CHAPTER 19—Olivia

There’s a lot going on in my head as I make my way to the apartment. I have so many questions that I can’t seem to get the answers to.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out with Jake. I’m so deep in thoughts that I don’t notice he is standing at the already open door until he embraces me.

I go still at his touch, and I know he feels my body shut down too. My arms that were aching to wrap themselves around him remains mute at my sides.

“Are you alright? Where did you go?” he sounds worried, and I should feel bad for making him weary but I’m not.

It’s hard to tell if he’s actually worried about me or he’s worried that I’d find something about him that I wasn’t supposed to know.

“I was worried when I woke up and there was no sign of you” he continues despite the lack of reaction from me. “I thought you…”

“Ran away” I complete the sentence for him before stepping away and watching his arms fall to his side.

“I’m not that easy to get rid of” I say and walk into the apartment. When he closes the door I turn back to me.

“I had an early breakfast with your father…” I start.

He grows alarmed at the mention of Mr. Smith. “He was here?”

“No, he had his driver come pick me up early this morning” I finish, holding my bag tightly to me.

“You should have told me before leaving…” he’s wearing a disapproving look. “What did he tell you?”

I shrug and try to play down what actually happened “He wanted to wish me well since the wedding will be coming up soon.”

I lie for both our sake. It would do me no good if he finds out that his father offered me a blank cheque to leave him and that the said cheque was currently lying pretty in my bag.

It would hurt him that I even considered his father’s proposal even if I was yet to accept it.

The truth is I’m confused. This cheque is nothing but my back up in case something with Jake happens. I need to be prepared if whatever I end up finding out about him sabotages our contract.

The cheque would be my way out. But would he even forgive me if he found out I took a cheque from his father who he obviously dislikes?

I rub my temple trying to work out the ache that was slowly building there.

“About that…” Jake’s voice brings me back to our conversation “The wedding is in three days.”

“What?”

“My mother called this morning and said she already has the hall booked for us this Sunday” he looks down at his feet, “I’m sorry if this is a big inconvenience to you” he adds, no doubt sensing my growing anger.

“Sometimes I can’t tell if we’re the ones getting married or your parents since they’ve decided to make all the important decisions on our behalf” I say. He flinches but I don’t take back a word I say.

“It’s alright I guess; you’re paying me to do this, so it doesn’t matter how I feel” I turn on my heels to head to my room when he holds my hand.

“You know it’s not like that, things with them are just…complicated.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me, just let me know what I have to do, and I’ll do it. I don’t plan on breaking our contract” I say.

He shakes his head “I barely even remember the contract so it’s not about that.” He opens his mouth to say more but shuts it.

“If you have nothing more to say I’ll be in my room”

“I made something for us to eat” he says, “I was waiting for you so we could have breakfast together.”

I free my hand from his “I already ate so you can go ahead and have breakfast without me.”

I head straight to my room, what he said earlier ringing in my ear.

He barely thought about the contract? Did it mean he wanted to marry me for real after the way we’d been close to each other?

It couldn’t be. If he wanted to marry me for real he wouldn’t let his parents interfere with the wedding. Most importantly his father wouldn’t offer me a huge money to leave him.

I fall on my bed with a thud. I wish Jess was here so I could tell her everything that was going on.

I pick my phone; her number is not saved on here. I have to find a way to contact her.

I quickly change out of the dress and settle for cargo pants and a tank top. My boots are the last thing I put on.

I just had to find the cafe we always visited and ask them if she has been around. Hopefully, I can find her there.

Going to her house was the best option but I couldn’t risk her parents finding me on their property. The last time they did they threatened to have me locked up for trespassing.

When I’m done I put my hair in a ponytail and leave. Jake is not in the kitchen, so I just close the door quietly after me.

It takes me ten minutes before the cab I’m in stops in front of the cafe. I pay him and get off, my eyes scanning the area.

