Olivia’s POV:“There you are,” Brandon approached me. I was not expecting him here.I know I look like an idiot now, my brows furrowed in confusion. It’s six in the evening. Brandon and I never interacted after office hours unless it’s very important and usually business related.“Hey,” I shrugged and awkwardly laughed. “I live here, Brandon.”Brandon scratched the back of his head, to me, it was a sight that I don’t get to see every day. Our relationship is purely business and I feel like I don’t know him as much as I should. Not that I should. He’s handsome, a far cry from Meredith’s soft and motherly features. Brandon’s chiseled jaw line and bushy eyebrows along with his piercing green eyes were his strongest features aside from his brain. The brilliance was there, he just lacked the initiative which I had, and the charm.“I don’t know how to counter that statement,” he playfully replied. Adjusting his cuffs.“Shouldn’t you be on a date or something?” I walked past by him.He’s si
Brandon’s POV:All in all, the night I spent with Olivia was not that bad after all. Ever since she appeared out of the blue in my life through Harvey Brown---I hated her. Because I didn’t want to walk away and leave the hotel along with other assets that should have been mine in some random stranger’s hands, with a heavy and hurtful heart, I chose to stay.The truth was, the whole idea of helping her with Ethan was not my idea. Alice convinced me to do it. At first, I was deeply troubled how she could allow her boyfriend to be with another woman and to push me into potentially being lovers with Olivia.I could still remember Alice’s sultry voice as she pointed the benefits of her plans, “Baby, think of this like an acting for a movie. You’re not doing this because you like her, we just need the moolah from her.”“You know what amuses me?” I retorted.“Hmm, what?”“How you use ‘you and we’. I get to do all the job and you…”Alice kissed the bridge of my nose lovingly. “Stop complainin
Lunch was served 12 noon on the dot at Bedford Women’s Penitentiary. The once empty hallway is now dotted by orange clad ladies, each aiming for sustenance to keep them on their toes until the next meal. Life inside is not always staying inside their cells. They have activities and tasks and their social skills—even if its limited—was still exercised.For Naomi Charleston, it was the time of the day to talk to her daughter in law, Miles. It’s been a week since their failed attempt to end Olivia’s life and she’s still in denial about her time in prison. Naomi still believes that she’s innocent and did not deserve any of this.Naomi sat on the far end of the mess hall where the ‘fresh meat’ or newbies take position because they do not have a particular group yet. The fifty-two year old waited for Miles to seat beside her as they usually do but the daughter-in-law acted as if she did not spot Naomi anticipating her and sat on the opposite end of the hallway.Pissed, Naomi carried her tra
Olivia’s POV:Rollin’s phoned me and I came back to Bedford as fast as I could. Rollins filled me in and I sent for the hotel driver to get Ethan and his nanny there too. There waited for Miles to regain her consciousness. I couldn’t recognize her from all the swelling and the surgical staples that peppered her face. This is all too sad for words. My mother---her mother-in-law, the woman she always adored and the one person other than Paul she’d stick up her neck for did this to her.Miles was stirring up. Perhaps she saw me. Her words were mere garble but I know she’s calling my name.“Shh… I’m here…” I can barely get my voice out coherently amid the gulping tears and emotional blubbering that are pulling me apart so quickly. The hopelessness of all of this when so much hurt has come first.It all feels so empty. After all, this, to finally see something genuine from her, something gnarly happens.“I…I k-now.” Miles stammered.She seemed hurt, sorrowful and intent on gazing into my
Olivia’s POV:After that afternoon, I went back to work and decided to finish all my pending paperwork. I was torn between wanting to exhaust myself with work or having one too many shots. Then, I came up with the very brilliant idea of both. My office in the hotel was my safe space after all. It was my home. Ethan is well taken care of. I sent two more people there from the hotel security just to ease my mind off the worst.With all that happened---there’s this paranoia in me that I couldn’t figure out what to do.A series of knocks came and the door opened and close and I waited for Brandon to speak. “Liv, hey…what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to stay at…” he paused and sees the vodka bottle on my desk. “Oh, that bad, huh?”I frowned as I finished gulping the contents. I was never a heavy drinker but I guess there will be exceptions. I put my glass down and stand up slowly, eyes on his tall, strong back as he messes with the ice canister, fidgeting to get his excessive en
Olivia’s POV:After that shocking encounter with Brandon, I distanced myself from his potency. I try my best not to be alone with him and I leave the hotel in a haste. Being an Aunt to Ethan is overwhelming and draining. But I’m not complaining. Before heading home, I pass by this small bar to pass the time and for drinks. It’s a small bar uptown that we visited last time with a client, and I can’t say I won’t be sad. This place works because of location and size and the chill ambiance. Mostly, members of the workforce who wanted to relax before heading home.The main bar is busy, crews running around wiping down surfaces, restocking and hoovering. It’s late, so they are almost done with the ritual clean up.“Hi, Olivia!” The bartender waved at me. “The usual?”“Yes, Millie.” I nodded and went for my usual spot.I watched one of the bar girls meticulously inspected shelves and wiping them down before giving her co-worker hell for missing some grubby spots, and my attention is piqued. I
