Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
New York- Present Day
“I see what you're doing,” a shrill voice accused, when the door to the bathroom where Olivia had taken refuge from Chris’s flirting was pushed open.
Fantastic. So much for hiding.
Courtney stalked toward her, the woman’s nails suddenly biting into the tender skin of Olivia’s upper arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Olivia yanked her arm back, causing the glass in her hand to slosh dangerously. Worried about spilling it on her dress, she set it on the counter and took a step back.
Courtney Bloom’s pupils, far too dilated to be natural, glittered with malice. “I’ve watched you all night. Flirting with all the men. Laughing at all their jokes… making everyone look at you. You think just because they want your company, they're interested in a nobody like you?” The woman sneered. “They're not. He would never be interested in someone like you.” Tears welled in the woman’s eyes.
“I’m not flirting with anyone. I’m here for business only.” Olivia kept her voice even, slightly concerned by the woman’s unpredictable behavior. I’m not the one you should be upset with, your fiancée is, Olivia wanted to say. When Chris had taken the vacant seat next to her, Olivia hadn’t expected him to take such a flirtatious tone. But Chris was slick. There was nothing in his words she could object to, but his tone and the way his eyes kept dipping to her cleavage made his intention clear. But was he seriously interested in her or was it part of his negotiation tactic. Did he think she was so inexperienced his attention would make her vote for his company’s bid?
“Liar! The only reason you’re here is because you’re hoping to fuck Chris. I know it! And don’t think I haven’t seen the looks you’ve been sending Declan. Are you hoping to spread your legs for him, too?” Courtney was shouting at the end.
Behind Courtney, the bathroom door opened, and Olivia grabbed the distraction to duck into a stall and shut the door. It might have been cowardly, but she didn’t see any other option. The woman was crazy.
“You little bitch.” Courtney spit out, apparently finding a new target. Olivia peeked through the crack in the stall door and recognized the newcomer.
“Give it a rest, Courtney,” Cara said in a bored tone. “You know everyone can hear you in the hallway, right?”
Olivia felt her face heat.
Declan’s sister heard? Maybe I can hide in here for the rest of the night.
Courtney's face turned purple, and she opened her mouth to spew more venom at the young woman, but Cara simply ignored her and entered a stall.
Olivia leaned against the stall wall and buried her face in her hands.
This deal is cursed.
A hand slammed on the stall door, making it rattle, and Olivia jumped. “I hope you're not stupid enough to think he's actually interested in you. Chris loves me, and I fight for what’s mine.”
Heels clicked across the marble floor and then silence. Had she left? Just when Olivia thought it might be safe to emerge, she heard a muttered “Bitch.” Then the heels continued across the floor, and the door slammed.
Her legs shaking, Olivia exited the stall and washed her hands. Grabbing her drink, she took several large gulps. If ever there was a time to get numb.
“Are you okay?”
Cara’s reflection joined hers in the mirror.
Olivia forced a smile. “Yes, thank you.” She dried her hands and reached for her drink again. “I’m not flirting with Chris.” She wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to explain.
“I know.” Cara grimaced. “Courtney’s nuts. I’d say ignore her, but in reality, watch your back.”
Olivia choked on her drink.
“I know Declan is going to be pissed that I’m getting involved .” Cara made air quotes. “He can deal. You seem like a nice person.” Her eyes were serious when they met Olivia’s. “Chris and Courtney aren’t what they seem.”
Olivia tipped her glass up finishing the drink, hoping to buy time and think of an appropriate response. Chugging a cocktail probably wasn’t the best one.
“I'm just here for the party.”
Cara watched her with a small smile but held her hands up in surrender and moved to the door. Olivia wouldn’t deny she was curious about Declan’s younger sister. She remembered how much he cared for and felt responsible for his younger siblings.
Cara’s hand was on the door handle when she asked, “How do you know Declan?”
“We met last week about a potential deal to buy the company I work for.” Olivia was pleased her voice came out even.
“Hmm. It's just the two of you can’t keep your eyes off each other when you think no one else is looking.”
Olivia’s face flamed. Was she that obvious? Quickly followed by—Was Declan looking at her ?
Her stomach rolled unpleasantly. Definitely shouldn’t have chugged that drink. “I think I’m probably watching everyone. A lot of networking opportunities,” she finished lamely.
Olivia picked up her clutch from the counter, and tucked it under her arm. “It was nice to meet you, but if you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to miss dessert.” Olivia took two steps forward, and the world tilted. She blinked as her hand caught the lip of the bathroom counter, and her vision wavered before Cara’s concerned face came back into focus.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded, but kept her mouth shut, feeling nauseous. On her way back to the table, Olivia mentally counted her drinks.
I only finished two drinks… but I’ve been stressed and haven’t eaten much.
By the time she made it to her seat, the world was fuzzy. Stuart was gone, and so was Richard. Courtney still sat next to Kyle, both of whom glared at her reappearance. At least she thought they were looking at her. Her brain felt like it was trudging through mud.
She took a few bites of the cheesecake in front of her, but it tasted weird. Her head felt heavy, and she was suddenly exhausted. It had been a long day. I’ll just close my eyes… She jerked, eyes flying open when Stuart laid a hand on her arm.
“Olivia?”
“Mm-hmm.” She smiled at him feeling better. Actually, she was feeling pretty good. The nausea and blurred vision had disappeared. Everything around her seemed a little brighter, and a delicious floaty feeling took over her arms.
She licked her lips. “Where is Richard?”
That didn’t sound right. “Richard,” she repeated slowly, but her words sounded slurred even to her ears. Courtney laughed across the table, making Olivia’s head swivel. The world took a few seconds to catch up.
