CHAPTER 8: THE OFFICE

OLIVIA’S P.O.V

“Is that what you are going to wear for your first day?” Austin asked, he seemed disappointed with my grey and black check coat and matching skirt. “Yes, Why? What’s wrong with the outfit? I used to wear similar ones all the time when I went to my Dad’s company” I said, sitting opposite him for breakfast. Keith and Jake seemed completely uninterested in our conversation. “Well, I think that you must remember that this is not your father’s company and you are no longer the boss’s daughter because I am the boss now,” he said. “Mr.Hunter, I am well aware of that but what does that have to do with my outfit?” I asked him, smartly with a smile, my irritation ceased when I saw him get annoyed. I won’t lie and say that I did not feel a little bit of satisfaction for annoying him after he insulted my outfit. “Just get to the point Aus, her outfit is turning you on?” Jake joked, Austin’s face turning red with anger, mine turning red with shyness, trying to ignore them, I began to eat the food in front of me. “Even if it was a lingerie on that body, it would not turn me on. Humans are disgusting” Austin said, my heart sinking at how he spoke about me. “Maybe you are the most disgusting human from all of us!” I couldn’t hold my words back in anger but was shocked when they came out and so was he. “You dare speak to me in that manner again and I will make you wish that you were dead!!!” he growled at me before leaving the table.

“Don’t worry about him, he isn’t really a morning person. Finish your food and I’ll give you a proper tour of Stermyertina before we leave for the office” Keith said, trying to comfort me. “Really? A full tour?” I got excited. “Yes, a full tour,” he said with a smile.

………

“Okay so this is the dining room,” Keith said as soon as I was done with my food. “Oh wow, I haven’t been in here before” I played along with his joke and we both laughed. “Come one” he got up from his chair and called me. “This is the lobby, opposite this is the indoor garden and pool area” he took me around. I was in total awe as I admired how beautifully this house was designed. “This is the entertainment room” he took me to a room that had a tennis table, poker table, pool table and a cinema-style big screen. “The lounge where our guests normally just sit and talk, it’s more like a conversation room” he joked. “On the west wing, we have the ballroom” he took me to a big spacious room where a dozen of chandeliers hung from the ceiling and portraits hung on the walls. “Who is that?” I asked, pointing at a portrait of a scary-looking old man. “That is my great grandfather” Keith answered. “Come, let’s go,” he said, leaving the room before I could scrutinize any other portraits.

“Okay, so that basically the ground floor tour of Stermyertina, upstairs is just a whole lot of bedrooms. Yours, Mine, Austin’s, Jake’s and 12 guest rooms. Oh, and a library, a television room and sauna” Keith said, walking up the stairs. “There is a sauna and a library?” I asked, in excitement. “Yes, and I far as I know you have access to it all,” he said. “Wait, are you serious? I can use all the facilities?” I was grateful. “Yes, I don’t see why not since you are my brother’s m-, er, employee, who will be staying here so you are part of the Stermytina residents,” he said, taking me up to the main balcony which was directly above the stairs. “Wow, this is breathtaking,” I said, taking in the view while walking towards the edge of the balcony which was the size of a room. There was even a small round table and a few chairs on the balcony. “From here you can see it all, the mountains, our grounds, our tennis court and pool area…not forgetting our hot-tub area…from the other side, you can see the village” he mentioned. “Stermytina is beautiful, Keith. I wouldn’t even have imagined a place this picture-perfect to exist. You know at first I thought that I would miss New York, but now I am glad that I left New York to live in this dream” I said, looking around. “I’m glad that you like it, Stermytina is your home now,” Keith said, a warm smile on his face. “Keith, if the West wing is on that side, then what is on the other side?” I asked, looking at that part of this large building. “The north wing. And you are not allowed to go there! Under any circumstance! Are we clear?” Austin said in a dominating voice as he came and stood in between Keith and me. “Yes, we clear,” I said. “Good! Now shall we leave or are you two planning to be late for work?” he asked and walked away, I followed quickly behind him but Keith seemed unbothered by his brother's nonsense.

………

I was surprised that Austin drove himself to work, our driver always took my dad to work. It’s not like Austin couldn’t afford a chauffeur to take him to work since he is driving one of the many sports cars that I saw in their garage. But what’s more surprising is that he is driving me to work as well, I didn’t expect him to actually take me to work, I thought that I would be going with the chauffeur or something, but going with Austin is way better.

“Are you going to stare at me the whole time?” his perfect jawline began to move, breaking me from my thoughts. “Sorry? What was that? Are you talking to me?” I didn’t quite hear him through my thoughts. “No, no I wasn’t to you. I was talking to the wind that we are cutting through” he said sarcastically. “Sorry” I apologized to him, still not knowing what he said before. “What are you sorry for?” he asked, I frowned in confusion. “For not paying attention while you spoke. Is there something else that I should apologize for?” I asked. “Yes, for existing” his words left me horrified. “For existing? It sounds like you hate me” I said. “No” he sighed. “I don’t hate you. I can’t. But my life has become very difficult with you around. You wouldn’t understand and if you think that your life is difficult right now then I think that it’s best that you don’t find out the truth because the truth is painful Olivia” I didn’t understand the riddle that he spoke in and I didn’t notice that he never said my name before, neither could I ignore the fact that my name sounds so much more attractive being uttered from his lips, in his voice, with the unique accent. “I think that you are underestimating me and how is my existence making your life difficult,” I asked. “Like I said you won’t understand and it’s best if you never will,” he said, the tone of his voice told me to close the topic. However, one thing he was right about is that I am a very curious person. “If my existence makes your life more difficult then why did you ask me to come back to Europe with you?” I asked. “Because your father needed money and I needed you,” he said, taking his eyes off the road and focusing on me. “Please look at the road,” I said, trying not to panic. “Austin, focus on the road,” I said again, starting to panic as he was not listening to me. “Austin the road” I began to panic, laughing at me he finally focussed on the road again. I was quiet for the rest of the way as we drove an hour out of town until we finally reached the office.

………

Entering the office, there was an aura that surrounded Austin. He was the guy that I read about in all the books, he was rich, independent, devilishly handsome and had both power and respect. I wasn’t one who would be chasing a man for his money, my father had his own and I knew that I would inherit that, even though we needed help from the hunters we are paying them back for their help. However, I couldn’t help but want Austin Hunter, I wanted him so bad, I needed him. He was my dream guy in reality and I need to find a way to make him mine. All of these thoughts ended abruptly when he hugged his personal assistant. The blonde, curvy, dark ocean blue eyes girl looked at me standing behind him as his arms were wrapped around her. It was clear that there was something going on between them, just as clear as it was that she didn’t like me…neither did I like her!!!