Chapter 19___What’s Wrong with My Heart? Olivia sat at the dinner table, her fingers nervously toying with the edge of her napkin as she tried to focus on the meal in front of her. The soft clinking of silverware against plates and the low murmur of conversation around the table faded into the background, overshadowed by the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. Across from her, Isabella seemed to fit perfectly into the family, all pretty smiles and polished manners. Olivia had never felt so out of place, so overshadowed, in a very long time.Her eyes darted to Chad, sitting diagonally from her, his attention seemingly glued to his plate. But Olivia noticed the way Isabella didn't miss a chance to touch his arm, her fingers brushing lightly against his sleeve as she leaned in to whisper something unimportant. The soft sound of her laughter grated on Olivia's nerves, and an unfamiliar emotion twisted in her chest—envy. She hated it, but there was no denying it.Desperat
“I know you're wet in your panties right now, don't lie, Liv," my boss said as he leaned forward. I could smell his aftershave and his breath fanned my face. His eyes were hard and somehow Olivia could see desire in them. Was it because she'd just walked in on him trying to get some? “What? No," she croaked, mortified and jerked back, looking at everywhere but him. “Then why did you open the bathroom door when you knew I was inside," he asked, his tone husky. Olivia swallowed and stammered, "I swear, sir, I didn't know you were in there.” She replied breathlessly. Chad didn't look like he believed her, he hummed and with a smirk and grabbed the file from her hands, moving away to sit on the couch across me. It was not every day that a girl got to see her boss in nothing but a towel. Olivia cleared her throat and played with the hem of her dress, after what Chad had said, she was really getting wet underneath. “Is this all the report?" Chad asked and Olivia jumped on her
Chapter 02Not his type?! Olivia couldn't believe what she's just heard. He certainly wasn't her type either, with his 6"4 inches of toned muscles and tan skin, never mind that he was filthy rich and with the voice of the ocean wanes, he certainly was not her type! Grumbling and picking up what was left of her wounded dignity, Olivia got off the floor and dusted her skirt - thankfully the office floor was quite clean. Chad marched on like he hadn't just left her to fall on her butt and soon, he was barking instructions at her like nothing happened. "When do I have my next meeting?" He asked for the second time and Olivia was still struggling to go through her iPad. She really wasn't sure how it worked, the last secretary had tried showing it to her twice but she didn't get it. "I think__" "I'm not paying you to think, Olivia Bernard, I'm paying you to get my work life in order!" He snapped. "That's the job of your personal assistant, not your secretary," she mumbled and Chad asked
Chapter 03"He said what?!" Olivia's friend and the Marketing Manager of the company asked with wide eyes. Olivia sighed and shook her head, "I'm not doing this Macey, what if it all goes south? What if he asks me to sleep with him?" She said worriedly. Macey rolled her beautiful blue eyes, "Come on, it can't be that bad. I'm sure women are dying to get under him, plus, didn't he just say today that you're not his type?" He asked. "Yeah," Olivia nodded, hoping that had to count for something. "But I'm not doing it, I'm going home, I'll face Mr Chad in the morning with some fancy excuse," she said and with that marched into Macey's front seat and folded her arms. "Are you sure about this? You might not have a job to come back to when all this is over," Macey advised. Olivia looked at the looming building, she really needed her job alright but she couldn't stand a night with Chad alone in the office and just a thin desk between them. "I'll tell him a believable lie, come on, didn't
Chapter 04Waking up the next day, Olivia wished the events of the previous night was a dream, but she wasn't that lucky. "Olivia Parker, you have to stop being so reckless!" The voice of her mother, Hilda, sounded through her bedroom wall. Olivia groaned and sat up just as her mother barged into the room without a tap and with her hands akimbo, glared at her. "You came home drunk last night and you know how important today is," she said. "I didn't drink much mum, it was just a dew shot, I'm perfectly fine," she replied in defense. "Oh really? Then I guess you can remember how you crawled into your room last night, literally," she stated. Sighing, Olivia palmed her face and fell on the bed again. "Do you see who dropped me off?" She asked and Hida shook her head, "No, before I could get to the door, they'd driven away and left you standing there like fucking idiot! You should be glad they were nice enough to bring you home," she snapped. "Yeah, yeah," Olivia said but her mind was
Chapter 05 The office hallway seemed to stretch on forever as Olivia hesitated, her eyes fixed on the tall figure walking towards her. “Shit," she muttered under her breath, her heart thumping. Chad, her new stepbrother, had his piercing blue eyes staring right through her. It had been a very awkward morning since her mother made that announcement last night. Her boss was her stepbrother and she had just kissed him - how more awkward could that be? "Hey, Chad," Olivia ventured, her voice soft and tentative, trying to break the ice. But Chad didn't even flinch. He walked past her as if she were invisible, his long strides eating up the distance. Olivia felt a sting of rejection, her face warming with embarrassment. "Wow, okay," she muttered under her breath, her eyes following him as he disappeared into his office. "Guess this is going to be the longest hours of my life." She groaned loudly. The announcement of their parents' engagement had sent shockwaves through both her l
