Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Atlanta—Present Day
Olivia was irritable the next morning as she made her coffee, cursing when she missed her mug and splashed the hot liquid on the marble countertop. She wiped up the spill in short, angry swipes. Then, with pursed lips and a dull headache, she tucked her laptop under her arm and carried it and her coffee to the screened porch overlooking the river behind her home.
One benefit of tossing and turning all night was, somewhere around three a.m., inspiration struck her. Olivia scrolled through her notes as she sipped her coffee, slowly feeling like herself again. When her phone rang on the table next to her, a flare of alarm shot into her stomach when she saw the name displayed.
Why is Chris Keller calling me?
They hadn’t spoken since the scene in the conference room the week before.
“I owe you a huge apology.”
Olivia blinked at his greeting. “Good morning.”
“Sorry. I should have led with that.” Chris’s voice sounded different. Almost sad. “I’ve recently become aware of something, and I wanted to call you right away. The night of the gala…” He sighed. “When you weren’t feeling well…”
Olivia’s cheeks flamed. She only had the vaguest of memories of Chris after leaving the ballroom. “I’m not sure what happened. I’m sorry if?—”
“I’m the one who should apologize to you. I feel responsible for what happened.”
What does that mean?
“Maybe I should have insisted on taking you back to your hotel, but Cara and the others were adamant. I thought it might be more appropriate for women…”
Olivia’s shoulders slumped, humiliation making her queasy. “You did the right thing. I’d blame it on jet lag, but we didn’t change time zones.” She joked, but even to her ears, it sounded flat.
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Chris’s voice was so serious, the hairs on the back of her neck lifted. “You saw Courtney that night…”
Where is he going with this?
“She’s not in a healthy mental state right now.” Chris let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how to tell you this, other than to just say it. Courtney apparently thought you and I were involved more than professionally. She put a couple of her Xanax pills in your drink while you were both in the bathroom.”
“What?” For a beat, Olivia wondered if she had finally fallen asleep the night before and was dreaming. “She drugged me?” Olivia tried to wrap her head around the concept.
“I’m so sorry. If I’d known how out of control her behavior had become… No, that’s not an excuse. I should have realized she’d completely lost it. I feel terrible. It’s why you were so light-headed. I only found out this morning.”
Olivia wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. “But… Why…”
“She’s really struggling with her sons’ deaths. Those boys were everything to her. Losing them broke her.” He sniffed. Was he crying? Despite her anger, Olivia felt a tug of sympathy for him. It wasn’t his fault he was dating a crazy person.
“It’s only been a little more than a month, and at first, I thought her behavior was a result of the initial shock, but it seems to be getting worse. She’s erratic, mixing her medications and alcohol, the paranoia… But I never dreamed she would do what she did to you.”
Another heavy sigh sounded through the phone. “I wanted you to know as soon as I heard.” Chris paused. “Look, I know the deal didn’t work out the way either of us anticipated, but I have a lot of respect for your abilities. I’d like to help you find another position… as an ‘I’m sorry.’”
His abrupt change of topic stunned her, but Chris continued when she didn’t speak. “I’m familiar with how Bloom Capital does business. Declan will strip down Armstrong and sell it. It’s unlikely the new buyers will have a place for you.”
“What are you suggesting, exactly?”
“Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night. You would be an asset to any company, but Bloom Communications has so many subsidiaries, I’m confident we can find the right fit within our network.”
“That’s not necessary.” Olivia wasn’t sure what to make of the offer. On the surface, it seemed harmless, but she didn’t trust him. She turned his offer over in her brain, but Olivia couldn’t figure out what he wanted from her. Was he worried she would make a complaint with the police? He must realize it was too late for that.
“Please. At the very least, let me buy you dinner as an apology for what Courtney did.” When Olivia hesitated, he continued. “I know you’ve worked at Armstrong for your entire career, and while you accomplished some impressive things, it wouldn’t hurt to build your network as you consider your next position.”
