Chapter 7 The Men in Black
She kept walking.
She was almost home when she saw them.
Three men stood in front of their gate.
They were all wearing black coats. They were tall. Their faces looked hard. They didn’t look like neighbors.
Olive’s steps slowed.
Her heart began to beat faster.
They looked like gangsters… or loan sharks.
She stopped walking.
Her eyes stayed on them, her body frozen. For a second, she thought about turning around and walking the other way.
Then one of them looked at her.
“Ms. Navarro?” he called, like he was making sure.
Olive felt cold all over.
They know my name? They know me?
Her chest tightened. Slowly, she turned back and nodded.
“Y-Yes… that’s me.”
She tried not to show fear. She told herself to stay calm.
Maybe they weren’t bad. Maybe they just needed help.
Her hands were already sweaty.
“May I… help you?” she asked, stepping a little closer.
One man moved forward. He had a tattoo on his neck. His ears had piercings. His fingers were full of heavy rings.
“The man you saved the other night,” he said, “is our boss. He sent us here. He wants to see you again—for dinner.”
Olive stared at him.
The man who left the hospital without notice…
Sent people to her house? Seriously? After leaving like that?
That alone scared her.
But something else scared her more.
“How do you know where I live?” she asked. “And… where is your boss?”
“We found it from your workplace,” the man answered calmly. “Don’t worry—we’re not bad people. We’re just doing what we were told.”
He looked at her closely.
“When would you like to have dinner? As per our boss's instruction, we can’t leave without your answer.”
Before Olive could speak, she heard a voice from inside the house.
“Olive? Is that you outside?”
Her mother.
Olive’s heart jumped.
If her mother saw these men, she would panic. And panic was bad for her heart.
Olive quickly opened the gate a little and called inside, "Mom, I'm just talking to someone! Go inside first, it’s cold. I’ll be quick!”
Celeste stood by the door for a moment.
Then she slowly closed it.
When Olive was sure her mother was gone, she shut the gate and faced the men again.
“Tomorrow night,” she said quickly. “Seven p.m. Pick me up here.”
She just wanted them to leave.
The man nodded.
"I'm Dexter, by the way," he said. “My boss’s right hand. About tomorrow, expect us to be here before seven.”
The three men bowed slightly.
Then they walked into a black van and drove away.
Olive stood there until the van disappeared.
Only then did she breathe out.
She looked at the house again, making sure her mother and brother hadn’t seen anything.
Inside, Celeste and Chris were waiting. The food was already on the table.
"Who were you talking to?” her mother asked. “Why didn’t you invite them in?”
“Just someone asking for directions,” Olive said quickly. “They were probably lost.”
Olive didn’t expect Chris to notice the rose in her hand.
He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes growing wide as he stared at it.
“Wow,” he said, pointing at the flower. “Looks like you already have a boyfriend.”
Olive’s hand tightened around the stem.
Celeste saw it too. Her eyes moved from the rose to Olive’s face. She didn’t say anything right away. She only smiled softly.
She knew her daughter.
Olive was already at the right age to have someone special, but she had always chosen not to. She always put her family first. Seeing her come home with a flower made Celeste quietly happy.
“It’s just from a friend,” Olive said quickly.
She didn’t know why, but her thoughts went to Adrian.
The idea surprised her.
She didn’t even notice her lips slowly curve into a small smile.
Chris saw it.
He laughed. “A ‘friend,’ huh?”
“Mom, I’m going to shower so we can eat already,” Olive said fast, trying to change the topic.
She stood up quickly and walked away.
Behind her, she could still hear her brother laughing.
When Olive reached her room, she gently placed the rose on her desk. She stood there for a moment, looking at it, her lips still curved in a small smile.
Then her mind went back to the men at the gate.
Tomorrow night. Dinner.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
“What did I do…” she whispered. She grabbed her hair with both hands. “I’m so stupid.”
"Why did I agree?"
"What was I thinking?"
"Now they would come back tomorrow to get me."
Her chest felt tight. She began to walk back and forth in her room, biting her nails.
'How could I cancel?"
“I couldn’t have dinner with him.”
“I don’t even know him.”
While her thoughts were running wild, someone knocked on her door.
“Olive,” her mother called softly.
“Come in, Ma.”
The door opened, and Celeste stepped inside. Her face was gentle, full of warmth. She walked closer and took Olive’s hands.
Before Olive could say anything, Celeste smiled.
“I’m happy for you.”
Olive blinked. “Ma—”
“If you’re in love now, it’s okay,” Celeste said. “I’m glad to see you with flowers. I’ve been waiting for you to have someone special. You deserve to be happy too.”
Tears filled Olive’s eyes. “Ma, I don’t—”
“It’s okay,” Celeste said quickly. “You don’t need to deny it. Me and Chris—we’re fine if you have a boyfriend.”
She didn’t give Olive time to explain.
“Go take a shower now,” Celeste said softly. “We’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
Then she turned and left.
Olive stayed where she was.
She couldn’t speak.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
She stared at the door, her heart heavy.
Everything felt wrong—but she has no idea how to fix it.