3. Olivia
3
OLIVIA
Present…
The world tilted on its axis the moment I saw Alexander Knight, and it had yet to right itself. I was still reeling from shock and the barrage of memories that assaulted me. Youthful dreams, laughter, passionate nights… love.
I never thought I’d see my college flame again, especially in my office with him threatening to take everything from me. As I stared at the door that Alex had marched through, I couldn’t help thinking about how great he looked. He was different though.
While he still had the same mischievous glint in his intense blue eyes, he had a harder edge as if he’d become more serious and… colder. Was that my fault? I raked my fingers through my hair and inhaled deeply as I tried to steady my racing mind and rapid pulse rate .
Alexander Knight was behind the takeover of BioTech… I still couldn’t believe it. Of course, I knew who he’d become. His billionaire status was well known, and so was his title of playboy. There wasn’t a gossip or entertainment site that Alex hadn't been mentioned on.
The masses adored him—especially women—which wasn’t surprising. It was his personality that reeled me in when we were kids, after all. Alex had the kind of charisma that was a seamless blend of humor and sexual magnetism. His bad boy edge made panties drop… It certainly made mine drop. Plus, when you got to know the man behind the devil-may-care exterior, he was easy to fall for. He was compassionate and extremely smart. Sometimes too smart for his own good…
What had me in a chokehold was that he was the threat to my company. Rumors had swirled about someone moving to swipe BioTech away. When I saw no way to save it, I considered willingly selling it to the anonymous billionaire who had his eyes on us.
If I discussed things with him, maybe he’d have some compassion and continue my mission as well as keep the current employees. The entire time, I thought the mystery billionaire was James Winchester, a prominent figure in the business world. I met him back in college because he and Alex were friends. I’d also had a handful of run-ins with him for business. He seemed like a decent guy. I thought he’d be the one to walk through my door this morning. Seeing Alex instead almost made me faint.
I knew he resented me… I could practically feel the animosity coming off him. Upsetting him with my arrogant front hadn’t been a good idea, but I’d been so pissed by the way he strolled in here as if he already owned my company. I had a few months left to turn things around, and I’d fight harder than ev er to hold on to BioTech. There was no way I’d let my ex-boyfriend swoop in and win.
However, despite my indignation, it was hard to forget that Alex Knight was the only man I had ever truly loved. It didn’t take long for me to fall for him…
Twelve years ago…
“Back off, will you? I’m busy,” Bryce said as he huffed his annoyance.
My face almost caught fire when several pairs of eyes zeroed in on us. Bryce tended to get loud when he was inebriated.
I glowered at him but didn’t respond with anything that would prolong my embarrassment. “Fine. I’ll get myself home.” I made my way to the exit.
The house vibrated with the ear-splitting music, and there was hardly room to walk. I couldn’t wait to get out of this hellhole. It was about a fifteen-minute walk to get back to my apartment, which was off campus.
Bryce picked me up for his frat party. I should have known better than to rely on him to take me home when I was ready.
The fact that he didn’t even stop me from leaving irked me to the bone. The asshole was really going to let me walk alone at this time of night?
“You know what…?” I turned around and walked back to my dick of a boyfriend… soon to be ex. I was tired of Bryce and his douchebag ways. I couldn’t believe I dated him for six months.
Okay, maybe I could believe it. I only started dating him to please my father. Bryce’s father and my old man were acquainted. Dad told me that Bryce was a suitable boyfriend because he was in my social class and would be a prime candidate for a husband in the future. I studied Bryce, who held a red cup full of beer in one hand. As he chatted animatedly with his frat buddies, beer sloshed over the cup’s rim each time he staggered.
Ugh . The drunken idiot. For someone who acted like he was better than the general population because he grew up filthy rich, he had zero class. What was worse, he treated me like shit. Dad didn’t care about that though. All he cared about was me making moves to expand the Brentwood empire. I’d do just about anything to please Dad but to continue dating Bryce, the jerk…? Fuck that.
I shouldered my way through the throng of drunk guys and girls until I reached him. He gazed at me through glassy eyes. Crooking my finger in a come hither motion, I watched as a goofy grin spread across his face. As he leaned closer to me, some of his frat buddies hooted and whistled. What a bunch of fools. As if I’d make out with the likes of Bryce in a crowded room. He’d never feel these lips on his again.
When his ear was pressed to my lips, I said, “We’re done. If you call me again or show up at my place, I’ll castrate your sorry ass. Got it?”
He drew back and gawked at me and then he hiccuped. “Your dad won’t let that happen, sweetheart,” he slurred. “We’re already as good as married. You belong to me, Olivia.”
I snorted. Sadly, in our world… he was onto something. My dad was going to give me shit for breaking the connection between the Brentwoods and the Mercers, but he’d have to get over it.
“You wish, asshole,” I hissed. With that, I wheeled around and marched away .
The cool night breeze that caressed my skin when I stepped outside felt amazing after being in that hot, crowded room. With my eyes closed, I pulled in a deep breath. When I opened them, I gasped because I was face-to-face with him . We were at eye level because he stood a couple of steps lower.
It was the guy from last week. The one who had caught the football spiraling toward my head. As much as I tried to, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I guess it was because he was the opposite of most of the guys I’d come across in my circle. Alex stood out. He was tall and lean with jet-black hair. He wore it in a tousled style that was somewhere between meticulously cared for and effortless, and his blue eyes were strikingly vivid.
When he looked at me, I got the feeling that he saw far beneath the surface and way beyond my last name. He made my pulse quicken and my stomach flip-flop. However, I was Olivia Brentwood. I wasn’t allowed to swoon over a guy, so I played it cool.
