Chapter 22: Keeping Them Hidden
Although people here don’t care much about rich businessmen, Liam is more of a celebrity than a businessman as evident by all the billboards across town and the ad campaigns using him as the model. Not to mention he was recently on the cover of a top business magazine as one of the youngest CEOs in the world. With his relationship status in limbo, picturing him with a woman and a baby would become a worthy gossip. Those tabloids won’t miss this chance.
Their big boss advised Liam to reveal his relationship status because he thought that would help with the stock prices. It seems like Liam is still opposed to that idea. Or he might not want to reveal Ms. Roberts to the world.
Liam’s attention turned to Aurora. She was saying something to Ellie and the baby was smiling at her mother. He smiled.
"We’ll wait. You go and..."
Suddenly, Liam’s attention turned to the TV screen behind Jake. There were many TVs around the lounge and each had different channels on. This particular TV had the news channel on and the chyron grabbed his attention.
[Hiker found the body of a woman in Angeles National Forest]
Liam tried to listen to the newscaster, but the volume was low and he could not hear. He immediately turned to Rory to see if she saw the news. But she was playing with Ellie and was not minding the TVs.
Jake didn’t understand why Liam’s face went pale all of a sudden. He turned to see what was going on but he felt a pull.
"Jake, we are leaving immediately. And no one takes even a single picture of Rory and Ellie. No one." Liam said as he switched off his phone. "Postpone all my meetings indefinitely..." Liam rubbed his lips but then took in a deep breath. "No, make it all virtual and... until my cousin’s wedding. For anyone who asks for me, I left for my hometown to attend my cousin’s wedding, alright?" he patted Jake’s shoulders.
Jake nodded, He was a little perplexed by Liam’s change of decision, but he has a job to do. He has to handle the paps. But Liam held his sleeve, which Jake rather found distasteful. "No pictures of them with me," Liam whispered, this time, it was more of a pleading.