Chapter 99 Encountering a Drunkard
That kiss, that argument, and that slap kept replaying in her mind like scenes from a movie.
He had been looking for her for five years...
This thought was like a thorn, piercing her heart, impossible to ignore.
But she quickly shook her head, pushing it away.
So what if he had been searching for her for five years? The damage was already done. Some things, once missed, are gone forever, and there's no going back.
"Liv! Why were you gone so long?" Emma rushed over as soon as she saw her, her face full of worry. "Why do you look so pale? And your eyes are red. Did something happen?"
Olivia forced a smile, shook her head, and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I'm fine. I just felt a bit unwell and squatted for a while. Maybe the wind got in my eyes."
She didn't want Emma to know about her entanglement with Luca. She didn't want her to worry or stand up for her.
Emma looked at her pale face and red eyes, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure you're okay? Don't lie to me. Did you run into that jerk Luca?"
"No, how could I have run into him?" Olivia avoided her gaze and changed the subject. "Let's get going. We need to hurry with the studio stuff and not delay the renovation."
Though Emma was full of doubts, seeing that Olivia didn't want to talk about it, she could only hold back her questions for now and nodded. "Alright, let's head back. But if anything's wrong, you have to tell me."
"Okay." Olivia gave a casual nod and quickly walked toward the parking lot.
Sitting in the car, Olivia stared at the scenery flashing by outside the window, her mind a mess.
She took out her phone and saw several messages from Jason, all asking about her situation.
[What happened just now? I heard some weird noises on your end, and a man's voice. Are you in danger?]
[Are you safe now? Can you call me back?]
[If you can't talk, just send a quick message so I know you're okay.]
Seeing these caring messages, Olivia felt a warmth in her heart, and the bad mood from earlier faded a bit.
She replied to Jason: [I ran into a drunk guy in the restroom who was a bit pushy, but it's handled now. I'm fine, thanks for worrying.]
Soon after, Jason called.
"Olivia, are you really okay?" Jason's tone carried a hint of anxiety and doubt. "I don't think it sounds like just a drunk guy."
Olivia's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly explained, "It really was a drunk guy. He probably had too much to drink and was loud. Don't overthink it."
She didn't want Jason to know about her issues with Luca. She was afraid he'd worry or even confront Luca, who was way out of Jason's league in terms of power.
Jason was silent for a few seconds, his tone a bit helpless. "Alright, I'll trust you. But you have to stay safe. If something like this happens again, call me right away."
"I will, don't worry," Olivia nodded quickly.
"By the way, I've got something else to tell you," Jason's tone softened, with a hint of a smile. "I've checked out a kindergarten for Leo. It's in the city center, has a great environment and good teachers, and it's not far from the studio you picked. You should go see it when you have time."
"Really? That's awesome!" Olivia's mood lifted instantly, the earlier gloom disappearing. "Thank you, Jason. I'm so grateful you took the time to help with Leo's stuff."
"No need to thank me," Jason chuckled. "Leo's with me right now. He heard I was calling you and kept bugging me to talk to you."
"Mommy!" Leo's soft, sweet voice came through the phone, full of innocence and longing.
"Sweetie!" Olivia's voice softened at once, the darkness in her eyes replaced by pure tenderness. "Are you being good with Jason? Listening to him? Eating properly?"
"I'm good! I'm listening!" Leo's voice was full of excitement. "Jason took me to the park and bought me strawberry ice cream. Mommy, it was so yummy! And I drew a new picture of you, me, and Jason going to the zoo. I'll show you when you're back!"
"Sounds great! Mommy will be back soon," Olivia said with a smile, her eyes tearing up again. "Once I'm done with the studio stuff, I'll take you for your favorite steak and to the zoo to see the red pandas, okay?"
"Yay! Mommy, you have to keep your promise!" Leo's voice was full of anticipation.
"Mommy always keeps her promises," Olivia said, her heart filled with warmth.
With Leo around, and friends like Jason, those unhappy things seemed to matter less.
After chatting with Leo for a bit, she hung up, feeling much better.
Looking out the window, her gaze became determined.
She couldn't let Luca affect her anymore. She had to focus on her career, take good care of Leo, and live her life well.
The past should stay in the past.
Over the next few days, Olivia threw herself into preparing for the studio.
She finalized the renovation style and plan with the team, watching the empty space slowly turn into the beginnings of her studio. Her heart was full of excitement.
But money was still a headache.
The renovation had started, and there were still equipment purchases, hiring staff, and other tasks ahead, all of which would require a lot of funds.
She put together a detailed proposal and planned to talk to Clara about investment.
That morning, Olivia called Clara.
"Hello, ma'am. This is Olivia."
"Olivia? What made you call me?" Clara's voice held a touch of surprise and a smile.
"I'm working on setting up a design studio focused on high-end clothing and accessories. I've prepared a detailed proposal and wanted to discuss the possibility of working together. Are you interested?" Olivia spoke sincerely, feeling a bit nervous.
Clara paused for a moment, then laughed. "I thought you'd changed your mind and wanted to join my company."
"Sorry, ma'am, I still want to try doing this on my own. I don't want to miss this chance," Olivia said, a bit embarrassed.
"That's okay. It's good for young people to have their own ideas and drive," Clara said kindly. "But about the investment, I need to think it over. It involves money and future collaboration, so I can't decide lightly."
"I totally understand. Take your time. I'll send the proposal over in the next couple of days. You can look at it whenever you're free," Olivia said quickly.
She knew Clara was cautious and wouldn't easily invest in a new studio, so she wasn't surprised.
"Alright, I'm a bit busy these days. I'll get in touch when I have time," Clara said before hanging up.
Olivia put down her phone, feeling a bit disappointed but not ready to give up.