you so much…” she muttered as she read where she was from, how old she was, her experience, how long she lived in Cordonia and any given information about her time in Japan. There were no flaws in her application.... Not even one. This woman may have even been more capable than the candidate she picked. But... there was something still wrong.

Something that didn’t feel right about this applicant.

Kimiko Amaya...

She placed the application back into the stack and pulled out her keyboard, her fingers hovering over the keys, for what she didn’t know, after all, she did tell Liam she would do a thorough investigation, but there was a short knock on her office door that pulled her away from seeing that name before her eyes.

“Dinner?” Drake said, smiling, hot plate in his hand. Jaela smiled and stood up, greeting him with a kiss, taking the plate.

“Thank you for bringing me dinner,” she said. “I’ve gotta look into this… Kimiko Amaya… for a bit.” Drake raised an eyebrow and followed her to her desk, setting his hands on her shoulders, massaging them.

“You didn’t this afternoon?”

Jaela nodded, head falling back, looking up at her husband, plate set on the desk to the side, hands on his wrists. “Nah, too busy with the Council, bills and stuff to sign. But… I promised I’d give her another look, like Liam promised he’d look at my candidate.”

Drake offered a reassuring squeeze and leaned down, kissing her forehead. Her wore an odd expression, one she can’t read, but it didn’t matter. The chicken smells good. “Alright. Just don’t stay up too late, okay? I love how hard you work, but I love my wife more.”

She smiled, circling her thumbs over his skin. “I promise. You’ll get all the cuddles tonight.”

He smirked and ran his hand to the back of her neck. She shivered at his tender and tantalizing touch, biting her lower lip. He’s certainly tempting… but she needed to work for just a bit longer. “And more…?”

She rolled her eyes and smirked, kissing his palm, squeezing his hand. “I’m sure this can’t take too long, but if somebody is making me procrastinate…” She hinted with a pointed eyebrow raise, Drake shaking his head and chuckling.

“Alright, alright,” he said with one final kiss. “Don’t work too hard, Abdi. I’m sure we’ll have a lively debate tomorrow about who to choose for our final six.”

“I won’t,” she said, and that was enough to get Drake to finally leave, leaving the door cracked. She let out a small sigh and glanced at her monitor, ready for a truly thorough look into the life and qualifications of this Kimiko.

In a few minutes, multiple tabs were open-- some articles (various tidbits of gossip about her family, not that gossip held any weight in her decision) , some social media (she seemed to like champagne and martinis and getting paid for advertisements) and others of general information about her and her family… and their history, so to speak.

Maybe it was excessive. She shouldn't have gone beyond the application, which has everything and more-- after all, she didn’t do this much digging with the other candidates she reviewed. But she was serious about her research and she hoped Liam was the same way. After all, these were the two candidates they disagreed on, so perhaps more was required than a second look at their applications.

Jaela blinked and swallowed the chicken, refocusing on the screen. Enough of her thoughts. She had notes to take, replacing the empty dinner plate with a notebook as she truly dug into the mystery of why Liam wanted Kimiko Amaya so badly on the council… and why he blushed over this woman. First things first… one thing was for sure, her social media was always updated.

The last post was from three hours ago and it was of a boutique somewhere in the capital with the caption, ‘All to ourselves’ with tons of heart emojis next to it. Jaela raised an eyebrow as she continued to scroll through her feed, tons of pictures of bags from designer stores, at extravagant events with the same few people or out in the city with another woman, her sister, most likely. Had to be… But something about her seemed familiar. Oddly familiar. Nothing usually got past Jaela but this woman surely did. But she’d didn’t have time to rack her brain to why she looked familiar, not when there were notes to draw up.

The more Jaela scrolled through her social media, the more annoyed she got. She had only scrolled past a handful of photos and announcements about charity events she attended, one of her working in the Apple Orchard catching her eye but that was the year before and there wasn’t much else after it.

Just of her partying... or shopping. Such a revolutionary pick over Brianna. Liam probably didn’t even look at Kimiko’s social media, he barely knew what a hashtag was-- “Hey...” Jaela jumped and turned to look at the door. She bit her lip when she saw the expression on Drake’s sleepy face. It had been almost two hours since he left the first time. “I thought you said--”

“I’m sorry. I’m coming right now,” she muttered and began to log off her desktop and clean up around her desk. Bedtime. She said she’d give Kimiko a second look… and she did, through nearly every photo, including one of of her shoes… on that carpet…. Something nagged in the back of her mind, but she tried to push it back, letting her sleepy husband lead her to their room, Chance happily waddling at their feet.

