Olivia
Nineteen minutes later, I’d blow–dried my hair into submission, applied minimal makeup, and thrown on a pair of skinny jeans and a silky emerald top. The neckline dipped just low enough to be interesting without veering into office- inappropriate territory. Not that I was trying to impress anyone at O’Malley’s, but it felt good to wear something that wasn’t a power suit or one of Alexander’s carefully selected dresses.
I grabbed my purse, double–checked for keys and wallet, and headed out to catch a cab.
As we drove through downtown LA, the city hummed with its usual nighttime energy. Neon signs flickered, crowds spilled from restaurants onto sidewalks, and the ever–present traffic crawled along despite the late hour. I rested my head against the window, already regretting my decision to leave my apartment.
“First time at O’Malley’s?” the cab driver asked, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.
“No, I’ve been there before.”
“Good place. Good beer.” He nodded sagely. “Meeting friends?”
‘Yeah.” I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, but he seemed determined.
‘Better than meeting strangers!” He laughed at his own joke. “My daughter, she uses those apps. Dating apps. I tell her, ‘Mira, you meet a nice boy at church, not on the internet. But kids today, they don’t listen.”
I made a noncommittal noise, pulling out my phone to check if Alexander had texted. Nothing. I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed.
‘Here we are, O’Malley’s,” the driver announced, pulling up to the curb. “Have fun with your friends!”
I paid and slid out of the cab, the sounds of laughter and music spilling onto the sidewalk as someone opened the pub door. O’Malley’s was packed, as usual. A mix of after–work professionals and early weekend warriors crowded the bar while groups huddled around small tables scattered throughout the space.
I spotted Emilia near the back and made my way through the crowd, dodging a tray of shots and narrowly avoiding a collision with a waitress.
‘She lives!” Emilia crowed as I approached their table. She stood to give me a hug, nearly spilling her cocktail in the process. “We were about to send out a search party.”
‘Or call your CEO to see if he’d kidnapped you for a private jet to Paris,” Claire added with a wink.
I slid into the empty chair. “Very funny. Congratulations on the promotion, by the way.”
Claire beamed. “Thanks! Senior account manager. Finally.”
“She’s been insufferable,” Ariana said, nudging Claire with her elbow. “Already practicing her new email signature.”
“I have not!” Claire protested, but her cheeks flushed.
“Claire Matthews, Senior Account Manager,” Ariana mimicked in a pompous voice. “Please direct all inquiries to my
assistant.”
“I don’t even have an assistant!”
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Chapter 66
“Yet, Emilia said, flagging down a waitress. “What are you drinking, Liv?”
“Just a glass of white wine,” I said, already calculating how quickly I could finish one drink and make my escape.
“Boring, Emilia declared. “Four tequila shots,” she told the waitress. “And keep her wine coming.
“Em, I said one drink,” I protested.
“A shot isn’t a drink. It’s a shot.” She grinned. “Loophole.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Sometimes, it was easier to go along with Emilia’s schemes than fight them.
“So,” Claire leaned forward conspiratorially. “How’s the most eligible bachelor in Los Angeles?”
I groaned. “Can we please talk about literally anything else?”
“No,” all three of them said in unison.
“Come on, Liv,” Ariana urged. “We’ve been watching you two all over news and social media. Give us something the tabloids don’t have.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I insisted. “We’re taking things slow.”
Emilia snorted. “Slow? The man looks at you like he wants to devour you whole.”
“Em!”
“What? It’s true! I’ve seen the photos. That’s not a ‘taking it slow‘ kind of look.”
The waitress returned with our shots and my wine. I grabbed the tequila immediately, needing the liquid courage.
“To Claire’s promotion,” I said, raising the shot glass.
We clinked glasses and downed the shots. The tequila burned a fiery path down my throat, warming my chest and loosening. some of the tension in my shoulders.
“Fine,” Claire conceded. “New subject. Did you guys hear about that new rooftop bar opening next weekend? Supposedly, Ryan Reynolds is an investor.”
“Speaking of Ryan,” Ariana said, turning to me. “Have you heard from yours?”
I winced. “No, and I hope to keep it that way.”
“Good,” Emilia said firmly. “That cheating bastard doesn’t deserve another second of your time.”
“Amen, Claire raised her glass. “To upgrades. From cheating Ryan to CEO Alexander.”
“He’s not an upgrade,” I protested. “He’s just… different.”
“Different better or different worse?” Ariana asked.
I sipped my wine, considering. “Just different. Ryan was safe, familiar. Alexander is…”
“Dangerous?” Emilia supplied with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Complicated,” I corrected. “Everything with him is calculated, strategic.”
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Chapter 66
“Even the sex? Claire asked bluntly
“Claire!” I spluttered, nearly choking on my wine.
“What? We’re all thinking it.” She shrugged. “Is he as good as he looks?
“We haven’t that’s not….” I felt my face flaming.
Emilia’s jaw dropped. You haven’t slept with him yet? But it’s been weeks!”
“After Ryan, I’m being careful.”
“Fair enough.” Ariana nodded. “But when it happens, we expect full details”
“It might not happen,” I said, staring into my wine glass.
All three of them burst into laughter.
“Sure, Liv,” Emilia patted my arm. “Keep telling yourself that.”
I pulled my wine glass closer, rolling my eyes. “You don’t understand. After what happened with Ryan, I’m not exactly eager to jump into bed with anyone.”
“I get it,” Claire leaned forward, her voice softening. “Finding that asshole with Sophia would make anyone cautious.”
“Cautious is one thing,” Ariana said, twirling her straw. “But Alexander Carter isn’t just anyone. Have you seen the way he looks at you?”
I took a long sip of wine. “I’m not saying it won’t ever happen. I’m just not ready to-”
To what? Have mind–blowing sex with one of LA’s most eligible bachelors?” Emilia wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
To be another notch on his bedpost,” I finished, setting my glass down harder than intended.
The table fell silent for a moment.
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AD