Chapter 7

"Liza!"

Liza turned to see Kelsey tottering around the corner outside the Empirical office, struggling to catch up with Liza's quick stride. Kelsey held her supersized Starbucks in one hand and her cell phone in the other.

Liza paused to let Kelsey catch up with her and held open the glass door to the building. "Didn't think that you would be getting in this early this morning."

"Yeah, well I wanted to go over the figures for the Emily Burns book that you purchased at the Hamptons Fair." The emphasis on "you" didn't go unnoticed by Liza.

"Kelsey, I'm sorry that I kept that from you. I panicked. And even though my motives were selfish, I do think that there is something there. It's got potential."

Kelsey rolled her eyes and sighed. "Possibly. I don't mean to make you feel guilty. I know why you did it. I just wish you had told me sooner. Girl, we're good. I've got your back."

Liza felt a wave of affection for Kelsey wash over her. She could honestly say she was completely surprised by how Kelsey had forgiven and accepted her. She had braced herself for anger, for bitchiness and bitter comments. She had expected Kelsey to "unfriend" her in typical millennial fashion. She had worried endlessly about telling Kelsey the truth, and only wished she had told her sooner, way back at the beginning of this mess. But what was done was done, and it was time to face the music.

Moments later they stepped off the elevator into the Empirical office. It was just shy of 7:30, and the office was mostly deserted. She parted ways with Kelsey at her office door and a quick glance confirmed that Charles was, in fact, back. She saw him through the window into his office, bent studiously over a stack of papers in front of him. He didn't see her. She set her things at her desk and went to the coffee bar. She pulled out a cup for herself and began to fix a cup for Charles. A splash of cream, no sugar. God, she thought, I've got his coffee preferences memorized. She slipped a lid on his and squared her shoulders. Tossing her hair over her shoulders, she mustered as much confidence as she could and walked down the hall to office. Kelsey looked up as she passed, and seeing where she was going, began making kissy faces. Liza gave her her best withering glare and kept on walking.

She stood in the doorway for a moment before she knocked. He was wearing a dark grey suit with a blue tie that she just knew would make his eyes look even more piercing. Good lord, she thought, he was so handsome. Reaching up, she knocked gently on the door.

Charles

The knock at his office door jarred him out his work. He had been pouring over some financials, trying to find some ways to tighten the purse strings without having to let anyone go. He looked up to see Liza standing in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.

"Hi. Good Morning. I, uh, I brought you some coffee."

He stood as she came in and took the coffee from her outreached hand.

"Thank you." He gestured for her to sit in the chair facing him as he settled back into his chair.

"It's good t-"

"How was Pou-"

They both started talking at the same time and laughed nervously. Charles settled back in his chair and rested his chin in his hand, surveying her for a moment. She looked gorgeous. He was thankful that there was a desk between them so he wasn't distracted by her long legs crossed in the skirt of hers. "It's good to see you, Liza. I missed you."

"I missed you too. I've been thinking about you all week."

"Me too. I've been thinking about things, about us, all week, and I really want to – "

"Charles! You're back!"

Both Charles and Liza jumped at the sound of Diana's shrill voice. Neither of them had noticed her arrive at the office. She came into the office and stared down at Liza, seemingly perplexed as to why she was sitting in Charles's office and not at her desk. She looked down at Liza and sighed, waving her hand toward the coffee machine.

"Right! Coffee! On it!" With a quick glance back at Charles, Liza scurried out of the office, slipping back into the roll of eager 20 something assistant. So much for that, she thought, groaning internally.

The morning seemed to drag on, for both Liza and Charles. He desperately wanted a few uninterrupted minutes to talk to Liza. To reassure her. He could see anxiety written all over her face. He could barely take his eyes off of her during the morning meeting, even though she sat next to Diana, brow furrowed, taking furious notes. He forgot what he was saying to one of his nonfiction editors as he saw her running out to fetch Diana's lunch. He valued Diana as an employee, and as a friend, but god, she was making it impossible for him to have even a moment alone with Liza.

As the day wore on, he couldn't take it anymore. He sent her a quick text.

Meet me in the stairwell, in 5 minutes.

He stood in the window to his office, watching her pick her phone up as it buzzed. He smiled slightly as she turned to glance at him.

Ok.

He made his way to the stairwell, climbing up to the landing to the next floor. He leaned against the wall and his heart soared a moment later when he heard the door open below. Seconds later, she climbed up to meet him. She stood a few steps back from him.

"Hi."

"Hi." He reached out to take her hands, his fingers intertwining with hers. He pulled her close to him and kissed her gently on the cheek.

"Charles, I –,"

He cut her off. "I need to see you tonight. I have things I need to say to you. Away from here. Away from the office, from Diana. Will you meet me tonight? I can have my neighbor babysit the girls. Meet me tonight, Liza."

She nodded, squeezing his hands. Oh, how she loved the feeling of her hands in his. So warm and comforting. Like he could protect her from anything.

"The Carlyle. 7:30." He bent down and kissed her lightly on he lips. He trailed a few kisses up to her ear and whispered, ever so quietly, "Show up this time, okay?".