My heels clicked on the linoleum floor of the Tanz Industries building as I followed dad to the computer area.

"Good morning, gentlemen," dad greeted them, "You two look terrible,"

Professor Croft murmured something incoherent in response and Liam shot me a tired half-smile when he saw me standing behind dad. There were dark circles underneath his brown eyes and I frowned. Poor Liam.

"When was the last time you slept?" I asked concernedly, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Uh, Monday...maybe. Well, depends what day it is," he said before calling to the computer, "Tess?"

"Today is Friday, Liam," she intoned.

"Oh, that's bad," he said seriously and I laughed out loud.

Liam grinned and shook his head at me.

"You shouldn't mock people, Miss Tanz," he quipped and I rolled my eyes playfully.

While Darius discussed rockets with them, I sat down in one of the swivel chairs. My eyes slid to Liam and I bit my lip, butterflies swarming in my stomach as he ran a hand through his already disheveled brunette hair.

"Think I'm gonna make myself an Espresso...or three," Liam said suddenly, hopping up from his seat to head towards the cafeteria.

"I'll come with you." I volunteered, smiling.

I followed after him, the two of us joking and laughing like usual when we were interrupted by a female voice. A nasally, whiny one that was all-too familiar to me.

"Liam! Fancy meeting you here," Amanda called after us, "It's Liam, right?"

"Yeah, good memory," he said, smiling politely as he went to the coffee machine.

"Amanda, look what the cat dragged in," I shot her a fake smile.

She looked at me contemptuously, "Hello, Marnie,"

"You here for the tour, Amanda?" Liam asked her, changing the subject.

"Yes and I came to see you," she smiled and I frowned.

Where was she heading with this?

"Really?" he arched an eyebrow.

"I was hoping you could help out a fellow millennial," she shrugged, handing him a business card.

"You're a reporter?" he asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I should've told you at the Embassy but I didn't want to ruin the moment,"

"We were having a moment?" he asked, unbelieving.

I snorted, muttering a snarky 'ouch' under my breath and Amanda shot me a dirty look to which I just shrugged.

"Anyway, I wanna do a piece on Darius Tanz. Something splashy to earn my keep at Capitol Eyes. You think you could cruise the wheels for me?" she asked him hopefully.

Lazlo, dad's bodyguard I'd known since I was a toddler, came over then to escort Amanda off since she had no clearance in the area. As she walked off angrily, I sent him a smile.

"Thanks. She was annoying me," I told him and he nodded.

"Of course, Miss Tanz," he said before turning to Liam, "Liam, you have a visitor in the lobby."

Liam turned to me as they walked off but before he could speak I stopped him.

"Go. I'll cover for you with dad." I told him and he smiled, pecking my cheek briefly as he breezed by.

"Thanks, M!" he called over his shoulder, leaving me to touch the place on my cheek where his lips had been.

"No problem, Liam." I breathed out quietly, feeling warm all over from that one simple act.

Glancing over at the counter, I noticed he'd left his Espresso. I grabbed it and headed to the lobby to give it to him. I had just turned the corner when I heard him call out.

"Jillian?"

"Liam!"

I glanced up to see him embrace the girl from the Boston bookstore. I frowned sadly, feeling a heaviness in my heart.

"What are you-what are you doing here?" he asked her.

"So, some guy named Lazlo just showed up at the bookstore the other day. He said that Darius Tanz wanted to meet me. I'm getting a tour and he's taking me to lunch." she beamed at Liam and I felt my blood begin to boil.

Well, I was going to have to have a talk with daddy dearest about this.