Olivia took a deep breath. As much as she hated it, Chris was right. “All right,” Olivia reluctantly agreed, before she had a chance to second guess herself. If her new plan didn’t work, her employees wouldn’t be the only ones looking for a job.
Three hours later, Olivia gave Todd the barest of nods as she strode past him to Declan’s door.
Todd’s face folded in confusion. “Did you have a meeting?”
“I only need five minutes.”
He looked uncertain. “Um, I’ll check.”
“No problem, I’ll be quick.” Cecile and Declan looked up in surprise when she swung the door open. Declan’s eyes were immediately wary.
“I want to present a proposal to keep the manufacturing in-house.”
Cecile darted a glance at Declan. His expression was impassive. “We’ve discussed this?—”
“That’s not entirely true. You told me you have a plan to manufacture overseas, but nothing has been set in motion. I’m asking that if I present you a detailed proposal will you genuinely consider it.”
“You shouldn’t waste your?—”
“Will you consider it?” she interrupted.
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “One week.”
“Perfect.” Olivia gave a nod to Cecile before spinning on her heels and marching from the room, not smiling until the door shut behind her.
The next night, Olivia chose a simple, black knit dress that tied at her side, and gold jewelry. It was only one step up from what she might wear to the office, because Olivia wasn’t interested in giving off any mixed signals. She already had enough of that from Declan.
Chris smiled and opened the car door when her rideshare pulled up to the curb in front of the restaurant. “Thank you for coming.”
Olivia was grateful that, although the restaurant was clearly upscale, it wasn’t romantic. The lighting had already been dimmed for the evening, but the tubes of neon running over the velvet-covered walls gave the place a more casual feel. Olivia followed Chris and the hostess to one of the small tables in the middle.
“I’ve only been here once before,” Chris explained. “But it was good.”
“Do you spend a lot of time in Atlanta?”
Chris wasn’t doing anything that would normally make her uncomfortable, but her guard was up. Between his desire to buy Armstrong, and his fiancée drugging her, Olivia suspected there was more to this dinner than just trying to help her professionally.
“More this past year than before. Wine?”
“Yes, please.”
Chris ordered a bottle for the table. “You took a car, so I figured it was safe.” He leaned back in his chair, his posture casual, and Olivia’s shoulders relaxed. Was she being paranoid?
Olivia gave him a wry smile. “Wine is welcome. It’s been an interesting week.”
“I bet.” He chuckled. “How’s it going?” His palms flashed up in surrender. “Nope. Forget I asked that.”
Olivia took a sip of the chilled wine their server poured into her glass. “It’s all right. For the most part, it’s been exactly as I expected.”
“It’s a shame. Armstrong has a solid design base. I really think it would have been an asset for us. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.”
Olivia hummed a sound of agreement, but she wasn’t buying it. Chris had been ready to come to blows over this deal. Despite his friendly expression, Chris’s eyes were shrewd. Did he think she would give him inside information on XEROS?
Just as Olivia was regretting agreeing to the dinner, Chris changed the subject, asking her about her professional history. Eventually, the easy small talk and glass of wine had her relaxing again. Chris didn’t ask a single question about Declan and seemed to be sincerely interested in her career.
The server placed their dishes in front of them, and after taking a few bites of her snapper, Olivia returned to the reason she’d agreed to meet Chris.
“I’m not sure a corporation as big as Bloom Communications would be a good fit for me. How much of a difference could I make? The thing I love about being at Armstrong is I can see first-hand how what I do affects our operations.”
Chris nodded. “I can understand that. We have literally hundreds of subsidiary companies. I’ll make inquiries if you’d like? Do you want to stay in the tech field?”
“Not necessarily. If I’m going to make a change…” She shrugged and then bit her lip. “Chris, I appreciate this offer. It’s extremely generous… But to be clear, I don’t expect any special favors.”
