Chapter 16

Sixteen

Mia

I stepped into the park office early, the stillness of the morning air broken only by the hum of my computer booting up. My coffee sat untouched on the desk, the steam curling lazily upward. I wasn't ready to face the day, not after the weekend, but routine dragged me along whether I wanted it to or not.

Clicking through my inbox, I scanned through the typical emails—schedules, updates, volunteer requests—until one stood out from Frank, the park director: Meeting Recap: Saturday Park Director Update. My brows furrowed. Saturday? I hadn't even realized there was a meeting while I'd been out with Liam.

A quick glance at the subject line revealed that the email contained a video link. My curiosity was piqued. I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the mouse. Should I watch it now or after I've settled in? Something about the sudden meeting made me uneasy, and the last thing I needed was more surprises.

Before I could decide, the office door creaked open, and I looked up to see Tessa standing there. I immediately noticed the furrow in her brow and the tightness in her shoulders.

"Hey, everything okay?" I asked, pushing my chair back from the desk.

Tessa's gaze dropped, and my stomach twisted. Something was definitely off.

Stepping further into the room, she offered a weak smile. "Yeah, I mean... Daisy's okay, right?"

I blinked, momentarily thrown off by the change in topic. "Daisy? Oh, yeah. She's fine. Nothing serious. What's going on?"

Tessa hesitated, glancing at the door like she was making sure no one was eavesdropping. My heart skipped a beat, sensing something was really bothering her. But before she could say anything, I felt the weight of my own situation bubbling up inside me. Maybe if I got it out, I'd feel less like I was drowning.

"I don't even know where to start," I muttered, standing and motioning for her to sit with me in the small lounge area at the back of the office. "Liam... He dropped a bombshell on me this weekend."

Tessa's eyes widened, her worry giving way to curiosity. "What? What happened? I thought things were going well."

I let out a laugh, but it came out more bitter than amused. "Yeah, well, turns out he's not just some guy who's in great shape and terrible at hiking. He's a billionaire, Tessa. The CEO of Edgewater Industries." I shook my head, still feeling the sting of disbelief. "The whole time, I thought we were just two regular people getting to know each other, and he's been hiding this massive part of his life."

Tessa's mouth dropped open. "No way! A billionaire? That's... wow."

"Yeah. Wow." I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face. "And I don't even know how to feel. He says he didn't tell me because he was worried I'd be scared off, but... I don't know. It feels like I've been kept in the dark, like I never had the full picture."

Tessa leaned in, her eyes widening with understanding as a gentle smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She reached out, her hand lightly touching my arm. "Okay, but think about it from his side," she began. "He didn't just hide it forever, right? He told you." Her fingers traced an invisible pattern on the table, a thoughtful gesture accompanying her words. "He could've never said anything, but he didn't." Tessa paused. "It seems to me Liam was slowly revealing himself to you… inviting you to the gala and all." She tilted her head slightly. "Maybe he was trying to protect what was growing between you two. Maybe he wanted you to see him for just Liam, not the billionaire stuff."

I crossed my arms and slumped back in the chair. "Yeah, maybe. But I hate feeling like I'm not in control of things. It's like... he dropped this bomb on me, and now I have to figure out what to do with it. I'm not good with surprises, Tessa."

Tessa smiled softly. "I know. But maybe this isn't about control. Maybe it's about letting go of needing to know everything all the time. And, I mean, look at it this way—he's not exactly living like a billionaire out here, is he? Maybe that's because he doesn't really want that life either. Maybe he's just trying to live a little quieter."

I frowned, the thought sinking in. "You think?"

"I do. And I also think you've been through enough to give yourself a break. Not everything is about what you can control. You might just have to hope and trust that things can work out without you steering every second of it."

I mulled over her words, attempting to push past the frustration swirling inside me. Tessa's argument held weight. Perhaps Liam wasn't intentionally deceiving me. Maybe, like me, he was grappling with uncertainties on how to maneuver through this tangled web of emotions. Despite this realization, the sting of doubt lingered within me.

Before I could respond, Tessa's hand landed gently on my arm. "Hey, have you had a chance to watch that video from Frank yet?"

I blinked, my mind struggling to switch gears. "What? No, not yet. Why?"

Tessa's expression faltered, and she let out a shaky breath. "I think you should. The park... the revenue's down. Frank had to make some cuts."

I stared at her, dread creeping up my spine. "Cuts?"

She nodded, her voice catching. "I'm being laid off, Mia. My position's being replaced by volunteers."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. All my worries about Liam and his secret billionaire life suddenly felt small and insignificant. How had I been so wrapped up in my own problems when Tessa was dealing with something this big?

"Oh, Tessa..." I whispered, my heart aching for her.

"I didn't want to tell you like this," she said quietly. "But I figured you'd find out soon enough. I just... I wanted you to hear it from me."

I sat there, the weight of everything pressing down on me. All the stress, all the frustration I'd been carrying suddenly felt so selfish. Guilt washed over me in heavy waves.

