Page 23 of A Simple Reminder
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Liam knows Dominic Moretti.TheDominic Moretti. His river tables are incredible; I'd kill to have one as a dining table. However, that will never happen because he stopped working with private clients almost fifteen years ago. My only shot to get one is either buying one off the black market or stealing one. The choices being:bankruptcy or jail.
If we manage to get a meeting, we might have discussions, and if we do, we could create one-of-a-kind statement tables. My whole body feels like it's bubbling; I'm so excited. The opportunity would be incredible, putting meandthe hotel in several interior designer magazines.
“You seem excited.” Liam's voice pulls me out of my daydreaming.
“I am.”
“Great, then let’s keep that attitude while we go meet the contractor.”
He stands up, and I observe him closely. Everything about him exudes casual professionalism—except for the bruises on his face. He wears dark gray suit pants and a perfectly tucked-in black T-shirt. He’s a far cry from the young man I first met many years ago, and even from the person reintroduced to me two years ago. Though always handsome, there’s a newfound maturity and seriousness about him now. But beneath it all, I can still catch flickers of that boyish charm—the glint in his eyes, the subtle quirk of his lips when he’s amused. It’s still there, tucked behind the layers of the man he’s become.
“Ladies first,” he says, holding out his arm toward the open door. I walk out, trying not to focus on how attractive he is. It’s hard. Very hard.
A stunning brunette waits at a table outside the office, and as we approach, she rises to her full height with an air of confidence.
This must be Lilly, his assistant. Wow. She’s gorgeous. I didn’t get a good look at her when I came in this morning, but now? Yeah, she definitely leaves an impression.
Her body is what you'd expect to see on the cover of a magazine—curves in all the right places, full lips, big eyes, thick brown hair. I'm staring at this point, and unfortunately, she notices because when our eyes meet, her eyebrows scrunch in a curious expression.
“Hi, we’ve spoken on the phone, but we’ve never been introduced. I’m Sophie, the interior designer. It’s lovely to connect a face to the voice.” I reach out my hand to shake hers, but it takes her a few seconds before she slowly puts hers in mine. As if she’s reluctant to touch it. It’s weird. Did I say something wrong? Or was it the way I was staring?Great,just what I need—to make her uncomfortable without even realizing it.
“Lilly.” That’s the only thing she says before she turns to Liam. “Mr. Ayoub, do you need anything?”
“No, Lilly, I’m alright. Sophie and I are heading to our meeting now, and then I’m off to the rest of the appointments. Did you set them up in my calendar?”
“I did.”
“Thank you.” Liam offers her a small, appreciative smile, then gently places his hand on the small of my back, his touch warm and reassuring. “Let’s get going, Soph.” The brief contact sends an unexpected shiver up my spine and I stiffen, every nerve in my body suddenly alert to the touch. I should not react like this anymore. It has to stop. He must have noticed because he quickly removes his hand, shoving it into his pocket. A wave of disappointment washes over me, and for a fleeting moment, I miss the warmth of his touch.
We walk out of the office and down two flights of stairs toward what will soon be the grand lobby of the hotel. Each step of my high heels echoes against the luxurious mahogany wood floors that have already been laid out. It’s the perfect hue for that extra air of elegance and warmth.
Workers carefully hoist an opulent chandelier into place, its countless crystals catching the light and scattering tiny rainbows across the room. The piece is massive, commanding attention with its sheer grandeur—a true centerpiece that will no doubt be the talk of the guests once they arrive. They’ve been working at an insane speed; when I got here this morning, the chandelier was nowhere to be seen.
All around, there are sounds of construction–distant hammering, the murmur of workers coordinating, and the faint hum of machines. Amid the controlled chaos, we spot the contractor they’ve hired to bring the vision to life.
Liam leads the way, his posture straight. He gives me a quick glance, and I can see the determination in his eyes. His gaze flickers with intensity, the kind that speaks volumes without a word—this project is clearly important to him, maybe even on a personal level. I’m not the only one who wants to prove myself here.
“Brian, this is Sophie,” Liam introduces me to the contractor with a slight nod in my direction. “She’s the interior designer I mentioned. Sophie, this is Brian, our contractor.”
Brian is tall and commanding, his frame towering over us as he extends a firm, reassuring hand for introductions.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Sophie,” he says with a nod, his eyes assessing me with professional appraisal. “I've heard good things about your work. Looking forward to bringing this vision to life.” I quickly dart my eyes to Liam, who gives me a discreet nod.
I return his handshake, noting the calluses on his hands that must speak of years spent in construction and design. “Likewise, Brian. I'm excited to start working on this project.”
With introductions complete, Liam gestures toward the drafting table set up nearby. “Should we take a look at what’s been planned so far?”
Brian nods, a faint smile cracking through his otherwise solemn demeanor. “Let’s get started.”
I follow them toward the table but come to an abrupt stop as realization dawns. Something is missing.
Dammit.
“I left my bag upstairs—it has my portfolio and all my notes,” I admit, frustration creeping into my voice as I realize I’ve left the most important piece for this meeting behind.
Liam turns to me, his brows furrowing slightly, “Do you want me to grab it for you?” I shake my head, smiling gratefully. “No, it’s okay. Sorry for this. I’ll be right back.”
Turning on my heel, I head back up the stairs toward the room set up as the office. But, just as I’m about to enter, I hear Lilly’s voice and pause, hiding behind the door frame.