“Because my fiancée drugged you?” Chris grimaced. “It’s not that. I like you, Olivia, and I think you are going to do big things.” He grinned. “Networking is a bigger part of my job than you’d imagine.”
“You aren’t responsible for what Courtney did,” Olivia reiterated.
Chris sighed. “Our relationship has essentially been over for a while, but I didn’t want to end it while she was having a hard time. She’s at a spa getting some much-needed rest.” He made air quotes around the word.
Olivia wasn’t sure if spa was code for rehab or a mental health facility, and as curious as she was, it was none of her business.
“I hope she gets whatever help she needs.”
Chris set his fork down with a sigh. “I should have known it was getting bad when she had that damn necklace made.”
“Necklace?”
“Courtney sent the ashes of her husband and sons to one of those companies that make faux diamonds.” Chris made a face. “She said she wanted to carry them with her all the time. She’s saving the rest of the ashes to have made into earrings at some point.”
Olivia winced. “That’s…”
“Macabre? I agree. I might understand if it was only her children, but David? Theirs wasn’t an epic love story. They were married less than a year.”
“I’ve never lost anyone close to me, so I don’t know how I’d react,” Olivia said diplomatically. “If it helps with her grief, and it’s not hurting anyone...”
Chris stared at her for a beat. “That’s incredibly generous of you… considering. I sound harsh, don’t I?” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’m just worn out from the last year… all the gossip. Courtney and I got involved soon after David died, and then life seemed to snowball from there.”
Olivia hid her expression with her wine glass. Why was he sharing this with her? They weren’t friends.
Chris’s sad expression suddenly shifted as he watched something behind her. Her back to the entrance, Olivia twisted to look as the hostess walked past them, leading an extremely tall man who looked vaguely familiar, followed by a heavily-pregnant, redhead. However, it was the couple in their wake who made her stomach drop.
The air changed around her, almost as if it were manipulated by the angry energy emanating from the two men as Declan walked past Chris. Olivia swallowed hard at the black fury in Declan’s face when his eyes met hers.
Chris blew out a breath, bringing Olivia’s attention back to him, as Declan sat at his table across the room. She could see Declan’s glower out of the corner of her eye. “I hope he doesn’t take this out on you,” Chris muttered.
Olivia shrugged, burying the emotions crashing through her. “Why should he?”
“Declan has an unreasonable hatred of me.”
Chris adopted a sorrowful expression, but Olivia saw through it. Her years with Kyle taught her to always be conscious of body language, because it was more honest than anything else. Olivia immediately clocked the trembling fist on the table.
“I’m not sure when it changed,” Chris said. “I told you before how I had distanced myself from Declan. When I started having my own success, I wasn’t his sidekick anymore, and he didn’t like it.”
Olivia shouldn’t ask. She couldn’t trust Chris’s rendition of what happened between the men, but she was curious to learn more about Declan’s life in the years they were apart. “Did you have a falling out over something specific?”
Chris twirled the stem of his glass between his fingers. “No. Declan changed when he became the president of Bloom Communications. He was young, too young in a lot of people’s opinions, but David wanted Declan there as his bulldog. But Declan didn’t want to work with his father.”
Chris huffed a quiet laugh. “Declan doesn’t work with anyone. Declan does what Declan wants and expects the rest of us to tug our forelocks and say thank you. Things didn’t turn into what they are now until we began competing over Armstrong. Well, that and the Bloom Communications’ board chose me over him.”
Chris didn’t hide his self-satisfaction as well as he thought. Olivia reached for the wine bottle to refill her glass, but Chris beat her to it, lifting the bottle. To her shock, one of his hands covered her fingers where she held her glass as he poured the wine.
“I was worried I might spill it,” he said by way of explanation.
Olivia managed a tight smile, but almost like a sunburn, the back of her neck heated, and her chest grew tight. She didn’t need to look to know Declan was watching her.
