21. Olivia
21
OLIVIA
“What do you mean he’s made an offer to buy the company?” I screeched.
“Now, Livy, calm down. You’ve hit that high note… The one where I always worry that your brain is going to explode.”
I clutched my forehead because Elena might be right about my brain getting ready to erupt. It was incredible how my day had been shot to hell before noon. I woke up feeling great… hopeful. Finally, things were looking up. I was on my way to beating Alex Knight… so I’d thought.
He wasn’t the only one who could get a little information or who had friends in high places. If there was one thing I could count on my best friend for, it was to have my back. She was always firmly in my corner, and she used her resources to help me out plenty of times.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I took a deep breath. “Run that by me again please.”
Elena hesitated as if she was afraid to continue .
Clutching my cell tighter, I said, “I’m fine, Elena. Really…”
“Alright, so I got it from a credible source that Alex made an offer to Don Weaver to either buy Syn-Genix or become a major shareholder. Word on the synthetic biology streets is that Weaver is impressed with Alex’s offer and is considering it. It must be a hefty offer to get a man like Weaver’s attention.”
“Very,” I said.
Syn-Genix was even bigger than BioTech, and Don Weaver was like a god in our arena… one of the richest. It was rumored that he was looking to decrease his responsibilities because he had his hands in a ton of other ventures. I figured I’d jump in and offer a merger. With my science background, he’d see that I was perfect to run things. It would be a win-win for us both. However, if Alex had already gotten to him, maybe I had already lost.
I dropped onto the nearest chair and proceeded to stare into space. Was that hope running away hand-in-hand with my future at BioTech that I saw in the distance? They were getting further and further away…
“Livy? Are you still there?”
I blinked. “Yes…”
“What are you going to do?” Elena asked.
Rubbing my eyes, which burned from lack of sleep because I stayed up most of the night thinking about Alex just next door, I sighed. “Honestly, I’m tired of fighting to keep my company. It’s been struggling for a while and?—”
“Don’t you dare, Olivia Brentwood,” Elena snapped, cutting me off. “I can’t let you say what I think you’re about to say because I know you. You’ll regret it later.”
My hand found its way to my mouth as I reverted to the habit I’d worked hard to break. I chomped on my fingernails as if I were starving, and they were the only meal I’d seen for days. “ You’re right. I’ll regret not fighting with everything I have for the rest of my life.” Lord knew I already had enough regrets.
“Let’s try that again,” Elena said. “What are you going to do?”
My little laugh was weary but filled with appreciation for my friend. I didn’t know what I’d do without her encouragement. I couldn’t confide in Mom about the family’s financial struggles, and Liam never got it together to help run the business as I hoped he would. I’d been the sole burden-carrier of the crumbling Brentwood legacy since Dad died. Elena was a godsend.
“I’m going to pull up my big girl pants and meet with Weaver as planned,” I declared with growing confidence. “I’ll persuade the hell out of him to partner with me and make us both richer. He loves money. That last part will definitely convince him.”
“Now that sounds more like the Olivia I know. If you need my help with anything, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Elena. You have no idea how grateful I am for your support.”
“Hey, remember back in the day when you helped me with my first high-profile investigative article?” Elena asked.
I groaned, remembering the chaos of that adventure. It was the most fun I’d had since Alex and I parted ways. “You mean tried to help.” I had her pretend to be my assistant to get her into corporate offices so we could snoop around for insider information.
Elena laughed. “And you were so terrible at being low-key that we almost got busted by that one mogul.”
I sniggered. “And I had to flirt with him to get us off the hook. I was terrible at that too.”
Our combined chortling went on for longer than intended because each time I recalled my ridiculously atrocious flirting skills, the way Elena rolled her eyes and smacked her forehead in the background, made me dissolve into more giggles.
When she sobered, she said, “The point is, when I asked for your help, you didn’t hesitate to say yes. You stuck your neck out for me. You have my back, and I have yours. That’s what we do, so call me if you need me.”
Feeling a hundred times better, I sighed. “I will, and I’ll let you know how the meeting goes.”
“I’ll be waiting. Go get ‘em!”
I was still grinning long after I hung up. “I can do this. I will do this,” I said firmly. The day I sit back and let Alex win is the day there will be a goddamn snow blast in hell.
I was floating on cloud nine by the time I walked out of Don Weaver’s office. The fact that the man turned out to be sleazy aside, our meeting went well.
He actually listened to what I had to say when he took a break from gawking at my chest and legs. My icy stare whenever I caught him checking me out helped to cool his jets, and he focused on my stellar business proposal instead.
In the end, he was talking about numbers and our next step with enthusiasm. The potential monetary benefit for him practically had him salivating. He then expressed that he was willing to work with me rather than sell his company, and we had another meeting set up.
