Chapter 19
NINETEEN
TAJ
From the moment I’d met Olivia, I hadn’t been afraid to admit I thought about her all the time. Ever since things took a serious turn, I noticed how some of my thoughts about her had shifted.
I still thought about Olivia all the time now, but some of the things that crossed my mind when it came to her were more than just a touch unsavory. Like what I wanted to do if I ever had the opportunity to have her in my office.
For a fleeting moment, I’d believed the fantasy was about to become a reality. But then Olivia burst into tears, and it was all I could do not to jump over the desk to get to her faster.
Stomach clenching, feeling nothing but despair, I made it to her in an instant and wrapped my arms around her. Closing the door for privacy, I lifted her and carried her over to the couch.
No matter that I wanted my presence to calm and soothe her, it didn’t work. Olivia cried harder, holding on to me like she was afraid I’d vanish if she let me go.
She was too distraught to answer, but I still asked, “Baby, what happened?”
Olivia didn’t respond. If it weren’t for the fact that I had her safe in my arms, I might have lost my mind at the mere thought of her being so upset. What could’ve possibly happened to reduce her to this?
“You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
Stroking my hands along her back, I rocked her to settle her down. It took a long time for her sobs to grow quieter until it was only the occasional hitch of her breath that indicated she’d been crying at all.
Once I’d given her some time to sit in the silence, I begged, “Baby, can you please tell me what happened? Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
Olivia reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, and tapped on the screen a few times. Then she held it out to me.
That’s when I saw what had set this all in motion.
I scrolled through one headline after another.
Article after article had been written about Olivia running out on her fiancé and abandoning him at the altar.
I didn’t have to read each one in detail to know it was her who was being painted in a bad light. The headlines said as much.
“I’m so sorry, Olivia. These articles are trash. You know that, right?”
She nodded and sniffled. “I know. It’s just that… They aren’t necessarily saying anything that’s untrue. I did leave my fiancé at the altar.”
Oh no. I wasn’t going to allow her to feel guilty about this. “And they have no idea why you did that, do they?”
“No.”
“Right. So, don’t let that get to you. I know that’s easier said than done. I’m surprised it’s taken so long for this to get out. Do you have any idea who leaked this information? Have any of the articles mentioned their source?”
She shook her head. “No, they haven’t. It’s always an anonymous source with these things. I have no clue who would’ve said anything.”
“Is it possible it was your ex?”
“No. Initially, I had the same thought since he promised to make me regret leaving him, but no. Conrad cares too much about his image to present himself in such a way.”
Every muscle in my body went taut. “What did you just say?”
“Conrad worries about how he’s perceived, so—”
“Not that. The other thing. You said he promised to make you regret leaving him. When did that happen?”
Instantly, her shoulders rounded, like her chest had been hollowed out. “I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you about that. It happened on girls’ night.”
The last thing I wanted to do was lose my cool, but it was taking every ounce of restraint to hold on to my budding anger. “What exactly happened?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Olivia swallowed roughly. “I thought it was you calling me. It happened right after Savanna dropped me off. I answered the call without paying attention to the number on the screen, and it turned out it was him.”
“What did he say?”
“He asked why I left. How I could walk out on him. But mostly, he just wanted to know where I was now. I refused to give him that information and told him it was no longer any of his business. Conrad has himself on such a high pedestal, it was no surprise he had to try to threaten me with no chance at a career in the modeling industry, but when that backfired because I have no interest in that anymore, he tried again to get me to tell him where I was. Obviously, I still didn’t tell him.
Right before he ended the call, he promised he’d find me and that when he did, he’d make me regret ever leaving. ”
My blood was boiling. “Do you think he’s the kind of guy who likes to hear himself talk, or would he follow through with that threat?”
She shrugged. “Honestly, I could see it going either way.”
I had to ask the question, but I wasn’t sure if I could get the words out. “Has he… Has he ever been violent with you? Has he ever put his hands on you like that?”
“No. Never. He was a jerk who never really cared for me the way he should have, but he never got physically violent. Then again, with my contract hanging over us, it’s not like I ever did anything to truly defy him anyway.”
