The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Liam's POV

My nerves were stretched to their breaking point. The paternity test results hadn't arrived yet, but deep in my gut, I already knew the truth. Clairemont's baby wasn't mine. I just needed those damn results to finally put this nightmare to rest.

The shrill ring of my office phone cut through my thoughts. Stella's voice came through the speaker, professional but strained. Someone was waiting in reception to see me. My blood turned cold when she said the name.

Victoria.

What the hell was she doing here? I told Stella to send her up, but I'd meet her in the conference room. Keep it neutral territory.

I finished typing the last line of a client email, my fingers moving mechanically across the keyboard while my mind raced. When Stella buzzed to confirm Victoria's arrival, I pushed back from my desk and headed to the elevator bank.

The moment I stepped into the reception area, Victoria launched herself at me like a missile. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her mouth crashing against mine in a kiss that tasted like desperation and cheap lipgloss.

"Fantastic! Now this little tramp is making herself at home in our office?" Damian's voice dripped with disgust as he emerged from his corner office, briefcase in hand.

"Good afternoon to you too, you miserable bastard!" Victoria fired back, her fingers still tangled in my hair.

I pulled away from her, my jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. That's when I saw them. Hazel stood frozen by the elevator doors, Owen beside her, both of them staring at the train wreck unfolding in front of them.

Owen was shaking his head slowly, his expression a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. But it was Hazel's face that nearly brought me to my knees. The color had drained from her cheeks, leaving her looking pale and fragile.

She walked past us without a word, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown timer. Stella trailed behind her, shooting me a look that could have melted steel.

Owen paused as he passed my position, leaning in close enough that only I could hear his words.

"If you can't manage to send this piece of trash back to whatever gutter she crawled out of, just say the word. Because I'm not sticking around to watch you destroy yourself."

"So what's it going to be, Liam?" Damian demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you going to handle this or not?"

"He's not going to handle anything, Damian. He's the idiot who let her up here in the first place," Stella called out as she exited Hazel's office, heading toward the break room with murder in her eyes.

Damian turned on his heel and stalked back to his office, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the glass. I stood there like an idiot, completely lost. I needed to get Victoria out of here before she caused any more damage.

I grabbed her elbow and steered her toward the elevator, taking her down to the first floor conference room. I should have done that from the beginning.

"So Liam, who were those two lovely ladies upstairs?" Victoria purred, draping herself across my shoulders like a expensive scarf.

"What do you want, Victoria?" I stepped away from her, putting the conference table between us.

"Isn't it obvious, baby? I want you!"

"No, it's not obvious at all. We ended things years ago. You ran off with your boyfriend and built a new life. I did the same."

"But in Fresh Foster, we reconnected and you wanted me just as much as before."

"Don't twist what happened. We ran into each other and I made the colossal mistake of sleeping with you. That's all it was. A mistake."

"Oh darling, that's not how I remember it. If you took me to bed, it's because you still have feelings for me. That's why I came back. To give us another chance."

I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. This woman had absolutely zero grasp on reality. My patience was hanging by a thread.

"You're completely delusional. Do us both a favor and leave. Get out. Disappear. I feel absolutely nothing for you."

"Liam, don't be cruel. I came all this way for you."

"Then you wasted your time, because I don't even want to remember you exist. Please, just go away and don't contact me again."

"Is this because you're engaged to that boring little mouse Clairemont? My mother filled me in on everything! How did you end up with the woman you despise most in the world?"

"The same way I got tangled up with the biggest bitch on the planet, which would be you," I shouted, my voice echoing off the conference room walls. "Now get out and don't contact me again."

"You think you can intimidate me?" She settled into one of the leather chairs, crossing her legs with theatrical flair. "I'm not giving up on you, Liam. Not this time."

I yanked open the conference room door and spotted two security guards near the elevator bank. I waved them over, my voice sharp with authority.

"Escort this woman off the premises immediately. She's banned from this building effective now."

The guards moved toward her without hesitation. As they flanked her chair, I stepped into the elevator and called the head of security, making sure Victoria's name went on the permanent ban list.

When the elevator doors opened on my floor, I bolted toward Hazel's office. Through the glass walls, I could see her sobbing uncontrollably, surrounded by Owen, Damian, Stella, and Fiona.

"Liam, she's devastated. Back off," Owen blocked my path, his stance protective and unwavering.

"Come on, Owen. I need to explain what happened," I pleaded.

"Not happening, brother," Damian stepped up beside Owen, forming a wall between me and Hazel.

"Yes, son, it looks like you've done quite enough explaining already. Let the poor girl settle down. I gave her some of my special chamomile blend," Fiona said, brushing past me with a disapproving shake of her head.

"I'm taking Hazel home and then meeting you at my apartment. Got it? You too, Owen," Damian announced.

"Damian, let me drive Hazel home. You go deal with Liam and I'll catch up with you later," Owen suggested. "Please."

"Damian, Owen can take me. Go help your friend," Hazel managed between sobs.

"Hazel, please, can we just talk?" I begged.

"Not now, Liam. She's too fragile and this stress isn't good for her condition," Stella hissed through clenched teeth.

"Fine, Owen takes Hazel. Stella, hold down the fort here. Keep your phone on if anything explodes. Liam, you're coming with me," Damian decided.

Damian refused to let me behind the wheel of my own car. During the entire drive to his place, he lectured me about the spectacular mess I'd created and how he wouldn't stick around to watch me self-destruct if I got involved with Victoria again.

I tried to defend myself, but what defense was there? I'd really screwed up this time. Just when I was close to resolving the Clairemont situation, I'd created an entirely new disaster with Victoria.

At Damian's apartment, he immediately called Adrian and Noah, summoning them for an emergency meeting. Owen arrived last, his face grim.

"Please tell me you used protection when you slept with that witch in Fresh Foster," Owen was furious, his protective instincts for Hazel on full display.

"Of course I used protection. I wasn't completely out of my mind. I just wanted to clear my head, guys. For me, it was supposed to be meaningless sex, nothing more," I tried to justify my actions.

"And it's destroying Hazel's health," Owen snapped. "You have no idea how much I've watched that woman suffer. She's beautiful, brilliant, incredible, and all you do is break her heart." His anger was radiating off him in waves.

"How was she when you left her, Owen?" Damian asked.

"She was already asleep when we got to her place. I tucked her into bed, and Miranda promised to stay with her until the girls arrived," Owen said, his voice softening. "That tea of Fiona's is like a sedative! Oh, and Liam, Leo sends his love and says he misses you."

"God, I miss that kid so much!" The words came out choked with emotion.

When Adrian and Noah finally arrived, we filled them in on the whole disaster. Noah looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Liam, fix this mess before it spirals completely out of control," Noah said grimly.