As I stepped out of the elevator and strolled toward my borrowed apartment, I squealed with excitement and did a twirl. I then caught up on myself and looked around to see if anyone had witnessed my lapse into frivolous delight. A little embarrassed, I continued my trek down the hallway .
When I stopped in front of my door, I glanced at Alex’s, wondering if he was home or out plotting my demise. Curiosity and smugness got the better of me, and I knocked on his door. I waited for a while with no answer and gathered that he wasn’t home. I was mildly disappointed about not getting to gloat fresh off my meeting with my new business partner.
Before I stepped away, the door swung open. My breath hitched at the sight of Alex with just a towel wrapped around his lower half. It seemed I’d caught him after a shower. Goodness … His body glistened with moisture, and I couldn’t help but admire his chiseled chest. He’d always been toned, but the years had been good to him. There was a harder masculine edge to the entirety of his being compared to when he was in his early twenties.
My gaze dropped to his defined abs and his lean hips, which the towel barely covered. I knew what was under that towel, and it was impressive… My face flamed as my gaze traveled back up past his broad shoulders and to his face.
His eyebrows furrowed at the sight of me. “Olivia.” His voice was tinged with confusion.
“Alex,” I returned.
His eyebrows unfurrowed to make irritated arches. “Can I help you?”
Blinking out of the lustful haze I’d fallen into while I admired the work of art that was his body, I remembered why I knocked on his door. I wanted to gloat because he deserved to be told to his face that he lost.
I couldn’t hold back the smirk that crawled across my face. “I just thought I’d share some good news with my neighbor.”
He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame. His muscles rippled with his movements, almost distracting me again. “What’s that?” he asked .
“I had a meeting with Don Weaver today. I can confidently announce that I have a new business partner.”
His eyes narrowed but he remained silent.
“You know what that means, Alex?”
“Tell me, Olivia,” he drawled with his typical arrogant air.
He really believed that he was invincible, and I was immensely satisfied that I’d get to prove him wrong.
“You’re not getting your hands on my company. With my partner’s backing, we’re going to be stronger than ever. BioTech is secure, and you failed in your takeover attempt.” I smirked harder. “Just like you failed miserably in your devious attempt to rob me of my last lifeline.”
He glowered at me, and I reveled in the knowledge that perhaps he was stewing in anger about his loss. However, he straightened and his lips tugged up into a slight smile. “The fight isn’t over yet, Liv. Maybe you shouldn’t indulge in premature gloating.”
I snorted. “It’s as good as over, Alex. You may be filthy rich and have connections, but you can’t win against me and Weaver.”
His eyes practically bore holes into me. Those piercing blues would never fail to make me tingle in the nether region… even when we were having a pissing contest.
“ Hmmm ,” he hummed. “I guess you won this round. Congratulations, Liv.”
I squinted at him with skepticism. “I’d say I’ve won this entire war, Alex, because there’s no stopping me now. However, I admit that I’m surprisingly pleased that you’re not a sore loser.” In fact, he was more gracious than I’d ever even imagined.
“And it’s safe to say you’re a very obnoxious winner. Then again, I knew that… Princess . ”
His use of his old moniker for me and the reminder that he knew me well because we were once so close did something to me. It tugged at my heartstrings and drove home how much I missed what I had with him. What if after all this mess, Alex and I could put our hard feelings aside and be friends?
That possibility appealed to me because if I couldn’t have him as a lover again, I’d be satisfied with being friends.
“Why are you being so gracious?” I asked as I squinted at him.
The Alex smirk that made women swoon was in full effect. “As you said, I’m no sore loser and maybe I admire your determination.”
“And?”
He chuckled. “And maybe I have a few more tricks up my sleeves.”
All of my smugness nearly crumbled to tiny pieces at his feet as a hint of panic set it. It was Alex I was dealing with, after all. The man had a calculating brain that any smart person should be terrified of. However, I hung on to my confidence, not allowing him to intimidate me. I bet that was what he wanted… to see me sweat. The devil probably had nothing up his proverbial sleeves.
“Right,” I drawled. “I was thinking that I could buy you a few drinks. You know, to celebrate my win and rub it in your face.”
Alex’s laughter floated through the hallway, tickling my eardrums and making my stomach dip and roll. I watched him through my lashes, kind of hating that I still found him so entirely attractive.
“You’re the only person I know who makes arrogance look good,” he said, giving me a once-over.
I swallowed my smile. “So, how about those drinks, business rival? ”
He stared at me for a moment. He was so guarded that I couldn’t make out anything from his expression. “Throw in dinner and we have a deal. I’m famished.”
“I guess I can buy the loser a meal,” I said sweetly.
He snorted, and I grinned.