Not Yet Yours

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Harriet

I worked on my new piece for a few extra hours last night to make up for skiving off to have sex in the middle of the day. It means the piece is actually a lot further along than I expected it to be at this point, so I have spent today working on my website and my social media presence. It’s four thirty and I’m starting to think about calling it a day when my cell phone rings, and I see it is Liam calling.

“Hello,” I say, taking his call and ignoring the fluttering feeling in my stomach.

“Hey Harriet,” he says. “Are you busy?”

I should say yes and let him think I have things going on in my life, but of course, I don’t do that.

“I’m just about finished work for the day,” I say.

“Cool,” he replies. “You know that little mall about three blocks from your place?”

“Yeah,” I say.

“Can you meet me there?” he asks.

“When? What for?” I ask.

“Now, and it’s a surprise,” he says.

“Umm ok,” I say, because what else can I say to that? “Give me like fifteen minutes.”

“Ok, see you soon. I’ll be at the entrance,” Liam says.

He ends the call and I sit looking at my cell phone for a moment. A surprise? Is he taking me to dinner or something? No, he wouldn’t want to meet me at the mall if he was taking me out to eat. There’s nowhere to eat there and he would probably pick me up anyway. I don’t have a clue what it could be, but there’s an easy way to find out. I shut down my laptop and grab my keys and my cell phone and I put the cell phone in my purse, checking to make sure my wallet is there. I push my keys into my jeans pocket for the moment and I go downstairs and push my feet into my sneakers. I take the keys out of my pocket and unlock my front door. I step outside, lock it again, and drop my keys in my purse.

I could drive to the mall but it’s a nice day and it’ll be good to stretch my legs after being stuck sitting down all day. I set off in the direction of the mall and it doesn’t take me long to get there. I spot Liam as I head toward the entrance to the mall, and he waves at me, and I wave back. As I get closer to him, I can see he’s moving from foot to foot like he’s nervous and the idea of him being nervous makes me nervous too. What the hell is this surprise?

“Hi,” I say as I reach him.

“Hi,” he replies with a smile that makes my stomach roll deliciously.

“So, what’s the big surprise then?” I ask.

“Come with me,” Liam says.

I follow him into the mall. He leads me past the shops without us slowing down to look in any of them. He leads me almost to the back of the mall where a door with an electronic keypad sits. He types in a code, opens the door, and gestures for me to go through it. I do, and he follows me and closes the door behind us. Behind the door is a small landing area and a staircase leading upward. Liam starts up the stairs and I follow him.

I am really confused now. This area isn’t open to the public. The first and second floors of the mall are office spaces.

Oh, I think to myself. Liam must have an office here. That notion doesn’t bring me any closer to knowing what the big surprise is, but it makes us being here make a bit more sense.

Liam reaches the top of the staircase and I reach it seconds after him. We are at the beginning of a long corridor. It’s painted white and there is a light gray carpet on the floor. Doors line the walls on either side of the corridor. Liam leads me right along the corridor to the very end where a single door sits. He turns toward me and from his pocket, he pulls out what looks like a sleep mask. He holds it up and grins.

“This is where I blindfold you,” he says.

“Oh God, Liam, I’m not sure about that,” I say.

I have no idea what is behind this door and the idea of having one of my senses impaired makes me really nervous.

“I’m not going to murder you or lead you into something horrible,” Liam says.

He is smiling at me in a way that melts my heart and whatever this surprise is, he seems to be so excited about it and I don’t want to ruin the moment. Will it really kill me to put the damned mask on? Like he said, it’s not like he’s going to lead me into something awful.

I sigh and hold my hand out for the mask. Liam grins excitedly and hands it over and I put it on.

“Ok,” he says. “One second.”

I hear the sound of a key turning in a lock, then a handle being pushed down, and a door opening. I feel Liam’s hand take mine.

“Walk forward,” Liam says.

I let him guide me and when he says stop, I follow his instruction. I have gotten to wherever it is he wants me in one piece it seems.

“Ok, on three, you can take the mask off,” Liam says. “Are you ready?” I nod and I have to admit I am kind of excited now although I still have absolutely no idea what my surprise is going to be. “One. Two. Three. Off.”

I pull the mask off my face and blink for a moment as my eyes are assaulted by bright light. When they have adjusted, I spin around and take in the room. It’s huge and it has white walls and a light wood floor. There are windows, so many windows and the place has amazing natural light. There is a shelving unit on one wall and benches line two of the other walls. A high stool sits beside one of them. It’s a studio and it would be absolutely perfect for me and suddenly I know why Liam has brought me here and I hate that I am going to have to disappoint him.

“You know what this place is right?” Liam says.

“A studio,” I say, nodding my head.

“Ok. But you don’t look happy or excited at all,” he says.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I really do appreciate you taking the time to do this for me, and I hate that I have to throw it back in your face, but I can’t afford the rent on a place like this Liam.”

“Ah well then it’s a good thing the rent is paid for the next year then, isn’t it?” Liam says and grins at me.

“For the…? What are you talking about? Oh God Liam you didn’t, did you?” I ask.

Liam smiles and nods.

“I did,” he confirms.

“But I can’t possibly accept this,” I say. “I think it’s so sweet that you’ve done this for me, but I can’t let you do it.”

Liam shrugs his shoulders.

“Well, it’s your call, but the rent is paid, and the money is non-refundable so either way it’s covered. Either you can use it, or it can sit here empty,” Liam says. “And that seems like a terrible waste to me.”

I know I should continue to refuse the gift. It’s too much. Far too much. But having a studio would make such a huge difference to my work and before I can talk myself out of it, I decide to accept it. I will regret it if I don’t.

“Thank you. Oh my God, seriously, thank you,” I say, throwing myself at Liam and hugging him.

He hugs me back laughing at my enthusiasm. When he releases me, I throw my arms out and spin in a circle, squealing in excitement. Liam watches me and he looks almost as happy as I feel. I just wish I could afford to pay him rent for the studio. Maybe one day, if my business takes off, I will be able to. Until then though, there is one thing I can do.

“If you do want any decorative pieces for any of your hotels, they will, of course, be on the house,” I say.

“No backsies,” Liam says quickly, and we both laugh again.