Chapter Sixty-six
Seven days later…
“Wow, Oli,” Willow breathes, “You really fucking pulled it off.”
I stand in the entrance to the grand hall that very rarely gets used here and smile. I really fucking did pull it off. It kept me so busy I almost didn’t have time to think about Malakai.
I say almost because that man is in my soul, and I can’t figure a way to get him out. I’m not even sure I want to anymore. I miss him.
So much it hurts.
I didn’t expect love to feel like this.
It’s all consuming, a physical thing inside of me. I feel it in my bones, in the very threads of me. How did it become so strong in such a short amount of time?
I stare at the room I’ve managed to transform. It’s a rare sunny day which I’m thankful for since all the curtains are open to let in as much natural light as possible. I decided on a rustic, natural theme with fresh blooms spread out across the room, wooden accents threaded throughout. Rows of white chairs have been set up ahead of a stage that’s been decorated in moss and white Gypsophila. It’s simple but elegant, a long white carpet spread down the center to create an aisle.
The after party will be held in one of the restaurants. While Mr. Levine wasn’t too forthcoming, he had given me a head count which had allowed me to organize the meal and set up the room to allow dining and dancing. I followed the same theme, but I added fairy lights and a lot of candles.
“So, what happens now?” Willow asks, hands on hips as she watches my staff buzz through the space excitedly.
“Nothing,” I shrug, “Now we wait for the happy couple to arrive.”
“Great!” She claps her hands, “I booked us to get our makeup done.”
“What?” I gasp, “I can’t leave and why an earth would you do that!?”
“Because it’s Sophia Carlton!” She widens her eyes, “She’s only in town for like a couple of days!”
“What?”
“You know that huge makeup artist who does all those celebrities for the red carpet.”
“How do you know she is in town?”
“Stalked her IG,” She rolls her eyes, “Anyway, I begged an awful lot to get this so you’re coming.”
“Willow, really, I can’t leave. Everything is set up, but I need to be here when guests arrive and stuff. It won’t just run itself.”
“I can help,” Nora strolls over, a smile on her face, “I helped, remember, I know what to do.”
I narrow my eyes, detecting something else is happening here. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing!” Willow answers too quickly, “Come on, let’s go.”
“Willow!” I pull back but she continues to drag me toward the foyer.
“Our appointment starts in like five minutes, she’s right upstairs so it’s not even like you’re leaving.”
“Willow, this doesn’t make sense.”
“I know it doesn’t,” she stops suddenly, and my nose bounces off her back.
“Ow,” I rub at it.
“But I need you to trust me right now.”
“What are you up to?”
“Can’t I do a little something to make my bestie feel better?” She pouts.
“Well, yes,” I start.
“Exactly,” She cuts me off, “Let’s go.”
I grumble the entire way up to the twelfth floor where several of our luxury suites are. Willow knocks a few doors down and then opens without waiting for an answer. My scolding is on the tip of my tongue but then I see a whole team inside with Sophia.
My mouth clamps shut.
“There you are!” Sophia smiles sweetly, “Come, sit, sit! There isn’t a lot of time.”
Willow shoves me toward her and then she bolts, the door slamming closed behind her.
“What the fuck is going on!?”
“Come,” Sophia ushers me, not answering me. I doubt she even knows but still.
“Such a pretty face,” She compliments as she holds my chin, tilting my face side to side as if wanting to get all my angles. “I know exactly what to do.”
And then she does it, and I sit silently, accepting it in utter confusion. And when she’s done, my hair is tugged and brushed and pinned.
“Stunning,” She breathes, “Absolutely stunning.”
“I’m sorry,” I blink rapidly, “What the hell is going on?”
She checks her watch, “Oop, would you look at the time! I’ve gotta run, you look beautiful though. Have a great day!”
What the hell!?
Before I even realize what’s happening, I’m standing in the hall outside the bedroom, the door firmly closed behind me.
This is starting to freak me the fuck out, so I do a Willow and I bolt, heading back down and rushing toward the offices. Sweet isolation beckons a few feet away and I lunge, closing the gap as my hand tugs on the office door frantically, and then I slam it behind me.
I don’t like this.
I don’t like this at all.
I rest my head on the door, careful because you know, make up, and take a breath.
But then it gets lodged in my throat when I hear the voice from behind me.
“Hello, kitten.”
I spin around, eyes wide, hands shaking to find Malakai sitting behind my desk.
And he looks utterly devastating.
In a three-piece light grey suit, he relaxes in my chair, hands resting behind his head which stretches the material of that suit over every expanse of him.
“Malakai,” I breathe.
“Did you miss me?” His mouth cocks up into a half smile but behind it and swimming in his eyes is hesitation, fear… longing.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Choosing you,” He’s suddenly standing, closing the space between us. My spine hits the door and then his arms are caging me in. “Choosing you, kitten. Right now.”
“What do you mean?” I breathe.
“This is our wedding, Olivia.”
“It’s not a wedding,” I point out, unsure what I am actually saying. “It’s a vow renewal.”
He cocks his head, eyes flicking around my face as if waiting…
“Oh!” I finally catch up.
He chuckles, “For us, Olivia. It’s for us.”
“But you’re not Mr. Levine.” I point out again uselessly. My brain is not working.
“Levine is Sebastian’s last name. I just borrowed it. If you knew it was me, you wouldn’t have arranged for this.”
“Wait,” I gasp, “You had me plan my own vow renewal!?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to give you the day you wanted. We can’t have the wedding again, but this, I can give you this. I can give you the day you would have wanted.”
“Malakai, I–”
“There’s more, sweetheart,” He says quietly, sorrow lining his face, “I am choosing you now,” He steps away, and I swear that’s tears in his eyes, “I am choosing you even if you are not choosing me.”
He walks back to the desk, “I’ve signed them already.”
I stare at the brown envelope in his hand.
“I am choosing you to be happy, Olivia.” He swallows and I wasn’t mistaken, those are tears. That’s a tear rolling down his cheek.
If I thought I was heartbroken before then I was wrong because this – this is excruciating. I can’t fucking breathe past it.
“And if being happy means being without me, for now, then sign the divorce papers and don’t meet me at the end of the aisle.”
“Malakai…”
“But I need you to know, even if you sign these papers, I won’t stop. I will earn your love again, Olivia, whether we are married or not. You are my wife. You will always be my wife.”
He places the thick envelope on the desk, turning to me once again, letting me see every raw and gritty emotion on his face, letting me see those tears on his cheeks.
“I never told you.” He whispers. “I never told you that I love you.”
My lip’s part on a breath as my heart hammers in my chest.
“But I do,” He promises, “With every fiber of my being. I love you, Olivia. I think I loved you from the moment you stood in my office that first day you moved in.”
He’s back in front of me, finger curled under my chin, “And I knew I loved you,” He breathes, “the moment you fucked up my closet and put ketchup in my shoes.”
A watery laugh bursts from me but hesitation works in too.
“I want it all, Olivia.” He tells me, “But now, it’s up to you.”
Icy cold sweeps through me when he takes a step away, “Your dress is behind you and my pen is on the desk.”
I turn and almost choke when I see my wedding dress, the very same one from our wedding day minus the big red wine stain.
“I bought a new one,” He explains, “After the wedding.”
I step away from the door as he reaches for the handle.
“Whatever you choose,” He pauses, his back to me, spine straight and shoulders stiff, like walking away right now is physically paining him. “I will understand, but please… choose me back.”
And then the door closes, and he leaves.