"So you're really doing this? Like really, Steffy?" Liam questioned. She'd spent the better portion of the afternoon explaining her actions and what led her to them.

"You walked out on me. The decision wasn't instantaneous, it came with a lot of doubt and waiting for you to want me."

"No. You're not going to do that. I want you, I've always wanted you."

"Not lately. Liam, we hadn't had sex in almost two months. That's not wanting me, that's freezing me out."

"So what, you hop to the first waiting—dammit, Steffy, I hired him. I hired him to promote our company not to get into your pants. How could you do this? And for a damn stranger."

Steffy had listened to Liam scold her like a child and had just about enough of him condescending to her. "Bill isn't a stranger, and this didn't just happen overnight. You were never here, you're off banging god knows who, and yes, I got tired. Tired of waiting and tired of being the only one in this relationship. I deserve better."

"And he's better? He's quite possibly setting up your father, but he's better suited than me? How the hell do you get off?"

"Liam, just because your lips are glued to my father's ass doesn't make you better than Bill. At least he's honest about the fact that he hates him. You only love my dad because he praises you. He'd love nothing more than for us to get married because it would mean he gains you as a son. It has nothing to do with me or my happiness."

"Are you saying you were never happy with me?"

"There was a time I was," she admitted. "But then it changed, much like you did."

"I didn't change," he barked. "You did. Work was all you cared about. It wasn't about us anymore, it was about how can I please the board, how can I make daddy proud."

"You asshole," Steffy snapped. "You want to know why I turned to Bill? It's because he doesn't need me to survive. I'm not having to constantly coddle him and teach him how succeed. He wants something, he takes it. He doesn't need someone to hand it to him."

Steffy was going off so hard, she hadn't noticed the look on Liam's face. She'd hurt him.

"That's what you think of me? You think I use you to further my career?"

"I was angry, I just blurted out hurtful things."

"Hurtful but a reflection of what you really feel. You don't have to worry, Steffy. I'll get out of your way."

"Liam—"

"No, really. You don't have to pretend anymore."

"I didn't pretend anything. I have feelings for you. I never faked that."

"Then why? At our engagement party, Steffy. You care so little for me you'd do that there?"

"It wasn't planned. We got locked in and—"

"And what, you decided the magical way to get out was to let him do you on the floor? You could have called me, I would have come running." He paused for a second and then looked at her again. "But then I would have seen your reaction to seeing him walk in with Hope. That's what this was all about, wasn't it? Hope."

"He's not the first man linked to me that went her way."

"And how many times do I have to tell you I had no idea what I was doing? I was drunk. Besides, I didn't sleep with her."

"Right," Steffy nodded. "You just happened to find your penis in her mouth. It's a good thing you can't get pregnant that way. With the stains I saw, she was sure to have little Liam junior floating around in there."

They swore to never bring this up again, but Liam had been with her father and Brooke at a party at their house and somehow ended up in Brooke's cabin with Hope. They'd been dating a little over a year and a half when this happened. Hope was sure to let Steffy know something had gone on, and Liam swore it would never happen again. In the back of her mind, Steffy thought Hope was the woman Liam was seeing behind her back, she just had no proof.

"You said you forgave me."

"Liam, how could I ever forget that? You cheated on me with my stepsister. I know you don't see it as cheating, but it was. I'll never get over it. I told you, I explained how they always want everything I have, and you fell for it."

"I made a mistake. Haven't you ever made a mistake? What about sleeping with Bill while engaged to me?"

"That wasn't a mistake. I realize it's what I had been fighting and denying myself." Steffy nodded her head. "He didn't push me, he was completely gentle. I told him I wanted him."

Liam scoffed and ran his hand over her cheek. "He's playing you. He knows what you want to hear and tells you exactly that. I looked into him. Did you know his family has a past with yours?"

"Wow." Steffy sighed. "Instead of talking to me, trying to work through this, you'd rather bash Bill?"

"He's not a good guy, Steffy."

"Maybe, maybe not, but I'll be the judge of that, not you, and to answer your question, yes. I know all about our family history. Bill was forthcoming with all that before we slept together."

"So that's it? We're just over because of him?"

"Not because of him, because of us. Liam we haven't been happy for a while."

"I know that, but I thought we could at least talk about this. I proposed to you—"

"Why? Did you propose because you can't see your life without me or because you just needed a way to keep us together? Did you look at me and figure out that you wanted to be with me for the rest of your life or was it just a natural step in progression? Did it seem like the logical next step or did you just know you needed me?"

Liam didn't answer, and Steffy nodded. "I won't make you leave the company. I still want to be your friend."

"You're the only woman I've ever loved."

"And you're the only man I've ever come close to having thoughts of forever with for now, but don't you want more?"

"I want you."

"If it's right, we will find our way back. Just not now. Right now, it's not right."

"Will it ever be?"

"I don't know," Steffy said honestly.

"When he messes up, I'll be here for you."

"I'm not running to Bill. I'm running to a possibility. I want very much for you to find happiness as well."

"I'm not giving up on us. You do this, you get him out of your system, and I'll be here to love you when he shows you his true colors."