Jaela tried.

She really, really tried to fall asleep, to accept that she looked at all she could and her mind wasn’t changed about this girl. Her social media was enough to disqualify her. Let alone her family, even if her father was a friend of the crown. Did Liam really want a woman with such little world experience to help run a country? He was better than that. She knows him.

But hours later, Drake snoring quietly next to her, out like a light (and he would be, she knew exactly how to get him dead to the world), Jaela stared at the canopy top of their bed, covers up to her chest. She can’t sleep. She can’t quiet her mind. She can only think of this Kimiko, a disastrous fit for the council once you looked past the paper. Her damn pictures… flaunting her travels and wealth for the world, despite only wearing basically black and white (did the girl not know how to wear color?), she still has to show off everything that says, “I haven’t worked a hard day in my life and only took Daddy’s money to get where I am”, even if those shoes are mediocre at best, and with that carpet-- fuck, that carpet.

Jaela’s heart leapt into her throat, eyes wide, cool dread settling form head to toe. His carpet.

Silently, she slipped out of bed and threw on a robe, wide awake and back into her office with the half finished notes and bullet points of her argument to Liam as to why Kimiko cannot be a part of the Royal Council. Chance followed her and curled at her feet as the desktop loads to right where she left off. All tabs opened, and back to her social media, array of pictures, whether genuine or a paid advertisement, that are everything Jaela doesn’t want to be associated with before her.

Jaela scrolled to the picture that left her so unsettled. Shoes, they’re just shoes, that stupid #ad in her caption. She frowned. The carpet is… it’s so familiar. It looks like… Liam’s office. Jaela gulped hard, stomach twisted at the mere thought, the possibility. Does Liam not realize that she’s a conflict of interest then? But… Jaela leaned back, rubbing her eyes with a heavy sigh. Liam’s not the only one who has to have a carpet like that… and he’s not the only powerful person she would visit.

“Does he even know her…” Jaela mumbled turned her attention back to her notes. If she was going to argue against this woman who was clearly not fit, she needed good points. Everything about her social media proved one thing: she was a liability and so was her family. Jaela needed to prove Liam wrong, to prove that she was right. It wouldn’t be her first time doing so….

And before long, Jaela was knee deep in articles, looking through this woman’s tweets, as much as her Facebook as she could, her friends, family-- almost as fucked as hers--, and everything about this woman, her dark eyes staring through the screen, boring into hers. Jaela’s notes made barely any sense as the night dragged on, words turning into scribbles, sentences half complete ideas, reasons to argue against her weak and repetitive, but she just-- she couldn’t describe it-- she needed to protect Liam from this woman, she thought in her half asleep daze, scrolling through those pictures again, wondering why she looked so familiar. There’s no reason why she needs to do this search, digging everything, printing out articles, other than a gut feeling, present even as she nodded off.

“Gotta… protect… she’s a liability…”

“Time for bed, Abdi,” Drake whispered in her ear, arms coming around her. He lifted her into his arms. She tried to resist, but it was weak, head on his chest, hand on that damned scar. And she was sound asleep before he set her on the bed. Drake kissed her forehead and tucked her in with a frown, brushing hair off of her cheek. “Why do you care so much about her?” he whispered, question only heard by Chance, dutifully curled at Jaela’s feet.

“I have to ask, Jae,” Drake said after spitting out his toothpaste. Jaela paused brushing, then continued, waiting for him to carry on. “Why are you so… hyper-fixated on this Kimiko girl? If you don’t want her…” Drake kept his voice pretty even. Huh. Pretty alert for the morning, too. But… Jaela spit out her toothpaste in her sink, eyes narrowed in the mirror on him. “Why not just tell Liam no? Why did you need to... I don’t know…” He trailed and looked away, hand through his wet hair.

“Finish your sentence.”

Drake sighed, gripping counter edge. “Why did you need to look her up like that? You know Liam didn’t do that to yours. Are you… intimidated by her or…?”

