Chapter Thirteen Olivia
Chapter Thirteen
Olivia
The whispers start small.
A glance that lingers too long in the hallway. A conversation that stops when I walk into a room. The way Derek grins at Carter during practice like he knows something the rest of the world doesn’t.
I tell myself it’s paranoia. That I’m imagining things because guilt has taken up permanent residence in my chest. But three days after Carter and I crossed every professional line I’ve ever drawn, the signs are impossible to ignore.
“Morning, Olivia.” Marcus nods as he passes my office, but there’s a knowing edge to his smile.
I force myself to return it. “Morning.”
The door closes behind him, and I drop into my chair, pressing my palms against my eyes. This is exactly what I was afraid of. The second you let your guard down with a player, the second you blur those lines, everyone notices.
My phone buzzes. Carter’s name lights up the screen.
Dinner tonight? My place.
I stare at the message for too long, thumb hovering over the keyboard.
Every rational part of my brain screams to say no.
To pull back before this gets worse. But the memory of his hands on my skin, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world who mattered, it makes rational thought impossible.
Can’t. Work.
Three dots appear immediately.
You have to eat.
I’ll grab something.
Liar.
A laugh escapes before I can stop it. He knows me too well already, and that’s dangerous.
Carter, we need to be careful.
The dots appear and disappear twice before his response finally comes through.
I know. But I’m not good at staying away from you.
My heart does that ridiculous flip again, the one that’s becoming far too familiar.
I set the phone face-down on my desk and try to focus on the press release I’m supposed to be writing.
But the words blur together, meaningless, because all I can think about is the way Carter’s voice drops when we’re alone.
The way he touches the small of my back when no one’s looking. The way everything feels different now.
A sharp knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts.
“Come in.”
Ralph pushes the door open, his expression unreadable. “Got a minute?”
“Of course.” I gesture to the chair across from me, pulse quickening.
He sits, studying me with those sharp lawyer eyes that miss nothing. “How’s the shadowing going?”
“Fine.” The word comes out too fast. “Carter’s been… cooperative.”
Ralph’s eyebrow arches. “Cooperative. That’s an interesting choice of words.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he says slowly, leaning back in his chair, “that I’ve been doing this job for twenty years. I know what it looks like when lines get blurred.”
My stomach drops. “Ralph—”
He holds up a hand. “I’m not accusing you of anything, Olivia. But I’m also not blind. And if I’m noticing something, other people will too.”
The words hit like a physical blow. I open my mouth to deny it, to lie, to do anything except confirm what he already suspects. But the truth sits heavy on my tongue.
“It’s complicated,” I finally say.
“It always is.” Ralph’s voice softens slightly. “But you’re smart enough to know what this could mean for your career. For his.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” He leans forward, voice dropping. “Because Mark Davidson doesn’t tolerate scandals. Especially not ones that involve his star quarterback and his PR specialist. You clean up messes, Olivia. You don’t create them.”
The accusation stings, even though he’s right. “I didn’t plan for this to happen.”
“Nobody ever does.” Ralph stands, straightening his tie. “Just… be careful. Whatever this is, make sure it’s worth the risk.”
He leaves me sitting there, chest tight, the weight of his warning pressing down until I can barely breathe.
By the time five o’clock rolls around, I’ve convinced myself that Ralph is right. I need to end this before it gets worse. Before someone else notices. Before I lose everything I’ve worked for.
I text Carter.
We need to talk.
His response is immediate.
That sounds ominous.
Your place. 7pm.
I’ll order food.
Don’t.
The drive to Carter’s house feels longer than it should. Every red light gives me time to rehearse what I’m going to say. Every turn brings me closer to a conversation I don’t want to have but know I need to.
By the time I pull through his gates, my hands are shaking.
Carter opens the door before I can knock, concern etched across his face. “Hey.”
“Hi.” The word comes out smaller than I intended.
He steps aside, letting me in, and the familiar scent of his cologne hits me. It would be so easy to just forget everything. To let him pull me close and pretend the outside world doesn’t exist.
But Ralph’s words echo in my head. You don’t create messes.
“What’s wrong?” Carter asks, closing the door behind me.
I turn to face him, arms crossed over my chest like armor. “People are noticing.”
His jaw tightens. “Noticing what?”
“Us, Carter. They’re noticing us.”
He takes a step closer, and I force myself not to move back. “So what? Let them notice.”
“You don’t understand—”
“Then explain it to me.” His voice is calm but firm. “Because from where I’m standing, the only problem is that you’re scared.”
“Of course I’m scared!” The words burst out louder than I intended. “This could destroy my career. Your reputation. Everything we’ve both worked for.”
Carter’s expression softens. “Olivia—”
“Ralph pulled me aside today,” I continue, needing to get it all out before I lose my nerve. “He knows something’s going on. And if he knows, Mark will know soon. And when Mark finds out…” I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.
“When Mark finds out, we’ll deal with it.” Carter closes the distance between us, hands finding my shoulders. “Together.”
I want to believe him. Want to let myself fall into the safety of his certainty. But the reality is too harsh, too real.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m the one who’ll lose everything!” My voice cracks. “You’re Carter Storm. You’re untouchable. But me? I’m replaceable. The second this gets out, I’m done.”
Pain flashes across his face. “You really think I’d let that happen?”
“You might not have a choice.”
Silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. Carter’s hands drop from my shoulders, and the loss of his touch feels like a physical ache.
“So, what are you saying?” His voice is quiet now, carefully controlled. “That we just… stop?”
The word hangs in the air between us, sharp and final.
“I think we have to.”
Carter stares at me for a long moment, jaw working. Then he nods once, sharp and bitter. “If that’s what you want.”
“It’s not about what I want—”
“Isn’t it?” He steps back, putting distance between us. “Because it seems like you’ve already made up your mind.”
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “I’m trying to protect both of us.”
“No.” Carter shakes his head. “You’re trying to protect yourself. And I get it, Olivia. I do. But don’t pretend this is for my benefit.”
The accusation cuts deep because there’s truth in it. I am scared. Terrified of losing everything I’ve built. But I’m also terrified of what happens if I let myself fall completely for a man whose career could end any day. Whose life exists in a spotlight I’m not sure I can handle.
“I should go,” I whisper.
Carter doesn’t try to stop me as I head for the door. Doesn’t say anything at all until my hand is on the handle.
“For what it’s worth,” he says quietly, “I think you’re worth the risk.”
I close my eyes against the sting of tears. “Goodnight, Carter.”
The drive home is a blur of streetlights and regret. By the time I pull into my driveway, the tears I’ve been holding back finally fall.
I sit in the dark car, crying for what I just walked away from. For the man I’m already missing. For the professional wall I’ve spent years building that feels more like a prison than protection.
My phone buzzes. Carter’s name appears on the screen, but I can’t bring myself to read the message. Not yet. Not when I’m barely holding myself together.
Instead, I wipe my eyes, grab my bag, and head inside. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to being Olivia Rivers, PR specialist. Professional. Untouchable.
Tonight, I let myself break.