Olivia’s POV:Orlie and Brandon dropped me off at the townhouse I share with Maurice and Ethan. After checking on my nephew and catching up on any news concerning him with the nanny, I retired to my bedroom to shower and get dressed in my usual figure-hugging dress and sleek hair and makeup. Drove to the hotel and went straight to work.I know Brandon arrived ahead of me because he sent me a text message, he’s waiting for Alice. Their meeting here is a reminder to me that they are really over and Brandon has no intention of keeping me off the radar. I am beyond relieved.I’ve only been up here for twelve minutes.I make my way down to the lobby, hungry and with the intention of checking the kitchen for whatever I might fancy. The head chef is a wonderful woman, she makes a mean grilled cheese, and now that I’m starving, and aspirin has numbed my pounding head to bearable. Hunger pangs are so intense I feel faint and desperate to eat.On my way to the kitchen, I’m surprised to meet Ali
“Hi, honey!” Alice swooped in for a kiss as soon as she was inside Brandon’s manager office. “Ugh, the traffic was bad going here. I am thinking of getting an apartment closer to this location. I’m thinking walking distance so I can visit anytime. What do you think?”She dropped her purse on his desk and casually went for a hug from behind him which he casually deflected. The action did not even seem to bother the woman. Alice was in there with one purpose in mind---she will not be the sore loser and she will be rich one day.Brandon moved his chair away inches away from her. “I agreed to talk here because I want to show Olivia that she have nothing to worry about. I told her the truth and though it was hard at first…she forgave me and gave me a chance. Let’s call it quits, Alice. I’m willing to give you a substantial amount of money if you agree to walk away silently.”Alice’s bright smile remained pasted on her heavily made-up face. “You were saying?”They’ve been together for sever
Olivia’s POV:I look up from my seat at where I’m sorting through emails at the lobby as the group of men walk past. I have a habit of working out of my office when I’m worried sick. Alice is leaving, she’s deep in conversation with someone on the phone, I don’t think she saw me. I try to blank them completely, her and Brandon and how their conversation went. Still pissed as hell and overly prickly from earlier from my encounter with her.A pair of leather shoes stops in front of me. I lift my eyes from my laptop and saw the man I was hoping not to bump into today. He pauses and looks at me coldly, pulling my eyes to his with the power of that stare, and I curse myself for the tingles that spread across my body like wildfire. Averting my gaze as quickly and trying to zone him out.“What are you doing here? Is your office not good enough you had to bring work here on the lobby?” He barks it, and I slowly lift my head deliberately to hide the fact I’m hating on him, and he is not exactl
Olivia’s POV:The drive home was okay-sih. I cleared my schedule and I curse at myself for doing it. It’s given me an anxious knot in my gut all night which has only grown more significant by the hour and has me fidgeting uncontrollably.It’s past midnight and I’m in the living room, working to keep my mind off wandering. Occasionally, Ethan’s cries reach my location and I’m tempted to check on him but the cries immediately stop. I bet Maurice took him in her arms.As for me, something is amiss, and it’s practically radiating around the room and I sigh for the millionth time to release some of my pent-up tension that is coiled inside like an overloaded spring.“If you miss me, you can call me.” I jump a mile high when the smooth, unmistakably husky voice catches me from my left side, and I spin to see him casually standing at the door, looking fresh despite the hour. “No.” I retort snappily and cross my arms over to cover the way I jumped. I’m wearing cartoon inspired pajamas.His ey
Olivia's POV:“I don’t even know where you are taking me.”“Just pack up. Now shut up and come on.” He grabs one of my waving hands and pulls me out ungentlemanly towards the door. Not even giving me a chance to retort to his lame apology. It earns him another slap, this time in the back of those annoyingly broad shoulders, full-on violent tonight. The only way I can expel all I feel because he is so shit at groveling, and I’m in need of venting. Not that my feeble efforts would do him any damage. He doesn’t even flinch, keeps his demon grip on me and almost drags me into the flat at the speed of light. He doesn’t acknowledge my slaps at all. “You are an a**hole. You know that?” I sulk at his back when he finally lets me go and leaving me standing in the middle of my room. “Yup. You always remind me that.” He doesn’t even look back, and the arrogance in his manner, even now we are alone, sobers me a little. There is a weird mood circling him, and I can taste it. The loving, soft, a
Olivia's POV:“I don’t know, but I have to tell you this…I think it’s best to assume you are not in the clear, from Alice. From this moment on, you won’t be anywhere I am not if it can be helped. I don’t want you on your own, Precaution is better than cure. Though she said she’s going quietly, I doubt it. I can feel she’s cooking something. I can’t lose you.”My heart sinks at the thought.“Is she that desperate?” I’m almost choking on the words but asking questions is all that is keeping me from a full-blown freak-out.“Yes. Please trust me.” His grip on my hand loosens as he turns it over and seems to inspect my dainty fingers in his, running his index finger down the small thumb against his larger one and measuring my small hand in his larger one.I curl up against him instinctively, like a child in need of reassurance, forgetting why I’m even mad at him anymore when my brain is swirling with something this serious and this real. A threat and one aimed at me. It has dawned on me th