I used to believe that the toughest challenges I’d ever face in my life would all be the result of being the guy in charge of running a worldwide brand as large as Blackman Boards.
But with this beautiful woman in my arms, I now knew that wasn’t the case.
Sometimes, it was like I was walking a fine line between doing what instinct propelled me to do and reining in the protectiveness over a woman who’d never been allowed to make her own choices.
This didn’t feel like a time when I should compromise.
“Olivia, I need you to listen to me,” I said.
My resolve must’ve come through in my tone because Olivia’s expression grew alarmed. “What is it?”
“There’re a lot of things I can overlook or sit back and allow to happen on their own timing. With you, I’ve always tried to respect the need you’ve had to make your own decisions. But I need you to listen to and trust me on what I’m about to say next.”
Her wide eyes darted between mine. “Taj, you’re scaring me.”
Wanting to offer her some reassurance, I framed her face in my hands and stroked my thumbs over her cheeks. “I’m sorry, baby. There’s no need for you to be afraid. I just need you to understand how important this is to me.”
She swallowed roughly. “What is it?”
“Until we know for sure that your ex isn’t set on revenge, I don’t want you sleeping alone.”
“What?”
“We can alternate nights at my place or yours, but I don’t want you being left alone in case he decides to follow through on his threats.”
“Taj, I—”
“Please,” I begged. “I know how important it is for you to be the one in charge of your decisions, but I need this, Olivia. I… I promise I’m not looking to take away your choices or freedom or newfound independence.
The thought of something happening to you makes me ill.
Please, baby. Please, just give me this one thing. ”
Tears filled her eyes again, and she rasped, “I was just going to say that I’ve never had anyone care about me the way that you do. I’m so relieved that you aren’t ending things between us. And if you think it’s unwise for me to spend my nights alone, I’m okay with us spending them together.”
With my hands still framing her face, my fingers pressed in deeper. “Ending things? Why would I ever do such a stupid thing?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “If I know anything about the types of people who write those trashy articles, it’s that they don’t stop.
This is only the beginning of what’s to come.
And you have a company to protect. If they found out about us, it could tarnish your company’s good name. You need to protect that.”
One of my hands drove into her hair as the other fell away from her face.
My arm wrapped around her and tugged her toward me.
I inhaled the addictive scent of her before I whispered in her ear.
“What I need, all I need, is to protect you. To know that you’re safe.
” I pulled back to look her in the eyes.
“It took me a while to learn this, but there’re things that matter a whole lot more than a business.
I’d be a shell of a man running this company if anything bad ever happened to you. ”
“You’re going to make me cry,” she croaked, massaging the front of her throat.
“Don’t cry. Just tell me you’ll let me look after you the way I need to in this situation.”
Olivia hesitated for just a few seconds before her lips curved into a slow smile. “I’ll let you look after me, Taj.”
Relief swept in, and the tension eased out of my body. “Thank you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you?”
I shook my head. “No. My job is to protect you. I’m just glad you’re allowing me to do it.”
She slid her arms around my body and hugged me.
My arms offered a reassuring squeeze. “Are you okay now?”
“I’m relieved that you’re still here,” she admitted.
“Alright. And the articles online? You’re not worried about those anymore, are you?”
Olivia let out a long breath. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.”
I tugged lightly on her hair, urging her head back, so she could look at me. “Why? Why would you allow them to get to you?”
“Because I’m trying to build a new life here, Taj,” she said. “What if your family and friends worry that I’d just walk away from you? Or what if I find something I’m interested in doing, and I can’t even get an interview because people have read those articles and think the worst of me?”
The answer seemed simple enough to me. “I would say that anyone who would allow tabloids and online articles to sway their judgment like that aren’t people worth working for.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change the fact that I might miss out on doing something I enjoy because of this. I’m terrified now to even continue looking. What if I never find anything to do?”
Pinching her chin lightly between my thumb and forefinger, I held her in place and leaned forward to touch my lips to hers. “You’ll find something. I promise.”
“I hope you’re right.”