April 2005, NYU

“Don’t come near Chanty again,” Cameron’s jaw clenched as he finished his sentence.

“I didn’t know Chanty has a personal bodyguard,” Liam countered.

“She doesn’t want you around—the two of you,” he added, eyeing Zach standing behind Liam.

“Stop it, Cameron,” Chanty said behind her boyfriend. “I told you it was nothing.”

“He was trying to—”

“And I didn’t mind it. So should you,” Chanty did not let him finish and pulled him away. She threw Liam and Zach one last glance before walking off with Cameron.

2013

“Liam, what do you mean--”

“I am not going to lie to my son, Chanty. We are dating and it starts now.”

“What?” she asked incredulously. This was never part of her plan!

Liam’s smile as he looked down at her told her he was serious and amused at the same time.

“And by now, I really meant now,” he uttered as she bent his head down.

Chanty’s mind was in panic. She had never kissed Liam before. Well, yes, of course, she did in the past. But that was during that night when she was barely conscious. And to feel his breath brush against her lips this time, with her mind fully alert, she felt something different. Anticipation? Weirdness? Excitement? Guilt?

But Liam didn’t give her enough time to decipher what she really felt because his lips finally planted against hers. Chanty could taste the faint taste of his coffee as his mouth moved over hers in a gentle, patient, prodding manner. And he prodded expertly because a small sigh finally escaped her lips as she gave in to the kiss.

It was a soft and gentle one. Not hurried, yet passionate at the same time.

Was this how she felt that night five years ago? Was it the same swooning feeling? Was it as great as it was now?

“See? Now’s a good time, right?” she heard Liam ask.

Chanty opened her eyes. Which part of the kiss did she close them anyway? Liam was looking at her with a glint in his eyes.

“I’ll go back to Willie,” he said, his breath brushing against her lips before he leaned away.

Chanty was speechless as she watched him walk out of the kitchen with his mug of coffee.

Chanty couldn’t sleep. She had been through a lot in the past, but it seemed that this lying scam she had going on was the hardest. It was not easy to give birth to a son alone, much more raising him, but this one with Cameron and Liam seemed to be making a record of its own.

What if Liam finds out before I could tell him the truth?

He would be furious.

And why does he want to be with me?

That was a question she couldn’t figure out the answer to. Or a question she didn’t even want to have an answer to. It would only make things complicated.

What about Cameron? He’ll have to go away. He won’t get Willie.

With that thought in mind, Chanty’s eyes started to close.

Liam was not sure if what he did would come out good. All he knew was that he was glad Chanty was starting to warm up to him. She was starting to trust him.

And that kiss they shared told him he had a shot with her this time.

His phone rang and when he saw who was calling, he answered with the smile still pasted on his lips. “It’s about time you call and give me a hand,” he uttered instead of a hello.

“Come on, man. You know how important Julianne is to me. And before you click off with bitterness because you are still chasing after Chanty while I got the girl—”

“What do you mean you got the girl?”

The laughter in Zach’s voice could not be denied as he said, “She gave in, man! She gave in!”

“So, you’re getting married?”

“Uh, that’s the problem. She doesn’t want to. She wants to focus on the baby and she doesn’t want to appear married just because we’re having a baby. I know it’s crazy, but I’m not willing to push further. She might disappear from the face of the earth and I would definitely go crazy if that happens.”

“Tell Julianne she made the right decision,” Liam answered.

“Come on, you know how important this is to me. You should help me convince her that marriage is the best thing we should do right now.”

“No, the best thing you should be doing right now is going to work and help me with my big problem.”

“What big problem?”

Liam sighed. “It’s about my son. Remember?”

“Wait, you were serious about that? You really have a son with--but how did it even happen? When did it happen?”

“Don’t ask me that. Right now, I want to be with my son and Chanty. But Chanty is all bothered over Cameron’s stupid appearance. I told her we’ll do a DNA test to make the guy go away but she refuses to let Willie go through it. I’m actually thinking to hand the guy a fake result. It won’t change anything anyway. I know Willie’s my son.”

“Holy shit, man! Are you insane? Fake a DNA test? You know you can end up in jail, right?”

“Tell me if you have gone to law school. You seem to know a lot about the law than Angelica’s husband. And I said I am only thinking of doing it. I’ll still try to convince Chanty. For now, I need you to do something.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I went to a friend who works for the New York Times. I fed him with a little story that could make Cameron take a few steps back to buy me some time to convince Chanty that a DNA test is a good idea.”

“And?”

“I want you to make sure that the story is printed in front of the paper. I know you can do that.”

“Of course. That’s all?”

“Get your ass down here. I don’t care if you will have Julianne with you or not. Just get down here.”

“Yes, I will. Who would want to miss seeing Cameron’s ass bounce away with fire?”

Liam clicked off without an answer. Zach was coming and Cameron better prepare. They did not have the chance to kick the guy’s ass a few years back and they definitely did not forget it.

“Hey,” he greeted Chanty with a peck, much to her surprise.

“What is that for?” she said through her teeth as they smiled for everyone who saw them. She started to walk briskly and he followed her steps.

