After me and Liam had made up, that following week was the launch party for the new products, and it was more than safe to say that it was better than the previous one.

I had presented the products to the audience, mixed with new customers, possible new investors, it was a major success as many people seemed to be happy with the new products that were being introduced on the line, as there was an array of applause.

Plus, new buyers and old buyers are rising within a minute. As the revenue was rising by the minute the moment we put the products up for sale, in store and online.

I got through with the presentation, even though I've done this before, each time, I was nervous and my hands were shaking but I spoke with the best of my ability. This year turned out to be larger than last year, I suppose.

With the speech ending, that gives people the cue to mingle, as people were drinking and were offered food as they checked out the displays.

Exiting backstage as I got off, a certain someone was waiting for me, walking towards him, a smile automatically appeared on my face as I approached him.

Liam smiles back at me, holding one his arm out as he gives me a quick side hug, saying, "Congrats Ms. Cantrell" Holding me tight.

I can't help but smile even bigger as I thank him. As we separated, security then led us the way to where we're supposed to meet up with other people.

As we followed security, we were then led to a private section of the event, as the section was overlooking the entire crowd of people below. 

From up here, it looks like a bunch of little ants, in my opinion, but now looking from here, I guess I underestimated how many people would be here. Thank god I went on stage with only a viewpoint of a hundred people, then I would've been even more nervous to talk.

Anyways, as me and Liam finally reached the section, many people are here, waiting for us. The section was decorated, many with balloons, with congrats or congratulations written on them. There is also a bottle of champagne and many other drinks.

And the many people were the board of members, Ruby, some investors, and of course, Akako and Daphne.

Some of them spotted me and immediately came up to me to say congratulations, many people followed suit as they made an effort to say something to me.

I thanked all of them as someone handed me a glass of champagne, telling me that I should drink with them because of the success of the launch. As everyone had a glass in their hand, we cheered, clinking glasses.

A little while later as everyone, at least most of them, got into conservation. I was finishing up a conservation with Ruby as I noticed that Chopard was not anywhere to be seen. The last time I saw him was that he was having small talk with both Akako and Daphne.

But as I looked over at the two, it was only them talking to each other, as they laughed to themselves, paying no mind to anyone else in the room.

I took one last look around as I assumed I missed him when I was scanning the room, but nope, he was nowhere to be seen.

I excuse myself as I went out the door, carelessly following the hallway as I went to go look for Chopard. As I thought, I just hope he hasn't left yet, not without saying goodbye first, he couldn't have.

Adding to that, I do have to note that my mother came by earlier to wish me good luck before my presentation, but she couldn't stay around this time, which is fine because she has been to every single one of my launch parties, so I guess it's good for her to take a break.

As I continued to search the hallways, I noticed that one of the doors to a smaller private room was slightly open. No one is supposed to be here, only us, and that is in the main room, overlooking the crowd.

Becoming suspicious and curious about who is here, I pushed the door open even more. The lights are completely turned off, the only source of light that is coming in is from the balcony as the sun sets, arranging the clouds into beautiful colors.

As I eye the sun setting, I then notice someone standing on the balcony, looking out as if they haven't noticed someone standing at the door, with a drink in their hand, no doubt in my mind that this is Liam.

Stepping inside the room, I kept quiet as I approached behind him. I stopped as I admired him being peaceful, as I stood in the middle of the room.

Liam then suddenly turns around as he notices me standing there, he smiles brightly as he ask, "Would you like to join me, Ms. Cantrell?" Holding out his hand, for me to grab.

I smile back as I compile, my footsteps picking up as I reach for his hand, grabbing firmly as he leads me on the edge of the balcony, both of us now getting a clear view of the sky.

We stayed quiet for a second, both of us taking in the feeling of the wind as it picked up a bit.

I decided to break the silence as I swirl my drink in my hands, I ask, "What are you going to do after this?" Wondering.

"Honestly" Liam sighs, as he takes a sip of his drink, "I might just go home and sleep" He looks at me as he answers, chuckling to himself.

