Chapter 1
OLIVIA
My crown is on, my sash that says “birthday girl” is draped over my shoulder, and I’m standing with my friends, in line to get into the club. The night is a little chilly.
Okay, a lot chilly.
Whose idea was it to go out tonight? Right. Mine.
My boss, Dr. Warrick, ordered me to take the next two days off for my birthday. He even said he needs proof that I celebrated, because I deserve to have fun with how hard I work.
He isn’t wrong. I know I work hard, but Dr. Warrick makes it easy.
He’s the greatest boss in the world, and I love that he notices how much work I put in to make sure his day runs smoothly.
Shockingly, making sure that his schedule remains on track consumes my life, leaving me with no life of my own.
But it doesn’t bother me like it should.
I enjoy working. When I’m not, I don’t feel productive, so it’s hard for me to enjoy any downtime.
Since today is my birthday, I have no choice. I have tomorrow off, thanks to my boss, and I plan to make the best of it.
Hopefully, not too much of the best of it.
Anytime I have too much to drink, I drunk text my ex-boyfriend who cheated on me with the woman he told me not worry about. Isn’t that how it always goes? It’s like I have this need to show him what he’s missing, and it never works out for me.
“Okay, so what’s the rule tonight?” Victoria asks, a puff of freezing-cold air leaving her lips.
I roll my eyes. “Not to drunk text my ex,” I answer, fidgeting with the crown on top of my head.
Amber fixes my sash, straightening the wrinkles in the silk. “Did you delete his number from your phone?”
His number is always deleted from my phone. The issue is that I know it by heart.
“Yes, it’s deleted,” I reply, slightly annoyed, but only with myself since my friends have to give me “the talk” every single time we go out.
“Okay, because you know what always happens,” Amber says, taking a step forward as the line moves.
Victoria begins to tell the tale of all my failures. “You always go on and on about how much you miss him, but then when you’re sober, you moan and groan about how much you hate him.”
“And then you have to deal with him texting you for days, telling you that he misses you,” Amber adds.
Victoria continues, “And then he tells you how much he thinks he loves you.”
They nail the play-by-play as if they’ve relived this story a thousand times.
“And how you guys can make it work.”
“And how he misses you waking up next to him every day.”
“And how he misses it when you bring him coffee.”
“And how—”
I lift a hand to stop them from reminding me of how much of a bad idea it is for me to text him. “I know. I know. You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not going to text him. I promise.”
Amber gently places her hand on my arm, a concerned smile curling her lips. “The common theme of the story there is that it was always about him. The relationship was always about him. Don’t you think you deserve someone who also takes the time to remember you?”
My ex was one of the reasons I jumped into my work.
It figured since I was bad at relationships, I could throw myself into something I was good at.
I’m great at taking care of other people, which is why working for Dr. Warrick is the perfect job for me.
He needs someone to take care of him during his work schedule.
The man is busy being a world-renowned surgeon and chief of surgery at Warrick General Hospital, which his parents own.
My boss is filthy rich and luckily pays me very well.
My phone rings and I dig it out of my purse to see Dr. Warrick’s name flashing across the screen. My brows furrow in worry, because he never calls me this late. Something must be wrong.
“Dr. Warrick? Is everything okay? Is it your wife?” His wife, Dove, is pregnant again, and for the majority of her pregnancy, she’s had to be on bed rest.
“She’s okay. Thank you. I’m calling to tell you to skip the line at Club 88.”
My mouth opens in shock. “What? There’s no way we’re leaving our spot. This line is so long, and we’re finally halfway to the front.”
He snorts out a laugh. “I know, but I know the owner, and I’m a member. I’ve already called them to tell them to let you in and that your tab is covered.”
“What!” I screech, so loud that a few people in line turn to look at me.
“What? What is it?” Amber whispers, but I don’t answer her because I can only focus on one thing at a time at this moment.
“Skip the line, Olivia. Have a great time tonight. I better not hear from you until tomorrow evening, sounding like you regret your life.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “You got it. Thanks, Dr. Warrick. I appreciate it.”
“Happy birthday, Olivia. It’s the least I can do. And be safe tonight. I don’t want another personal assistant.”
My heart warms a little knowing that I mean something to him.
It’s strictly platonic; he’s like a father figure to me.
After my dad died from cancer when I was six years old, my mom and I depended heavily on one another.
She’s my best friend and I have no idea what I would do without her.