“Everybody here thinks we’re back together,” he answered in a low tone only she could hear.

“We were never together,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“They think we were,” he corrected. “And now we are.” He took a moment to glance at her. She was wearing a simple white shirt and jeans. Her wavy brown hair was tied high behind her head, its twirled tail swaying as she walked without commenting on his last statement. “Where are you going?”

“To my office. And then to the site. I need some distraction.” she asked, not even bothering to give a hint that she suddenly changed the topic.

“Chanty,” he said, his face serious now.

“What?”

“I did something to buy us some time.”

“Time for what?”

“For you and Willie to be ready for that DNA test.”

Her face became alert. “What did you do, Liam?”

“I sent a little story to the New York Times. It’s just a little something about Cameron and I think it might make him back off for a while.”

“What story?”

The grin on his face returned. “You’ll soon find out. It’s going to be on the front page.”

“You should have talked to me about this, Liam. You don’t just make a move like this. This could affect my son--”

“Correction: our son. And it’s nothing big. Cameron wouldn’t even think we’re behind it.”

Chanty sighed. “It better be a good one.”

“Of course, it is. As I’ve said, it’s going to be on the front page.”

 “Are you sure?”

“Zach’s on it.”

At the mention of Zach’s name, Chanty just nodded and entered her office.

Liam was just about to do the same when she suddenly turned around, holding the door in arm’s length.

“You have your own office,” she reminded him.

Liam sighed and before she could close the door, he leaned forward and planted his lips on hers. It was not the first time, but that kiss brought back a lot of memories to Liam. She didn’t look surprised as earlier, but it didn’t stop her from closing the door either.

He shrugged and turned around to see the staff looking at him with various smiles on their faces. Pete for one was smiling at him wickedly while his secretary was blushing with a dreamy smile beside him. “Show’s over. Get back to work,” he said and walked to his office.

Chanty was not able to give the right reaction that Liam’s action deserved. She was still in shock as she sat down behind her desk. His kiss reminded her of yesterday. And the past. It was not something special as she could remember, but it had always been inside her memory. Liam, after all, was among the few men she had kissed and felt some kind of connection with in the process. And after what he did, she realized that it was still there.

She mentally shook herself. Being bothered about the kiss would only lead to a lot of complications. She was already dealing with big ones at the moment and spilling her brains over Liam and the weird, old feelings he sparked would not help at all. Willie should be the first person she had to think about, Cameron the second, and her family the third. Liam, though she was somehow using him, should never be in the picture.

Believing that she had clearly pictured her priorities at the moment, Chanty began working on the plans for the project. She thought of going to the site with Liam today. But after what he did, she better do it alone. He had his own car and he could very well drive if he wanted to.

“You did not wait for me,” Liam said behind her. She was talking with Pete for the designs of the building. The guy wanted to work on site for two reasons. One, he wanted to be on the site where the building would stand to see the surrounding and come up with ideas. Two, there were a lot of men rich with adrenaline and muscles.

“We were planning on doing it early. You seemed engrossed with your own work,” she answered nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on the floor plan laid out before her. They were outside on what supposed to be the parking lot of the soon-to-rise big establishment. Her one hand was holding on to a cup of coffee, the other on the paper.

“You’re avoiding me?” Liam asked.

Pete’s bald head perked up with that question. What he might not have sensed as a tension before was now fully realized. He curiously looked at Chanty and then at Liam.

“No, why would I? I’m working, Liam. If you’re looking for Kyle, he’s inside.” She had straightened and was now facing him.

Pete did the same, his devilish gay grin visible now. Her friend folded his arms across his chest and leaned his hips against the table, enjoying the show.

“I am looking for you. We need to talk,” Liam answered. The very familiar grin was pasted on his handsome face. Chanty found herself looking at Liam and she saw the small, white scar on his right temple, about half an inch in length. She had never noticed that before but now that she did, she found it appealing in a way. It gave him a different look.

“About what?” she finally remembered to ask.

“Stuff,” his voice trailed off. He threw Pete a glance, hoping the guy would take the hint and go away. But then, Pete was too busy looking at him from head to foot and back to even notice.

Chanty sighed and nudged Pete. “We have to talk.”

“And?”

“Liam and I need to talk,” she iterated.

“About what?”

“Alone.”

Pete’s face fell and he looked at her. “You’re so selfish.”

“What?”

“You know I was still doing my thing and you want me to go away so that you…” her friend’s voice trailed off as his eyes went over her shoulder. “Oh my god. How can I be so lucky to be surrounded by these men?”

“What are you talking about? Those men have been here for hours.”

“What are you doing here?” Liam’s voice spoke from behind Pete whose mouth was hanging open with a smile. He, too, was looking over her shoulder.

Chanty’s frown deepened and when she turned her head, her face contorted. “Zachary Astor. What the hell are you doing here?”

The handsome man stopped in his tracks and opened his arms. “Chanty! It is really nice to see you—and you too, Liam. You guys are so welcoming to a friend who flew all the way here to lend a hand.”