“It’s sad really,” Chris mused. “He destroys all of his relationships. Declan battled with his father over the company, and when David stepped down as CEO, there was no one to check Declan’s ego.”
He sipped his own wine. “It surprised me to see his siblings in New York with him. He hasn’t managed to maintain those relationships either.”
Olivia frowned. “I met his sister, Cara, in New York. They seemed like they were getting along.”
Something flickered in Chris’s eyes. “Being a good liar is imbedded in their DNA.” He looked thoughtful. “In fact, the last time I was in this restaurant, I was with Cara.”
Olivia’s mouth fell open. “Really?”
“Last spring. Even then, I was trying to help Declan. I thought we were still friends.”
Olivia kept her expression blank as she did some rapid mental math. Wouldn’t Chris already have been involved with Courtney last spring? That didn’t sound like he was interested in being friends . Was his story self-serving because of his arrogance, or because he had an ulterior motive in inviting her here tonight?
Unaware of where her thoughts had gone, Chris continued. “Declan was worried about what was happening with Cara. She had been in the press after her father’s death…”
Olivia had a vague memory of something about nude pictures of the socialite being sold to online tabloids.
“Cara is like a little sister to me. I watched her grow up,” Chris said sadly. “All the Blooms were like family, but when they were cut out of the will, they wanted someone to blame.” He drained the last of his wine and reached for the bottle. “I guess because I was one of the witnesses to the will, some of the resentment toward their father spilled over to me. Then when I started seeing Courtney…”
Chris made a face. “I know it’s probably hard to believe, but because she and my father were friends, we spent time together, and I saw she wasn’t the monster the Blooms portrayed her as. She was their step-mother—the only woman their father ever married—and I’m sure that stung. Particularly when he left his fortune to her. But she’s misunderstood. Courtney has her problems, but she isn’t evil.”
“I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.” He reached forward and clasped her hand where it lay on the table, his eyes warm. “You’re really a good listener.”
Olivia forced herself not to yank her hand free, instead she slid it slowly out from under his.
A loud exclamation had both of their heads swiveling in the sound’s direction. The pregnant redhead was being helped to her feet, an uncomfortable look on her face, and she made the pained sound again. The man with her put his arm around her waist for support as Fiona waved goodbye.
Across the room, Fiona’s eyes collided with hers, and Olivia almost recoiled from the malice on the woman’s face. A calculated smile lifted Fiona’s lips, and she grabbed Declan’s jaw, turning his face to hers before she kissed him. Olivia’s stomach wrenched.
Olivia turned back to Chris and tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but all she wanted to do was run away. She felt like a fool.
“Is everything all right? You’re a little pale,” Chris observed.
Olivia seized the excuse. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.” She gave him a polite smile before she grabbed her purse and slipped through the tables, avoiding a glance in Declan’s direction.
She found the small bathroom at the back of a dim hallway. The purple, velvet-covered walls of the anteroom matched the rest of the restaurant, with another door leading to the toilet. Olivia tossed her clutch onto a large ottoman in the corner.
Her body was feverish, and the pressure in her chest made it hard to breathe. Declan was going to marry that woman. Olivia didn’t believe he loved Fiona. She knew what Declan in love looked like, but he was going to marry Fiona anyway. All that mattered to Declan was getting his father’s company back.
Sensation pricked behind her eyes, and she ran her wrists under the cold water, trying to bring her temperature down. Drying her hands, Olivia pulled the outer door open, only for a large body to push her back into the room. Sandalwood and bergamot filled her nose, setting her nerves on fire again.
Before she had a chance to even gasp, Declan reached behind him to flip the lock and backed her against the velvet wall. His chest heaved hard against her, his eyes burning black into hers.
“You are trying to torture me, is that it? Or do you want me to kill him?”
Olivia’s blood ignited, and her nipples peaked at the raw expression on his face as he trapped her against the wall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His fingers bit almost painfully into her hips. “You’re on a fucking date with him,” Declan growled.