Olivia’s POV:I throw my third sexy dress on the bed and slumped down in a deflated heap, annoyed with myself that I’m doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t do. I’m actually prettying myself up for him and stressing over how to dress and what to wear like some sad little teenage idiot on a first date. I can’t believe myself sometimes. Brandon texted me and told me to be ready for six and dress casually. Ironic, really, as that was my original plan, to show a lack of effort, and now, here I am with a bed full of dresses, and he is the one telling me to dress down. Whatever that means. “Damn it, Olivia! Could you relax?!” I hissed at myself. “You’re overreacting and it’s not fine! Look at your room! You turned it upside down to find an outfit that says ‘dressed down’!”Frankly, I don’t know if he means casual, pretty for somewhere like an Italian restaurant, or jeans and sweater casual. I’m not asking him because he will think I’m keen for tonight and definitely not. This is my first s
Olivia’s POV:I get a warm smile thrown back at me, and I’m once again hauled behind him, rather aggressively for a guy attempting charm and adoration. I try to wriggle my hand free, but he holds on tighter and flashes me that look of his that says, ‘keep trying, I’m not letting go’.I get pulled at a brisk pace to the front door, where I’m silenced with a chaste kiss thrown on my lips when he paused. My heart threatened to drill my ribs from the inside and keeping it cool was a chore. “You know kissing me isn’t the one thing we should do when we aren’t actually a thing.” I point out blandly.“Well, we kind of hugged last time, so I’m guessing it’s not really a step too far to do it.” I get that cheeky arrogant smirk, and I slapped him in the shoulder impulsively.“Hey! That’s rude and not very gentlemanly. In case you want to know, you’re not doing a great job of making me want to date you.” I huffed and get even more annoyed when that smirk turns into a wider grin, Brandon was amuse
Olivia’s POV:“Why would I do that?”“I want you. That’s all there is to it. I want to show you that you don’t have to fear me and maybe prove you can trust me.” He gets straight to the point, lifting my hand into his and slides his fingers between mine to hold me tenderly. I stare at our entwined digits, feeling his heat flow into my cold, smaller one and gaze at it, disconnected. The space around me is surreal, as though I’m dreaming. I should lie down. I’m verging on passing out at this rate.“I didn’t know what love was, maybe I did but I was in denial. What was staring me in the face.It's softening me to him a little. Aware that I’m weakening, I slide my hand away quickly to pull myself together. I’m not that feeble or stupid. I move away to get some breathing space, my body giving in from holding itself up. I exhale heavily. So many emotions are flooding me, and I’m exhausted. It’s too early for this, and I’ve had an emotional few hours prior. This all feels surreal and crazy
Olivia’s POV:He sounds how I feel. Like he knows that this is pointless, and the past is more than can be overcome. I just wish he could make me understand more. My instincts tell me that he’s not completely honest with me and that’s what I want to know.“So, what changed?” My voice cracks. I promised I wouldn’t but here I am.“I can’t lose you…that’s what I know, Liv.”His voice is wracked with strained emotion. I never knew a sentence could rip my heart to shreds, but that one does. Choking me with a lump in my throat, so I have to swallow hard and breathe through another sob. He impulsively reaches one hand towards me, retracts and shoves them both in his pockets as though he assumes it will make him less likely to invade my space. He shuffles on his feet uncomfortably, looking ashen, and I start to go numb as my body takes over to shield me from hurt. Tears are rolling down my face, but all that goes with them dulls. I’m so exhausted.“If that’s true, then why did you leave me th
Olivia’s POV:The hotel’s top floor was a presidential suite. The most expensive suite in the hotel and it’s reserved for a Moroccan prince two days from today. While my faith to my hotel staff was strong---I make it a point to personally inspect premium rooms. Before he showed up in my office, it was already in my to-do lists. Maybe that’s why I chose to flee here.If he isn’t lying, if he means what he says, it explains a lot from the past few weeks about his change. I don’t understand why, though. Nothing happened that made him suddenly grow feelings for me. I left, he found me; we carried on. Nothing at all to sway how he saw me. I had to support my body from falling, I was so confused I didn’t hear the elevator open again.“You just can’t take a hint, do you?” I snarled.“I’m not good at this.” He blurts it out in an almost painful rush of words as I glance at him again. That broad set of shoulders on that powerfully large body sagging slightly, the drop of his chin as he looks
