CHAPTER 52

CHAPTER 52
Olivia exhaled loudly as she pushed the door to her office open. She took a step in only to find a familiar silhouette sitting before her desk. 

The figure seemed to freeze for a second and so did she. She shut her eyes briefly and began walking to her desk at a fast pace. 

“What are you doing here? And what makes you think that you have the right to walk into my office?” 

Kelvin lifted his head to stare at her. A painful hue staining his eyes. He made an effort to reach for her hand on the desk but stopped midway. 

“You're looking beautiful today, Olivia.”

Olivia scoffed and opened her laptop. “I've always looked beautiful, Kelvin. What do you want?” Her tone was filled with hostility towards him. 

When he didn't budge, she arched a brow at him. 

“I asked you a goddamned question!” She barked at him again. 

A smile spread across Kelvin's lips. He brought his gaze down to his fingers. Slowly, he reached for the cream colored card tucked away in his inner pocket and ran his fingers around the edges. 

The names printed on it was a stark reminder of what he was about to walk into. 

“I heard that he dumped you for another. He's a scum—”

“Don't.” She warned. Her hands coiled into tight fists. “You fucked my friend and left me for her. You're no different from him.”

“I made a mistake, Olivia.” Kelvin said softly. “I just—”

“Loving you was the beginning of my problems.” Olivia interrupted as she rose to her feet. “I loved you so much that I thought that I wasn't enough for you and you proved me right.”

Her eyes were filled with so much hate at the man sitting before her desk. 

“Looking at you right now, I feel like strangling you to death.” She spat in disgust. 

“I still love you, Olivia. I can't get you out of my head.” His voice was low and almost pleading. He stood up and chuckled. “I didn't know what I had until I lost it.” 

“It gives me so much joy to hear that. I hope you live with that unrequited love for the rest of your life. That way you'll get to suffer what I had to go through because of you.”

Kelvin nodded his head. “I know you're never going to accept me back because I wronged you. Nancy told me about your meeting at the mall, you invited us all to your event and I'd like to do the same.”

Olivia's brows rose up as she watched him fondle with the card in his hands. 

“Nancy and I are getting married a week from now and I'm personally inviting you to be a part of this day. And I promise to honor your invite to your event.”

Olivia stared at the outstretched card pointing her way. She contemplated whether to accept it or not for a few seconds until she finally grabbed it. 

“Thank you.” He whispered. “I'll take my leave now.”

Olivia watched his slightly bent back leaving, his head hung low and his steps slow as if he was anticipating something else. 

“Kelvin.”

Kelvin turned immediately with so much glee in his eyes. 

“You both deserve each other. And I'll be there to watch you both get married.” 

The glee in his eyes slowly died down. He gave a stiff nod and turned around. He pushed the door open and at the same time Asher was about to step in. 

The two men had a long stare battle before they turned their heads to Olivia. There was so much shock in their eyes until Kelvin decided to leave first. 

Asher walked in hurriedly with his hand pointing at the direction Kelvin passed through. 

“Why was he here?” 

Olivia's face fell. Seems like today was all about her exes showing up to her office unannounced. 

“And how is that your business? You shouldn't be here.”

Asher's teeth gnashed in anger when she threw her rude question his way. He moved around her desk and grabbed her by her shoulders. 

Her legs touched her desk behind her, a sudden feeling of Deja Vu struck her. 

“Did he touch you?” His voice laced with anger and impatience. 

Olivia brought both palms to his chest and pushed him back. 

“Stay away from me, Asher!” She warned. “Don't even think of repeating that shit again. The last time was a mistake and I don't make mistakes twice.” 

Asher was taken aback by her fierce words and tone. His chest squeezed hard. 

“Do you still love him?” 

Olivia remained quiet. She took a brief glance at her door hoping to see Aiden in sight but she knew he hadn't gotten to the office yet. 

Aiden and Jade stopped by at a restaurant to have breakfast since Alice's breakfast didn't exactly taste as good as the aroma. 

“I asked you a question, Olivia. Do you still love your Ex-husband?!” 

“I do!” She confirmed. “And maybe that is enough reason for you to give me space. I don't want you around me.” 