Chapter 06 __ Moving In Olivia stood in her room, gazing at the half-packed suitcase on her bed. She sighed, still reluctant to leave behind the simplicity of their small apartment. Hilda, her mother, bustled in, radiating excitement. "Please be happy for me, darling. I'm getting married, and I don't want you to feel alone," Hilda said, wrapping Olivia in a warm hug. Olivia managed a small smile, though her mind was preoccupied with other concerns. "Is he really going to live with us?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.Hilda arched her brow. "Matthew? Of course, he'll live with us; it's his house, remember?" She laughed."It wasn't Matthew I was asking about. It's Chad," Olivia clarified, a hint of anxiety creeping into her tone.Hilda smiled widely. "I know you're used to it being just the two of us, but you have a sibling now. You should be happy to bond with him."Olivia nodded, trying to push away the memory of the searing kiss she shared with Chad. She forced a sm
Chapter 07___Steak and Tension Chad descended the stairs, his eyes scanning the room for Olivia. He half wished that he could avoid her, but he wasn't that lucky. She stood by the fireplace, her back to him. His father, Matthew, beamed with pride, his arm around Hilda. Cathy chatted with Olivia, oblivious to the tension between them. As Chad approached, Olivia turned, their eyes meeting for a brief, charged moment. He felt a jolt but remained standing without a glitch. She looked away, her cheeks flushing. "Dinner's ready," Matthew announced, leading them to the dining room. Chad took his seat, Olivia across from him. The conversation flowed, but he couldn't focus, his gaze drifting to Olivia. She avoided eye contact, her smile as fake as the decorative flowers on the table. As the main course arrived, Chad's father raised his glass. "To my beautiful bride, Hilda, and our new family. May our love and happiness grow with each passing day." Chad forced a smile, his eyes locking w
Chapter 19___What’s Wrong with My Heart? Olivia sat at the dinner table, her fingers nervously toying with the edge of her napkin as she tried to focus on the meal in front of her. The soft clinking of silverware against plates and the low murmur of conversation around the table faded into the background, overshadowed by the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. Across from her, Isabella seemed to fit perfectly into the family, all pretty smiles and polished manners. Olivia had never felt so out of place, so overshadowed, in a very long time.Her eyes darted to Chad, sitting diagonally from her, his attention seemingly glued to his plate. But Olivia noticed the way Isabella didn't miss a chance to touch his arm, her fingers brushing lightly against his sleeve as she leaned in to whisper something unimportant. The soft sound of her laughter grated on Olivia's nerves, and an unfamiliar emotion twisted in her chest—envy. She hated it, but there was no denying it.Desperat
Chapter 18__The Big AnnouncementChad and Olivia arrived home after a long day at the office. The drive home was silent and a little tense. Olivia looked outside the window throughout and Chad kept stealing glances at her. “I hope you didn't tell your friend anything. This is a family issue," he reminded her with a sharp tone. Olivia simply hummed but her heart hammered. Would Macey be able to keep it hush hush. She was never the kind to keep a secret despite her best efforts. She always had a way of letting things slip out. She was her best friend but she knew that much about her too. Olivia couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in her stomach since receiving the summons from her mother, Hilda. She and Chad had been summoned home with no explanation, only the request to come immediately.As they stepped through the door, Hilda met them with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Welcome home!” she exclaimed, her voice light and airy. “Hey, Hilda,” Chad
Chapter 17__Friends Never Keep SecretsOlivia and Chad stood there, frozen, their lips just inches away from each other when there was a loud knock at the door. Olvia jumped apart as if the sound had burned her and tried to compose herself. “Fuck!" Chad swore under his breath but didn't look half as disoriented as Olivia did. “Who is it?" He hissed. “It’s Frederick, sir," the man replied. It was the HR manager. “I have a few reports for you to sign." "The door is open,” Chad snapped and Frederick entered. Olivia’s face turned bright red, and she took a step backward, trying to escape the awkwardness of the situation. Chad, however, stood firm, staring at the HR manager with cold eyes. He seemed to be daring the man to say something, anything, that might give him an excuse to lash out.The HR manager failed to sense the tension in the room. He flashed Olivia a charming smile. “Hey, Liv. How are you doing?" He asked. Olivia didn't trust her voice. She was too shaken by that near k