The thought alone has tears brimming in my eyes.
I can’t cry. Not on my birthday.
“Thanks, boss. I really appreciate it. And as if your future personal assistant could ever be as good as me.”
“That’s my point.” He chuckles. “Happy birthday, Olivia.” Dr. Warrick hangs up the phone, leaving me a little shocked by his gift.
“Well?” Victoria bounces, her hands in her coat pockets.
“He told me we can skip the line because he’s a member here. He said to put everything on his tab. As a birthday gift.”
Amber grabs a hold of my arm and begins to drag me to the front of the line where the bouncer is.
“Hey! No skipping!”
“They’re line-jumping!”
“Send them to the back!”
Everyone is line is pissed, pointing their fingers at us as we stop in front of the bouncer who’s standing next to the red velvet rope that blocks the entrance. He’s huge. Taller than six feet for sure, with bulging muscles that stretch his shirtsleeves.
He lifts his hand to his earpiece, listening intently before nodding and giving us his undivided attention. “How can I help you, ladies?” he asks, keeping his hand on the rope.
“We have a reservation?” I state, more as a question. I’m not sure how to frame it. “My name is Olivia McDowell and my boss is—”
“Dr. Warrick? Yes, he called, and the owner told me. Come on in, ladies, and happy birthday! Andre will take you to the VIP section.”
“VIP?” Victoria squeals with excitement. “Is your boss hiring, Liv? Because this is awesome! Tonight is going to be amazing.”
The bouncer unclips the rope, allowing us to walk through, which causes the people waiting in line to moan, shouting their discontent.
“Hey!” the bounder shouts. “She’s got a membership and it’s her fucking birthday.
Shut up!” He towers over everyone, his eyes scanning the crowd to see if anyone will challenge him.
He turns back to us, giving us a big, bright smile.
“Have fun, ladies. If anyone gives you any trouble, come find me or Andre. We’ll take care of it. ”
“Thank you,” Amber says, flirting a little, placing her hand on his arm. “Maybe you can save me a dance.”
The bouncer looks her up and down while he nibbles his bottom lip. “I do have a break coming up in about an hour. I’ll find you, beautiful.”
“Looking forward to it.” She winks.
Victoria has to drag her away from the cute bouncer so we can finally enter the club. When the doors open for us, we’re all stunned, stopping in the middle of the doorway.
“Wow,” we say in unison, staring into the huge space.
“Can I take your coat?” Standing beside us is a man with a thick accent that I can’t place since the music is so loud.
“Yes, thank you so much,” I say, giving him my long purple peacoat, and my friends do the same.
We rush inside, gasping as we lean on the rails to take it all in.
No one is saying anything. We’re transfixed as the lights strobe from white, to blue, to green, to red; then everything goes black for just a few seconds before the bass drops and the lights start again.
In the air, there are oversized cages that remind me of birdcages.
Half-naked women dance inside them, their long hair whipping back and forth while they grip the bars for leverage.
The dance floor is packed. Bodies move together like waves, in sync, crashing together to create one big, beautiful ocean. People lose themselves in the drift, swaying, feeling, allowing their mind to shut off the outside world.
Huge chandeliers hang from the ceiling, the lights beaming off the crystals. The music is so loud, I can’t hear myself think.
“This is going to be the best night!” Amber takes my hand, dragging me down the steps, and I snag Victoria’s wrist to pull her behind me.
“Happy birthday!” A drunk girl stumbles up the steps, her drink spilling over the rim. “Wooo! Birthday!”
“Wooo!” I cheer with her. “Thank you!”
“Happy birthday!” a tall, handsome guy says next, flashing his brilliant smile at me. “Let me buy you a birthday drink.”
“She has an app you can send money to.” Victoria is quick, spinning her phone around so he can scan the QR code. “It’s girls’ night. I hope you understand.” She bats her eyelashes.
He smirks, scanning the code, and a few seconds later my cell chimes with a notification from the app. It’s fifty bucks from him and he included his number.
“Well, I hope the birthday girl has an amazing night and calls me tomorrow,” he shouts into my ear.
I glance up at him, not used to someone flirting with me so strongly, but you know what, it’s my damn birthday. I’m allowed to do whatever I want. It’s my hall pass—to be a little wild and reckless.
“Maybe I will,” I try to flirt back, and I know I’m bad at it.
“Great. I can’t wait. Have a good night—maybe save a dance for me.”