Meeting his eyes for a moment, then breaking eye contact, I suddenly look up as I see a plane in the distance, then an idea suddenly clicks in my head, it might be crazy but it's worth it.

Plus, I would say, this would be like owing him this. Just for this one last thing.

I smile as I settle on the idea, I then say, "Come on, let's go" Gesturing my head towards the door. But I couldn't wait as Liam was processing my request, so I grabbed his hand as I practically jogged out of the room, unable to contain my excitement.

We get out to the hallway as I grab both his and my drink as I placed them both on a tray of a passing waiter. And as the waiter passes by, heading to the private room where everyone is, I glance back at everyone as if they were in their own little world, not noticing that I disappeared.

Which I prefer that way. Sometimes, I wish I could just disappear so that I could have a bit of peace without anyone wondering where I went. I guess that what I get for choosing this career, a small exchange for a big outcome.

And that exchange was the peace I could've had. But, it doesn't matter now, since I wouldn't exchange it for anything else. I get to have some peace with someone that I care about.

As my eyes remained on everyone, I smiled as I reminded myself that I achieved something today, and that I'm grateful to have the support that I have, especially after what happened with Logan and Anne.

I cringe, just the thought of those two make me sick to my stomach, but soon, the both of them will be nothing but a memory, a lesson that I should keep in mind: Not everyone is what they seem.

Of course, I knew that to be true, but I never imagined that someone like Logan would slip past me.

Anyway, forcing my eyes away from the people in the room, and shaking off the thought about Logan and Anne. I turn to Liam as of right now, I want to focus on the future instead of the past.

I want to enjoy this. I decided that I should.

Turning towards Liam, I grab his hand, my hand embracing his. His hand automatically clasped mine. And before he could even look at me, I tugged him forward, down the hall, getting further and further away from everyone.

He gasped in surprise as I didn't stop, walking down the stairs, leading him to a side exit, as it was revealed that my driver was on standby.

"Hailey–" Liam started to say but I pushed through, ignoring him as I didn't want to waste any time talking. The driver, seeing us moving fastly to the car, hurriedly opened the door as I climbed inside, not stopping for a moment until I'm fully seated.

With my hand not letting go of his, he was forced to keep up with me, forcing him to climb into the car with me. The driver closes the door as finally, I let go of his hand, both of us catching our breaths.

Dramatic? Sure.

As the car starts up, Chopard looks around as he was certainly confused, he then states, jokily, "Look, isn't this a kidnapping?" He chuckles, but as I was so focused on getting to where we need to go, I didn't even answer.

Chuckling nervously, he noticed that I didn't answer, he looked around as he asked, "Um, Hailey–What are we doing? Where are we going?"

I ignored his question once more as I didn't want to spoil the fun, I want it to be special for him. I sat back in my seat as I turned to face him, the excitement unable to leave my face, he studies my face and I could tell that my excitement made him even more nervous.

I'm guessing because he never sees me like this.

"Where's your passport?" I suddenly asked as I reminded myself about that.

Liam is obviously confused by my question, but compiles to answer as he says, "It's at my apartment" He says slowly, almost as if he doesn't understand my simple question, "Why? What's going on" He asked once more.

I ignored him again as I excitedly expressed to the driver, "Take us to Chopard's apartment" The driver nodded in the rearview mirror as the car slowly began to drive off.

Turning to Liam again, I instructed him, "When we get to your building, grab your passport and meet me back in the car, okay?"

Even though confusion and nervousness is written all over his face, he nods as he sits back as well, looking out the window, nervously tapping his leg against the floor.

This will all make sense, I wish I could say to Chopard, but knowing that I shouldn't right now, because I want this to be special for Liam, I want him to enjoy the surprise.

Plus, this is a reward for all the hard work he has done since being at the company. He deserve it, he deserves this.

As we arrive at his apartment complex, Liam gets out of the car as he heads inside the building. While I'm waiting, which was only for a few minutes, I wondered if Chopard would like this idea or not. I mean–He's kind of going into this blindly.

