The CEO's Assistant

Liam's anger boiled up inside him, as he watched the tears stream down her face. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer to him, Arianna cried into his c.h.e.s.t as she thought about her lost child. That was the moment he decided Julien wasn't even going to live to see the end of summer.

"I know it's been so long, but I just can't help thinking about my baby." The brunette sobbed uncontrollably. She remembered the ultrasound, how her little jellybean was so tiny and special, she's reminded how she'd never loved anyone the way she loved her child. "I know it wasn't conceived out of love, but it was so innocent, it didn't deserve to that fate."

"I'm so sorry Arianna..." Liam's voice filled with sorrow, his heart ached for the child and it's mother.

"No-one has ever said that to me." Arianna looked up at him with a soft smile, no-one had ever known, apart from the doctor and tattoo artist, she knew that moment was when she was at her weakest. He wiped her tears away, his hand resting on her cheek as he looked lovingly into her eyes. "I promise I won't let him ever hurt you like that again."

Arianna's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, she didn't know why, but she felt she could trust him, like he really meant what he said. "Thank you." She smiled shyly.

"I can I ask..." Liam hesitated, he wasn't sure he had the right to ask.

"Hmm," She leaned into his c.h.e.s.t as his arm wrapped around her small waist.

"If... I mean, all this that happened, why was Julien at your birthday?" His voice filled with concern, he knew Joan had thrown the party, but if she knew why would she invite him?

"B...because she never knew..." Arianna avoided his gaze, anxiously biting her lip. "You see Joan hired me because I was strong enough to handle my enemies on my own, I think that's what made it worse, I couldn't even handle my own lover and I let him walk all over me."

"But surely she would have someone keep an eye on you."

"I think she knew I had a relationship with him, but I know she had no idea about the abuse. He wouldn't be alive if she did." Arianna's wet eyes looked at him with a small smile, "I know everyone calls her heartless, but in honesty she has a big heart. I remember when one of her secretaries Sarah came to work after being beat by her father, Joan had the man threatened and said if ever touched his daughter ever again, he wouldn't live to see her again. She really cares about her employees."

"Well I'm glad she cares about you." Liam cupped her face in his large hand, kissing her forehead gently. "But I think you need to tell her."

"Tomorrow..." Arianna mumbled sleepily. Liam looked down to find her laying, eyes closed on his c.h.e.s.t. He let out a slight chuckle, as he gaze down in admiration.

After awhile he notice she'd fallen into a deep sleep, he careful adjusted his position, using his free hand to slide under her legs, carrying her bridal style over to see bed. He tried laid her down, but her hands were locked around his neck. He gently moved her over to laid down pulling her into his arms, before finally succ.u.mbing to sleep himself.

~ ~ ~

Juliette looked at the time 8:23AM, had she really left already? Surely not. But Juliette had looked all over the manor and couldn't find Arianna, her bedroom was empty. Suddenly she was startled by Jeffery, the butler who had been around since both her and Liam were babies, he wasn't much taller than her and was starting to look rather old now. He'd never had his own family, he'd been loyal to her family since, before she was born. She loved this old man like grandfather, he'd taught her to ride a bike and even introduced her to Felix, he'd been there for both of them even when there own parents couldn't.

"Butler Jeffery, did Arianna leave?" Juliette looked at the butler.

"I'm sorry Young Miss but I'm unsure, Miss Richard was already out of bed when I awoke. Perhaps she left early." He smiled gently.

"Her clothes are still on the chair in her room, though." A sweet soft voice came from staircase behind them young maid with orange hair, bright green eyes and a collection of freckles sprinkled over her nose, walked towards the Young Miss and the butler. "Please excuse my interruption Young Miss, but I'd gone to check on Miss Richard and call her to breakfast but she wasn't there, however her clothes are still in the room." Jeffery and Juliette looked at Maya.

"That means there's only one place she could be..." All three of them turned their heads to look at the large light wooden door at the end of the hall, the door that lead into room no-one was allowed to be.

Liam's bedroom. It was like a forbidden fortress, no-one was allowed inside while he was home, the maids were only allowed to clean in the room once a week under butler Jeffery's supervision. If he was in there no-one was allowed to disturb him, no-one was allowed to talk to him and no-one not even his family were allowed to enter, the room. The only person who'd ever been in there was Chloe.

"Surely not..." Maya gasped in shock. The green-eyed maid had been on leave the last time Arianna had visited the manor and wasn't exactly clear on the relationship between her Master and Miss Richard. "They're..."

"It is not our place to judge Maya." Jeffery knew what she was going to say, her reaction was not unexpected, he himself did not expect this outcome.

Juliette watched Maya's reaction in her peripheral vision and was pleasantly surprised to see no jealousy or anger. She knew how to the maid doted over her brother, Maya's parents were both servants in the main mansion and she'd grown up with Juliette and Liam.

Jeffery watched the young lady he'd coached into a fine and competent maid from a young age, but recalled her reaction when their Young Master brought Chloe home the first time or when she found out they were engaged. Jeffery's heart broke for her, because he knew Liam would never feel the same way about her that she felt for him.

Maya knew that Juliette and Jeffery were watching her so she needed to put on a good show, but she also knew that no matter what happened, Liam and Arianna could never be together...

She would make sure of it...