Chapter 15
23 months ago
“You better getin the shower if you want time to do all your primping. Town car picks us up in an hour.” Ian rolls back on top of me in his bed, laying kisses across my neck.
“How am I supposed to get up when you’re doing that?”
“Fine. I release you.” He kneels on the bed and I roll off before things get heated again.
“Are you gonna tell me where we’re going yet?” I ask, before I slip into the bathroom.
“Not a chance. You know how I love to surprise my girl.”
My girl. He’s been calling me that for weeks now. We haven’t had any real talk about defining our relationship, but Ian made it clear that I’m his girlfriend after only a few dates. He’s been bringing me to client dinners and work events ever since our first, and he always introduces me as “his.” My lovely girlfriend, my Olivia, my beauty queen. I could really do without the last one, but I still feel giddy every time he claims me as his.
I’ve never felt like I belonged to someone before.
After I shower, I ask Ian how I should wear my hair. He usually tells me to wear it back in a bun so it’s not so wild, but sometimes on the weekends he likes it down.
“Down is fine, just not too big,” he replies. “And I laid out an outfit for you on the bed.”
He’s pulled a crisp white sundress with a sweetheart neckline and a black stripe around the waist. After our first shopping trip, he started buying me clothes on his own. I have an entire wardrobe in his closet now, with new surprises every week. I haven’t been to my own apartment in days.
The dress fits perfectly, even if it’s kind of boring. I pull half my hair back in a clip to tame it a bit, and swipe on some simple makeup.
“Car’s here,” Ian calls out. I grab a pair of sandals and we speed out the door.
We’rein the car for over an hour and the ride is almost silent. Ian spends half the time talking to some client in Dubai and the other half firing off a million emails.
I don’t say anything because I know how important his job is, I just get so frustrated when this happens on our dates. It happens all the time.
Instead of being bored, I figure I should check my email too. No responses from prospects today, but I do have an email from Gavin Scott. He’s been especially cold lately, ever since the holidays. I’m almost nervous to read it.
To: Olivia Diamond olivia@sizzl.com >
From: Gavin Scott gavin@sizzl.com >
Subject: Nice Work
Olivia,
The first call with FoodRush went well. Thanks for setting up the meeting. Since they’re local, they want to come into our office for the demo next week, Wednesday at 10. You can join if you want to see how a demo meeting goes.
-G
I try to school my features as I respond.
To: Gavin Scott gavin@sizzl.com >
From: Olivia Diamond olivia@sizzl.com >
Subject: RE: Nice Work
YES! Thank you so much for thinking of me. If there’s any prep work I can do to help, let me know. Here for whatever you need. How long do these meetings usually last? If they’re with us for lunchtime I thought it could be a nice touch to order in using their delivery app? Or if lunch is too late I could just do an order of coffees or snacks?
Let me know what you think.
Thanks again!
-Liv
His reply comes almost immediately.
To: Olivia Diamond olivia@sizzl.com >
From: Gavin Scott gavin@sizzl.com >
Subject: RE: RE: Nice Work
Not a bad idea. Submit a ticket with marketing to get budget approved. If you don’t know how to do it, I’m sure Andie can help you. Coffees and snacks would be great.
-G
To: Gavin Scott gavin@sizzl.com >
From: Olivia Diamond olivia@sizzl.com >
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Nice Work
I’ll take care of it first thing Monday morning. I’m thinking Blue Bottle for coffee and small bites from Onigilly. Their marketing director is from Japan and his brother owns a sushi restaurant in Marin.
Let me know if you want to make any changes!
-Liv
A few moments after I hit send, another notification pops up.
SLACK DIRECT MESSAGE
Gavin Scott:
Do you always work on Saturdays?
Olivia Diamond:
Do you?
Gavin Scott:
Yes
Olivia Diamond:
Well, I’m on a long car ride and figured I’d check email to pass the time
Thank you again for letting me join the meeting
Gavin Scott:
Mitch told me to. Part of my job is getting you ready for sales
Can’t he just pretend to be nice?
Olivia Diamond:
I’ll be sure to thank him then
Gavin Scott:
How do you know all that about their marketing director?