There was a slight disturbance in his blue eyes. He didn't seem pleased to hear that. Deep down he knew she was lying just to spite him. What they had was real he just didn't discover it sooner.

And what she had with Kelvin was also over. But her response still made him mad.

“You are lying to me. I know that you hate him—”

“Well I hate you more.” She cut in sharply. “I hate every fucking think about you, Asher.” 

Asher's arm reached for her waist. He pulled her forward only for their chest to collide. She gasped under his intense stare and could also feel the heat traveling down her body from this closeness.

“What are you doin—”

“I know that you feel what I'm feeling. You know it, there's this unexplainable feeling that pulls us closer to each other. What we had was real, Olivia. Every single thing was real.” 

Olivia struggled to break out of his hold on her. She was afraid that he was indeed correct. She could feel whatever this was.

“I feel nothing for you, Asher! Now, let go!” 

The door opened all of a sudden which had them turning their heads to it. 

Aiden marched straight up to them and successfully pulled Olivia to stand behind him, he then turned to Asher and punched him in the face.

“Ash—” Olivia swallowed back. 

“Did he hurt you, ma'am?” Aiden queried and she shook her head in response.

Asher brought his hand to his nose and stared at his fingers which had bloodstains on it. He sniffed and groaned.

“You are going to pay for that.” Asher threatened.

“Get out of my office, Asher.” 

Jade walked in only to drop the cup of coffee she was holding to the ground after seeing Asher bleeding from his nose.

She rushed to Olivia and Aiden.

“What happened? Did she get hurt?” She questioned Aiden directly.

“She's fine. He's the one who got hurt.” 

Jade sighed in relief. She turned to Asher, her lips stretching into a smile.

“I hope you lose your nose. This is the only way you'll ever learn how to respect Olivia's privacy. Get out or I'll finish your nose off.”

Asher didn't wait for one more second. He pinched his broken and bleeding nose before leaving the office to them.

“You fool. You only broke his nose. You should have pulled it out completely.” Jade snapped at Aiden. “Arrogant punk!”
.
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 Meanwhile..

Agnes stood behind the doctor as they checked Asher's nose for any abnormal bleeding. They managed to stop the bleeding and also dress the cut in his nose.

“It will heal completely in a week or two. Just avoid being punched in the face during your healing period.” 

Asher flashed a stiff smile at the doctor and soon the ward was left for him and Agnes.

She rushed to sit next to him. Her worry gaze falling on his face.

“What were you thinking? Eighty percent of your identity is your nose. You're nothing with your fucking nose!” She complained bitterly.

“Accidents happen, Agnes. I wasn't paying attention to the door ahead of me. But you heard the doctor, I'll be fine in a couple of days. You have nothing to worry about.”

His words didn't make her feel calm at all. She flung her arm around him and rested her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat.

“Take care of yourself for me. Don't me worry like that again. I love you.”

Asher shut his eyes briefly and brought his arm around her.

“You worry too much. I promise to be careful from now on.” 

“No, Asher.” Agnes rebuked him and detached from him. “I told you not to go back to that place anymore. Olivia's bad luck lingers on every corner of that building and she got you—”

“Never you say that about her again.” Asher warned. From the look on her face he realized what he had just said and he couldn't take it back.

“What?” Agnes whispered rising to her feet. “You love her.” Her voice broke. “And that's the reason you fucked her. You said it was necessary and i—”

Asher helped himself up from the bed. He reached for her arm but she pulled her hands away from his reach.

“Don't touch me! I allowed you to go to her because that was my way of helping you get what was rightfully yours. You don't love me anymore.”

“Don't say that, Agnes. I can't just leave the company like that—”

“You really don't need those petty shares. Focus on your law firm from now. You can still fulfil your dream of becoming a lawyer and we can get married and have lots of babies.”

Asher's attention disappeared instantly when he heard about their marriage. It was supposed to happen a week after leaving Olivia and taking his shares from her company.

“We should have been married by now. I trusted you with everything because you kept assuring me and I believed. We've won and it's about time we celebrate our victory.”

