The CEO's Assistant

After a long silence the car finally came to a stop.

"Master Liam, Miss Arianna, we have arrived at the house." Liam's driver looked in the rearview mirror, as Liam's door opened, to smiling Jeffery.

"Master welcome home." Jeffery spoke as Liam stepped out. The old butler's smile widen when his grey-blue eyes meet with Arianna's golden brown pools. "Miss Richard, it's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to see you again."

"Jeffery," Arianna smiled brightly, "I'm glad to see you again, how is Annalise after her divorce?"

"Oh yes, she did ask me to thank you for the help your lawyer friend gave her." Jeffery smiled sweetly at the girl, who so kindly gave him her friend's number after finding out his niece was getting screwed around in her divorce.

"I'm so glad to hear that." Arianna smiled at the butler, knowing that this may be the last time she sees the kind old man. As she stepped out the limo, she looked up at Liam's manor, a place she found herself quite fond of and rather comfortable being herself.

"Shall we go Miss Richard?" Liam's professional tone and stoic expression surprised the old butler.

Jeffery's heart dropped when he heard his young master address the young miss this way. He watched with a heavy heart as Arianna followed Liam into the house and up to the study.

The pair walked towards his office without a word. The silence weighted heavy on their shoulders. Walking a step behind him, Arianna's eyes never left the back of Liam's head, filled with sorrow and regret, her heart ached for the pain she was causing him.

That was when she make her choice, once she steps foot out these gates that was going to be it, she couldn't place this cat and mouse game anymore, she couldn't keep hurting him like this anymore.

"Take a seat." Liam's voice brought her back to reality, when she realised they were standing in his office.

"Thank you" She smiled and sat down on the black leather couch, that sat opposite his desk. While Liam took the armchair adjacent to her.

"Now what did you want to talk about?" Liam's cold and distant expression didn't subside.

"A collaboration." Arianna sat up, crossing her legs and putting all her emotion behind her. "As of next year I take over RF and from what I hear you're also taking over Aimer La Mode, after Juliette pulled out of the running."

Liam was quite surprised. It was indeed true that Juliette pulled out of the running to be the next CEO, after making the decision that her and Felix wanted to start a family within the next few years. However, he being name the successor had not yet been announced to the public. "How did you-" he stopped and thought, "Juliette."

"Yes." She laughed. "It's okay, I haven't told anyone and Juliette accidently told me over dinner on Monday."

"Why a collaboration? We're your biggest competitor?" Liam was intrigued by this proposal. He stood up to pour a glass of whiskey, silently offering her a glass.

"Simple, I plan to branch out much further than the entertainment and fashion industries." Arianna held out her hand politely taking the crystal glass of alcohol. "Unlike Joan I do not have a particular interest in fashion, I like business. I intend to make RF a branch business of Richard Corporation." Elegantly taking a sip Arianna smiled a Liam shocked expression.

"I must say, this surprises me." Liam sipped his drink. "While I don't doubt that you have the ability, because I've seen what you can do and as your lover I must support you, but as a businessman I have ask what's in it for me?" He gave her that devilish smirk she loved so much.

Lover?

Arianna was stunned by the use of this word. Is that what they already were lovers? Her heart felt heavy with guilt, but she knew that wasn't what she needed to focus on right now.

"Of course, what's in it for you? Simple. Both companies have been at the top of the fashion industry for more than 10 years, the revenue of a major release lines this makes other companies green with envy, could you imagine how well we'd do if we up our designers together to create a major summer-autumn line." Arianna kept her calm facade, refusing to allow Liam to see how uneasy she's feeling.

Liam was too lost in thought to see through her pretence. He was impressed, she seems to have done her homework. "Okay so how are we splitting this then?"

"Well since I like you we'll split it 50/50." She smirked at him mischievously.

"That's fair." He shrugs leaning back into his chair. Arianna stands up and walks over towards the glass balcony doors, looking at the sunset.

"Of course that means we must keep this little arrangement a secret until we both have completely control of our respected companies. No matter how much Joan approves of our relationship, she would have an cow if she discovered this plan." Arianna turned around leaning against the window to see Liam's perplexed expression.

"A cow?" Liam raised an eyebrow.

Arianna let out a laugh, in that moment it made her realise just how foolish she'd been. "It's a figure of speech, meaning like getting angry or having a fit."

"In what language?"

"In Australian." Arianna let out an awkward laugh. Her gaze fell to the right hand, fingers wrapped around the crystal glass in just the right position to display the silver dragon ring winding up her index finger.

"I'm pretty sure I've met plenty of Australians and they've never said that." Liam didn't sound quite so convinced.

"Yeah well... the ones you know grew up in a very different Australia than the one I grew up in." Arianna placed her glass on his desk as she strutted out of the room picking up her handbag on the way out. Arianna looked down the hallway and found the bathroom locking herself inside.

"You foolish child." She whispered to herself. Running her fingers through her hair, letting her heavy lids close over her eyes as her back slid down the bathroom door unlike she felt the cold tiles under her legs. "You'll never be one of them."