She blinked, incredulous. Her? Intimidated? “Me, intimated by her? Drake, you’ve got to be kidding me.” She wiped her mouth, then ran the water, getting some on her face before the cleanser. “I’m just... “ How could she explain this to him? The carpet? She’d seem crazy if she threw accusations like that into the air. “I have a gut feeling that she won’t work as a council member. I don’t know… she can’t be on, that’s all I know, Drake.”

He frowned and watched her, tugging on his hair. Jaela paused cleaning her face, then continued with a racing heart. Drake knew something, didn’t he? “She seems okay on paper, Jaela. It’s invasive to look her up like that. It’s not like we’re selecting anybody today.”

Jaela shook her head and rolled her eyes before washing off the bubbles. “It’s just a gut feeling. And when Liam listens to my arguments against her today, he’ll agree. That’s all, Drake. She’s not a fit, I’m glad I investigated her as much as I did, and I’m certainly not intimidated by a girl who hasn’t worked a day in her life and had everything handed to her. That’s final.”

She would have preferred a more impassioned response from Drake but she didn’t comment on his shrug, nor the way he said, “If you say so,” while avoiding her eyes in the mirror, leaving the bathroom after that. Maybe she seemed crazy. But she was right-- she knew it. Kimiko Amaya wouldn’t set one designer sponsored foot inside the council chambers.

“I wish I could have breakfast with you before the meeting but my father wants me in Japan, ASAP. You understand, right?”

Liam stared at her message before replying back with sincerity, trying his best to hide his disappointment. Of course he was looking forward to having breakfast with her. He wanted to see her dark brown eyes, her cute smile and even the wrinkle in her nose when she laughed. She was his good luck charm and that’s why he wanted to see her. Yet, maybe things would run smoothly without seeing her. She couldn’t always be around... but he hoped that small inconvenience would change very soon.

“Of course I understand, Kimi. Have fun at your charity event.”

He put his phone down on his desk, a sigh leaving his lips as he wiped his eyes. Seeing her would have made his day ten times better but he couldn’t let her consume all of his thoughts, he had a country to run and an all important council meeting to attend. But it didn’t take long for her to text back and for a smile to appear on his face.

“I will for the both of us! Good luck in the meeting!”

That’s all he needed. For the next two hours, Liam handled proposals and bills and trade negotiations-- and gave Brianna’s application a final look (Kimiko was far more qualified and deserved to make it to the next round, in his objective opinion), texting Kimiko here and there, grinning each time her name popped up, a welcome distraction to the paperwork on his desk. She was… something special. A bright spot in his life, growing brighter each day, the days without her dragging and the days with her passing by too fast.

There was minutes until the council meeting that would narrow down the candidates to the final six. For a brief second, his stomach twisted-- he knew what would face him in there: Jaela. Unless she agreed with his choice to move Kimiko on to the next step… but he knew her. Did she ever back down from her convictions?

Liam stood up from his desk and grabbed all the essentials-- the applications, his notes and pens when his phone lit up. Just a simple reminder about the meeting but there was an overwhelming urge to text her back. A quick text wouldn’t cause him to be late. He picked up the phone again and sent a quick message to her:

“Would you be up for a date when you come back?” He hadn’t even looked away from his phone-- she texted him back so quickly.

“Yeah, anything to spend more time with you.” With that, he slipped his phone in his pocket and exited his office with a smile on his face. The meeting would go as he expected, he knew it. Jaela had to change her mind after reviewing Kimiko’s application; she’d love her when they’d officially meet, and hopefully forget about that drink spilling incident. She’d see he’s never been happier and would welcome Kimiko into the council and friend group with open arms. For the first time, things would go as planned in his life. It’s what he had to believe, still smiling from Kimiko’s texts.

Liam silently greeted his staff as he quickly walked through the hallways, glancing at his watch. He was already running a bit behind just from sending a quick text message (though, it was worth it). It wasn’t like him to be late and it would start the meeting on the wrong foot if he was. He sighed in relief after rounding a corner when he noticed Hana and Maxwell entering the council room and not a minute too soon. But that wasn’t the only thing that caught his eye as he approached, people filtering into the chambers.

Jaela covered her mouth as she let out a short yawn, her appearance was spot on as usual but even the makeup she wore couldn’t cover the bags under her eyes. Not to mention how she appeared to move slow, further evidence that it seemed as if she didn’t a wink of sleep. He contained a frown. It’s Jaela. She worked tirelessly on anything-- there was no way she stayed up all night over Kimiko.

