The Last Call {Liam Payne AU }HIATUS

Chapter 4

I slept late the next day, or what most would call late, noon to me is normal wake up time.  I shuffled into my kitchen and started my kettle while setting up to make myself coffee, spooning the instant coffee into the mug and adding the sugar. Once the kettle boiled I added the water and milk before taking it to the couch.  I flipped on the t.v, finding an old episode of Ellen to watch as I drank my coffee and contemplated what I wanted for breakfast.  I ended up settling for a grilled bacon and cheese sandwich and spent the next couple of hours being lazy in my p.j’s.

At around 3 I decided  it would be a good idea to go for a bath. I dropped a bath bomb into the water that smelt like cotton candy, and would thus make me smell like cotton candy. I had decided that if Liam was going to be a tease for the next month, then two could play that game. I had been in this business long enough to know that smelling like dessert was one way to get a mans mind turning.  Another was to not reveal too much. Most women though that the more you revealed the more men wanted you, and they were wrong. In fact, there was a happy medium of how much skin to show to pique a mans interest. Too much and they already knew what you had, too little and they figured you weren’t interested.

I hopped out of the bath an hour later and started getting ready. I toweled off my hair and decided it could air dry, the end result being beachy looking waves.  I chose an aqua green coloured t-shirt that fell off of my right shoulder and paired it with a pair of navy skinny jeans, and finishing off with simple black flats. I did my make up naturally, using a BB cream to even my tone and some eyeliner and mascara.

It didn’t take the full hour for me to get ready so I texted Kate, telling her about the boring party and Liam’s words to me in the limo, finishing with my plan to be just as much of a tease back. She approved of my plan and I smiled to myself as I grabbed a small black purse and slipped my phones, wallet and keys into it as I headed down to the front of the building.

I was pleasantly surprised when Liam pulled up in a black 1965 Mustang convertible with white leather interior. I almost moaned at the sight of the car, seeing as it was my dream car.  He was wearing a light blue button down shirt, the top 3 bottons undone,  blue jeans and white high tops. He looked good enough to eat. “Figures you would own the car of my dreams” I said with a smirk as  I climbed into the car and did up my seatbelt. Liam took his time looking over my outfit before his mouth set in a firm line. I frowned as he looked straight ahead and pulled away from the building. “So where are we going?” I asked. “I figured we could go for a bit of a drive and maybe a picnic in the park?” he said and I chuckled. “How very cliché of you Mr Payne” I teased and he frowned. “If you would prefer something else..” he started to say and I cut him off “Your idea is fine, I was just teasing you” I said and he nodded.

The drive was quiet and quite frankly boring. I knew he ran his own company, but I had hoped he would be a better conversationalist.  He found a spot to park and I waited as he pulled a basket out of the back seat.  He led me through the park, walking slowly “Are you always so quiet?” I asked and he looked at me and frowned. “Honestly I haven’t been on a ‘Date’ in a good few years” he said and I raised a brow. “Really? I find that hard to believe. You are incredibly sexy Mr Payne, I can’t see you having trouble with the ladies” I said with an amused smirk and he smiled slightly “I never said I had trouble with the ladies, just that I didn’t date” he said, the amusement in his voice clear. I chuckled, knowing full well what he meant by the statement. “Also, please call me Liam. I would like for us to be on a first name basis if we are to get to know each other” he said and I nodded. “Okay so Liam  tell me about you” I said and he frowned again, looking slightly confused.  “Well I’m 22, I inherited my fathers company 2 years ago after he died” He started and again I stopped him. “I didn’t mean “business man Liam Payne” I meant 22 year old guy Liam”  I said, and he just looked more confused. “I don’t really have too much of a social life anymore” he said, sounding a bit sad. “Lou and Gemma said you have tattoos?” I asked and his eyes lit up slightly. “come with me” he said, pulling me to a grassy  spot and placing the basket down.

He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to the elbows, showing off his tattoos. The first one I noticed was the huge chevrons on his right forearm, followed by the feather on the inside of the same arm. I noticed some writing too and slowly reached out  to touch his arm. He looked down at me curiously as I read the words inked on his skin. He had “only time will tell” on the top of his right wrist and slowly turned his arm over to get a better look at the feather, along with the words “I figured it out” and “Somewhere is a place that nobody knows”. There were also what looked like hieroglyphics, and I ran a finger over the ink. He let out a slow breath as I took his other arm in my hand and turned it over to read the words written on it “Everything I wanted but nothing I’ll ever need” I said as I read the words out loud.  I looked up at him and noticed a softness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. “what do they mean?” I asked and he let out a sigh, backing away to sit on the grass. I sat down beside him and waited for an answer. “The chevrons are for my family. Mum, dad and my two older sisters” he said, and I knew my eyes went wide with surprise. No one really knew he had sisters. “The feather is for my nan, the hieroglyphs make out my name, and the words are personal.” He said and I nodded. “I didn’t know you had sisters” I said and he gave a short nod. “After my mum and dad divorced they left to go live with her while I stayed with dad. Technically the company is owned by all 3 of us but they prefer that I run it while they just get the benefits” he said, sounding a bit bitter.   Deciding to change the subject I looked at him with the warmest smile I could “so what’s for dinner?” I asked and he gave me a small, thankful smile. “just some roast beef sandwiches and muffins. I had my housekeeper make them up this morning” he said, pulling the basket closer and opening it. He handed me a wrapped sandwich and pulled one out for himself. “So you know a bit about me now, how about you? How did you come to work for Angela?” He asked and I smiled.   As we ate I told him about growing up in Toronto, being raised by my grandmother after my mother walked out. I had no idea who my father was, and up until last year when she passed away my grandmother was my only family.  I explained about wanting to be on Broadway and how that dream soon fell apart. “I ended up answering an add in the  paper and that was that.” I said, finishing my story. “Well I am glad you answered that add” he said with a genuine smile that made my heart flutter. “So am I” I said, smiling back at him. “I am also glad you wore that outfit, you look hot” he said, his sweet smile turning into a devilish smirk. “Why thank you, you look okay” I said, teasing him. “I believe you called me sexy earlier” he said and I chuckled. “Well you are. If I’m anything, I’m honest. I really don’t believe in saying things that aren’t true. I’m not saying I’ve never lied, but I do try my best to be as honest as possible” I said with a smile. He nodded, his face going serious again “That is good to know. I will always make sure to tell you the things that are important for you to know and won’t ever hide anything important from you. You will find out soon enough what I mean by that, in the mean time I think I should get you home.” He said, standing up and offering me his hand.   The ride back to my building was just as quiet as the ride to the park. Ever the gentleman he opened my door for me once we got back. “I will be in touch. I have business related things out of the city  over the next couple of days and won’t be able to see you, but I promise I will take you out for dinner when I am back. Also I will email you the date for another charity gala and have Troy contact you to take you shopping for a gown.” He said before leaning in to give me a chaste peck on the cheek. “Take care love” He said as he drove off. I touched my hand to the cheek he kissed, trying to calm the fire that such a chaste act had ignited in me.  This man had me confused at his complexity and ability to go from light hearted 22 year old to businessman in a matter of seconds.  

I got up to my apartment and looked around with a bored look. It was Friday and I didn’t want to sit inside so I pulled out my phone and texted Kate  “wanna party?”  I hit send and soon the replay came  “Always. Be there in an hour. Be ready ;)” her text read and I smirked to myself and walked into my room to get ready for one of our signature girls nights out.