Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Atlanta—Present Day
Olivia fought against the intense heat Declan’s words sent cascading through her. She resisted the urge to close her eyes and savor the way his warm breath, against the delicate skin of her ear, brought her body to life.
Calling on her anger, Olivia snatched her hand out of his and shoved at his immovable chest. “Don’t pretend this has anything to do with me. You wanted this company for your own reasons, and we both know it.”
“You have no idea what I want, or the lengths I’ll go to get it.” His eyes flicked to her mouth.
Her heart hammered as her body swayed toward him, betraying her. She had to get away from him before she did something really stupid—like beg him to kiss her.
“I think we both know no one gets everything they want.”
Raw need flared in his face before it disappeared just as swiftly.
Olivia didn’t understand the game he was playing, but if he wanted to play games she intended on winning. She lifted on her toes, bringing herself closer so that their lips were almost touching, and her breasts brushed against his lapel. Declan’s breath hitched, and she bit her lip to keep from smiling.
“I’m going to fight you for every single one of my employees,” she whispered.
Declan’s chest moved against her breasts with every heavy breath, sending a bolt of electricity straight to her core. His eyes darkened to amethyst and Olivia was thankful for the layers of clothing that prevented him from feeling her nipples harden. For an agonizing moment, they stood pressed together before he stepped back. Then, almost as if he couldn’t help himself, Declan tucked the hair that had fallen from her French twist behind her ear.
“I’m looking forward to it, Petal.”
Olivia thought she did a good job hiding her trembling legs as she walked back to her office. Her body thrummed with frustrated arousal, the ache between her legs almost unbearable. Her plan to torment Declan had burned her just as much as it had him.
She didn’t have time to dwell on it though as she made her way through the building. Every few feet, one or more concerned employees stopped her.
“My wife just had our baby.” Denise from accounting twisted her hands in front of her, her eyes anxious. “We need my health insurance.”
A few of the long-time employees had tears in their eyes.
“I’m too old to get a job somewhere else.”
“My wife’s salary alone won’t cover our mortgage.”
And the one that cut the deepest, “You are going to fix it, right, Olivia?”
She gave each one what she hoped was a reassuring smile, even though she had little hope at the moment. Over and over, Olivia repeated the same phrases, “I’m going to do my absolute best,” and “I’m sure the severance packages will be enough to cover any interim bills.”
She’d make sure of it. Olivia wasn’t sure how yet, but she wasn’t going to let Declan destroy this company.
By the time she closed the door to her office, she felt like she was suffocating.
What if I can’t fix it? What if because I agreed with the rest of the board to take the Bloom Communications offer, I doomed these families? What if…
The pressure in her chest grew painful, and nausea swirled in her stomach as her vision fuzzed. She pressed a damp palm hard against her chest, and tried to focus on her breath that was coming in short, fast bursts.
Not now, Olivia. Get it together. You don’t have time for this.
She dropped into the black velvet office chair, slipped her heels off, and curled her toes into the carpet.
Breathe. Her burning lungs fought her.
After a few minutes, when she no longer thought she would hyperventilate, Olivia forced her eyes open and began the coping exercise her therapist had taught her to control the panic attacks.
Consciously using each of her senses she forced herself to concentrate: soft carpet under her toes, the silky material rubbing over her arms, the sound of her breathing, the wind picking up out the window, voices outside her office, her cellphone gripped in her hand, the chip in her red nail polish, the poinsettia in the corner.
The weight on her lungs eased a little as she brought the world around her into focus. A few more controlled breaths and she lowered her hand, grateful that she’d made it to the privacy of her office before the attack had gotten really bad.
Intellectually, Olivia knew there was nothing to be embarrassed about. She no longer saw Dr. Turner regularly, but the therapist had helped her understand that the panic attacks and anxiety-induced migraines came from years of living in a perpetual state of fight or flight in her home.
Olivia didn’t have them for months at a time, but she didn’t need to look far to see what had brought them back. The stress of the last few months had been extreme, and Olivia hadn’t been eating or sleeping well. Add in Declan’s reappearance…
Her heart finally slowed to a regular pace, and with a shaky exhale, Olivia slipped her shoes back on. Freaking out wouldn’t solve anything.
Conversation buzzed outside her door and she knew everyone was worried, wondering if they were still employed. Olivia couldn’t promise them anything yet, but she could make sure her numbers were bulletproof and do her best to advocate for them.
Would it be enough?
Over their last few interactions, there had been moments Olivia saw glimpses of the Declan she remembered: taking care of her in New York, teasing her in line at the liquor store... But it was almost as though those pieces had slipped out against his will, and the weakness angered him.
