The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 98

98 The Complete Package

98 The Complete Package

Hazel’s POV

Waking up in Liam’s arms felt like coming home. The early morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, casting a golden glow across his sleeping face. I studied his features-the strong jawline, the slight stubble, those long eyelashes. How had I gotten so lucky?

His arms tightened around me. “Stop staring,” he mumbled, eyes still closed.

“I’m not staring. I’m admiring,” I corrected, pressing a kiss to his bare chest.

His eyes fluttered open, revealing those mesmerizing violet-blue eyes. The same eyes Leo had. The same eyes that had captivated me that night at the masquerade.

“Morning, beautiful.” His voice was rough with sleep as he rolled me under him.

“Morning,” I whispered back, my body instantly responding to his weight on top of

mine.

“We have to get up soon,” I reminded him, even as my fingers traced the muscles of his

back.

“Hmm. Soon isn’t now.” He lowered his head to kiss my neck.

My breath hitched. “Liam…”

“Shh. Let me love you, Hazel.” His hands moved down my sides, leaving goosebumps in

their wake.

Our lovemaking was tender yet urgent-a reaffirmation of everything we’d admitted to each other. When we finally lay spent and breathing heavily, I felt more complete than

I ever had.

“I could get used to this,” Liam murmured, playing with a strand of my hair.

“Me too,” I agreed, snuggling closer.

The sound of tiny footsteps in the hallway made us both freeze.

“Mommy?” Leo’s voice called from outside the door.

I bolted upright, grabbing Liam’s discarded T-shirt. “Just a minute, sweetie!”

“Crisis averted,” Liam chuckled, pulling on his boxers as I opened the bedroom door.

Leo stood there in his dinosaur pajamas, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His face lit up when he spotted Liam. “You’re still here!”

“Of course I am, buddy.” Liam scooped him up, tossing him playfully into the air.

Leo’s giggles echoed through the apartment. My heart swelled watching them together.

“Who wants pancakes?” Chloe’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“Me!” Leo shouted, wriggling out of Liam’s arms and racing toward the smell of

breakfast.

In the kitchen, Chloe was flipping pancakes while Noah set the table. Both gave us knowing looks as we entered.

“Well, well, well,” Chloe smirked. “Look who finally joined us.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “We were just―”

“Sleeping in,” Liam finished smoothly, wrapping an arm around my waist.

Noah snorted. “Sure you were.”

“Uncle Noah! Liam stayed over!” Leo announced excitedly, oblivious to the adults’

innuendo.

“I see that, champ,” Noah replied, ruffling Leo’s hair.

Breakfast was a surprisingly domestic affair. Liam and Noah argued good-naturedly over the sports section of the newspaper. Chloe kept sneaking extra chocolate chips into Leo’s pancakes when she thought I wasn’t looking.

“So who’s taking Leo to daycare today?” Chloe asked, refilling coffee cups.

“I am,” Liam stated firmly.

“No way, man,” Noah countered. “That’s my job now.”

I watched them bicker, amused. “Guys, it’s just daycare drop-off.”

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“It’s not just daycare,” Liam insisted. “It’s establishing presence.”

“Well, I established my presence first,” Noah argued.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “You’re both ridiculous.”

“I want Liam to take me!” Leo declared, syrup dripping down his chin.

Noah clutched his chest dramatically. “Betrayed by my own nephew!”

“Sorry, Uncle Noah,” Leo giggled, not looking sorry at all.

“Don’t worry, Noah,” I consoled. “You can pick him up later.”

With breakfast finished, we all scrambled to get ready. Liam borrowed one of Noah’s shirts since his was wrinkled beyond salvation.

“I’ll swing by my place after dropping Leo off,” Liam told me as he helped Leo tie his shoes. “Then I’ll pick you up for work.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I protested. “I can drive myself.”

“I want to.” His tone left no room for argument.

Forty minutes later, Liam returned to drive me to work, looking impeccable in a fresh charcoal suit. He held the car door open for me with a flourish.

“How was drop-off?” I asked as we pulled away from my apartment.

“Perfect.” His smile was smug. “I met his teacher, introduced myself as Leo’s father, and informed the office that I’m to be added to all contact lists.”

“You did what?” I stared at him.

“I’m claiming what’s mine, Hazel.” His hand found mine across the console.

I should have been annoyed at his presumption, but I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through me.

“About that,” Liam continued, his tone shifting to business-like. “I expect you back at Sterling Group on Monday.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“As my assistant, of course.” He said it casually, as if we were discussing the weather.

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98 The Complete Package

“It’s part of the complete package.”

“What package?” I asked, confused.

“Our reconciliation package.” He flashed me that CEO smile. “You, me, Leo-a family. You back where you belong, at Sterling Group.”

My momentary happiness evaporated. “Liam, I have a job.”

“A job beneath your qualifications,” he countered smoothly. “Apex World doesn’t deserve you.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” I pulled my hand away. “I like my job there.”

“You liked working with me more,” he insisted.

“That was before everything happened,” I reminded him. “Before Olivia.”

His jaw tightened at her name. “That’s in the past.”

“Not for me it isn’t,” I said quietly. “Working in that office again, where I saw you with

her… I can’t do it, Liam.”

“You won’t have to see her. She’s gone.”

“That’s not the point.” I felt frustration building. “The point is you’re making decisions about my life without even asking me.”

“I’m looking out for your best interests,” he argued.

“No, you’re looking out for what you want.” The car slowed as we approached my building. “I worked hard to build a life independent of you. A life where seeing you every day didn’t tear me apart. I’m not giving that up.”

Liam’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You’d rather work for Richard Cole than for me? The man’s an idiot.”

“He respects my work,” I shot back. “And more importantly, he respects my

boundaries.”

“This isn’t about respect, Hazel. It’s about where you belong.”

“And I decide where that is!” My voice rose despite my effort to stay calm. “Not you.” We pulled up in front of Apex World’s glass tower. Liam put the car in park but made

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no move to get out.

“I thought we were starting fresh,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “Building our future together.”

“We are,” I assured him, softening slightly. “But that doesn’t mean I have to give up the independence I fought so hard for.”

“You don’t need independence from me,” he insisted. “We’re a team now.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “Do you even hear yourself? That’s exactly the kind of thinking that tore us apart before.”

“What I hear is my woman refusing to work by my side,” he countered.

“Your woman?” I echoed. “I’m not a possession, Liam.”

“That’s not what I meant-‘

“It’s exactly what you meant.” I gathered my purse and reached for the door handle. “I love you, Liam. But I won’t let you dictate my career choices.”

His expression hardened. “We’ll see, Hazel, we’ll see.”

The implied threat in his voice sent a chill down my spine. This was the controlling CEO side of Liam that had always frustrated me.

“What does that mean?” I demanded.

“It means this conversation isn’t over.” He leaned across the console and kissed me- hard and possessive-before I could respond. “Have a good day at work. I’ll pick you up at five.”

I stepped out of the car, mind reeling from the whiplash of emotions. Just minutes ago, I’d been happier than I’d ever been. Now I felt like I was fighting for the independence I’d worked so hard to build.

As Liam’s car pulled away, I stood frozen on the sidewalk. Our reconciliation was everything I’d dreamed of, but his expectation that I’d simply fall in line with his plans was exactly what I’d always feared.

The question was-could I have Liam without losing myself in the process?