Chapter 8 - Quinn #2
I don't want to smile, but seeing her shrug and tilt her head forces one out of me. “Yeah, I guess so. No wonder we’re both single.”
“There are a lot of reasons that I'm single,” Olivia says.
“My daddy issues are just one of them. If you couldn't already tell, I'm not your average girl.
I work with men who don't like working with women, let alone working for a woman.
Over the years, I've grown some pretty thick skin. It has made me a bit cold.”
“But is that who you are on the inside?”
She shrugs. “I'm not sure I know anymore. My dad told me I needed to harden myself in order to be successful as a woman, so that’s what I did. Deep down … I’ll just say there's another side of me that most people never get to see.”
I smirk, because nothing would bring me more just than seeing another side of Olivia. On the other hand, I can relate.
“I feel you,” I say. “We all have sides of us that we don't want everybody to know about. I have another side, too. A side that grew as a result of my past, and it’s darker than anything I get to bring inside the office, that’s for sure.”
“Darker, huh? What kind of darkness are we talking about, Quinn? I don't have to worry about you shooting up the place, do I?”
I scoff and laugh at the same time. “Nah, it’s not that kind of darkness.”
“Oh? What kind is it, then? Maybe it’s the same shade as mine?”
I pause, my eyes locking onto Olivia as she stares back at me, clearly unbothered by the conversation switching from the breach to our personal lives.
I told myself not to come in here on this type of timing because she's my boss, but if it doesn't bother her, then it certainly won't bother me.
My foot was already halfway through this door anyway, but I pulled it back out in an attempt to remain professional. But fuck it.
“Nah,” I say, dragging the word out. “My shade is definitely darker than yours.”
Olivia raises an eyebrow. “I'm not so sure.”
We lock eyes for a moment, both of us thinking private things about the other person and unable to hide it from our faces.
I see the curious look in her eyes as she stares at me, and I'm just as curious about her.
Who is this person? I don't know almost anything about her, but what I can tell so far is that she is definitely not a typical CEO. I think we’re both hiding something, but I keep my dark devil in a cage because I'm afraid of what it will do. I wonder why she’s hiding hers.
Who are you, Olivia? I'm not talking about the persona you wear like clothing to the office. I'm not referring to the CEO your father envisioned. I mean deep down. What do you not want people to see? Who is the real Olivia Lucero?
After a moment of silence, Olivia realizes that I'm not looking away. She keeps staring at me, and I stare right back, embracing it instead of shying away, and I watch her eyes flutter when she gets it. It’s obvious that she’s used to controlling the room and intimidating people with her demeanor and direct eye contact, a typical boss trick that works for most. But it doesn't work on me. Even if she was a man, I’d risk my job before allowing myself to feel submissive to anyone.
But since it’s her, my intrigue won't let me look away.
I need her to know that I'm not like whatever else she's used to.
She slowly leans back in her seat, clears her throat, and glances down at the desk before looking back up to me, the curious look in her eyes vanishing fast. “Umm. Anyway, let’s uhh …
we can … let’s just plan to meet up again when you find out something new.
You can email me directly instead of having to go through Jon. ”
I raise my eyebrows. “That would be jumping the chain of command. Is that what you want?”
She glances down at the table again, showcasing a new tell that I bring out of her when she has to say something different than what she's thinking.
“Would that be a problem for you?” she asks.
“Not at all. I'm down for whatever you want to do.”
Another glance down. “Good to know. Okay, well I appreciate you being on top of this, Quinn. We’ll talk again soon.”
I smirk as I start to get up. “Looking forward to it.”
I spin around and walk out, stopping by my office to turn off the lights before heading toward the double doors.
But before I leave, I take a second to glance over my shoulder, and I catch Olivia staring at me as I go.
She tries to play it off by messing with her computer, but it’s too late.
I saw the look on her face, and it told me that Olivia’s interest in me isn't strictly professional.
As far as I'm concerned, that’s perfect, because my interest in her never was anyway.
When my phone rings, I frown hard because it’s too early for calls. I haven't even had time to brush my teeth yet or wash the sleepiness off of my face. I'm standing in my bathroom looking in the mirror with the reflection of a zombie staring back at me when my cell rings next to the sink.
At first, I think it might be Olivia calling to fire me.
Our conversation yesterday definitely took a personal turn, with flirtation flying everywhere like sparks, and I saw the way she was looking at me as I was leaving.
Maybe she realized how she was acting and has decided to get me out of there before she can fraternize.
After everything she said about her father's view of how her life should be, and how much she took all of it to heart, I can’t imagine her being okay with flirting with a subordinate.
So, now that she has had time to sleep on it, maybe she’s going to tell me not to come in at all so that she doesn't have to see me.
“Hello?” I answer with the phone on speaker and a furrowed brow.
“Hey. I know it’s earlier than usual, but we need you in the office ASAP,” Jon says with no hesitation, his voice heightened by urgency.
Well, at least I'm not being fired, which means I’ll get to sit with Olivia again. How hot will those sparks make the room next time?
“I just got up but I’ll hurry,” I reply. “What’s going on?”
“No time to explain all of the details,” he says. “We just need you here right now. There has been another breach.”