Olivia’s POV:“Liv, I love you.”I let out a painful laughter. At this point, I no longer care what people are going to say. “I’m supposed to believe you now because you decided to stop playing with my emotions? Am I supposed to swoon at your feet and forget it all because … Oh, my Lord … Brandon Pembroke actually loves me?” I spit it at him, tears clouding my vision from the sheer force of everything coming out. Voice breaking, but I don’t care. He has me stripped naked and raw in all my painful glory, and now he can suffer the consequences of that.It’s nothing but a game to him, I don’t need a book to tell me that. I repeat this to myself like a mantra and try to block out how his eyes are devouring me.“It wasn’t like that. It was … complicated.” He looks around him uncomfortably, uneasy at his lack of control of the outcomes, but I don’t care. I want him to feel awkward and uneasy. He has no clue what it’s like not to be the man moving the chess pieces. The one in control. It’s n
Olivia’s POV:“You lying son of a b*tch.” I hate him for even trying.“I’m not lying. Why do you think I have spent weeks trying to show you that things are different? I knew you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I knew this would be the reaction if I came out and said it. I needed you to have a reason to believe me first, so I had to prove it to you. I knew you would run otherwise because you had no reason to trust me.”He moves towards me suddenly, but I recoil and sink slightly into my weak position, shifting to the corner of the lift in a half-crouched fetal position. Still so afraid of this man’s ability. He pauses, seeing my apparent fear as it envelops me, and holds still. Raising his palms a little to indicate he won’t come any closer, he has to grab the door as it starts to close again quickly. Keeping his hands locked firmly on the sides of this box-like prison.I’m no fool. I’m vulnerable and unable to hold my own against him. He proved that so many times in the past. He d
Olivia’s POV:I thought I’d feel better after getting my revenge. I do not. He refused to leave my office. He was standing there for what seemed an eternity. So, I have to leave. I rose from my chair and left my office in haste. My destination? The top floor. It’s empty now.“Where are you going?”“What is it to you?”“I’m not done talking to you.”“Well, I am!” I shouted as I made my way to the elevator, ignoring guests and hotel staff throwing suspicious glances our way.The elevator is just a few feet away. The universe is in my favor because it’s empty. Only a few steps left. Three steps, two, one. Close. Wait. It’s supposed to close! “What?” Everything in me halts to some weird frozen moment, I know it was him.Brandon is standing in the there facing me while he holds the doors wide, only feet apart and so close to escaping. My body stills. I openly stare at him in complete shock. Brain stuttering on his words and unable to react whilst in a state of disbelief.“Liv, I love you.
Brandon’s POV:Two days have passed by since I left Olivia in that devastating scenario. I took the time off work because I couldn’t bear to see her. When I arrived at my office, all my stuff were gone. As if no one existed in that room. Not a speck, not a pin. It seemed brand new, repainted judging from the fresh white walls. My office walls used to be gray.“Joe?” I called for my assistant who was so punctual, he’s ten minutes early before employees clock in. His desk was empty. “Where’s Joe? What happened to my office?”A hotel employee who was passing by approached me. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. Obviously, there’s something she knows that I do not. “Hi, what are you doing here sir?”“W-what am I doing here?” I sputtered out of disbelief. “I work here! Now, I want to know where my assistant is and what happened to my office?”I looked around, assuming this was a prank but my guts tell me something is going down. I secretly hate myself for preferring to work at home than the o
Olivia’s POV:It’s almost dawn, and I’m lying on my bed. I’ve barely slept, waiting for him to return, with a million thoughts running through my brain, tormenting me into oblivion. Thankfully, his phone is here, not smashed, despite hitting a marble floor. At some point, I regained enough sense to wander over and pick his things up, like a mute zombie trying to find something to do besides stare at a closed elevator. I left them on the kitchen counter. I paced like crazy, cried myself sick with heartbreak, disappointed in myself, then ended up in here hoping to try and sleep.I’m wretched and anxious, and I keep seeing that ragged, torn look on her face as though I had just slayed her entire family with a dirty spoon right before her eyes. I keep thinking about how he ran away and after her and the excruciating pain that causes me. To ponder what is even happening anymore. He chose to leave when the choice was thrown in his lap, and his instincts took over. His actions told me loud
Olivia’s POV:My robe slides as his hand graze my collarbone and pushes it from my shoulder, exposing more than just my upper neck. I gasp, not even fazed that he’s stripping me to be nakedly on show. Urging him to keep going as his fingers slowly trail down over the curve of my breast. Igniting a sensual fire of longing between my thighs that makes me vibrate in need.“Damn it, Olivia. You’re so beautiful in every way. So fucking perfect.” He breathes against me, only parting enough to speak into my mouth, and then he captures my lips again, sucking and kissing me like he has no control.The robe slides further down my back, down my arms to my elbows as one of his hands moves behind my neck, under my hair at the back, to pull me in harder to his probing mouth. His fingers gently graze downwards across my naked skin as though tracing my spine lightly, igniting a million butterflies and goosebumps with his caress. My body missed this. I’ve been longing for this!My breath quickens, war