Olivia’s POV:My morning starts quiet and weirdly calm. He is gone when I wake up, but the little note he left propped on his empty pillow informs me he is at the hotel working today. I told him we could use the hotel chopper to Eli’s farm so we don’t cram and surprisingly he agreed.The little note I may have held and pondered over for far too long. Tracing the neat script writing and the little out of character kisses at the end. Heart all butterflies and stupid teen girl feelings are coursing through my body. Feeling all sorts of goofy and smiley, mood instantly sunshine with something so basic.Mush is becoming a permanent mood for me when it comes to this man. Just the simple act of being considerate, and I’m a pathetic puddle of icky goo. The guy is trying to be someone I could love and have faith in. He didn’t want me to wake up alone and think he had once again abandoned me after a night of curling up and sleeping in his arms. He wanted me to wake up and know that he wasn’t f
Olivia’s POV:“Um, where were we?” I smile shyly, knowing what he did and I can’t deny it anymore and I stare at the long table instead, aware of eyes eating into me now, and once again, that overly heavy uneasiness comes over me. I jump Brandon touches my shoulder to pull my attention to him.“Liv, it’s time they know what’s going on between us. If there’s anyone we can trust, it’s them. There’s no point in hiding what’s in plain sight. After that kiss, I’m sure they don’t need explaning.” He jokes in afterthought. That soft, subtle hint of a smile, his voice husky and affectionate, so much depth and meaning in so few words. The way his pale eyes bore into mine as he says it sets my nerves tingling and heart hammering in my chest in a gooey, lovesick weirdo way that only adds to the blush spreading across my cheekbones.“Men, you know what? It’s lunch time. Let’s give them some privacy. At one point, we've all been there.” One of them shifts from his perch, hearing the change in Bran
Olivia’s POV:“Um, where were we?” I smile shyly, knowing what he did and I can’t deny it anymore and I stare at the long table instead, aware of eyes eating into me now, and once again, that overly heavy uneasiness comes over me. I jump Brandon touches my shoulder to pull my attention to him.“Liv, it’s time they know what’s going on between us. If there’s anyone we can trust, it’s them. There’s no point in hiding what’s in plain sight. After that kiss, I’m sure they don’t need explaning.” He jokes in afterthought. That soft, subtle hint of a smile, his voice husky and affectionate, so much depth and meaning in so few words. The way his pale eyes bore into mine as he says it sets my nerves tingling and heart hammering in my chest in a gooey, lovesick weirdo way that only adds to the blush spreading across my cheekbones.“Men, you know what? It’s lunch time. Let’s give them some privacy. At one point, we've all been there.” One of them shifts from his perch, hearing the change in Bran
Olivia’s POV:My morning starts quiet and weirdly calm. He is gone when I wake up, but the little note he left propped on his empty pillow informs me he is at the hotel working today. I told him we could use the hotel chopper to Eli’s farm so we don’t cram and surprisingly he agreed.The little note I may have held and pondered over for far too long. Tracing the neat script writing and the little out of character kisses at the end. Heart all butterflies and stupid teen girl feelings are coursing through my body. Feeling all sorts of goofy and smiley, mood instantly sunshine with something so basic.Mush is becoming a permanent mood for me when it comes to this man. Just the simple act of being considerate, and I’m a pathetic puddle of icky goo. The guy is trying to be someone I could love and have faith in. He didn’t want me to wake up alone and think he had once again abandoned me after a night of curling up and sleeping in his arms. He wanted me to wake up and know that he wasn’t f
Olivia's POV:“I don’t know, but I have to tell you this…I think it’s best to assume you are not in the clear, from Alice. From this moment on, you won’t be anywhere I am not if it can be helped. I don’t want you on your own, Precaution is better than cure. Though she said she’s going quietly, I doubt it. I can feel she’s cooking something. I can’t lose you.”My heart sinks at the thought.“Is she that desperate?” I’m almost choking on the words but asking questions is all that is keeping me from a full-blown freak-out.“Yes. Please trust me.” His grip on my hand loosens as he turns it over and seems to inspect my dainty fingers in his, running his index finger down the small thumb against his larger one and measuring my small hand in his larger one.I curl up against him instinctively, like a child in need of reassurance, forgetting why I’m even mad at him anymore when my brain is swirling with something this serious and this real. A threat and one aimed at me. It has dawned on me th
