Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Dylan sets his glass on the table. “I try to put myself in her shoes. The world of journalism is cutthroat and competitive. She gets an assignment to work undercover as a PA in The Anderson Clinic. It’s an opportunity to show what she can do.
“So she starts working but there’s an attraction between her and her boss. She figures she can have an affair. Why the hell not? She’s young, she’s attracted to him and they are both single. So she does. In the process, she meets her boss’s family.”
“Things move faster than she imagined,” Ivy says, taking up the scenario. “Her boss’s sister-in-law drops on her the exact kind of story she’s looking for. She writes it but she can’t bring herself to give it to her editor.
“She keeps it but now there’s a problem. She’s fallen in love with her boss and he with her. Then it gets worse. The couple that her boss’s sister-in-law had a surrogacy agreement with come to the magazine wanting to tell their story. What to do?”
Dylan says, “Jace, Olivia did her very best to make it as painless as she could for you. She was just doing her job. It just happened to clash with the fact that she had fallen in love with her boss.”
“So she invites the sister-in-law surrogate to give her side of the story. Cover both sides of the issue and keep the clinic in good standing in the public eye.”
I’ve never really looked at it from Olivia’s point of view. Hearing my family phrase it that way makes me see what an impossible situation she had been in. Slowly, my feelings of betrayal are replaced with admiration.
“I think she’s wonderful,” Dylan says.
“I do too,” Ivy says.
“I second what my wife says,” Alec says.
“Me too,” Ivy says.
“You sound like puppets.” I grow serious. “You really think I can trust her?”
“Yes!”
I look at my watch. It’s only eight o’clock. Olivia keeps late hours. Okay, so I know that because I’ve fucking driven by the magazine and spotted her car still there.
“I have to go.” I push my chair back and stand up. If I hurry up, I might catch her before she leaves.
I drive like a madman to Lifestyle Magazine. Luckily there are not many cars on the road. I’m relieved to spot Olivia’s car in her usual parking space. I know she’s close to going home so I lean on the wall next to the exit and hope no one calls the cops on me.
It takes another twenty minutes before Olivia emerges from the building. She notices me a second before she goes past.
“Jace?” she says softly.
I take in her appearance. Dear God, she’s so beautiful. So precious. So pure-hearted. How could I have thought that she had it in her to be calculating and malicious? I allowed myself to be controlled by anger and pain.
“I choose trust.”
Her eyes tell me that she understands.
Still, she asks, “Are you sure? Do you get why I stuck it out? Why I couldn’t tell you even after I fell head over heels in love with you?”
I nod, so overcome by emotions that I can’t speak.
“Oh Jace, I love you with every fiber of my being. I would never intentionally hurt you or your family. I was wrong. I should have told you. I should have trusted you to figure out a way out.”
I find my voice. “All that doesn’t matter now. I love you, Olivia. I can’t imagine another day without you. The last two months have been hell. Please take me back.”
“That’s my line,” Olivia says. “Jace, please take me back?”
She steps into my arms and I hug her so tightly I’m afraid that I’ll break her. But my woman is strong. She might be petite but with her by my side, I know we’ll overcome whatever is thrown our way.
“I love you, Olivia James.”
She threads her fingers through my hair. “I love you, Jace Anderson.” She goes on tiptoe and kisses me deeply. I forget we’re out in the street until someone in a group of young people going past shouts, “Get a room,” and Olivia and I laughingly draw apart.
“Will you marry me?” I ask her earnestly.
Olivia laughs and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. “I already said yes.”
“Nothing wrong with making sure.”
I kiss her again and I don’t care who else shouts for us to get a room. I’ve never felt so full of happiness as I feel right now.
THE END