A knock sounded on her door, and Olivia sighed, lifting her hands off her keyboard.
Melissa stuck her head in the door, eyes wide. “Richard has left for the day.”
Olivia frowned. Why was that something she needed to know? Richard rarely worked full days anymore.
Her receptionist bit her lip. “Um, Kyle is storming around screaming downstairs. What do you want me to do?”
Olivia stared at her for a second before making a decision. “Nothing. He’s not my biggest problem right now.” Melissa started to close the door, but Olivia called her back. “Can you send out an office wide memo for me?”
“Did you fuck him?” Kyle snarled when she came out of the ladies’ room late that afternoon.
“Go away.” Olivia moved to brush past him in the hallway, but his hand clamped hard on her wrist, wrenching it up between them as he stepped into her space. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and her stomach twisted. Kyle and liquor were never a good combination, and the knowledge that they were likely alone in the building, because she’d sent everyone home early, sent fear spiraling through her.
“Let go of me.” Olivia tried to keep her voice firm, but it came out breathy and she hated herself for it.
After two years, why did he still have this effect on her? She had no problem standing up for herself with anyone else.
Instead of moving back, he used his grip to shove her backward, and her head bounced against the wall.
Kyle’s eyes glittered. “I saw the way he looked at you. Did you fuck him in New York? Did you come up with this plan to screw me. Was that your plan all along?” Tiny bubbles formed at the corners of his mouth, and Olivia’s throat closed.
His chest slammed hard into hers, pinning her to the wall, making it hard to breathe. As much as she wanted to be brave, her eyes slid away. “Kyle?—”
“Tell me the truth!” He roared in her face, his body shaking like he might lose control.
This is not good.
“I was just as surprised as you were today.” Olivia hated her mollifying tone, but she needed to get away from him. Sober Kyle was bad enough, he never did anything that left a mark. Drunk Kyle was a totally different story.
“Did. You. Fuck. Him.” His eyes narrowed, and he pushed his face even closer, his hot breath on her face making her want to throw up.
“Of course not.”
Kyle leaned his head back and stared into her face. Olivia held perfectly still, ashamed that he could still elicit this reaction from her.
He smirked. “You tried though, didn’t you? I saw how you were staring at him during the gala. I saw how drunk you were. Stumbling up the stairs… You made a fool of yourself.”
Olivia didn’t defend herself. It would only make things worse. Kyle gave her arm a vicious twist before letting go and stepping back. Olivia let out her breath slowly, not wanting him to see how terrified she’d been.
“He rejected you, didn’t he?” He gave her a quick once over. “Been there done that, right?” Kyle’s laugh was cruel. “Jessica told me all about how that guy played you. Had you spreading your legs like a whore after you met him in a bar. Lied about who he was.” He adopted a falsetto. “ Be nice to her, Kyle. This is hard for Livvy. She really had a thing for this guy, and he didn’t even remember who she was .”
Olivia felt the blood drain from her head and ice spread through her stomach.
Jessica told him? Why?
The betrayal sliced deep.
“You should see your face,” Kyle snickered, thrilled by her pain. “You are so pathetic. Do you really think Declan Bloom would want a cold fish like you? He’s a billionaire. He’s probably had even more top shelf pussy than me. Good for him though that he figured out quicker than I did what a loser you are. Maybe we should compare notes.”
Don’t respond. Don’t say anything.
When Kyle saw he wouldn’t get the response he wanted, he feinted toward her, and when Olivia lifted her hands to protect her face, he laughed again. “You always thought you were so much better than me. So much smarter than me. Look at you now. What your parents always said is true. Your desperate need to be the center of attention is why you’re so miserable—why you were such a failure as a wife and a woman. Pathetic,” he spit.
Olivia swallowed hard, hoping the pain from each of his barbs lacerating her heart didn’t show.
She knew her parents had never understood her. They hadn’t even tried to hide their disappointment and disapproval when she told them about her divorce.
“Is your job really more important than your husband? I read that stress can cause infertility. Maybe you should take some time off. Kyle can provide for you. He loves you.”
Olivia hadn’t bothered to explain herself. She’d learned early on that any complaints she had about her marriage would always be turned back on to her.
She’d caught her parents looking at her sometimes like she was a changeling. Some alien species swapped in the crib for their sweet, biddable baby. Or, in her mother’s view even worse… another version of her own mother.
Kyle jabbed a finger in her face, dragging her from her thoughts. “You better not do anything to fuck with my money, Livvy, or I promise you will be sorry.”
Long after he was gone, and she’d locked her office door, Olivia sat at her desk and trembled.