Olivia's POV:“I don’t even know where you are taking me.”“Just pack up. Now shut up and come on.” He grabs one of my waving hands and pulls me out ungentlemanly towards the door. Not even giving me a chance to retort to his lame apology. It earns him another slap, this time in the back of those annoyingly broad shoulders, full-on violent tonight. The only way I can expel all I feel because he is so shit at groveling, and I’m in need of venting. Not that my feeble efforts would do him any damage. He doesn’t even flinch, keeps his demon grip on me and almost drags me into the flat at the speed of light. He doesn’t acknowledge my slaps at all. “You are an a**hole. You know that?” I sulk at his back when he finally lets me go and leaving me standing in the middle of my room. “Yup. You always remind me that.” He doesn’t even look back, and the arrogance in his manner, even now we are alone, sobers me a little. There is a weird mood circling him, and I can taste it. The loving, soft, a
Olivia’s POV:The drive home was okay-sih. I cleared my schedule and I curse at myself for doing it. It’s given me an anxious knot in my gut all night which has only grown more significant by the hour and has me fidgeting uncontrollably.It’s past midnight and I’m in the living room, working to keep my mind off wandering. Occasionally, Ethan’s cries reach my location and I’m tempted to check on him but the cries immediately stop. I bet Maurice took him in her arms.As for me, something is amiss, and it’s practically radiating around the room and I sigh for the millionth time to release some of my pent-up tension that is coiled inside like an overloaded spring.“If you miss me, you can call me.” I jump a mile high when the smooth, unmistakably husky voice catches me from my left side, and I spin to see him casually standing at the door, looking fresh despite the hour. “No.” I retort snappily and cross my arms over to cover the way I jumped. I’m wearing cartoon inspired pajamas.His ey
Olivia’s POV:I look up from my seat at where I’m sorting through emails at the lobby as the group of men walk past. I have a habit of working out of my office when I’m worried sick. Alice is leaving, she’s deep in conversation with someone on the phone, I don’t think she saw me. I try to blank them completely, her and Brandon and how their conversation went. Still pissed as hell and overly prickly from earlier from my encounter with her.A pair of leather shoes stops in front of me. I lift my eyes from my laptop and saw the man I was hoping not to bump into today. He pauses and looks at me coldly, pulling my eyes to his with the power of that stare, and I curse myself for the tingles that spread across my body like wildfire. Averting my gaze as quickly and trying to zone him out.“What are you doing here? Is your office not good enough you had to bring work here on the lobby?” He barks it, and I slowly lift my head deliberately to hide the fact I’m hating on him, and he is not exactl
“Hi, honey!” Alice swooped in for a kiss as soon as she was inside Brandon’s manager office. “Ugh, the traffic was bad going here. I am thinking of getting an apartment closer to this location. I’m thinking walking distance so I can visit anytime. What do you think?”She dropped her purse on his desk and casually went for a hug from behind him which he casually deflected. The action did not even seem to bother the woman. Alice was in there with one purpose in mind---she will not be the sore loser and she will be rich one day.Brandon moved his chair away inches away from her. “I agreed to talk here because I want to show Olivia that she have nothing to worry about. I told her the truth and though it was hard at first…she forgave me and gave me a chance. Let’s call it quits, Alice. I’m willing to give you a substantial amount of money if you agree to walk away silently.”Alice’s bright smile remained pasted on her heavily made-up face. “You were saying?”They’ve been together for sever
Olivia’s POV:Orlie and Brandon dropped me off at the townhouse I share with Maurice and Ethan. After checking on my nephew and catching up on any news concerning him with the nanny, I retired to my bedroom to shower and get dressed in my usual figure-hugging dress and sleek hair and makeup. Drove to the hotel and went straight to work.I know Brandon arrived ahead of me because he sent me a text message, he’s waiting for Alice. Their meeting here is a reminder to me that they are really over and Brandon has no intention of keeping me off the radar. I am beyond relieved.I’ve only been up here for twelve minutes.I make my way down to the lobby, hungry and with the intention of checking the kitchen for whatever I might fancy. The head chef is a wonderful woman, she makes a mean grilled cheese, and now that I’m starving, and aspirin has numbed my pounding head to bearable. Hunger pangs are so intense I feel faint and desperate to eat.On my way to the kitchen, I’m surprised to meet Ali
Olivia’s POV:“Maybe we should revisit the kissing thing. Not sure I can give that up on top of s*x and heavy groping. I mean, there is only so much I can handle keeping in check. I’m not that much of a good boy.” Brandon slips me a sexy smile and picks up the kettle when it clicks to pour us coffee. Watching the steam rise and hit with the heavy aroma as soon as the cups are filled.“You’re not a good boy at all, Mr. Pembroke. That’s part of the charm. If we are revisiting the kissing, it requires a proper negotiation. I have to get something back if you are getting free rein to kiss me,” I jest, flirtation coming out all by itself and aware I have slid my arm through his and am pressing my body to his side a little too possessively. Pushed up tight so I can get as much of him as possible.“You get my tongue in your mouth with all its expertise, several times a day. That’s reward enough.” That arrogant wink, and I frown at him. “Look at you, so modest.”“I know. It is exhausting bei