Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 17267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
“What was that?” Vance turns to me, his face scrunching in confusion.
“Nothing.” I pocket my phone again, immediately feeling another vibration against my thigh. No more distractions, not yet. “Let’s do this.”
An hour and a half later, we emerge from the building. Vance releases a heavy sigh of relief, and the sickly green nervousness he wore on entry into the building is replaced by red-faced excitement.
“Goddamn, what a rush,” Vance says as we get back to our cars. “I think we just secured a billion-dollar business like it was nothing.”
Of course, we did. These meetings are merely a show of good faith at this point. But I suppose I can understand Vance’s nerves. It’s the biggest conquest we’ve taken on without Mother at the helm of our company.
“You did great in there.”
“We need to go out and celebrate,” he says, getting into his car.
I fully plan on celebrating this monumental achievement, but it won’t be in a seedy bar, getting drunk with my brother. As much as it will disappoint him, I’d rather bask in the glow of this success with the future mother of my children.
“Not tonight.” I can hear his heart shatter with disappointment. “Let’s finalize this thing, then we’ll do it properly.”
“Don’t wanna count your chickens?” he asks glumly. “I get it.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head back to my car.
Taking some time to scan the texts Olivia left, each one filthier than the last, I make three stops before pulling my car into the private practice’s parking lot. I hadn’t intended to see her tonight, but she forced my hand.
Me: When can I see you again?
I send the message as I get out of my car and collect the items I acquired. With it nearing the end of the day and the parking lot empty apart from four cars—one of which is Dr. Sinclair’s—there shouldn’t be any hurdles in my way from sweeping Olivia off her feet.
Olivia: Hmm. We’ll have to see. You know, I’m a busy girl.
She answers as I reach the door.
Me: Too bad.
I enter immediately after hitting send.
“What are you doing her—” She can’t even get her question out before she notices the items in my hands.
In one, a box of chocolates with a bushel of red roses hanging precariously in the crook of my elbow, and in the other, a snow-white teddy bear almost as big as Olivia holding a heart.
Tears well in her eyes, and her face glows with pure joy. Seeing her brighten up this intensely over a gesture so small melts my heart into my guts.
“Guess I couldn’t wait any longer,” I answer the question she couldn’t finish. “Two days has been hard enough. I don’t think I’d survive another night alone.”
Olivia jumps out of her chair and sprints toward me. She collides with me with so much force that the roses go flying across the reception floor.
“Thank you,” she whispers before hoisting herself up to gently peck me on the lips.
Fuck that. There’s no way I’m going to let her get away with a tender peck after all the torment she put me through today.
Hooking my arm holding the chocolates around her neck, I bring her in for a passionate embrace. She gives in to my desires, allowing me to part her lips with my tongue and explore her mouth for way too long before she remembers we’re still in her office.
“Victor,” she scolds me and pulls away. But the smile on her face and her rosy cheeks are enough to tell me she isn’t upset at all.
“It’s your fault. You’re the one who put all those naughty thoughts in my head.” I wink and hand her the chocolates and stuffed toy before collecting the scattered roses off the floor.
“Ah, that’s what this is about. Well, if you give me another twenty minutes, we can go back to your place and explore those thoughts.” She spins around with the elegance of a ballerina and skips back to her desk.
“Then I’ll suffer those twenty minutes in silence while thinking about all the things I’m going to do when we’re alone.”
6
OLIVIA
“You didn’t have to do this, you know?” I say, cuddling the big teddy bear to my chest. I mean it, too, but I’m so grateful that Victor did. “I would’ve gone back to your place anyway.”
As instructed, Victor waited for me to finish work. He sat quietly in a waiting room chair and awkwardly greeted Dr. Sinclair as she passed by to leave for the evening. She couldn’t help but smile and laugh at the sight of this burly man with a teddy bear sitting on his lap.
“I know, but I wanted to.” Victor cranes his neck down to meet my eyes. He’s still holding the remnants of the roses I destroyed out of pure excitement for his romantic gesture. “You deserve a hell of a lot more than chocolates and flowers, but it was the best I could do on such short notice.”