Olivia Diamond:
I do my research
Have to go above and beyond to be the best right?
Gavin Scott:
You’re killing it
So where’s the long drive to?
Olivia Diamond:
I’m not sure actually. It’s a surprise
Gavin Scott:
Oh
I wait for another response from Gavin, but it never comes.
So now I’m back to looking out the window.
I realized we were heading toward wine country a while ago. If Ian hadn’t been so preoccupied, we could have stopped by my parents’ place a few miles back, but by the time he puts down his phone we’ve already entered Napa and turned onto the Silverado Trail.
The worst part is that it looks like we’re pulling into La Fantasia, one of my least favorite wineries in Napa. I must be mumbling to myself without realizing it, because Ian gives me a funny look.
“Have you ever been here?” he asks when we get out of the car.
Unfortunately, yes. “Not in a very long time,” I reply. He looks at me quizzically, like he thinks I’m lying. Maybe because I’ve only been twenty-one for two years.
Shoot. Was I supposed to pretend I’ve never been to wine country?
I’ve learned that Ian loves to teach me things, to help me experience something for the first time. And I love that he loves it, so every so often, I fib a little. Nothing major, just saying it’s the first time I’ve eaten some type of food or visited a landmark in The Bay. The only one I really feel bad about is pretending I’ve never shot an arrow before. But in my defense, archery shooting for a date really caught me off guard.
It might be time to come clean on a few of these.
“Ian, I’ve been to a lot of wineries. I grew up in Sonoma, actually.” It’s a little wild this hasn’t come up, but Ian never asks about my family. I like it that way, I think. It makes me feel more like an adult, like I’m my own person and not just a daughter or a sister. But Sonoma and winemaking are also part of my blood. It’s not something I would ever choose to hide.
“Oh,” he replies, stretching the word out for a few beats. “Well, you’ve never experienced wine country with me.”
When we get to the entrance, we’re greeted by the owner, a man named Dave that I’ve known since birth and seen annually at different competitions and events. He’s probably perfectly fine, but he and my dad have never gotten along. My dad’s family emigrated here from France and pride themselves on old world style wines using the best terroir in California. We don’t mass-produce or outsource anything.
Our prices reflect that.
La Fantasia has had a habit of calling us overpriced, not that theirs are much cheaper. And their name is a fa?ade. Nothing about the winery, the family, or the wines themselves are Italian. They make overpriced red blends and use names like “Climax” and “The Villain” for shock value. I admit, their labels are eye-catching, but their wine is the beverage equivalent of a butter face.
“Olivia Diamond!” Dave croons, holding his arms out like I’m expected to run into them for a hug.
“Hi, Dave,” I reply, not moving an inch. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Ian’s mouth hanging ajar. “Good to see you.”
“It’s been a few years. You’re all grown up now. And coming to taste my wines. Do your parents know?” He smirks, like there is any chance in hell I came here by choice.
“Actually, this is my boyfriend, Ian. He brought me here as a surprise.” I let the men shake hands. And then, because I can’t help myself, “If I’d have known we were coming up here I’d have brought him to Diamond Sky, for some really special wine.”
Dave grimaces but Ian’s eyes flash. “You’ve been there? I tried to book a tour, but they didn’t have anything available for months.”
A huge, genuine smile tugs at my lips when I see Dave’s displeasure. I can’t wait to tell Dad about this whole encounter. Each of my muscles is strained as I try not to laugh.
“Ian, that’s my family’s winery.”
Dave founda polite exit when another customer walked in and now Ian is pulling me outside.
“Why didn’t you tell me who your family was?” he asks, though it feels more like an accusation than a question.
“I don’t know. It didn’t really come up. If you asked me about my family I would never lie.”
He huffs out a breath of exasperation. “But you’re Olivia fucking Diamond, heiress to Diamond Sky Vineyards. You should have told me.”
“I’m really sorry. I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you. But I’m definitely no heiress. I have three older brothers, Ian. I don’t even work there with them.”
He’s still shaking his head at me in disbelief. But then a smile forms.
“Can we go?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”