16
The next time I saw Liam, it was in a meeting
room at my office.
He was a client now.
I didn’t want charity.
But if I earned it, I wouldn’t turn it down.
Liam was professional, no flaws.
It was Chet that was giving me trouble,
hanging out in my office all the time.
I couldn’t get rid of him, he was related to my
business partner.
L
Half–British, still a kid, and totally spoiled.
Every time he interrupted a meeting between
Liam and I, I snapped.
Chet was quiet for a moment, his eyes filling
with emotion.
“I won’t do it again.”
And after that, he was quiet for a few days.
He also stopped wearing his leather jacket, and started wearing suits.
He’d gel his hair, and he actually looked
mature.
く
Kids looked so different when they tried.
Chet slammed the contract on the table.
“I’m not a kid!
“I’m all grown up!”
He was working now, wanting to form a
business partnership with me.
But during work, he was sleepy and hungry.
He went straight into defense mode when
anything had to do with Liam.
I was concerned, but I tried not to think about
it too much.
<
Until our deal celebration.
Liam raised his glass, his eyes serious.
“Jane, we’re still just as compatible as
before.”
“We were perfect for each other.”
Before he could say anything else, the lights
went down, and a soft song started playing.
When they came back on, Chet was coming
towards me with a bouquet of roses.
He knelt in front of me, holding out a ring.
“Jane, will you marry me?”
L
I pulled him up.
“What’s wrong with you?
“I’m eleven years older than you!”
Chet held my hand.
“Do you think I’m too young?
“I’m a grown up! I can be mature too.”
I sighed and moved his hands away.
“You don’t have to change for me.
“I only think of you as my kid brother.”
Chet looked down for a moment, before
<
Chet looked down for a moment, before
looking up.
“Then get used to thinking of me as a lover.”
Before I could reply, Caleb put his coat
around my shoulders and escorted me away.
When I got back to my place, I felt relieved.
Caleb made me some tea and started
massaging my temples.
“Thank you.”
“It’s part of my job.”
My partner called.
r
I took a deep breath before answering.
“You and that kid!”
“Don’t make fun of me, I’m going crazy.”
“Chet’s half–British, six–two, a few hundred
million in the bank, he’s just too good for
you!”
“He’s a kid, he’s way too young!”
And that’s when Chet came on the line.
“I’m not a kid!
“Jane, I really, really like you!”
Chet’s mom interrupted.
“He’s nineteen, and in other countries he can
get married. If you’re worried about his
family, they don’t care as long as Chet is
happy. Even if you’re a bad girl, his family is
more than able to cover his bases.”