Stuart frowned at her. “He’s waiting in the car. I’m going to head back to the hotel with him. Maybe you should come with us.”
“Yes, go.” Courtney said, a dark smile on her face. “You don’t belong here.”
Olivia’s temper sparked. “No thank you, Stuart. I’m going to stay a little while longer. I’ll get my own car.”
That sounded normal.
“Okay.” Stuart looked unsure . “ Call me if you need anything.”
Olivia forced herself to eat several more bites of the cake before the world tipped again and she lost her grip on the fork. It clattered loudly against the china plate.
Shit, am I drunk? Breathe through your nose, Olivia.
She planted her hands on the tabletop, to ground herself, trying to absorb how solid the table felt. It didn’t work. She needed to leave before she passed out.
Olivia concentrated on rising slowly, but the table blurred in front of her again, and Olivia waited for it to clear before moving.
“Classless,” Courtney said loudly. “Why is she even here?”
If Olivia didn’t feel so ill, she’d be embarrassed. She wanted Declan with such a sudden intensity, she thought she might cry.
No! What the hell?
She shut down the thought immediately.
You haven’t needed him for twelve years. You don’t need him now.
Chris’s voice was in her ear. “Let me help you.”
He sounded genuinely concerned, but Olivia wanted to get away. Be by herself and forget this night had ever happened.
“Fine. I’m fine.” If she kept her sentences short, he might not hear how drunk she was. “Going to make a call.”
Before she could step away, the scent of Kyle’s cologne filled her senses. She flinched back as he caught her elbow, his grip pinching more than helping steady her. He chuckled, but Olivia knew she was the only one there that heard the furious undertone in it.
Panic bubbled in her stomach and clawed up her throat. Not Kyle.
What had Dr. Turner said? When the panic came, she was supposed to count… use her senses… Find five... But her mind betrayed her, and she couldn’t focus on anything.
“My wife never could hold her liquor. I think it’s time for us to go home.”
She sucked in a breath, and both of Chris’s faces frowned. “You’re our guest here tonight. Stay. I’ll make sure your ex -wife gets back to her hotel safely.”
Olivia sensed rather than saw the testosterone battle over her head, but Kyle’s fingers loosened, and she didn’t want to wait and find out who the winner was.
Stairs. All she needed to do was get to the top of the stairs and then get a taxi.
Olivia glimpsed the hard lines of Declan's face as she maneuvered past his table. Her face tingled, and she felt like she was breathing through sand. She managed the first step without a problem. A slight bit of her panic abated. Almost there.
A powerful arm came around her waist a little too tightly as she stumbled, and a fresh wave of nausea won against the panic.
“Slow down, beautiful,” Chris said. “I’ll take care of you.”
She shook her head. One curl was stuck to the side of her face.
Sweating? Really?
“I’m okay.”
Chris’s arm was unyielding as he propelled her up the stairs and toward the front door.
“No.” Olivia tried to make her voice firm, but it was barely more than a whisper, and now the panic was back. The world had become a massive swirl of color, and alarm bells rang faintly in her head. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t get her brain and body to communicate at the same time.
“I'll get you back to your hotel.”
Olivia struggled to form words, but darkness was closing on the outside of her vision, and her breathing was shallow. What was wrong with her?
“Here you are.” A feminine voice sounded brightly nearby, and then a different, smaller pair of hands wrapped around her biceps, a soft floral scent wafting over her.
“Cara.” Chris’s arm tightened around Olivia, but the grip on her biceps didn’t relent and the forward motion stopped. “Olivia isn’t feeling well. I’m helping her home.”
“Well, we’re here now.”
“Old friends from the ladies’ room,” another feminine voice said. Someone jostled Olivia, and the tight band around her waist loosened.
Olivia had the vague sense that tomorrow, when she remembered being at the center of a tug of war in this luxury lobby, she’d be mortified, but all she felt was relief when Chris’s body moved away.
“Besides, I think Courtney needs you. She didn’t sound happy when you rushed out. I’m sure you don’t need another scene after all the bad press lately. And, escorting an incapacitated woman to her hotel isn’t great optics. Don’t you agree?”
Even through the fog in her brain, she heard the bite in Chris’s voice. “Olivia, do you want to go with them?”
Olivia nodded and licked her lips. “I’m so sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Olivia.” Chris chuckled, but there was no amusement in the sound. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the tour.”
“Sleaze.” Olivia heard someone say, but she was more concerned with keeping upright as her legs threatened to buckle completely underneath her.
“Don’t feel well,” she whispered.
“Shit. Have you got her, Dahlia?” Hands tightened, and someone else was pressing into her.
“Yup. Let’s get her to a car.”
“She was completely sober in the bathroom twenty minutes ago,” Cara said, as they made slow progress across the marble floor.
“Look at her eyes,” another voice said. “I think she’s been dosed. I wouldn’t have thought that likely at one of these events, but you never know.”
“Should we take her to the hospital?”
“No. Please,” Olivia muttered, not sure if she was making sense. Not sure she was even awake. “Need my bed.”
Where am I?
“I don't know, depending on—Cara! She’s slipping.”
One moment Olivia was falling, and the next she was weightless, pressed tight against something hard. Massive arms tucked her close, and she rested her cheek against the smooth fabric. His voice rumbled, and she nuzzled closer, the familiar sandalwood and bergamot smell instantly relaxing her.
“I had a bad dream,” she whispered, trying to force her eyes open. “You were?—”
“Hush,” Declan said, as he adjusted her in his arms.
She’d tell him tomorrow. Olivia let the darkness pull her under. The last thing she remembered was being placed on warm leather and a voice whispering into her hair.
“I’ve got you, Petal. You’re safe.”