Shaking my head, pulling myself out of those thoughts, I'm sure Liam would love this, it's the perfect idea, he gets to enjoy himself.

The car door opens as he gets back in the door, pulling me out of my thoughts completely, and just like I instructed, he brought his passport, and nothing else.

We soon arrived at the airport as a private plane was waiting for us. I look over towards Liam for any resistance or anything that makes him say, I don't want to do this. But nothing from him at all.

Before I begin to exit the car, Liam looks out the window as he eyes the plane, jokingly stating, "Well, I guess I don't have a choice, do I?" Looking towards me, with a knowingly look.

I smiled as I giggled under my breath, as he refers to me not exactly giving him a choice in the matter, I said, "Come on" Hopping out of the car. He follows suit.

–

As the plane takes off, and is in the air, throughout most of the ride, he worrily questions as this is not part of the schedule and if he missed this. Also worrying about missing work back at the office and of course, where we are going.

I smiled the whole way as I shortly answered him that everything is going to be fine and that he doesn't have to worry for a single thing, at least for this trip.

Staring out the window as the clouds slowly passed by, all I can think about is the excitement that's going to be on his face when we get to our destination.

And for once, in my life, I'm...not really thinking about work, I'm not thinking about what I should do next or the next set of products or anything like that. I guess I'm living in the moment, which is strange and new to me.

Since I always lived in the future, I suppose. But right now, I want to live in the present.

Remembering what my mother said about how not everyone is guarantee to stay in my life forever, but I have to enjoy the ones right now. That's what I want to do, and right now, I want to enjoy this time with Liam. And that is what I plan to do.

Later, we finally arrived in New York and as I let Liam step out of the plane first, he stopped at the top of the stairs as I assume he's staring in awe, he then steps down the stairs as he continues to look around us.

Consisting of high buildings, I follow him, slowly walking down the stairs as I come up to Liam's side, linking my arm with his, he looks down at me in surprise.

Even though I'm exhausted from the plane ride, I might as well enjoy the tiredness with him. I looked up at him as I smiled, asking, "So, what do you want to do first?"

Liam's eyes lit up as he realized what I was talking about, this isn't a business trip or anything of the sort, this is just a trip for us, for him, to enjoy himself, and I'm just here for the ride.

He smiles big, as his arm that's link with mine tighten, not letting me go, he then says as he looks towards the distance, "I know the perfect thing to do"

                                        *

I guess Liam really likes New York CIty and everything it has to offer. I mean, I thought we were just going to one or two places, because the last time we were here, he wanted to do some sightseeing.

I didn't expect to do basically hundreds of things in one day, we went to many places, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Statue of Liberty, went to Times Square, and that was listing off a few things I could think of.

But nonetheless, at least we were enjoying ourselves, laughing and creating moments I thought I would never create with someone like him. He was dragging me along the many places and I actually didn't mind it.

It's like the child in me wanted to do this all along.

After a long day of running around and buying every souvenir we thought was cool, we got back to the hotel as it was overlooking the beautiful city. And the next thing I know, we're on the bed as I'm on top of Chopard as our bodies are bonded together, enjoying the sensation and the feeling that we're both experiencing.

I moan as I grab onto him, the sensation threatening to shatter me into pieces.

A few minutes later, with the covers wrapped around us, we cuddle as we indulge in each other's comfort, our warmth making it seem like second nature, that this is what I needed in my life.

Chopard gently grabbed my hand as he intertwined them, holding firmly, placing it onto his chest as I could feel his heartbeat under my hand.

Resting my head on his shoulder, a smile appeared on my face, we didn't say anything, all we did was lay in silence as we took in the moment. I think about how I wish I could freeze time right now, so that I don't have to think about anything else, other than this moment.

I want to stay in this moment forever, I thought, softly closing my eyes, only feeling his heartbeat and the warmth between us.

Liam and Hailey are so cute together, love the New York trip.

-Summer Roe