Chapter 15 Olivia
OLIVIA
Isurvey my surroundings and wonder what Carter would think if he ventured out of my bedroom.
My living room is full of women dressed in designer clothes and jewels. Of course, there are varying degrees of flash to them.
Margaret, a veteran of the group, is in her usual impeccably tailored outfit, her sapphires and diamonds sparkling enough to blind the unsuspecting bystander. But she isn’t ostentatious. She wears her wealth elegantly—regally.
How would Carter fair under Margaret’s upper class gaze? How would he look decked out in a tux at her annual Sapphire ball?
A shiver rolls down my spine. Stupid question. He’d be devastatingly handsome.
Moving my gaze to the flash that is the extrovert of the group, Nadia, I contemplate what Carter would think of her.
The older woman is dressed in the outrageous fashion she’s known for.
Tonight the self-proclaimed cougar is in a skin-tight cherry-red dress that plunges between her surgically enhanced breasts and barely covers her rear end.
And she’s been her usual animated self from the minute she arrived; her current topic, her latest boy-toy.
I smile. Nadia would certainly be at her flirtatious best if she knew a hot young stud was hiding out on the other side of the apartment. At eight years younger than me, Carter is exactly Nadia’s type.
Nicole and Lindsey are huddled in the far corner, deep in discussion while the latter keeps glancing over at Annabelle. I don’t need to hear their conversation to know that Lindsey is once again saying something disparaging about the other woman.
Will I become the victim of Lindsey’s cutting tongue when my secret is revealed?
On the couch, Carlla chats with Elizabeth. Both are smiling and it is obvious Carlla is divulging yet another happy moment spent with her new husband, which my best friend is thrilled to hear about seeing how Carlla married Elizabeth’s brother.
I’m happy for Carlla and Edward, even if the sight of her joy fills me with an unfamiliar ache.
Envy?
Do I want what Carlla has?
The blissful rush of true happiness with a man? With Carter?
I can’t help but frown as my gaze moves to the last of tonight’s group.
Elenor, Simone, and Alexandria are refilling their glasses while Elsbeth regales them about her latest vacation.
Youth and the eternally youthful. While Elsbeth’s work is understated—a small trimming of her nose and chin—there is no denying she’s had work done, the lack of facial movement the most obvious sign.
Is it my looks that attract Carter?
My money?
Colin coveted both once he discovered who I was. I frown at the thought. Why didn’t I realize that before now?
Shaking myself free of that depressing revelation, I let my gaze wander the room once more.
It’s an eclectic group and even with the occasional animosity, catty snipping, and new attendees, we’ve been gathering for dinner the first Thursday of every month for years.
Women have come and gone, and yet, in all the years I’ve been part of this group, none of the varying personalities have managed to ruin any meal I can recall. And I’ve been coming since I turned eighteen and Mother dragged me along.
Of course all the women, other than Margaret, Elenor, and Nadia, are different now. Mother has long since given the dinners away due to the lack of attention from her favorite life observers—the paparazzi.
Standing by the wall of windows overlooking the harbor, my back to the magnificent view, my mind a whirl of thought, I barely take in Alexandria as she walks over and begins talking.
If someone asks me what she’s saying I would be hard pressed to tell them.
My mind keeps wandering to the man hidden away on the other side of my apartment.
“Olivia,” Alexandria snaps.
Heads turn in our direction and I smile to show there is nothing wrong. “What?”
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Oh, Alexandria.” I place a hand on my friend’s arm. “I’m sorry. The lead up to Christmas has been so busy, I find my mind wandering a lot. Please, go on.”
“I was telling you that Julian’s new wife is pregnant again.”
“Already? Isn’t the first only a few months old?”
“Four. Four months. Then again, dogs in heat usually can’t keep their tails down.
” Alexandria smiles but it looks more like aa grimace before taking a sip of her wine.
She only has thinly veiled hatred for the woman who caused her and Julian to divorce.
“I hope she has huge stretch marks and saggy breasts.”
“All normal things after pregnancy,” I murmur with what feels like a sharp stab of envy.
Alexandria shrugs. “Well, of course. But I want Julian to suffer some horrible reminder too. Shame pregnancy doesn't make a man's penis shrivel—not that he can afford to lose anything.”
“You know it’s not healthy for you to keep dwelling on that asshole.”
“I’m not.” Alexandria frowns. “Well, I wasn’t until I heard they got married before the ink was dry on the divorce and now she’s pregnant again.”
Alexandria sighs and I decide enough is enough. Time for an intervention. “First thing tomorrow morning I’m setting up an account at Exclusively Yours and you’re getting back up on that dating horse.”
She gapes at me. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Olivia—” Any argument she’s going to make is interrupted.
“Olivia?” Elsbeth calls from over near the foyer. “Where is your wedding portrait?”
I freeze. I didn’t think anyone would notice the missing picture. It’s not like our dinners are here that often. Once a year isn’t enough for Elsbeth to have memorized my decor, is it? “Ah…”
“It’s always right here.” She points to the newly bare wall. “Are you having it reframed?”
“Um, no. I, um…” God, what should I say?
Of its own accord, my gaze darts to the hallway Carter disappeared down not thirty minutes ago. He asked me to be crazy with him and I can’t deny I want to.
With everything I am I want to embrace this new relationship. No matter how wrong we seem for each other, he makes me feel seen, cherished, and it’s not just the incredible orgasms he gives me.
“Well?” Elsbeth asks, moving in front of me. The woman is always able to detect the slightest whiff of scandal and no doubt her nose for trouble is twitching right now.
“Well, I, um...” I glance at Alexandria and Elizabeth. Out of everyone here, my two closest friends will be the ones upset by my revelation, and not because they’ll be sad Colin is gone. “I’m divorced.”
“What?”
“Since when?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
I can’t make out who asks what with everyone speaking at once and heading in my direction.
“It didn’t work out and we parted amicably.”
I won’t reveal more than that. The details of my shockingly short marriage and quickie divorce will remain a closely guarded secret lest it find its way into the papers.
Alexandria grabs my arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. And here I am carrying on about my own divorce like I’m the only one to suffer through such horror.”
I smile. “Alexandria, you have every right to talk about it if you want to. I guess I was never affected deeply enough to speak of my own, which says a lot about the marriage, I think.”
“But still.”
“No. It was actually a relief in the end.” I will give her more details when we’re alone, but for now I want to divert her and the others. “Time for dinner, please bring your glasses with you.”
I make my way to the dining room where the meal is waiting for us. I set up the sideboard buffet style and I smile when I spot the tray of smoked ocean trout Carter added to the menu.
He has a good palate, the succulent fish paired with the baby spinach and rocket salad, and vegetarian lasagna will be delicious.
The man has depths I haven’t reached yet and suddenly I want to sink to the bottom and discover every little thing about him. Right now.
“What has that smile on your face?” Elizabeth asks.
“Oh.” I lower my voice and lean closer so only she can hear. “I’ll tell you later. Actually, hang around after everyone else goes. I want to introduce you and Alexandria to someone.”
Time to get a little crazy.