Chapter 16: Something fishy

In the spacious living room, Derek and Cora sat across from each other after exchanging pleasantries and welcoming each other.

"So, how have you been, Ra?" Derek asked and Cora shrugged.

"I've been good. You really turned out to be pretty handsome," Cora said as she envisioned the chubby seventeen-year-old Derek before she left the country.

"Not still handsome enough to sweep you off your feet," Derek joked, and Cora laughed.

"Don't say that. I'm sure a lot of girls must be dying to have you," she said and Derek could hear the unfinished words in her statement.

"So, how has it been living away from family and friends for so long?" Derek asked and she shrugged.

"I had friends over there and I was always talking to my dad. What about you and Liam? How long has he been with her? I mean Fiona," she asked, and Derek frowned.

"I think that question is meant for Liam. I mean, you don't expect me to be keeping tabs on his relationship with Fiona. That would be too weird," he said and Cora smiled awkwardly when she realized she wasn't supposed to be asking him that sort of question.

"I guess I'm the weird one. It's just that she sort of seemed like a gold digger that's why I was asking," she said and checked her wristwatch.

"I have to run along now," she said standing up and Derek did the same.

"You're leaving already? Why? Is my presence boring you?" Derek asked and she shook her head.

"Bore? Of course not. I just realized there's something I need to do for my dad," she said and Derek sighed.

"I guess I'll just take you on the movie date some other time then," he said and she nodded.

"Yeah. How about you give me your contact so I can call you when I'm free for that?" she suggested and although he was disappointed that he wouldn't get to spend enough time with her, Derek drew hope from her suggestion.

At least, he'd have her contact information and could talk to her. He mused excitedly. "Sure, of course," he said and handed her his phone.

After punching in her mobile number, Cora returned the phone and hugged Derek. "Take care and extend my greetings to Liam when he steps out," she said after she pulled away.

"Won't you at least wait to tell them goodbye? I'm sure they'd be down in no time. Liam wouldn't be happy knowing you left that way," Derek asked and she waved it off.

"Just tell him it's something important, I know he'd understand. Besides, they could be making love for all I care," Cora said jokingly and Derek chuckled.

"Alright then. Take care," he said as he went to open the door for her, and once she left, he sighed as he shut the door and returned inside.

He had always known that Cora didn't see him the way he saw her and he had thought that maybe when she saw him after being away for ten years, she would at least see him in a different way and perhaps, give him a chance to court her but it seemed nothing had changed.

Or perhaps he could get her if he showed her that he loved her. Before she left, they were only teenagers and she had been just fourteen years old then. He couldn't have done anything.

This was probably his chance. He thought, deciding to try his best to make her like him at least.

Derek looked up when he heard approaching footsteps from the stairs and he didn't need anyone to tell him it was Fiona and Liam.

"Where's Cora?" Liam asked when they got to the living room to see just Derek seated there.

"She had an emergency," Derek said and Liam nodded.

"I see."

"Yeah. So, I'll have to go back to the office since I won't be hanging out with her anymore," Derek said and Liam shook his head.

"Don't worry. I've already decided to go...."

"It's Okay, Li. You don't have to go. There aren't even any meetings today. You already asked Paul to reschedule your meetings for next week. Going to the office is totally pointless now," Derek said and Liam nodded.

"I guess I'm stuck with my girlfriend, then," Liam said to Derek and Fiona rolled her eyes. Although he had been pretty excited about seeing Cora again, Derek in the short time he had been there, had noticed the tension between Liam and Fiona and he couldn't help but wonder what was up.

"Yes, but after you walk me out. I'm sorry Fiona but I have to steal him away from you for a while," he said and Fiona shrugged.

"By all means do," she said, making a mental note to text Elena about the job response she had gotten the previous day which she had forgotten to mention to her.

"Can't you at least pretend to love me in front of Derek? Tell him you can't release Your Man," he said and she smiled.

"Well, I need a break from My Man," she replied before returning upstairs to Liam's room while Liam and Derek headed outside.

"So, what's up with you two?" he asked and Liam raised a questioning brow.

"What do you mean?" he asked and Derek shrugged.

"I can feel that everything's not fine with you both," he said again and Liam frowned, pretending as though he didn't know what Derek was talking about.

"I think you're overthinking. How can everything not be fine between us?"

Derek shrugged. "You tell me. You're both behaving like enemies trying to be friends because of a common goal," Derek said and Liam shook his head.

As much as he wanted to tell Derek everything, he couldn't. It was no use telling him they had sex and he offered her money for more of her services. It was ridiculous enough.

"There's nothing wrong and if there were, I don't think it matters. She's leaving tomorrow," Liam said even though he had plans to extend their contract. He didn't mind paying extra.

"If you say so. Gat to run now, man," Derek said before getting into his car and driving off.

The moment he drove through the gate, Cora who had been parked outside waiting for Liam to leave took out her phone to give Harriet a call.

She suspected that Liam and Fiona were hiding something especially after they lied about going out just to get rid of her.

Whatever it was they were hiding, she was going to get to the root of it all. If she wasn't going to have Liam then someone more deserving should have him. She mused as she dialed Harriet's line.

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