“What if I am?” Olivia tilted her chin back. It was reckless, and she knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she didn’t care. She wanted Declan to feel as out of control as she was. “You’re on a date too.”
A gravelly sound came from low in his chest, and when her tongue flicked out to wet her lips, Declan’s eyes fell to her mouth.
“If he touches you again, I’ll cut off his hands.” The threat rumbled from his chest into hers.
It should have frightened her, instead it gave her an almost feral satisfaction.
“And I won’t even care that it ruins everything I’ve planned. It will be worth it,” he said against her lips. His foot slid between hers moving her legs apart, as his hips thrust her harder into the wall.
“Why? It’s in the past, isn’t it?”
Olivia bit back a moan as she rocked her hips into him, the movement scraping the buttons of his black dress shirt along the bare skin exposed by her neckline. She was deliberately taunting him, and Declan’s eyes flared, his fingers gripping tighter, holding her still against his rigid length.
“Why do you care?” Olivia breathed into his ear before she closed her teeth on the sensitive flesh and bit down.
“Because you’re mine.” Declan’s snarl ripped from deep inside him.
In a flash, his hands were on her hem, shoving up her dress until it bunched around her waist. He grasped her thighs with his large hands and lifted, using his full weight to pin her to the wall.
Olivia surrendered to the sensations coursing through her body and her legs wrapped him, as his mouth slammed into hers. Declan kissed her like he was angry… like he was desperate, and her body responded instantly to the intensity.
Olivia whimpered when he rocked hard against her, his erection rubbing against the seam of her panties until she cried out. She didn’t care that they were in a restaurant bathroom, or that other people were waiting for them. Olivia didn’t even care that he’d broken her heart. She wanted him inside with an almost painful desperation.
Declan’s hand slipped inside her dress, palming her breast roughly. His thumb brushed her puckered nipple, as her hands yanked at his belt. There was no teasing, no drawn-out pleasure. Only frantic need that they both raced to satisfy.
Declan angled his torso back to slip a hand between their bodies and his thumb stroked over her clit. “Declan!” she cried.
He pulled her lace panties to the side until she heard the delicate fabric rip. Olivia whimpered as two long fingers sunk inside. She clenched around them and heard him growl with approval.
Declan buried his face in her neck as he rocked harder against her, his thumb rubbing firm circles over her clit, and his fingers curled inside.
“You’re drenched,” he groaned into her neck. “You feel so fucking perfect. Are so fucking perfect.”
Hot breath panted against her jaw when she shoved his pants down to pull him free. She stroked his length, relishing the hot silky skin before lining him up with her body.
“Petal.” Declan’s pupils were blown wide when he lifted his head to stare into her eyes.
“If you don’t fuck me right now, I’m going to lose my mind,” she gasped, sliding him back and forth against her over-sensitized skin.
A primitive look crossed his eyes, and then he surged into her with one hard stroke, covering her mouth with a large hand when she screamed. Declan didn’t wait for her to adjust to him, his pace almost savage as he thrust inside her.
Olivia clawed at his shoulders, and soon her legs were shaking, and stars erupted behind her closed eyelids as she fell apart. With a muffled shout in her shoulder, she felt Declan find his own release.
Heart still pounding, Olivia opened her eyes, reluctantly coming back to awareness. Declan’s forehead rested on her shoulder, his ragged exhales feathered across her bare collarbone. For a minute they stayed joined together, as they both struggled to steady their breathing. Slowly, Declan set her feet on the ground, and tugged her dress together, as he tucked himself away.
“We didn’t use anything.” Declan’s voice was gruff, but it didn’t sound like he was sorry. “You’re the only one I’ve ever… I would never put you at risk like that.”
“I know.” And she did. Deep inside Olivia knew Declan would always protect her.
There was an odd expression on his face. “But there is always the risk of?—”
“No risks taken.” Olivia swallowed past the lump in her throat the words immediately caused. She wasn’t about to tell him it was unlikely she could have children, and that one slipup wasn’t likely to result in a baby when eighteen months of trying never had.
