Chapter 284Such a Conservative Woman Is Not for You
That evening, Diana stayed late to work overtime with Liam, dinner being office takeout.
Perhaps it was because the lunch had been exceptionally delicious, or she had overeaten, but Diana had little appetite at dinner and only picked at her meal before resuming. That evening, Diana stayed late to work overtime with Liam, dinner being office takeout.
At around 9 p.m., Liam appeared at her office door and told her she could call it a day.
"All right, I’ll just pack up and go," Diana responded, beginning to organize her things.
Liam nodded and turned to leave.
Buzz—
At that moment, Diana's phone on the desk vibrated.
She paused, looked up, and couldn't help but smile upon seeing a text message from Douglas. She picked up her phone and opened the message.
"Diana, you off work yet? Wanna grab a drink?" Douglas often sent messages after work these past few days, all of which were the kind of texts that made her feel at ease, completely relaxed.
Though Douglas was four years younger, he was just like an adorable little brother in her eyes. But she had to admit, chatting with Douglas was always a delight. It was carefree, without a hint of stress.
It was a feeling she couldn't find at the office.
The moment her foot crossed the threshold of the Evans Group skyscraper, she had to be on her A-game, ready to face everything at work, including Liam.
"What's your poison? Boba tea or coffee?" Diana teased in her reply.
"Either's good for me. It's all about the company!" Douglas responded in a flash.
Seeing Douglas's instant response made Diana smile, and she texted back, "Good to know, but I'm still at the office, just getting ready to leave."
"Hey! I'll wait for you downstairs," Douglas shot back with a cheerful emoji.
Diana raised an eyebrow.
She had just said she was about to leave work, and here he was, already waiting downstairs? Could it be that he was actually at her office building?
She chuckled and chose not to overthink it, quickly putting down her phone to pack her things and head out.
As she turned off her office lights and was ready to go, she noticed Liam turning off his lights, too.
"Liam, you’re still here," she said with mild surprise, having thought he'd already left.
He nodded, "Yeah, let's head out together."
Diana nodded and joined him as they walked toward the private elevator.
Inside, they stood in silence, one in front of the other. Liam, hands casually tucked in his pockets, tilted slightly to watch the floor numbers flicker swiftly overhead. Diana stood behind him, silently observing how even the back of his perfectly groomed head radiated an air of meticulous sophistication, her breathing soft and slow.
Liam truly lived a life of refined elegance.
His clothes were all tailor-made, delivered right to his door, never staying in the wardrobe for more than six months. His hair was always cut by the finest barber who visited weekly, and even his nails were manicured by a specialist visiting his home.
He lived a life of true elites.
Every detail, every aspect of him exuded a discreet and understated luxury.
Suddenly, the silence of the confined elevator space was broken by a buzz—Diana's phone vibrating in her pocket.
Pulling it out and seeing Douglas's playful selfie, she couldn't help but snort with laughter.
Standing at the front, Liam couldn't help but turn around when he caught a light and quick laugh. His eyes glimpsed the image of a handsome, youthful face with a goofy selfie expression on Diana's phone screen.
"He looks cute, your brother?" Liam asked, noticing that Diana had saved him in her contacts as 'Emily's brother.'
"Ah!" Diana snapped out of it, quickly pocketing her phone and looking up to shake her head, "No, he's my friend's brother."
His question was so sudden that she had no time to think and blurted out the truth.
Ding!
At that moment, the elevator chimed, reaching the ground floor. Liam gave Diana a faint grin without saying anything more and stepped out. Diana followed.
"Diana!"
A familiar shout rang out as she exited the office building behind Liam.
Startled, Diana looked toward the sound and saw Douglas standing happily beside a black Range Rover, waving excitedly to her. The guy seemed to have settled down, his hair returned to its natural black, styled neatly, his outfit understated—a stark contrast to the flamboyant rebel she met the first time.
But he hadn't changed clearly—still the sunny, handsome boy she knew.
Not just Diana, but Liam also glanced his way, raising his eyebrows at the sight of Douglas, brimming with vibrancy like a golden sun. There was a hint of appreciation, perhaps even envy, in his eyes.
Envy for Douglas's youthfulness, energy, and pursuit of dreams.
"See, perfect timing," Douglas called out as he ran over to Diana.
Smiling, she replied, "Pretty punctual."
"Let's go. I've got a great place to show you." Ignoring Liam, Douglas took hold of Diana's wrist and led her away.
"Hey, wait up," Diana said quickly, then turned to Liam, "Liam, I've got to go. Good night."
Liam nodded with a slight curl of his lips, "All right, good night."
"Hurry!" Douglas, indifferent to Liam's presence, pulled on Diana's arm impatiently.
Laughing, Diana let herself be taken to his car.
Liam stood watching until Douglas's car drove away, walked to his vehicle, got in, and left.
Sitting in the passenger's spot, Diana watched Liam from the rear-view mirror. She thought seeing her with Douglas would at least stir a bit of discomfort in Liam's heart.
But it didn't. His eyes betrayed no sign of peculiarity.
So, it had been just her, harboring unrequited feelings all this time.
Liam had never had a place for her in his heart.
"Where is this great place you said you'd take me to? A bar?" Diana asked, glancing at Douglas with a smile as she watched Liam enter his car.
