I asked Bennett to meet me at a cafe in town. Ellis was reluctant to leave me alone with him but I assured Ellis I would be fine. I even told him he could pick up Ken. He was excited about that chance and almost left me eagerly. Chuckling to myself, I went into the cafe and ordered a coffee. I sat at a corner table with a good window view and waited for Bennett. Bennett arrived right on time, as usual. He came up to the table first. I stood and he kissed my cheek. "It is good to see you, Olivia. Thank you for asking to meet," he said. "I know I've been a little distant, and that hasn't been fair to you. Did you want to get a drink?" I motioned to the barista. "I'm fine," Bennett said, waving at the barista dismissively. We sat across from each other. "For you." He held out a dozen roses. My cheeks warmed and I took the bouquet, smelling the sweet, delicious roses. "These are beautiful," I murmured. A pit formed in my stomach. He was acting like any good boyfriend o
I left Bennett in the coffee shop and went back to the Peterson Mansion. What I'd seen on Bennett's phone made it look like Ellis and Nancy had been a lot more serious than just a few dates. I was too shocked to form any kind of thought or opinion. When I got to Ellis' house, I went right in. He'd given me a key since I was living there now. I was looking down, shuffling through the halls, trying to make sense of what I'd seen. "Hey!" an unfamiliar voice caught my attention. "Wh-" I looked up and stopped dead, nearly colliding with someone else. I stared at the woman in front of me. It was almost like looking into a mirror. Cocking my head to the side, my jaw dropped open. "Y-" "Oh, you must be Olivia," she said, smiling warmly. She took my hands in hers. "I… y-yes. I am Olivia," I said, nodding. "Ellis told me that you and I were very similar. He chose you as a girlfriend because of me," she said, batting her eyelashes. I pulled my hands away. "I don't th
"What are you doing, Mommy?" Ken asked when I pulled his suitcase out of his closet. "Pick out some of your favorite toys. We are going away for a few days," I told him. I put the suitcase on the bed and started folding his clean clothes into it. "I don't want to leave. I don't want to lose my new toys," Ken whined, rubbing his eyes with his fist. "You're not going to lose your toys, I promise," I assured. Regardless of whether Ellis chose to be with Nancy or not, Ken wouldn't lose his toys. I'd make sure of that. I didn't need to tell him that he might not get to come back here to play with his toys. Ken mumbled to himself as he started picking out some of his absolute favorites. I got them into his suitcase and then hurried to Ellis' room. He wasn't inside, which I was grateful for at the moment. He was probably catching up with Nancy. Shaking my head, I grabbed my unpacked suitcase. In all the craziness, I hadn't even had a chance to 'move in' to his bedroom.
"Can't you just forgive Daddy?" Ken asked when my phone went dead. Ellis didn't even give me a chance to respond. He was just coming over and not giving me a choice. I sighed and glanced at my son. He had his arms crossed and was glaring at me with a little scowl. It was more adorable than angry, but I hid my smile. "I'm not mad at him," I told Ken. "Then why did we move away from him?" Ken asked, a small whine in his voice. "We're just giving him some space," I explained. I wasn't sure if he really understood what that meant. Sighing, I headed over to the bed and sat down beside Ken. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Daddy is so nice. He always gives me whatever I want and he loves us both. He says he wants you to be happy all the time. He wants us to be a family. Isn't that what you want?" he asked. "I do, but I want it for the right reasons," I said. I pinched Ken's cheek affectionately. He giggled and turned away from me. Knock. Knock. I heard a muffl
Ellis ran his tongue from the base of my neck to my earlobe. He sucked the lobe into his mouth and nibbled. I gasped and tilted my head back, arching off the mattress. He ran his hands under my shirt, pushing it up my torso. Ellis knelt back and pulled my shirt off completely. I averted my eyes from Ellis' hungry gaze, feeling too vulnerable and exposed. He chuckled and leaned over me again, kissing my shoulder. He slipped his hands around my back and with two fingers, unhooked my bra. His teeth grabbed my bra strap and started pulling it down my arm; slowly, tantalizingly. A shiver ran through me and I clenched my thighs. I started to unbutton his shirt. Pop. pop. pop. As each button released, I brushed my fingers down his chest. Ellis grunted and pulled my bra off completely. He sat back on his knees and licked his lips. His hair was mussed and his shirt open, the edges flapping from side to side. He looked so mouthwatering as he gazed down at me. His
**Ellis POVOnce Olivia was sound asleep, I left the bedroom and went to my office. Despite wanting to take my time to relax with her and sleep with her in my arms, I had business to take care of. Just as I turned my computer on and sat down, there was a soft knock on my office door. I looked up. Nancy was standing in the doorway, a shy smile on her face. "Hey, you," she said, walking in with a subtle sway in her hips. "Nancy, are you settling in?" I asked, nodding to a nearby chair and inviting her to sit. She blushed as she sat down. It was that sweet adorableness that had once drawn me to her. "It has been a long time since we've been able to sit and talk openly," she remarked. "When you're up for it, I'd be curious to hear what happened to you and what you've been doing the past several years," I admitted. Nancy shrugged. "I know you've been missing me. I wish I could have called or contacted you somehow. I was recuperating. I'm sorry I couldn't come ba
**Olivia POVAfter hearing Ellis' conversation with Nancy, I felt so much lighter and happier. It finally felt like Ellis and I were connecting and on the same page. It didn't even bother me anymore that she was staying in the mansion until her sister came to get her. I was in the kitchen fixing breakfast for Ken when Nancy joined me. She came up next to me and peered at what I was doing. "Lucky Charms?" she asked. "Ken's favorite," I said, smiling warmly. "Are you sure he should be having so much sugar in the mornings?" she asked. I pursed my lips. "Was there something you wanted?""I was hoping we could talk, woman to woman," she said. She hopped up on the counter and sat on the edge, almost like a child. "Sure," I shrugged. "Here's the problem. Ellis is in love with me. I'm in love with him. The only problem is you," Nancy said. I arched an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean that I'm the problem?""Ellis is a man of honor. He sees Ken as his son an
Nancy stood there silently. Ellis scoffed and pulled out his phone. He called for two cars to take us to the hospital and have Nancy looked over. I held Ken's hand, keeping my distance. This was between Ellis and Nancy. I didn't have to get involved. One car took Nancy with a maid to bandage her hand. I rode in the second car with Ellis and Ken. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you," Ellis said. He took my hand and kissed the back of it. I smiled weakly. "I can't understand how complicated this is but I hope you trust me and trust us.""I do." Ellis sighed and shook his head. "I feel like I don't know Nancy at all. She isn't the same woman she was all those years ago.""I'll admit, I was a little confused. The way you described her, well, she hasn't acted like that around me at all," I said. I rubbed the back of Ellis's hand with my thumb. "I remember her being so sweet, simple, and innocent. She was kind and gentle. Not this manipulative, angry person. How could I no