His brow furrowed, and for a second an emotion that looked a lot like disappointment crossed his eyes. Declan stroked the back of his knuckles down her cheek.
“What are we doing?”
Declan sighed, and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, folding it into a square. “I don’t know. I forget everything when I’m with you.”
His words, so close to her own thoughts, made her heart flutter. “We can’t keep doing this,” Olivia said. “I might not really be on a date, but you are.”
“It’s not a date.” Declan’s eyes captured hers with a sudden intensity. “Until that stunt she just pulled, I’d never even kissed Fiona. This is a business arrangement.”
“Does she know that?”
Declan didn’t answer, his eyes tracing over her features. Then to her shock, he reached under her dress with his makeshift pad to gently clean her tender flesh. She sucked in a breath, and his eyes flashed to hers with concern. “Did I hurt you?”
Olivia shook her head, her heart thudding. For a beat he studied her, and then tossed the used handkerchief in the trash can. Bending, he retrieved the remains of her panties from the floor, and tucked them in his pocket.
“This isn’t the time or the place for this, but you’re right. We need to talk. Really talk. I thought I could…” He stared at her for a minute, and then Declan curved his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in for a hard kiss against her lips before retreating to the door, his mask sliding into place.
“We need to get back.” Declan paused, his hand on the lock. “I’m not playing a game, Petal.” His voice was low, his eyes deadly serious. “If that bastard touches you again, you will be able to count the breaths he has left on one hand. Which would be unfortunate, because I have plans for him.”
Olivia’s brows drew together. “Plans?”
Declan gave her a grim smile. “Yes, but as usual, you’ve turned my entire world upside down.” Then he flipped the lock and was gone.
Olivia took a minute to press her hands to her flaming cheeks, and then another to repair her makeup, but there was no hiding her flush or her dilated eyes.
When Olivia returned to the dining room, she couldn’t resist a peek at Declan’s table. To her surprise, Fiona was at the table alone, and if the death glare the woman was currently sending her was any sign, Fiona suspected what had happened between her and Declan.
Olivia should probably feel guilty that she’d just had sex with the woman’s date in the bathroom, but she didn’t.
“Why do you care?”
“Because you’re mine.”
And Declan was hers.
Chris’s expression was rigid when Olivia sat down. “Are you all right? I was getting worried.”
Olivia gave him a wan smile. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure the food agreed with me.”
She didn’t know if he believed her, and she didn’t particularly care. Her mind and heart were in an uproar, trying to make sense of what was happening between her and Declan.
Chris looked at Declan’s table and to the back of the restaurant, his jaw clenching. Olivia lifted her purse, setting it in her lap as she reached for her wallet. The least she could do was pay for half the meal.
Chris waved his hand in the air when she pulled out a credit card. “I invited you.” His gaze fell on her red purse. “O.R.A.?”
Olivia replaced the card in her wallet. “My initials—Olivia Adler,” she said, not wanting to get into the subject with him. Olivia wanted out of the restaurant so that she could go home and dissect what had just happened in private.
“What’s the R for?” Chris lay several large bills on the check.
“Rose.”
Chris’s hand hovered over his billfold, and then his eyes slowly lifted to look at her. “Rose? That’s a beautiful name.”
Olivia murmured her thanks, barely registering his comment. Where the hell had Declan gone? As the minutes ticked by, and Declan didn’t appear, the server collected the bill, and Chris’s posture relaxed.
“Do you need a ride home?”
Olivia looked up from her phone. “Thank you, but I ordered a car.”
Declan entered the restaurant at the same time Chris and Olivia reached the front door. His phone was pressed to his ear as though he’d stepped outside to make a call. His violet eyes were laser focused on Chris standing so close behind her, but only inclined his head slightly to her in an arrogant nod.
“Olivia,” he said, without a single hesitation in his stride.