“If it isn’t my hero… What’s your name again?” I snorted inwardly. As if I could forget…
His lips curled into a knowing smile as if he knew I was full of shit. “Princess Olivia, we meet again.”
I almost smiled at the sound of my new moniker. I knew that was what he’d mumbled when we first met.
“It’s Alex,” he added.
Goodness, did he stare at other girls this intensely, or was I imagining it because I had the hots for him? “Alex… right…” I sounded breathier than usual.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked.
“Yeah, frat parties aren’t my scene. No parties are my scene really…”
“Are you saying that you're uptight, Princess Olivia? ”
I lifted my eyebrows. Maybe I was, but no one had ever called me out on it before. “No…” Yes . Being a Brentwood was just so rigid. I lived under a freaking microscope, so I could never really be me .
“I bet you are, Princess. Luckily for you, I’m good at getting people to loosen up…” His playful smirk and the way his words dripped with suggestion were so hot. How could someone his age pull off being so sexy? He said he was a sophomore, so he was likely eighteen or nineteen.
I swallowed hard and willed myself not to blush. “Well, if I am uptight, it works for me. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get going.”
I brushed past him because I needed to make a quick escape. I didn’t know how to handle guys like Alex… non-snooty, charming ones who made my heart flutter. I was feeling too much, and it was hard to keep up my cool, unbothered facade around him.
“Hey, wait a minute.” Alex descended the steps and came after me.
I glanced over my shoulder but kept walking. He spelled trouble… of the intriguing and fun kind, and I wasn't allowed to have that.
“You have a habit of running from me,” he said. “It’s okay. I don’t mind chasing someone I want. I’ll chase you for as long as I have to, Olivia.”
I stopped and spun around because I was a little stunned. The guys I encountered usually played it so cool, they’d never admit what Alex just did. My eyes narrowed to slits as I studied him. What was his game? Did he make a bet with his buddies to bag Olivia Brentwood, the frigid, rich bitch?
Seriously . That was what I overheard someone call me, and it hurt. No one took the time to look past my last name and my dad’s money to see me . Alex seemed to though… or was he playing me?
“Do you know who I am?” I didn’t mean that in a cocky way. It was just that guys had a hard time with my dad when he didn’t deem them suitable for me, so most just avoided the trouble.
Alex’s eyes bore into mine as he replied, “Sure. You’re my future girlfriend.”
I don’t think I’d ever been rendered speechless before now. I gawked at him, waiting for him to laugh, but he seemed pretty serious. The only response I could muster was a little snort of disbelief. I couldn’t deny my interest in him. The attraction was definitely there for his declaration to possibly become true… one day.
“Where are you headed?” Alex asked casually as if he hadn’t just dropped a presumptuous bomb on me.
“Home.”
“Where’s home?”
“A few blocks from campus.”
“Where’s your ride?”
“Parked in my driveway… at home,” I said sheepishly.
He glanced at the fraternity house. “I assume your current boyfriend will come out at any moment to take you home then?”
My lips twitched with amusement. He was taking his proclaimed status as my future boyfriend very seriously. I liked Alex. I could tell that his arrogance didn’t come from being coddled and privileged. His confidence was raw and naturally masculine as if he knew he could get anything he wanted if he worked for it. He exuded bad boy charm while still being respectful.
“I’m single,” I announced .
His eyes were locked with mine, so I saw the satisfaction gleam in them. “ Hmmm . May I give you a lift home, Olivia?”
I couldn’t refuse because, dammit, I wanted him to be my future boyfriend. “Weren’t you headed to the party?”
“Frat parties aren’t my scene either.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“My friend Jamie is a part of this fraternity. I told him I’d show up for moral support since he hates these shindigs.”
“Then you should go inside.”
“He’ll understand when I tell him I skipped the party to ensure a lady’s safety.”
I snorted. “And they say chivalry is dead. I don’t want to put you out. I’ve walked home plenty of times. I’ll be fine.”
“There’s no way I’m letting you walk home at this hour… or ever.”
He cares that much, and he isn’t even my boyfriend yet… I wasn’t sure why my mind went there.
“My car’s parked over there,” Alex said.
I followed his gaze to a vintage black Mustang. “Wow, sweet ride.”
His eyes lit up. “I like a girl who appreciates cars.”
I found myself following Alex to his vehicle with no more hesitation. It was like he had sunk his charming hook into me and reeled me all the way in before I even realized it.
“How did you get that gorgeous baby?” I asked.
“It was my old man’s. I recently gave her a facelift. She is sweet, isn’t she?”
“Very...” I eyed the car, as I imagined myself speeding down the highway in it… with Alex beside me. Goodness, he had me hook, line, and sinker.
“I have a feeling I’ll be taking you for plenty of rides in my Mustang, Princess Olivia. ”
My heart dipped and swooped as he opened the passenger’s door and held out a hand. “Are you really going to keep calling me that?”
He hit me with his charming grin that held a hint of mischief. “It’s fitting.”
I stared at him as I placed my hand in his. I sucked in a breath as attraction kicked me in the gut. He helped me inside as if I were truly royalty and then he sauntered around to the driver's seat.
When he got in, he reached over the console. My breath hitched because our faces were so close and I thought he was going to kiss me. What shocked me was that I’d let this virtual stranger kiss me. That was a first…
To my disappointment, he only reached for my seat belt and buckled me in. The simple action was foreign to me and so sweet that my heart almost turned into a puddle. I knew it right then and there… I was going to fall hard for Alex.