When she noticed Liam, she gave him a small nod, pausing for a moment to adjusted the files in her arms. Liam moved quickly, noting the notebook filled to brim with words-- but before he could get a good look at it, she turned and slipped into the room with another yawn.

Drake looked up from his phone after Jaela entered the room and locked eyes with Liam. Liam stopped-- dare he ask Drake what was going on?-- and then moved to stand next to Drake, leaning against the wall. Liam gulped as Drake searched his concerned face. Drake didn’t need to speak for Liam to know what had happened, why Jaela was so tired. Liam knew his visions of what should happen… wouldn’t be that easy, even with Kimiko being his good luck charm. Why can’t things be easy? Doesn’t he deserve to get what he wants, too?

Yet, despite Liam knowing what would happen, he had to ask. “Is Jaela alright? She seems particularly tired.”

Drake nodded, a hand deep in his pocket. “She’s fine. She was…” he paused, apparently search for the words. Liam nodded, urging him to continue. Drake sighed, apologetic brown eyes meeting Liam’s worried blue eyes. “She was up until like three or four, I forget, doing research on you know who,” he said quietly.

Liam’s stomach dropped and he sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, containing his reaction. There was no denial that Jaela might have dug a little deeper than Kimiko’s applications. But how deep? He couldn’t deny the flare of anger within him at the possibility that Jaela overdid it, infringing on Kimiko’s privacy by prying into parts of her life that would be erroneous to her qualifications and work as a council member. It’s no surprise: but how far? Why was she up that late? “Of course…” Liam muttered, lowering his hand. “How… how much did she do?”

Drake shrugged. “... I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.”

Liam went to respond, to pester for more information-- he’s her husband, after all, Drake surely knows more-- but Jaela appeared in the doorway, glaring at the two. She tapped her foot with a frown. “I’m glad you two are having a thrilling conversation, but I believe we have a kind of important meeting to run. Come on.”

Drake and Liam grimaced and wordlessly followed Jaela into the chambers, doors shutting behind them. Liam took his seat next to Jaela, as usual, and she started the opening statement, voice not showing a sign of tiredness. While she spoke, Liam glanced down to her extensive notes.

Too extensive notes. One jumped out to him-- more so slapped him across his cheek-- and he clenched his fist on his knee while Jaela flawlessly began the council meeting. It read: “Reckless, Spoiled, Had everything handed to her, Flaunts her money around, Not worth a second look.”

Not worth a second look? How can Jaela think that? Assume that? If she’d actually meet her--

“I see you’ve done your research,” Liam whispered to Jaela as Hana spoke, about what Liam didn’t know, fire burning within him. Kimiko… she was worth everything. And Jaela didn’t give her a chance.

She shrugged, moving her notes closer to her, blocking her words from view. “I said it would be a thorough review of your candidate.”

Liam’s nostrils flared. “So, she’s not worth it but you’ll stay up till three researching her?”

Jaela narrowed her eyes. “You shouldn’t have looked at my notes, Liam. Besides, you’ll hear all of this.”

He wanted to pull her aside and discuss this now. But… he only clenched his fist tighter, thinking of Kimiko’s laugh, or how she looked at him after they kissed, under her thick lashes and like he was the only man in the world. “Oh, I can’t wait for you to enlighten me.”

Jaela brushed back her hair and smirked for one second. “You seem a little touchy about this candidate. Any reason why…?”

“None,” he snapped and looked away-- he couldn’t give into her prodding. This wasn’t the time nor place. If Kimiko made it past this round, and the next, and was selected… then they could know. He couldn’t give Jaela any more ammunition against the woman he was falling in love with day by day.

Falling in… the heat in Liam’s cheeks now wasn’t anger at Jaela’s false assumptions. Maybe, he’s falling for her. It would be the first time in years and it’s a love like he’s never experienced before-- and will do anything to hold on to.

He’ll do anything for Kimiko, no matter what Jaela thinks of her. He’s put his happiness on the backburner for too long for Jaela. She hadn’t even formally met her, so how could she formulate an opinion on her by just picture? But... None of that mattered anymore. Her thoughts didn’t matter-- but his happiness does. That’s a first for the first time years, too.

It felt… simply indescribable.

Disclaimer: All rights and characters belong to Pixelberry.

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