It seems so long ago that I used to visit here all the time.

When I open the door it dings to alert them of my arrival. I walk straight to the counter and greet the first familiar face I see.

It’s a middle-aged woman that has worked there for as long as we’ve been coming. She smiles brightly when she sees me.

“It’s been a long time since I saw you” she says, and I return her smile.

“Haven’t had the time to come around. Do you remember my friend though? Has she been here recently?”

She shakes her head “Haven’t seen her since the last time you were both here. To be honest everyone was worried something happened with you two.”

“The thing is… I lost contact with her, and I just can’t visit her house” I complain.

She nods like she understands perfectly “Rich folks are like that with their children” there’s disdain in her statement and I don’t blame her.

“I’ll have to figure out a way to get to inside her house without being seen” I muse to myself.

My face falls but the woman nudges me.

“It’s quite simple really, just take one of the packs out at the back to her house and tell them it’s home delivery. They’re bound to let you in” She says as she wipes off the counter.

My eyes light up “That’s a great idea! You’ll really do that for me?”

She nods with a smile “You were both crying the last time you were here; it seems to me like you need each other so I’m helping whichever way I can.”

She squeezes my shoulder before going to the back and coming out with the delivery pack.

“Here you go” she says as she hands it over to me.

“Thank you!” I yell as I leave with it, hailing a cab straight to Jess’s house.

When we pull into their huge driveway my heart starts to beat. When the security stops us I simply raise the pack.

“Delivery for Miss. Jess” I say with the best professional voice I could imitate.

Surprisingly the let me through. I immediately head to her room, taking two steps at the same time.

When I open her door I see her huddled by her vanity table. She’s so lost in touch that she yelps when I touch her shoulder lightly.

“Olivia?” her voice is full of disbelief “You’re really here? I went by your old place, and they told me you moved out.”

She stands up and throws herself into my arms, “I was so worried that something happened to you after that night.”

Her hands go to my face, scrutinizing me. “What happened? Your number wasn’t going through, and I thought someone kidnapped you…” she starts rambling which makes a smile stretch across my face.

It felt good to know someone still cared deeply for me in this world.

I touch her jaw lightly “I’m safe Jess, you don’t have to worry about me.”

She holds me tighter, burying her face in my chest.

It’s when we’re in positions like this that I remember just how much taller I was, and I don’t realize she’s crying until her body starts shaking violently. She holds me tighter like I was her life line.

“Jess…what happened?” I ask quietly, my heart beating rapidly.

She doesn’t answer immediately, just sniffs as I rub her scalp in an attempt to sooth her.

We sit on the floor beside each other when she finally calms down and I take her hand in mine, rubbing circles at the back of her palm.

“I’m getting married this Sunday” she says, and I almost drop her hand.

“I thought you didn’t want to get married, are they still forcing you?” I ask.

Jess nods once. “There’s no escape for me this time. I either get married or prepare to get shipped to some girls’ boarding school.”

My aches for her “Have you met him?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve only seen him in pictures, he’s handsome.”

I push her shoulder gently “Tell me about him.”

She pulls her knees to her chest “Well…he has blonde hair and really beautiful blue eyes. He’s also muscular and really tall and from what I heard he’s familiar with the ladies.”

Her description fits someone else that I know but I don’t mention it. “You sound like you might actually like him.”

She shakes her head furiously “I can’t ever like him, he’s not the person I want” she says stubbornly, and I know there’s no reasoning with her.

“You can’t let them ship you to a boarding school either” I tell her. “What if you just tell the person you like to marry you” I suggest, “Surely they’ll leave you alone.”

Jess blushes deeply and dips her head so her hair keeps her face out of my view. “The person I like does not know I harbor such feelings.”

“Then tell them what’s the worst that could happen?”

“I’ll get rejected and I’m not sure I can handle that. Besides…” she’s still talking when my ears pick up the sound of footsteps.

Her parents are home.