Steffy pushed the suitcase between them toward Liam and offered a sad smile. "Goodbye, Liam."

"I won't give up, Steffy," Liam advised as he rolled his suitcase out of her room.

Steffy sighed into the air as Liam made trip after trip to retrieve his things. When he retrieved the last load, she sat down on the bed and hugged herself. She wasn't sure if this was right. She didn't know if her life would ever be as full as she wanted it to be, but she had to try. Now, she was finally making a decision that was all her own. She just hoped it was the one that would lead her to everything she had been looking for.

"You know if you stare at that thing any longer, it might grow legs and walk away."

Bill looked at Justin and huffed. He'd been staring at his phone ever since he got home. Steffy said she would be in touch soon, but he hoped she meant tonight.

"It's not funny, Justin. I've never waited on anything like this."

Justin took a seat opposite Bill and laid his phone on the table. "Talk to me, Bill. What does this woman really mean to you? You've been with a lot of women, but I've never seen you be this reckless. You slept with a woman at her engagement party."

"I couldn't let her marry him!" Bill surprised himself with his rebuttal.

"And then you flaun your affair in the guys face when he comes to talk to you. What happened anyway? I got the hell out of there once she showed up."

"She broke the engagement and made him leave."

"So she's with you now?"

"Not exactly," Bill breathed out. "She broke the engagement and said she needed to discuss the rest with him in private. She could decide to stay with that asshole."

"Hence why you're staring at the phone."

Justin laughed, and Bill's head snapped up. "What?"

"Any other time you would have moved on. You got it bad, Bill."

"I want Steffy. She's the only woman I've ever met worth all this."

"And you better remember that from here on out."

Bill's eyes shot to the door, and the woman of his dreams walked through. Justin politely excused himself, leaving nothing but the silence and questions, clouding Bill's brain in the air.

"Steffy," Bill uttered. "What—"

Her finger slid to his lips and she shook her head. "You were patient, you waited, so let me talk. Liam moved out we're—"

He didn't let her finish. Picking her up, swinging her around in his arms, Bill sat her down on his desk and ran his hand up the side of her face.

"You're free?"

She nodded, and Bill ran his hand down her face once more leaning in. Sealing his lips against hers, he kissed her like he'd found his forever. It's when he realized he had.

In instant submission, her legs and arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer and he gripped her hips, holding her there. The sweltering room gave way to his desires, but the need to show her that this was so much more breathed through.

"Wait," Bill pulled back.

Steffy looked confused, without relinquishing her hold on him.

"I want to show you something."

"Show me afterward," Steffy requested and took his lips again, weakening his resolve.

Regaining his strength, Bill brushed the hair from her face and sighed. "Do you know how easy it would be to lock myself away with you any never come up for air?"

Steffy smiled and nodded her head. "I think it would feel extraordinary."

"One day, sweetheart. One day. But not today, come with me."

He picked her up from the desk and placed her feet on the floor. Grabbing her hand, he led her to his backyard. He'd hoped she would show up and made arrangements just in case.

"Bill!" Steffy threw her arms around him.

He'd arranged for them to have that dinner he wanted to present her with for her birthday. He had his staff waiting poolside with the meal on warmers and champagne chilling under his enclosed dome.

"I owed you," Bill shrugged. "I just want to apologize to you again. I should have heard you out before I reacted. I'll never make that mistake again."

"This is—it's perfect." Bill could see the tears twinkling in her eyes and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"You okay?"

"No one has ever done anything like this for me. It's surreal."

"That's a shame. This is only the start of what I want with you. You just have to be open to letting me take you places you've never been before." A smile stretched across her face, and Bill got the confirmation he needed. "Let me show you the world according to Bill Spencer."

"That should be scary to me," Steffy laughed.

"Is it?"

"Not at all. I'm ready," Steffy voiced, and Bill gave her hips a squeeze.

"First dinner, and after that, I want to take you shopping."

"Shopping?"

"It's time the real Steffy showed up again. I want the real Steffy beside me, not this carbon copy your father concocted."

Saying that seemed to send a flicker through Steffy that wasn't missed by Bill. "What?"

"Our lawyer was able to get my dad released on bail. He's on house arrest, but on bail."

"Well good for him." Bill kissed the side of her head. "I'm going to enjoy spoiling you and driving him crazy in the process. I'm here for you, only you."

"I believe you." Steffy nodded. "I really do."

"I need for you to." Bill pulled her into a seat and slid closer to her. "You look absolutely radiant. It must be the dead weight you shed."

"You're crazy, Bill," she laughed. "You're always going out of your way to make me smile."

"I'd like for that to be my job."

"I'm still interviewing," she joked. "I'll let you know when the job is yours."

"When?" he chuckled. "So there isn't an if, it's when?"

"I don't have time for games. Don't play them with me, and I'm sure one day I won't see anyone but you."

Any other time Bill would be heading for the nearest exit, but now he only found the overwhelming need to move closer over taking him. He hoped it lasted forever. Steffy had done the impossible.

"Playing games is the last thing on my mind."