Chapter 10 10
Blair turned slowly, her throat going dry as her gaze met Olivia’s.
“Blair,” Olivia said, stepping forward, her heels snapping against the marble. Her eyes swept over her from head to toe — the cheap blouse, the tired face, the little boy at her side.
A mocking smile curved Olivia’s lips. “Hmm… what a coincidence. The one sister who’s always wanted to take everything from me.”
Blair froze, the words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.
Olivia’s gaze dropped to Maverick, her expression sharpening. “Never thought I’d see you again, Blair. Certainly not here.” Her tone dripped with scorn. “You’ve got some nerve showing up.”
“Olivia, I—”
“Ssh,” Olivia hissed softly, raising a perfectly manicured finger. “Don’t.”
Blair’s voice wavered. “Please, it’s not what you think—”
“It’s exactly what I think,” Olivia snapped, her composure cracking. Her eyes gleamed with raw fury. “It’s been years, and the last time I checked, we’re not sisters anymore.”
She took another step forward, the distance between them closing like a trap.
“First, it was Ethan,” Olivia said bitterly, her voice trembling with emotion she refused to name. “Now you want to take him too? My fiancé — Lucas Brooks.”
Blair’s mouth parted, her breath shaking. “No, Olivia, I would never—”
“Save it,” Olivia bit out.
Her tone dropped lower and dangerously quiet. “You really think your dirty little play-act will work this time? Pretending to be weak, pitiful… so men will come running to protect you?”
Tears stung Blair’s eyes, but she didn’t speak. Maverick clung tighter to her leg, wide-eyed, confused.
Olivia moved closer, the sharp snap of her heels echoing . Her eyes never left Blair’s.
“So… how much?” she asked, voice low and dangerous. “How much do you need to stay away from here, Blair? Call your price.”
Blair’s chest tightened, her hands curling around Maverick’s.
“Olivia, please…” Blair’s voice wavered, her hands trembling as she tried to pull free. “I don’t need your money. All I want is—”
“Call your price, Blair,” Olivia cut her off sharply, her grip tightening on Blair’s wrist. The pressure was painful, her nails pressing slightly into her skin. “I’m ready to pay. Name it.”
Blair flinched but held her ground, swallowing hard. “I… I don’t want anything from you,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Just…
Olivia’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous flash crossing her face. “You think that’s enough?” she hissed, leaning closer so their foreheads nearly touched.
Before Blair could respond, the sharp sound of a car horn echoed through the building’s entrance. A man’s voice called from outside:
“Miss Olivia, Mr. Brooks is waiting. It’s getting late!”
Olivia froze, then slowly released Blair’s wrist. She stepped back, straightened her jacket, and gave Blair one last look.
Blair blinked, heart still hammering, and looked down at Maverick. His small, earnest face was tilted up at her, eyes wide and full of trust.
“Don’t mind that scary aunty, Mommy,” he said, voice soft but firm, “she looks just like Maleficent.”
Blair couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her — soft, a little shaky, but genuine. She knelt down, brushing a curl from his forehead.
“Alright, baby,” she said, letting the tension in her shoulders ease ever so slightly. “Let’s go. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Blair clutched Maverick’s hand tightly as they stepped into the small, cluttered office of the real estate agent.
The agent, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense expression, looked up from her desk.
“Miss Rivers, right? You called about the apartment?” she asked, adjusting her glasses.
Blair nodded, trying to steady her voice. “Yes, ma’am. I… I’m looking for a place that’s… affordable. I start work tomorrow, and my son… he’ll be starting school too.”
The agent studied her for a long moment, then gestured toward a folder on the desk. “This one just came up.
Small, two bedrooms, basic but livable. The landlord wants fifty thousand for the deposit and first month’s rent combined.”
Blair’s stomach twisted. It was more than she had, but not impossible. She took a deep breath. “I… I can promise to compensate. I’ll make sure the rent is paid on time, every month. I just… I need a safe place for him.”
The agent softened slightly, sensing the urgency and desperation in Blair’s voice.
“Alright, if you can manage that, we can proceed. You’ll need to sign the lease and leave a deposit to secure it today.”
Blair nodded quickly, pulling out her small savings. She counted every note twice, then pushed it across the desk . “Here. I’ll pay, and I’ll make sure everything is as agreed.”
The agent nodded and slid a lease agreement across the desk.
Blair picked up the pen with trembling hands. She read through the document quickly, then, heart pounding, signed her name.
“Congratulations, Miss Rivers,” the agent said, handing back a copy. “You’ve got yourself a place.”
Blair exhaled, relief washing over her like a tide. She looked down at Maverick, who was bouncing slightly in place, and whispered, “See, baby? A fresh start. We’ve got this.”
Maverick grinned, his small hand clutching hers. “Our new home, Mommy?”
Blair nodded, a soft smile breaking through her exhaustion. “Our new home.”
Blair had already settled at the tiny kitchen counter, trying to make a few slices of bread for Maverick when her phone buzzed insistently. She wiped her hands on her apron and picked it up.
“Hello?” she said, forcing a smile, the aroma of toasted bread filling the small apartment.
But the smile faltered almost instantly. Her chest tightened, her fingers trembling slightly as she heard that voice —
“Miss Rivers…”
Her heart skipped a beat.
Lucas’s deep, impatient voice continued
“I need a specific blend. Espresso, hot, not too bitter. Can you get it here in 30 minutes?”
Blair’s eyes flicked to the small wall clock above the kitchen door. Thirty minutes? Her pulse quickened, her hands tightening around the phone.
“I… I can try,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lucas’s sigh came through, low and sharp, almost impatient. “Try? Blair… I don’t do ‘try.’ I need it right. Fresh. Exactly like last time. Can you manage that, or should I find someone else?”