Chapter 16__Hate, love, hate Olivia stepped out of the house just as Chad did. Their eyes met briefly, but Chad didn’t acknowledge her presence. He moved straight to his car, his expression unreadable. Olivia’s heart sank a little, though she would never admit it. Why was he ignoring her? She didn't do anything, she wasn't the one that ruined last night and tried to give her a bloody heart attack in the garage. “Arrogant rake!" She hissed under her breath just as she heard her mother calling out to her. Hilda was right behind her as she turned. "Hey, are you okay?" Hilda asked, concern etched into her features. "You skipped breakfast."Olivia forced a smile, though her stomach was twisting with hunger. "I'm not so hungry, Mum," she lied, hoping it would ease her mother’s worry.Hilda didn’t look convinced, but she nodded and let her go. Olivia was grateful. She didn’t want to explain why the thought of sitting at the breakfast table with Chad made her lose her appetite. It had been
Chapter 15__Please…?Chad stood in front of the nightclub, his eyes hard and unwavering as he stared down at Olivia. His cheek was still red from the sting of her slap, but his gaze held such intensity that made Olivia’s heart race with fear. "You shouldn't have done that," he hissed, his voice low and menacing. Olivia couldn’t decide what frightened her more—his cold, cutting tone or the icy stare that seemed to pierce right through her.She swallowed, trying to keep her composure as he raised his hand to his reddened cheek. His other hand gripped her wrist tightly, the pressure almost painful. "Let go of me, now!" she demanded, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to sound braver than she felt.But Chad didn’t move. His grip on her wrist tightened, his eyes never leaving hers. Olivia’s breath hitched. She’d seen Chad angry before, but this was different. The man standing before her was terrifying in his controlled fury, and for a fleeting moment, she wished she hadn’t slapped
Chapter 14__Cat Out of the Bag Chad's face was red with anger as he strode towards Olivia, his eyes blazing with disapproval. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.Olivia shrank back, unsure of what to say. She knew she had done nothing wrong, but Chad's anger was intimidating. He looked down right murderous as he glared at her. “Hello, sir," Macey said lamely when she finally overcame the shock of seeing her boss in the club. Hissing, Chad ignored Macey and faced Olivia as he asked, “What is the meaning of this?" "I…I had…my cousin just got…” Olivia stammered helplessly, unable to express herself. "What's going on here? He's the guy? Your ex?" Pauline tried to intervene, but Macey signaled her to stop. She winced at Pauline's ever expressive fone. "Let it go, Pauline. He's our boss," Macey whispered and grabbed her palms. But Pauline was not one to back down. "Why are you ordering her around, bro, what's it with the death stare?" She challe
Chapter 13__The Bareback Show. Olivia was still fiddling with the hem of her short dress when they arrived at the club. Luxe Den was a private and very expensive club. It was strictly on membership and the sort of club that Olivia had no business attending considering her pay grade. The luxurious cars in the parking lot were just as intimidating as the size and height of the building. “Are we sure Pauline is here?” She asked. "Come on, there's just one Luxe Den in town,” Macey replied and grabbed her ticket, showing it to the doorman who waved them in. At the doorway of the club, Macey's eyes lit up when she spotted Pauline. The two girls screamed and hugged each other like they were long-lost sisters, while Pauline gave Olivia a lame wave and a hello."Hey, you're stealing my cousin now?" Olivia teased, raising an eyebrow.Pauline rolled her eyes. "Well, she's more fun than you. What's that thing they say? Birds of a feather flock together, huh?"Macey laughed and hugged Pauline
Chapter 12___Three TicketsThat evening, Olivia turned in the last of the documents that Chad had asked her to sort out. She walked into his office, the dim brown jacket she had thrown on over her dress a stark contrast to the sheer blouse she had worn earlier."These are getting ready to be emailed, should I go on with it?" she asked, trying to sound professional despite the awkwardness between them.Chad hummed and looked up at her, his eyes scanning her covered-up form. He didn't know what he hated most - the fact that he wasn't teasing her anymore with her nipples or the fact that the dead color did nothing good against her olive skin."Let me drop you off," he said, getting up from his swivel chair. "I'm done too, after all, we now live together."Olivia's response was immediate and vehement. "No!" she said, snapping at him without thinking.Chad turned to her, raising a brow. "What?" he asked, his tone cold.Olivia took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I mean, I will b
Chapter 11__Bossy Olivia trudged into the office, her feet heavy with exhaustion. She had barely slept the night before, her mind racing with thoughts of the incident with Chad. How odd could he be? Was he now a prisoner in his home? Sighing, she dumped her tote bag on the desk and dropped her Styrofoam cup. She was dressed in a thin black shirt and pair of trousers, her usual crisp attire now rumpled and worn.As she settled into her chair, Macey looked up from her computer, concern etched on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, eyeing Olivia's disheveled appearance.Olivia nodded wordlessly, not trusting herself to speak. She was still trying to shake off the fatigue that clung to her like a sticker. Macey's eyes narrowed. "You're twenty minutes late," she reminded Olivia, her brow arched in disapproval.Olivia sighed, rubbing her temples. She had woken up late, missing her alarm in her groggy state. But of course, that was to be expected after such a night."Yeah, I know,"