"I'm so sorry," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I've been so wrapped up in my own stuff that I didn't even think to ask about you. I should've paid more attention."

Tessa gave me a small, understanding smile. "It's okay, really. But... yeah, you should probably watch that video."

I nodded, still in shock. "I will. I promise."

The rest of the day dragged on, and I could barely focus. I went through the motions, but my heart wasn't in it. Leading tours, answering questions, chatting with visitors—it all felt so hollow now. Every time I glanced at Tessa, my stomach twisted with guilt. She was losing her job, the place she'd dedicated so much of her energy and passion into, and there I was, still employed, still working, as if nothing had changed.

But everything had changed.

I tried to be present for the visitors, to smile and stay upbeat, but I kept catching glimpses of Tessa out of the corner of my eye. She was doing her best, smiling at the new volunteer recruits and explaining things with that calm patience she always had, but I could see the strain. It was in the tightness around her eyes, the way her shoulders sagged just a little too much. And every time I saw it, it felt like a punch to the gut.

How had I been so blind? So wrapped up in my own issues with Liam that I hadn't even noticed what was going on with my best friend?

The hours ticked by, and finally, the sun started to dip in the sky. Visitors were heading out, and the last few tours were wrapping up. I found Tessa near the entrance, standing with one of the volunteers. Her smile was a little too bright, and her voice a little too forced.

I wanted to say something to her, to offer comfort or support, but I didn't know how. Nothing felt adequate. What could I say that would make any of this better?

Instead, I just lingered for a moment, watching her. She didn't need to know I was there, hovering like a ghost. I just needed to see her, to remind myself that she was strong and that she'd get through this, even if I hadn't been the best friend she needed.

When the last visitor left and the volunteers started cleaning up, I hugged Tessa goodbye and quietly slipped away, heading home eager to enjoy the comfort of my dog. The guilt still weighed heavily on me, but there was nothing I could do to fix it right now.

By the time I got home, the emotional exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. I dropped my purse on the floor and kicked off my shoes, the familiar creak of the floorboards under my feet doing little to comfort me. The cabin felt too quiet, too empty, like the silence was pressing in on me from all sides.

Daisy padded over, her golden fur brushing against my legs as she nudged me with her nose. I smiled weakly, grateful for her presence. At least I wasn't completely alone.

I flopped down on the couch, pulling Daisy up with me. She curled into my lap, her warm body a balm against the chaos swirling in my head. I stroked her soft ears, my fingers moving mindlessly as I stared out the window, watching the last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon.

Everything felt like it was shifting beneath my feet, and I wasn't sure how to find solid ground again. Liam's big reveal, Tessa's layoff, the park... it was all too much. I'd been so caught up in my own little world, worrying about how I felt and what Liam's secrets meant for me, that I hadn't stopped to think about what anyone else was going through.

How selfish could I be?

Tessa had been right there, smiling, helping, doing what she always did, and I'd barely noticed the cracks in her facade. And Liam... I'd been so quick to judge him, so focused on how his wealth and status had thrown me off balance, that I hadn't stopped to think that maybe he was just as unsure as I was. Perhaps he was being honest when he explained how he was trying to protect me from the whirlwind that came with his life.

Perhaps fate, or some higher power, had brought him into my life for a reason. And maybe it was time for me to stop pushing back, to stop trying to control everything, and just.... have faith. Faith that things would work out the way they were supposed to. Faith that Tessa would be okay, that Liam wasn't out to hurt me, and that I didn't have to have all the answers.

I wrapped my arms around Daisy, pulling her close as a tear slipped down my cheek. I wasn't sure what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain—I needed to be more present. For Tessa. For Liam. And for myself.

And that was the first step.

Finally, I wiped the tears away and took a deep breath. Thinking about Liam stirred up a whole mix of emotions I wasn't ready to deal with. The idea of reaching out to him felt too raw, too soon. I needed space to sort out what I was feeling, to figure out what I even wanted to say to him. I wasn't ready for that conversation. Not yet.

But I didn't want to completely shut him out, either.

With Daisy still curled up beside me, I reached for my laptop and opened it. The screen flickered to life, and I found myself staring at the folder labeled "Edgewater Accounts." I had been reviewing his financials, sorting through bank accounts and transactions as part of the work he'd entrusted me with. It was ironic how the numbers, the facts of his billionaire life, didn't feel as overwhelming now as they had when I'd first started. The work had become familiar, almost grounding.

I opened the latest spreadsheet, scanning the columns, letting its methodical nature pull me in. This work was something I understood—something I could control, unlike my feelings or the chaos of the past few days. As I worked through the accounts, it felt like I was close to him in a way that didn't require words or direct contact.

It gave me a sense of connection without the pressure of a conversation I wasn't ready for. Perhaps when the time came, I'd know what to say. But for now, this was how I could be present—this was my way of staying close to Liam without needing to reach out just yet.