Asher went speechless until his phone rang saving him from the situation he was trapped in. He reached for his phone instantly but frowned when he saw the caller ID.

“Who is it?” Agnes asked after noticing his facial expression.

“Fred Reynold.” He whispered then accepted the call.

“I believe our deal ended a long time ago, Mr Reynold.” 

Half an hour later..

Asher met up with Fred as the latter had suggested earlier. He walked into the eatery and scanned the area in search of the older man and after he spotted him, he walked over to the table.

“It's good that you came. What the hell happened to your nose?”

“Enough with the bullshit. Why the fuck did you ask me to meet?” Asher impatiently asked helping himself to the chair facing Fred. 

“I need your help. My wife and I have nowhere to go. Our common enemy has managed to make me and my family homeless.”

Asher relaxed into his chair. His brows rose up feeling absolutely blank about Fred's situation.

“Our common enemy?”

“I'm talking about my niece, Olivia. She has everything in her name. All of my father's money and properties were willed to her. I know you can help me. I found out that you have a law firm.”

Fred leaned closer to Asher. 

“I also know that more than half of the country's reputable lawyers are in your firm. I'm sure that you can manipulate a clause in the will that'll enable me win back my father's properties.”

Asher was filled with nothing but disgust towards the old man. If it were to be a few months back, he'd have happily done as Fred had said right now.

“If your late father didn't leave anything behind for you then I'm sure he has a valid reason for doing so. What exactly was your offense? Why did he hate you so much?” Asher answered back with a raised brow.

He clearly recalled Olivia talking about the feud between her late grandfather and her uncle but she was also trying to figure out the cause of their issues at that time.

Now it left him wondering.

“That is none of your business, kid. I'm offering you a good deal that'll benefit us—”

“And how is stealing from Olivia going to benefit me?” He questioned back.

Fred was out of convincing words at this point. He licked his lower lips and leaned closer.

“You're quite aware that my father was a very wealthy man. He has lots of money and properties which we can split if we win this. You'll become extremely wealthy.”

Asher drummed his left hand fingers softly against the table.

“You already approached one of my lawyers before meeting me after he turned you down.” Asher guessed.

Judging from the surprised look on Fred's face, Asher's words were correct.

“I—”

“I can't help you, Mr Reynold.” 

Asher concluded and made an attempt to rise to his feet.

“She already suspects you of murdering her beloved grandfather. What if I provide enough evidence to her to finally hand you over to the Cops?” 

A slow smile played on Asher's lips. He sat down, inched his chair forward and clasped his hand on the table.

“Really? Are you trying to blackmail me?” He chuckled reaching for his tie. He loosened it a bit.

“You know it deep down that I'm capable of doing that to you. I'll give her more reasons to turn you in and who do you think will run your firm in your stead?”

Asher's gaze turned serious at once.

“You don't get to threaten or blackmail me, old man. Your father got what he deserved but i had nothing to do with it.”

“There's a witness. I learned years ago never to leave my skeletons messy. Although I learnt it the hard way.” Fred narrowed his gaze down at Asher. “I'll see to it that you get convicted for murder.”

“Your threat don't scare me. I've dealt with a lot of greedy and foolish men like yourself in the past. Do you know what your father did to me after the death of my parents? He tried to wipe off the Adam's name from the world. He wanted me dead but I watched him take his last breath.”

There was an obvious disturbance in Fred's eyes. Asher's last name rang a bell and opened up memories that he had buried under the ground.

“He didn't wipe off the entire Adams that day. He thought that I'd never make it back to the top but here I am. And I'll you the same thing, Fred. You don't scare me.”

“I have tons of lawyers who haven't lost a single case for years. Don't make yourself poorer than you already are. I never let my enemies win no matter what.”

Asher left Fred to his own thoughts. 

“There's no way that he's Nicholas Adams son. Father said that he died along with his parents.” He whispered to himself.

Fred was smart enough to connect the dots together. Asher still thought that his father was responsible for the death of his parents.

If he finds out that he was truly responsible and not his late father, Asher will leave no stones unturned to get him behind bars.

“Hell no. How could I have made such a big mistake?” 

He pounded his fist against the table.