Chapter 2 Olivia
“You did good, Olivia,” my boss murmurs, standing a little too close to me.
I sidestep to put a small space between us. “Thank you, Mr. Lockhart.”
“Olivia, I told you, call me Alan when we’re alone.”
I try to hide my grimace with a smile. Hopefully the lighting is diffused enough that I pull it off.
I love my job. I’m lucky to have it. The only education I have is an online college degree.
That’s becoming more and more normal these days, but I can tell you from experience that a lot of the positions that I’ve interviewed for, look down on my degree.
For that reason alone, I skate a thin line.
Thankfully, my boss is married so he mostly stays in line.
“I hope everything goes well. This is very important for this community,” I reply, ignoring his millionth invitation to call him Alan. That’s never going to happen.
“I’ve had talks with the town council. I think it will. I’m trying to use whatever influence I have to push it. It would have helped if that damn gang member would have at least tried to clean up for the meeting. Thank God his lawyer seems to have good breeding.”
I bristle at the asshole’s words. He’s a prick and I know it, but I can’t stand when people say anything about Bear.
They see his MC cut and immediately dismiss him as a thug.
I would have more reason than anyone to feel that way, but Bear is the furthest thing from that.
He’s a beautiful human being. He treats his Ayita like a queen, despite having been betrayed in one of the worst ways possible by someone he loved previously.
They have the kind of relationship that I’ve been jealous of and always wanted.
I’m not sure I’ll ever have it. With my history, being close to a man is extremely hard.
I’ve had sex twice in my life. Once was not by choice and still haunts me.
The second time was a guy who helped pull me out of the misery I had wrapped myself in.
It was awkward and just not good. It kind of ended our relationship.
He lives in Townsend now, which isn’t that far away.
I see him here and there, but other than a very uncomfortable ‘hi’ or ‘how have you been?’, we avoid each other.
I bring my attention back to the event when William’s deep voice hits me. I look up to find him walking towards us. “Alan, I was hoping I could have a moment to talk to the mayor of this town before the meeting actually starts. I don’t suppose you’ve seen the asshole, have you?”
“I hear he’s slumming with the newly elected county judge,” my boss—being the mayor—jokes back.
William—the county judge—laughs as he’s intended to, before turning his attention back to me. “Hey, Olivia, you’re looking gorgeous as ever.”
“Thanks, William,” I laugh. “I’ll leave you two alone to discuss business. I’m just going to make sure everything is ready in the conference room.”
With a muttered goodbye, I walk in that direction, only to be waylaid by the county commissioner. I resist the urge to bang my head with my palm. What is with my luck tonight?
“Olivia, you’re looking beautiful tonight,” Marty says. He’s almost as bad as my boss. The only thing that gives him a slight edge at being a better human being is that other than staring at my tits, he leaves me alone.
“Thank you, Marty. You’re looking pretty dapper yourself.
Wasn’t Ella able to join you tonight?” I ask sweetly.
I know already that he won’t bring Ella anywhere that he is close by Josie—the circuit clerk here.
She’s married to a good man, who is a deputy on the police force.
It doesn’t stop her from spreading her legs to other men—one being Marty.
“She’s not much for crowds,” he says, and I want to roll my eyes. I want to explain that Ella doesn’t like crowds who are talking about how much her husband is cheating on her. I have to bite my tongue. I seem to have to do that a lot.
“Miss Davis, I was wondering if I might bother you for a second.”
I turn behind me to see the man that came with Bear. “Of course, Mr. Aetos. What can I do for you?”
“Mr. Aetos?” Marty interrupts. “Are you the attorney representing the Cherokee delegation tonight?”
“I am,” Blade answers, instantly assessing the other man. Maybe it’s my imagination but I get the feeling that he finds Marty as lacking as I do. Something about that makes me happy.
“I hear you were a partner in a prestigious law firm in New York,” Marty replies. “What made you give that up to come here and represent people who can’t even afford to pay you a quarter of what you used to make?”
“I’m sorry, Mr.—”
“Oh, Mr. Aetos, this is the City Commissioner, Marty Stephenson.”
Blade gives me a smile before turning his attention back to the commissioner. “Mr. Stephenson,” he says, shaking the man’s hand. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you.”
“I bet you have. Did that asshole Bear tell you how he was treating the people here that could help him?”
“Marty!” I gasp, wanting to wade in to try and diffuse the situation that could have very bad repercussions.
“It’s fine, little one, why don’t you go see if uh … Mr. Golden needs anything in the conference room while I speak to Mr. Stephenson?” Blade suggests.
“Mr. Golden?” I ask, confused.
“He’s talking about that damn gang leader. His Cherokee name is supposedly Golden Bear,” Marty replies, his voice thick with disgust.
“Marty, seriously. I’d like to remind you that tonight is about coming together to help this community bring in money that we desperately need.
Bear and Mr. Aetos have a very comprehensive plan to fund housing, education, and bring jobs for individuals here who are living below the poverty line.
I would think as the city commissioner that you’d do everything in your power to help those who elected you. ”
Marty snorts, taking another drink of his scotch, which he’s probably already had too much of. “What I think is the Cherokee—”
“Make up the majority of your voting pool, I would imagine,” I snap. “Blade, may I show you where the meeting is to be held?”
“Why thank you, Miss Davis. I would appreciate that very much. I’m sure you and I will have more to say to one another later, Mr. Stephenson.”
“I’m sure we will,” he grumbles.
“Perhaps you can even introduce me to your wife. I was going to introduce myself earlier, but you two looked to be enjoying a private moment—though maybe not so private since several of us saw you. It must be wonderful to be so in love even after marriage. It’s a dream we all have, I’m sure.”
“Uh …,” Marty stutters.
“I’ll show you where the conference room is,” Olivia says quickly, all but pulling me away. “Oh, God, Mr. Aetos,” she says, sounding a delicious mix of worried and amused.
“Blade,” I correct her, not liking that she used my surname—and it’s not even because I hate the name in general.
“Blade,” she murmurs, looking up at me and blushing. “I feel I should warn you that Marty’s wife isn’t here tonight.”
“I feel like I should tell you, Livy, that I knew that he wasn’t with his wife.”
“Oh my,” she giggles. I grin at her, loving the look on her face. Hell, I’m just enjoying being close to her. “I guess you should probably count Marty and Josie off your tally of votes going your way tonight.”
“Josie?”
“Probably the woman you saw him with. She’s the circuit clerk and also on the board. The saddest thing about it is that she and Marty both have wonderful spouses who deserve better.”
“I think I should probably tell you that I feel comfortable those two will vote our way.”
“Are you feeling okay?” she jokes. “I think you might be feverish.”
“You’re cute,” I chuckle. “I’m just saying, people in glass houses can’t afford to throw stones against someone who knows where the skeletons are hidden.”
“I think that’s two different idioms,” she giggles.
“The meaning is the same.”
“Point taken,” she says. “Shall we go join Bear?”
I hold out my arm, and she links hers into it. I escort Olivia toward the conference room, feeling as if I have just won the lottery.